The new Austin360

We're circling the world of entertainment in print and online

Welcome to the first issue of Austin360!

Phew, are we glad to be here. Today we relaunch our entertainment guide. As we announced last week, we're clearly connecting our print efforts to our award-winning online operation (that's Austin360.com) and giving our weekly guide a name that reflects its mission: highlighting the best of Austin entertainment, helping you navigate the choices out there in music, the arts, recreation and food.

The new Austin360 is focused purely on going out, with expanded music, arts and recreation listings, critics picks, interviews, restaurant reviews, photos and weekend movie times, among other features. We're also introducing a new feature called '360view,' which is a chance for you to share your opinions and recommendations about what you love to do in and around Austin. (Opportunities abound online in our blogs and various Twitter feeds; check out the directories to both at Austin360.com.)

And speaking of reviews, you might notice a change in the way we rate music, movies and dining experiences. For CD reviews and movies, we're switching to a letter grade system. Our critics are thrilled to be able to add more subtle commentary through the use of pluses and minuses. (Read more about our movie ratings in Friday's Movies & Life section.)

For restaurants, we're still using a five-star system for fine dining, although the stars have some different definitions in restaurant critic Mike Sutter's world. For casual dining, we're going to a 10-point system. Sutter explains all on page 6.

Our new Austin360 concert series also launches today. On the last Thursday of each month, we're sponsoring a gig at Stubb's. Up first: the Black and White Years and the Mercers (catch up with the white-hot B&W Years and more details on tonight's show on page 18.)

We think you'll like the new Austin360. We're sure you'll let us know if you don't. Check it out.

— Sharon Chapman,

schapman@statesman.com