The Avenue | Lifestyle - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Asian supermarkets, restaurants and boba businesses are popping in ‘Gainesville’s Chinatown’

By Aubrey Bocalan | May 22

The sound of people speaking Chinese, Japanese or Tagalog layer over K-pop harmonies. The smell of Indian spices floats in from next door. It’s the sight, sound and smell of home. Located on the corner of Southwest 34th Street and Archer Road and nicknamed “Gainesville’s Chinatown” by some for its high concentration of Asian restaurants, there are more than 15 Asian businesses within a mile of each other.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Sobriety movement aided by alternative herbal joints, mocktails

By Xenia Teju | Feb. 6

Jade and Pearl, owned by 80-year-old self-described hippie Gloria Star, pioneered the natural product and smoking alternatives industry from her headquarters in Hawthorne, a city of 1,500 residents about 16 miles east of Gainesville.

Victor Souza, lead vocalist in Maca Reggae Samba, gets the crowd ready for the live music and dance at Heartwood Soundstage Saturday Jan. 23, 2023.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Brazilfest returns to Gainesville after 3-year hiatus

By Ana Clara Mattiuzzi Martins | Jan. 24

Brazilfest, which lasted from 4-10 p.m., aimed to expose Gainesville residents to Brazilian art, cuisine, music, fashion and style.

Author and anesthesiologist Dr. Euliano holds her books "Fatal Intent" and "Misfire," the newest of the Kate Downey medical mystery Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

UF professor, doctor releases second medical thriller novel

By Zarin Ismail | Jan. 23

Dr. Tammy Euliano, a 56-year-old UF professor of anesthesiology, anesthesiologist and author released her second medical thriller novel Jan. 3: “Misfire,” the sequel to “Fatal Intent.”

Juliette Walrath (left), 5, Brianna Derrick (middle), 7, and Isabelle Derrick (right), 5, pick their favorite postcards from Atlanta artist Dymond Phillips’ booth at the Gainesville Downtown Festival & Art Show Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville celebrates 41st Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show

By Halima Attah | Nov. 21

Located on the streets surrounding Bo Diddley Plaza, this year’s festival ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Lizzie Jenkins, the 84-year-old founder and president of the Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc., is passing on the opportunity for representation to a new generation with her upcoming children’s book titled “Lizzie’s Rosewood Race.” The book’s publication is scheduled for early 2023 to align with the centennial of the Rosewood massacre.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Rosewood descendant ‘Miss Lizzie’ shares her story with next generation

By Averi Kremposky | Nov. 21

The publication of Lizzie Jenkins’ book follows statewide debates on book banning, age-appropriate class materials and race-related instruction in classrooms. In April, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law banning educators from teaching critical race theory, an academic concept that addresses systemic racism.

One of the many cats helped by Theresa Sumrall’s fundraiser eats food outside Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville cat lover raises thousands for strays

By Luna Boales | Nov. 14

Theresa Sumrall, 38, has spent almost 15 years working with Gainesville’s cat colonies — treating more than 200 homeless cats across the city through veterinary care, end-of-life care and occasional rehoming. Now, she’s turned to the community to ask for donations supporting her cause.

Community members visit different vendors along Cholokka Boulevard at the Micanopy Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

‘The town that time forgot’: 47th Annual Micanopy Fall Festival returns

By Isabella Marzban and Luna Boales | Oct. 30

The 47th annual Micanopy Fall Festival, which took place Oct. 29-30, brought nearly 500 vendors and hundreds of visitors to the historic city’s main road. The arts and crafts festival was free to the public and featured a variety of north central Florida artists, musicians and food trucks. Music by local artists like the Chasing Rabbits Bands and Inisheer Irish Dancers greeted passersby as they browsed the festival’s offerings.

Doug Mackey, shown here as “Nine Foot Fauci," accepts his prize during the Dr. Fauci Lookalike Contest Wednesday Oct, 26, 2022

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Dr. Anthony Fauci look-alikes take over downtown Gainesville

By Jiselle Lee | Oct. 27

Julie Anspach was one of seven contestants who participated in the Oct. 26 Dr. Fauci Look-Alike contest. The contest was hosted by The Bull and Gainesville actor Glenn Terry.

Thousands of students, parents, children and Gainesville residents gathered in Bo Diddley Plaza Oct. 22 for Gainesville Pride Festival’s grand return. The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but attendees came back in full force — adorned in all colors of the rainbow and representing all sectors of the LGBTQ community.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville Pride Festival returns for the first time since 2019

By Heather Bushman and Veronica Nocera | Oct. 24

Thousands of students, parents, children and Gainesville residents gathered in Bo Diddley Plaza Oct. 22 for Gainesville Pride Festival’s grand return. The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but attendees came back in full force — adorned in all colors of the rainbow and representing all sectors of the LGBTQ community.

A fear garden attendee prepares to enter the tent of terror, Gainesville’s latest spooky attraction the Fear Garden. Participants are asked to wear headphones and blackout goggles Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Halloween psychology experiment Gainesville Fear Garden studies fright, fun despite challenges

By Lauren Brensel | Oct. 17

The Gainesville Fear Garden is a sensory deprivation Halloween experience set inside a tent at 220 NW Eighth Ave. The attraction opened Oct. 6 and runs until Halloween night.

Heather Halak greets a customer inside Third House Books.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Independent bookstore Third House Books reopens after pandemic closure

By Lauren Brensel | Oct. 11

Heather Halak, 28, is the sole staff member at Third House Books, which held its grand reopening Saturday. The bookstore closed in March 2020 following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, just three months after relocating to 400 NW 10th Ave. About 20 people filtered in and out of the store Saturday afternoon.

The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science tables and talks to visitors at the Florida Museum of Natural History Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Hispanic Heritage Month prompts reflection on colonialism’s legacy, inclusive labels

By Isabella Marzban | Oct. 10

In Gainesville, where about 12% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, Hispanic Heritage Month is focused on embracing the rich Hispanic and Latinx culture within the community. But among the celebrations, there’s also reflection upon the history of colonialism in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and Latin America.

Andrew Pentland stands behind the counter at Gator Beverage Monday morning.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Liquor, laughs and lessons: Gator Beverage workers go viral on TikTok

By Naomi Volcy | Oct. 10

The TikTok account, @liquorstore352, is the product of two Gator Beverage workers: Andrew Pentland and Dylan Phelps, who started the account together in January. In the 10 months since its debut, the account has accumulated about 371,500 followers and 19.7 million likes on its videos — most of which feature short, comedic sketches on the owners’ daily interactions, as well as how-to tips on buying and drinking alcohol.

A child poses with Lyle the Crocodile and Albert the Gator at a UF Health Shands Hospital event where President Kent Fuchs and his wife read "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" to a group of children Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Double the reptiles, twice the fun: Lyle the Crocodile visits UF Health Children’s Hospital

By Lauren Brensel | Oct. 5

Lyle the Crocodile from the popular children’s book series “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” greeted seven child patients at the UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital alongside Albert the Gator, UF President Kent Fuchs and his wife Linda Fuchs Tuesday morning.

Gainesville community members gather at Heartwood Soundstage in protest of Florida’s Don’t Say Gay bill Saturday, March 19, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville Pride to return after 3 years despite hate crime investigation

By Lauren Brensel | Oct. 3

The annual festival hosted by the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida will return Oct. 22 at Bo Diddley Plaza, nearly a month after the center was vandalized. The center has celebrated Pride in Gainesville every year since 2008 aside from the last two years.

Local band Cash Crop and the High Tops take the stage at Bo Diddley Plaza during Gainesville Hempfest on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville HempFest calls for legalization of cannabis

By Luna Boales | Sep. 24

Nearly three decades since the festival first took place, Gainesville HempFest returned to downtown Saturday, featuring a wide array of bands, vendors, food trucks and speakers all advocating for the legalization of cannabis.

Members of the Gainesville car scene liven empty parking lots Tuesdays and Fridays with headlights and car speakers, as pictured Friday, June 10, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville car scene thrives amid gas prices and noise complaints

By Anna Ward | July 11

Under a weekly Tuesday and Friday night sky, attendees liven empty parking lots with headlights, car speakers, dogs and drinks.

Daniel Villamil crowd surfs at a performance by local punk band The Real You at The Moisturizer Gallery Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

An introduction to Gainesville’s DIY arts scene

By Kristine Villarroel | July 11

Artists use the resources already at their disposal and collaborate to put on shows at unconventional venues, like houses, storage units or bookstores.

Groups like Gainesville Nerds United often attend conventions to participate in panel discussions and cosplay — where people dress in costumes depicting characters from anime, video games, television shows and film.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville Nerds United: a local platform for black voices in anime culture

By Amanda Friedman | July 11

Brought together by a shared love for anime is Gainesville Nerds United, a collective that aims to uplift and connect Black voices in anime culture. The group attends anime conventions across Florida to participate in panel discussions and cosplay.