The Avenue

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Gainesville art scene pushes for more outreach to underserved communities

By Nicole Beltran | Feb. 26, 2024

Arts and culture are present in Gainesville through museums, exhibits and music venues scattered around the city. Further developments like a cultural arts center in East Gainesville could continue catering to the expansion, providing people with a place to turn to for support. Community members are concerned more outreach needs to be done to fully immerse underserved communities into art outlets. There are opportunities for people to seek support through the arts, but the accessibility can vary.

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THE AVENUE

UF public relations team celebrates hidden identities with Gainesville’s first Multicultural Day festival

By Henry DeAngelis and Alexandra Burns | Feb. 26, 2024

How Bazar became a hotspot for art and culture Feb. 24 as people joined to honor a combination of various cultures, backgrounds and identities at the Culturs Festival. 

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Buchholz High School presents production of ‘The Three Musketeers’

By Bonny Matejowsky | Feb. 26, 2024

The ringing clangs of swashbuckling sword fights resounded loudly in Buchholz High School’s auditorium at a midweek evening rehearsal. In front of a white-columned set piece, two pajama-clad teens duel with careful choreography, jousting silver swords and dodging calculated swings.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

The 2024 leap year reveals local traditions, celebrations and superstitions

By Molly Seghi | Feb. 26, 2024

Jazzlyn Harrell eagerly punched her number into the keypad in her elementary school lunch line over 20 years ago. More satisfying than the lunch she was served, she savored the ‘Happy birthday’ message that lit up on the screen. Unlike her classmates, she would have to wait another four years to see it again. Harrell, now a 31-year-old Alachua County elementary school counselor, is a ‘leapling,’ a person born Feb. 29. For her, the date brings memories of both small delights and mild frustrations.

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THE AVENUE  |  FASHION

Circus-themed fashion show for pets unleashes at the How Bazar

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Feb. 25, 2024

Under the fluorescent lights of Southwest Second Street’s How Bazar, dogs, cats, snakes and birds circled around the venue Friday, adorned in handmade crochet outfits. The proud owners accompanied each pet, stopping to let the crowd that lined the perimeter admire them, an event organizers call ‘Barkin' Market: A Night at the Circus.’ 

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

New York based-comedian, social media sensation sells out seats at High Dive

By Benjamin Miller | Feb. 24, 2024

At 8 p.m. Friday night, Lucas Zelnick, a 28-year-old stand-up comedian from New York City, took the stage at the High Dive, aiming to deliver a memorable stand-up routine to a diverse audience.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Independent Black talent push creative boundaries in Gainesville’s art scene

By Benjamin Miller | Feb. 19, 2024

Gainesville’s local art scene is home to a diverse array of fashion designers, musicians, writers and artists. An important component of its culture is the Black creatives that have paved the way for many following in their tracks. 

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THE AVENUE  |  MUSIC

Gainesville musician finds success, one song a day

By Bonny Matejowsky | Feb. 19, 2024

The 33-year-old Gainesville musician has taken up an ambitious challenge: writing, producing and recording one song a day for an entire year. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Pop-up market celebrates local Black businesses, cultural heritage

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Feb. 18, 2024

Saturday’s Anthropologie Community Pop-up Market in Butler Town Center at 3217 SW 35th Blvd occurred from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with six vendors in attendance. 

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Art in Medicine project holds community event at How Bazar

By Bea Lunardini | Feb. 14, 2024

Sarah Hinds, the 47-year-old artist-in-residence at UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine, organized a free event for Gainesville residents to make their own mosaic hearts as part of a project to bring a rainbow mosaic mural to the city.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Uptown art exhibit set to debut curations of Black culture

By Tanya Fedak | Feb. 12, 2024

In partnership with the Moisturizer Gallery, a nonprofit art gallery in Gainesville, the Black Space Art Exhibition will open Feb. 16 at the Thomas Center and will feature printmaking, painting, oils and ceramics created by local and out-of-town Black artists. 

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Williston woman aims to revitalize Black representation in art 

By Bea Lunardini | Feb. 12, 2024

Solana Williams couldn’t find any art that looked like her on the walls of the museums she explored. Her only course of action was making it. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Pride from past to present to future: Gainesville’s Black LGBTQ+ community

By Molly Seghi and Bonny Matejowsky | Feb. 12, 2024

The growing Black Queer community in Gainesville addresses struggles of intersectionality.

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THE AVENUE  |  NIGHTLIFE

Kendall Jenner brings tequila brand to Gainesville bars

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Feb. 8, 2024

UF students stood on chairs and climbed tables to catch a glimpse of Kendall Jenner as she walked in from the side door at The Social at Midtown. The sound of excited screams and the flash of iPhone cameras filled the room as the model hopped behind the bar to make drinks with her tequila. 

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

The Melrose Center unveils new art gallery ‘Studios of Melrose’ featuring local works

By Molly Seghi | Feb. 5, 2024

The Melrose Center, a community nonprofit organization, opened Studios of Melrose in early December in Melrose, Florida. The new art gallery features local, vintage and fair trade art and works. The space also acts as a gift shop selling Haitian paintings, handmade pottery, woodblock prints, art supplies, greeting cards and more. 

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THE AVENUE  |  NIGHTLIFE

‘Rupaul’s Drag Race’ leaves impact on local LGBTQ+ community

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Feb. 5, 2024

Every Friday at 8 p.m., a crowd gathers at University Club’s downstairs bar to watch the weekly episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” For no cover charge, attendees join the club's drag performers to revel in the excitement of the critically acclaimed show.

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THE AVENUE  |  MUSIC

Avenue roundtable: We may know the Grammys results ‘all too well’

By Avenue Staff | Feb. 3, 2024

The 66th Grammy Awards are gearing up to be the most competitive ceremony to date, with today's most decorated artists in contention for the crown jewel of mainstream music. 

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THE AVENUE  |  MUSIC

Gainesville celebrates vintage music culture at Winter Record Fair

By Alexandra Burns | Jan. 30, 2024

Beneath the dim glow of brewery lights, the air buzzed with determination amid the beats of ‘80s and ‘90s classics. Hopeful to find a hidden gem, desperate hands sifted through crates of vinyls and cassette tapes. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Statewide book festival aims to improve childhood literacy rates in Alachua County

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Jan. 29, 2024

On Jan. 27, the ground floor of the Hilton Conference Center filled with lines of eager readers waiting to meet and greet more than 200 authors from across Florida promoting their most prized literary pieces.  

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Gainesville hosts 37th Hoggetowne Medieval Faire

By Bonny Matejowsky | Jan. 29, 2024

Flocks of families, friends and fabled characters gathered at Depot Park Jan. 27-28 to revel in warm weather and high spirits at the 37th annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire.