Atkinson insists. ''I would never have taken this job if I didn't think it was completely free of advertisers' influence.

We listed the names of all contributors, large and small, in the masthead of our debut issue. We hoped this inclusion would serve as a thank-you.

Binn says. ''There is no connection whatsoever.

says Jack Limpert, editor of Washingtonian, a city magazine that competes with Binn for some ads. ''Now Binn can get national ads from Prada and Ralph Lauren.

says Binn. ''We tell people where to buy things -- we celebrate each city we're in.

I knew I had to do something that would stand out.