The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Strangers collaborate in Band Roulette event at Boca Fiesta: Chick-fil-atio

By Ian Rowe | Sep. 5, 2012

Years ago, when I was a tone-deaf musician, what I hated more than anything was the question: Who do you sound like? Panicked, I would flip back and forth between bands in my head, and list who I borrowed from: guitars this, lyrics that, keyboards this. When people expressed further confusion, I said defensive and overblown things like, “Sound is a concept, man.”

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Acupuncture school promotes well-being

By Cristina Paneque | Sep. 5, 2012

Unlike the more commonly known form of Chinese acupuncture, the acupuncturists at the clinic locate the Qi, which is the energy element in your body, through pulse tests and access it by pushing needles in and out of the body.

The Apple Fritters at Peach Valley Cafe are brought to the table in a brown paper bag, shaken up in sugar and cinnamon and served on a plate with a yogurt dipping sauce.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Chomp and Chew: Celebrate National Breakfast Month locally

By Becca Goldring | Sep. 5, 2012

The most important meal of the day just became essential because September is National Breakfast Month. In Gainesville, we have a wide variety of breakfast joints to take advantage of.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

In the mix: music news for September

By Brittany Brave | Sep. 5, 2012

You barely know the major news headlines in your city, let alone what music news you can look forward to enjoying.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

More listen, less livid: Why Nickelback is pretty decent

By Alyssa Holcomb | Aug. 29, 2012

I could very easily play devil’s advocate when it comes to Nickelback and all of the unequivocal hatred surrounding its members. However, after constantly hearing a particularly poignant list of “reasons” for the band’s supposed amount of suck, I find myself more leveled with defending what is, without a doubt, one of the decade’s most successful acts.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Nickelback: The most hated band for a reason

By Kathryn Varn | Aug. 29, 2012

I liked Nickelback once.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The fictitious timeline of Labor Day

By Ian Rowe | Aug. 29, 2012

1882: Gender-neutral historical figure Toni Labor sought to free the American worker from the shackles of the American work-week that, at its inception, continued for 365 days in a row. Tasks included, but were not limited to, beating rocks together and collecting goat and human sacrifices as offerings to the evil dragon who oversaw production atop Mt. Drudgery. Americans refered to the dragon as “Grover.” Toni Labor succeeded in slaying the dragon with a cardboard sign that read: “Seriously Grover, my feet are killing me,” and Americans celebrated by cooking the dragon over a fire. The Labor Day barbeque tradition was born.

UF computer science and engineering senior Bryan Dubno, 22, the creator of UFmobile, uses the free iPhone app on campus. The app includes an interactive campus map to help students find their classes.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Student creates UFmobile iPhone app as campus resource

By Vonecia Carswell | Aug. 29, 2012

Bryan Dubno overheard more than sandwich orders while standing in the Reitz Union Subway line Sunday. He stood between two UF students who were talking about one of his cherished inventions: the UFmobile iPhone app.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Alternatives for late night snacking

By Cristina Paneque | Aug. 29, 2012

After you’ve been out for the night with your friends, Five Star Pizza just seems to call your name.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

The freshman's guide to going out

By Jessica Kegu | Aug. 29, 2012

If you’re a freshman, the weekday grind of repetitive conversation, handshaking and awkward smiling has left your face, hands and brain a little numb. Then the weekend arrives. You have a glorious Saturday or Sunday ahead of you filled with sleeping, Internet surfing and movie watching on a Netflix account that you probably don’t pay for. However, the problem then arises that you don’t know anything about anything because you’re a freshman — duh. You will probably find yourself weighing one of these general options and, if so, here are some tips to go along with them:

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

DayGlow tour rescheduled, ticket refund deadline is today

By Samantha Doucette | Aug. 29, 2012

This fall, the Alachua County Fairgrounds will see more paint than it ever has.

THE AVENUE | SEX

Craigslist > missed connections

By Jessica Kegu | Aug. 29, 2012

If there is a w4w posting you have hit a rare gem of a personal ad. The elusive w4w posting is rare because lesbians don’t care nearly as much about the Internet as straight guys do (for porn), straight women do (for Pinterest) or gay guys do (for porn and Craigslist missed connections). Now take a shot like a man.

Victoria Miller, a 21-year-old art history senior, makes and sells dreamcatchers out of vintage doilies on the popular handmade goods marketplace, Etsy.com, under the name “REVIVE by Victoria.”

THE AVENUE | FASHION

REVIVE by Victoria: UF student turns crafty creations into business

By Kristan Wiggins | Aug. 29, 2012

Victoria Miller combines second-hand doilies and entrepreneurship to create a unique result. Miller, a 21-year-old art history senior at UF, makes dreamcatchers and sells them online at the popular handmade goods marketplace, Etsy.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The perpetual breakup of Taylor Swift: 5 heartache anthems

By Alyssa Holcomb | Aug. 22, 2012

It’s no secret that pop-country superstar Taylor Swift is famous for her themed song writing concerning breakups and general lovesickness. For her, it’s as if the theme is super-sized and mega-adaptable, fitting seamlessly into all types of beats and styles alongside the standard painful lyrical prose.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Drop/add week madness: a charming letter of suggestion

By Ian Rowe | Aug. 22, 2012

For the past several hours, I’ve been staring at the drop/add page on my computer screen the way a drunk person watches the rotation of a gas station hot dog: with a mixture of hunger and disgust. Not five minutes goes by before I reclick the page’s refresh button, only to find myself seconds later cursing the heavens and shouting, “Buddha, Jesus, Athena! WHY!?,” knowing full well that somewhere in Gainesville, at that exact moment, some jerk is laughing because he has the class I want, and he knows it.

Manchester Orchestra will be performing tonight at High Dive, located at 210 SW Second Ave., with opening acts River City Extention and Chris Staples.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Manchester Orchestra sets the stage for indie music lovers

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Aug. 22, 2012

Manchester Orchestra is set to perform its first show in Gainesville at High Dive (formerly Double Down Live) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $19 with an additional $2 charge at the door for fans younger than 21 years old.

After a long, hot day on campus, try this ice-cold blueberry-lavender lemonade recipe. For the freshest ingredients, check out the Union Street Farmers Market on Wednesdays in downtown Gainesville.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Chomp and chew: Cool off with refreshing lemonade recipe

By Becca Goldring | Aug. 22, 2012

Normally, lemonade is made with only three humble ingredients: sugar, water and freshly squeezed lemon juice (don’t even think about using Country Time). In this version, the water is infused with fresh lavender sprigs, and blueberry puree is added for a fruity kick.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Local coffee shop opens with a mission to empower others

By Kathryn Varn | Aug. 14, 2012

Coffee shops come in many forms — chain shops in strip malls, meet-ups for students to discuss literature and play board games or drive-thrus for convenience on the way to work.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

The Jones Eastside to open new location downtown

By Jessica Kegu | Aug. 14, 2012

After two years of growing pains, repairs and accommodations, the local restaurant The Jones Eastside is expanding with a new downtown location.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

The Citizen’s Co-Op makes buying local its main priority

By Rachel Godfrey | Aug. 8, 2012

The Citizen’s Co-Op opened July 2011 in downtown Gainesville at 435 S. Main St. as a democratic grocery that would utilize sustainable produce and support local farmers.