The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

Duane Whitehorse, 76, explains the cultural significance of his garments during the Indigenous Peoples’ Week celebration at the Harn Museum of Art on Oct. 12, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

The Harn Museum of Art’s Museum Night celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day

By Molly Seghi | Oct. 15

The vibrant colors and sounds of the beaded jingle dresses and feathered headdresses and the beat of the drums gave a Harn Museum audience a dynamic show for all the senses. This was only the beginning of the festivities for the celebratory holiday of Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Harn Museum of Art Thursday night.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

A guide to Gainesville’s greatest music venues

By Molly Seghi | Oct. 12

Gainesville is home to a bustling music scene with various venues catered to different interests. This guide lists seven of the major music names in Gainesville and an event for every night of the week.

The comic display at Mega Gaming & Comics in Gainesville Fla., on Saturday 5, 2020.

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Sequential Artists Workshop celebrates 24-Hour Comics Day

By Bonny Matejowsky | Oct. 9

While crowds of people flocked to UF’s campus to celebrate Homecoming, a smaller few congregated on the other side of town to celebrate a niche and artistic holiday: 24-Hour Comics Day.

UF lecturer Iman Zawahry sets up a shot on set of ‘Americanish’ by looking through the viewfinder.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

UF lecturer’s directorial debut premiered in California, Arizona theaters

By Bonny Matejowsky | Oct. 9

When UF College of Journalism and Communications lecturer Iman Zawahry attended the Phoenix Film Festival in 2022, she received an offer difficult for any filmmaker to refuse: the chance for her indie film to hit the big screen across America.

Participants of SASS Go’s program partner up to demonstrate proper self defense techniques.

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‘Girls night out’: Self defense class empowers Gainesville women

By Valentina Sarmiento | Oct. 9

Editor’s note: This article discusses topics of sexual assault.

Vanessa Garcia adjusts her mask to scare participants at the Gainesville Fear Garden on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.

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Gainesville Fear Garden debuts new theme: ‘The Haunt Lab’

By Bea Lunardini | Oct. 2

The Gainesville Fear Garden is run by Ken Swan and his wife Katie. Ken, a 37-year-old lecturer in the UF psychology department, first opened the Fear Garden in 2022 with limited staff, one of which was 21-year-old UF psychology junior Cristina Negraru.

Tinker Food Truck displays some of their delicious sandwiches at Sunday’s First International Food Truck Rally at First Magnitude Brewery. First Magnitude and MA Entertainment co-hosted the event, which had food and activities for guests of all ages. Tinker Food Truck is normally located at 3300 SW. Archer road.

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High Dive welcomed back visitors Saturday for its Original Food Truck Rally with a teen music showcase

By Alexandra Burns | Oct. 1

High Dive — located at 210 SW Second Ave. — celebrated its first Original Gainesville Food Truck Rally of the Fall semester Saturday evening, with over 200 people attending to celebrate small businesses and local student musicians.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Owner of popular Venezuelan food truck La Maracucha purchases Ice Cream and Crêpes Eatery

By Alexandra Burns | Oct. 1

Since moving to Gainesville and opening the Venezuelan-styled food truck La Maracucha three years ago, the couple’s journey has finally led them to opening a brick-and mortar store.

Italian Gator in Midtown serves late-night slices to students Sept. 8, 2023.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Frustration builds at Midtown hotspot Italian Gator Pizza amid ongoing theft incidents

By Alexandra Burns | Sep. 28

For more than four years, students have stolen signs and condiment shakers from the beloved pizza restaurant — located at 1728 W University Ave. — often stuffing items down their pants or shoving a parmesan shaker in their purses. The restaurant has increased its security measures following the ongoing battle with students.

The Bar-Crossed Drunkards debuted their performance of “Taming of the Shrew” at High Dive Sept. 27, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville theater troupe puts on drunk performance of Shakespeare classic

By Jared Teitel | Sep. 28

The Bar-Crossed Drunkards debuted their performance of “Taming of the Shrew” at High Dive, a bar and concert venue located at 210 SW 2nd Ave. The group specializes in drunk, farcical performances of Shakespeare plays, a routine they call ‘Drunk Shakespeare.’

Midtown bars are seen on University Avenue in Gainesville on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Stuck in traffic: Gainesville roads and rush hour pose serious problems for students, locals

By Jared Teitel | Sep. 25

Ongoing construction, irregular traffic lights, limited parking spaces and pedestrian pathways along certain roads raise questions of concern for Gainesville residents as they navigate the city. The presence of a public university and relentless residential communities within an approximately 64-square-mile space creates congestion in this college-town reminiscent of that in a big city.

Attendees gather for a showing of “From the Land to Your Table” at the Florida Museum of Natural History on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.

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Performances, films honor Latin American culture during Hispanic Heritage Month

By Bea Lunardini | Sep. 25

The tango performance was just one part of the two-week-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month organized by the Latina Women’s League in Gainesville.

Record collector Jude Singleton shows off their prized Eraserhead vinyl on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

UF students revive the past by collecting CDs and records

By Bonny Matejowsky | Sep. 25

Gone are the days of flipping turntables and shuffling through stacks of jewel cases. Streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music have taken today’s generation by storm. At least, for some people.

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Gainesville Fine Arts Association celebrates its 100 year anniversary

By Bonny Matejowsky | Sep. 23

In the heart of Gainesville’s SoMa District lies a small gallery with a big history. Diverse artworks line the interior walls of the Gainesville Fine Arts Association, alluring guests to stop and admire the swooping pastels of an oil painting or the stark reds of a self-portrait.

A sign of fall drinks stands in the Starbucks @ The Hub on UF's campus on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

‘We just can’t keep up’: Starbucks stores across Gainesville undergo a pumpkin spice crisis

By Jared Teitel | Sep. 18

Since pumpkin spice and other fall flavors were released in stores Aug. 24, many Starbucks locations across Gainesville and UF have experienced significant shortages of syrups on several occasions, according to employees and customers.

Comedian Ben Wasserman dances with a grimly veiled John Freeman in the show’s closing moments on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at Cypress & Grove Brewing Co.

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Comedian brings death jokes, grief show to Gainesville

By Bea Lunardini | Sep. 18

Wasserman is the creator and star of his “Live After Death” comedy show, a spectacle of dancing, spinning a “wheel of vulnerability” and Wasserman’s highlight: the crowd work.

The Hippodrome Theatre, located at 25 SE 2nd Place, will open its doors on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 for “Murder For Two,” one of the first in-person performances since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘Welcome to your cinema’: The Hippodrome Theatre celebrated its cinema’s reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday

By Alexandra Burns | Sep. 15

The Hippodrome Theatre — located at 25 SE 2nd Place — celebrated Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate its cinema’s reopening after its first major renovation since 1981.

POTUS at the Hippodrome Theatre Picture by Michael A Eaddy – Left to right Kelly Atkins*^ as Jean and Sophia Paige as Dusty

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘I am woman, hear me roar’: ‘POTUS’ debuts at the Hippodrome

By Bonny Matejowsky | Sep. 12

The Hippodrome’s latest production subverts the idea of an orderly presidential office from the moment the play begins when a four-letter expletive reverberates through the theater’s halls, kicking off an unapologetically witty and feminist performance. The theater debuted the first show of its 51st season, “POTUS: Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive,” Sept. 6.

Midpoint Park & Eatery offers a family-friendly outdoor dining area with a variety of food trucks to choose from on Sept. 2, 2023.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Food truck owners discuss ups and downs of the booming industry

By Alexandra Burns | Sep. 11

From juice bars to funnel cakes to Venezuelan-styled sandwiches, food trucks provide easy access to various dishes and flavors and introduce new cultures and cooking styles to customers.

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Jewish Gators provided with a ‘home away from home’ for the High Holidays

By Molly Seghi | Sep. 11

Picture this: crisp apples bathed in sweet honey, a ram’s horn blown like a trumpet and the head of a fish served on a dinner plate. These objects all act as cultural symbols of the upcoming Jewish High Holidays.