How Dolly Parton quietly rewrote Gainesville’s future
By Kendall O'Connor | Aug. 31Dolly Parton’s music, acting and philanthropy made her a global icon. Her passion for early childhood literacy in underserved communities made her a Gainesville one.
The Avenue: Lifestyle
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Ditch the supermarket flowers and hit these 6 local shops for Valentine’s Day
By Aaliyah Evertz | Feb. 8Whether you’re planning a romantic gesture, a low-key “thinking of you” or something a little more creative than the standard dozen roses, Gainesville has no shortage of local florists ready to help you get it right.
The Avenue
Grab your sneakers and meet City Girls Who Walk GNV
By Teia Williams | Jan. 31During golden hour with water bottles in hand, City Girls Who Walk take on Gainesville’s trails and end with new friendships formed.
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The LEGO trading location opened on Saturday, attracting builders and their families
By Ariana Pedraza | Jan. 31Lines formed across from Newberry Square at 6 a.m. Saturday as LEGO fans gathered in sub-50 degree weather to watch the doors open to a new location of Bricks & Minifigs. The store caters to fans by offering the opportunity to trade old LEGOs and buy individual pieces in addition to selling popular sets.
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Food vendors toil with rising costs at Hoggetowne Medieval Faire
By Aaliyah Evertz | Jan. 27The feast is as much a tradition as the jousts — but this year, rising food costs are adding new pressure behind the booths.
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Meet Georgie the cat, the ‘ambassador’ of Hawthorne Trail
By Teia Williams | Jan. 22Like many cats, Georgie has a place to sleep, daily meals and a frequently filled water bowl. The difference between Georgie and other cats: She lives in her own cabin off of the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail.
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Coterie Market starts the semester with creative January event
By Ornella Moreno | Jan. 15Coterie Market crafted a January calendar filled with budget-friendly activities, including junk journaling, vision board collages and a Renaissance fair-themed party.
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‘Love Island’ star brings the villa to Gainesville
By Aaliyah Evertz | Oct. 22A small line had already formed outside MacDinton’s Irish Pub by 7 p.m. Tuesday night, hours before “Love Island USA” star Nic Vansteenberghe was set to arrive. Clusters of students in crop tops and polos refreshed Instagram stories for hints on his whereabouts.
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By growing plants, students see their own health bloom through therapeutic horticulture
By Isabel Kraby | Oct. 20Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the precise amount of grant funding the program received from UF.
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Survivor Florida contestants brave tears, torches and tribal councils for cash prize
By Christopher Rodriguez | Sep. 16The yard behind Hume Hall Sept. 13 looked more like the set of the 49-season hit CBS reality show “Survivor” than a soccer field.
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Need dorm or apartment furniture? These sustainable stores have you covered.
By Isabel Kraby | Aug. 20, 2025This year, total college spending is expected to reach $88.8 billion, with about 14% of that amount going toward apartment and dorm furnishings. Of all furniture nationwide, 12 million tons end up in landfills every year.
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Maintaining the spark: Avoiding college life burnout for future prosperity
By Autumn Johnstone | Aug. 14, 2025Whether it’s students who spend hours applying to medical school each week or UF faculty members teaching more than six classes a semester, Gators often balance multiple lives at once. To balance schoolwork, occupational duties and social lives, blocking out time can set students up for success.
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Gainesville’s second-ever Miss Florida looks toward Miss America
By Luke Adragna | July 24, 2025Neither the jewel-encrusted trim of her white dress nor the kaleidoscope of hues bouncing off her diamond earrings could mask the fear in Miss Gainesville Paris Richardson’s eyes.
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Curated for campus life, Coterie Market gears up for the fall
By Isis Snow | July 17, 2025Sunlight pours through the glass windows of Coterie Market, casting a warm glow on pastel decor and shelves stocked with locally made goods. The aroma of pastries and sugary drinks is a welcome invitation to stay there for as long as needed.
The Avenue
The price of prestige: UF’s low-income students work to stay afloat during the summer
By Isis Snow | July 10, 2025The heavy summer workload is shared by many low-income students at UF, who take on multiple jobs just to stay afloat while managing their academics. As UF markets itself as a top ten public university, the cost of attending is anything but low.
