SXSW Interactive

The opening remarks by Bre Pettis of MakerBot will likely focus on the future of 3-D printing (trust us, this will be huge). Even if you don’t have a badge, this one will be live-streamed on sxsw.com, the festival tells me. 2 p.m. Exhibit Hall 5, Austin Convention Center. “‘Watch What Happens Live’ with Andy Cohen and Michael Davies” is a must-see for fans of the Bravo TV show. Cohen will be taping five episodes of the show at SXSW as well. 3:30 p.m. Dell Hall at the Long Center. The “Aaron Swartz Town Hall” will discuss and celebrate the life of the late activist hacker, who died in January. It’s free and open to the public. 6:30 p.m. Ballroom A Austin Convention Center. SXSW Create for hackers, creators and DIY folks. 2 to 6 p.m. at 101 Red River St. “Blacks in Technology Opening Reception” is from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Carver Museum. The Interactive Opening Party presented by frog design will be the big official kickoff party. At 89 p.m. inside Palmer, there will be a performance by Descendants of Erdrick and a special announcement from game developer Richard Garriott de Cayeux. 8 to 11 p.m. at Palmer Events Center. — Omar L. Gallaga

Rodeo

Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo. The rodeo opens today, with competitions, music and more. The Casey Donahew Band is the main-stage act tonight, but there is music on the fairgrounds stage during the day, too. Pig races, puppet shows, Wild West shows and a carnival are just some of the other attractions. See the whole schedule and ticket prices at www.rodeoaustin.com. Through March 23. Star of Texas State Fair & Rodeo, 9100 Decker Lake Road. 919-3000.

Music

For The Love Of Norton: a Norton Records Benefit at the Continental Club. Hurricane Sandy flooded – and pretty well destroyed the contents of – the Lower Manhattan storage space used by the beloved rockabilly/R&B reissue label Norton Records. Eve Monsees, The Next, Texas Blue Dots, The Ripe, Ghost Wolves and other bands are trying to help this institution survive. Show starts at 6 p.m. $10 at the door. 1315 South Congress Ave. continentalclub.com. — Joe Gross Also playing: Pinback at the Mohawk; Bruce Cockburn at One World Theater; Miss Match Offical Launch Party with Karaoke Underground, Major Major Major, Shivery Shakes at Holy Mountain; Ugly Twin CD release, DSGNS at Red 7; Tia Carrera, Sympathy Needles, The Jamey Simms Band at Red 7; Jezzebeam, Silent Land Time Machine at Wardenclyffe Gallery; The Chumps, Zero Skills at Frontier Bar; Spray Paint at Beerland; The SpareFoot Party with K.Flay, Jayceeoh, DJ Expo at The North Door; Epic Interactive party with Akron/ Family, Air Review at the Belmont; Cilantro Boombox at Frank “Acis & Galatea.” A performance of Handel’s pastoral masterpiece. 8 p.m. Friday. $10-$30. First Presbyterian Church, 8001 Mesa Drive. 345-8866, www.scmsaustin.org. Church of the Friendly Ghost. The arts organization presents a performance by the Tatsuya Nakatani Gong Orchestra. 8 p.m. Friday. Free. The Off Center, 2211 Hidalgo St. www.churchofthefriendlyghost.org. “Spring Forward.” A performance by Austin Haller and Kara Bliss. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. $15-$25. TexARTS Kam and James Morris Theatre, 2300 Lohman’s Spur. 852-9079, www.tex-arts.org. “Yolanda Kondonassis, harp.” A performance from harpist Yolanda Kondonassis and the Austin Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m. FridaySaturday. $23-54. Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr. 474-5664, www.thelongcenter.org.

Theater & dance

“Sirens.” Opens Friday. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, through March 23. $12-$15. The Gaslight-Baker Theatre, 216 S. Main St., Lockhart. 376-5653, www.gaslightbakertheatre.org. “Edges.” 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. $30. The Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Road. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/321735. “Sara Getting Married.” 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, through March 23; additional 3 p.m. show this Sunday only. $15-$20. 2243 Business Park, 11880 W. FM 2243, Leander. www.wobcp.org. Esther’s Follies. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday. $20-$29. Esther’s Pool, 525 E. Sixth St. 320-0553, www.esthersfollies.com. “Intimate Apparel.” The UT Department of Theatre & Dance presents a play by Lynn Nottage. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $15$25. UT’s Oscar G. Brockett Theatre, 300 E. 23rd St. 477-6060. www.texasperformingarts.org. “Othello.” 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 5:30 p.m. Sundays, through March 17. $10-$25. The City Theatre, 3823 Airport Blvd., Suite D. 524-2870, www.citytheatreaustin.org. “Richard II.” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $15. The Curtain Theatre, 7400 Coldwater Canyon Drive. 665-1569, www.brownpapertickets.com/event/328255. “South Pacific.” A production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s musical set during World War II. 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through March 24. $10-$24. The Georgetown Palace Theatre, 810 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown. 869-7469, www.georgetownpalace.com. “A Steady Rain.” A Chick & a Dude Productions present Keith Huff’s drama. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $10-$25. Hyde Park Theatre, 511 W. 43rd St. 479-7530, www.hydeparktheatre.org. “Tru.” Jaston Williams stars as Truman Capote in Jay Presson Allen’s one-man play. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $40. Zach Theatre Whisenhunt Stage, 1510 Toomey Road. 4760541, www.zachtheatre.org.

Art

Flex Space. “Group Hug! The Eyes Got It!” a group show. Opening reception 7 to 10 p.m. Friday. Through March 23. 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and by appointment. 1109 Shady Lane. 351-8571, www.facebook. com/flexspaceatx.

Events & programs

Austin Tech Career Expo. Showcases tech jobs and career opportunities at dozens of interactive companies. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. FridaySaturday. Free. Rivals Steakhouse, 311 E. 5th St. techcareerexpo.com. 5th Annual International Women’s Day Awards. Ten Thousand Villages celebrates women locally and globally. 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Free. Ten Thousand Villages, 1317 S. Congress Ave. 440-0440, http:// austin.tenthousandvillages.com.

Film

A Tribute to Cesar Chavez. Documentaries on Mexican civil rights screen: “A Class Apart,” “Reportero, ” “The Fight in the Fields” and “Chicano Rock!” Various showtimes Friday-Saturday; visit the center’s website for full details. Free. Black Box Theater at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St. 974-3772, www.maccaustin.org.