Tanya Fedak - The Independent Florida Alligator

Courtesy to The Alligator

THE AVENUE | FASHION

UF psychology senior set to debut How Bazar’s first interactive runway

By Tanya Fedak | Apr. 15

The “Noah Aaron Sams Supernova Runway Extravaganza” is an interactive runway event hosted by Sams, a 21-year-old UF psychology senior and aspiring clothing designer, at How Bazar. Inspired by his time in Gainesville, the event will feature a culmination of Sams’ fashion creations he made during his time studying at UF.

Gaby Albo and Samuel Garnica as Gloria and Emilio Esteban at the Philips Center on Saturday, March 30, 2024.

Armand Raichandani

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘The conga you didn’t know you needed’: ‘On Your Feet!’ premieres at the Curtis M. Phillips Center

By Tanya Fedak | Apr. 1

From the electrifying rhythms to the show-stopping choreography, “On Your Feet!” captivated audiences with an emotional retelling of the stories of Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan, Grammy-award winning Latin-American musical artists.

Florida Museum of Natural History, at 3215 Hull Road, debuts its first bilingual aquatic exhibit, Water Shapes Florida, on March 23, 2024.

Tanya Fedak

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Florida Museum of Natural History’s opens first freshwater exhibit

By Tanya Fedak | Mar. 24

Saturday morning, the Florida Museum of Natural History opened its new permanent exhibit, Water Shapes Florida. The exhibit is centered on Florida freshwater and its shape on human life over time. The exhibit, with interactive projector screens and physical replicas of underwater wildlife, aims to illustrate the evolution of the state's aquifers, rivers and most famous springs just north of the museum’s location in Gainesville.

Attendees gather at a vigil for Ukraine on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

Kyle King

NEWS | CAMPUS

Ukrainian Student Association hosts candlelight vigil two years after Russian invasion

By Tanya Fedak | Feb. 25

Hosted by the Ukrainian Student Association, the event commemorated the second anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. It also honored the 10-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Crimea.

Poets speak at the Historic Thomas Center for the Black History Month Celebration of Black Love, Art and Poetry Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.

Lauren Whiddon

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Uptown art exhibit set to debut curations of Black culture

By Tanya Fedak | Feb. 12

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.

Tanya Fedak

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Playa Bowls hosts grand opening for first Gainesville location

By Tanya Fedak | Jan. 22

Playa Bowls is a national health food chain corporation specializing in acai bowls, smoothies, chia seed pudding and oat and juice products. Founded by Abby Taylor and Rob Giuliani in 2014, the brand has over 200 locations and operates in 22 states. Now at 1260 SW Fifth Ave., the location is the company’s first in north central Florida.

Courtesy to The Alligator

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Nashville artist with Top 40 singles, hundreds of concerts anticipates Gainesville debut

By Tanya Fedak | Jan. 8

Although he’s performed at a countless number of NASCAR venues, one dozen baseball stadiums and the Kentucky Derby, Reed Foley has yet to conquer one stage: the High Dive.