Elf Movie Party 2024

(Press play, then read.)

Congratulations! If you received this link directly from me, then you are on my 2024 (Extra) Nice List! And I apologize for sending this out so late, but it’s been a crazy year for me: expanding, rebranding, and reopening Remedy; executing numerous Vizias projects including launching the new Google Cloud Advanced Computing Community; ramping the Austin AI Alliance while continuing to lead and grow the Austin Forum on Technology & Society; countless other projects (blood drives, presentations and panels, advisory groups, etc.; and most importantly celebrating the graduation of the most wonderful daughter and planning a destination wedding and an Austin reception with the most wonderful wife! So, from now on this is our party, you’re on our nice list, and now we are so ready for Santa (we know him!) and ready to see Elf (and play some games, have some drinks, and spend time with) with our friends who helped us have an amazing year!

For newbies on the Nice List: for many years I have treated friends in Austin who made my Nice List to an event involving the movie “Elf” that encourages reminds us of the Christmas spirit (in a very non-denominational way): to be nice and spread love and cheer to everyone. To all of you: we say thank you for being wonderful people, and we look forward to sharing this event with you. This event is all about the big picture of Christmas (giving, being nice, family/love, etc.) so it’s especially fun with friends. And this year, there will be a few little surprises in addition to the movie… We hope this event will help you share and spread even more Christmas cheer to the people in your lives this Christmas (and into the New Year)!

This year’s event will be on Sunday, December 22 at our at 7:00pm at our new venue for fun & friends, with a brand new projector and screen! I do hope you will join us earlier though (I’ll be there by 6pm!) for some conversation and cocktails before the movie events begins.

While Buddy reminds us of the three rules of Christmas and we will adhere to those, we also have three additional event-specific requests for sustaining maximum Christmas cheer. Please:

1. RSVP by commenting on this page. Please. It’s fun–especially if you leave a good Elf quote–and it helps us keep track in one place instead of acrss texts, emails, calls, conversastions, DMs, Slack messages, etc.
2. Arrive before movie start time, not after it has started (7:00). Meet in the north end. I know a few of you have to be late due to other obligations, but everyone else please try to join us early so we can share Christmas cheer in converation before it starts
3. Do not have conversations during the movie that lessen the experience for others around you! Quoting and singing along in the Elf Movie Party are encouraged, but don’t be a cotton-headed ninnymuggins. Don’t make me transfer you to my 2034 Naughty List just 3 days before Christmas. Don’t make make send South Pole elves to your home on Chirstmas Eve instead of Santa.

A few more details:

• Again, please RSVP by commenting on this page, and also let us know if you have to cancel for any reason. It’s ok, things happen. There are more people who are on the (Extra) Nice List than I could fit into the space, so if you cannot attend we’ll miss you but we’ll also make sure someone else gets a hug! (ALSO: Remedy is having a public movie party on Thursday, December 19 at 8pm–so come to that if you cannot come on the 22nd and let us know!)
• Please wear something Christmasy!
• I will treat everyone to a boozy eggnog (or Cinnamon martini or Brandy Alexander) before the movie, and we’ll have Christmas cookies!
• There will probably be (free) street parking around for some of you, and Alli and I will try to get spots for others if you let us know in advance. There is pay parking in the 360 Condos building, in the old Mellow Johnny’s lot, and in the big state garage right across Nueces from 360 Condos.
• There will be a trivia quiz to kick things off, and maybe an intermission game…
• Afterwards, we will have Chrismas and keep celebrating! There is no obligation to stay, but it’ll be very Christmasy!

As always, to help us all get into the spirit in advance, please share your favorite “Elf” quote in the comments when you RSVP!

---