Eileen Calub - The Independent Florida Alligator

The UF Pazeni Sauti Africa Choir performs at Afro Roots Fest at Bo Diddley Plaza on Friday, April 8.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Dancing to the drum beat at the Afro Roots Fest

By Eileen Calub | Apr. 13, 2022

Bo Diddley Plaza teemed with festival-goers of all ages, from the elderly lounging in lawn chairs to children dancing in hula hoops in front of the stage. Above, colorful lights casted patterns of violet, red, blue and green onto a brick backdrop and performers below. A musician stepped up to the microphone. His strong voice boomed out a call-and-response scat melody, beckoning to the audience. More than 100 people eagerly participated in the dancing crowd, echoing back the improvised syllables.

Birdie Box's Maui Wowie Sando with grilled pineapple and Sweet and Spicy sauce added. (Courtesy to The Alligator)

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Gourmet chicken sandwiches galore at Birdie Box’s grand opening

By Eileen Calub | Mar. 30, 2022

Birdie Box, a gourmet chicken sandwich food truck at 2216 SW 13th St, will have its grand opening as a cashless drive-up and curbside pick-up restaurant on April 1.

Families strolled through the festival's attractions at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens on March 19 and 20.

Eileen Calub

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Smelling the flowers at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens’ Spring Garden Festival

By Eileen Calub | Mar. 24, 2022

More than 100 white tent booths showcased plants, garden tools, arts and crafts and educational exhibits. Just beyond the designated festival area, the 68-acre expanse of flora provided a reprieve from the crowd of eager festival goers.

Minca Davis

METRO

‘This is our home’: Gainesville multigenerational residents recount the evolution of a segregated Gainesville

By Carissa Allen and Eileen Calub | Feb. 28, 2022

For Paula Sanders, home is a quaint one-story, white and red accented cinder block house. It’s been home for 54 years. In response, multigenerational Gainesville residents must take it upon themselves to preserve their heritage through food, photographs and oral histories. For some Black residents, they experienced the hasty integration of schools and the inequitable transformation of the city.

Lion dancers perform at the UF Vietnamese Student Organization's Lunar New Year show at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom on Saturday, Feb. 12. The performers are members of JiaTing, Surge and Pi Delta Psi.

Jiselle Lee

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The Year of the Tiger: Asian student groups celebrate Lunar New Year throughout February

By Eileen Calub | Feb. 24, 2022

On UF’s campus, the Vietnamese Student Organization, the Chinese American Student Association and the Korean Undergraduate Student Association hold yearly celebrations showcasing cultural traditions and student talent.

Denisha Williamson-Walker shampooes a client's hair at her Locs by Dee salon located at 4040 W Newberry Road Unit 1300 on Friday, Jan. 28.

Ashleigh Lucas

THE AVENUE

‘Our truth is within our hair’: Falling in love with natural hair in Gainesville

By Eileen Calub | Feb. 11, 2022

As a child, Christina Demps sat on the floor of her parents’ bedroom, her head tipped back as her mother intricately braided her hair. When they could, they sat together on Sundays and prepared Demps’ hair for the next morning. But as Demps grew older, it became harder to find time.

The Sahnobar Dance Ensemble performs on the gyspy stage at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire on Sunday, Jan. 16. The festival made its return this year in a new location after a hiatus.

Jiselle Lee

THE AVENUE

Hoggetowne Medieval Faire brings back the Middle Ages

By Eileen Calub | Jan. 19, 2022

Rows of colorful tents and stands with shopkeepers lined the massive field in southwest Gainesville. In the distance, the raucous medley of sword-fighting, lively music and laughter rang out from different corners of the transitory village. The mouthwatering scent of turkey legs and fried treats filled the air.