SXSW is over.

Austin’s biggest party is over, and real life begins again. This was my best SXSW experience yet, a well-rounded affair of movies, music, food and celebrities. What else is there?

While there’s much that makes SXSW disagreeable, I enjoy it for one reason: For one (very long) week every year, Austin is transformed into bustling metropolis. I’m sure New York City offers the same amount of energy and entertainment on any given week, but to be in the middle of Texas and have the world pay you a visit . . . well, it’s special.

For the second year in a row, I worked as a photographer for the festival, giving me access to all of the interactive and film offerings via the ubiquitous-but still coveted-badge. Over the course over the next few days, I’ll write about What I Learned, What I Heard, What I Saw, What I Ate and Who I Saw.