Yao Xiao
by Kate BlackYao Xiao is an artist and illustrator based in New York City. Xiao was kind enough to beautifully illustrate a timeline that takes our Program Guide through the years of SXSW Interactive up to now. Can't wait to see it? Experience it IRL in the printed version of the Program Guide you will receive at Promotional Materials when you pick up your SXSW Interactive, Gold or Platinum registration OR see it in the digital version of the SXSW Interactive Program Guide (coming soon!!). Meanwhile, feast your eyes on an example of her gorgeous illustration style below.

Following a strong debut at SXSW 2012, #FEED powered by Twitter is returning as an official Interactive lounge to the Austin Museum of Art at the Jones Center March 8th-12th.

#FEED features immersive, interactive art installations pulling in real time hashtag-driven social media content, summits and meetups from industry leaders. #FEED also offers a rooftop wellness sanctuary to recharge each morning and dance parties @NIGHT.

Once again, GroupMe is serving up free grilled cheese and beer for its users at the GroupMe Grill, located at 3rd and Trinity. Stop by for a sandwich and a drink, and meet the team that makes GroupMe while you're at it. They're really fun!

Just show your phone at the door!

Friday, March 9—Monday, March 11
3rd and Trinity
12pm-5pm

2013 Showcasing Band Passion Pit. Photo courtesy Jason Nocito.

Taco Bell® will be handing the cameras and control over to its fans to film its first-ever Rockumentary starring Passion Pit and Wildcat! Wildcat!, culminating with their live performances during a Feed the Beat® event at this year’s South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals. Through Taco Bell’s social media fan base and a unique partnership with Twitter, the brand will support the creation of an experimental film, Feed the Beat®: SXSW 2013, under the direction of acclaimed documentarian Sam Jones – using footage captured and shared by passionate fans socially and showcasing great music.

Courtesy JW Walthall A gathering of gourmet food trucks and trailers, SouthBites is excited to announce the official selected eateries brought to you by local Austin Top Chef Paul Qui and SXSW!

In “Qui’s Corner” get a taste of Paul’s top choices – Cazamance, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, DUK Truck and East Side King. Filling out the rest of SouthBites will be local favorites featuring The Butcher’s Son, Chi’lantro, Dock & Roll Diner, Foreign & Domestic, Hey Cupcake!, Phamily Bites, The Seedling Truck, Sugar Shack BBQ, The Waffle Bus, House of Cards & Sounds Australia, as well as The Peached Tortilla in collaboration with NBC’s Hannibal.

Yuri Milner
courtesy the speakerRussian-born entrepreneur Yuri Milner made headlines last week when he announced the $3 million dollar BreakThrough Prize in Life Sciences. Awarded annually for the past 11 years, this prize will recognize excellence in research aimed at curing intractable diseases and extending human life. Also involved in this remarkable new effort at rewarding scientific innovation are tech notables such as Sergey Brin, Anne Wojcicki, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan and Art Levinson.