Here Are All the Tips and Tricks You Need to Know for SXSW

SXSW is just an excuse for us Texas-loving folks to have lengthy conversations on everything we <3 about one of our favorite cities in the Lone Star State. While the fest in general is all about tech + music + film, it’s so much more than that. We’ve given you some peeks at Austin in the past (hey, Re:Make Austin!), but now it’s time to give you our in-depth, pro tip-filled guide to one of the coolest cities. Whether you head to the Texas town for the fest or just for a vacay, pack up the essentials and get your party on with these tips and tricks for SXSW sanity.

Eat Here

Tex-Mex: Tacos are acceptable for breakfast, lunch and dinner (+ fourth meal if the hangry feels arise) in Austin. Not only is Tex-Mex the best hangover cure, but with plenty of options to choose from you could literally indulge in only south-of-the-border meals your entire SXSW visit. Some of our team’s fave spots for getting their Mexican grub on are Tacodeli, Maudie’s, Matt’s Famous El Rancho + Guero’s Taco Bar. Need more options? We’ve got ’em; hit up Zocolo Cafe for low key, affordable (and delicious)Tex-Mex. For amazing queso and margaritas, the spot to be is Chuy’s Restaurant. If you’re into a different spin on Mexican food with a lakeside view go to the Hula Hut and order a pipeline enchilada; you’ll thank us later. B+C Tip: Order the trailer park tacos from Torchy’s Tacos. You’re welcome.

Late Night Eats: Both Brit and our channel marketing manager Victoria stepped in for these recommendations. They both suggest hitting up Kerbey Lane Cafe for pancakes and Kerbey queso. Get ’em both or you aren’t really doing Austin right. Another spot they both agree on is Magnolia Cafe (fondly called Mags by locals), where pancakes are as big as your face according to Brit. And the queso, aka Mag Mud, (that’s queso with black beans + avo for the uninitiated) is to die for. If pancakes aren’t your thing, swing by 24 Diner for chicken + waffles because that combo is perfect no matter what the clock says. B+C Tip: If you’re into any of these three spots mentioned, you can hit ’em up around the clock as they’re all open 24 hours a day.

Burgers: Hopdoddy is THE place to go for “OMG-SO-GOOD burgers,” according to Victoria. Though totally worth it, prepare yourself for the line. Especially if you spike your Nutella pretzel milkshake and order some truffle fries ;) If lines aren’t your thing, you can always hit up the cool atmosphere and delicious burger options at The Tavern. B+C Tip: Skip the South Congress location of Hopdoddy (too much of a SXSW crowd) and hop in a car to the West Anderson Lane spot for a shorter wait time.

BBQ: As if your “To Eat” list isn’t already long enough, you also should probably (AKA DEFINITELY) get some BBQ while in the heart of Texas. Might we recommend Franklin Barbecue (there will be a line), Salt Lick (grab a car for the best Austin has to offer in BBQ), County Line (mm mm good) or Stubb’s BBQ (music + BBQ = success!). B+C Tip: Try Rudy’s Country Store + Bar-B-Q because you haven’t lived til you’ve tried their cream corn and peach cobbler. We never said Austin was the place to be for your diet ;)

Sweets: Austin is filled with sweet treats — take it from our design girl + TX-native, Rosee. Donuts, you say? Pick up a half dozen (or a baker’s) at Gourdough’s Donuts. Or get a dozen of cupcakes from Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop instead. While it’s fine to wait in line for some cookies, why not get ’em delivered from Tiff’s Treats? If ice cream is your thing, check out the Mexican vanilla or the sweet cream with dark chocolate chunks and strawberries crushed in at Amy’s Ice Creams (P.S. they also have alcohol-inspired flavors!). B+C Tip: Guess the movie quote of the day at Amy’s and you’ll get a free crush-in your ice cream. Sorry, no phone cheating allowed.

Extra Eats: Looking for the best Pho of your life? Of course you are, who are we kidding! Look no further than Elizabeth Street Cafe, which, according to Rosee, is super Instagram-worthy (the food and the restaurant). If you’re trying to feel like Sandra Bullock’s BFF, stop by her restaurant Bess Bistro for great food and drinks. Running late to a panel? Pick up some fast food Japanese from Zen. Or if you’re planning on having a slow day and actually getting some work done, hang out at Mozart’s Coffee Roasters. B+C Tip: Rosee recommends all of the McGuire Moorman Hospitality restaurants as they are all “on point.” Brit suggests Moonshine Patio Bar + Grill for the “A-MA-ZING FOOD.”

Brunch: Sometimes you can’t make the early panels so you hit up brunch instead, duh. Get the crab cakes and a bloody Mary at South Congress Cafe. If their special carrot cake french toast is on the menu you better believe you’re ordering that too.

Sandwiches: Sandra Bullock’s bistro may be a little too much for you, so try out her sandwich shop — Walton’s Fancy and Staple — instead. B+C Tip: Pick up small bites around the clock during SXSW at the Whole Foods HQ off 6th Street, where there’s free food, events, hydration and the chance for some chill time.

Ditch Downtown: Considering the Downtown/Congress area is going to be packed for SXSW, do yourself a favor and try spots outside of that neighborhood. Some B+C pizza recs include Pinthouse Pizza for a slice and a beer, Homeslice Pizza or Mangia Pizza (it’s stuffed!) because you can never really have enough pizza. Another great find outside the immediate SXSW crowd is Josephine House, an MMH goldmine. As if we could forget about fried chicken (never), swing by Lucy’s Fried Chicken for some locally sourced southern greatness.

Drink Here

Sixth Street (or as some locals call it “Dirty Sixth”) is home to the best nightlife scene in all of Texas during and after SXSW. While it’s super cool that the entire street is shut down for late nights to allow people to scatter from bar to bar — or pick up some drunk food — sometimes that can get a little… old. Instead hop over to Rainey Street for a more laid-back hipster vibe. Here you’ll find spots like Container Bar, Clive (our editorial director, Lisa’s, fave), Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden (which has more than 100 beers on tap plus the largest sausage selection in Austin) and Bar 96.

If you are gung-ho about hanging on 6th, we’ve got some options for you: Easy Tiger (beer garden), Buckshots (shots shots shots shots shots shots!), Barbarella (MoTown, get down!), Maggie Mae’s (two floors with live music) and Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar (for obvious reasons). Basically Rainey Street is where to go for casual networking opportunities and 6th Street is where you go to party hard if you don’t care you’ll be waking up late for panels. B+C Tip: Live on Twitter to keep up to date with where the best parties, happy hours + free drinks are. Then GO THERE.

It’s fun to indulge in beer and shots while in Austin, but there’s another drink you need to consume while in the city: margaritas. Don’t leave Austin without one. Switch it up even more and go get a Mexican martini from Trudy’s. They’re so good and strong that you’re limited to two.

Not everyone is into bars and clubs for their drinks, so swing by the Paramount Theatre for a drink and performances, concerts and movies premieres during the festival. Or go get some laughs and a beverage at Esther’s Follies.

Shop Here

We know you’re there for all the music, film and tech you can indulge in (plus food and drinks) but there’s always time for some shopping. Some of the best can be found on South Congress Street, which is filled with vintage shops, boutiques and awesome places to pick up a pair of cowboy boots. We recommend Feather’s Vintage Boutique, a beautifully curated vintage shop with prices that won’t take fun away from the rest of the weekend. Rosee recommends you swing by and say hi to her friend Lauren who will help you find everything from one-of-a-kind screen printed tees to killer accessories.

You can’t leave Austin without scoring some flawless boots, so stop by Allens Boots to pick up a pair that will make any outfit look bomb.

B+C Tip: Hit up Tyler’s to get your hands on your very own “Keep Austin Weird” shirt.

Go Here

Sometimes you just need to escape from the SXSW crowd. One of the best places to get a little quiet time is Town Lake for jogging, walking, running, biking, kayaking, etc. If you’ve got a car, drive to Mount Bonnel or the 360 Bridge Overlook for gorgeous views of the city.

You know what else is beautiful? The State Capital and the tower at UT. Swing by at night for a sight for your eyes.

B+C Tip: Skip a panel and hang out under the South Congress bridge around sunset to get an eyeful of flying bats. Then head to Guadalupe Street (aka the drag or guad), the hot spot for the UT Austin crowd that’s filled with shops and restaurants.

SXSW Tips

We’ve got some SXSW pros at Brit + Co and here is what they suggest to successfully survive the fest.

  • Arrive early if you have a car since parking will be full (B+C Tip: Though super walkable, if you want to get around faster take a petty cab + leave a nice, big tip!)
  • Have your charger with you at all times
  • Keep an eye out for free shows and comb through Eventbrite and Twitter (handles to keep an eye on: @southbyfreenoms, @sxswp + @d0512)
  • Skip happy hour and go to yoga to network instead; check out Black Swan (B+C Tip: It’s donation based, so slip the instructors a $5)

Our final B+C Tip comes courtesy of Lisa. She recommends heading to Austin when SXSW isn’t going on because there is so much to do and see that should be experienced without huge crowds.

Are you heading to Austin for SXSW? Where will you be heading while there? Let us know in the comments.

Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is back for another season of snooping and stalking in New York City, and thanks to the new You season 5 trailer, we know exactly when this new TV show is returning. In addition to showing us characters from the past like Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail), Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti), and Marienne Bellamy (Tati Gabrielle), Joe straight-up says goodbye to the one person who's always been there: you. Yep, Netflix went there.

“Every season they manage to find new space to make it interesting and relevant,” Penn Badgley told Tudum. “And this season, I think somehow coming back to where it started allowed for it to just become grounded in the way that it needs to also have this kind of spectacular finish.”

Here's the latest update on Penn Badgley's You season 5.

The You season 5 trailer teases the beginning of the end.

The official You season 5 trailer talks about a universal truth: the fact that love tests us. (Gosh, don't I know it.) And TBH, it kind of just reemphasizes that Joe is cuh-razy.

We also get a look at his new love interest Kate, and hear that this "is the last time" Joe's going to be tested. Run girl!!

"Hello, you. Do you remember me? Cause I remember you," Joe asks in the You season 5 teaser, over shots of New York City and Mooney's Books. "Here we are together again, back to where it began."

"A lot has happened these many years together," he continues. "Identities, cities, loves, complications." The trailer is a walk down memory lane for viewers and for Joe as he remembers Beck, Love, and Marienne — and locking them up. Plus some fights and escapes he made along the way.

"All that led me here to now, to where I as always meant to be," he says. "And the one constant, the one thing that has always been there for me, is you. You who have been there the whole time and will be there with me to the end. Goodbye, you."

Okay, this is totally giving me Black Mirror, metaverse vibes, especially since Joe's in his creepy underground bunker with all that blue lighting. I have chills down my spine just watching this!

Is season 5 of You coming out?

Yes, You season 5 is dropping on Netflix April 24, 2025.

We've been waiting for new episodes since season 4 premiered in 2023, but the writers and stars have been planning Joe's ending for much longer. "We have some ideas that we've been talking about pretty much from the beginning," Sera Gamble told EW when she was showrunner in 2023. "It's really the debate about what kind of justice would be fair and appropriate for a guy like Joe. And then do we believe that he would get that kind of punishment? My short answer is like, maybe not from the American system. But there might be other ways. So that's the stuff we're talking about."

But whatever these writers and directors have up their sleeves, Penn Badgley promises You season 5 will come to a "perfect" conclusion. “I would love for people to just be like, ‘Wow, it’s over and I feel good and I don’t want to watch it again,'" he told Harper's Bazaarin March of 2023. And honestly, a perfect ending is all TV fans can hope for these days, right?

Who's in the You season 5 cast?

The final season of You stars Penn Badgley, Madeline Brewer, Anna Camp, Charlotte Richie, and Griffin Matthews.

Are you excited for the final season of You? I cannot wait to see the way Penn Badgley and Netflix bring the show to a close. Follow us on Facebook for the latest You season 5 news — and updates on all your favorite TV shows!

This post has been updated.

Every Gilmore Girls rewatch gives us new details to love about Lorelai, Rory, and town of Stars Hollow: Lorelai's amazing sense of style, the cozy fall setting, and all the underrated characters we know like the back of our hands. But there are also plenty of moments in the series' 7-season run that fans don't like at all. Here are just a few.

Keep reading for the 10 worst moments in Gilmore Girls, from Rory's multiple affairs to Lorelai just up and ditching Max.

1. Rory sleeping with Dean while he was married to Lindsay.

Warner Bros. Television

The end of season 4 marks one of the first big plot points Gilmore Girls fans hate. Rory loses her virginity to Dean, who (for some reason) she calls "my Dean"...despite the fact he's married to Lindsay. It's a huge moral lapse and shows that Rory genuinely thinks she can always get her way.

2. Rory's affair with Logan in 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.'

Saeed Adyani/Netflix

You'd think Rory would learn her lesson after hooking up with Dean blew up in her face...but apparently not because in A Year in the Life, she's having an affair with an engaged Logan. Come ON y'all, what are you doing!?

3. Rory dropping out of Yale & stealing a yacht.

Warner Bros. Television

While we're on the topic of Logan and Rory, her impulsive decision to drop out of Yale and commit theft in season 5 (after Logan's dad tells Rory she doesn't have what it takes to be a good journalist) nearly derails her entire life.

4. Lorelai and Rory's rift.

Warner Bros. Television

There's really a butterfly effect in place here because after Lorelai learns Rory drops out of Yale, they have a huge falling out...and barely speak for months. The fact that the entire TV show hinges on Lor and Rory's relationship, and their love for each other, makes this one of the worst Gilmore Girls moments.

5. Literally anything to do with Lorelai and Christopher.

Warner Bros. Television

Christopher is the ultimate Gilmore Girls villain, and he proves over and over again that he won't be there for the Gilmore girls. And that's what makes Lorelai constantly returning to him — especially when someone as constant and caring as Luke is RIGHT THERE — so frustrating.

6. Rory being a horrible journalist.

Warner Bros. TV

Not having pitches prepared and falling asleep while listening to a source? You know what...maybe Mitchum was right and Rory really doesn't have what it takes to be a journalist.

7. Rory missing Lorelai's graduation.

Warner Bros. Television

After Lorelai sacrificed so much for Rory, GG fans agree that Rory choosing her mom's graduation day to visit Jess in New York (when she could have chosen any other day) is one of the worst Gilmore Girls moments. And not only did she miss the ceremony, she lost Lorelai's present too!

8. Jackson's vasectomy disaster.

Warner Bros. Television

When Melissa McCarthy got pregnant in real life, Amy Sherman-Palladino decided to write it into the show...and decided that Jackson would lie about getting a vasectomy and then get Sookie pregnant. Such a strange and icky plotline that viewers are not fans of.

9. Luke hiding April from Lorelai.

Suzanne Hanover/Netflix

Gilmore Girls lovers all agree that Luke is one of their favorite characters...and that the way he handles learning he has a daughter leaves something to be desired. Plus, Luke hiding April's existence from Lorelai? I understand where the Reddit user who considers the plot "unnecessary and lazy" is coming from.

10. Lorelai ditching Max ahead of their wedding.

Warner Bros. Television

Max was genuinely such a good guy (not to mention the fact he proposes to Lor with a thousand yellow daisies!!!), which makes the fact she randomly ghosts him ahead of their wedding so much worse.

11. Lane getting pregnant.

Saeed Adyani/Netflix

First off, let me say that of course there's nothing wrong with wanting to start a family. But GG fans have always felt frustrated by the fact all Lane wanted was to be drummer, then had to shelve those dreams for a bit when she learned she was expecting. Why couldn't she have her cake and eat it too?!

What's your pick for the worst Gilmore Girls moment? Let us know on Facebook!

Spring is my favorite time of year not only for the warmer temperatures, but because it signals a much-needed change in my wardrobe. Where heavy coats and turtlenecks were once in rotation (or, let's be real, t-shirts and sweatpants), light layers and flowy dresses come out to play.

Even in light of this transitional time, I still find myself reaching for boots to pair with any and every outfit I put together! There's a perfect pair of spring boots for you, too, whether you like a Western-inspired look or a more practical walking boot.

Scroll on for the best of this season's spring boots to step out in utter style!

Nordstrom

Dingo Harlee Moto Boots

An easy way to transition moto boots from winter to spring is to snag 'em in a lighter color, as opposed to an all-black pair. These mid-calf boots from Dingo have all the classic details (that go with every outfit!), from the hooped harness to the top buckle.

Anthropologie

Frye Campus Boots

You can also never go wrong with this beloved boot from Frye. The light, banana-colored leather is quite literally the perfect hue for wearing with everything in your spring wardrobe!

Nordstrom

Madewell The Darcy Ankle Boots

If taller spring boots don't speak to your style (or your comfort levels), ankle boots are the way to go! This sleek, pointed pair comes in a handful of colors – for spring, opt for lighter shades, but if you're shopping for an all-season boot, black will never fail.

SeaVees

SeaVees Bolinas Off Shore Boots

These 100% waterproof natural rubber boots will come in super handy on rainy spring days! They're extremely easy to put on (thanks to the pull tabs) and walk in since they're fashioned with a memory foam footbed.

Tecovas

Tecovas The Cassie Boots

Western wear is one of my personal favorite fashion trends, so I will always support cowgirl-esque boots like these for any season – but these could look so stunning with a swingy spring dress! The sheen of these leather cuties ultimately make them more fashion-forward than your typical Western boot, plus they're comfy enough to wear on a night out.

Nordstrom

Dingo Anarchy Leather Booties

These adorable booties give the moto energy your spring 'fits are craving, all without the restriction of a traditional tall boot! While you could shop 'em in black, brown, or olive, this rustic red color might just be exactly what you need to infuse a bit of color into your spring looks.

Free People

Free People Hybrid Harness Boots

Okay, yes! These boots are downright dreamy. Not quite a full boot, they boast hints of clogs and loafers, too, offering a playful preppy look – just the energy we all need for the new season! I would style them with some socks, a mini skirt, and light sweater to step out on the town this spring.

Rothy's

Rothy's The Classic Boots

Rothy's boots are ideal for the commuter or just the comfy shoe-lover. Fashioned with a bespoke insole, they offer "unbelievable, cushion-like comfort" with every step. Plus, the material is made with a bit of stretch for added room. This leopard print pair would make the perfect statement shoe for springtime, though they also come in a few other solid colorways.

Urban Outfitters

Steve Madden Rocky Buckled Tall Boots

If your personal style leans more edgy, you're likely already in love with these buckled boots. Though they make a perfect match for baggy or cuffed jeans in the wintertime, you should totally show off the whole shoe for spring by wearing them with a mini skirt or dress!

Anthropologie

Matisse Sienna Western Boots

These Western boots are everything! The floral stitching recalls spring in the most stylish way, plus, thanks to the solid black colorway, you'll be able to pair them seamlessly with the rest of your wardrobe.

Urban Outfitters

Hunter Micah Lug Sole Rain Boots

It can be a real challenge to balance style and practicality when ti comes to spring boots. Luckily, with these Hunter boots, you don't have to sacrifice either. The lug sole and waterproof outer can easily tackle rainy terrain while the cushioned footbed ensures comfort along the way.

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