The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

People work tables adorned with the flags of Brazil and Palestine during the Taste the World International Food Festival at First Magnitude Brewing Company on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Gainesville celebrates Taste The World International Food Festival

By Alexandra Burns | Mar. 25, 2024

Nestled beneath a canopy of trees and twinkling lights, Gainesville residents came together to indulge in a comforting taste of home from cultures around the world. More than 150 Gainesville residents and food enthusiasts gathered at First Magnitude Brewing Company March 23 to celebrate Taste The World International Food Festival.

Nick Bublitz portrays Gus and Chasity Hart portrays Vanessa in a performance of White.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘It’s a sitcom until it’s not’: ‘White’ approaches debut at Hippodrome

By Bonny Matejowsky | Mar. 25, 2024

Some say art imitates life. For other’s it’s vice versa. But “White,” the Hippodrome’s latest production, looks at it both ways. The 2018 play hits the mainstage at 8 p.m. March 29 and runs until April 14.

Florida Museum of Natural History, at 3215 Hull Road, debuts its first bilingual aquatic exhibit, Water Shapes Florida, on March 23, 2024.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Florida Museum of Natural History’s opens first freshwater exhibit

By Tanya Fedak | Mar. 24, 2024

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.

Quail Hollow performs during Indie Night at High Dive on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Indie Night packs High Dive full of music and music-lovers alike

By Benjamin Miller | Mar. 24, 2024

On Saturday night, local bands Half Gone, Quail Hollow, Rohna and Madwoman energized a colorful crowd of indie music fans in an exhilarating concert as part of the Indie Nights Florida tour. Indie Night, established in 2021 by Rohna bassist Andres Hernandez, seeks to bring local music together all across Florida.

Customers gather at Barnes & Noble at Butler Plaza during its opening day on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

THE AVENUE | LITERARY CORNER

Barnes & Noble hosts grand opening at Butler Plaza

By Molly Seghi | Mar. 20, 2024

Generations of book enthusiasts lined up down the block outside Barnes & Noble on Wednesday morning, some jumping for joy in anticipation. As the clock struck 9 a.m. and the ribbon was cut, more than 100 people rushed into the brand-new store and got lost in the rows of crisp, colorful books for sale.

A circus performer entertains attendees during the Big Sho at Celebration Catering Warehouse on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Big: Culture & Arts Festival brings creatives across the state to Gainesville

By Benjamin Miller | Mar. 18, 2024

Big: Cultures & Arts Festival is set to take place in an empty lot between Porters Community and South Main Street, breathing life into the venue with Florida’s music, fashion, visual art and film scene. Musical artists based in Gainesville and cities across the state, including Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami, are set to appear in numbers April 13.

Comedian Tom Miller works the bar at The Bull on Friday, March 15, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Tom Miller announces retirement from 39-year open mic variety show

By Molly Seghi | Mar. 18, 2024

Tom Miller, a 58-year-old multidisciplinary performance artist and screenwriter, has graced Gainesville with open mic shows since his humble beginnings as a UF theater student. Decades later, he will step down as the king of entertainment in downtown Gainesville, a place he calls “the known center of the universe.”

Dice made by Arnold Schweiner, 75-year-old founder of Dice by Arnold.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Jacksonville dice-maker brings handcrafted collections to Gainesville

By Bea Lunardini | Mar. 4, 2024

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.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

UF Center for Jewish Studies unveils annual film festival

By Molly Seghi | Mar. 4, 2024

The UF Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies, at the Hippodrome State Theatre and Oak Hammock, will present its 13th annual Gainesville Jewish Film Festival throughout March. It will feature 12 film screenings about the Jewish experience and culture around the world.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Gainesville’s Girl Scout cookie season remains price-stable in climate of rising costs

By Bonny Matejowsky | Mar. 4, 2024

On a rainy Saturday morning, Girl Scout Troop 2370 stood anxiously under the red awning of Winn-Dixie on Main Street. Though the day was gray and gloomy, 8-year-old Kate Sarnoski couldn’t help but smile a toothy grin while greeting grocery shoppers with a question difficult to resist: “Would you like to buy Girl Scout cookies?” she asks.

Bella Rootz pictured at the Hector Gallery on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville art scene pushes for more outreach to underserved communities

By Nicole Beltran | Feb. 26, 2024

Arts and culture are present in Gainesville through museums, exhibits and music venues scattered around the city. Further developments like a cultural arts center in East Gainesville could continue catering to the expansion, providing people with a place to turn to for support. Community members are concerned more outreach needs to be done to fully immerse underserved communities into art outlets. There are opportunities for people to seek support through the arts, but the accessibility can vary.

Mayor Harvey Ward declares Feb. 24 the first annual Multicultural Day on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

THE AVENUE

UF public relations team celebrates hidden identities with Gainesville’s first Multicultural Day festival

By Henry DeAngelis and Alexandra Burns | Feb. 26, 2024

How Bazar became a hotspot for art and culture Feb. 24 as people joined to honor a combination of various cultures, backgrounds and identities at the Culturs Festival.

Students practicing for a production of the Three Musketeers at Buchholz High School on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Buchholz High School presents production of ‘The Three Musketeers’

By Bonny Matejowsky | Feb. 26, 2024

The ringing clangs of swashbuckling sword fights resounded loudly in Buchholz High School’s auditorium at a midweek evening rehearsal. In front of a white-columned set piece, two pajama-clad teens duel with careful choreography, jousting silver swords and dodging calculated swings.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The 2024 leap year reveals local traditions, celebrations and superstitions

By Molly Seghi | Feb. 26, 2024

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.

A local cat attends the Barkin’ Market event at How Bazar on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Circus-themed fashion show for pets unleashes at the How Bazar

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Feb. 25, 2024

Under the fluorescent lights of Southwest Second Street’s How Bazar, dogs, cats, snakes and birds circled around the venue Friday, adorned in handmade crochet outfits. The proud owners accompanied each pet, stopping to let the crowd that lined the perimeter admire them, an event organizers call ‘Barkin' Market: A Night at the Circus.’

Lucas Zelnic performing at High Dive on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

New York based-comedian, social media sensation sells out seats at High Dive

By Benjamin Miller | Feb. 24, 2024

At 8 p.m. Friday night, Lucas Zelnick, a 28-year-old stand-up comedian from New York City, took the stage at the High Dive, aiming to deliver a memorable stand-up routine to a diverse audience.

Local Gainesville musician JulyART performs a 45-minute set at The Hippodrome’s February edition of “Basement Sessions” Thursday night.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Independent Black talent push creative boundaries in Gainesville’s art scene

By Benjamin Miller | Feb. 19, 2024

Gainesville’s local art scene is home to a diverse array of fashion designers, musicians, writers and artists. An important component of its culture is the Black creatives that have paved the way for many following in their tracks.

Jordan Burchel pictured on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2024.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Gainesville musician finds success, one song a day

By Bonny Matejowsky | Feb. 19, 2024

The 33-year-old Gainesville musician has taken up an ambitious challenge: writing, producing and recording one song a day for an entire year.

Masked customers shop at the new Gainesville store Wednesday.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Pop-up market celebrates local Black businesses, cultural heritage

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Feb. 18, 2024

Saturday’s Anthropologie Community Pop-up Market in Butler Town Center at 3217 SW 35th Blvd occurred from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with six vendors in attendance.

Mosaic artwork at How Bazar on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Art in Medicine project holds community event at How Bazar

By Bea Lunardini | Feb. 14, 2024

Sarah Hinds, the 47-year-old artist-in-residence at UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine, organized a free event for Gainesville residents to make their own mosaic hearts as part of a project to bring a rainbow mosaic mural to the city.