Jalapeno Cucumber Lemonade

1 ½ oz Tito’s Vodka
2.5 oz Cucumber water
1oz jalapeño infused simple syrup
1oz lemon juice
Build in pint glass
Shake
Strain into glass with Kold draft
Garnish with cucumber spear

Sandia Sipper

1 ½ oz Cazadores Respoda Tequila
.5 oz lime juice
3 cubes watermelon
Pinch of Cayenne pepper
1/8 oz Agave nectar
Muddle watermelon with lime juice in shaker glass.  Add all ingredients with ice and shake.  Strain into rocks glass with ice and half rim of salt.  Garnish with watermelon cube and lime wedge.

Get WET (inspired by the W’s WET pool)

*Hendrick’s gin 1.5oz
St. Germain .5 oz
*Lemon juice .5
*Simple syrup  .5 oz
Grapefruit juice 1.5 oz
Bubbles (bubbly water)
Shake all without bubbles and pour over fresh ice then top with bubbles

*I make a version of this cocktail all the time without lemon or simple syrup, and it’s delicious. Other versions use jalapeno-infused gin for that summer spice or tequila for a kick.

Happy summer!!

facebook.com/Euphoriafest / euphoriamusicfestival.ticketleap.com/euphoria/

I remember joking about making a LOCAL badge in 2008. Finally someone really did it—good work, kids, good work. Click here to print the thing out, find out what the QR code says, and more.

Three more Local-y things this week for SXSW:

1. Local Band Achachay! Plays a Billion Venues

Thurs March 15th: Northeast by Southwest House Party @ 1180 Sol Wilson Ave (78702) 1-6 P (Free Beer and BBQ!)
Thurs March 15th: Townhouse, 10P
Fri March 16th: EchoCloud Unoffical SXSW Showcase, Hole in the Wall, 1A
Sat March 17th: Thirsty Planet Brewery St. Patty’s Day Party, 11A-2P
Sat March 17th: Betsy’s Bar, 10:30P

This is my baby bro’s band, go check them out amidst your busy SX music sched!

2. University of Texas’s student-run radio station showcases

3. Whole Foods Tunes

Friday, March 16:
O.N.E. Coconut Water Presents Live Music @ Whole Foods Market downtown (Lamar/6th) on a “O.N.E. of a KIND” stage, 3p–11p featuring The Cringe, Warner Drive, The Parlotones, Diane Birch, Imagine Dragons, The Chevin, The Silent Comedy, Standing Shadows and special guests—rumor has it Semi-Precious Weapons just confirmed.

Saturday, March 17:
Thrillcall Presents Live Music @ Whole Foods Market downtown (Lamar/6th) on a “O.N.E. of a KIND” stage, Noon–11p featuring Metro Station, Rachael Yamagata, Quiet Company, Graffiti6, Allen Stone, OK Sweetheart, Ume, Dead Sara, Retro Stefson, The Ettes, Loquat, Tommy Brunett, Native June, Brad Standley and the Foxflies and special guests.

Sponsors (free stuff): O.N.E. Coconut Water, KIND snack bars, Late July Organic Snacks, Duvel Belgian Beer, LaPan’s Food, Pirate’s Booty, House of Marley headphones, Logitech and UE earphones, Kala ukuleles, Propellerhead/Reason software, Seagate, TC Electronic

More: SouthwestInvasion.com

Bonus event: Not quite local but everyone still wants to go

Or will charging for his infamous party ruin demand for Perez Hilton’s ONE NIGHT IN AUSTIN?

Austin Music Hall / Saturday, March 17, 8p-2a.

“Music is the answer!” says Hilton. “For the first time ever, I am going to be selling tickets to my annual SXSW event! These tickets will GUARANTEE entrance to what is always the hottest party in all of Austin. This year, I have decided to donate all of the money raised through ticket sales to The VH1 Save The Music Foundation. It combines two things I am passionate about – music and inspiring youth. I can’t wait!”

Headliners will be revealed on PerezHilton.com day by day. The event will feature a Miami Oasis pop-up lounge from the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, as March marks their inaugural Miami Film Month. Official water sponsor FIJI Water will host a complimentary live screen printing bar where attendees can choose from one of four limited edition tee shirt designs. Guests will also be able to experience SOUL by Ludacris headphones in their dedicated onsite listening lounge.

Reception March 13th from 5-9p with DJ Echo DaFunk. Libations from sponsor Aspen Magazine. There will be a discussion with Andrea Shenk on the Emerging Collector from 5 – 5:30pm.

Verbatim: marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact; “an exact mind”; “an exact copy”; “hit the exact center of the target.”

With our show this month “Verbatim”, we ask you to look at both the direct target hit by the artist’s intention, and to question how we as the audience either respond “word for word” and “eye for eye” or if our digestion of the work and interpretation takes us beyond this visual-verbatim experience.

The show will be on view March 10th – April 22nd at LivAspenArt Gallery /  414 East Cooper Avenue. / LivAspenArt.com

So for the first time in FIVE years, I’m not going to SXSW. And much to my surprise, when I let the people and PR companies throwing the parties and events surrounding SXSW interactive, film, and music know that I won’t be in town for it this year, the vast majority have e-sighed and said something along the lines of wishing they weren’t going to be in town either.

We are so jaded, Austinites.

Rambling aside, many of you will be in town, and even if you aren’t going big (which I cannot even pretend to recommend anymore, it’s beyond exhausting), below are six things you should probably take a look at …

1. Daytime Party List

Since I won’t be compiling the massive spreadsheet I have in the past, you NEED the 2012 SXSW Daytime Party List from Sperry Media. This is the first draft, a final will be published next week. I cannot stress enough, if you might possibly maybe be thinking about possibly hitting up a party, RSVP RSVP RSVP. And RSVP again. Except not really, just make sure you RSVP once.

Alternatively, Do512 has a SXSW take over on their always-happening website and you can:

• RSVP for all the free parties. No badges needed. Film. Interactive. Music.
• Check out thousands of bands. Discover, watch, listen. Find out everywhere they’re playing that week.
• Build a custom schedule after browsing through thousands of panels, parties, showcases, and other events.
• Sign up for the Do512 Daily Top Picks emails to get the top 10 parties of the day delivered to your inbox.

2. Check out the new stuff, like a work collab

Texenza Coffee shop (4th and Congress) during South by Southwest is turning into a great place to collaborate and work. They’ll be giving away free breakfast, lunch, coffee, and drinks to anyone who stops by. March 9-13 from 9a-7p. You probably have actual work to get done, so stop by and do it while networking your face off.

3. Check out the old standbys, like the Four Seasons’ morning acoustic music showcases

Four Seasons Hotel Austin and KUT-FM 90.5 are once again teaming up for early-morning music. Wednesday, March 14 through Saturday, March 17, $10 gets you a breakfast taco and unlimited coffee, while the money goes to Austin’s Seton Shivers Cancer Center at Brackenridge Hospital. New this year, The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Austin will offer complimentary hand massages and mini-facials throughout each day’s event. The music schedule (each artist performs a 30-minute set):

•Wednesday, March 14 (7 – 11am) – Lost in the Trees, Grace Woodroofe, M. Ward, Cotton Mather
•Thursday, March 15 (7 – 11am) –  Kat Edmonson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jimmy Cliff, Punch Brothers
•Friday, March 16 (7 – 11am) – Ruthie Foster, Motopony, James Mercer, Trampled by Turtles, Nneka
•Saturday, March 17 (8am – 12noon) – Sons of Fathers, Glen Hansard, Justin Townes Earle, Nada Surf

4. Another app

You will go into new app overload during SXSW, but the good news is that the cream will rise to the top and the rest will simply get deleted (though somehow apps are never really deleted, but I digress). One possibility for widespread adoption is a new geosocial service called glomper. The mobile-and-web app ties together check-ins and sharing across already active social platforms facebook, twitter, instagram, foursquare, etc. but is strongly event-focused—so it’s more about partying. You can see all the events nearby by type/date and you will be able to share your plans to visit them before they start and then to check-in when you arrive.

Launch event Mar. 11 from 3-7p, at the Launch787 next to Moonshine. Free but you need to RSVP: glomper.eventbrite.com

5. Spa getaway in town(ish)

Lakeway Resort and Spa on Lake Travis is 18 miles northwest of downtown Austin. They’ve got events all week for families, but even if you’re not staying there, you can get away and enjoy the Hill Country Festival with live music and kids activities on March 10th and 11th at 3p or a St. Patrick’s Day Beer Garden + entertainment on March 17th at 6p. The spa at the resort has also put together the San Saba Spa Delight, a 50-minute signature facial and a traditional manicure for $148 to rejuvenate during or after your SXSW adventures. Post-SXSW, refresh with a nightly rate of $125 for March 18 – March 22 only. Promo code is SPRING.

6. Three rules to live by

I posted 11 SXSW Rules last year, but let’s face it, there are really only three important rules: (1) drink a thousand times more water than you think you need to, (2) wear your sunscreen unless it’s raining which it might be, and (3) relax—there’s no way you will ever make it to everything, so enjoy what you’re doing and forget about the rest.

Each of “The 400 Rabbits” will receive a variety of prizes, including a 20% discount on their food and beverage in the 400 Rabbits lounge for one year and exclusive invitations to special events and tastings.

The first three methods of entry into “The 400 Rabbits” are detailed as follows: 

1. LOYAL CUSTOMERS: Customers are able to input their name into a drawing for every $10 they spend at 400 Rabbits. 40 people will be drawn at random to win a “rabbit” spot. Enter to win during 3/8 – 3/31. Winner drawn on 4/2.

2. ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE SLAUGHTER LANE GIVEAWAY: Alamo Slaughter Lane will randomly give away a Rabbit spot to one person every day from 3/8 – 3/31 for a total of 24 Rabbit spots.

3. TRIVIA NIGHTS: 400 Rabbits will host a Geeks who Drink trivia night every week throughout March and April. The winning teams will be awarded a Rabbit spot – 50 spots total.

For more on “The 400 Rabbits” promotion visit http://www.400RabbitsBar.com

The cocktail lounge will have its grand opening on March 22nd. The name is derived from the Aztec goddess Mayahuel; the lounge will serve a bar menu centered around agave spirits (tequila, mezcal, sotol) and food inspired by Latin American street fare. A sneak of some of the food and drinks:

Torta Ahogada – Carnitas, pickled onions, refried white beans, and cotija, on a toasted bolillo drowned in arbol sauce topped with fresh oregano and served with chips.

Sonoran Hot Dog – Bacon wrapped hot dog, flat grilled with green chile salsa, lettuce, white beans, pickled onions, tomato, jicama, cilantro mayo, and cotija in a bolillo.

Sherry Darling: Reposado tequila, orange infused sherry, grand marnier + La Playa Sunset: Silver tequila, Zyco coconut water, falernum, lime, bitters + Me Encante: no idea what's in that

Alamo beverage director Bill Norris took a sabbatical to Jalisco last year to learn the production methods and history of Tequila and to prepare the 400 Rabbits menu. Executive Chef John Bullington has created a selection of snacks that pair perfectly with Bill’s tequila-centric bar offerings. “The food is inspired by interior Latin American street food while using fresh and local ingredients” says Chef Bullington. I’ve always loved Alamo’s focus on local ingredients!

In Other News: Midnight Cowboy Modeling

Alamo Drafthouse is also opening a cocktail lounge, Midnight Cowboy on East Sixth Street, on March 9^th.  For over thirty years, Midnight Cowboy Oriental Modeling operated as a brothel in plain sight. Now, that formerly nefarious spot has been transformed into Austin’s premier cocktail destination. Under a red light, through an unmarked door, come find a 48-seat, reservation-based cocktail lounge, featuring drinks designed by Alamo Drafthouse Beverage Director Bill Norris and Midnight Cowboy manager Brian Dressel (formerly of FINO, East Side Showroom and Bar Congress) and a luxurious interior design by Joel Mozersky.

Midnight Cowboy can accommodate groups of up to eight people, and Mozersky has transformed three former “massage” rooms into private tables for groups of six to eight people, with booths for smaller parties in the front room.

Cocktails will be prepared tableside by highly-experienced bartenders, feature hand cut ice, premium spirits and freshly squeezed juice from an innovative and rotating menu of original cocktails, obscure classics, and modern favorites from our bartender friends in other cities.

Reservations can be made at http://midnightcowboymodeling.com beginning on Tuesday, March 6^th at Noon CST. When a reservation is made, guests will be provided with the procedure for entry through Midnight Cowboy’s unmarked door and welcomed into Austin’s first true luxury cocktail experience.

Midnight Cowboy House Rules

Midnight Cowboy is a relaxing oasis in the midst of the Sixth Street liveliness. To ensure this atmosphere, we don’t allow smoking, guns, cell phone calls, laptops, games, or rowdiness.  If you must smoke or make a call, please do so on the rear patio.  Please keep your conversations at a reasonable level, and enjoy fine cocktails and the finer company of your companions.

While our cocktails might loosen inhibitions and the building’s past might encourage licentiousness, we ask that you refrain from public displays of affection and unwelcome advances towards members of other parties.

Tables at Midnight Cowboy are available for reservation. Reservations are for two hours and no parties larger than 8 can be accommodated. All reasonable (and legal) services will be considered by your bartenders and hosts.

I always wondered about that whole brothel-in-plain-sight thing. So I pretty much pasted that press release verbatim … I can’t make this stuff up. Perfect for SXSW but will it last? 

• With three channels of different genres of EDM going on simultaneously, spun by some of Austin’s best DJs, you’ll be able to find something you like and dance in your own world but surrounded by friends.  You simply find the station you like or find the music that best matches the rhythms to which your friends are dancing (and set your own volume)
• If you want to take a break and chat or order a drink, just take off the headphones and realize the deafening… silence around you
• With visual projections, lasers, and performers, Silent Cedar will wow the eyes as much as the ears.

Tickets are $35 and $50 at frontgatetickets.com. The event will help raise funds for GiM’s growing music education program in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Austin. Grounded in Music’s students are taught a variety of  skills in musicianship, which range from writing lyrics, playing instruments, and exploring other areas  of the music industry. Statistics show that students  who are involved in music programs early in life perform better academically in the areas of math and  reading. The data also shows that students score higher on the SATs in the areas of math and verbal,  regardless of their socio-economic background.

“Grounded in Music has a very simple mission: to leverage the power of music to transform young lives by creating self-confidence, opportunity and hope. These kids are learning that they can do anything they set their mind to and developing the confidence to push themselves to achieve things they never thought they could,” said Joe Stallone, Grounded in Music’s Founder.

“Some of the  kids in the program have a hard shell to crack,” remarks Michael Longoria, Grounded in Music’s  Program Director. “But as we mentor, teach, and share with them, the music dissolves that shell.”

Bread and beer. Things I shouldn’t eat but happen to love. [Sidenote: there's a new bakery in Aspen on the mall under the Psychic called Annette's and the bread there is TO DIE FOR, so to speak, as I ate almost half a loaf and spent the rest of the night with sores in my mouth and farting. Sorry that's gross. But I'm pretty sure I can thank the high gluten factor for that. But there's sourdough...] Back to Easy Tiger, 709 E. Sixth Street, the long-awaited new bake shop and beer garden (this post has it opening in May … of 2011)  from the 24 Diner people.

The key players:

Bread: Artisan baker David Norman [creds: Grand Central Bakery (leading artisan bakery in Pacific Northwest), TriBakery (supplying NY greats such as Tribeca Grill and Nobu), Ecce Panis (NY, NJ) and Bouley Bakery (NY)]. Breads: baguettes, French country levain, rye bread, German pretzels, Danish, turnovers and more all day long.

Beer: Billy Caruso [creds: CIA graduate and 24 Diner sommelier] Cocktails, wine, unique bombers, and 30 craft beers on tap: local Real Ale and Jester King and boutique domestics such as Avery, Lagunitas and Ommegang.

Meat: Andrew Curren [creds: CIA valedictorian, worked for top New York restaurateurs Danny Meyer and Jonathan Waxman, nom for People’s Best New Chef from Food & Wine magazine/CNN’s Eatocracy, Top Chef: Texas] House-cured meats: housemade sausages, jerky, corned beef and pastrami, as well as homemade krauts, relishes and peperonata.

Decor: Veronica Koltuniak [creds: clients include Madonna, Courteney Cox, and Jennifer Lopez] The Royal Tenenbaums: “Turn-of-the-century building meets end-of-the-century kitsch.”

Seriously. Someone go and report back. I can’t put myself in another gluten coma.

easytigeraustin.com / twitter.com/EasyTigerATX / facebook.com/EasyTigerATX

New Year’s Eve Eve with Achachay!

Get your tickets online at Frontgate tickets right now. $8. The full lineup is TBA; Achachay! is scheduled to close the night starting at midnight. Disco-themed so get your frizzy ‘fro ready, bust out white pants, extra wide ties, and leisure suits. Whether you’re wearing go-go dancer outfits, hippy clothes, or just about anything brown and orange the important thing is that you’re ready to boogie. Invite your friends to the Facebook Event, be there on December 30th!

Celeb Style at Hotel San Jose

You know if the celebs are in A-town for NYE, they’ll be at the All Tomorrows Party: A Warhol Factory New Year’s Eve with a photobooth by Alison Narro, DJs, bubbly libations, room to dance and of course a toast at midnight. Black and white attire is encouraged but not required. No cover charge / DJ from 8-midnight / www.sanjosehotel.com

Swank at the Dubs

TRACE at the W Austin is offering two separate seatings and menus to accommodate any partygoer’s plans. The first seating from 5:30pm-7p offers a four- course menu for $95 (with paired wine for $145). Each guest will receive a complimentary glass of sparkling with dessert. The second seating begins at 9pm and offers an extensive menu (attached) of various small plates and shared items for $75 per person food and beverage minimum (not including tax and gratuity). 512-542-3660 for reservations.

The New Year’s Eve “Drop the Ball” party in the W Austin Living Room is open to the public (based on availability) with regular hours 11a – 2a. The nibbles menu will be available à la carte and DJ Rich will be spinning for the party. Guests can reserve a seated area for $175 (includes tax and gratuity) per person. Reserved seating includes a welcome SIP, a platter of Chef Paul Hargrove’s NYE Nibbles, a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne (for every two guests), and party favors. 512-542-3633 for Living Room reservations.

Sushi Sensation

Uchi and Uchiko are still accepting early reservations for New Year’s Eve, and walk-in guests are welcome at the sushi bars. Uchi will serve its tasting menu for $75 including a complimentary champagne toast at midnight and Uchiko will offer its tasting menu for $125 with complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

Vivo Lake Creek New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball

Live music, dancing, plenty of bubbly and a special menu devised by celebrated Chef Paul Petersen runs from 10p New Year’s Eve through 2a, Jan 1. General admission to Vivo’s New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball is $50 per person, reserved seating is $100 per person. Guests who make dinner reservations at Vivo Lake Creek for 8 or 8:30p on New Year’s Eve may keep their table for the Masquerade Ball for $50 per person.

Sullivan’s & Sully’s