The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

Thousands of students, parents, children and Gainesville residents gathered in Bo Diddley Plaza Oct. 22 for Gainesville Pride Festival’s grand return. The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but attendees came back in full force — adorned in all colors of the rainbow and representing all sectors of the LGBTQ community.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville Pride Festival returns for the first time since 2019

By Heather Bushman and Veronica Nocera | Oct. 24

Thousands of students, parents, children and Gainesville residents gathered in Bo Diddley Plaza Oct. 22 for Gainesville Pride Festival’s grand return. The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but attendees came back in full force — adorned in all colors of the rainbow and representing all sectors of the LGBTQ community.

Mayor Lauren Poe, city officials and members of #UNLITTER line up around the bottle cap mural after its unveiling at City Hall Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

#UNLITTER bottle cap mural unveiling highlights need for recycling efforts

By Luna Boales | Oct. 21

About 30 students, city officials and residents gathered at City Hall Thursday in anticipation of the mural’s unveiling. Members also called for a change in the city’s refusal to recycle bottle caps, despite a recent zero waste ordinance.

Bob Beatty (left) discusses his new book with attendees at the Matheson History Museum on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.

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Matheson History Museum hosts author Bob Beatty’s Allman Brothers Band book talk

By Ben Crosbie | Oct. 20

Beatty gave his presentation Wednesday night at the Matheson History Museum to a crowd of about 40 people. During the talk, he discussed the writing process for his new book, which was published this month and is titled “Play All Night!: Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East.”

Dance Alive National Ballet has partnered with LifeSouth, a non-profit community blood bank that supplies hospitals in Florida.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘Dracula’ ballet adaptation encourages blood donations

By Naomi Volcy | Oct. 20

Dance Alive National Ballet is ready to welcome the Halloween season with its adaptive performance of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula.” Dracula will hit the stage Saturday at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

A fear garden attendee prepares to enter the tent of terror, Gainesville’s latest spooky attraction the Fear Garden. Participants are asked to wear headphones and blackout goggles Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Halloween psychology experiment Gainesville Fear Garden studies fright, fun despite challenges

By Lauren Brensel | Oct. 17

The Gainesville Fear Garden is a sensory deprivation Halloween experience set inside a tent at 220 NW Eighth Ave. The attraction opened Oct. 6 and runs until Halloween night.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Political comedy ‘Running Mates’ to debut at the Hippodrome weeks before midterm elections

By Valentina Sandoval | Oct. 14

The production will run through the end of the month, from Oct. 14 to Oct. 30, at The Hippodrome Theatre. The play makes light of American political polarization.

Heather Halak greets a customer inside Third House Books.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Independent bookstore Third House Books reopens after pandemic closure

By Lauren Brensel | Oct. 11

Heather Halak, 28, is the sole staff member at Third House Books, which held its grand reopening Saturday. The bookstore closed in March 2020 following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, just three months after relocating to 400 NW 10th Ave. About 20 people filtered in and out of the store Saturday afternoon.

The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science tables and talks to visitors at the Florida Museum of Natural History Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Hispanic Heritage Month prompts reflection on colonialism’s legacy, inclusive labels

By Isabella Marzban | Oct. 10

In Gainesville, where about 12% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, Hispanic Heritage Month is focused on embracing the rich Hispanic and Latinx culture within the community. But among the celebrations, there’s also reflection upon the history of colonialism in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and Latin America.

Andrew Pentland stands behind the counter at Gator Beverage Monday morning.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Liquor, laughs and lessons: Gator Beverage workers go viral on TikTok

By Naomi Volcy | Oct. 10

The TikTok account, @liquorstore352, is the product of two Gator Beverage workers: Andrew Pentland and Dylan Phelps, who started the account together in January. In the 10 months since its debut, the account has accumulated about 371,500 followers and 19.7 million likes on its videos — most of which feature short, comedic sketches on the owners’ daily interactions, as well as how-to tips on buying and drinking alcohol.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

From classroom to stage, UF students, alum work tirelessly to make music a reality

By Isabella Marzban | Oct. 7

Gainesville’s local music scene is filled with UF students and alum who are juggling a full course load, work and aspiring music careers. Aside from balancing different responsibilities, college musicians also grapple with the business aspect of their craft — creating digital advertisements, promoting social media content, finding venues for performances and handling music production. Essentially, they become their own manager, publicist and producer.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

Rate and Review: Olivia Wilde’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ repackages feminism with a flashy cast

By Averi Kremposky | Oct. 6

Relationship scandals, murky press tours and masses of online gossip had no effect on director Olivia Wilde’s sophomore feature, “Don’t Worry Darling.” With $35 million in box office totals as of Oct. 1, the psychological thriller sits as the exemplar that all press is indeed good press — and casting Harry Styles as one of the lead protagonists can’t hurt either.

A child poses with Lyle the Crocodile and Albert the Gator at a UF Health Shands Hospital event where President Kent Fuchs and his wife read "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" to a group of children Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Double the reptiles, twice the fun: Lyle the Crocodile visits UF Health Children’s Hospital

By Lauren Brensel | Oct. 5

Lyle the Crocodile from the popular children’s book series “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” greeted seven child patients at the UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital alongside Albert the Gator, UF President Kent Fuchs and his wife Linda Fuchs Tuesday morning.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

The Amazing Acro-Cats return to Gainesville

By Luna Boales | Oct. 3

Audiences can expect a live 90-minute performance featuring trained rescues, as well as a musical finale by all-cat band The Rock Cats. The feline group will play five shows at The Hippodrome Theatre between Oct. 7-9, with shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are between $48 and $60 and can be purchased online.

Gainesville community members gather at Heartwood Soundstage in protest of Florida’s Don’t Say Gay bill Saturday, March 19, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville Pride to return after 3 years despite hate crime investigation

By Lauren Brensel | Oct. 3

The annual festival hosted by the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida will return Oct. 22 at Bo Diddley Plaza, nearly a month after the center was vandalized. The center has celebrated Pride in Gainesville every year since 2008 aside from the last two years.

A sketch of the Florida-based band Driveaway.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Local band Driveaway explores rock sound in new single 'Wishing Well'

By Luna Boales | Sep. 29

Following the release of their previous six-track EP, “Feel Better Soon,” Driveaway is releasing a new single available for streaming and download Friday. The band has strayed from their usual pop genre, instead opting for a more rock ‘n’ roll sound.

THE AVENUE | WEB

Gators get real: UF professors, students reflect on social media app BeReal

By Lauren Brensel | Sep. 26

BeReal is a social media app where users have two minutes to snap an unfiltered front-and-back-facing photo once a day. All 10 million of its daily active users receive the BeReal notification at the same time, but the alert is sent at different times every day — ideally offering a candid glimpse into the average person’s life. The app prides itself on its authenticity, but some UF faculty and students aren’t confident that goal is possible in a developed, digitalized world.

Local band Cash Crop and the High Tops take the stage at Bo Diddley Plaza during Gainesville Hempfest on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville HempFest calls for legalization of cannabis

By Luna Boales | Sep. 24, 2022

Nearly three decades since the festival first took place, Gainesville HempFest returned to downtown Saturday, featuring a wide array of bands, vendors, food trucks and speakers all advocating for the legalization of cannabis.

ZeeZenia International Market under construction after a fire tarnished the inside Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. It is set to reopen on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Zeezenia International Market to reopen after fire

By Erina Anwar | Sep. 21, 2022

The Ebrahim family had to remodel the entire store and buy brand new appliances, shelves and inventory. The total cost was over $180,000.

President Fuchs stops to speak to Ally Fleischer, 21, UF criminology and family youth and communication sciences senior, while driving the UF Compliment Cart around campus on the first day of Fall semester, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Fleischer took a selfie with Fuchs on her first day of freshman year, too. When asked about the Fall semester, Fleischer said "I'm excited. I haven't been to class in 524 days."

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Kent Fuchs: UF president by profession, prankster in spirit

By Alissa Gary | Sep. 19, 2022

UF President Kent Fuchs has served as the university’s president since 2015. He succeeded former president Bernie Machen, who was also known to walk around campus and interact with students during his tenure.

Mason Baria prepares a wig for the Hippodrome’s production of "Fahrenheit 451" Wednesday, Sep. 14, 2022.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Fifty and fireproof: The Hippodrome has more than an anniversary to celebrate

By Averi Kremposky | Sep. 19, 2022

Every staff member who was forced to work part-time during the pandemic has resumed their full-time positions, the theater's artistic director Stephanie Lynge said. In addition, across all theater programming areas — mainstage, education, cinema and events — there has been a steady increase in ticket sales.