The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

Griffin Wulf, a stilts performer, walks around the heart of Downtown Gainesville at the Bazar À La Carte Saturday, March 25, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

DragonBox Theatre ignites Gainesville’s imagination with performances, puppetry

By Allessandra Inzinna | Mar. 29, 2023

DragonBox Theatre, a local aerial arts, puppetry, performance and workshop theater company, often puts on shows at How Bazar’s Night Festival and other events. Griffin Wulf can be seen walking around the streets of downtown Gainesville on stilts or twisting several feet above the ground, while George O’Brien, the other co-founder of DragonBox Theatre, will usually have one of his marionettes.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville botanical artist creates jewelry using real plants

By Zarin Ismail | Mar. 29, 2023

Valeria Rosich has always loved flowers — especially bougainvillea, a tropical plant her mom grew in her home of Caracas, Venezuela. She loved bougainvillea so much, she said she used them to make her first piece of jewelry at age 19.

Saving Latin Press // Courtesy to The Alligator

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘Swan Lake’ ballet inspires, Gainesville studio Dance Alive announces new cultural facility

By Loren Miranda | Mar. 29, 2023

Dance Alive Studios brought the timeless ballet “Swan Lake” back to the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts March 25. A recently announced facility is also helping Dance Alive turn the page into a new era.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Flocked brings ‘Tiny Desk’ style concerts to Gainesville

By Lauren Whiddon | Mar. 27, 2023

Flocked is a collective in Gainesville for artists and bands to work together for promotion, booking and performances. Founded around last November, the organization has helped artists book statewide tours, held a benefit show and started “Live from the Tavern,” a video series of intimate house shows.

Radio host Elio Piedra announces the next song to be played to listeners of Tu Fiesta Radio Thursday, March 2, 2023.

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Gainesville radio host Elio Piedra celebrates, amplifies Latino voices

By Valentina Sandoval | Mar. 27, 2023

When he was young, Elio Piedra wanted to be a soccer player. His career in music and the entertainment world was an accident.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Latin festival unites community in celebration of music

By Valentina Sandoval | Mar. 26, 2023

“Tu Fiesta Radio Presents: LPT Latin Salsa Orchestra” took place at the Heartwood Soundstage from 7-11 p.m. and included music by the salsa orchestra from Jacksonville, LPT, and by Elio Piedra, the main radio host, along with two Latin musicians Luis “Torpedo” Aponte and Jorge Tamayo.

A little boy paints the kids mural setup at the Walldogs Mural Painting festival in High Springs Friday, March 24, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Walldogs, local artists take over High Springs with arts and history festival

By Zoey Thomas | Mar. 26, 2023

The festival also showcased an exhibition of murals created by the Walldogs, a group of traveling mural artists and sign painters. They were invited by Heart of High Springs, a non-profit organization that works to support the town’s culture and tourism.

Decyo & the Newcombs perform for Art After Dark at the Harn Museum of Art Thursday, March 23, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Thursdays are for art: Harn Museum draws hundreds every week

By Alexandra Burns | Mar. 25, 2023

More than 200 visitors enjoyed the Harn’s wide selection of unique exhibits, free food, wine and live music during its ninth weekly Arts After Dark event Thursday night.

Terri Bailey sits in front of “Iya,” a painting created by Turbado Marabou, in Blount Hall Sunday, March 18, 2023.

THE AVENUE

Poet, activist Terri Bailey builds community among women in Gainesville

By Lauren Whiddon | Mar. 20, 2023

Gainesville proclaimed March 16 Bailey Learning and Arts Collective Day last week. The Bailey Learning and Arts Collective, Inc. was created by Bailey, 56, and focuses on grassroots organizing and community building through art and education.

Ohio State professor Julia Andrews gives a presentation on female Chinese artists in the 1900s at the Harn Museum of Art Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Harn Museum of Art hosts after-hours Women’s History Month event

By Amanda Rubio | Mar. 12, 2023

Museum-goers were greeted by art, performances and activities that comprised an after-hours event organized by the museum’s education department to celebrate Women’s History Month.

THE AVENUE

‘Survivor’ strategy, strength take shape on UF’s Flavet Field

By Loren Miranda | Mar. 7, 2023

Survivor: Florida, a two-day competition, is an ambitious challenge of wits and strength — both physical and mental — proved to leave only one survivor. Any member of the UF student body, graduate or undergraduate, was able to apply and audition to be placed in one of the opposing tribes, named Yasa or Saku.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Jessica Vosk stops in Gainesville for cabaret-style shows

By Lauren Whiddon | Mar. 7, 2023

Jessica Vosk came to the Phillips Center Thursday night to perform Broadway hits, medleys and songs from movies such as “The Wizard of Oz.” It was the ninth stop on her tour which runs from Jan. 25 to March 26. In addition to the performance on stage, she also walked around the audience and spoke to them about her life, making the experience even more interactive.

Satchel's Pizza, located at 1800 NW 23rd Ave., celebrates 20 years of making pizza in Gainesville March 7.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Gainesville staple Satchel’s Pizza celebrates 20th anniversary

By Gracey Davis | Mar. 6, 2023

Satchel’s Pizza, founded and owned by 55-year-old Satchel Raye, is celebrating its 20th anniversary March 7.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Sunshine Records store set to open in Gainesville

By Gracey Davis | Mar. 6, 2023

When Daniel Halal was 12 years old, he bought his first record — “Pinups” by David Bowie — from the dollar bin at Off the Record in Ormond Beach, Florida. From there, he became an avid collector and seller.

Individuals gather at First Magnitude Brewing Company Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

‘Path of the Panther’ screening highlights wildlife protection

By Lauren Whiddon | Mar. 5, 2023

Around 200 people packed into First Magnitude Brewing Company Wednesday to watch “Path of the Panther,” a film directed by Emmy-winning director Eric Bendick and produced by National Geographic photographer Carlton Ward Jr.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville Circus Center holds Dusty’s Ragtime Circus

By Zarin Ismail | Mar. 3, 2023

Residents and visitors have the opportunity to see Dustin Cottrell and Corey Cheval's talents Friday night and Saturday afternoon in Dusty’s Ragtime Circus, a variety show held by the Gainesville Circus Center with live music, dance, acrobatic performances and other traditional and contemporary circus acts.

Jeffrey Meldon (left), Jim Forsman, Bill DeYoung, Albert Teebagy, and John Moran discuss Moran’s pictures displayed at the Matheson History Museum Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Matheson History Museum exhibit offers flashback to Gainesville music in the ‘70s

By Gracey Davis | Feb. 28, 2023

“Return to Forever: Gainesville’s Great Southern Music Hall,” focuses on the first four years of the music hall, 1974 to 1978, when founders Meldon and Forsman were directly involved, and features photographs from the 1974-1976 house photographer, John Moran.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Pop-up bakery Bushel & Peck offers unique assortment of baked goods

By Amanda Rubio | Feb. 27, 2023

Bushel & Peck officially opened for business in 2022, with the bakery’s first pop-up taking place Sept. 3 at local coffee shop 108 Vine. Since then, Agliata has cherished having a front row seat to the impact her craft has had on the Gainesville community.

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

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Hippodrome’s February ‘basement session’ celebrates local Black artists

By Clare Meyers | Feb. 25, 2023

Getachew hosted her fourth basement session Thursday, attracting about 40 attendees from the UF and Gainesville communities. In honor of Black History Month, the event focused on highlighting local Black artists and small businesses.

The P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School in Gainesville Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.

THE AVENUE

P.K. Yonge’s Black Student Union hosts annual event for Black History Month

By Gracey Davis | Feb. 25, 2023

The annual Black History Month event hosted by the P.K. Yonge BSU will be hosted at the school’s Performing Arts Center Feb. 27. The theme will be BSU Awards: A Celebration of Black History, Black Culture, and Black Excellence.