I poked around Rainey Street but ultimately didn’t find anything compelling. I saw events at bars for different regions, one for Australia and another for the Mid-West (of the USA), promoting to the SXSW crowd that they are tech-friendly happening places. I left because I got bored.

The character of Rainey Street has shifted since the early days. It may be due to the temporary SXSW influence or a more permanent change. Loud music fueled a younger, less-affluent crowd looking for parties. Some looked like the people who used to frequent East 6th Street. When Rainey Street started, it had the vibe of small, intimate gatherings, the kind you have with friends at their cool-looking bungalow. Unfortunately, many of those old buildings have been replaced by towering condos.

On the way back to my car, I saw this contraption, the most noteworthy thing the entire day. I don’t even know what you call it. Niantic, famous for making the Pokemon Go game, promoted NBA All World. I looked it up. It’s a smartphone game where gamified real-world maps overlay basketball courts where you challenge nearby gamers. I didn’t entirely understand it, and didn’t seem particularly interesting. But I know I’m not the target demographic. At least their marketing worked since I Googled the product and even blogged about it.

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