When Gaybigaygay first rolled out the carpet, it wasn't exactly red. Hazey Fairless laughs "Silky [Shoemaker] found this old carpet in a dilapidated shed. It was so gross. We had rented a PA from Rock N Roll Rentals that was the size of a carry-on suitcase. I thought 'what did we get ourselves into.'"

As I headed to Clive Bar for the Austin Smoke Experiment, an amateur cooking event that was part of the Brooklyn Brewery Mash on Sunday, I grew exited about the plethora of smoked dishes and culinary exploration awaiting me. But when I reached the man with the tickets and the power, I was told to hit the road.

It’s a rarity to see BookWoman, Austin’s feminist bookstore, filled with gay men. But there they were, most middle-aged or older, most poetically inclined. The purpose of the BoWo gathering was to read and re-ignite the poetry of James Broughton.

Launched amidst the fury of South by Southwest as part of an 11-city tour of the United States, Brooklyn Brewery rolled into Austin on a mission - to share the Mash. Brooklyn Brewery’s interactive fusion of food, film, music, books, and “humanity’s favorite beverage” celebrated the intimate union of storytelling and community.

If you weren’t looking for it, you could miss it. Paul Qui’s much-anticipated SouthBites food court, full of food trucks hand-picked from Austin and beyond, has no signage, no fanfare, nothing at all, in fact, that touts the wildly popular chef as its curator. SouthBites is all about the food.

Getting around town during SXSW can be a bit mercenary. Badge holders fight bar hoppers for pedicabs, ride-sharing services fight the city, and cab drivers fight rising waves of nausea. It's a bit like the Road Warrior, if you substitute man bags for nunchucks. No wonder Lyft decided to offer something a bit more cuddly.

Reports from Downtown are saying the Austin Fire Department is on the scene of a two-alarm fire at the Sheraton Hotel (701 E. 11th).

Although the empty corner lot at Rainey and Driskill Streets is ultimately destined to disappear under a luxury hotel, for the next fortnight it will be home to a food trailer court called SouthBites. Austin's own Top Chef Paul Qui has invited a diverse group of food truck chefs to the party, which means the food will be fabulous.

The annual Fader Fort – the four-day party/band showcase/Converse-powered bacchanalia – is now open closed for RSVPs.