Sorry to have ignored you, blog. South by Southwest is an all-consuming time and energy suck. I will do my best to recap. Apologies for the crap cell photos. I only took my camera out one night and it was too annoying to consider doing again.

How did the Betty’s fare? Pretty well, I’d say. We drank lots of free vodka and beer, ate free tacos, sushi, and all kinds of other great stuff. We visited the Paul Qui curated South Bites on several occasions.

An early highlight was heading home late one night and hearing the telltale wah wah guitar of Grupo Fantasma coming out of the Trophy Club on Sixth Street. Have you ever been to that bar? Me neither. But there’s a mechanical bull and a guy was riding on it standing up. And there’s a disco saddle hanging from the ceiling, so…I will definitely be back.

We spent the wee hours of the night dancing like fools and talking to the band, where we got the hot tip that Johnny Depp would be the special guest for Wednesday night’s Austin Music Awards. So, naturally, we spent Wednesday night at Austin Music Hall waiting for Edward Scissorhands to show up. He never did, but Gary Clark, Jr., ended up being the surprise guest and gave a great performance. It was a long night of great music punctuated by a really boring awards ceremony.

We spent another night at The Belmont, where there was a great lineup. We were there for hot acts Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and Action Bronson. It was a good crowd and the music was great. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Macklemore is exploding right now. He and his crew were clearly having the time of their lives and it’s nice to see hip hop come back around to a light-hearted, whimsical side. It’s been a while since rap has been fun.

We chose to do another night of hip hop at Empire Control Room, which might have the grossest bathrooms in Austin. But the rhymes were right and I’m a sucker for some good scratching. With the exception of one, all the acts were from NYC. I guess I’m looking to fill the hole in my heart left by the Beastie Boys. Most notable was Soul Khan from Brown Bag Allstars, who had the smooth flow that you just don’t hear outside the east coast. I also enjoyed the antics of Doppelgangaz, who had a huge doll on stage with them at one point.

SXSW is not for the weak. The parking, the crowds, the secret parties, the RSVP-juggling, the constant checking of Twitter for can’t-miss events. The walking. The traffic. The smell of beer everywhere. The people! Note: the Interactive attendees are nerdy cool, the Music attendees are dressed cooler and better for people-watching.

Some Mad Betty SXSW fun facts

Total paid for parking (over ten days): $21. My parking spots may not all have been 100% legal. But I parked free most days and not too far from the action. No, I cannot share my secrets with you.

Places I charged my cell phone: Trophy Club, ACL Theater, Empire Control Room, The Belmont, The Sheraton, Tap Room. The takeaway here is that it’s time to get a new phone. Farewell Droid, welcome iPhone. I give in.

Freebies included: Shampoo and Conditioner, Obama tattoo, tee-shirts, giant Post-its, Kind Bars, a Whole Foods gift bag full of goodies, a color-reactive cup, snap bracelets and other chotchky crap. I tried to minimize the free stuff I took, as I usually don’t want it. But I could have filled my apartment.

Some of the bands I saw: 

• Action Bronson
• Alejandro Escovedo
• Ben Kweller
• Bill Carter and The Blame
• Blondfire
• Brownout
• Budos Band
• Charles Bradley
• Charli XCX
• Como Mamas
• Doppelgangaz
• Gary Clark, Jr.
• Grupo Fantasma
• Icona Pop
• JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound
• The Lone Bellow
• Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
• Menahan Street Band
• Mister Loveless
• Open Mike Eagle
• Rockie Fresh
• Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
• Soul Khan
• Sugarman 3
• Talib Kweli
• The 4onthefloor
• The Tontons
• The Trishas

Did you go to SXSW? What were your favorite parts?

It’s South by Southwest and I pity the poor souls who aren’t in Austin right now. The next week and a half or so will be devoted to consuming as much pop culture and tech as we can squeeze in. And the parties, MY GOD, the parties! My event schedule is too big to properly manage, so I will be whisked away in the herds from one place to the next, hoping that I don’t forget too many. Taking a note from the scenesters, I’ve RSVP’d to everything and am on every list.

While SXSW officially starts today, most of us have been living it up for a week already. You know the pre-parties are necessary training for the actual week. And like conditioned athletes, we train hard. I’m already having too much fun. New career goal: socialite who attends parties for a living. Will someone pay me to do that? Pretty please?

Every company worth their salt hosts fabulous parties so you just have to show up, find parking, and enjoy the free drinks and eats. The parking is actually kind of a nightmare and while I’m usually lucky in that area, I might try to figure out how to (takes deep breath) take the bus. Unless someone is volunteering to chauffer me around for about ten days. Pretty please?

How to you prepare for a week of this?

Photo via The Statesman

Photo via Extreme Air Shots

• A fridge full of bottled water
• 15 pounds of grapefruit
• Starbucks double espresso shots
• Ear plugs
• Tons of eye makeup remover
• Comfortable sneakers. Or heels, if you are stupid.
• Phone, iPad, and laptop chargers
• Book bag
• Extra business cards
• Mints and lip balm

Everyone might have a different Southby prep list, but that’s what mine looks like. In addition to all the parties I’ll be hitting the music circuit and some of the interactive stuff.

I’ll try to recap what I can after the haze clears. But I anticipate relaxing my blogging schedule for a week or so. See you on the other side, everyone!

Some of you might have noticed the link in my blogroll for Five Year Project. It takes you to Melissa Lombard’s site, where she is documenting her project of having a cup of coffee with a new stranger every week…for five years. I know. Great concept, right? Not only will she never run out of content, but she gets to meet a ton of people and try every coffee place in the city.

So who are the strangers? A mix of Austin notables, people active in social media, and regular ole’ slackers like myself. I’m not sure how she found me, but I was lucky enough to be the 29th cup of coffee. I was nervous because, frankly, I’m not that interesting. Some of Melissa’s interview subjects were so successful, or inspiring, or just oddly fascinating.

In comparison to some of these interviewees that were so brave and honest and forthcoming with their stories, I was afraid mine would be dull. I am not an open book, especially with strangers. I can be scornful of those who share too much too soon. But wasn’t that the point of the interview? Luckily, I only had a few days to panic, and before I knew it, interview day was upon us.

Melissa put me right at ease. She was like a long lost girlfriend and we had catching up to do. To be the one answering questions, rather than asking them, proved to be an obstacle for me. I can’t not make it about the other person. This probably points to some self esteem issues on my part, as well as a natural journalistic take on life. And really, I had to know more about her project. How did you think of it? How has it been? Have there been any bad interviews? Melissa graciously answered everything, gently steering the conversation back to me. Her interviewing skills are topped only by her writing skills.

So I got through the interview without any rehearsed stories or attempts at being more interesting. I relaxed and had a normal conversation. I was just boring old Kristin, but she still turned it into something remarkable.

For someone who doesn’t classify herself as a writer, Melissa Lombard is indeed a real writer, with the drive, vocabulary, and self-imposed deadlines that make all us writers tick. It’s amazing what can spring forth onto the page when one sets their ego and inhibitions aside like Melissa does. Her project is all about humility and looking deep into the stories of others, finding common connections in all of us. But it starts with her. She is the common thread in the project, the solitary voice through which the stories are spoken. Through Melissa’s eyes, we all look a little better.

So, please read my interview, but don’t stop there. Keep reading, through every cup of coffee and every stranger’s story. I am a big fan and know you will be, too.

It turns out, it only takes a cup of coffee to turn strangers into friends.

Yes, I ate the Big Apple. Well, not the whole thing. Just a small bite, actually. But it was delicious. Before checking out Katie Holmes’ recently closed Dead Accounts on broadway, Mom and I grabbed brunch at Scarlatto.

The cute little Italian restaurant has a good reputation and is happy to cater to the theater crowd, meaning they will get you to the theater on time.

We nibbled on fancy little muffins and rolls while we perused the menu. I opted to order Spaghetti alla Carbonara off the lunch menu, while Mom had a Truffled Mushroom Omelette for brunch. Mine came with a bright salad and the perfect balsamic vinaigrette.

Wow, delicious. The spaghetti was enough for two people; it was so creamy and rich. The omelette was light and luxurious with the taste and scent of truffles permeating every bite. Our kind waiter was attentive and quick. We made it into our seats in plenty of time, forbidden to take any photos of Katie Holmes or the great stage design. After the play we saw Al Pacino outside and raced across the street to snap some photos while the cops yelled at us. I was too short to get a good photo, but thoroughly enjoyed the madness of the crowd. Especially the guy frantically screaming “Serpico!” to get Al’s attention.

Later we wandered around Time Square and checked out Macy’s to see their holiday decorations and shop a little. I bought a Chanel lipgloss and chatted with the salesgirls about Hurricane Sandy. The city and the people seemed bruised and a little shellshocked but strong.

It was so cold. After walking and enjoying the city for hours, we slept well in our comfortable, modern hotel.

The next day my childlike, nerdish heart sang for joy at the American Museum of Natural History. We checked out the planetarium show, narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. We also saw an IMAX movie about the evolution of flight with cute little animated flying dinosaurs and spent the afternoon walking around checking out exhibits.

We had just enough time to grab some falafel and pizza and head back home. NYC, until we meet again, I love you. Hope I return soon.

A little overdue, but since I have a friend heading to South Korea next week, I thought I’d better hurry up and get this posted. Let this post serve as a tiny introduction of the wonders you will be trying. The memory of this great meal is tempering my jealousy…slightly.

During my trip back home a couple months ago my mother and I spent a couple days in NYC. We made the most of our time and did lots of fun things, and one of my favorites was our delicious meal in Koreatown. I had selected a restaurant I wanted to try in advance, and judging by the crowd, I chose well. The blocks that make up Koreatown are lined with plenty of enticing and great smelling options. I hope to hit them all one day, but on this day we went to miss Korea BBQ.

My mom had never eaten Korean, but she is open-minded and was up for a culinary adventure. She didn’t bat her cute little mostly-vegan eyelashes at me grilling my own beef at the table. But first, we started with a popular street food in Seoul, the Mung Bean Pancake. Sometimes made with pork, the pancake we ordered was made with mung beans, onions, and kimchi. Crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and served with a soy vinegar sauce, it was a great start to our meal.

We also sampled the plentiful Banchan, or side dishes of kimchi, pickled vegetables, tofu and other delights. This is what makes eating Korean so special to me. Different places do banchan differently, so every new restaurant is a chance to try new banchan. They are usually light and pretty healthy, with flavors ranging from sweet to sour to really spicy. Yum!

We also shared a crisp salad and noodles in a warm seafood broth.

For our main entrees, we opted to try miss Korea BBQ’s take on two classics. I had the Bulgogi, thin strips of marinated beef that quickly cooked on the table. It was served on the grill with a tasty broth, chock full of exotic mushrooms and veggies. Damn, this was so good! So savory and satisfying. This is the kind of dish that leaves you pleasantly full, not bloated or “stuffed.”

Mom had the Seafood Bibimbap. Bibimbap means “mixed rice” and is a delicious bowl of goodness. The sizzling hot stone pot gives the rice a crispy texture. Then it’s topped with vegetables, marinated meat, and a raw egg. The whole thing is vigorously stirred before eating. This hot and spicy comfort food pleased Mom, which pleased me.

We were so happy with our meal, and loved the chic decor and friendly, efficient service. The staff bustled around taking care of us. Rather than one waiter, we were served by three or four different people who helped cook the bulgogi and stirred the bibimbap. We weren’t rushed, yet didn’t have to wait long for anything, including our table.

Next time I travel back home I’ll be sure to stop back at miss Korea and maybe some of her neighbors. What are some of your Korean favorites?

Oh, boy. Are we back here already? This year really seemed to fly by. Was it already a whole year ago that I did a quick end of year post and some resolutions? Guess it’s time to do it again.

2012 was a big year. The presidential election and London Olympics kept us entertained for a while. I was glad when both were over. This year brought us Hunger Games movie madness, the close of Twilight movie madness, and the loss of a Beastie Boy. We gained Gangnam Style, and new movies from Woody Allen, Tim Burton, and Quentin Tarantino, three of my favorites.

In Austin, the growth of the city has exploded, with a wait list to get into the city and apartments and condo construction happening everywhere. With the death of Leslie, some would say Austin’s weirdness died. We’re expanding, changing, getting better and getting worse. I’m happy to see the prosperity and sad to see some of the charm slipping away.

Personally, it was a year of growth and change, as well. I left a fulltime job to pursue freelance work and while I don’t know that I’ll do this forever, it’s been the right work at the right time. I traveled a bit, got a new laptop, a new camera, and new blog design. I joined the Austin Food Blogger Alliance and made some great new blogger friends. In the new year I’ll be serving on the board as Education Chair and look forward to making a real contribution to this amazing organization. I participated in Createathon and Blogathon, and will happily do both again.

Blogwise, I had a good year. My readership grew by leaps and bounds, and I gained a large international readership for my pop culture posts. My Mad Men and Breaking Bad recaps were especially popular, so I’ll continue that format indefinitely and consider taking on new shows. I’m working on a list of blog goals for 2013, so be on the lookout for some fun changes.

I have some personal goals for the year, too. All of my goals from last year still stand:

• I resolve to live healthier. Eat more raw vegetables. Get more exercise. Get more sleep. Drink more water.
• I resolve to read more.
• I resolve to procrastinate less.
• I resolve to be more patient, more compassionate, and less judgmental.
• I resolve to find balance in my life.

And I’m adding some new ones:

• I resolve to be more financially responsible.
• I resolve to curse less. I’d like to stop altogether eventually.
• I resolve to be a kinder person.
• I resolve to learn my camera settings. And start learning some coding.
• I resolve to not walk around with chipped nail polish.
• I resolve to tweet less. Or more. I’m not sure yet.

I hope 2013 is your best year yet, dear friends. Here’s to us. Cheers!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying the day off from work and celebrating in your favorite way. I’m relaxing, reading, making pancakes, and enjoying the mild weather in Austin. My dreams of a white Christmas faded years ago and have been replaced with flip flops and year round sunscreen application.

Anyway, the change of climate hasn’t dampened my decorating enthusiasm. Mr. Betty and I take pride in our rad ornament collection and last year I gave a rundown of some of our favorites. We added some new guys to our tree this year:

After not having a tree topper for as long as I can remember, we found this awesome cardinal. You can’t tell from the photo, but it’s huge. Like, as big as your head.

I’d like to think our new shark and sneaker reflect our personal style:

A couple nights ago we headed over to Mozart’s Coffee Roasters to check out their light show. While crowded, it wasn’t the insane chaos of the Trail of Lights.

Mozart’s is one of our homesick comfort spots. There aren’t a ton of places to sit on the water in Austin, and Mozart’s sprawling decks make us feel right at home. And they really go all out for the holidays, with lights dangling everywhere. It feels like a caffeinated wonderland. The light show starts at the top of the hour and lasts about 15 minutes. Each of the five or six songs had a different theme and little show. Very pretty, and the hot cocoa and cider were delicious. This lasts till New Year’s, so there’s still plenty of time to go.

The palm trees are next door at the Hula Hut and worth the visit on their own. Aren’t they the coolest?

After two years of darkness, Austin has its Trail of Lights back! The glowing light displays in Zilker Park are what make it feel like Christmas, despite the 80° weather. Mr. Betty and I showed up early (mistake) on opening night (mistake) and waited in the crowd of thousands as the time ticked away. But finally, an hour late, they opened the gates and the crowd flooded through the majestic entrance tunnel. We slowly shuffled through, oohing and aahing, quickly forgetting about the long wait.

There are lots of fun little scenes, each sponsored by a great local company. My favorites include: Where the Wild Things Are, armadillos, dinosaurs, Candy Land, and outer space.

I also like the creepy celebrity elves. I laughed as I heard a dad explain to his daughter that they were vampires. They do kind of resemble tombstones, don’t they?

But the thing I love the most are the trees. I can’t imagine how much work it took to cover each huge tree with so many lights. I could gaze at them for hours.

There are plenty of places to stop along the trail for hot cocoa, food, souvenirs, or good causes to donate some cash…which you should do, since there’s no charge to get into the Trail of Lights. Mr. Betty and I stopped for some Chi’Lantro and witnessed lots of people chowing down on barbecue, kettle corn and big honkin’ turkey legs.

This is one of my favorite holiday traditions and I’m so glad it’s back. It lasts until December 23rd, so if you haven’t been yet, GO!

My sisters and I have a tradition whenever I’m back in town: Sushi at Tokyo. Our men come with us and we make a big night of it, ordering tons of sushi and consuming lots of bubbly beverages. It’s one of my favorite things to do and I have fond memories at this little BYOB sushi restaurant in Rio Grande, NJ.

On my recent trip home we continued the tradition and I brought my camera. Here’s what we ate. Edamame, Shrimp Gyoza, and Avocado Sensation. The latter was described as a salad, so we were delighted when it was brought out and looked like a volcano.

Next we had an Asparagus and Beef Roll, Yaki Nasu, and delicious sushimi marinating in a vinegar mixture.

We sampled a selection of rolls and I didn’t catch the name of everything. The first two are the Lonely Angel Roll and the Jalapeño Roll. The others…I’m not sure. So good though.

Does this seem like a lot of food already? Yes, it was. But then we got the glorious boat. I want that boat to sail back into my life. The sushi at Tokyo is so fresh. And the prices are great. We walked away from this meal, generous tip included, for $35 a person. I know! I can’t believe it either. If you are anywhere near the Jersey Shore, you should go right now.

I love this little gem.

It wasn’t my intention to take a break from blogging while I went on vacation. But stuff happens. I was busy working, busy with family, busy traveling, and busy being sick. Like, really, really, sick. The sick part sucked, but the trip was still good. I’ll be devoting some upcoming Madbetty posts to my adventures at the Jersey Shore, NYC, and Philadelphia. Here’s a preview:

My new little brother, Sonny Boy, is the cutest baby beagle ever. My other beagle brother, Stevie Ray, has turned out to be quite the sweet beagle mentor. I spent lots of time cuddling with both of these darlings.

I also spent some quality cat time with Bailey, Leo, and Lilly.

Mr. Betty and I ate lots of fresh seafood.

We made sure to stop at our favorite neighborhood pizza joint and enjoyed some thin, Jersey slices.

We wandered around Victorian Cape May and spent time at my favorite place in the world, the ocean. I can smell it when I look at the photos. It’s hard living so far away from the beach.

We paid lots of tolls. No big deal for Jersey peeps. Try to get a grip, Austin.

I took tons of restaurant photos, harassing cooks, waiters, and bartenders for this blog. They were good sports for the most part.

We were very cold but had some hot chocolate to warm up.

We shopped at places we miss desperately, namely Wawa and Trader Joe’s.

A whirlwind trip to New York City gave me a taste of crazy city life. I love it so much. The noise, the subways, the dirt…all of it. Highlights included spaghetti carbonara, a trip to Koreatown, dinosaur bones, and a Broadway show.

Philadelphia highlights included a night at the famous Monk’s Cafe and a mind-blowing dinner at Garces Trading Company.

It was a fun trip back home. Don’t worry, we brought back some Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy for you, Austin.

Good to go home and good to be back.