The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

Lead Ethan Garrepy puts on his wig for the Music Man show at the Constanz Theater on Oct. 26 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

A glimpse backstage with stars of “The Music Man” as they prepare for closing weekend

By Tanya Fedak | Nov. 4

From Oct. 16 to Oct. 27, the UF School of Theatre and Dance put on a nine-show run of the musical, which follows traveling conman Harold Hill, played by Ethan Garrepy, who goes from town to town persuading citizens of his “plan” to form a boys marching band. After collecting payments for instruments and uniforms, he skips town, starting his pursuit of his next victims. But this time, it’s a little different.

With music and strobe lights, students were transported to early voting locations on Oct. 22, 2024.

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‘Party to the Polls’: Students ride party bus to early voting site

By Caroline Kwara | Oct. 29

During the organization's Party to the Polls event on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a party bus transported UF students from La Casita, UF’s Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures, to the Reitz Union, an early voting location for Alachua County.

Gainesville residents celebrate fall with a range of pumpkin-flavored food and drinks.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Ave Roundtable: Gainesville’s guide to cafes with fall flavors

By Avenue Staff | Oct. 28

Juliana DeFilippo

Attendees walk during the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

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Walk to End Alzheimer’s offers support and connection to Gainesville’s caregiver community

By Juliana DeFilippo | Oct. 27

The Alzheimer’s Association hosted its annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday morning, with 756 participants walking together to show their support. The Gainesville event aimed to raise money to fund research and provide resources to those affected by the disease.

Swamp Records and Unlitter UF join forces to host their annual R.I.P. ROCKFEST live music event at the How Bazar on Oct. 23, 2024.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Swamp Records and #UNLITTER kick off Halloween with R.I.P. Rockfest

By Juliana DeFilippo | Oct. 25

Swamp Records collaborated with #UNLITTER to host four bands its R.I.P Rockfest show Wednesday night. This is the second year the nonprofits have worked together on the show, aiming to raise money for their organizations.

Volunteer searches for spoiled pumpkins at the Abiding Savior Lutheran Church on Oct. 20, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville’s guide to fall festivities and pumpkin patches

By Tanya Fedak | Oct. 21

To get in the fall spirit, here is a list of the five best pumpkin farms in the Gainesville area.

Judges from the American Orchid Society, the parent organization of the Gainesville branch, decided on three winners for each species of orchid.

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Gainesville Orchid Society hosts annual show at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

By Juliana DeFilippo | Oct. 20

The Gainesville Orchid Society hosted its annual orchid show and fall plant sale Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. The show included food vendors, gardening supplies, plants and orchids and lawn decorations.

Members of Chabad UF Jewish Student and Community Center bake Challah for Shabbat dinner. Photo courtesy of Lexi Szafranski.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Jewish student center provides a family away from home

By Rachel Mish | Oct. 18

The Chabad UF Jewish Student and Community Center is one of 500 campuses that make up the Chabad on Campus International network, and it aims to help students immerse themselves in Jewish culture.

GRACE Marketplace homeless shelter experiences flooding after Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024.

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GRACE Marketplace offers a safe haven during Hurricane Milton

By Sabrina Castro | Oct. 14

For those experiencing homelessness in Alachua County, GRACE Marketplace became a sanctuary offering safety from Hurricane Milton as the winds and rain began to bear down.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Mochiry offers desserts and Korean cuisine to Gainesville residents

By Juliana DeFilippo | Oct. 7

Mochiry offers a Korean-inspired menu with mochi donuts, ice cream, boba tea, Korean hot dogs and coffee drinks.

Artist sculpts a ramen bowl at the ceramic studio on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville ceramics studio brings people together through clay and community

By Sabrina Castro | Oct. 7

Studio T/M is the only one-stop ceramics shop in Alachua County. The studio provides clay, tools, materials, studio memberships, pottery classes, themed events, kiln firings and repairs.

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Humane Society of North Central Florida feeling ‘grateful’ after Hurricane Helene

By Noor Sukkar | Oct. 6

The Humane Society of North Central Florida, which usually shelters between 35 to 40 dogs, evacuated dogs from coastal shelters the days leading up to Helene. With just under a week’s notice of Helene, the shelter had to foster out all of its in-house animals to make room for more.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Gainesville Indie Night welcomes audiences after Hurricane Helene

By Juliana DeFilippo | Sep. 29

Gainesville Indie Night welcomed audience members Sept. 27 for a themed event that aims to highlight local indie bands and draw in new audiences.

Festival goers shop at a booth at Gainesville Pride Fest on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

‘Pride is everything’: Gainesville Pride Festival waves rainbows after the storm

By Noor Sukkar | Sep. 29

Despite week-long uncertainty, the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida hosted its Pride Festival on Sept. 28 from noon to 8 p.m. at Bo Diddley Plaza and on surrounding streets.

Milley leads owner Dieter Haager on a walk at the NAVC Veterinary Clinic on Sept. 25, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

North American Veterinary Community hosts pet walk to support therapy animals

By Juliana DeFilippo | Sep. 26

The North American Veterinary Community welcomed a special visitor to its Gainesville office Wednesday morning. Calvin, a 3-year-old gray French bulldog, strolled around the halls, never shying away from the cameras.

The soon-to-be renovated Florida Museum of Natural History entrance and gift shop are seen on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.

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Florida Museum of Natural History announces closure for over a year

By Noor Sukkar | Sep. 23

On Sept. 6, the Florida Museum of Natural History announced its temporary closure in a press release, revealing a large-scale, front-end expansion project that is anticipated to span the next two years.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Jazz on Main Street Gainesville fuses music and art

By Juliana DeFilippo | Sep. 21

Jazz on Main Street hosted a jam session at GFAA Gallery Sept. 19 to encourage community building and support for the arts through musical improvisations.

Actor and Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan speaks to students at the University of Florida on Sept. 17, 2024. Quan is known for his roles in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and more recently, Everything Everywhere All At Once.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Ke Huy Quan discusses Asian representation in media, his return to acting at ACCENT event

By Sabrina Castro | Sep. 19

Hundreds of students filled University Auditorium Tuesday night to watch Ke Kuy Quan discuss his career journey and answer student questions.

Bite Club Founder Jack Warman poses next to a Bite Club poster outside Marston Library on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Courtesy of Jack Warman.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

What to know about a new student meal plan alternative

By Rachel Mish | Sep. 18

Bite Club Meal Plan, the newest entrant in Gainesville’s culinary market, allows students to eat at off-campus restaurants with meal credits. The plan is not affiliated with UF or Santa Fe College but intends to feed those students, hoping to attract attention for its unique policy — meal credits that roll over until graduation.

Dancers practice their skills at the Harn Museum during the first night of the Latina Women’s League’s 20th annual Latino Film Festival on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Harn Museum kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month

By Juliana DeFilippo | Sep. 16

The event included the first night of the Latina Women’s League’s 20th annual Latino Film Festival, as well as museum-organized crafts and collaborative artworks. University organizations like the Center for Latin American Studies and the Hispanic Student Association tabled at the event, inviting guests to learn more about their programs.