The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

To spend less, take a trip through time

By Dana Burke | Jan. 26, 2011

Out with the new, and in with the old. Every day, it seems that thrift stores are becoming a more avant-garde venue for shopping. And here in Gainesville, students and residents alike are lucky to have access to stores beyond the common man’s Goodwill. In fact, we’d go so far as to say Gainesville’s got a vintage selection that’s the Rolls-Royce of second-hand-shop selections. Peruse the merchandise at these retailers and you’ll be sure to snatch a find that’s one-of-a-kind. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

The best of the cheap for smart cash (and calorie) spenders

By Richard O. Stehli | Jan. 26, 2011

A lot of pesky things can get in the way of drinking lots of alcohol: school, work, parents, religion, money — and the list goes on. In good conscience, I can’t help you with your obligations to time or morality, but I can help you drink on a budget. No matter the occasion and no matter the financial limitations, there’s an affordable drink for you.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Healthy and wealthy couldn’t be wiser

By Mae Basiratmand | Jan. 26, 2011

College students are known for a sordid diet of ramen and delivered pizza. And we get it: Being on a budget hardly allows for filet mignon and crème brûlée as dinner options. But, believe it or not, eating healthy and tasty can be done on limited funds. Check out these tips to see how.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Fine meals for a fine price

By Richard O. Stehli | Jan. 26, 2011

Hard up for cash, but you still want to eat like a king? Need to impress your date, but financial aid hasn't come in yet? No need to fear - the word "gourmet" refers to taste, not cost. Here are a few tips on saving money while still eating real food.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

Underneath 'Skins'

By Kelly Richard | Jan. 26, 2011

Before MTV's scandalous new series "Skins" premiered on Jan. 17, commercials teased audiences with clips of sex, drugs and crazily behaved teenagers - all factors that seemed to make its U.K. counterpart a hit.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Cheap, fun games for cheap, fun people

By Andrew Wyzan | Jan. 26, 2011

Like many students, I’m pretty much broke. I’ve eaten Burger King at least six times this week, I worship ramen, and every penny saved is a video game earned. Spending $50 or more on a blockbuster title might make gamers into mindless slaves of consumerism and pretty graphics, but that is a curse we’re willing to live with.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Stars still aligned: horoscopes the same, experts say

By Britt Perkins | Jan. 26, 2011

Social media sites were ablaze last week with outraged updates after news reports said the horoscope we knew and loved was all wrong.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Indie band Hellogoodbye plays in Gainesville

By THOMAS NASSIFF< | Jan. 26, 2011

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.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Spin away the cash blues

By Benjamin Evans | Jan. 26, 2011

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.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Food for thought, & everything else

By Webb | Jan. 19, 2011

Heads up, New Year’s resolution makers: It’s about three weeks into 2011. Have you kept your self-made promise? We’re betting about half of you have already cracked — especially those who resolved to hit the gym and eat healthier. It’s no easy feat. But sometimes, the resolution to all your healthy lifestyle woes is simple: balance.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

iPhone lovers: Everything you need to know about Verizon

By Andrew Wyzan | Jan. 19, 2011

AT&T used to be my cell phone service provider — the key phrase there being “used to.” Dropped calls, poor phones and customer service staffed by incompetent gorillas are just some of the infamous issues the service provider is known for. Yet, people still cling to the carrier like submissive gimps — all thanks to the iPhone. If given the choice, a significant portion of AT&T’s customers would jump ship should the iPhone be released on a better service, say, for example, Verizon Wireless.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Microsoft laughs to the bank — and gamers have fun, too

By Andrew Wyzan | Jan. 19, 2011

The holiday season has descended into its dark, twilight hours. The hot-ticket items have gone back to sleep in storage, and bottom-bin sales fill stores with the unwanted dregs of the free market. Last year in the technology industry, no items reigned more supreme than the Microsoft Kinect.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The A-List

By LAUREN GOLD | Jan. 19, 2011

READ: Shit my Dad Says

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Not easy being green? With help, planting made simple

By Britt Perkins | Jan. 19, 2011

If you’re looking to revamp your home decor and your attitude, the resolution could be simple: Liven up your living space.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

Q&A with Swamp Head Brewery owner Luke Kemper

By Richard O. Stehli | Jan. 19, 2011

Local brewery owner Luke Kemper has a lot bottled up — one thing being patience. That’s what it’s taken the owner of Swamp Head Brewery, 3140 SW 42nd Way, to start growing his 1-year-old business.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Tune-up could be in store for local radio

By Benjamin Evans | Jan. 19, 2011

President Barack Obama’s signing of the Local Community Radio Act earlier this month gave music fans hope for a future of more diversity on the airwaves. The act allows for the development of hundreds of low-power FM (LPFM) stations across the country — something that has been a long-standing feat for industry workers, as many believe LPFMs cause too much interference with commercial radio stations.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

The Boswellians to record first EP, perform tonight

By Tyler Francischine | Jan. 19, 2011

For Gainesville rock quartet The Boswellians, the show must go on — even when it gets canceled.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Lens Flair

Jan. 19, 2011

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

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Female gaming icon gets long-overdue makeover

By Andrew Wyzan | Jan. 12, 2011

The depiction of women in video games has always been a mark of shame in the industry. Undoubtedly, the majority of video games developers are male — as is the industry’s target demographic. Thus, it’s not surprising that many virtual females are designed to look like idealized perfections of the gender at best and pubescent fantasy at worst. Take these favored femmes: Bayonetta has 4-foot long legs, Taki from “Soul Calibur” has triple-E sized breasts, and the entire female cast of “Dead or Alive” can be summed up with the phrase “jiggle physics.”

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Getting intimate with University Avenue favorite

By Britt Perkins | Jan. 12, 2011

Exploration is a vital and vigorous part of the college experience. You’re not under your parents’ roof. It’s time to see what’s out there. Wild Iris Books is a place to start finding out. Located between Midtown and downtown at 802 W University Ave., Wild Iris is one of the last remaining feminist bookstores in Florida. Opened in 1992, Wild Iris has established itself as not only a store but also as a community resource for artists and organizations looking for a supportive space. The store, in association with its sister nonprofit Friends of Wild Iris, has hosted open mic nights, workshops, discussion groups and art exhibits.