Subject: Re: Back To School issue
From: "Barrett Brown" <barriticus@gmail.com>
Date: 7/30/07, 16:31
To: "Sean O'Neal" <soneal@theonion.com>

Sorry for the delay; I had to help a friend move this weekend. Here's a redo of that culinary piece; see if this works better. Also, I wasn't sure if and where I should include the usual contact, price info for each place - let me know.

Word.

On 7/26/07, Sean O'Neal <soneal@theonion.com> wrote:
For the most part it's fine, but I can definitely tell when you hit upon a place that you don't care too much about. In particular, Magnolia, Kerbey, Thundercloud, and Hut's could all use a little more love. With Hut's, for example, it might be good to mention how the burgers are all named after '50s icons (it's their hook, after all), and that they serve veggie burgers as well. The "Magnolia and Kerbey are the same restaurant" line is funny, but not really true, and it doesn't really do justice to either one to write them off with "they're open 24 hours and serve breakfast." C'mon...those are two of the most popular restaurants in town. Surely we can give a reason why. Same goes for Thundercloud. And we'd be remiss not to mention a little bit about Threadgill's history. I just think it needs to be fleshed out some (and rewritten so it doesn't fall back on using "you" every other line). If we're only giving these places one or two lines apiece, we should make sure each one actually says something interesting about them, or it's not worth mentioning them.

-----------------
Sean O'Neal
City Editor, The Onion 
815-A Brazos Street #350
Austin, Texas 78701
p: (512) 708-1400 x29 ∆ c: (512) 413-8002

On Jul 26, 2007, at 4:06 PM, Barrett Brown wrote:

Okay. When you get a chance, could you point to a particular passage that you liked least so I can get a better sense of what you want for this regarding style?

On 7/26/07, Sean O'Neal <soneal@theonion.com> wrote:
Hey Barrett-

It's good, but maybe a little too breezy and definitely too heavy on the usage of second person, which is something we try to avoid in food features.  Can you rework it with that in mind? Also, add something to the intro that brings up the "mainstays" theme--that these are places Austin eats over and over again. Something about how we have a rich variety of restaurants to explore, but if you want to eat like a local, these are the places you need to get familiar with.

sean.
-----------------
Sean O'Neal
City Editor, The Onion 
815-A Brazos Street #350
Austin, Texas 78701
p: (512) 708-1400 x29 ∆ c: (512) 413-8002

On Jul 26, 2007, at 3:12 PM, Barrett Brown wrote:

Let me know if this works.

On 7/23/07, Barrett Brown < barriticus@gmail.com > wrote:
Okay, I'll have this to you later in the week.


On 7/23/07, Sean O'Neal < soneal@theonion.com > wrote:
I'd really like it to be as comprehensive as possible--and include
the most iconic places--so let's do these 15. (Remember that since
this is a Back To School issue, affordability and proximity to campus
are also factors--hence no Salt Lick.) And I originally conceived
this list as a way to mention oft-ignored (in food reviews) places
like Thundercloud, so I'd like to see it on there.

Kerbey Lane
Matt's El Rancho
Trudy's
Conan's Pizza
Hula Hut
Threadgill's
Thundercloud Subs
Chango's
Polvo's
Magnolia
Chuy's
Opal Divine's
Hut's Hamburgers
Stubb's BBQ
Amy's Ice Cream

-----------------
Sean O'Neal
City Editor, The Onion
815-A Brazos Street #350
Austin, Texas 78701
p: (512) 708-1400 x29 ∆ c: (512) 413-8002
www.avclub.com



On Jul 23, 2007, at 4:25 PM, Barrett Brown wrote:

> How about Opal Divine's, Hut's Hamburgers, Stubbs, and Amy's Ice
> Cream?
>
> On 7/23/07, Sean O'Neal < soneal@theonion.com> wrote:
> Hey Barrett-
>
> That list is mostly good, but these are supposed to be ubiquitous
> (and middle-of-the-road in terms of price and atmosphere) favorites
> that Austinites go to time and again. I'm not sure some of these
> qualify. I would subtract these:
>
> Hudson's On The Bend
> Ray's
> El Chilito
> Alligator Grill
>
> and I would add some or all of these:
>
> Threadgill's
> Thundercloud Subs
> Baby Acapulco's
> Austin Java
> Curra's
> Polvo's
> Magnolia
> Chuy's
> El Mercado
> Shady Grove
> Maudie's
> Opal Divine's
> Romeo's
> Hut's Hamburgers
> Fran's Hamburgers
> Ruby's BBQ
> Stubb's BBQ
> The Salt Lick
> Amy's Ice Cream
> Waterloo Ice House
>
> Obviously we're going to go over 400 words on these, but hopefully
> that should give you a better idea of what it is we're looking
> for...Not an egalitarian cross-section of what Austin has to offer,
> but a round-up of places just about everyone has been to, usually
> more than once. Most of the places I've given you have multiple
> locations, which should be another factor.
>
> -----------------
> Sean O'Neal
> City Editor, The Onion
> 815-A Brazos Street #350
> Austin, Texas 78701
> p: (512) 708-1400 x29 ∆ c: (512) 413-8002
> www.avclub.com
>
>
>
> On Jul 23, 2007, at 3:47 PM, Barrett Brown wrote:
>
>> Here's a list that kind of runs the gamut; let me know what you
>> think.
>>
>> Kerby Lane
>> Matt's El Rancho
>> Trudy's Texas Star
>> El Chilito
>> Sandy's
>> Hudson's on the Bend
>> Conan's Pizza
>> Ray's Steakhouse
>> Alligator Grill
>> Guero's
>> Katz's
>> Hula Hut
>>
>>
>> On 7/23/07, Sean O'Neal < soneal@theonion.com> wrote:
>> I'm thinking 10-12 at most, and maybe 400-500 words altogether.
>> And remember, these can and should include things that range from
>> fancy to extremely casual (hence the inclusion of places like
>> Thundercloud).
>>
>> -----------------
>> Sean O'Neal
>> City Editor, The Onion
>> 815-A Brazos Street #350
>> Austin, Texas 78701
>> p: (512) 708-1400 x29 ∆ c: (512) 413-8002
>> www.avclub.com
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jul 23, 2007, at 3:19 PM, Barrett Brown wrote:
>>
>>> Great. About how many restaurants should be covered for the
>>> mainstays piece, and about how many words should it be
>>> altogether? Let me know and I'll send you a list later today.
>>>
>>> Also, count me in to contribute to the Sixth Street deal as well,
>>> por favor.
>>>
>>> On 7/23/07, Sean O'Neal < soneal@theonion.com > wrote:
>>> Hi Barrett-
>>>
>>> You can do the mainstays piece if you like. Please get me a list
>>> of the restaurants you think you'd like to include before
>>> proceeding.
>>>
>>> And as for the Sixth Street guide, I'm not looking for one person
>>> to do the whole thing, but for several people to pitch in blurbs.
>>> If you'd like to do that, I'll put you on the list of
>>> contributors and send you a list for you to choose assignments
>>> from once everyone has responded.
>>>
>>> thanks,
>>> sean.
>>> -----------------
>>> Sean O'Neal
>>> City Editor, The Onion
>>> 815-A Brazos Street #350
>>> Austin, Texas 78701
>>> p: (512) 708-1400 x29 ∆ c: (512) 413-8002
>>> www.avclub.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jul 23, 2007, at 3:06 PM, Barrett Brown wrote:
>>>
>>>> I can do either the Austin mainstays food piece or the Sixth
>>>> Street guide, or both if needed. Let me know.
>>>>
>>>> On 7/23/07, Sean O'Neal < soneal@theonion.com > wrote:
>>>> Hi there-
>>>>
>>>> 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. Payment 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.)
>>>>
>>>> - The A.V. Club Guide To Sixth Street
>>>> 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.   We'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.
>>>>
>>>>  - Beyond The Mall shopping guide
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>> Food features:
>>>> - Austin mainstays
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>>  - Places to take your parents
>>>> Pretty self-explanatory. In short, places with a nice atmosphere
>>>> (i.e., no loud music and surly waiters), uncontroversial menu, etc.
>>>>
>>>> Please hit me back if you're interested in contributing!
>>>>
>>>> thanks,
>>>> sean.
>>>> -----------------
>>>> Sean O'Neal
>>>> City Editor, The Onion
>>>> 815-A Brazos Street #350
>>>> Austin, Texas 78701
>>>> p: (512) 708-1400 x29 ∆ c: (512) 413-8002
>>>> www.avclub.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>



<Back-to-School Restaurant Feature.doc>