The Avenue

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The Avenue

‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ honors the legacy of an extensive franchise

By Aaliyah Evertz | Sep. 12

At the ripe young age of 7, sandwiched between my mom and a stranger in a packed theater, I saw “The Conjuring.” I was a self-deemed horror fanatic — even though my main horror knowledge at the time consisted of R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” — but I’d never truly experienced fear until that clapping game scene. I remember going to bed that night swearing my closet door moved on its own.

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The Avenue

Midnight Cookies on its final batch as sales decline

By Summer Johnston | Sep. 12

The cookie shop, located at 3345 SW 34th St. Suite 1, is closing after 15 years of business. Known for its late-night delivery service, the store has set its tentative closing date of Sept. 21 due to declining sales. 

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The Avenue

Ariana Grande fans at UF have ‘no tears left to cry’ after tour ticket fiasco

By Aaliyah Evertz | Sep. 11

The boy may be mine, but the tickets aren’t for many Ariana Grande fans this week.

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The Avenue

The day. The band. The venue. The making of a concert.

By Christopher Rodriguez | Sep. 8

The stage is set, the guitars are amped and an eager crowd is ready to hear its favorite local band. With affordable tickets and a short drive from campus, the live performance is by students, for students. 

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The Avenue

‘Caught Stealing’ throws curveball after curveball

By Isabel Kraby | Sep. 5

Darren Aronofsky’s latest film will have viewer’s hearts racing, and not just during Austin Butler’s shirtless scenes. 

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The Avenue

5 Gainesville cafés every caffeine lover should visit

By Aaliyah Evertz | Sep. 4

Hitting Starbucks in the libraries on campus is convenient, but sometimes a change of scenery helps. Here are five other coffee spots to try.

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The Avenue

September reading fest launches at downtown Gainesville bookstore

By Christopher Rodriguez | Sep. 3

While Gainesville Reads celebrates the work of a selected text, The Lynx Books co-founder Lauren Groff said it's more so about building community — specifically, a community resisting marginalization, she said. 

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The Avenue

Parrotheads flock together to celebrate Jimmy Buffett’s legacy

By Christopher Rodriguez | Sep. 1

With more Hawaiian shirts and margaritas than a tropical resort, and fresh cheeseburgers grilled in paradise, the first annual Jimmy Buffett Fest welcomed local Gainesville bands and artists to Heartwood Soundstage Aug. 31. 

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The Avenue

Sabrina Carpenter makes mischief. Some call it messy, others genius.

By Aaliyah Evertz | Aug. 29

In “Man’s Best Friend,” Carpenter delivers 12 new tracks that lean into the confident, provocative energy that’s become a focal point of her brand. The songs are often brash and cheeky, but they’re also threaded with moments of vulnerability that remind listeners she’s still writing from lived experiences. 

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The Avenue

‘Bapple’ is back in Gainesville, baby

By Isabel Kraby | Aug. 29

“We would probably get nothing shy of 20 phone calls a day for two months after asking for Busch Light Apple,” said Ryan Barnett, co-owner of Gator Beverage.

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The Avenue

Meet some of the student vendors at this month’s Gator Market

By Isabel Kraby | Aug. 28

Albort the Gator (yes, you read that right) can be found on stickers on laptops and air fresheners in dorms across campus. The cross-eyed, goofy gator was co-created by 19-year-old UF sophomore roommates Allyson Trump and Kahlia Hsieh in February, when they were up at 4 a.m. thinking about how UF “needs cute merch.”

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The Avenue

Taylor Swift is engaged. Gainesville ‘Swifties’ have thoughts.

By Aaliyah Evertz | Aug. 27

News of the pop star's engagement quickly made its way to Gainesville, sparking excitement among her fans on UF’s campus — including those in the Taylor Swift Society club.

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The Avenue

Monet and other French artists on display at Gainesville’s Harn Museum

By Isabel Kraby | Aug. 24

From colorful pastel paintings to lifelike marble sculptures to otherworldly surrealist landscapes, the Harn Museum of Art’s latest exhibition brings 100 years of French history and culture to life. 

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The Avenue

Soundtrack your Fall semester with Back to School Fest

By Christopher Rodriguez | Aug. 23

With the Fall semester in full swing, Swamp Records and Indie Live will host Back to School Fest Aug. 23 at Heartwood Soundstage. The open air concert will feature a mix of local Gainesville acts and out-of-towners. 

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The Avenue

‘Freakier Friday’ review: The freakiest part is Disney getting a sequel right

By Aaliyah Evertz | Aug. 23

The main question I asked myself going into this one, after a couple disappointing sequels to Disney classics (“Disenchanted,” “Hocus Pocus 2”), was: Does this one actually work? Short answer: yes. Here’s why.

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The Avenue

‘Sip happens’: TikTok star Alix Earle hits Gainesville to market canned margarita brand

By Isabel Kraby | Aug. 21

There’s only one 5’6, beaming blonde who could make sorority girls sneak out during “dry week” and encourage incoming freshmen to ditch new student convocation: TikTok star Alix Earle. 

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The Avenue

Need dorm or apartment furniture? These sustainable stores have you covered.

By Isabel Kraby | Aug. 20

This year, total college spending is expected to reach $88.8 billion, with about 14% of that amount going toward apartment and dorm furnishings. Of all furniture nationwide, 12 million tons end up in landfills every year. 

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The Avenue

Maintaining the spark: Avoiding college life burnout for future prosperity

By Autumn Johnstone | Aug. 14

Whether it’s students who spend hours applying to medical school each week or UF faculty members teaching more than six classes a semester, Gators often balance multiple lives at once. To balance schoolwork, occupational duties and social lives, blocking out time can set students up for success.

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The Avenue

The best spots to watch Gators sports

By Jeffrey Serber | Aug. 14

If you can’t get tickets to a game or the Gators are on the road, don’t worry: Gainesville has plenty of options for where to watch Florida sports.

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The Avenue

Meltwich Food Co. to open in Gainesville

By Victoria Riccobono | Aug. 7

Say cheese! Meltwich Food Co., a Canadian restaurant specializing in grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers and fries, is opening its fourth U.S. and first Florida location in Gainesville.