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F1 US Grand Prix Austin Weekend – October 23-25, 2026

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Three Days at COTA: 2026 F1 Austin US Grand Prix Weekend

COTA F1 Weekend: What We Watched

Friday

Time Session or Event
9:45 a.m. Masters Historic practice session
11:00 a.m. F1 car presentation
11:50 a.m. MotoGP practice laps
12:30 p.m. Formula 1 Free Practice 1 (FP1)
2:55 p.m. Masters Historic qualifying
4:00 p.m. Formula 1 Free Practice 2 (FP2)
5:50 p.m. F1 Academy opening race

Saturday

Time Session or Event
9:10 a.m. Porsche qualifying
10:10 a.m. Masters Historic race
11:40 a.m. MotoGP demonstration
12:30 p.m. Formula 1 Free Practice 3 (FP3)
2:40 p.m. Porsche Carrera Cup
4:00 p.m. Formula 1 qualifying

Sunday

Time Session or Event
10:40 a.m. Porsche Carrera Cup
12:00 p.m. F1 Academy feature race
1:00 p.m. F1 driver parade
2:44 p.m. National anthem
3:00 p.m. Formula 1 Grand Prix

My top 5:

  1. Formula 1 Grand Prix (duh)
  2. F1 driver parade
  3. Porsche Carrera Cup
  4. Masters Historic Race
  5. F1 Academy Feature Race

Watching the Screens Versus Watching the Track

One of the more interesting technical observations from the weekend was how far behind the action appeared on the trackside screens and TV broadcast.

My impression was that the trackside screens were approximately five seconds behind the live action, while the Apple TV+ broadcast was roughly 30 seconds behind.

When you’re physically at the circuit, your view of the track is limited by where you’re sitting. You can watch the action directly in front of you, but the screens help you follow what’s happening around the rest of the circuit. The TV broadcast offers a more complete view, with additional camera angles and race coverage, but it comes with a noticeable delay.

It can be a little confusing trying to follow all three perspectives at once. You’re watching one section of the track in real time, checking the screens to see what’s happening elsewhere, and potentially hearing or seeing something on the broadcast that hasn’t happened yet from your perspective. I found myself having to decide which version of the action to pay attention to. And then there were the radio broadcasts for in-person fans! There were so many different ways to follow the race.

The Fan Community: Watching at Home vs. Being There

I didn’t feel like I was immersed in a particularly energetic crowd. There were moments when the cheers were coordinated, but overall, the atmosphere was quieter than I expected. People stood up and cheered at the start and finish of the race and during key moments, but considering this was a major sporting event lasting more than 90 minutes, I expected to feel more of that collective excitement.

Most of the time, I was more aware of the crowd because of how close everyone was sitting, the conversations happening around me, and the seemingly endless parade of people getting up to grab drinks, buy snacks, or use the restrooms. There were thousands of people around, but I didn’t always feel like I was part of a huge, unified crowd.

The atmosphere wasn’t necessarily bad. It was just different from what I had imagined a Formula 1 race would feel like in person. I’d heard the roar of the crowd at Turns 13–15 during Mexican Grand Prix broadcasts and seen the sea of Ferrari red on TV, so I expected a little more of that collective energy at COTA.

Food Prices: Budget for an Event Weekend

Day Recorded food and drinks
Friday $82.75 (chicken fried rice, beef bowl, 2 lemonades)
Saturday $81.60 (affogato, 2 burgers, 1 lemonade)
Sunday $53.21 (2 personal pizzas, 1 lemonade)
Three-day total $217.56

Food at the circuit wasn’t cheap, but it didn’t feel wildly out of line with other sports venues or concert halls. I tipped approximately 10%, and the amounts above reflect the food total plus tax and tip.

My favorite food item: Does affogato count? It was delicious and perfectly sized.

My least favorite food item: The chicken fried rice. It was too salty and tasted like a reheated frozen meal.

My favorite drink: The OG lemonade. There’s a reason we bought it every day. We tried the strawberry lemonade once, and it wasn’t as good. Though they added a lot of ice, and with the physical lemon in the cup, roughly half the contents were liquid and half were ice and lemon, we couldn’t help going back every day for another.

You’ll notice we spent $0 on water. There were water refill stations throughout the venue. Although the official map showed only four locations, we found that refill stations were more frequent and not always where the map indicated.

COTA’s event rules restricted outside beverages, with exceptions and conditions specified by the venue. We brought two empty plastic bottles to refill on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, we arrived with them already filled with ice and water. We didn’t have any issues with security.

We brought only ginger chews on Friday, but packed several protein-rich and fruit snacks on Saturday and Sunday. Security didn’t say anything about them.

We also saw people with small coolers, outside meals, and beer, despite some of these items appearing on the prohibited-items list. A beer at the bar stations cost $15.

Bringing snacks meant we could supplement the one meal and one drink we bought at the circuit each day. That helped us get through the 10 to 11 hours we spent there without buying every snack on-site and spending even more on overpriced food.

Almost 18 Miles of Walking

Day Steps Recorded distance
Friday 16,081 6.07 miles
Saturday 17,573 6.73 miles
Sunday 13,282 5.13 miles
Total 46,936 17.93 miles

That walking included much more than exploring the circuit. It also included the walks between transportation, security, grandstands, food areas, tram stops, and exits, along with wandering around the different COTA areas between on-track sessions.

There was a noticeable lack of shade, cooling fans, and air-conditioned spaces available to general-admission spectators and those using the standard grandstands. Announcements reminded us to stay hydrated and seek shade, but finding shade was often difficult unless you had access to a paid hospitality area. The advice to stay cool didn’t always match the facilities available to do so.

Transportation: Getting To and From COTA

 Transportation was one of the biggest factors in our weekend experience, second only to choosing where to sit each day.

We used the Expo Center shuttle all three days and parked there for free. A three-day shuttle pass cost $103 per person. Getting to COTA each morning was relatively efficient once we boarded. The bus ride took approximately 25 to 30 minutes, although we also had to factor in shuttle boarding, the walk to security, security lines, and the trek to our seats.

Getting back was another story. We waited in line for the school-bus shuttles every evening, and traffic leaving the circuit was stop-and-go. The ride back to the Expo Center took about 40 to 45 minutes each day. I can only imagine how long it took to leave in a personal vehicle, although we didn’t experience the parking-lot traffic ourselves. On-site parking was also extremely expensive, so we never seriously considered it.

Sunday was the most difficult day to leave, as we’d expected for race day. COTA reported an estimated 467,000 attendees across the three-day weekend. We also heard that only two trams were operating Saturday evening, compared with four in the morning, although we couldn’t independently verify those numbers.

Getting to the Shuttle: It Depends on Where You Sit

Our route back to the shuttle varied considerably depending on our seats.

On Friday, we sat near an exit leading toward the shuttle pickup. Even so, it took about 12 to 14 minutes to walk there, followed by a wait to board.

On Saturday, we sat at Turn 1, and on Sunday, we were in the grandstands. From those locations, we had to walk to a tram stop and ride toward the exit, or face a much longer walk around and through the circuit. Walking 30 to 40 minutes might be manageable earlier in the day, but it was much less appealing when thousands of tired spectators were all trying to leave at once. By Sunday, our feet were tired, too!

Saturday: Tram Lines and Confusing Crowd Management

Saturday evening, we waited almost an hour in the tram line at Turn 1. Traffic nearby was crawling, with people leaving the circuit at different turns and walking along the road, further obstructing vehicle movement.

We also saw rental golf carts picking up people who flagged them down from farther back in the line. The drivers told passengers they were working for tips. From what we observed, they weren’t consistently collecting passengers from the front of the queue or prioritizing people waiting in the adjacent ADA line. We couldn’t tell what instructions the drivers had been given, but the arrangement seemed questionable. People who had been waiting in line were being passed over while others managed to get rides by flagging down a cart.

There was no obvious crossing guard where we exited at Turn 1, and signage directing people to the tram queue was unclear. We stood in the sun for around 45 minutes without shade, bathrooms, or water nearby.

Then a tram making a turnaround approached. While it waited for traffic to clear before continuing toward the pickup point, people from the middle and back of the line rushed toward the vehicle and boarded. This cut off people at the front who had been waiting the longest.

It was frustrating to watch people lose their place because the boarding process wasn’t clear. The experience highlighted a broader crowd-management problem. When thousands of tired spectators are trying to leave at once, unclear queues and limited staff direction create confusion and conflict. Clear lines, visible signs, and staff directing people was necessary and lacking.

Sunday: The Longest Trip Back

We knew leaving after Sunday’s race would be chaotic, but the experience was worse than expected.

After the award ceremony, we found a few remaining seats on two trams waiting outside the grandstand exit around 5 p.m. One volunteer told us the tram might sit there for at least an hour before departing. Fortunately, it started moving at 5:35 p.m.

It soon stopped near the end of the parking area. We were told the park had been opened to pedestrian traffic and that walking through would take only about 10 minutes. We got off around 5:45 p.m. and continued on foot.

The closest entrance wouldn’t let us through, so we went around to the main grandstand entrance and continued through COTALAND. The walk from the tram stop to the shuttle queue took about 26 minutes.

To our dismay, the shuttle line was enormous. Its end stretched roughly two-thirds of the way from the shuttle stop toward the entrance of the park.

At 6:25 p.m., we left the line to try getting a rideshare. The quoted priority pickup price of $68 didn’t seem unreasonable compared with what we feared the shuttle wait might be. However, drivers didn’t appear willing to accept rides below a certain price threshold, and we saw estimates around $160. Rideshare didn’t look like a practical alternative, so we returned to the shuttle queue at 6:50 p.m.

We finally boarded at 7:48 p.m. From first joining the queue at 6:16 p.m. to boarding, 92 minutes had passed. That included our 25-minute rideshare detour, but even without it, we spent more than an hour waiting in the shuttle line.

Friday transportation timeline

  • 8:00 a.m. — Arrived at Expo Center
  • 8:30 a.m. — Shuttle loading began
  • 8:35 a.m. — Bus departed
  • 9:00 a.m. — Arrived at COTA
  • 9:25 a.m. — Cleared Amex security
  • 9:40 a.m. — Reached our seats at Turn 15
  • 6:30 p.m. — Left COTA for shuttle pickup
  • 7:00 p.m. — Bus departed COTA
  • 7:40 p.m. — Arrived at Expo Center

Saturday transportation timeline

  • 7:05 a.m. — Arrived at Expo Center
  • 7:30 a.m. — Began boarding the shuttle
  • 7:45 a.m. — Bus departed
  • 8:12 a.m. — Arrived at COTA
  • 8:36 a.m. — Approximate arrival at the main entrance after the 24-minute walk
  • 8:45 a.m. — Cleared Amex security
  • 9:05 a.m. — Reached Turn 1 seats
  • 5:15 p.m. — Started waiting for the tram
  • 6:15 p.m. — Boarded the tram
  • 6:35 p.m. — Waited for the shuttle
  • 6:45 p.m. — Boarded the shuttle
  • 7:30 p.m. — Arrived at Expo Center

Sunday transportation timeline

  • 8:17 a.m. — Arrived at Expo Center
  • 8:25 a.m. — Boarded shuttle
  • 8:56 a.m. — Arrived at COTA
  • 9:10 a.m. — Waited for the tram
  • 9:15 a.m. — Boarded the tram
  • 9:50 a.m. — Reached the grandstands
  • 5:00 p.m. — Started walking to the tram after the race
  • 5:35 p.m. — Tram started moving
  • 5:50 p.m. — Got off the tram and walked through the park
  • 6:16 p.m. — Approximate arrival at the shuttle line
  • 6:25 p.m. — Left the line to consider rideshare
  • 6:50 p.m. — Returned to the back of the shuttle line
  • 7:48 p.m. — Boarded shuttle
  • 8:35 p.m. — Arrived at Expo Center

People Getting in the Way of a Good Time

Some of the most frustrating parts of the weekend wasn’t just with COTA itself but also with how some spectators behaved around everyone else.

One thing I noticed about the grandstand seating was how much the view could depend on the people sitting or standing around you. When spectators stood up during exciting moments, it was understandable, but it could make it difficult to follow the action from behind them.

Even when everyone was seated, I sometimes had trouble seeing over the rows in front of me. The seats are stacked, but as someone on the shorter side, I occasionally found that people’s heads were directly in my sightline. I had expected a more open view of the turns, but in reality, my view was sometimes more limited than anticipated.

Smoking was another frustrating part of the crowd experience. I saw people smoking in several areas of the venue each day, including prohibited areas where hundreds of other spectators were nearby. There weren’t many people doing it, but the lack of apparent enforcement was noticeable.

Food areas had their own share of etiquette problems. We noticed people occupying tables or leaving belongings, including ‘ghost’ hats, to hold spaces while they were away or waiting in line for their food. Taking a short break from a table is one thing, but effectively reserving an entire space while everyone else is looking for somewhere to sit is frustrating. COTA could help by providing more seating.

Venue Issues

Shade is something we considered when choosing seats and why we were far up in the grandstands on Sunday (where it’s covered!). You’re outside for most of the day, and if your section is exposed, you’re sitting in the sun for hours. We actually got lucky with cooler temperatures and some cloud cover this race weekend, but it was still hot. This is Texas, after all!

General admission is a little different because people can choose their own viewing spots and adjust where they sit or stand. We noticed plenty of people using umbrellas on the hill or using the bridges to shield them from the sun.

On Friday, we encountered porta potties that had run out of toilet paper and had no water for hand washing before midday. The designated water station near Turn 15 was empty.

We also noticed problems with signage and pedestrian routes. At times, people were directed through busy areas without clear instructions, leaving them walking along roads, entering the wrong queue, or having to backtrack.

Free Things, Paid Activities and Shopping

We only bought one souvenir each: the Hot Wheels Ferrari F1 cars. We did, however, manage to enjoy quite a few free activities and pick up some freebies along the way:

  1. Jon went downtown to the team activations Thursday
  2. F1 Blast Lane (wind tunnel experience)
  3. Grabbed the free race radios Friday and Saturday with Amex
  4. Grabbed a free scarf and keychains from Amex near the F1 Academy zone
  5. Snagged a few free smoothies and some to go at the Ka’Chava booth

There were also several paid activities around the circuit, but we passed on those and spent our time between on-track events exploring instead. There was plenty to see and do without spending extra money.

One of my favorite ways to connect with an event is to immerse myself in its world before I even arrive. I like to do something creative, read books, watch movies, and generally find ways to build excitement around the experience. Of course, that also includes dressing for the occasion! Jon and I had a different coordinated outfit for each day of the weekend.

Naturally, I rewatched F1 before the race weekend! I also read a few Formula 1-related books: Cross the Line (Lights Out, #1) by Simone Soltani, Not So Fast by Karen Booth, and Formula 1: Stories and Legends: Epic Rivalries, Unforgettable Stories, and the Curiosities That Shaped F1 Racing by Rafael Moreno Chacón.

For the creative part, I made a custom DIY Grogu dressed as Charles Leclerc. My little Baby Tifosi got plenty of attention, with several people asking to take his picture. I also managed to give one of my crocheted bananas to someone in a banana outfit!

What we brought to a COTA F1 Weekend

  • Easy to wear backpack
  • Comfortable walking shoes that have already been tested on long days.
  • Sunscreen, a UV blocking umbrella, portable fan, a hat, and a scarf/buff to block the sun from our necks.
  • A permitted water bottle with electrolyte drops
  • Snacks
  • sunglasses
  • A portable charger and extra cord, airfly for the race radios to connect to our Airpods
  • Binoculars
  • Loop earplugs
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Thin long sleeve (didn’t need this at all)
  • Seat cushions for the harder stadium seats
  • A mini first aid kit with some extra goodies like Tylenol
  • Something fun to show off my team allegiance! My Baby Tifosi and some giveaway crocheted bananas, fuse beads, and friendship bracelets

Book Review: Fall Love by L. B. Dunbar

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Fall Love (Lovewell Landing Book 1) by L.B. Dunbar

A Romance Novel published by L.B. Dunbar Writes, Ltd. (09/10/26)

Summary: A steamy small-town autumnal romance

Neve is perfectly happy with her life in her small coastal hometown and has no interest in settling down, especially with a local guy. After a one-night stand with Tate, a man she never expects to see again, she unexpectedly ends up pregnant. Nine months later, Tate returns to town for business and discovers that their one night together may have given him everything he’s ever wanted. The problem? His business plans could threaten everything Neve has built and loves.

Keywords:

 Contemporary, Small Town, Fall, Pregnant, One-Night-Stand, Business, Mechanic, Second Chance

My Review:

I really wanted to love this book because I adore seasonal romances.

The fall vibes were great! Pumpkins, apple picking, small-town events, baking, and Neve’s love of pumpkin spice made me wish Lovewell Landing were a real place.

I also really enjoyed Neve’s relationship with her sisters. Their interactions felt natural and wholesome, and I liked having that family dynamic throughout the story. I also really, really love all their unique names. I thought Neve’s attachment to the auto shop and her desire to preserve her father’s legacy also gave her a good reason to be guarded and independent. She felt like a real character with flaws and baggage and life.

Tate was both my favorite part and my least favorite part. He has always wanted a baby and a family of his own, so when he finds out he’s going to be a father, there’s never any question that he wants to be involved. But I especially loved that he didn’t just focus on the baby. He wanted Neve, too. Watching him try to break through her walls was really sweet, and Neve’s black cat attitude made their banter fun. Tate, however, felt like too much of a fantasy man and seemed to lack the substance of a real person. He was so focused on Neve, the baby, and being this perfect man that it just felt like too much to me. It also made him feel one-dimensional at times.

The pacing didn’t work as well for me. The beginning was pretty slow, and there were a LOT of repetitive inner thoughts that dragged the story along. I kept putting this book down again and again because I just wasn’t feeling pulled into the story.

Overall, this was a cute and spicy fall romance with great autumn vibes, but I wanted more development, a faster pace, and more depth to Tate.

I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by L.B. Dunbar Writes, Ltd. on 09/10/2026 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50

Links for more information

Goodreads

Oahu, HI Trip – July and August, 2026

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Trip Overview

We spent a little over a month in Oʻahu, staying in Waikīkī and working remotely while exploring as much of the island as we could on the weekends and after business hours.

This trip was a mix of beaches, snorkeling, activities, fitness classes, shows, sightseeing, and A LOT of food. We revisited some places we loved from our first trip to Oʻahu, but also tried plenty of new things.

Here’s everything we did, what we thought was worth it, what wasn’t, and what I’d do differently next time, broken into the following sections:

  • Airbnb accommodation
  • Transportation
  • Activities
  • Food & Drinks

Our last trip to Hawai’i (Oahu) was in October of 2023; you can read about that trip on my blog here.

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Book Review: Falling for Mr. October by Angela Casella

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Falling for Mr. October by Angela Casella

A Romance Novel published (09/03/26)

Summary: Fake dating, a secret celebrity chef, meddling Nonnas, and fall romance

“There was me, Giovanni Cafiero, and there was him, the Shirtless Chef. I could become him whenever I wanted to, and the rest of the time I could pretend he didn’t exist.” (Kindle).

A small-town apple orchard, fall festivals, a failing family business, meddling Italian Nonnas, fake dating, and a shirtless chef hiding out after his unexpected internet fame gets to be too much.

Keywords:

Contemporary, Fall, Small Town, Fake Dating, Celebrity hiding from the spotlight, Friends-to-lovers

My Review:

This was such a fun fall rom-com! Bianca and Giovanni were a really cute couple, and I liked watching their relationship develop from the initial awkwardness into something much more genuine. Giovanni is basically the perfect rom-com book boyfriend. He is charming, funny, thoughtful, good with the grandmas, and, of course, he can cook. But he does have his doubts and flaws and still feels human and imperfectly perfect.

The Nonnas were probably my favorite part of the supporting cast. They brought a lot of humor to the story, and all of the small-town characters helped make Apple Ridge feel like an actual community rather than just a backdrop for the romance.

I also liked the storyline behind Giovanni’s secret identity as the Shirtless Chef. His decision to walk away from the attention and hide out in Apple Ridge gave the story a little more substance than just the typical fake-dating setup. There are also some deeper themes about family, grief, learning to accept help, and figuring out what you actually want out of life.

And the theme is definitely there: Fall. Apple orchards, pumpkins, festivals, small-town activities, cooking, and cozy family moments make this a perfect book for when you’re ready to get in the Autumn spirit.

I read the sweet/closed-door version, and I liked having that option. There was still plenty of romance and chemistry without needing the spicy scenes. I really appreciate that Angela Casella offers both versions so readers can choose what they want.

Overall, this was a cute, easy, feel-good fall romance with fun characters, plenty of humor, and exactly the kind of cozy small-town atmosphere you’d expect from a fall rom-com. If you’re looking for something light and romantic to kick off your fall reading, this would be a good choice.

I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This novel was published on 09/03/2026 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information

Goodreads

D23 – Disney Convention – Anaheim, CA, August, 2026

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Overall Thoughts

D23 is exhausting.

D23 is fun and exciting, and there is SO MUCH to see, but it is also exhausting. There is a lot of standing, waiting, walking, crowds, early mornings, phone battery anxiety, reservation anxiety, and constantly figuring out where you’re supposed to be next.

My biggest takeaway is that a great hotel location, a plan for your must-dos, and the ability to abandon that plan when something isn’t worth the wait are more valuable than a perfect itinerary.

Because the funny thing is, we actually did A LOT. We went to panels, shopped, used virtual queues, explored the show floor, did experiences, met other fans, and went to the Honda Center presentations and we still had things we didn’t get to.

The problem wasn’t a lack of things to do. There was too much competing for our time and too much waiting, which, honestly, sounds like a true Disney day.

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2026, 10-day Japan Summer Trip – Tokyo, Hokkaido

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Japan 2026 Summer Trip: Tokyo & Hokkaido

Overall Trip Thoughts

This was our second trip to Japan, and our biggest takeaway was that we enjoyed having fewer reservations and more flexibility. Instead of filling every day with scheduled activities, we spent more time wandering, shopping for specific items, and exploring neighborhoods at our own pace.

The tradeoff was that some days became centered around eating and shopping, and we were oftentimes stuffed to the gills! The best balance for us was having a few priority reservations each day while leaving room to explore.

Compared to our previous trip, Lake Toya ended up being the highlight. The slower pace, incredible food, onsens, and unique experiences made it feel like a true vacation rather than a checklist of attractions. See our previous trip details from 2025 on my blog HERE.

Trip Overview

We traveled from July 5th to July 15th, 2026, flying from Honolulu to Narita. This was a trip for two adults, and it was our second time visiting Japan after spending 2.5 weeks there the previous spring.

We started planning this trip at the beginning of the year. Since we wanted to experience several high end sushi restaurants, we chose to stay at a luxury hotel that could assist with reservations for Sushi Take, Sushi Mizukami, and Sushi Jiro.

Our planning process was straightforward: flights first, then hotels, followed by transportation and restaurant reservations. We had already decided that Hokkaido would be the focus of this trip, so we worked backward from the cities we wanted to visit and how many nights we could spend in each location while still fitting everything into our itinerary.

Compared to our previous trip, we intentionally planned for more flexibility. Instead of filling every day with scheduled activities, we wanted more time to explore, shop, eat, and experience Japan at a slower pace.

Table of Contents

  • Summer in Japan tips
  • Hotels & Onsens
  • Sushi
  • Other Restaurants and Food in Tokyo
  • Other Restaurants and Food in Hokkaido
  • Ice Cream & Desserts
  • Shopping and Souvenirs
  • Attractions
  • Transportation
  • Gifts
  • Packing
  • Cost Summary and Final Thoughts

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Book Review: Botcation by Paul Clarke

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Botcation by Paul Clarke

A Middle Grade Action Novel published by Green Hill Publishing (05/08/26)

“I don’t think your mother trusts me, so make sure you tell her that absolutely nothing could go wrong. I guarantee it.” 

Mary, Daniel, and Timmy are back… And so is Bernard. Best of all, bots are back.

Life has mostly settled down after the events of Bot Camp. The robotics club is still struggling to attract members (or even spectators), but Daniel, Mary, and Timmy are happily building and battling robots together. Daniel is still the reluctant leader of the group, Mary is still intimidatingly competent, and Timmy continues to create robot designs that are equal parts creative and catastrophic.

Keywords:

Robotics, Bot Battle, Vacation, 12-Year-Olds, Billionaire, Leadership, Teamwork, Survival, RV

My Review:

I enjoyed slipping back into this world and spending time with these characters again. Their friendships feel genuine, and the banter between them remains one of my favorite parts of the series. Timmy, in particular, continues to steal scenes with his enthusiasm and chaos.

The story starts out with robot battles at school before shifting into a camping adventure when Bernard Barker invites the group and their families on a high-tech wilderness trip. Of course, things don’t stay peaceful for long. Huntbots make an appearance, and what should have been a relaxing outdoor adventure quickly turns into a fight for survival.

One aspect of the story that I particularly enjoyed was the exploration of technology versus traditional skills. The book presents a world filled with advanced gadgets, artificial intelligence, and robots, yet the characters repeatedly discover that technology isn’t always the answer. Sometimes practical knowledge, teamwork, and basic survival skills are just as important. I appreciated how this idea was woven naturally into the plot rather than being presented as a lecture. It never feels preachy; instead, the characters learn through experience, making the message both believable and engaging.

I also continue to enjoy how the series balances technology, problem-solving, and action without losing sight of the characters and the plot. The robotics elements are fun and detailed enough to satisfy STEM-minded readers, while remaining accessible to those who just want an exciting adventure.

I also appreciated that the adults are present and involved without taking over the story. Daniel, Mary, and Timmy are still the ones driving the action and solving problems, which keeps the focus where it belongs. (Although mom-power shines as well).

Overall, this was a fun continuation of the series. If you enjoyed Bot Camp, you’ll likely enjoy spending more time with these characters as they face another robot-filled adventure. The combination of friendship, engineering, humor, and rogue robots continues to make this a series worth following.

I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This novel was published by Green Hill Publishing on 05/08/2026 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information

Goodreads

Broadway & New York City March Trip 2026

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Best drink: Venchi hot chocolate with whipped cream
Best pizza: Fig jam and bacon from L’industrie
Best beef: Kobe beef from Cote
Best dessert: Apple strudel with schlag from Peter Luger, followed closely by the matcha ice cream matcha latte from Matcha Cafe Maiko
Most overrated food item: potato salad with uni from Sip & Guzzle
Best piece of sushi: The uni in the Sushi Sho bento box

Friday

  •  Austin Airport – Austin Jetset Market for pre-flight drinks
  • Flight (AUS → EWR, United – 2 people)
    • $933.32 but moved Monday flight later in the day to get → $77 flight credit
    • Used 5,300 points for seat selection (flight was mostly and there weren’t 2 seats together without paying)
  • Hotel – Hampton by Hilton Times Square
    • 3-night stay (Hilton sale): $693.84
  • Famous Original Ray’s Pizza
    • 3 slices: cheese, pepperoni, Hawaiian
    • $18.06
    • Delicious and very greasy
    • Friendly crew, great communication

Saturday

  • Gumption Coffee
    • Large cappuccino: $7.08
    • Excellent, smooth coffee
  • Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart (K-Town)
    • 3-tart box (Matcha, Original, Black Sesame): $13.75
      • Delicious interior, pastry too thick
    • Black sesame cream puff: $4.25
      • Amazing craquelin texture, but cream is not a favorite
  • Venchi
    • Hot chocolate with whipped cream: $7.70
      • Amazing (possibly better than Ghirardelli SF)
    • Pistachio chocolate: $2
  • Tompkins Square Bagels
    • +20-minute wait in line
    • Pastrami lox + cream cheese bagel: ~$23
    • Chewy, filling, excellent, busy, but able to find a standing table outside
  • Peter Luger Steakhouse
    • Reservation made at opening (11:45 AM)
    • Ordered:
      • Steak for 2: $155.90
      • Bacon: $8.95 (thick, salty, shareable)
      • Luger burger + cheese + fries: $29.85 (very flavorful)
      • Creamed spinach: $18.95 (good texture, not worth price)
      • Baked potato: $9.95 (very large, overpriced)
      • Apple strudel: $14.95 (highly recommend, especially with schlag)
      • Coffee: $3.50 (excellent with schlag)
      • Drink: ~$20
    • Total: $284 (left $350 with tip)
    • Large portions, good service, excellent meal, would book again for a splurge/celebration meal

  • M&M Store
    • Quick visit, lots of M&M’s
  • New York Public Library
    • Saw the iconic lions
  • Sushi Sho (Pickup Bento)
    • Weekend 4 PM pickup
    • Bara Chirashi box: $70
    • Delicious, beautifully presented
    • Great alternative to omakase (which is spendy!)
  • Washington Square Arch
    • Large, good for photos
  • Harry Potter Shop
    • Full walkthrough
    • Empty at open, fills quickly after 30 minutes
  • Sip & Guzzle
    • Potato salad + uni: $36 (not very good)
    • Soft serve: $19 (different but delicious)
    • Wagyu Old Fashioned: $23 (I loved the beef on top, but Jon did not)
    • Saketini: $21 (not that special)
    • Total with tip: $127.80 (would skip next time unless you line up for the first reservation at 4PM and get one of the 12 infamous burgers)
  • Hampton Rooftop Bar
    • Separate elevator
    • Outdoor area closed but gorgeous view
  • Every Brilliant Thing (Show)
    • Stage seating CC row: $400 (2 tickets)
    • Daniel Radcliffe
    • Immersive, interactive experience
    • Would see again
    • Love how Jon is more likely to be chosen for these things

Sunday

  • Harry Potter Shop
    • Hot butterbeer: $13.50 (too sweet)
    • Butterbeer ice cream: $9.50 (too sweet)
    • Very sweet, the ice cream had a great texture
    • Ice cream unavailable for ~40 minutes after opening
  • L’Industrie Pizza
    • Burrata: $5.50
    • Fig jam & bacon: $6 (my fave)
    • NY slice: $5.50
    • White: $3.50
    • Tomato (2 slices minimum)
    • Very delicious, fast-moving line
    • Tight space, large dessert selection

  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
    • $789 (2 tickets, Row E aisle)
    • ~3-hour show
    • Short intermission (~10 min)
    • Narrow but overall comfortable seating
    • These seats had an AMAZING view for a live show
    • One of the best shows I’ve seen
    • Wouldn’t mind seeing it again
  • Fushimi (Brooklyn)
    • Dinner with family
    • short ribs were delicious and very flavorful
    • Miso soup was okay
  • Hamburger America
    • Tried smash burger + fries
    • Very flavorful
  • Ghostbusters Headquarters (Firehouse Co. 8)
    • Visited around 9 PM, empty

  • The Mini Bean
    • Small reflective sculpture
  • One World Trade Center (and Subway Station)
    • Large, clean, not busy subway station
  • Cote
    • Total (before tip): $471.44
    • Kingpin drink: $24
    • ZBiotics drink: $11
    • Butcher’s Feast (2): $164
    • A5 Wagyu tasting (2): $170
    • Steak & eggs (2): $64
    • Large portions are better for groups
    • Highlights: hanger steak, Kobe wagyu

Monday

  • Nintendo Store
    • Quick visit
  • Matcha Café Maiko
    • Difficult to find (inside mall, lower level near Rockefeller Center)
  • NBC Store
    • Gift shop with collectibles
  • Sushi 35 West
    • Total: $189.53
    • Omakase chef choice: $130
    • Toro Toro roll: $23
    • High-quality sushi, good value
    • Limited seating (2 tables)

Spending Distribution

  • 🍔 Food & Drinks — 29.2%
  • 🚗 Transportation — 24.8%
  • 🎟️ Event Tickets — 23.2%
  • 🏨 Hotel — 13.6%
  • 🛍️ Souvenirs — 9.2%

 

Notable Trip Highlights and Lowlights

    1. The medical emergency
      Our United flight was held at the gate for ~20 minutes for a medical emergency (one of the flight attendants)! I’m not sure I’ve ever been on a flight where EMTs were brought on board. They also asked for a doctor before landing. One lady offered her EPI-Pen (we didn’t know what kind of doctor or help was needed).
    2. Spotted a rat
      I think that “rats” and “NYC subway” are often mentioned together as a joke, but they really do exist in the subway.
    3. Aggressively yelling subway dude
      He was singling people out by description (the lady yawning, etc.) and saying he would fight them on the platform. He walked up and down the car, carrying a large box and punching the air. Several passengers moved to the opposite side of the car, and I decided to leave that train and grab the next one to avoid this unstable character.
    4. Santa Barbara vs. Hokkaido uni
      The uni add-on at Sip & Guzzle was listed as Hokkaido uni. When the runner (not our server) set down the dish, he said it was Santa Barbara uni. I flagged our server and asked about it—she immediately whisked the dish away but came back with it two minutes later. She stressed that it was indeed Hokkaido uni and that the runner had been mistaken; however, they had run out of Hokkaido and were serving Santa Barbara uni previously. They had only been open for 45 minutes at this point. We appeared skeptical at the conflicting information, and she brought out an unopened frozen package of uni from the Ogawa brand. The uni was $17 and quite plentiful on top of the potato salad. It was not that good. Was it just not great, Hokkaido uni? Not fresh Hokkaido uni? Or actually Santa Barbara uni? We will never know.
    5. Rude Cursed Child seat neighbor
      I usually take the seat next to Jon’s aisle seat so he can have legroom (I’m 5’2” and he’s 6’2”). The couple next to us were already seated—two larger adults. The man sitting next to me had his arm and elbow settled on our shared armrest. His shoulder was in my space, touching my shoulder, and his arm/elbow was also occasionally touching my side. I was completely in my seat, not using the armrest. I politely asked him to stay within his seat area, and he defensively stated that he was in his seat. He then explained that since I was able to use my right armrest, the left side was his armrest. I pointed out that he was over the armrest, and he said something to the effect of “deal with it.” Jon saved me by switching seats with me. The man was not happy with this taste of his own medicine, but didn’t say anything else (or stop using the right-side armrest).
    6. United seat map game
      After paying for a middle seat so Jon and I could sit together on the flight back (I switched the flight a few days before, so there were limited free Economy seats), I swapped our seats about 75 minutes before boarding. The standbys and upgrades had been assigned, and I spotted an empty 3-seat row in the back. The flight was mostly full but had several empty rows in the back, so Jon and I had an entire row to ourselves. Thankfully, too, since the 737 MAX had smaller seats and Jon’s 6’2” frame didn’t fit lengthwise without turning his body. Even my petite frame just barely fit within the seat width—but how many people are 5’2”, petite, and 120–140 lbs? Who are these seats made for anymore?
    7. Lines to get into shows
      It surprised me how slow the security/ticket entrance process was for the two shows we saw. We lined up for Every Brilliant Thing about 10 minutes after they opened the lobby, and the line didn’t move at all for a good 10–15 minutes. There were already so many people in line. It took forever to get inside. The line for Cursed Child moved faster but was still slow, and by the time we entered (we got in line before the lobby opened), it was chaotic and packed inside.
    8. The hotel elevator – be warned
      Our hotel was fine, except for one day when the elevator situation was not. I chose the 35th floor (original booking was the 12th), and there were ~38 floors total. To use the elevator, you select your floor on one of two kiosks in the lobby and scan your room card. The kiosk assigns you an elevator (P5–P9). It doesn’t account for how many people or how much luggage is going in. I had to redo the process when the elevator filled up because it told everyone to take the same one—15 people weren’t going to fit. On Saturday morning, we tried to go down and called the elevator from our floor. After 10 minutes, one finally showed up. It stopped multiple times on the way down and quickly filled up. While still in the 20s, it began stopping at nearly every floor—opening, showing waiting people it was full (some still tried to squeeze in), then continuing. It took forever to reach the lobby. Someone mentioned waiting 30 minutes; another said it was their sixth full elevator. And who is going to walk down 20+ flights of stairs? Poor planning/infrastructure that the system can’t recognize or adjust when elevators are full to improve efficiency. I’m glad we weren’t on a lower floor (unless just a few floors up), so we could still use the elevator most of the time without issue.
    1. Is traffic better or worse in NYC?
      Is it my imagination, or is traffic not as bad in NYC? Are rideshare prices not as high? The bus from the transit station to the airport wasn’t much cheaper than an Uber for two people. Public transit ($3 per swipe) was very inexpensive and almost as fast as a car. In some cases, you could walk as fast as taking a taxi. When the subway was running smoothly, it was the cheapest and most efficient option—but when it didn’t show up and then told everyone to leave, we wasted 20 minutes when we could have just walked and gotten to our destination.

SXSW Austin 2026 & Volunteer Experience

by in Rachel Barnard and tagged , , , , ,

I had not planned to volunteer with SXSW again due to volunteer hour commitment requirements (See my last post about volunteering in 2024). However… They reduced the required hours from 44 hours for a regular badge (either Innovation, TV/Film, or Music) to just 24! They also reduced the platinum requirements from 56 hours to 36 hours. A big difference! Thanks, SXSW. There were differences between the badge perks from this year and the SXSW volunteer badge perks back in 2024. This year, only Platinum had access to the EDU events. No badge had access to the reservation system. If you didn’t have either a Platinum or a TV/Film badge, you couldn’t get into movies.

I wanted to stick with the same crew as before: Exhibitions, but on the day they opened volunteer signups for returning volunteers, I spent too long deciding on my shifts, and the entire shift on the first Sunday disappeared. Since I wanted to volunteer ONLY on the weekends to avoid using my limited PTO, I switched to the Registrations crew, which had more shifts available on weekends.

Pros to volunteering with Registrations:

  • Available shifts on the first Sunday of the festival (March 8th this year).
  • Multiple shift open during the day for both weekdays and weekends.
  • Great crew leads and volunteer managers.
  • Indoor shifts located in various hotels across downtown.
  • Face-to-face interactions with people from all over the world, checking in to grab their badges (from music people, including musicians, to educators, to speakers, to Austinites, etc). Certain locations (hotels) were more oriented to certain badge types. For example, the Downright Hotel was where musicians were likely to pick up badges, and dry run day at the Hilton was for EDU badge pickups.
  • Lots of assistance and help during volunteering, from tech help with computers and printers to what to say to people picking up badges via screen prompts to crew leads readily available and nearby, and other volunteers quick to step in for pointers and to answer specific questions. There was also a help desk nearby for specific questions registrants might have.
  • Very defined volunteer role. Registrations were only badge printing/pickup. Easy to do with minimal training.

Cons to volunteering with Registrations:

  • Not much variety since your role is very defined. You complete the same task with each person (verify badge pickup type and any extras, check ID, lookup participant, confirm photo, print badge, and hand over badge + materials).
  • Overstaffed where I was, so some of us didn’t have anything to do while all the computers were already being used by volunteers, and we were let go early on some days when new shifts of volunteers arrived (could be a pro if you wanted to catch a panel you didn’t think you’d have time for).
  • Some of the locations were far away from the main SXSW areas downtown. It took me nearly the full hour when I was at Downright to walk to get the lunch I wanted and back (uphill). Locations are scattered. Hotels are different.

Pros and Cons to volunteering with SXSW, regardless of crew:

Public transportation: I have a gripe with public transit again. They add Sundays to CapMetro (typically doesn’t run at all on Sundays) and expand the hours so that they run late at night, but they don’t include earlier morning transit on Weekends. When I have shifts that start (that I chose, I know) before 10AM, I don’t have a viable public transit option since the first Metro starts at 10AM. It would take me over 2 hours on the buses to get from my house to downtown vs. a ~20-minute drive. There is limited parking downtown, and they typically increase the costs to park during SXSW.

Badge perks don’t match regular paid badge perks: with a volunteer badge, you don’t get access to reservations. Not that everyone with access to reservations was able to use the system or use it effectively. Many badgeholders didn’t know the system existed, and some people weren’t able to make the reservations they wanted. The system did work really well for some people, which is great. One of my biggest concerns was capacity, planning, and ability to get into anything in 2024, so the reservation system should alleviate some of that anxiety and issue for those who can use it. My beef with the reservation system is how many/much they withhold for reservations and the fact that the festival is restricted to the size of ballrooms and meeting rooms at hotels since the Convention Center is under construction (check out the big hole in one of my pictures). I could wait 3 hours for an event and be stuck in the back of the room because they reserved the front half for reservations only (Serena Williams panel and the Rivian Mark Rober panel both reserved the front portion for reservations). I liked that for the Jamie Lee Curtis panel, they utilized the right side for reservations only and the left side for standby. They also set aside a percentage of each venue for accessibility seating. I had no chance to ever sit in the front of any panel or show I stood in line for. I think you should either be able to pay your way to the front (badge and reservation) or be able to wait and persevere your way to the front (standby badge + hours of waiting). It’s disappointing to wait for hours and still be in the back of any panel/show, and for that to be your only avenue to see anything as a volunteer. It’s amazing to be gifted an entire badge as a volunteer, but it’s not the same badge as a paid badge. I think it would be nice to offer one volunteer badge per 8 hours of volunteer work across the entire festival. For reference, Platinum badge holders can make 3 reservations per day, and other badgeholders can make 2 per day. If volunteers could make up to 3 per the entire festival (for Innovation, Music, and TV/Film) and up to 5 for Platinum volunteer badgeholders, I think that could be a happy medium.

More intimate involvement – back-stage view of the area you’re volunteering with: Part of the reason I love volunteering for events, shows, festivals, etc., is the making of/behind-the-scenes look at the event. I think it’s fascinating to get more information about how the event is put together. What are the sticking points? What are the difficulties? What is the planning like? SXSW is a humongous event with so many parts to it, and I love getting to know more about the intricacies of putting on the event that you get from working with the event itself.

The badge, the access, and the networking: It may not be the same badge as a paid badge, but it is a badge nevertheless. You have access to so many things at SXSW just by having a badge. You can meet so many people, do so many things, see so much, hear so much, and try so much. It’s a level up from walking around and getting into free events.

Giving up time you could be at SXSW to do your volunteering requirements: 24+ hours is still a commitment, and it will take away your ability to do things and see people. I had to commit to my shifts well before they announced some of the keynotes and panels. If your main objective is to go to SXSW, then perhaps volunteering at the same time might not be for you. But, if you are available for the entire SXSW, then 24 hours is just 3 days out of the entire festival that you will be occupied and very doable, depending on your goals.

Slack: Engagement on the communication tool they were using this year (Slack) felt low. I had trouble connecting with other volunteers through Slack for anything other than important volunteering information. I wanted to use Slack like an extension of the festival for the volunteers (like a Discord group), but most of the other volunteers were not using it like that. Only volunteering-specific questions and comments were getting follow-up comments and replies.

A short list of what I was able to experience at SXSW 2026:

  • Are you faster than a robot? Panel with Rivian and Mark Rober
  • Featured Session: Breaking Barriers, Building Solutions: Meet the Changemakers Transforming Health Innovation with Serena Williams
  • SXSW Expo: Flatstock
  • SXSW Expo: International Innovations
  • Free coffee at the expo with Johnny Beans
  • Odoo Lounge
  • SXSW Bookstore
  • My/Mochi + Nature’s Flavors + Einstein Bars + Block Party
  • Ryze popup activation
  • SXSW Film & TV Clubhouse
  • Film premiere of Ready or Not 2: Here I Come @ Paramount Theatre
  • Featured Session: Jamie Lee Curtis. If Not Now, When, if Not Me, Who? Pivoting and Manifesting!
  • Swifties Meet Up

Breakdown of what I was able to do during SXSW with my actual experience and comments

Friday 3/13

SXSW programming description: Are you faster than a robot? 10AM – 11AMRivian

CEO RJ Scaringe and Crunch Labs Founder Mark Rober host the ultimate autonomous robot challenge. This interactive presentation pits audience members against the robot brainchild RJ and Mark teamed up to build, testing human reactions vs machine learning. Can people compete with computers? How is Rivian approaching autonomy? Are people really that slow?!?!?? We’ll find out.

My experience: I arrived at 9AM, and the line for badge holders (without reservations) had about 15 people. They also had a non-badge line and a reserved line. By the time they let people into the venue (behind the building outside where the chargers are), the first two rows for walk-up badges were taken. The first 4 rows were for reservations only. I took an aisle seat near the middle section in row 6 and had a decent view of the stage. Seating was tightly packed, but the stage was elevated enough to see clearly, and they had two monitors so people in the far left and right sections could see the action up close if they didn’t have a view of the stage.

The “fireside chat” format involved Rivian CEO RJ talking all about the R2 and Mark Rober making analogies between his robot arm’s sensors, a human’s senses, and how they related to Rivian’s R2. It felt like one big R2 marketing practical demo with some audience participation and well-rehearsed banter between Mark and RJ. It was fun, punchy, and full of talking up the R2. Mark chose 3 people from the audience ( a young boy, a teenage girl, and an older gentleman) to help out with the human demos, which was arguably the most fun part. The humans attempted to catch a falling $100 and showcased how slow the humans’ reflexes are. The robot arm caught the money every time, immediately. The presentation/talk lasted about 30 minutes, they took about 10 minutes of audience questions, and then released the audience to walk amongst their electric vehicles, take their ebikes for a spin, grab some snacks, or snag a giveaway bag (with discounts for Crunch labs, the Rivian drive experience at SXSW, a Gus stuffed squirrel, and an industrial-looking 1L water bottle).
SXSW programming description: Featured Session: Breaking Barriers, Building Solutions: Meet the Changemakers Transforming Health Innovation 11:30PM – 12:30PM

A new generation of women and underrepresented founders is reshaping the future of health with community-rooted solutions. Presented by Reckitt Catalyst and Entrepreneur-in-Residence Serena Williams, this session spotlights entrepreneurs who are turning lived experience into breakthrough ideas, exploring the barriers they’ve overcome, the models that enable scale, and what it really takes to build lasting, real-world change from the ground up.

My experience: Because the Rivian robot panel ended earlier than 11AM, I was able to grab my goodie bag and walk across the bridge and find the walk-up line for this session. The standby line was already ~100 people long at this point, and when they let people in, I saw that the front rows (half the space) were designated for reservations, and I immediately just grabbed the first aisle seat (towards the back). Chairs were stacked so close together that I was practically touching shoulders with the person who sat next to me. The J.W Marriott was stuffy and warm, and there was so much perfume nearby that I had to leave the panel 30 minutes in to get fresh air. This panel was less about Serena’s involvement and more about the venture she was representing.
SXSW programming description: SXSW Expo: Flatstock 10-5PM

Looking for the perfect centerpiece for your gallery wall, a concert poster of your favorite artist, or your favorite Texas-themed memorabilia? Look no further than Flatstock! This eclectic art market continues to capture the spirit of music mementos while also highlighting unique collectibles. Flatstock provides an ongoing series of opportunities to admire artwork in person and to meet the artists who created it. This Expo is free and open to the public.

My experience: The nearby hotel, Austin Marriott, held the Flatstock this year. It was easy to find and all in one room (Moontower Hall). It felt smaller than the previous time I’ve been (2024). I didn’t expect to find something I wanted, but I found something I had to buy as a gift. Worth the 10 – 60 minute walk through.
SXSW programming description: SXSW Expo: International Innovations 9-4PM

Featuring a powerful mix of established global brands and budding startups, the International Innovations Expo highlights cutting-edge businesses that are pushing boundaries to move the world forward. From groundbreaking concepts to bold new business models, exhibitors are redefining what’s possible across industries around the globe. Join the community that’s driving change on a worldwide scale.

My experience: I remember this expo taking over the entire convention floor space in 2024, and this time it was tucked into the ballroom of the Fairmont upstairs, which felt like a significant downgrade in space and number of booths. When I went around 12PM on Friday, it was mostly empty. I remember 2024, the floor was bustling, busy, and harder to move around some of the booth spaces. There were significantly fewer giveaways and incentives to step into the booth spaces and interact. I talked to two of the booths – Second Chance Materials and Design, as well as Axal. I snagged a free coffee (for all badge holders) from the far corners of Johnny Bean’s booth. It was delicious. Overall, the walkthrough was sub-30 minutes, but if you were interested in any of the booths, you could have spent longer. I’m not sure what audience some of the booths were expecting, as most didn’t bother engaging with me when I walked by.
SXSW programming description:Odoo Lounge 9-5PM

Swing by the Odoo Lounge at SXSW to recharge, kick up your feet, and get some work done. For a chance to win a prize, visit the Odoo Lounge and see how Odoo makes companies better, one app at a time.

My experience: I wanted to check out free experiences/locations and thought this would be a fun one. The lounge was located on level 4 of the Hilton, and I had trouble finding it because it was so tiny and easy to walk past. I wasn’t in need of a chair, so I walked in and walked right back out. This lounge didn’t really offer anything of note other than a few places to sit.
SXSW programming description: Bookstore

Check out the SXSW Bookstore to browse the latest work authored by this year’s conference participants. Support your favorite speakers and find something you connect with to take back home. Open daily on the 6th floor of the Hilton Austin Downtown.

My experience: I wanted to see how packed Spielberg’s keynote was, so I drifted over to the Hilton Ballroom floor (which happened to also be the floor with the bookstore). The bookstore was empty. One author was there at the time for signings, and I wanted to talk to her, so I snagged her book (I Wish I’d Quit Sooner by Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett). I was interrupted by a rogue film crew who wouldn’t shut up about getting into Spielberg’s talk. They were very awkward, interrupted my conversation with Dr. Laura, and pretended to interview her, but really just talked about how to get into the panel next door. Dr. Laura was professional and fun to chat with.
SXSW programming description: Keynote: The Big Picture with Steven Spielberg Live from SXSW 1PM – 2PM

Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg is joined by Sean Fennessey, Host of The Big Picture podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation about his extraordinary body of work, the future of movies and moviegoing, and his upcoming film, Disclosure Day. Across Spielberg’s 60+ year career, he has frequently returned to stories about alien races, the threat of technology to the natural world, the mystery of space, and social panic. With Disclosure Day, he once again ventures into the unknown.

Reservations for this session will open for Platinum Badges at 9am CT Thursday, March 5, and for Film & TV, Innovation, and Music Badges at 9am CT Friday, March 6. To learn more about reservations, visit our lines and reservations guide on sxsw.com.

This event is reservation-only. Walk-up access will be extremely limited.

My experience: People were sneaking in and out of the side door of the ballroom at the beginning of the talk so I thought maybe people were getting special treatment (they were probably just using the restroom). On the other side of the ballroom, it looked like ~30 people were waiting in a standby line to get in outside of the doors. While someone was sneaking in the side door, I got a quick view of Spielberg on stage. They were showing this keynote across multiple livestreams around SXSW, including the Congress Block Party I stopped at later in the hour. I had originally chosen this Friday to go to SXSW so I could camp out and get into this particular keynote, but later found out that it was reservation-only, and volunteer badges are not allowed to make reservations. Since I didn’t have a Platinum badge, I gave up hope of being a walk-up, as I wouldn’t even be in the right/first line if they had any walk-up availability.
SXSW programming description:

      • My/Mochi + Nature’s Flavors + Einstein Bars + Block Party 11-7PM
      • A Flavor-Filled Experience PRESENTED BY: Nature’s Flavors 11-7PM
      • Einstein Energy Super Snack Bars – Think You’re A Snack Genius? 11-7PM
      • Congress Avenue Block Party 11-7PM

My experience: I didn’t realize the Congress Ave Block Party was open to everyone. The access was restricted to one side of the road and wasn’t visible from very far away due to the Rivian experience near the Paramount (loads of dirt for their obstacle course) and a stage being set up on the North end. It was easy to get in, flashed my badge, had it scanned, and I was good to go. This was where the freebies were! I tried mochi, drinks, Tequila, snack bars, and more. The samples were more sample-sized than last time I was at SXSW and got full containers and whatnot. The energy bars were cut into small pieces and handed over without a plate or a napkin. This felt wrong, being handed a melting chocolate-coated bar when there wasn’t any hand sanitizer or hand washing next to the booth. The mochi were full-sized, which I appreciated, and they changed up their flavors every day, so each time I came back, I could try something different. Some booths had longer lines than others, but I never had to wait longer than a few minutes.
SXSW programming description: SXSW Film & TV Clubhouse 12PM -10PM

The Film & TV Clubhouse is located at 800 Congress Ave, just steps away from the Paramount Theatre, where some of the most exciting screenings of the Festival are set to premiere. It will serve as the home base for the film community to gather, discuss, and network. Each day, the Film & TV Clubhouse will host meetups and networking events as well as activations.

My experience: This was the most difficult clubhouses to find. The Innovation Clubhouse and Music Clubhouse had clear banners that you could see from far away, but the TV/Film Clubhouse sign was off the main road (it was in a building on the corner). Easy to get in, the place was hopping when I arrived, but I was able to find a seat easily towards the back. They started a talk (activation?) about 10 minutes after I arrived for a show called “Marshalls,” and they handed out bandanas. I was able to sit in the air-conditioning and use the restroom, but ultimately didn’t think that Clubhouse was that exciting. It was a better lounge experience than Odoo and probably a great meeting place.
SXSW programming description: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come @ Paramount Theatre 5:30PM – 7:18PM

Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game — and this time with her estranged sister Faith at her side. Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.

My experience: I lined up around 3 hours before the start of the movie. I mistakenly thought the movie started at 5PM, but by the time I was in line, I was the 10th person in the standby line. The standby line was located at the corner of 8th and Brazos across from the Omni Hotel, and it was for Platinum and Film & TV badgeholders only. It was so far from the Paramount that we felt like we were outside of the festival area. In 2024, they had a Platinum line, Film & TV line, and other badge holders line. I showed up at least 2 hours in advance and was in the front of the other badgeholders’ line for The Idea of You premier when I had my Innovations badge. As 10th in line, waiting for 3 hours, I ended up seated almost exactly where I was when I watched that 2024 movie premiere. The person next to me, who had made a reservation, told me they didn’t wait long at all for their seat.

Per the website: New for South by Southwest 2026

Many SXSW events will offer two ways to get in — join the badge walk-up line or book a Reservation in advance. It’s never been easier to plan your schedule ahead of time and leave room for the serendipity that makes the week magic.

Reservations come with all SXSW Badges – Platinum (3 per day), Innovation, Film & TV, and Music (2 per day). When your Reservation window opens, sign in to the Schedule to reserve admittance to select conference sessions, film & tv festival screenings, music festival showcases, and comedy festival showcases.

Reservations are a great way to access programming and help you plan your day, but they only account for a portion of capacity at select events. The badge walk-up line remains the primary and most common way attendees experience sessions, showcases, and screenings. Even for popular events, the majority of seats are held for those waiting in line. Didn’t get a reservation? No worries! You can use the SXSW GO App’s status indicator to gauge demand and join fellow attendees in line.

To see which events still have open reservation capacity, go to the Reservations Available section of the online schedule.

Note: This feature is not available on the SXSW GO App at this time.

Mentor Sessions & Workshops require Reservations, but these don’t count against your daily limit.

My experience: The Paramount is just a cool theatre, but if you really want to watch a movie, then premieres and the Paramount might detract from your ability to see and hear the movie. The capacity is so high that 1000+ people laughing simultaneously (which is undoubtedly an experience) might be loud enough to cover up the next part of the dialogue. The seats are theatre seats and are not the most comfortable. The person in front of me was leaning forward (probably to see), and 10% of the screen was covered for me because his head was in my view. The movie itself was pretty fun to watch, and it’s fun to watch a movie with movie lovers who are excited to be there. Nobody is on their phone. Nobody is talking during the movie. There was a short presentation/talk before the movie where the actors, directors, etc. talked, and a Q/A after the movie, which is such a cool bonus to going to a film premiere.

Saturday 3/14

SXSW programming description: Featured Session: Jamie Lee Curtis. If Not Now, When, if Not Me, Who? Pivoting and Manifesting! 2:30PM – 3:30PM

A conversation on how I am now a boss at 67!

 

My experience: Jamie Lee Curtis is a practiced public speaker/storyteller. This was my favorite panel/talk, and she was amazing. She was funny, well-spoken, and a delight to listen to. 10/10 would recommend going to any Jamie Lee Curtis speaking event in the future. The ballroom where the talk was held was not the most comfortable. The chairs were stacked so close that we were touching shoulders, elbows, and thighs. I couldn’t see half the time because the stage was not high enough. People were holding up their phones, taking pictures, videos, and live-streaming for far longer than they should have been.

 

SXSW programming description: Swiftie Meet Up 4PM – 5PM

Whether you’ve been a fan since “Beautiful Eyes,” or you just discovered her when you were dragged to see “The Eras Tour” in theaters by a fanatical friend, you’re welcome at this Meet Up for Swifties at SXSW. Friendship bracelet trading is encouraged but not required.

 

My experience: The room was a bit too noisy and hard to hear others in, but this was a fun little meetup. Surprisingly, the conversation stayed centered around Taylor Swift with the little group I joined. This was a networking setup style open room (no chairs), but a few high top tables to set your things down on, and a table in the corner with bracelets to trade. I even scored some sourdough starter!

 

Book Review: Secrets of a Super Ager by Roy Blacksher

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Book Review: Secrets of a Super Ager by Roy Blacksher

A Nonfiction Health and Wellness Novel published on (09/29/25)

A well-researched guide for changing lifestyle and eating habits to live longer and healthier

I received an Advanced Review Copy (or ARC) on Reedsy Discovery

“The solution is deceptively simple: reduce portions, eliminate ultra-processed foods, and return to whole, nutrient-dense meals. Eating less—especially of the wrong kinds of foods—is not deprivation; it’s liberation.”

This nonfiction book is a hopeful yet practical guidebook for staying healthy and energized as you age. The author draws on science, knowledge, and his own personal experience to share simple strategies for eating, staying active, and lifestyle changes that helped him reverse his declining health and thrive. The book encourages readers to acknowledge the truths surrounding health and wellness and to rethink aging as a chance to live stronger and better for longer.

Keywords:

Nonfiction, Health, Wellness, Eating, Activity, Exercise, Movement, Science, Education, American Habits

My Review:

This nonfiction book serves as a comprehensive, research-backed guide to lifestyle and eating habits that readers can adopt to lead longer and healthier lives. The writing is instructional and matter-of-fact while leaning heavily on science to make its points. There is an extensive notes and references section that takes up a third of the book’s content at the very end, with most references occurring post-2000, which is helpfully divided into sections (brain food, food truths, sweets, junk food, fiber, inflammation, etc.).

The second half of the book contains a chapter-by-chapter summary in bullet point format for those TL;DR impatient readers or those who need a recap and/or bullet-by-bullet guide for making the changes proposed in the first half of the book.

The author utilizes motivational language and a causal tone amidst the research-based sections that read like a summarized literature review. Each chapter is short and to the point, easier to digest than any lengthy article or paper on similar subject matter. Each chapter can be read as a whole in one sitting, and the information is presented in a way that’s easy to understand and digest. Each chapter ends with a summary of key points that includes additional fascinating statistics, facts, and conclusions to drive the point home. However, there is more emphasis on what to do and why the reader should make the changes, and less time on storytelling or examples.

The main emphasis of the book is on diet as the foundation for long-term wellness. Beyond food, the book frames longevity as inseparable from lifestyle. Regular physical activity is essential. Rest, quality sleep, stress management, and time spent in nature are highlighted as critical for hormonal balance, immune health, and emotional well-being. Practices such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, social connection, laughter, optimism, and a sense of purpose round out the author’s holistic view of aging well. This is not new information for individuals who are already wellness-conscious. The book is repackaging contemporary health and wellness content in a way that’s interesting to read and reinforces the science that currently exists.

This nonfiction guide is best for readers wanting to reinforce health and wellness practices they are already adopting or for those new to the health and wellness journey. The book is especially useful for the average American, as the research and information are centered around the current and recent American diet and lifestyle.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50

Links for more information

Goodreads

Amazon