The Avenue | Lifestyle

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Gainesville’s Florida Man Reptiles opens doors

By Noor Sukkar | July 22

In the swampy outskirts of Gainesville, the iconic alligator may steal the show among the reptilian ecosystem. But on Southwest Archer Road, Florida Man Reptiles showcases its very own population of nearly 100 reptiles and amphibians. On July 1, its doors opened to the public to shop from a selection of snakes, bearded dragons, turtles, frogs and more. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Latino community celebrates first ceviche and beer festival

By Jose Carmona | July 15

Members of the Gainesville Latino community gathered July 13 to promote small businesses and Hispanic musical talent at the “Ceviche and Beer Festival.”

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Gainesville celebrates the end of Pride month with downtown event

By Jose Carmona | July 1

On June 29, downtown Gainesville became a vibrant gathering spot for the LGBTQ+ community with the third annual Pride Street Party at The Bull. The event, which took place from 6 to 11 p.m. and was free of charge, featured a variety of performances for all audiences.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

‘Tha Cookout’ promises inclusivity, ‘vibes’ for Gainesville

By Sabrina Castro | June 17

Throughout the tranquil greenery of Cynthia Moore Chestnut Park and Clark Butler Nature Preserve, laughter and camaraderie echoed through the trees as Gainesville locals gathered for "Tha Cookout," a vibrant celebration organized by Ashlei and Malcom Askew. The June 16 afternoon event marked not only a celebration of Juneteenth but also a tribute to fatherhood and community spirit.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Club de Escucha+ in Gainesville connects Hispanic community through shared experiences

By Eneida Escobar | June 10

In the heart of Gainesville, Estefanía Pinto Ruiz, a Colombian passionate about culture, has transformed her love for podcasts into a community movement. In January 2023, she founded Club de Escucha+, a place where Spanish speakers can practice Spanish, share experiences and discuss episodes of NPR's Radio Ambulante podcast.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Equine therapy: A path to healing for children with special conditions

By Jose Carmona | June 10

Horses and humans have always been connected, and this special bond has given rise to equine therapy, an alternative therapy that uses horses to treat various disabilities, improving the physical, mental and emotional health of children.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Books to Burlesque: Gainesville’s guide to pride

By Noor Sukkar | June 10

Though the first week of Pride Month flew by, Gainesville is still jam-packed with festive activities throughout the rest of June. Here’s a guide to five events throughout the city to celebrate Pride Month. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Science Up Close: Insects and interactive research in the Florida Museum

By Carlos Alemany | June 3

Through engaging displays, colorful visuals and one-on-one interactions with scientists, visitors of The Florida Museum of Natural History can dive into the realm of insects and discover their impact on human culture, the environment and health and wellness.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

A colorful display of entrepreneurship, talent and community: Gainesville’s first annual Asian festival

By Carlos Alemany | May 20

With Japanese martial arts demonstrations and musical performances, authentic Asian cuisine and local vendors, UF students and Alachua County residents alike gathered at Bo Diddley Plaza May 18 to commemorate the City of Gainesville’s first annual Asian festival.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Hammer time: Gainesville’s Thor brings joy through weekly runs

By Ben Nielsen | May 20

Donning a winged helmet, a lightning-decorated fanny pack and a toy hammer, Eggleston embarks on a weekly run every Thursday — or as he calls it, “Thorsday.”

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Coterie Market ‘happy to announce’ store closure nearly one year after opening

By Noor Sukkar | May 13

Coterie Market announced the closure of its brick-and-mortar store on its Instagram, adding to the list of small businesses Gainesville will lose this month. However, unlike other closures, this is a happy announcement, Coterie said.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Blooms for butterflies: Florida Museum of Natural History hosts spring plant sale

By Molly Seghi | Apr. 22

The Florida Museum of Natural History hosted its 12th spring plant sale April 19-21. The Earth Day weekend celebration welcomed local gardeners and plant enthusiasts to peruse and purchase from more than 250 exotic and native species of plants. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Hundreds of Florida Muslims gather in Gainesville to celebrate Eid al-Fitr

By Molly Seghi | Apr. 11

Hundreds of Muslim community members prayed and feasted at the Eid al-Fitr celebration at Skate Station Funworks.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

First Gainesville Oddities Market offers unusual items 

By Bea Lunardini | Apr. 8

The market, the first of its kind in Gainesville, hosted more than 60 vendors offering jewelry, decorations and animal products. The items were unusual, falling outside the normal range of goods sold at markets.  

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

From fields to fork: A list of local farmers markets

By Molly Seghi | Apr. 8

As temperatures rise and flowers burst into bloom, farmers markets grow in product and patron size. This guide lists seven bustling markets in Gainesville and High Springs that invite springtime with open arms.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Gainesville ‘Dancing With The Stars’ raises money for new local arts building

By Madilyn Gemme | Apr. 2

Some of Gainesville’s most accomplished residents danced, flipped and raised money at a  “Dancing With The Stars” competition Sunday. 

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‘Easter Bunny dump season’: Why this time of year poses a threat to rabbits

By Bonny Matejowsky | Apr. 1

Easter is a holiday known for sweet marshmallow chicks, pastel-woven baskets and, of course, the ever-mysterious Easter Bunny. But the impacts of this floppy-eared icon stretch beyond childhood memories of early morning egg hunts to a much more consequential extent — one that is particularly dangerous for domestic rabbits. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Florida Museum of Natural History’s opens first freshwater exhibit 

By Tanya Fedak | Mar. 24

Saturday morning, the Florida Museum of Natural History opened its new permanent exhibit, Water Shapes Florida. The exhibit is centered on Florida freshwater and its shape on human life over time. The exhibit, with interactive projector screens and physical replicas of underwater wildlife, aims to illustrate the evolution of the state's aquifers, rivers and most famous springs just north of the museum’s location in Gainesville.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Jacksonville dice-maker brings handcrafted collections to Gainesville

By Bea Lunardini | Mar. 4

The time it takes Schweiner to handcraft his own dice amounts to more than 30 hours every week. Each hour is spent in his workshop, a small room in his Jacksonville home. The room has a workbench and table, a 36-square-foot cork board holding his tools and most importantly, around 450 dice. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

The 2024 leap year reveals local traditions, celebrations and superstitions

By Molly Seghi | Feb. 26

Jazzlyn Harrell eagerly punched her number into the keypad in her elementary school lunch line over 20 years ago. More satisfying than the lunch she was served, she savored the ‘Happy birthday’ message that lit up on the screen. Unlike her classmates, she would have to wait another four years to see it again. Harrell, now a 31-year-old Alachua County elementary school counselor, is a ‘leapling,’ a person born Feb. 29. For her, the date brings memories of both small delights and mild frustrations.