The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

With a seemingly never-ending list of special guest stars, “The Sparks Brothers” gathers the most unlikely celebrities to showcase Ron and Russell Mael’s otherworldly 50-year career as the band Sparks. (Courtesy to The Alligator)

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

Rate and review: ‘The Sparks Brothers’ tells the enigmatic tale of the world’s most influential yet overlooked band

By Brenna Sheets | June 28, 2021

If you don’t know who Sparks are, musical luminaries like Duran Duran, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Sonic Youth are here to tell you.With a seemingly never-ending list of special guest stars, “The Sparks Brothers” gathers the most unlikely celebrities to showcase Ron and Russell Mael’s otherworldly 50-year career as the band Sparks.

Salem Commander brought her homemade candles to 4th Ave Foodpark's Juneteenth celebration on June 19, 2021. Commander makes the candles herself and sells them at local markets.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

4th Avenue Food Park Juneteenth celebration highlights Black-owned businesses

By Heather Bushman | June 21, 2021

4th Ave Food Park’s Juneteenth celebration featured five black-owned businesses Saturday. The event had live music and cuisine from the surrounding restaurants and food trucks.

LGBTQ community members shared their thoughts on how queer musicians influence their lives, the U.S. music industry and society.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Members of the LGBTQ community celebrate the legacy of queer musicians

By Karter Nancy | June 21, 2021

Throughout history, LGBTQ artists explored various genres to cement themselves in the music industry. LGBTQ community members shared their thoughts on how queer musicians influence their lives, the U.S. music industry and society.

Purple Nightshade Productions show on August 31, 2019 at Raindogs in Jacksonville. (Photo by Justin Drain Photography)

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Purple Nightshade Productions to hold its last virtual horror show

By Brenna Sheets | June 21, 2021

After over a year of mainly online events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the horror theater company will premier its last solely virtual show, “Mirror Images." The show will feature psychological-based themes with glow in the dark costumes, contortionists and burlesque performances.

Dennis Pfeiffer, 22, adjusts the position of items in the Out Of Pocket Society pop-up event at 4Most Gallery on Friday, June 18, 2021.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

New artist collective encourages community engagement through interactive art pop-up

By Heather Bushman | June 21, 2021

Out Of Pocket Society, also known as OOPS, is a new Gainesville-based artist collective. OOPS hosted its inaugural event at the 4Most Gallery June 18 and 19. The two-day event brought an interactive exhibit that encouraged participants to touch, take photos and engage with the pieces on display.

'Getaway’ marks an era of musical experimentation for Driptones.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Driptones return with new single ‘Getaway’

By Heather Bushman | June 18, 2021

In their latest single, Driptones are “dripping different” — a new sound, new style, new direction. “Getaway,” out now, is the newest release from the Gainesville quartet.

The growing space for LGBTQ stories on kids and family programming begs the question of whether the public can place a level of responsibility on influential children’s media outlets to produce inclusive content.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

UF professionals discuss LGBTQ representation in children’s entertainment

By Brenna Sheets | June 17, 2021

For many members of the LGBTQ community, representation in different entertainment mediums can play a crucial role in personal development, especially in children. UF students and faculty examine the role influential corporations play in the evolving culture of young adult and kid-friendly media.

The Gainesville location will be Buff City’s twelfth Florida store.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Buff City Soap to open in Butler Town Center

By Heather Bushman | June 17, 2021

Buff City Soap, coming to Butler Town Center, specializes in vegan-friendly, cruelty-free soaps, handcrafted daily in each store.

Kayla Burnett wears one of their custom clothing items. Burnett hopes to create a safe space for LGBTQ and non-binary individuals by providing the freedom to explore their identity through art.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Neitherandboth introduces gender-neutral clothing to the Gainesville community

By Bryce Brown | June 14, 2021

Kayla Burnett is on a mission to provide customized gender-neutral clothing to people of all body types and identities. Through their business Neitherandboth, Burnett hopes to inspire Gainesville residents to express themselves and embrace their identity through their clothing.

Kristyn Lopez, 37, (right) gives a tattoo designed to emulate a tarot card to Franciso Martinez, 31, a Gainesville resident (left) on Sunday, June 13, 2021.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Walk-in tattoo event gives local community a way to support victims of sexual assault

By Karter Nancy | June 14, 2021

In an effort to raise money for victims of sexual assault, community members had their bodies marked with ink at the Still Not Asking For It tattoo flash event on Sunday.

A Pride Tree sticker at Swamp City Gallery Lounge on Sunday, June 13, 2021. Swamp City is running a pride month campaign, where patrons can take a photo of pride tree stickers placed in different locations for a chance to win $300 worth of accessories and products.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Gainesville cannabis and art lounge launches Pride Month campaign

By Heather Bushman | June 14, 2021

Swamp City Gallery Lounge is all about the green, but this June, they’re embracing the rainbow. The local glass art gallery and cannabis lounge is celebrating Pride Month with its #plantapridetree raffle campaign.

Aubrey Dolbeck, 21, a Gainesville business owner, looks at products she made on Friday, June 11, 2021. She sometimes searches for gems at Lake Alice.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

From dirt to amethyst, local crystal shop owner dedicates herself to uncovering nature’s beauty

By Melissa Hernandez de la Cruz | June 14, 2021

Aubrey Dolbeck uncovered her first gems in the mountains of Tennessee in February 2020. To most people, Dolbek’s initial finds were blobs of dirt. But after tediously cutting and polishing, Dolbeck birthed a captivatingly-cut Amethyst.

Dylan Perez, 6, uses blue butterfly flower pigment to paint on reusable paper at an eco-art event on Saturday, June 12, 2021.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Eco-friendly artists hold nature-based workshops at Artisans’ Guild

By Brenna Sheets | June 14, 2021

During the Artisan's Guild first eco-extravaganza event, attendees participated at artist’s station, where they workshopped a variety of eco-art activities like flower hammering, eco-printing, sewing with recycled textiles and tea tasting.

"Cruella" was released Memorial Day weekend and was the first major studio in-theater premiere since COVID-19. “Cruella” features the talented and witty two Emma’s. Emma Stone plays Estella Miller, a criminal yet aspiring raw-talented fashion designer; Emma Thompson plays Baroness, London’s most famous fashion designer.

THE AVENUE | MOVIES AND TV

Rate and Review: ‘Cruella’ tells the backstory of one of Disney’s infamous villains

By Alexis Carson | June 10, 2021

“The Devil Wears Prada” meets “Joker” is the best way to describe Disney’s latest live-action film “Cruella.” The movie was released Memorial Day weekend and was the first major studio in-theater premiere since COVID-19.

Chase Morris, 25, a Gainesville resident and DIY content creator applies transfers to an antique sewing machine drawer to repurpose into a planter on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Trash becomes treasure with help from local artist

By Karter Nancy | June 10, 2021

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, at least according to Chase Morris. She repurposes old furniture that would otherwise end up in the dumpster, giving these old fixtures new lives. The local artist promotes sustainability, inspiring people to “Get Crafty Bestie” and repurpose old furniture instead of throwing it away.

Local band the 90's Wannabe's performs at Swamp City Lounge's Helping Hands Benefit Concert on Friday, June 4, 2021.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Local band gives back with benefit concert

By Heather Bushman | June 7, 2021

The first “Helping Hands” benefit concert took place at Swamp City Gallery Lounge and was organized by the local band, RA’SBRY. The concert featured a number of musicians and vendors from the Gainesville area, and the proceeds were donated to the Repurpose Project.

A Pac-Man wall painting that reads "I Love the 80s" sits on a wall of That 80s Bar Gainesville, located on West University Avenue on Friday, June 6, 2021.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

That ‘80s Bar takes Gainesville residents back in time

By Karter Nancy | June 7, 2021

If you “Just Can’t Get Enough” of synthwave, the arcade and all things ‘80s, Gainesville’s newest bar may have you drinking your way back in time. The new bar opened its doors May 28.

(Left to right) Coral Smith, Charlotte Katz Howick and Jennifer Vito stood in front of the information booth on Saturday. Howick was a previous camper of Gainesville Girls Rock Camp.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

High Dive’s Food Truck Rally benefits Gainesville Girls Rock Camp

By Melissa Hernandez de la Cruz | June 7, 2021

With mask mandates falling by the wayside as vaccine distribution increases, attendees’ noses were able to appreciate the enticing aromas of barbecue, Asian and vegan cuisine on Saturday. The Original Food Truck Rally, hosted by the High Dive, invited eight restaurants to showcase different cuisines to Gainesville locals.

UF-lecturer Kelly Medley, 35, sifts through racks of used clothes at the Humane Society's new boutique thrift store, located at 5403 Southwest Archer Road on Sunday, June 6, 2021. The boutique store receives some of the local Humane Society's higher-end items, such as designer handbags and vintage musical instruments.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

The Humane Society of North Central Florida to open south campus thrift boutique

By Brenna Sheets | June 7, 2021

From popcorn machines to winter coats, the Humane Society of North Central Florida’s new south campus Thrift Boutique received a wide variety of donations to help support animals in need.

Jeremy Mall, 25, a culinary teacher at East Side high school, practices rock climbing in a homemade crop top at The Knot Climbing Gym on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. Mall is an avid "Crop Top Tuesday" participant, and he said climbing in crop tops is fun and freeing.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Crop Top Tuesdays: A weekly tradition combines crop tops and rock climbing

By Abigail Hasebroock | June 7, 2021

“Crop Top Tuesdays,” a weekly tradition at The Knot climbing gym, gathers students and locals wearing homemade crop tops to rock climb.