Parking Info

Parking is normally $14/in-and-out at the Key Largo Hilton, but SxSe attendees will pay $10/day.  It's self-parking so you can park close to your room.  When you check-in, let the front desk know you are with SxSe ("South by Southeast").

Schedule of Events

Tiki Bar at Key Largo Hilton

Friday, September 28
Gather at the hotel Waves tiki bar around 4 PM.  Bar closes at sundown.  The hotel is providing us with  complimentary sangria and select hors d'oeuvres during happy hour.

Beach party to follow at the hotel with a bonfire and casual grill, live music and s'mores (food and drink non-complimentary after happy hour).

Saturday, September 29 
Fun and relaxation by the pool or beach. Free parasailing and other water sports discounts available. Details here. Remember, this is an unconference so you can do whatever you want!

Saturday evening
Tweetup at Pilot House starting at 5 PM with awesome Pirate's Booty cocktails and regular happy hour specials.  Click here for details.

Sunday, September 30
We'll figure out what we want to do before we retire on Saturday night.

Click here for breakfast, lunch and dinner options at the Key Largo Hilton.

As always, follow #sxse and @sxse for last-minute details!

Just a reminder, save for complimentary items, everyone is responsible for their own bills. Thank you kindly.

Tweetup at the Pilot House

This year's tweetup will take place on Saturday, September 29 at the Pilot House Marina and Glass Bottom Bar, starting at 5 PM.  Yes, that's right you can look down and sea fish and other marine critters while you sip a cocktail!

And it won't be any ordinary cocktail ...  Owner Don Brown created Pirate's Booty, which won the 2006 International Cane Spirits Cocktail Competition in Ybor City.  Brown himself will oversee the mixing so that all the proper ingredients and ratios are used. Cost is $4 per Pirate's Booty drink all night for SxSe attendees.

Brown claims "it's 30% rum so it's a kick ass cocktail and believe me ... women love it!"  We have the recipe to share later.

We'll also enjoy other regular happy hour specials until 7 PM. Music starts at 7 PM with Steve Venini and goes until 10.

Afterwards, if we feel like it, we can hang out at another local's favorite, the world famous Caribbean Club.

If you are staying at the Key Largo Hilton, meet at the lobby around 4:45 so we can share taxi rides.  The hotel may be able to provide us with a limited shuttle service. We're working on the details.  As always, follow @sxse for last-minute updates.

Play with Caribbean Watersports

This year, we'll have some fun unconference stuff to do on, in and around the water in Key Largo. Caribbean Watersports, the activities concession at the Key Largo Hilton, is offering the following:

6 FREE parasailing trips
(First come, first serve. Make your reservation prior and tell them you're with SxSe. You will need a printed ticket and a wristband. Pick that up from Maria on Saturday.)

50% off all other parasailing trips
(First come, first serve. Make your reservation prior and tell them you're with SxSe. You will need a a wristband. Pick that up from Maria on Saturday.)

50% off enviro tours of Florida Bay
The tour is two hours and includes a free admission pass to Dolphins Plus. (First come, first serve. Make your reservation prior and tell them you're with SxSe. You will need a a wristband. Pick that up from Maria on Saturday.)

$50 waverunner rentals for 1/2 hour
(First come, first serve. Make your reservation prior and tell them you're with SxSe. You will need a a wristband. Pick that up from Maria on Saturday.)

There are also kayaks, paddle boards, hobie cats and other water craft available for rental.

To make reservations, call 305-852-4707.



See Captain Darrell giving parasailing instructions.

SxSe Reservation Details at Key Largo Hilton

The perfect bar for an unconference!

SxSe rates are $129/night, double occupancy at the Key Largo Hilton, valid Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29. There are two options to make your reservation.

DIRECT LINK
Click here and voila.

BY PHONE
Call the reservations department at 1-888-871-3451 and reference the following group name when making the reservation: South by Southeast.

ONLINE
Go to Key Largo Resort then enter the arrival and departure dates, hit ‘check dates’, scroll down to Special Accounts and enter the group code ZSOU into the Group/Convention box then click ‘continue’. You will then see the name of the group and room accommodation option(s), choose the room type and infill the requested information. Continue to make the reservation.

Please note, this rate is only guaranteed through September 26.

If you encounter any issues, please tweet to @sxse.

Save the Date! SxSe 2012 in Key Largo

The official "conference room" at SxSe. No Powerpoints allowed!

Last year was a total blast in the Key West! This year we're going to stay a little closer to Miami by spending a weekend lazing about in beautiful Key Largo.

On Friday, September 28 we'll gather for happy hour, followed by a leisurely day and a tweetup on Saturday. Sunday will be the usual check-out routine as we stop to have a long, relaxing lunch and a sunset cocktail on the way back home.

Official SxSe headquarters will be at the Hilton Key Largo.  Our beachfront rooms are $129/night double occupancy. Click here for reservation details. The property features an activities concession if you choose to go kayaking, windsurfing, etc; but as always lounging by the pool or beach and doing nothing is highly encouraged.

The official SxSe tweetup will take place at the Pilot House just 2 miles away on the evening of Saturday, September 29. Visit Facebook for the official event invite.

We'll post details on room discount codes and additional logistical information on this website. Check out the links on the sidebar. @sxse is your best source for last-minute details, but you may also visit our Facebook Community Page. The hashtag is #sxse.

Please note that you are under no circumstances obligated to stay at the Hilton or to spend the night in the Florida Keys if you want to drive home after the tweetup, although we don't recommend that choice!  But if you want to stay elsewhere, that's fine. It's just more fun when everyone is in the same place.

UNCONFERENCE FOLLOWS PROPER CONFERENCE

Prior to Friday, the Florida Keys Digital Marketing Conference will take place at the hotel and will be Monroe county's edition of Social Media Week. Some folks who will be at SxSe will be lecturing or delivering workshops but the event is not directly related to SxSe, although we are cross-promoting and we thought, hey what the heck? Might as well stay for cocktails!

Special thanks to Shirley Wilson of Social Media Management and Liza Walton of Miami Social Marketing for helping to coordinate the tweetup, room rates, discounts etc;  @vicequeenmaria is still the chief troublemaker so you can always tweet her if you have any questions.

Other friends of SxSe who are supporting this ultimate unconference are listed on our sidebar. Although we are a purely social, non-commercial gathering, discounts or comps on goods and services are always welcome.

SxSe 2011 Wrap-Up

Just like in 2008, we left our mark at Rum Runners in Holiday Isle. But this year, we forgot to sign the giant panties! Photo by @vicequeenmaria.

SxSe took place in Key West this year and was as good as an unconference as an unconference can get!

Some folks went down to the southernmost island in their own wheels but the majority cruised to Key West in three Chevy cars provided by GM Southeast, making the 180 mile trip a breeze. (Read more about the carpool here.)

As with SxSe in previous years, new friendships were forged and old ones strengthened -- all originating through Twitter. Unfortunately, many from the original SxSe crew were unable to attend, but they were there in spirit.  New this year was the loosely organized but very active "Miami Rat Pack" social group.

Some really good shop talk about social media was served up, but in the most casual and informal way -- at the bar, by the pool or over dinner. James from @soulofmiami called it a "social media retreat" and that's really what it felt like.

Some of the gang during a performance break at The Green Parrot. Left to right: @alexdc, @szeliu, @gopalo, @janiec, @johnnybond86 and @vicequeenmaria.

Miami's Afro-Cuban Funk band PALO! played for us once again -- we enjoyed them in 2008.  This year, they had a gig at the Green Parrot Bar, which was packed with revelers both nights. Key West locals know good music when they hear it -- to paraphrase owner John Vagnoni -- and the proof was in all the booty shaking going on at this legendary watering hole!

Our main tweetup took place at the pirate-y Rum Barrel where we enjoyed happy hour on the rooftop terrace.

But folks did whatever they wanted together or apart, before and after. Key West is perfect for that kind of laid-back, no obligation, no bullshit kind of fun, which for some of us included drinks at the Rum Bar served up by local rum legend Bahama Bob, sunsets at Mallory Square, a visit to the clothing-optional Garden of Eden bar, a drag show at Aqua, chocolate orgasms at Better than Sex and a gourmet meal at Café Solé.

SxSe headquarters at the beautiful Eden House was perfectly located, not too close or too far from Duval Street.

Serious social media discussion, SxSe style.  Photo by @vicequeenmaria.

We even had some hashtag squatters talking about #sxse but not actually showing up to meet anyone who was "officially" attending. You know an event is good when complete strangers decide to have a satellite party of their own!

But enough of the boring summary! Let the pictures do the talking.



More great photos over at Soul of Miami.

To keep up with SxSe, follow us on Twitter or on our Facebook page for announcements.

A BIG THANK YOU

SxSe is a non-commercial effort. We do, however, accept discounts and donations of goods and services.  Hospitality is always welcome, too!

Thanks to the following folks for their support in the planning stages and during the event.

Eden House
GM Southeast
The Green Parrot
Island Dogs Bar
PALO!
Porky's Bayside BBQ
The Rum Barrel
Rum Runners at Holiday Isle
Soul of Miami

Getting to Key West Was Just As Fun

Three Chevy teams, plus others who traveled in their own cars, came together for the main tweetup at The Rum Barrel. Photo by @vicequeenmaria,

Key West is 180 miles from Miami and what with gas prices this year, plus some folks not too keen on being behind the wheel for a long drive, it was a good thing when GM Southeast stepped in to help out with transportation. (Read a wrap-up of the full SxSe event here.)

Those interested in car pooling were asked to leave a comment on the blog, although most people just contacted organizer @vicequeenmaria directly. SxSe ended up with three carpool teams and each one got a Chevy with a full tank of gas.

The Chevy Gazelles (so named because two of them are over 40 and were once pounced upon like innocent prey by a 24-year old guy at a bar), took a Chevy Equinox down to Key West with the XM Radio tuned to the 80's station the whole time. @Vicequeenmaria chauffeured @janiec and @szeliu.

A little rain in Florida City didn't stop @szeliu from tweeting. Photo by @janiec.

The B-Stings, led by @hrb2008 and her hubbie, packed a Chevy Traverse with four road trippin' friends. They even made their own tshirts!  The B-Stings were @hrb2008, @tashanicole516, @jbreun01, @kram_ber, @cradi and @valerieradi.

Four of The B-Stings pictured here.  Photo by @hrb2008.

@Soulofmiami drove @thepumagirl and @antjphotog in a Chevy Equinox dubbed the Soulmobile.

The Soulmobile leaving the 7 Mile Bridge.  Photo by @soulofmiami.

Once we were in Key West, we didn't really need to use our cars, but having a sweet, comfortable ride on the way there and back was a real treat.  The Florida Keys isn't just a place; it's a state of mind. There's no need to rush to Key West. Some people find that three-hour drive tedious, but it's not if you do it SxSe style.

There's no need to rush back to Miami either.  The B-Stings had to leave late Saturday, but The Chevy Gazelles and The Soulmobile squeezed as much as they could out of Sunday, spending hours getting back to Miami. The two teams stopped at Porky's BBQ for lunch and Holiday Isle for refreshment.

We all pretty much drove round-trip with one tank of gas!

BEST TWEETS

During the weekend, GM Southeast was keeping an eye on tweets tagged #chevysxse to see who was posting car-related adventures.

@soulofmiami won a $100 gift card for BEST OVERALL TWEET.

@janiec won a $50 gift card for BEST PHOTO TWEET.

Evidence that the Chevy Gazelles made it to Key West. Photo by @janiec.

@hrb2008 and @vicequeenmaria were tied for FUNNIEST TWEET. Each also won a $50 gift card.

The winners were picked by GM Southeast's great staff. Many thanks to them all for their continued support of South Florida's social media community!

SxSe Chevy Caravan - Get A Free, Sweet Ride to Key West

We realize Key West is a bit of a drive for some folks, so Chevy has generously agreed to loan us three big SUVs, each with a full tank of gas, to head down to SxSe!

Want to be the captain of a carpool? Leave a comment below on why you should drive your posse down to the Conch Republic!

Your car will be delivered to your door on Thursday, July 14 and picked up at the same location on Monday, July 18 by the awesome Prestige guys. All you need to do is drive to SxSe in a sweet Traverse or Equinox with a car load of your best buddies!

Get creative ... give your car a name and whoever puts out the best car tweet will win a prize courtesy of GM Southeast.


@vicequeenmaria will be driving a Chevy down to Key West on Friday, July 15 and will have room for friends. You will get either a Chevy Traverse (holds 7 adults) or an Equinox (room for 4), so think of all the fun you'll have instead of driving all by your lonesome.

On the way back to Miami, the #chevysxse caravan will drive back together, stopping at Porky's BBQ in Marathon (fried key lime pie, people!) and Rum Runners at Holiday Isle in Islamorada, a famous pit stop in SxSe history!

So what are you waiting for? Leave a comment and don't forget to reserve your room at The Eden House!

Deadline to enter is July 10.

SxSe 2011 Pub Crawl

Our 2011 Key West Pub Crawl is taking shape!

We'll start on Saturday, July 16 at 5 PM at The Rum Barrel and end at The Green Parrot where we'll have the pleasure of listening to and doing some serious booty shakin' to Miami's awesome Afro-Funk Cuban band PALO!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

5 PM
The Rum Barrel
@rumbarrelbar
528 Front Street
Key West, FL 33040-6658
(305) 292-7862


We might be on the rooftop.  SxSe specials: 2 x 1 domestic beers and well drinks. Well includes Bacardi, Sauza, Bombay, Fris and Jim Beam. Light bites $5 menu.

7 PM
Mallory Square and Pier for sunset viewing and street performer shenanigans (no bar)

8:30 PM
Bars we might hit:  Garden of Eden (yes, that's the clothing optional place, you know we have to check it out), Island Dogs, Hog's Breath Saloon, The Rum Bar, Sloppy Joe's, 801 Bourbon Bar, etc;  Your favorite bar not listed here? We're open to suggestions!


10:30 PM or 12:30 AM
The Green Parrot Bar
@greenparrotbar

601 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 
(305) 294-6133
We'll wind up the night listening and dancing to PALO! (@gopalo).  No cover charge.


PLEASE NOTE!

• Everyone pays their own tab, period! The organizer is not responsible for your bills.
  
  
• There will be no scheduled dinner stop this evening. Please order bar food whenever you're hungry or grab a quick bite somewhere nearby.  @vicequeenmaria recommends Mr. Z's Cheesesteak for a fast, cheap and filling crawl meal.

• Island Dogs Bar (@islanddogsbar) is offering SxSe wristband wearers 10% off food and drink all weekend long.

• In order to take advantage of any special SxSe discounts at supporting bars and restaurants, you will need a special wristband.  Ping @vicequeenmaria for details.

Remember, everything about SxSe is extremely casual and informal. The schedule is never written in stone! You may come and go as you please; join for all or part of the fun.

Follow us on Twitter for more updates.

Don't forget to make your reservation for a room at SxSe lodging headquarters, Eden House (@edenhousekw).  They secured some great rates for us and are really looking forward to our visit.