Pull out the sunscreen and pop open a cold one because this summer will be a scorcher in Gainesville.
The Avenue staff teamed up to present an itinerary of exciting activities and events slated to happen this summer. From the glistening blue waters of Poe Springs Park to the party-centric attitude of the GNV Brew Bus, Gainesville residents can turn up their radio dial and enjoy their Hot GNV Summer.
GNV Brew Bus
Experience the essence of nightlife on four wheels and ride the Gainesville Brew Bus.
Generally seen as a shuttle party bus, the Brew Bus parades around town filled with colorful lights, loud music and partying people. It can be seen by curious Downtown pedestrians on its route at least once. With routes going from midtown to downtown and other stops in the city, the bus solves the need for group transportation when going out.
Brenna Delong, a third year UF journalism student and Gainesville Brew Bus social media assistant, said the service is Gainesville residents’ version of a party bus.
Founder Ryan Sheppard said the Gainesville Brew Bus’ business model caters to college students by communicating through Snapchat, where customers can see a live feed of content and message the business directly on the platform to ask for a ride from their location.
This summer, Brew Bus will premiere Springs Saturdays: a round trip from The Retreat apartment complex to Ginnie Springs beginning May 28. They will also offer brewery tours June 8.
Brew Bus will also host summer “darties,” or day parties, and a wet t-shirt contest where participants can play a “spin the wheel” game for a chance to win a t-shirt.
Additionally, the bus will offer free rides to concerts at The Range, where founder Ryan Sheppard will perform under the stage name RAYN June 24.
Cade Museum
Two new exhibits are coming to the Cade Museum right in time for summer.
The Cade Museum, located at 811 S. Main St., has more to offer than dull pictures and monotonous art pieces. The museum gives guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in exhibits to learn more about a specific topic and gain a deeper understanding.
“Animationland,” a traveling exhibit from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, will allow visitors to draw and trace animated characters on a light table. Visitors can make a short animated movie and use their imaginations to create much more.
Those interested in making movies or wanting to know more about behind the scenes of animation should definitely give this exhibit a visit. The exhibit opens May 19.
“It’s a really interactive, hands-on, fun look at the world of animation,” Kathryn Rohlwing, the senior marketing manager for the Cade Museum, said.
The museum’s space-themed exhibit, “Voyages: A Trip through Time and Space,” will feature the unsung stories of spacecrafts Voyagers 1 and 2 in the exhibit.
Visitors can “expect to travel from Jupiter’s swirling red spot to the icy geysers on Neptune’s moon Triton,” according to a press release sent by the Cade Museum. Exploring space with your best buddies is definitely an out of this world experience.
The exhibit, which opens June 2, is part of the overall theme of the museum this summer: Wandering the Milky Way: A Tour of the Solar System.
Museum-goers will have the opportunity to construct a space suit from a plastic egg, make galactic slime, learn about potatoes as a fuel source and participate in other space-related activities.
The Cade Museum is the place to go this summer if you are interested in learning more about animation or space or just want a cool place to escape the scorching heat.
First Magnitude Brewing Company
By Averi Kremposky
Located at 1220 SE Veitch St., First Magnitude Brewing Company is the mingling of good beer, good company and a good cause.
Driven by the desire to bring the community together and increase sustainability efforts, it’s the perfect place for Gainesville residents to spend their summer nights — whether that be inside or in the brewery’s beer garden.
If you’re looking for something to do on top of grabbing a pint, the brewery will host a variety of different events throughout the summer.
Open every day of the week, there’s an event for everyone to enjoy. Every Sunday at 1 p.m., First Magnitude invites yoga enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels to join them for a class in its warehouse.
Participants only need a yoga mat and a minimum contribution of $5 for We are Neutral, a local non-profit that helps offset the brewery’s carbon footprint.
On the first Sunday of every month, First Magnitude partners with the Alachua Audubon Society to host “Birds and Brews,” an hour-long guided tour through Depot Park.
Participants will identify a variety of local birds and conveniently end the tour at the brewery before closing time for participants to enjoy a fresh beer.
The hosts will welcome bird-watchers of varying experience, and provide binoculars for participants to borrow. The start time for this event will vary by month, so the company recommends checking its Facebook page for updates.
In conjunction with The Florida Museum and The UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute, the brewery will host a night of appreciation for the Florida Springs. The event will feature three short documentaries focusing on the perceived health of the springs over time, followed by a panel discussion on the importance of water conservation in the state. Of course, beer and food trucks will be involved.
While the event is free, interested participants should register beforehand.
If you’re looking for plans this summer, try grabbing a beer and getting involved with the local Gainesville community.
How Bazar
By Anna Ward
How Bazar’s first summer does all but hold back.
The brand is bringing a fun-filled super series of day parties (darties), weekly events, revamped night markets and block parties. All events support and supply local entertainment.
Record label and How Bazar associate Dion Dia will host “Goodtimes,” a buzzing darty series for those seeking drinks, DJs and dancing in the sunshine. “Goodtimes” can be found at Depot Village’s live event hub Yellow Bar starting May 21 from either 3 or 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
How Bazar’s weekly events are open mic Tuesdays open to all art forms, “Get Down Disco” Thursdays with DJs, disco lights and slushies, and “Sundaze” Sundays hosting DJs, food vendors and artists.
Disco Thursdays begin the series with an RSVP-only soft launch May 26 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., followed by golden hour “Sundaze” events set from either 4 or 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and open mic Tuesdays, whose start time is to be determined.
The bi-monthly Bazar À La Carte night market returns June 4 with a summertime-funtime theme.
The market will pack a dunk tank, velcro wall, bungee ropes and about 70 booths with 100 various vendors. Local artist Alix Mathis, via freehand work on plywood, will compose a blown-up coloring page for attendees to color in.
“We’re going to go kind of crazy,” said Bazar co-owner Laila Fakhoury.
Block parties have no set dates yet, but they will be similar to the brand’s Jan. 14 grand opening.
Lastly, How Bazar is available to rent. People should expect the unexpected: Everything from album release parties to fundraising chili cook-offs is to come.
Civic Media Center
For almost 30 years, the Civic Media Center has served as a sanctuary for alternative ideas underrepresented in most mainstream media.
Located at 433 S Main St., the center has roughly 10,000 books published by independent, non-corporate media organizations and the largest collection of zines in the southeast, Sacks said. The library’s hours are Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m.
Civic Media Center coordinator JoJo Sacks, 25, started volunteering at the center while they were attending UF. They’ve been on the team for about four years.
“A lot of what we do is about building community because if we're interested in making the future a better place for all of us,” Sacks said. “We need people that we feel in community with.”
Instead of aimlessly clicking through Netflix, grab some popcorn and attend a monthly documentary screening in the center’s courtyard. The iconic satirical film “9 to 5” starring Dolly Parton will be screened May 20, followed by Dolly Parton karaoke. The center will also host Poetry Jam, a weekly open mic held Thursdays at 8 p.m., and multiple pride-month-themed events throughout June.
To raise funds for the non-profit, the Civic Media Center plans to host a benefit concert at How Bazar May 28. Performers include local musicians Levek, 9th Ring, Euglossine and Gregoria.
Anyone interested in getting involved with the Civic Media Center can attend its two monthly volunteer meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 5:30 p.m.
Springs near Gainesville
By Allyssa Keller
Don’t overheat this hot girl summer — Gainesville residents can make a splash at local springs.
Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, Poe Springs Park and Ichetucknee Springs State Park all provide a way to relax and escape from the relentless Florida heat.
At Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park in High Springs, guests can rent canoes and kayaks from Anderson’s Outdoor Adventures. Visitors can paddle their way through the blue waters of the springhead and its surrounding greenery ,and snorkeling is allowed in certain areas in the park. Those that prefer dry land can reserve one of 23 different campsites,according to the state park’s website.
If you’re tired of paddling along the waters of Blue Springs, other springs around Gainesville have more relaxed options for its visitors.
Bring your swimming trunks and cannonball into the waters at Poe Springs Park. The largest spring in Alachua County, Poe Springs offers places to swim, fish and play volleyball.
Float underneath the trees and the beautiful natural scenery of Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Fort White. The park offers tubing experiences that last from 45 minutes to nearly two hours, starting from either Midpoint Launch or Dampier’s Landing and ending at South Takeout Point . A regular inner tube can be rented for $7 and a double tube can be rented for $14.
For those who have an appreciation for wildlife, Ichetucknee Springs harbors a vast array of eye-catching species.
Ichetucknee Springs is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. From the barred owl to the red-headed woodpecker, there are plenty of birds to observe. Lucky guests can even spot manatees and river otters as they make their way around Ichetucknee Springs.
This summer, the springs are perfect for any nature-lover or outdoorsman.
