The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

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.

Poets speak at the Historic Thomas Center for the Black History Month Celebration of Black Love, Art and Poetry Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Uptown art exhibit set to debut curations of Black culture

By Tanya Fedak | Feb. 12, 2024

In partnership with the Moisturizer Gallery, a nonprofit art gallery in Gainesville, the Black Space Art Exhibition will open Feb. 16 at the Thomas Center and will feature printmaking, painting, oils and ceramics created by local and out-of-town Black artists.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Williston woman aims to revitalize Black representation in art

By Bea Lunardini | Feb. 12, 2024

Solana Williams couldn’t find any art that looked like her on the walls of the museums she explored. Her only course of action was making it.

A local drag performer at Gainesville Pride Festival on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Pride from past to present to future: Gainesville’s Black LGBTQ+ community

By Molly Seghi and Bonny Matejowsky | Feb. 12, 2024

The growing Black Queer community in Gainesville addresses struggles of intersectionality.

Kendall Jenner poses with fans at The Swamp Restaurant on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

Kendall Jenner brings tequila brand to Gainesville bars

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Feb. 8, 2024

UF students stood on chairs and climbed tables to catch a glimpse of Kendall Jenner as she walked in from the side door at The Social at Midtown. The sound of excited screams and the flash of iPhone cameras filled the room as the model hopped behind the bar to make drinks with her tequila.

Studios of Melrose Gallery & Gifts in Melrose, Fla.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

The Melrose Center unveils new art gallery ‘Studios of Melrose’ featuring local works

By Molly Seghi | Feb. 5, 2024

The Melrose Center, a community nonprofit organization, opened Studios of Melrose in early December in Melrose, Florida. The new art gallery features local, vintage and fair trade art and works. The space also acts as a gift shop selling Haitian paintings, handmade pottery, woodblock prints, art supplies, greeting cards and more.

Local drag queen Inertia talks to audience members at a RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing event at University Club on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

‘Rupaul’s Drag Race’ leaves impact on local LGBTQ+ community

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Feb. 5, 2024

Every Friday at 8 p.m., a crowd gathers at University Club’s downstairs bar to watch the weekly episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” For no cover charge, attendees join the club's drag performers to revel in the excitement of the critically acclaimed show.

FILE - This Nov. 22, 2011 file photo shows singer Taylor Swift performing at Madison Square Garden in New York. Six-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift will perform at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards next month. Comedian Kevin Hart will host the VMAs live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 6. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, file)

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Avenue roundtable: We may know the Grammys results ‘all too well’

By Avenue Staff | Feb. 3, 2024

The 66th Grammy Awards are gearing up to be the most competitive ceremony to date, with today's most decorated artists in contention for the crown jewel of mainstream music.

Winter Record Fair at Cypress and Grove Brewery on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Gainesville celebrates vintage music culture at Winter Record Fair

By Alexandra Burns | Jan. 30, 2024

Beneath the dim glow of brewery lights, the air buzzed with determination amid the beats of ‘80s and ‘90s classics. Hopeful to find a hidden gem, desperate hands sifted through crates of vinyls and cassette tapes.

Sunshine State Book Festival on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Statewide book festival aims to improve childhood literacy rates in Alachua County

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Jan. 29, 2024

On Jan. 27, the ground floor of the Hilton Conference Center filled with lines of eager readers waiting to meet and greet more than 200 authors from across Florida promoting their most prized literary pieces.

A young boy gets his face painted at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire at Depot Park in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville hosts 37th Hoggetowne Medieval Faire

By Bonny Matejowsky | Jan. 29, 2024

Flocks of families, friends and fabled characters gathered at Depot Park Jan. 27-28 to revel in warm weather and high spirits at the 37th annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire.

Ilene Silverman at the Next to Normal opening night on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Hippodrome’s latest musical tackles mental health stigma

By Bea Lunardini | Jan. 28, 2024

Family dynamics are only one of the issues the musical tackles, presenting a challenge for creative director Stephanie Lynge when the Hippodrome Theatre, located at Southeast Second Place, added the production to its 2024 lineup. Premiering Friday, “Next to Normal” will be shown through Feb. 25.

Diamond and her litter at Grace Marketplace on Wednesday January 24

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

St. Francis Pet Care, Grace Marketplace provide mobile pet care to vulnerable communities

By Molly Seghi | Jan. 28, 2024

Diamond and her litter were some of the 20 pets treated by the St. Francis Pet Care’s mobile outreach van. The nonprofit pet clinic in Gainesville partners with GRACE Marketplace, a one-stop shop for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness at 3055 NE 28th Drive to provide monthly wellness clinics for pet owners.

Maggie Clifford (left) and Rayvon Rollins (right) are the two musicians behind Habit Forming, a genre-crossing and Gainesville-based band.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Local hip-hop, folk duo Habit Forming debuts new single, ‘Rocks’

By Bonny Matejowsky | Jan. 23, 2024

Habit Forming is the two-year-old passion project of two Gainesville musicians: 37-year-old Maggie Clifford and 34-year-old Rayvon Rollins, also known as his musical alias, Purple Kloud. Though both seasoned musicians in their own right, their musical journey together has only just begun.