Back To School - a clarification

Obviously I should have clarified on the Guide To Sixth Street piece: I'm not looking for one person to tackle this all by themselves. I'd like it if several people can pitch in with a few blurbs apiece. Once I get a core group of contributors (and if you would all like to try your hand at a few, that's fine too), I'll divvy up assignments.

I'm addressing this to my "elite" group of freelancers--those writers whose work I feel most often approximates the delicate balance of snark and enthusiasm that is the hallmark of The A.V. Club--in hopes that some of you will want to help out with our upcoming Back To School issue. This is the biggest issue of the year in terms of local content, and we'll be putting it out in its own special edition on Saturday, August 25. It's targeted at incoming freshmen and other Austin neophytes, offering them a guide to Austin with our usual smart-assed slant.ÊPayment for these will go by word count (approximately 10 cents a word).

Here are some of the topics I'm looking to get covered. (I have several more that I am either doing myself, have already completed, or have assigned to someone else.)

I'm thinking of this as a tongue-in-cheek, place-by-place rundown of the various merits--and demerits--of Sixth Street's bars, music clubs, restaurants, and shops.Ê ÊWe're also considering making this a map with descriptions at the bottom, so entries should be short and sweet (and funny)! I'll hash out a format with whomever volunteers for this and then make assignments. All of you may participate, though I'd prefer it if volunteers could tackle two or more entries, rather than just giving me, say, one little blurb on how much Maggie Mae's sucks.

Basically, a round-up of boutiques and other specialty stores that are worth talking about. Whoever takes this, I'll work with you to compile a list before you start in on the article.Ê

The places that every Austinite should be familiar with: Kerbey Lane, Magnolia, The Salt Lick, Thundercloud Subs, etc. Let's try to keep this around 350-400 words, and I'd prefer something that flows naturally from place to place like a narrative.

Pretty self-explanatory. In short, places with a nice atmosphere (i.e., no loud music and surly waiters), uncontroversial menu, etc.Ê

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Sean O'Neal

City Editor, The OnionÊ

815-A Brazos Street #350

Austin, Texas 78701

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