The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

The Boheme Coven casts a spell over Gainesville’s drag scene

By Valentina Sarmiento | June 12, 2023

The Coven doubles as a drag family and a group of entertainers based in North Central Florida. Rachel Boheme, mother and Supreme of the Coven, founded the group in 2016. The Coven hosts its weekly show Sinister Sundays at the University Club, Gainesville’s first and only gay club located at 18 East University Ave.

Starting from bottom left, clockwise: Carlos Zaragoza, Dreamer Knight, The Curious Sheyzé, Lilith Dahlia, Marisol Lords, Emma Gration and Aurora Whorealis. Drag performers, makeup artists and coordinators for Beyond the Binary work together to host extravaganzas and raise awareness about the LGBTQ community.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Beyond the Binary expands drag to nonbinary performers

By Leia Ulrich | June 5, 2023

The Curious Sheyzé, Sydney Lee and Carlos Zaragoza founded Beyond the Binary to provide a safe environment they felt was missing for people of color and nonbinary individuals within the drag community.

Models pose together during a Museum Days event held at the Harn Museum of Art in April 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Local art organization builds confidence with summer events

By Aubrey Bocalan | June 5, 2023

Everyone deserves to see art when they look at themselves in the mirror — for the past six years, Figure on Diversity has been dedicated to helping people do just that.

Gerard Bencen (left), owner of the SL8 gallery, is seen with artist 444 IDK (right) at his art collective’s debut Friday, May 26, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville art gallery showcases local artist group’s exhibit

By Aubrey Bocalan | May 30, 2023

A local group of artists debuted their first exhibit while bouncing bass and percussion echoed, glasses were filled with wine and glowing black lights lit up the SL8 gallery Friday.

A publicity photo of Tom Miller’s movie, "Audience."

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

Stage play to screenplay: Local director set to debut new film

By Gracey Davis | May 30, 2023

For Tom Miller, creativity has always been his solution to adversity. With multiple acting, performing and directing credits to his name, the 57-year-old continues to push artistic boundaries. The multidisciplinary performance artist is setting the stage to debut his newest film, “Audience.” Miller has kept the plot of the film under wraps to surprise audiences.

Tingquan Zhang, an artist, is seen at the Harn Museum of Art on Monday, November 14, 2022.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Chinese artist Tingqun Zhang reflects on his international success and artistic inspirations

By Valentina Sarmiento | May 26, 2023

Born to a folk carpenter in the coastal province of Fujian, China, the Gainesville-based artist established himself in art spaces through Chinese calligraphy brushes and oil paintings.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Asian supermarkets, restaurants and boba businesses are popping in ‘Gainesville’s Chinatown’

By Aubrey Bocalan | May 22, 2023

The sound of people speaking Chinese, Japanese or Tagalog layer over K-pop harmonies. The smell of Indian spices floats in from next door. It’s the sight, sound and smell of home. Located on the corner of Southwest 34th Street and Archer Road and nicknamed “Gainesville’s Chinatown” by some for its high concentration of Asian restaurants, there are more than 15 Asian businesses within a mile of each other.

Johnny Nguyen, an artist, is seen at the How Bazar’s Art Walk at First Magnitude Brewing Company on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

UF artist finds a home in Gainesville’s local markets and school club

By Gracey Davis | May 22, 2023

Johnny Nguyen found he enjoyed the comfort of a pencil in his hand from an early age while growing up in Urbana, Illinois. Now a recent graduate from UF in business management and economics, the 21-year-old artist still loves to work with his hands. Most of his paintings were studies of different artists, but lately, he’s been inspired by Franklin Booth’s illustrations and Studio Ghibli films because of the attention to detail and whimsical nature.

Sublime Tacos is seen on Thursday, May 11, 2023.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Sublime Tacos announces relocation at the end of June

By Gracey Davis | May 15, 2023

On May 9, Sublime Tacos announced its plans to close its 4th Ave Food Park location and move to a drive-thru-only location at 1818 NE Waldo Road in East Gainesville. The announcement gives hope to East Gainesville residents who are excited to see more food options moving to their side of town.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘Silent Sky’ shares universal story of womanhood in science

By Loren Miranda | Apr. 24, 2023

Anchored between the crevices of the universe where time and space exist, the play “Silent Sky” shines an honest light through the timeless story of an empowered astronomer flourishing in a space dominated by men and their science.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Gainesville native rockstar Laura Jane Grace returns to her roots

By Gracey Davis | Apr. 20, 2023

A full house of punk-rockers dressed in their best black tank tops, skinny jeans and fishnet tights met Laura Jane Grace’s heavily anticipated return to Gainesville.

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

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

The Big Sho’ celebrates hip-hop, creativity in new music festival

By Lauren Whiddon | Apr. 19, 2023

From 3 p.m. on April 15 to 2 a.m. the following morning, around 600 people gathered at the Celebrations Catering Warehouse, located at 317 NE 35 Ave., for Gainesville’s first hip-hop music festival. The lineup featured Localhotboy, Madwoman, Ladyboy, Raphdidit, Chuck Strangers, Kaelin Ellis and Zack Fox.

THE AVENUE

Muslim residents juggle work, fasting during Ramadan

By Zarin Ismail | Apr. 18, 2023

Muslims, like Ealyes Mohammed, started fasting March 23 to observe Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar when Muslims don’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset every day until they see a new moon, signifying the start of the next month in the Islamic calendar.

Guests describe the state park as an escape into the Old Florida wilderness, emoting a tugging feeling of nostalgia for an era that you haven’t lived in — but feel like you could belong to. The area was remote when Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings thrived there as a divorced writer. Only seven families lived in Cross Creek when she arrived.

The allure of isolation in the wilderness is an intriguing pull for many readers, idealizing the immersion experience.

THE AVENUE

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park continues to compel nature-lovers

By Loren Miranda | Apr. 17, 2023

Every morning before heading into the orange groves for his shift, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park tour guide Rick Mulligan reads one of the titular author’s letters. He tries to pick a letter that was written on the date he’s going in, to get a sense of how she was feeling that day.

Thomas Phillips removes the paint from pieces of broken skateboards that will be repurposed to make woodbots in his studio Friday, March 31, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville artists create with environmental consciousness

By Zarin Ismail | Apr. 17, 2023

Many creatives in Gainesville have taken sustainability into account by upcycling used items into art pieces, trading materials or promoting a connection to nature. As global temperatures continue to rise, some artists have begun centering their creative processes around preventing environmental ruin to slow climate change.

Emo Nite DJs use the DJing software MPS to curate the angsty vibe that pumps through the room Saturday, March 25, 2023.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

‘Saddest party in The Swamp’ fills emo niche

By Loren Miranda | Apr. 10, 2023

Gainesville’s Pop Punk and Emo Nite, a monthly event hosted at various venues like The Wooly and the new Vivid Music Hall, has now become a hallmark of Gainesville’s nightlife scene.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

All-day brunch restaurant Ruby Sunshine set to open this summer in Gainesville

By Amanda Rubio | Apr. 3, 2023

Ruby Sunshine, an all-day brunch restaurant chain, is set to open its doors to the greater Gainesville public this summer. The restaurant will join other retail locations in occupying Butler Town Center, located at 3600 SW 32nd Court.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Harn Museum hosts discussion with NYU professor Deborah Willis on Black art history

By Ben Crosbie | Apr. 2, 2023

Posing Beauty is now on display at the Harn Museum of Art, located at 3259 Hull Road, and will remain there until June.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

White Coat Company brings laughter, light to children at UF Health Shands Hospital

By Sophia Bailly | Mar. 31, 2023

About 50 UF medical students and faculty who participate in White Coat Company, a theater group that performs about two productions per year for the children at Shands.

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.