MADE Issue 9 | Page 33

MADE MADE GLOBAL XXXX A WINTER WONDERLAND IN LONDON My time in London was quick and cold. I touched down mid January escaping the snow back in the states. I found the time to squeeze in the usually recommended sights… at sunrise. To be clear, this earliness was more of a coincidence given my work schedule than a deliberate plan. But it actually turned out to be a really cool way to see those iconic London sights, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the London Eye. The stillness added to the stateliness, allowing you to really take in the beauty. Otherwise London is all about shopping and hanging out. I did some damage at Selfridges, though justified given there was a sale on some great designer pieces. My favorite spot to take in a cocktail was the EDITION hotel. It was super swanky and the bartenders went through quite the performance to serve up their signature cocktails. THAT MOMENT WHEN: In the midst of early morning serenity, you catch the sun rising behind BigBen, the famous London tower clock SXSW IN AUSTIN This was my first time attending SxSW, and I can in fact vouch for it being the mother of music festivals. In actuality, it has evolved to much more than music which is partially what makes it a true stand out. The Interactive (Tech) and Film portions THAT MOMENT round out the balance of the conference and are both worth checking out. WHEN: A SxSW As someone who wouldn’t otherwise be hip to the newest technologies festival worker or gadgets, I left knowing the difference between virtual reality and randomly offers you augmented reality because the exhibits give you the chance to experience a ticket to the highly it first hand. *pats self on back* A potentially offputting aspect of SxSW I coveted keynote picked up on though is that its a