The Avenue - The Independent Florida Alligator

Nick Brigandi, a 28-year-old employee at Mother's Pub & Grill, pours a beer on Wednesday afternoon. Brigandi and other employees are preparing for all the business on St. Patrick's Day by wearing shirts from last year's festivities.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Where to spend your St. Patrick’s Day in Gainesville

By Natalie Rao | Mar. 15, 2018

The biggest drinking holiday of the year, St. Patrick’s Day, is just around the corner. Falling on a Saturday for the first time in nearly a decade, this year’s celebration of the Irish holiday is guaranteed to be one of the rowdiest to date. With no school or work to worry about, students and locals alike will be out in full force. So break out all the green gear your wardrobe has to offer; here are the best places to spend the holiday in Gainesville.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Flow Space to host first Baby Goat Yoga

By Gabriella Paul | Mar. 15, 2018

Fans of the viral YouTube sensation Buttermilk Sky — a young Nigerian dwarf goat that frolics in the grass and leapfrogs over other goat kids — get excited.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Women’s Student Association to host self-care fair

By Taylor McLamb | Mar. 15, 2018

The UF Women’s Student Association will host a self-care fair Friday on Plaza of the Americas to commemorate Women’s History Month. The fair focuses on the importance of taking time to take care of oneself and how self-love and acceptance can drastically improve both mental and physical health.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Okeechobee Music Festival Recap: Destination Okeechobee winners impress

By Emma Witmer | Mar. 15, 2018

Gainesville’s Destination Okeechobee victors kicked Spring Break off right with performances at the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Rising jam band Whale Feral to perform at Relix Magazine

By Taylor McLamb | Feb. 27, 2018

For an avid music fan, picking apart a song from Gainesville’s rising southern jam band, Whale Feral, is a delightfully unique experience. Listeners can press play on a song once, twice or a dozen times and still hear things that were unnoticed the first time around.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Q&A: Riff Raff talks music, dogs and fashion ahead of tonight’s High Dive show

By Emma Witmer | Feb. 27, 2018

Houston-born rapper Riff Raff will perform at High Dive tonight as part of his Neon Black Tour.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Cilantro Tacos: The family behind a food truck

By Gabriella Paul | Feb. 27, 2018

It was 8 a.m., but his jaw was already peppered with a black-and-grey five o’clock shadow.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

The Avenue’s must-see artists at Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival

By Natalie Rao | Feb. 27, 2018

Tomorrow kicks off Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival’s third consecutive year. Bringing some of the most vibrant artists the globe has to offer to the 800-acre Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee, Florida, this festival has absolutely exploded.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

The Avenue’s must-hear artists performing at Heartwood Music Festival

By Taylor McLamb | Feb. 20, 2018

Despite having only opened a year ago, Heartwood Soundstage, Gainesville’s multi-stage live recording venue, has become a budding hotspot for musicians and concertgoers alike.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Q&A: Local alt-rock group The Hails discuss their new single, songwriting and more

By Emma Witmer | Feb. 20, 2018

Gainesville alternative rockers The Hails release their newest single, “Younger,” tomorrow.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Meet The Savants of Soul, Destination Okeechobee winners and the festival’s newest performers

By Emma Witmer | Feb. 20, 2018

After High Dive’s epic Battle of the Bands, The Savants of Soul emerged as fan favorite and earned their spot on the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival lineup in one short week.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Wyatt’s Coffee to host grand opening downtown

By Gabriella Paul | Feb. 20, 2018

The ghost of coffee shop past is returning to the heart of downtown Gainesville on Friday.

On Thursday, six groups from across genres will battle for a spot at March’s Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Six bands, musicians and producers to battle it out for Okeechobee spot

By Emma Witmer | Feb. 13, 2018

Every year, artists compete in Destination Okeechobee competitions throughout Florida in hopes of earning a spot on the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival line-up. The first round, which concluded about a month ago, consisted of online voting exclusively. Flipturn, a Gainesville alternative indie group, beat out nearly 3,000 other artists and bands for their spot.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Bass-heavy producer Digital Ethos to perform at Simon’s

By Natalie Rao | Feb. 13, 2018

Mind-bending producer Digital Ethos hits Gainesville this Sunday at Simon’s. The show will run from 9 p.m. - 2 a.m., with tickets available via Eventbrite for $12.61 to $17.89.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Four ways to keep Galentine’s Day going

By Taylor McLamb | Feb. 13, 2018

The hit NBC show “Parks and Recreation” gave us a lot of memorable gems like “treat yo self,” DJ Rumba and every single one of Ann Perkin’s nicknames but, most importantly, it gave us the most significant holiday of the year, Galentine’s Day.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Seven out-of-the-ordinary spots to spend your Valentine’s Day

By Emma Witmer | Feb. 13, 2018

It’s Valentine’s Day and you still don’t know what to do? Gainesville has plenty of ways to impress your valentine with something different than last year. If the standard dinner and a movie isn’t your style, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Here are seven nontraditional ways to spend the holiday with that special someone.

The Impossible Burger is a meatless option that tastes, looks and feels like real meat.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Loosey’s becomes first Gainesville venue to serve vegan ‘Impossible Burger’

By Gabriella Paul | Feb. 13, 2018

It was a Midtown fairytale.

Richard Stehli, a veggie fest volunteer, uses an apple cutter and corer for granny smith apples during the VegFest at Plaza of the Americas in 2011.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

VegFest returns to Gainesville this weekend

By Taylor McLamb | Feb. 13, 2018

VegFest, a celebration of a healthy, sustainable and compassionate lifestyle, will return due to high demand Saturday at Depot Park.

Changeville, a festival dedicated to social change, hits Gainesville this week.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Avenue Staff’s Guide to Changeville 2018

By Avenue Staff | Feb. 6, 2018

Downtown Gainesville might give New Orleans a run for its money Thursday and Friday.

FEST Wrestling turns stereotypical wrestling on its head, bringing men and women to compete while emphasizing a supportive community.

THE AVENUE

FEST Wrestling returns with The Love Cup

By Emma Witmer | Feb. 6, 2018

FEST Wrestling is a showcase for the vibrant independent professional wrestling community that strives for inclusivity above all and a place where, sometimes, people get hit with chairs.