Alexandra Burns

Kaelin Ellis performs at BIG: Culture & Arts Festival on Saturday, April 13, 2024.

Armand Raichandani

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Big: Culture and Arts Festival transforms downtown Gainesville into artistic epicenter

By Benjamin Miller and Alexandra Burns | Apr. 15

Gainesville residents and music enthusiasts gathered outdoors at a renovated lot between Porter’s Community and South Main Street Saturday to celebrate “Big: Culture and Arts Festival.” Produced by How Bazar and Dion Dia Records, the festival featured local businesses and more than 50 solo artists and musical collectives playing between two individual stages.

Birdie Box pictured on Sunday, April 14, 2024.

Armand Raichandani

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Gainesville mourns closure of gourmet chicken shop Birdie Box Sando

By Alexandra Burns | Apr. 15

The opportunity to eat a dripping hot chicken sandwich in a light pink double-decker bus has come to an end. After three years in Gainesville, Birdie Box Sando, located at 2216 SW 13th St., announced April 2 it is permanently closing its doors in Gainesville. The closure was effective immediately following the announcement.

People work tables adorned with the flags of Brazil and Palestine during the Taste the World International Food Festival at First Magnitude Brewing Company on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Armand Raichandani

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Gainesville celebrates Taste The World International Food Festival

By Alexandra Burns | Mar. 25

Nestled beneath a canopy of trees and twinkling lights, Gainesville residents came together to indulge in a comforting taste of home from cultures around the world. More than 150 Gainesville residents and food enthusiasts gathered at First Magnitude Brewing Company March 23 to celebrate Taste The World International Food Festival.

Mayor Harvey Ward declares Feb. 24 the first annual Multicultural Day on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

Adriel Bolocon

THE AVENUE

UF public relations team celebrates hidden identities with Gainesville’s first Multicultural Day festival

By Henry DeAngelis and Alexandra Burns | Feb. 26

How Bazar became a hotspot for art and culture Feb. 24 as people joined to honor a combination of various cultures, backgrounds and identities at the Culturs Festival.

Film screening of Neptune Frost on Jan. 18, 2024.

Courtesy to The Alligator

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville celebrates Black creative expression during Afrofuturism week

By Molly Seghi and Alexandra Burns | Jan. 22

In honor of Afrofuturism week, the Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship and the School of Art and Art History invited audiences Jan. 17 for a nine-day celebration of Black diaspora expression.

Alexandra Burns

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Second-hand, vintage fashion business owner shares love for Japanese style in Gainesville

By Alexandra Burns | Jan. 16

As a junior in high school, Shever, a 22-year-old UC Berkeley psychology and cognitive science graduate, established the online and pop-up shop Himitsu Vintage — a brand that works to share vintage styles and Japanese goods with customers throughout the country.

Angel Espinosa poses with his daughter Julianne Espinosa in Miami on January 22, 2017.

Courtesy to The Alligator

THE AVENUE | HEALTH

‘I am her voice, she is my heart’: UF alumni dedicate their lives to daughter with rare disorder

By Alexandra Burns | Jan. 13

In the comfort of her Miami home, 34-year-old Julianne Espinosa lies in bed captivated by videos of Disney princesses flashing across her television screen. As echoes of “The Little Mermaid” fill her room, she smiles brightly, silently expressing the words she cannot say.

An attendee at Downward Goat, located at 14823 SW 79th Place, does goat yoga with owner Korinne Johnson's goats on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

Evelyn Miguel

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

‘A magical connection’: Downward Goat brings goat yoga to Gainesville

By Alexandra Burns | Nov. 16, 2023

Eight years later, what began as a heartfelt gift has flourished into the healing-based organization Downward Goat, which provides goat and animal assisted yoga sessions throughout Florida while also working to support veterans, law enforcement, caregivers and first responders.

Student volunteers make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at Sigma Phi Epsilon on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.

Gabriella Aulisio

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

One sandwich at a time: Student-led nonprofit A Reason To Give supports Gainesville homeless population

By Alexandra Burns | Nov. 6, 2023

Gathering every Sunday morning, the UF student-run nonprofit A Reason To Give has worked to serve the Gainesville homeless community for over seven years, making more than 150 bagged lunches a week and collaborating with a variety of Gainesville organizations and homeless shelters.

A photo of thrifted fashion business Grey Metal.

Alexandra Burns

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Gainesville resident revives the past: transforms his love for vintage fashion into successful clothing business

By Alexandra Burns | Oct. 27, 2023

Since starting the thrifted fashion business Grey Metal in his home a year ago, Vences has established a personalized style and sold over 350 pieces.

Italian Gator in Midtown serves late-night slices to students Sept. 8, 2023.

Alexandra Burns

PHOTO

italiangator.jpeg

By Alexandra Burns | Sep. 28, 2023

Italian Gator in Midtown serves late-night slices to students Sept. 8, 2023.

Big: Culture and Arts Festival transforms downtown Gainesville into artistic epicenter

Gainesville mourns closure of gourmet chicken shop Birdie Box Sando

Gainesville celebrates Taste The World International Food Festival

UF public relations team celebrates hidden identities with Gainesville’s first Multicultural Day festival

Gainesville celebrates Black creative expression during Afrofuturism week

Second-hand, vintage fashion business owner shares love for Japanese style in Gainesville

‘I am her voice, she is my heart’: UF alumni dedicate their lives to daughter with rare disorder

‘A magical connection’: Downward Goat brings goat yoga to Gainesville

One sandwich at a time: Student-led nonprofit A Reason To Give supports Gainesville homeless population

Gainesville resident revives the past: transforms his love for vintage fashion into successful clothing business

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