The Avenue | Lifestyle - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Five Events you Won't Want to Miss in Gainesville This Week

By Isabelle Resnick | May 31, 2017

UF’s Summer A may never kick the stigma that, at this time, the greater Gainesville area is a desolate and dull college town controlled by a tediously slow clock, one that will restore sunshine and social lives to the city only when Summer B arrives. Little do the town’s residents know that, thanks in part to UF, Gainesville is a hub for culture and entertainment. The following are five events happening this week guaranteed to provide maximum distraction from the not-so-monotonous countdown to Summer B.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Drinking Game: Finals week edition

By Kirsten Chuba | Apr. 12, 2017

As you surely know, finals week is here. This means lots of time studying, right? Or it means lots of time spent thinking about studying, texting your friends about how you don’t know anything and, in the end, seeking alcohol. Well if the latter is the case, we have you covered.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The best and worst: shopping second hand in Gainesville

By Mackenzie Duffy | Apr. 5, 2017

With summer break approaching, it is important to save money for vacations, internships, study abroad and so on. However, with the changing weather comes the need for a changing wardrobe. That is why shopping second hand is so great for college students: Besides being environmentally friendly, it saves money. Through extensive research (and probably too much money and time), I have amassed a list of some secondhand clothing stores to check out, and others to steer clear of.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Downtown Cuban film festival celebrates music, culture

By Jeremy Haas | Mar. 22, 2017

This weekend, the Hippodrome State Theatre will host a Cuban film festival downtown. The festival, which runs from Friday at 6 p.m. until Sunday at 7 p.m., will feature three Cuban films: “Before Night Falls,” “Cicho and Rita” and “Playing Lecuona;” a biopic, animated film and music documentary, respectively.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville organization creates storytelling meetups

By Jeremy Haas | Mar. 15, 2017

Tonight, Gainesville-based storytelling group Self Narrate will be hosting one of its monthly meetups at Third House Books & Coffee from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This event will feature stories told live by Gainesville residents on the topic of leaving home. Each story will be approximately five minutes long.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The definitive senior bucket list for your last six weeks

By Kirsten Chuba | Mar. 15, 2017

If you’re graduating this semester, and you’re like me, you’re starting to panic about leaving behind everything Gainesville has to offer. Coming back from Spring Break made that impending diploma seem way too real, and now you may be looking to pack in everything you’ve wanted to do over the last four years into the last six weeks. Lucky for you, I’m here to round up all of the must-do activities you need to check off your bucket list before the end of April.

Nick Brigandi, a 28-year-old employee at Mother's Pub & Grill, pours a beer on Wednesday afternoon. Brigandi and other employees are preparing for all the business on St. Patrick's Day by wearing shirts from last year's festivities.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Where to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day in Gainesville

By Ana-Katarina Stanic | Mar. 15, 2017

Check out these local favorites for events worth more than a pot of gold Friday. There is plenty going on around Gainesville to keep you busy all day and night, whether you’re going for the corned beef and cabbage or the green beer.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Changeville festival returns, pursues social change

By Natalie Rao | Mar. 1, 2017

Changeville 2017: Gainesville’s Social Change Festival, an immersive festival that kicked off in Gainesville in 2016, is set to return for a second year of music, comedy and more in the pursuit of social change.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

UF alumnus to perform in Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival

By Rebecca Rubin | Mar. 1, 2017

Calvin Cole attributes his comedy roots to his alma mater, UF.

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Beer yoga finds its way onto ooZoo rooftop, sells out

By Ana-Katarina Stanic | Feb. 15, 2017

Shock Top will sponsor a beer and yoga event through local studio Flow Space on the ooZoo rooftop Saturday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Valentine’s Day roundup: events for couples, singles

By Anna Burbano | Feb. 8, 2017

With Valentine’s Day weekend coming up, you might find yourself at a loss for creating the perfect day. Whether you’re planning to spend Feb. 14 with a special someone or currently riding solo, there’s plenty to do in Gainesville to get in that loving spirit. Here’s some of the best Valentine’s Day events this weekend, no matter your Facebook relationship status (if that’s still a thing).

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Binge Drinking Game: Syllabus week edition

By Taylor McLamb | Jan. 4, 2017

You’ve now slept off your holiday food-coma, packed up your bags and suffered through the traffic on Archer Road. It’s here. The dreaded syllabus week where the campus is crowded with starry-eyed first-timers and returning students who have enough experience under their belt to know a little of what to expect in the upcoming term. Alcohol is a token remedy for those first tedious days, and what better way to start the semester than to show up hungover for your first couple of classes? Let’s drink!

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Best local beers for fall

By Kirsten Chuba | Nov. 9, 2016

Swamp Head Brewery: A local favorite for craft beer fans, Swamp Head Brewery, located at 3650 SW 42nd Ave., is known for its creative brews and is at its peak in fall, when it offers tons of special-edition drinks to accompany the colder weather. Check these out:

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Must-dos for your last Gator gameday

By Julia Nevins | Nov. 9, 2016

It’s your senior year of college, and you’re a Florida Gator with a terrible case of football FOMO. With the last home game right around the corner, it’s a wonder how students and fans can think of anything except throwing around an air-filled lump of pigskin. We wait all year for our first home game, and poof: Just like that, it’s over.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

This year’s top Halloween costumes

By Janiece Sebris | Oct. 19, 2016

This Halloween, adults will most likely be seen wearing red sweaters, political masks and gorilla costumes, though not necessarily all at the same time.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Romance in Gainesville: Five local first-date ideas

By Natalie Rao | Sep. 14, 2016

With the Fall semester now in full swing, plenty of students are hitting the town and meeting new people. New relationships are in the making, and with new relationships come lots of dating. Unfortunately for us broke college students, lavish, expensive dates aren’t really an option. The bright side is there’s a plethora of things to do in Gainesville that are cheap — or even free. With that being said, here’s five of the best first-date ideas for any student looking to impress that special someone.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Mediocre Advice: friends, parties

By Julia Nevins | Sep. 7, 2016

Dear Mediocre,

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

How to survive your senior year: plan, travel, cleanse

By Julia Nevins | Aug. 24, 2016

The grand finale is finally here. Whether you plan on heading to grad school for a lifetime of debt and misery, or you’re going straight into a dream job, these are some pro tips for men and women on how to slay their senior years.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

You are what you wear: an analysis of first impressions

By Julia Nevins | July 27, 2016

We hear clichés all the time. Sweet as pie, a truckload, hot as hell (Who even really knows if hell is really hot or if hell exists at all?). Another classic cliché is, “You are what you eat.” From that, a spinoff has been born into a world where first impressions are often last impressions and you are what you wear.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

This weekend in Gainesville

By Kirsten Chuba | July 27, 2016

Looking for something to keep you busy as you wish away the Saturdays until football season? The Avenue is here to help you out with the best places to get drinks, hear local music and get artistic this weekend.