The Avenue

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The Alligrammy Awards

Every year, national record executives and experts honor who they think are the best of the best in the music industry.  Here, we’ve narrowed down Gainesville’s best — musicians who for the past year have unknowingly competed for awards in categories similar to those in the Grammys. For the first time ever, the Avenue presents its top picks for locally formed acts. We introduce to you: the Alligrammys.

Healthy sweet stuff

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love. And with that, for whatever reason, we’re exposed to copious amounts of chocolate, tempting those of us on a health kick.

Tips for a steamy night in

Valentine’s Day is here, so we’ll all be heading  to our favorite restaurants for fancy dinners under ambient lighting, right? Not this guy.

What to wear on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day was cute in fourth grade when everyone got cards and candy from their classmates. In college, it's just another Hallmark holiday that makes the single community feel less than adequate. But luckily, whether your Facebook status reads "single," "in a relationship" or "it's complicated," Valentine's Day is a great excuse to buy a new outfit.

Lens Flair

For the latest frills, flair and everything fashion, check out what our lens caught this week.

Designer prepares for Gainesville Fashion Week

Growing up, Bobby Kelley didn’t come from money. When back-to-school shopping season came, he was forced to choose five outfits and keep them nice all year.

Shooting Star owner adds some “Fyre” to cuisine

On a rainy Tuesday night, about 15 people sat in the dimly lit Fyre Bar & Grill.  The two flatscreen TVs flanking the bar flashed the heated UF vs. University of Georgia basketball game, and several patrons congregated to watch the ongoing battle.  

Philadelphia classic rock revivalist to spread no-frills rock message in Gainesville

As a rock critic, it can be tough to judge bands that appear on the surface to have transported themselves through time, bands that don't sound too much like one particular group of past musicians but instead have found a way to capture the spirit of a period in America's variegated and effectual music history. Unique from the everyday artist, these bands emanate an attitude and style that hoists listeners to a point in the past they may not know personally, but with the band's help, feel immediately connected to.

AMPED with UF athletes: soccer player Sarah Chapman

Whether it’s before sleep, practice or a soccer match, UF midfielder Sarah Chapman loves her music. In fact, she has more than 5,000 songs in her iTunes library.

Secrets of the Swamp: stripped

If you have to spend another minute trapped at his overprotective mother’s dining table, you might pluck your eyebrows out with a fork. 

Is that a gun, or are you just happy to see me?

With a gun in hand, Dirty Harry famously said, “Go ahead, make my day.” For me, holding a gun pretty much ruined my day.

Superbowl XLV: What to know, how to celebrate

With this weekend’s festivities en route, let’s ask the question on everybody’s mind: When’s the Monday after the Super Bowl going to become a national holiday?

Sports games for people who don’t like sports games

I never understood the allure of the “Madden NFL” franchise. Aside from the greatest sports commentator who ever lived, the game is boring if you’re not a sports fanatic. EA Sports’ dedication to realism in  games is good for the guy who has an NFL season pass on his Direct TV, but what about the rest of us? What about the gamer who doesn’t want to manage a franchise and just wants to play a simple, fun football game?

The A-List

READ: Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt

Lens Flair

For the latest frills, flair and everything fashion, check out what our lens caught this week.

Little Black Dress Guide

Harn storage tour reveals art treasure trove

Everything in these rooms is controlled. The climate is set at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the humidity level does not exceed 50 percent, and everything has a specific identification.

Local artist to have art exhibition this weekend

If you don’t initially understand the new art exhibition coming to Gainesville this weekend, local artist Robert Ritter won’t mind. In fact, he’ll have accomplished a key part of his vision.

Indie band Hellogoodbye plays in Gainesville

Just four and a half years ago, Hellogoodbye stood atop the pop music scene. The band's 2006 release, "Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!", sold more than half-a-million copies and hit the top spot of the U.S. indie charts - an impressive feat for a first record.

Spin away the cash blues

Nielsen SoundScan released a report earlier this month indicating a 14 percent increase in vinyl record sales from 2009 to 2010, with 2.8 million albums sold last year. The Beatles’ “Abbey Road”, Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs” and The Black Keys’ “Brothers” topped the list in sales.