The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Foxy, pregnant politicians? Make a statement with a pop culture-inspired costume

By Angela Skane | Oct. 16, 2013

You’re done with being the same ol’ cliches for Halloween. Why not use this year as your chance to branch out and create a costume with more relevance? Chances are there won’t be anyone in your group with these costumes. You’ll be the talk of the costume party — and not because you drank too much punch.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Fall for chicken by cooking with apples — for the kidneys

By Isha Choksi | Oct. 16, 2013

Pumpkins and nutmeg get all of the attention this time of year, but there isn’t any reason we can’t show some fall love to a year-round favorite: chicken. This recipe makes a great entree for any fall festivities you plan! It’s fast, easy and will make your guests want to keep coming back for more. As college students, it’s sometimes hard to make enough time to cook a full meal, but you can pair this chicken with mashed potatoes or rice for a well-balanced and kidney-friendly meal.

Daily Green, a California-meets-Southern quick and friendly eatery, opened about three months ago. The restaurant replaced the former Louis' Lunch building.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Daily Green gives healthy consumers quirky, waffle-centric options

By Valeria Yulee | Oct. 16, 2013

The waffle cone on the Daily Green’s menu is what separates the restaurant from any other in town.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

Sip, slash and sashay your way across Gainesville this Halloween

By Whitney Lavaux | Oct. 16, 2013

The Swamp, 1642 W. University Ave.

Snowmine, an experimental indie group, performs at Club Downunder in Tallahassee on Tuesday. The show was the band’s first in Florida.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Down-to-earth Snowmine musicians talk beginnings, pancakes after first Florida show

By Marjorie Nunez | Oct. 16, 2013

I sat down with up-and-coming, Brooklyn-based group Snowmine after its first show in Florida on Tuesday night in Tallahassee.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

MTV's new show "The Hook Up" uses social media to dig up dirt on potential dates

By Kelcee Griffis | Oct. 16, 2013

An MTV cast member who breaks down “Guy Code” and “Girl Code” on the network’s popular shows will now be laying out dating code.

“Big Ass Spider!” a sci-fi movie about a giant alien spider that rampages the city of Los Angeles, premieres Friday. The movie is playing at Gators 4 Cinema at 10 p.m. “It’s going to be something good,” said Jason McNeal, UF’s English department film and equipment manager.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

‘Big Ass Spider!’ premiering at local movie theater Gators 4 Cinema

By Steven Katona | Oct. 16, 2013

Creeping from our worst nightmares, a “Big Ass Spider!” will be released in a theater near you, crushing buildings with its hairy legs, spitting skin-melting acid and making people laugh.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

LivFit: Pump up with Protein

By Olivia Langdon | Oct. 9, 2013

You CAN have your protein cake and eat it, too, with these two delicious recipes:

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Art Bash to showcase several hundred pieces, some interactive, of students' art

By Lawrence Chan | Oct. 9, 2013

Few people think lining up clay pots and smashing them indiscriminately with the force of a bowling ball is an art form. Well, if you happen to be one of the people who desire violence against all pots, you’ll find that and more at the UF Art Bash.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Review: Panic! At The Disco's 'Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!' balances mix of styles, cohesiveness

By Alyssa Holcomb | Oct. 9, 2013

Alt-rock ensemble Panic! at the Disco hasn’t released an album for two years (since 2011’s “Vices & Virtues”) but its signature sound has yet to fade. “Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!” is classic Panic! — melodic, slightly biting and bursting with energy. Front man Brendon Urie is as honest as ever with his lyrics, and the overall record (while maintaining a more pop-friendly edge) is on par with the band’s shiny, theatrics-ridden discography.

Attendees of the Shands Arts in Medicine Creative for Health workshop cut and paste magazine clips to make abstract collages.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Art workshops help UF Health patients cope, grow

By Emily Cardinali | Oct. 9, 2013

A laughing group of people collaborated on collages that circulated around two long tables. Torn-up magazine pages toppled off the tables as the collages filled up.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

Downtown offers oodles of options for Halloween mischief

By Whitney Lavaux | Oct. 9, 2013

Get out your best skeleton. Gather up your fellow ghosts. It’s time to rise from the dead of your work, whip up your favorite concoctions in the cauldron and celebrate All Hallows’ Eve in the trickiest and treatiest of ways.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Here’s Johnny — Keep Halloween weird with Johnny Depp inspired costumes

By Angela Skane | Oct. 9, 2013

Fall not only brings out the best coffee flavors, i.e. pumpkin spice. it also means it’s Halloween time. If you start planning now, you could rock a costume that screams Spooky Sally.

Three performance artists pose in front of portraits printed on leather on display at Naomi Fisher’s reception for “Lay of the Land” at the University Gallery on Friday.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Multimedia show at UF gives artists lay of the land

By Andrea Sarcos | Oct. 9, 2013

Students, faculty and museum-goers could hear the buzzing of insects and swaying of trees as they stepped into Naomi Fisher’s reception for “Lay of the Land” at the University Gallery on Friday.

A model presents a creation as part of Valentino's ready-to-wear Spring/Summer 2014 fashion collection, presented Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 in Paris.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Paris Fashion Week illuminates trends for spring/summer 2014

By Olivia Muenter | Oct. 9, 2013

Paris Fashion Week has officially ended, rounding out the most magical month in the fashion world.

In the University Gallery, two photos taken by Naomi Fisher are printed on leather, an uncommon surface for printing that she had to special order from New York.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

New art exhibit explores human relationships with nature

By Steven Katona | Oct. 2, 2013

It’s dusk. The sun’s orange glow barely peeks over the bogs of the Everglades as Naomi Fisher adjusts her camera.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

Television shows about vampires: Ending or immortal?

By Desmond | Oct. 2, 2013

Over the past five years, the vampire craze in American media hit its peak and slowly started to back off into the shadows.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Shoe design gives new life back to old materials

By Christine Flammia | Oct. 2, 2013

Foam might be the future of footwear fashion. Two environmental experts at UF are optimistic about a shoe design that would be made from biodegradable, or recyclable foam, materials.

This CD cover image released by RCA Records shows “The 20/20 Experience — 2 of 2,” by Justin Timberlake, which was officially released Monday.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Review: ‘The 20/20 Experience — 2 of 2’ dark and sweet

By Alyssa Holcomb | Oct. 2, 2013

Following suit (and tie — I couldn’t resist) with this year’s earlier release, Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience — 2 of 2” is just that — a split-sided LP that’s half dark, pulsating club beats and half smooth, sweet tracks. But words don’t really do the duality justice — only a thorough listen will truly give you the full “experience.”

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

‘What Does the Fox Say?’ animal sounds video goes viral

By Isha Choksi | Oct. 2, 2013

When Stephanie Hardy first watched “The Fox,” she wasn’t expecting to see costumed adults dancing and making animal sounds in dark woods.