The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

iPhone lovers: Everything you need to know about Verizon

By Andrew Wyzan | Jan. 19, 2011

AT&T used to be my cell phone service provider — the key phrase there being “used to.” Dropped calls, poor phones and customer service staffed by incompetent gorillas are just some of the infamous issues the service provider is known for. Yet, people still cling to the carrier like submissive gimps — all thanks to the iPhone. If given the choice, a significant portion of AT&T’s customers would jump ship should the iPhone be released on a better service, say, for example, Verizon Wireless.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Microsoft laughs to the bank — and gamers have fun, too

By Andrew Wyzan | Jan. 19, 2011

The holiday season has descended into its dark, twilight hours. The hot-ticket items have gone back to sleep in storage, and bottom-bin sales fill stores with the unwanted dregs of the free market. Last year in the technology industry, no items reigned more supreme than the Microsoft Kinect.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Lens Flair

Jan. 19, 2011

For the latest frills, flair and everything fashion, check out what our lens caught this week.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Getting intimate with University Avenue favorite

By Britt Perkins | Jan. 12, 2011

Exploration is a vital and vigorous part of the college experience. You’re not under your parents’ roof. It’s time to see what’s out there. Wild Iris Books is a place to start finding out. Located between Midtown and downtown at 802 W University Ave., Wild Iris is one of the last remaining feminist bookstores in Florida. Opened in 1992, Wild Iris has established itself as not only a store but also as a community resource for artists and organizations looking for a supportive space. The store, in association with its sister nonprofit Friends of Wild Iris, has hosted open mic nights, workshops, discussion groups and art exhibits.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

11-and-a-half flights up, university’s melody is made

By LAUREN GOLD | Jan. 12, 2011

If UF’s campus had a soundtrack, it would surely be the ringing bells of Century Tower. The distant sounds echo throughout campus from every corner, providing comforting music as students hustle and bustle to class.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Female gaming icon gets long-overdue makeover

By Andrew Wyzan | Jan. 12, 2011

The depiction of women in video games has always been a mark of shame in the industry. Undoubtedly, the majority of video games developers are male — as is the industry’s target demographic. Thus, it’s not surprising that many virtual females are designed to look like idealized perfections of the gender at best and pubescent fantasy at worst. Take these favored femmes: Bayonetta has 4-foot long legs, Taki from “Soul Calibur” has triple-E sized breasts, and the entire female cast of “Dead or Alive” can be summed up with the phrase “jiggle physics.”

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Los Angeles duo ready to rock original sunny state

By Benjamin Evans | Jan. 12, 2011

Indie punk duo No Age cultivated their sound at The Smell, a now legendary all-ages venue in downtown Los Angeles. Since its opening in the late ‘90s, The Smell, formerly a Mexican grocery store, has produced some of the most creative, outside-of-the box bands of the last decade, including the highly acclaimed, sometimes bizarre but always entertaining noise rock band Health.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Guys: Get style-savvy

By Dana Burke | Jan. 12, 2011

The word “fashion” does not sit well with most guys. I get it — you’re a total bro—but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress like a pro. There’s no logic in the daily task of getting dressed, so here at the Avenue we’ve come up with some simple style tips (a less frightening word for “fashion”) that we think every Gainesville guy should try.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The rise of retrogaming

By Andrew Wyzan | Jan. 12, 2011

For some Gainesville residents, old school is the only school

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The A-list

By LAUREN GOLD | Jan. 12, 2011

READ: J.D. Salinger: A Life

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

How to remedy the dreaded post-holiday slump

By Webb | Jan. 5, 2011

After the stockings have been stowed and the fireworks extinguished, it may be tough to get out of bed in the morning. Sadly, the days of overeating, not working out and sleeping in are gone, only to be replaced by the chaos that is the first week of classes: alarms that seem to go off too early, book-buying and hunting for new classrooms. Here comes the post-holiday funk. Try just one of these remedies, and we’re sure your former holiday cheer will be restored.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The A-list

By Melinda Cartensen | Jan. 5, 2011

Each Thursday, the Avenue is serving up the best in entertainment, pop culture and everything in between. From the big screen to the radio waves, check out this week’s picks.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

WelcOHMing in the New Year

By ALLISON BANKO | Jan. 5, 2011

Just as the first second of 2011 kicked off with a certain “Jersey Shore” nugget dropping down in a giant MTV ball, it hit you, right after that desperate, sloppy smooch. It’s New Year’s resolution time, baby. It’s the year for closet-cleaning and working more on saving the cash flow than slurping it down at Salty Dog. And most importantly, getting those post-holiday bods into shape. Of course, getting fit is no uncommon resolution. And, not surprisingly, within the first couple of days on campus, the gym crowd has exploded, and the number of runners necessary to dodge on the walk to class could be compared to a game of “Frogger.”

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gamer Bait: Donkey Kong is back, better than when you were 10

By Andrew Wyzan | Jan. 5, 2011

Between the days of soul-crushing finals and the start of a new semester, in that two-week slice of heaven called “the holidays,” I learned to appreciate the finer things in life: sleeping until noon, watching movies on the couch and good, old-fashioned monster stomping.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The scoop on your New Year’s resolutions

By LAUREN GOLD | Jan. 5, 2011

The only thing more important than what you did on New Year’s Eve is what you’re going to do in the new year. Sure, it’s just a date. But a new year means a fresh start: new friends, new experiences, and, most importantly, new resolutions. Though they may be clichéd and are more often broken than kept, there are a few worth trying. Lucky for you, we’ve sifted through the duds and picked out the best. Check out our picks for top new year’s resolutions.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Fifth Ave.: Fashion Dos and Don’ts in 2011

By Dana Burke | Jan. 5, 2011

Lady Gaga, chew on this: Meat dresses are so last year. All of those opposed to wearing carnage as clothing, say goodbye to the antics of 2010 and hello to a sharper, more stylish 2011. Make better style a top New Year’s resolution with the Avenue’s list of fashion dos and don’ts. With it, you’ll be sure to avoid a fashion faux pas and maybe even end up on 2011’s best dressed list.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

New year, new beer: branch out from your usual brew

By Richard O. Stehli | Jan. 5, 2011

Welcome home, Gators. How’s your champagne hangover treating you? Mine might be gone by the time this prints, but I’m not counting on it.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Swill this: What to drink this winter

By RICHARD STEHLI | Dec. 1, 2010

Baby, it's cold outside - finally.

THE AVENUE | SEX

Is it possible to hit rock bottom?

By Jared Misner | Dec. 1, 2010

Dear Jared,

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The low-down on our top study spots

By LAUREN GOLD | Dec. 1, 2010

Here’s something that’s not in your textbook: Our study routines (or lack thereof) just aren’t working. So, in the spirit of the quickly approaching finals week, the Avenue created the ultimate study guide. Armed with our own homework — and short attention spans — we investigated all over campus and found the best and worst locations for our academic needs.