Growing Onions

Has anyone else noticed that The Onion has changed in the last month? Not a SPIN-style revamp (devolution) or anything, but they have been fiddling with the look, and expanding things as well. In the NYC print edition three weeks ago (or so) The Onion looked radically different, to the point where I thought it might be a joke. All new fonts and, to my horror, new people/photos in the "What Do You Think?" section. But the next week, the familiar faces were back and the fonts looked more normal, but it was apparent America's Finest News Source had undergone a rethink/redesign. This week's Onion has a Sports Page. New feature? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

You notice it more in the print edition, if it's available in your area, especially in the AV Club half where coverage has grown -- specifically the local coverage. The NYC edition now includes a food section! It's only two pages, but I did a double take when I saw the interview with Gilt chef Paul Liebrandt in last week's issue. There's small (one page) but well-selected restaurant guide too. Except where they recommend Williamsburg's SEA. With seven other Thai restaurants within walking distance, why would The Onion pick the place filled almost entirely with Sex & the City wannabes drinking $11 mojitos while vapid chillout music blares on the soundsystem?  The food is fine, but Chai -- less than a block away -- has great food and a more understated ambiance.

Other than that, it's a nice addition to The Onion. Too bad its not online.