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Tuesday, March 10, 2026

The Avenue

Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  MOVIES AND TV

Director of Oscar–nominated film visits Gainesville

Tania Hermida is an independent filmmaker with a vision to show truth and important stories. Best known for her role as second assistant director for the Oscar-nominated independent film "Maria Full of Grace," her first feature film "Que tan lejos" (How much further), which will be shown at the upcoming Gainesville Latino Film Festival, was a product of her desire to create a "road film."


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  MOVIES AND TV

Latin film directors visit Gainesville for first time in 4th Annual Latino Film Festival

The Latina Women's League wants to share the diverse stories of Latin America with the Gainesville community. With six independent films, it has organized the Fourth Annual Gainesville Latino Film Festival, which will be different than the past three in that two of the film's directors will make presentations and hold bilingual readings for young children.


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  MOVIES AND TV

Stellar acting in 'Burn Before Reading' lights up screen

To try to stick "Burn After Reading" into a genre is absolutely impossible. One could call it a comedy, as IMDB.com does, but I think this label does the movie a disservice. Don't get me wrong, you will laugh your head off, but you will also question yourself for laughing at each character's rather depressing life. It's really not a drama, a romance or even a political satire. Rather, the movie transcends genre and focuses on plot, making the style both distinctive and amazingly entertaining.


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  FOOD

Caramelized onions spruce up meals with sweet, savory flavors

Caramelized onions are one of my favorite side notes that can easily, and with a low-caloric punch, jazz up many dishes be they tacos, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs or a sandwich. Now, before you go trekking off to candy lands and your metaphorical boots get gummed up with pralines and crème brulees, let us better introduce ourselves to the notably uncandy-like subject. Caramelized onions are onions that have been sliced thin and cooked on low to medium heat, often in a bit of fat, until they become golden brown in color, meltingly tender, and both sweet and savory in flavor. They can be delicious eaten straight out of the pan, but their awesomeness lies in their adaptability that shines when they are paired with other dishes.


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  MUSIC

Motion City Soundtrack Q&A

Pop-punk band Motion City Soundtrack has been funkifying festival scenes since its formation in 1997 and rocking around the world with the likes of Blink 182, Fall Out Boy and Incubus. The band, which is now working on its fourth album following the success of "Commit This to Memory," will perform in Gainesville at the Real Big Deal Festival on Sept. 13. Bassist and back-up vocalist Matthew Taylor talks with the Alligator about the band's future, travel habits and what they love about the festival scene.


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  MUSIC

Mates of State Q&A

Minus one organ and plus one new baby, the husband-and-wife musical team Mates of State return to Gainesville for the first time since March 2006. Known for their organ and drum arrangement and catchy, complex pop harmonies, the indie-rock duo shed their signature organ sound on the new album, "Re-Arrange Us." Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel will be toting the new keyboards and their daughters, Magnolia and new addition June, on the road with them Sept. 13 and 14 to the Real Big Deal Festival at the Alachua County Fairgrounds. Calling from a houseboat in the middle of a lake, Hammel discusses the band's rearrangements, what it's like touring with two young daughters and why America is ready for change.


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  MUSIC

MAE Q&A

After the merger of their record company Capitol Records and the subsequent release of their new album "Singularity," the members of modern rock group Mae realized something: This isn't working. Despite experiencing severe debt, lack of management and a minor existential crisis, the band set out to find out a new way that did work. Drummer Jacob Marshall talked about the group's upcoming show in Gainesville, its trials with finding management and where it wants to go from here.


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  MOVIES AND TV

Hitman finds emotional side in “Bangkok Dangerous”

"Bangkok Dangerous," a new thriller starring Nicolas Cage, manages to deliver some action along with a heavy dose of tired plot devices and distracting camera-work. Taking a cue from Michael Haneke, the Pang brothers decided to direct a remake of their own film in English. In the remake, Cage plays a hit man named Joe who only lives by four rules. The most important of these rules is to know when to get out. This theme plays at the heart of "Bangkok Dangerous."


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Game day all-nighter

On Friday, my token spontaneous friend approached me with a proposition for a would-be adventure. The scheme was simple: a night spent waiting in line for ESPN's "College GameDay," the Holy Grail for many university men. It sounded boring, but he promised there would be TWIZZLERS. I said I would go.


Florida Alligator
THE AVENUE  |  FOOD

Welcome to College Bites

I first became interested in cooking in high school and came to UF (pursuing a degree in art) with ideas and recipes that have helped me cook healthily for myself while staying on a budget. Because I am on often cooking on the fly for one, I have to remain flexible; thus I developed an improvisational attitude towards cooking. As I see it, if you become familiar with a particular ingredient, technique, or basic recipe and learn how to play with it, it can become so much more than one involved, rigid recipe ever could.


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