Our Town - July/August 2023 (High Springs/Alachua )

16

SOME LIKE IT HOT

Through creating a careful balance of sweet and heat, Jason Leagle’s hot sauce company, Florida Man’s Lunacy, became a success. Now Leagle’s hot sauce is found in kitchens and restaurants nationwide.

3783

UF THRIFT CLUB SWAPS

A community for people to come together, exchange clothes, books, shoes and accessories, and enjoy each others’ passions for fashion and sustainability.

ON THE COVER

>> CELEBRATE YOUR FAVORITES! ENJOY FRESH STORIES THAT HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR MOST FAVORITE TOPICS SUCH AS LOCAL HISTORY, TASTY TREATS, SUSTAINABLE FASHION, MUSIC AND MORE! BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE WINNERS AND FINALISTS OF OUR 2023 FAVES CONTEST — A TRUE COMMUNITY CHOICE AWARD VOTED ON BY YOU!

FAVES!

Check out the Winners and Finalists of the 2023 Our Town Favorites—a true community choice award!

COVER DESIGN BY KALONI DUNLAP

23 // GERMAIN’S CHICKEN SANDWICHES

Serving up deliciousness with that authentic southern soul food taste, Germain’s is fast becoming a go-to spot for fried chicken fanatics.

28 // RECIPE WONDERS

Celebrate the season with this Patriotic Poke Cake. It’s not only perfect for the 4th of July, but all summer long!

41 // FORT CLARKE AT FIFTY

One of Gainesville’s oldest middle schools celebrates a major milestone. Learn about the school’s growth throughout the last five decades and its plans for the future.

51 // RED, WHITE, AND BLUE

Understand the history of America’s birthday, and how fireworks were first included in the annual celebration.

61 // THE HOCKING FAMILY ADVENTURE BUS

The Hocking family decided to live a life on the road and take their home with them in a renovated school bus. Learn all about their journey across the Continental United States.

71 // HOW BAZAR

A worker-owned and operated shop used as a hub for local artists and creatives to build community.

77 // TAYLOR SWIFT ERAS TOUR

The concert that brought in over 200,000 Swifties to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa over three nights for an extravagant celebration of the last 17 years of Taylor Swift’s music career. This is the Florida Eras Tour recap!

80 // A PLACE TO CALL HOME

A Snapshot of Alachua County’s Immigrant History is shown in The Matheson History Museum’s exhibit: “We Are Here: Stories from Multilingual Speakers in North Central Florida.” This exhibit shines a light on some of the many immigrants and their families who once lived in our town.

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

PUBLISHER

Charlie Delatorre

PRODUCTION DIRECTORS

Kaloni Dunlap, Brian Knepp

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Ericka Winter Pauley

editor@towerpublications.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Debra Garcia, Summer Jarro, Peggy Macdonald, Lindsay Schindler, Joanna Grey Talbot, Victoria Vargas, Cynthia Wonders Winterrowd, Hayli Zuccola

INTERNS

Debra Garcia, Lindsay Schindler

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Jenni Bennett jenni@towerpublications.com

DIRECTOR OF SALES

Nancy Short nancy@towerpublications.com

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

If you would like us to publicize an event in the greater Gainesville area, send information by the 1st day of the month prior to the next issue. For example, submissions for the March/April issue are due by February 1. All submissions will be reviewed and every effort will be made to run qualified submissions if page space is available.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We want to hear from you. Send your letters to the attention of the editor at 4400 NW 36th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32606 or editor@ towerpublications.com. Letters must be signed and include a phone number in the event we need to contact you. (Your phone number will not be published.)

OUR TOWN MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY BY TOWER PUBLICATIONS, INC. REPRODUCTION BY ANY MEANS OF THE WHOLE OR PART OF OUR TOWN WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER IS PROHIBITED. VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE EDITORIAL PAGES DO NOT IMPLY OUR ENDORSEMENT. WE WELCOME YOUR PRODUCT NEWS. INCLUDE PRICES, PHOTOS AND DIGITAL FILES WITH YOUR PRESS RELEASE. PLEASE FORWARD PRODUCT SAMPLES AND MEDIA KITS TO REVIEWS EDITOR, OUR TOWN MAGAZINE, 4400 NW 36TH AVENUE, GAINESVILLE, FL 32606. WE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSOLICITED PRODUCT SAMPLES.

A Publication of Tower Publications, Inc. 4400 NW 36th Ave., Gainesville, Florida 32606 phone: 352-372-5468 fax: 352-373-9178

Favorites

When you find something that brings you joy and makes life a li ttle brig hter, i t deser ves to be celebrated! That is what a favorite is all about—acknowledging the people, places, and things we have come to love. From favorite restaurants to favorite books, favorite ar tists, and others, a favorite allows us to share our enthusiasm and recognize excellence. A favorite stands out for its ability to ignite and stir emotion, often bringing people together and creating memorable experiences.

This is why i t is so important to recognize and celebrate these special people and places in our communities. It’s an essential part of who we are and how we live. In this issue, we invite you to celebrate your favorites! Enjoy fresh stories highlighting some of our favorite topics, such as local histor y, tasty treats, sustainable fashion, music, and more. We also recognize the winners and finalists of our annual Faves Awards—a true community choice award voted on by you!

I always look forward to this time of year because this issue is an exciting chance to acknowledge community members’ favorites in our town. From exceptional small businesses to incredible individuals, everything we create as a community plays an integral role in our culture and lives. The categories in this contest hig hlight individuals, businesses, events, and places that exemplify excellence in their field. From the business owners doing the hard work of providing goods and services to those behind the scenes providing invaluable insight, support, and customer service.

We’ve got chefs, teachers, physicians, hair stylists, and more being honored in our awards, and we couldn’t recognize this year’s winners and finalists wi thout your votes. Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate and vote for their faves! We hope you’ll join us in celebrating those who continue to make our community a more vi brant and inspiring place to live and work. It really is “Great To Be A Florida Gator!”

As always,

Ericka Winter Pauley, Editor-In-Chief

DONNA BONNELL

became the author of her column, Embracing Life, more than a decade ago. She shares her personal challenges and victories with the goal of inspiring her readers to analyze why things happen in their own lives.

bonneldj@gmail.com

CRYSTAL SMITH

is a freelance writer and columnist born and raised in West Texas. She received her B.S. in Journalism in 2006 from the University of Florida. She is in love with the Florida landscape. ces03k@gmail.com

PEGGY MACDONALD

is a Gainesville native and an alumna of the University of Florida, where she received a PhD in history. She teaches reading and REACH language arts at Fort Clarke Middle School.

peggymacdemos@gmail.com

JOANNA GREY TALBOT

is the marketing director for the Matheson History Museum and the author of the blog “Florida Revealed: Dispatches from the Land of Publix, Citrus, and Alligators.”

joannagtalbot@gmail.com

CYNTHIA WONDERS WINTERROWD

is an award-winning writer who was raised in Illinois and lives in Gainesville. She is proud to be a “Gator Mom” of three daughters, all UF graduates. Cynthia loves sharing family recipes that have been passed down in her mother’s handwritten cookbooks. recipewonders@gmail.com.

DEBRA GARCIA

is a senior journalism major at the University of Florida and freelance writer. In her spare time, she enjoys thrifting, listening to Taylor Swift, and playing softball.

2004debbygarcia@gmail.com

SUMMER JARRO

is a University of Florida graduate. Along with writing, she loves Disney, watching old films, going to the beach and traveling to new places.

summerjarro@gmail.com

LINDSAY SCHINDLER

is a senior journalism major with a minor in health promotion at the University of Florida. She has played soccer for 19 years and when she’s not writing, she spends her free time at the gym and going on walks.

lindsayschindler@ufl.edu

VICTORIA VARGAS

is a journalism graduate from the University of Florida. She is constantly looking for the perfect pasta dish and loves conspiracy theories. victoriao.vargas@gmail.com

HAYLI ZUCCOLA

is a New England native who enjoys listening to music and traveling. After graduating high school with her AA degree, she received her Bachelor’s in Journalism from the University of Florida. hayzdesigns@yahoo.com

SOME LIKE IT HOT

Florida Man’s Lunacy

Jason Leagle only wanted to try one of the infamous Carolina Reaper peppers, which had been declared by Guinness World Records in 2017 as the hottest pepper in the world; little did he know the aftermath would inspire the foundation of a hot sauce company that’s taken the state of Florida and the spice-loving community by storm.

WRITTEN BY HAYLI ZUCCOLA

Practically edible fire, the carolina reaper, which by all appearances looks like a meager cherry-sized pepper, is a cultivar of the chili pepper and ranks an average of 1.6 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). By comparison, a poblano pepper is just 2,000 SHU, and a jalapeño sits at 10,000 SHU. Because the Carolina Reaper was a new variety in 2017 and the eagerness to torture oneself with culinary lava was slim, the peppers weren’t readily available in stores. So if someone like Leagle wanted to try one, they had to start with a packet of seeds from the original grower.

As it turned out, Leagle had a bit of a green thumb and quickly had an abundance of Carolina Reapers he needed to find a use for. He began experimenting with infused sea salts and honey and listed them on Etsy as a side hus tle when he wasn’t working as a caretaker for his mom. His sales were minimal until Leagle, an Air Force veteran, consulted his friends in a veteran Facebook group who suggested he try making a hot sauce.

I n 2020, Leagle began testing hot sauce recipes incorporating south ern-grown fruit like fresh peaches, oranges, pineapples, and blueberries. When a friend mentioned doing a garlic flavor, Leagle was hesitant because he wanted to stick with crops that grew in Florida. Nevertheless, he decided to try it anyway. After what seemed like 60 failed test batches, his sister advised him to roast the garlic beforehand, which released hidden notes and a subtle sweetness that his other attempts were missing. With a recipe down pat, he released the flavor to his Facebook group and sold 100 bottles in 45 minutes.

“My first hot sauce was actually orange and then pineapple. Those [were] my two original flavors, but once I made the roasted garlic, it was the number one seller. Everyone loved the garlic, and it was legit a sauce designed to go with everything you could think of, from fried rice to steak, and shrimp tacos. It goes on everything because of the garlic enhancement,” he said.

Knowing he had a great product on his hands, Leagle launched a Kickstarter to fund his first run with a co-packer and officially launched Florida Man’s Lunacy on May 24, 2021. His sales were steady but modest until influencer Greg Clark, better known by his TikTok handle @Gdouble-o-sE, made a video commending Leagle on his hot sauce.

“He had one million followers then, and he has 2.6 million followers now, and when he did the video of my sauce on January 1st of 2022, he messaged me. He said, ‘Good luck, have fun, and let me know how everything goes.’ And I was a little confused about what’s going on,” Leagle recalled. “I went to my website and saw all the orders come flying in, and it took me about three months to get unburied.”

hat video launched Leagle to a new level and increased his sales from $10,000 in all of 2020 to over $82,000 in the first two months of 2021. Today, his hot sauce appears in home kitchens across the country and two Universal Studios hotels, with the Ventura Hotel’s restaurant serving FML garlic parmesan wings and Cabana Bay Beach Resort using his sauce in their Vampire Repellent drink available during Halloween Horror Nights.

what makes Leagle’s hot sauce – his original roasted garlic flavor and his new and improved pineapple blend – so addictive? It’s the careful balance of sweetness and heat.

When I started using the Carolina Reaper in hot sauces, I had to learn how to hide the high heat level because it’s super hot,” he said. “The pineapple hot sauce that I have now, it’s a very, very sweet hot sauce. It’s like biting into a fresh pineapple. It’s gold because it looks like a pineapple. My labels are clear, so you see what I have in my sauce; there’s nothing hidden. I don’t use any carrots. I don’t use any tomatoes in my sauce at all, period, because I consider those cheap fillers.”

Le tting the pepper, garlic, or pineapple shine without being masked by other ingredients creates a straightforward yet flavorful profile that enhances any dish it’s paired with.

“Roasted garlic is designed to go with literally everything

FLORIDA MAN’S LUNACY >> HOT SAUCE

you could think of except for dessert,” he said. “It’s because of the subtle nuances and then the notes in the flavor of the hot sauce throughout; it’s an exciting ride when you taste the hot sauce – the roasted garlic – it takes you on a journey from a whole bunch of different flavors and enhances everything. It’s quite remarkable.”

Of course, anything garlic can do, pineapple can do better – including accompanying dishes both sweet and savory.

“ The pineapple itself, I market it right now –especially because it’s hot outside – to put on ice cream. When I was making the new style of my pineapple hot sauce, I was trying to go with the sweetness because back in 2017 when I was making the infused sea salts and honey, I also made an orange marmalade,” he said. “It was amazing on ice cream because it was spicy, and the ice cream would cool down the heat level so you get hot, and then it comes back down because of the creaminess of the ice cream. The ice cream absorbs the capsaicin in the pepper, so you get heat, and then it starts dulling it down.”

Leagle, whose Florida Man’s

Lunacy Roasted Garlic Hot Sauce took home 3rd place in the “Unique Hot” category at the 2022 Scovie Awards, began this endeavor all in an attempt to try a Carolina Reaper. Still, his initial interest turned into a full-fledged entrepreneurship that’s grown more than he could have ever anticipated.

“I would love to honestly see it continue to grow,” he said, “especially at the pace it’s grown now.”

In 2020, Leagle began testing hot sauce recipes incorporating southern-grown fruit like fresh peaches, oranges, pineapples, and blueberries. Next up was the roasted garlic, which became the number one seller.

SERVING DELICIOUS CHICKEN AND CELEBRATING COMMUNITY

Germain’s Chicken Sandwiches

BY VICTORIA VARGAS

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A DELICIOUS CHICKEN SANDWICH.

The Germain’s Chicken Sandwiches team understands the importance of perfecting something so simple yet delectable. Fast food options for a chicken sandwich are abundant in Gainesville, with one on almost every corner of the city. If you want to take a chance on a local business to replace your standard sandwich selections, many have turned to Germain’s Chicken Sandwiches as a favorite.

We give you a simple product of a chicken sandwich, but we try to make it the best chicken sandwich ever,” said co-owner Shelton Seraphin. Even better, the restaurant is now expanding its offerings to bring you a meal for every

Chicken For Every Part Of Your Day

Start or end your week with a Sunday brunch at the

chicken shop for a celebration featuring a special menu, local coffee, and a DJ to keep the vibes elevated. Seraphin said the goal is to host a brunch event at the end of every month. “Just being able to do that for our community, once a month, and saying ‘Hey, let’s come together. Let’s finish this month off very strong, and look for positive vibes into the next month, is something we always try to do,” he said.

The brunch menu includes standard options like their Rooster Deluxe sandwich and their take on classic Southern breakfast items, like the “Egg Sammie,” served with candied bacon, and a chicken and mochi waffle plate. Looking for something other than chicken? Germain’s also cooks up shareable dishes like a creamy polenta served with slow braised pork belly and a mushroom ragu, as well as a mussel toast paired with pancetta.

Not only are they doing brunch, Germain’s now offers a dinner menu, served on the weekends from 5-9 p.m.,

taking their penchant for food pairings and elevating it for a meal that’s perfect for a date night or a personal treat after a long week.

“ We just wanted to show our community and the people around us that we could do more, and we had more to offer,” said co-owner Shelton Seraphin. “That was our chance to put it out there into the world and see what our community thought about it.”

Which Came First: The Chicken Shop Or The Pop-Up?

Bef ore they opened the restaurant at 220 NW 8th Avenue, the family business operated out of a truck and trailer, popping up at different locations around the greater Gainesville area beginning in 2021. You might recognize the iconic red trailer set up at the Haile Farmers Market or First Magnitude Brewing Company, where they would consistently sell out, or inside Wyatt’s Coffee, a long-time supporter of the family.

Each week, sharing on Facebook where they’d be selling food, Germain’s provided a direct way to connect with their customers and build excitement around their food, building a following before opening their restaurant. Settled in the same few blocks as Mac’s Drive Thru and Cypress & Grove Brewery, Germain’s only opened its official restaurant location just this past year, hosting its grand opening on Dec. 1.

“It was a dream come true. It was something we never thought of,” Seraphin said. “People wanted it and asked more and more about it.”

L ast June, the community raised just over $5,000 to cover building and resource costs for opening the brickand-mortar location, according to the Go Fund Me page created by Seraphin.

The Go Fund Me page read: “Our mission is to build a community through the love of food. Our local events include those hosted by churches, hospitals, farmers’ markets, and partnered local businesses. Community is the guiding principle of Germain’s team. We are more than just a fried chicken sandwich company; we are about harvesting relationships that build a better community. Our goal here is to enable people to come together and do life together regardless of their differences or similarities.”

Food brings people together. This idea drives the heart of Germain’s, exemplifying a genuine connection to your food: where it comes from, who makes it, and where it goes. The community has supported the family their entire journey.

“ We didn’t get where we’re at because of ourselves,” said Seraphin, who cited other local businesses like Wyatt’s Coffee, Afternoon Restaurant, First Magnitude Brewing Company, and the How Bazar, as helping the chicken shop

get to where it is today. “A lot of the things that we did here or got to where we’re at is because of our community. They gave us a lot of insight into where to go, how to move, and just how to love our community.”

Declaration of the Forum for Food Sovereignty, Nyéléni 2007. What speaks to food sovereignty other than a local restaurant partnering with local farms to source their ingredients?

They don’t just do chicken sandwiches well. Everything you can order at Germain’s complements one another, making for a menu that is exciting and reliable. Patrons can also order ice cream there, serving local Off 8th Ice Cream. Many recommend trying the guava and cream cheese flavor.

Germain’s, along with the other community members it partners with, is creating a circular food economy that pours abundance into Alachua County. Sourcing their produce from a local farm, Two Farms One Dream, Germain’s also partners with the family farm to compost their food that would otherwise get thrown away. This is a form of food sovereignty, or peoples’ right to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems, as defined in the

Seraphin said one of his favorite items on the lunch menu is the chicken katsu salad. “I think you get a little bit of everything of what Germain’s is from one bite,” he said.

Make Germain’s your go-to spot when you’re craving connection to your community. You can’t go wrong with their chicken, either. Get your Germain’s goodies Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., and Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Stay up-to-date with their latest happenings on Instagram and Facebook @germains_gnv, where brunch and dinner offerings are shared.

“It was a dream come true. It was something we never thought of,” Seraphin said. “People wanted it and asked more and more about it.”

Looking for something other than chicken? Germain’s also cooks up shareable dishes like a creamy polenta served with slow braised pork belly and a mushroom ragu, as well as a mussel toast paired with pancetta.

Lauren Womack, ARNP

Ronald Emerick, D.O.

Sarah Garrett, ARNP

Cynthia Wonders Winterrowd’s

RECIPE WONDERS

PATRIOTIC POKE CAKE

“In the Good Old Summertime” – some of the first things that come to mind are picnics and 4th of July fireworks! I’m sure most of us Americans will find ourselves at a park with family and friends in July, and this recipe for Poke Cake will be a colorful and patriotic dessert to put on the picnic table. You may already have tried Poke Cake, but did you know you can adjust the flavoring and colors to accommodate any holiday or event?

FOOD STYLING & PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERICKA WINTER PAULEY

For the 4th of July, we always prepare it with strawberry or raspberry Jell-o and top it off with whipped topping, blueberries, and cut-up strawberries. This gives it the “Red, White, and Blue” Americana theme we always look for on summer picnics. Other options include using orange-flavored Jell-O with orange soda, cherry Jell-O with cherry soda, or use your imagination! 7-up can be used with flavors of Jell-O that do not have a corresponding flavored soda. The possibilities are endless! You will find nothing beats this cake, so cool and delicious, on a warm summer day. It seems to melt in your mouth!

POKE CAKE

1 boxed white cake mix

2 (3 oz.) boxes of strawberry or raspberry Jell-O

2 cups strawberry soda

1 (12 oz.) container of Cool Whip

*Fresh strawberries, cut-up

*Fresh blueberries

METHOD: Select a boxed cake mix; white cake is preferred. Prepare according to the directions on the box. Meanwhile, place two boxes of Jell-O in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add two cups of boiling water, stirring until dissolved. Then add two cups of chilled soda in place of the water indicated on the box. Set aside without refrigerating. When the cake is done baking, remove it from the oven and immediately use a large fork to “poke” holes all throughout the cake.

Carefully ladle the warm Jell-O mixture over the top of the cake allowing the Jell-O to drizzle down through the holes that were poked through the cake. This will make a pretty pattern of color inside the white cake.

Cover the cake with foil or plastic wrap and immediately place in the refrigerator. Chill at least overnight. Keep refrigerated or in a cooler until ready to serve for the best flavor.

Your guests will surely say “Ooh, Ahh” even before the fireworks start!

*This cake is even better when made ahead of time and kept for up to a week in the refrigerator. On your picnic day, top with Cool Whip and decorate with strawberries and blueberries.

RECIPE WONDERS >> PATRIOTIC POKE CAKE

Embracing Life

BY DONNA BONNELL

AFFIRM, DREAM, ENVISION, IMAGINE, VISUALIZE

Pastor Andy Stanley said, “Dreamers dream about things being different. Visionaries envision themselves making a difference.”

Are you a dreamer or a visionary? Via an unusual set of circumstances, I found myself pondering that very question. Regular readers know I cannot rest until I resolve the issue.

This conundrum began when it was time to purchase a vehicle, a task I utterly despise. My ride has never defined my personality. Its only purpose was a means to reach my destination. In fact, if convenient, my preference was (and still is) public transportation.

Since I keep my cars for about a decade (and given my age), this could be my final automotive purchase. Even so, there were only two essential elements in my search. First, the vehicle could not be any larger than a subcompact. Since I lack depth perception, parking and changing lanes in a larger vehicle are way too difficult. Second, any tool available to help compensate for my vision challenges (no pun intended) would be a perk. My old car had hazardous blind spots and lacked safety features. It was time to decide.

Alas, I located the ideal car. Or so I thought. I was wrong. When it did not work out, I was disappointed. That feeling passed quickly, as I knew it was simply not meant to be. One benefit of being a senior is recognizing that roadblocks are usually there for a reason.

Another life lesson is having the patience to visualize what I need. Imagining a specific vehicle was not the solution. The physical make and model were unimportant. So, I began affirming that a perfect automobile would manifest, providing tools to aid my vision deficits.

oilà! It worked. I discovered a vehicle whose name, Envision, captured my full attention.

xford Languages defines envision as a verb meaning to imagine as a future possibility; visualize. Then I googled how this car’s name originated. The News Wheel researched each Buick’s namesake. They

reported, “…the Buick Envision is designed to represent Buick’s vision of the future for its vehicles.”

Yes, I know, it is a marketing tool for Buick. Nonetheless, it was a sign for me. In addition, the size and safety features met my needs. Halleluiah! My mind was made up on what car to buy.

But I still had not resolved the dreamer versus visionary quandary. Okay, maybe I visualized and manifested my Envision (whew…that is a mouthful). But does that make me a visionary? My next step was to identify a modern-day dreamer and visionary.

Michelin chef and founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK), Jose Andres, emerged. Andres said, “WCK started with a simple idea at home with my wife, Patricia. When people are hungry, send in cooks. Not tomorrow, today.”

In 2010 a catastrophic earthquake devasted Haiti. Andres knew he had to help feed the survivors. Envisioning his goal, he traveled to Haiti with little cash and no plan. He learned to prepare local recipes rather than his famous fancier fare. That first experience cemented his call to serve. Andres critiqued his mistakes, modified his methods, and established worldwide networks. Andres (and team) continues to serve hot meals to victims worldwide. Andres is my visionary hero.

Acknowledging my dreamer hero was easy. In 1971 John Lennon’s song, Imagine, grabbed my soul. It remains my favorite tune today. His lyrics always spur deep emotions, “Imagine all the people; Sharing all the world; You may say I’m a dreamer; But I’m not the only one; I hope someday you’ll join us; And the world will live as one.”

Andr es and Lennon are certainly exceptional. Fortunately, we all have gifts to share. Perhaps there is a spectrum – somewhere between dreamer and visionary. Affirm, dream, envision, imagine, and visualize are all important techniques we can utilize to strengthen our divine purpose.

Finally, I reached a conclusion. My passion and skills guide me to support visionaries who share my dream(s). I embrace the clarity of my life’s mission and role.

DONNA BONNELL BECAME THE AUTHOR OF HER COLUMN, EMBRACING LIFE, NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO. SHE SHARES HER PERSONAL CHALLENGES AND VICTORIES WITH THE GOAL OF INSPIRING HER READERS TO ANALYZE WHY THINGS HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. bonneldj@gmail.com

Are you a dreamer or a visionary?

Via an unusual set of circumstances, I found myself pondering that very question. Regular readers know I cannot rest until I resolve the issue.

UF Thrift Club Swaps

WRITTEN BY DEBRA GARCIA

SINCE 2021, THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA THRIFT CLUB HAS CREATED A COMMUNITY THAT PROMOTES SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN FASHION.

They do this by hosting many events throughout the school year, with their most consistently attended events being the monthly thrift swaps. These swaps, held once or twice a month during the fall and spring semesters, bring UF students together and the rest of the Gainesville community too. While these events are typically held on Thursday evenings at the Opus Coffee at Innovation Square, they can also be held on Sunday afternoons at 4th Ave Food Park or on Thursday mid-evenings at the Plaza of the Americas.

These swaps unite people to exchange clothing, books, shoes, and accessories. It’s also a great way to make friends who are interested in fashion.

Megan Bosshart, Former President of the UF Thrift Club, joined this club because of her love of thrifting and passion for fashion. “I never know what I’m going to find. I also find the clothing to be very high quality most of the time. It’s also nice to know that my shopping decisions can give new life to an item that was once loved,” Bosshart said.

Jessica Nolte, now Treasurer of the UF Thrift Club, always went to the swaps by herself. But as time passed, she made many friends and joined the club’s executive board. “At first, I went alone, but as I found friends through the club, I went with them. Now I work them, so technically, I go with peers,” Nolte said.

Those who attend the swaps make sure to follow the thrift swap rules, which are not to donate underwear or anything ripped, torn, or stained. All clothes must be washed before donating, and everyone must bring at least one item. There is no limit on how much clothing/books

THE COMMUNITY WITH A PASSION FOR FASHION

attendees can bring, and attendees may bring items other than clothing too, like shoes, books, and accessories.

Many different non-clothing items can be found at swaps—stickers, suitcases, toys, knickknacks, decor, mugs, and even photography equipment like tripods. There is no limit to what someone might find at these swaps.

W hen attendees come to the swaps, especially the ones at Opus Coffee, they are met at a tent with thrift club executive members. Once they scan and fill out the sign-in Google form, they hand the items they wish to donate to a member. These members then place the items into big boxes, organized by type of clothing. Before the visitor leaves the sign-in table, they usually can take either thrift club buttons, opus coffee stickers, or an opus coffee bag. Participants then head into the venue, where there are items organized by types of clothing, with one table dedicated to miscellaneous items.

Attendees visit each table, picking out items they love, while thrift club members take clothes from the sign-in tent to organize and place at the corresponding station. Each table is swarmed with people going through all the clothes, so attendees need to be quick at each station if they want to get the best clothes. It’s almost like a hunger games fight, so be warned. “May the odds be ever in your favor!”

Once visitors grab all the items they want, many head to the restroom to sort and try on clothes before leaving and returning the things they no longer desire to keep. Repeat this cycle until the “thrifter” wishes to leave with all the items they found. Some skip the trying-on part and do this when they go home. This way, when some clothes eventually do not fit, they have items to bring to the next swap.

favorite find is a pair of brown platform slip-on shoes that fit me perfectly,” Nolte said.

Raul Rojas, the Outreach Chair of the UF Thrift Club, loves attending the swaps and being a part of the UF Thrift Club community. “The community can come together to exchange goods in a unique way that I hadn’t experienced before coming into contact with the Thrift Club. One person’s trash literally becomes another’s treasure at the swaps,” Rojas said.

“My

These swaps unite people to exchange clothing, books, shoes, and accessories. It’s also a great way to make friends who are interested in fashion.

A s the Outreach chair, Rojas facilitates events with local Gainesville businesses and organizes and brainstorms Thrift Club social events. “I love how excited I am to work alongside some awesome people to help connect so many facets of the Gainesville community & student body through fashion and sustainable reuse,” Rojas said.

Besides the swaps, the UF Thrift Club has many other events open to the Gainesville community. These include the annual semester Thrift Gala and other social events. These other events can range from book swaps, tarot card readings, crochet tutorials, community clean-ups, and movie nights. All these events are brought together to promote sustainability and fashion friendship within the Gainesville community.

The annual semester Thrif t Gala is a big deal to the UF Thrift Club. They hire stylists, models, performers, book venues, vendors, and food trucks, and even present a fashion show. This event, open to the public, is when everyone in the thrift club or

those interested in fashion gather at one massive event.

As Treasurer of The UF Thrift Club, it is Nolte’s job to deal with the finances of being student government funded and also trying to raise money for the annual thrift gala. “I’ve been to most of the socials/events, and the thrift gala has definitely been my favorite because it’s a chance to dress up and attend an event to support sustainability,” Nolte said. “There were also super fun things to do there.”

Isabella Marti loved her job as a stylist for April’s thrift gala. She especially loved collaborating with the models and other stylists to create looks that made each model feel as confident and beautiful as possible. “Fashion to me, is an expression of self,” Marti said. “It was amazing to watch everyone step out of their comfort zones and express themselves.”

The Swaps, Socials, and Galas organized by the UF Thrift Club can be an excellent way to join a community, make friends and pursue a love of fashion in Gainesville. Everyone is welcome, no matter if attendees are college students or Gainesville residents.

Many different non-clothing items can be found at swaps—stickers, suitcases, toys, knickknacks, decor, mugs, and even photography equipment like tripods.

Help maximize your Social Security benefits

Navigating your decisions about Social Security can be tough. But when you understand your options, you can feel confident about your path forward.

We’re here to help you explore the best time to start your Social Security based on a variety of factors that can influence the benefits you receive. Let’s connect.

North Central Florida Group

6216 NW 43rd St Ste 3C

Gainesville, FL 32653 352-226-8000

northcentralfloridagroup@thrivent.com

connect.thrivent.com/north-central-florida-group

Thrivent financial professionals have general knowledge of the Social Security tenets. For complete details on your situation, contact the Social Security Administration.

Thrivent is the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance products issued by Thrivent. Not available in all states. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., a registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC, and a subsidiary of Thrivent. Licensed agent/producer of Thrivent. Registered representative of Thrivent Investment Management Inc. Advisory services available through investment adviser representatives only. Thrivent.com/disclosures.

27790 R12-22

Fort Clarke at Fifty

WRITTEN BY PEGGY MACDONALD

IN 1973, WHEN FORT CLARKE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS CONSTRUCTED, IT WAS THE FIRST MIDDLE SCHOOL TO BE BUILT IN GAINESVILLE AFTER ALACHUA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAD BEEN DESEGREGATED.

A plaque located at the school’s front entrance includes the names of Alachua County School Board members who were instrumental to school desegregation. The plaque also lists Bill Hunter as one of the architects who designed Fort Clarke. According to the Modern Gainesville website, some of Hunter’s other projects include the Paynes Prairie Visitor Center and the original bat house at the University of Florida. Fort Clarke’s original library featured a sunken pit with midcentury modern accents.

Fort Clarke’s design was in keeping with the experimental spirit of the 1970s. The school had no interior walls,

except for one that separated the school’s front and back halves. When classes began on Sept. 4, 1973, the school followed an open education model intended to promote collaboration and creativity. Moreover, schools without walled classrooms and hallways typically cost less to build compared to traditional schools.

William Cake, Fort Clarke’s first principal, reported in an Oct. 1973 Gainesville Sun article that students had a positive reaction to the school’s “open concept” policy, which he said applied to the cafeteria as well as classrooms. “The atmosphere is one these kids can really feel comfortable in,” he said. “This was the whole idea behind designing the building. No walls confine the children into individual b locked-off classrooms, and no teacher monitors the lunchroom.”

I n theory, this innovative school design promotes

ONE OF GAINESVILLE’S OLDEST MIDDLE SCHOOLS CELEBRATES A MAJOR MILESTONE

student agency, giving children more intellectual freedom. However, in practice, “open classrooms” foster noise and organization problems. At Fort Clarke, students sat at shared tables instead of individual desks. The lack of well-defined halls and doors made it challenging to navigate the different classes. Teachers used bookcases and partitions to transform open spaces into separate classrooms.

Sally Rist, who worked as both a teacher and a guidance counselor starting the year Fort Clarke opened, said she loved having no walls. However, paper airplanes would occasionally come flying over the bookcases that served as substitute walls and makeshift partitions blocked the view of nearby classes only when students were seated.

“Classes had to be conducted quietly,” Rist recalled. Teachers seldom raised their voices because hundreds of people could hear them if they did. Teachers who were accustomed to having their own classrooms frequently complained.

A t the end of the 1992-1993 school year, an extensive construction project began at Fort Clarke. After two decades, the “school without walls” philosophy was no more. The academic areas were renovated in two stages, and 25 portable classrooms were added. The cafeteria and library were renovated in the final phase of construction. Today, the school has separate hallways for each grade

and hallways extending from the administrative offices to the media center and cafeteria. Each grade-level hallway has individual classrooms and computer labs. Portable classrooms, a gymnasium, and a separate band and art building surround the main building.

Fort Clarke’s hallways are themed according to the color and character of each grade level. The sixth-grade hallway, “Frogtown,” is green and painted with frog murals; the seventh-grade is orange; the hall is decorated with tiger paintings; and the eighth-grade, otherwise known as “Fat City,” is pink and has flying pigs. The grade-level mascots coexist with the official school mascot, the Falcon. According to veteran Fort Clarke reading and language arts

While the buildings at Fort Clarke changed, the sense of community remained. “There was a family feeling at Fort Clarke,” Rist explained. She stayed at the Fort for 34 years.

When Fort Clarke opened in 1973, its “wall-less” design reflected an experimental “open education” philosophy. By the 1980s (top left), makeshift partitions separated classroom spaces. The school’s mid-century modern library (bottom left) featured a sunken pit. The school was later remodeled to resemble a more traditional school (bottom right, 1994).

teacher Sara Wellman, the Falcon replaced the original school mascot, the Patriot, because parents thought the musket-toting Patriot was too violent. The school was named after nearby Fort Clarke, a nineteenth-century military fort located approximately 10 miles south of Newnansville, the former county seat of Alachua County.

While the buildings at Fort Clarke changed, the sense of community remained. “There was a family feeling at Fort Clarke,” Rist explained. She stayed at the Fort for 34 years. Gainesville native Patricia Parker attended Fort Clarke in the early 1980s and has taught at the school since 2003.

“It was an honor to return to the Fort,” Parker said. “The students always find a way to teach me something new about life, myself, or the new generation.” Parker perfected the art of teaching under the tutelage of some of her former teachers, including Sally Rist.

Kijofa Ellis attended Fort Clarke in the 1990s and has worked there since 2008 when he subbed in the cafeteria. He received a permanent position in the cafeteria in 2009 and has received the Employee of the Year award multiple times, including the 2022-2023 school year. In February, Ellis left the cafeteria to become the in-school suspension teacher. “One thing I want from this position is for students to learn self-awareness and accountability,” Ellis said.

Ellis enjoys having time to sit one-on-one with students. “I want to help them,” he said. “We all do.” When Ellis was a student at Fort Clarke, teachers made a big difference in his life. “One of the most influential teachers was Mr. Young, and he wasn’t even my teacher,” Ellis recalled. “I feel more at ease with him still being here.”

Another familiar face at the Fort is Debbie Rodenbaugh, who started teaching with Alachua County Public Schools in 1976. Since 1994, Rodenbaugh has taught math at Fort Clarke. She taught all three of her children algebra when they attended the school. “It was wonderful to teach my children and their friends,” Rodenbaugh reflected. She said the experience made her a more compassionate teacher and strengthened her understanding of adolescents.

Rodenbaugh said the most challenging part of her teaching career was adapting to teaching online during the pandemic. However, she has enjoyed teaching students from all over the world and working with colleagues she refers to as the Fort Clarke family. “The most rewarding part of my job is the ‘Aha’ moment when my students understand a difficult concept, as well as the ‘Aha’ moment when my students teach me something.”

Everett McConn retired in June after teaching band at Fort Clarke for 25 years. McConn taught not only music but also life lessons. “I see my role as one of teaching students about life and life choices,” he explained. “We talk about a lot of difficult subjects in my classroom.” The Fort Clarke band room still has what McConn said are likely the original chairs.

John Young’s classroom is also filled with furniture

(Top) Fort Clarke staff member and alumnus Kijofa Ellis with his 1990s yearbook photo (inset).

from the school’s early years. Like Rodenbaugh, Young is entering his 30th year as a teacher at the Fort. Although he worked for four years at Camp Crystal before starting at Fort Clarke, this was his first classroom teaching job. In 1994, Young taught in a portable while the school was undergoing construction. He has taught in his current

High School before taking the reins at the Fort—his first major challenge as principal was navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. “One of the most frustrating things for me was when we couldn’t work together face to face,” Taber said. “Teachers have to work together. It’s not a job you can do in a silo.”

classroom for 21 years. As a first-year teacher at the Fort, Young was conscripted to dress up as the Patriot mascot for a special celebration with the school’s original principal, William Cake. The school had a wide range of spirit days and other fun events for the students in Frogtown, Tiger Turf (formerly known as Seventh Heaven and the Rainbow Connection), and Fat City. “We had team activities all the time,” Young remembered.

Today, it is Principal Jared Taber’s turn to dress up as the school mascot. The Fort Clarke PTA raised money to purchase a new Falcon costume in 2023, and on the last day of school, Taber was the first to wear it. A former Westwood Middle School Whirlwind, Taber served as a social studies teacher and assistant principal of Buchholz

Moving forward, Taber looks forward to students being able to have fun again at school. Student clubs, sports, and spirit days made a triumphant comeback in the 2022 – 2023 school year. “The PTA took the lead this year with activities,” Taber said. The PTA had a strong year, from a Halloween costume contest, school dances, and kickball tournaments for students to holiday decorations and teacher appreciation events.

The 1982 yearbook changed the Fort Clarke Middle School acronym into a reflection upon the middle school experience: “Middle school is a journey filled with Friends, Classes, Memories and Students.” These snapshots of the Fort Clarke experience from the past 50 years are sure to take you down memory lane.

The 1982 yearbook changed the Fort Clarke Middle School acronym into a reflection upon the middle school experience: “Middle school is a journey filled with Friends, Classes, Memories and Students.”

Scenes from Fort Clarke’s first 50 years, including the Patriot mascot, which was replaced by the Falcon.

FARM TALES From Mother Hen

MY FAVORITE DAY

Twelve and a half years ago I made a decision that changed my life in the best way possible. I adopted a puppy. It was quite unexpected and shocking for my family. I didn’t plan it—in fact I had told those who suggested I get a dog to keep me company that it was totally out of the question. But then I met Daisy.

She was just over eight weeks old and probably weighed less than a pound. Something about her felt inexplicably right as we locked eyes. She was a shy little thing, an “only child” like me which was unusual in the canine world. She understood me, and I understood her. Most puppies have littermates to help them learn how to be dogs, but Daisy just had me. When I took her home with me that special day, I realized that she looked to me to teach her about life and how we would spend our days together ... and so our journey began.

She al ways wanted to please me, so she took to potty training readily. I took her outside every 20 minutes at first so that she learned the feeling of grass on her paws sig naled this was where she should do her business. She loved the praise I gave her for a job well done, and hardly ever had an accident in the house.

My husband’s work in another city hours away from our home meant he was only back on occasional weekends, and our grown children were off pursuing their educations. My house was an empty nest until Daisy came into it. How a little one-pound ball of fur could fill those rooms was miraculous. as very active and on the go back then.

I had a part-time job, and took off summers to spend in the Midwest at the home my parents built along the Vermilion River. Daisy quickly learned that was her new routine as well. While I was at work, she waited patiently for me to return and greeted me with her classic three-note “barkbark-bark” as I walked in the door.

W hen June arrived on the calendar, she would see me loading suitcases in my car for the drive north for the summer. Daisy knew we were about to go on the long drive to the Midwest. She had her own little car seat in the back, and would settle in for the three-day journey ahead of us. She never minded it though, because she knew we had adventures ahead of us. She especially loved the drivethrough restaurants for our lunches on the road because she knew she would get to share whatever I was having.

Along the way we would stop to visit old friends and made new ones wherever we went. She was such a good little girl, no one ever minded inviting her into their home or business. She had a cute smile that melted everyone’s heart. We would often spend a few hours with an Amish friend of ours on our way north. Although that was a very different house than she was used to, she was immediately at ease and enjoyed the time we spent there. Outer appearances never affected her because she made friendships based upon the person, not by how they looked or where they lived. Daisy made friends easily and expected only kindness in return—and she was seldom disappointed.

Once we arrived in my hometown, the summers were spent enjoying the country life. We planted flowers together in the yard, took long walks on country roads, visited friends and family. She loved to run free through the tall grasses of the countryside. We even went on 4-wheeler rides down to the river. She wasn’t a fan of the 4-wheeler—too noisy, I think. But she was always up for any adventure if it was with me. She trusted me completely.

As the years went by, people came to know us as a duo, always together. She was an expected guest at any family gathering. Any trip I took, or event I attended, had to include a dog-friendly hotel. And it was easier to plan

MOTHER HEN IS PROUD TO BE A “BABY BOOMER” RAISED ON A FARM POPULATED BY DOGS, CATS, CHICKENS, DUCKS, GEESE, HORSES AND COWS. THE WISDOM SHE GAINED WHILE GROWING UP IN THE COUNTRY CAN’T BE FOUND IN BOOKS. YOU CAN CONTACT MOTHER HEN AT

than you might expect, because she was such a good girl and travel companion. Tipping the scales at a mere nine pounds, my little Malti-Pom (Maltese and Pomeranian mix) was always welcome wherever she went.

Daisy was with me through traumatic times as well as happy times. Somehow she would know what I was feeling, even if I didn’t. In her mind, her main job was to comfort me when needed, like the time I got the news I had breast cancer. I was aware that it was a possibility after a routine mammogram required further testing, but still the phone call confirming it was so final. Daisy’s little face looking up at me seemed to say, “Don’t worry, Mom. We will get through this together.” And we did.

The years passed quickly. I could write a book about our adventures, the people she met and the way she touched so many lives. She was so special to so many. Often Daisy was given a unique nickname by those she touched, because just one name couldn’t express the love they felt for her. Daisy Doodle, Doodle-Bug, Daisy May, Daisy Dukes, BooBoo—those are just a few of the names of endearment she would answer to.

A few years ago, I could see age catching up to her. But, hey, the years were catching up to me too. I started her on a regimen of vitamins and supplements for her joints, as well as prescriptions our veterinarian recommended for medical conditions she was dealing with. She responded well to the change of diet and medications, and I felt we were on track for a promising future.

them too. So, after the big move she would walk through our new house smiling. If I was happy—she was happy. We spent a wonderful two and a half weeks at our home in our new city. It seemed we had a whole new life awaiting us. We explored the neighborhood, went on walks to the duck pond, and made new friends in the way Daisy always did. Then, just a week ago we made a quick overnight trip back to the city we had moved from. We had a beautiful day: lunch on the patio of our favorite restaurant, a visit with a former neighbor who adored her, a quick bath to freshen up Daisy’s hairdo followed by a shopping trip to a store that allows well behaved doggies. She felt so pretty when the other shoppers admired her.

That evening I noticed an unusual change in her potty habits, which turned into a sleepless night for us both. She was so upset that she couldn’t control what was happening. The next morning a trip to her veterinarian for an exam turned out surprisingly good. The blood test showed nothing alarming, so she was given medication for diarrhea and I was preparing to take her home.

During the final exam, however, the veterinarian discovered a tumor in her mouth. I could tell the doctor was very concerned, and said it should be biopsied as soon as possible. Now it was time for me to comfort Daisy, like she comforted me in the past.

Not realizing it at first, since she was so tiny and the vets carried her everywhere, complications during her exam resulted in her dislocating her hip. When leaving I

The past six months she was right by my side as I prepared for a move from the city where she and I spent the last twelve-plus years. It was a huge ordeal, involving the purchase of a home and downsizing a lot of sentimental stuff. Sometimes we didn’t have time for the walks in our neighborhood like we used to. Daisy seemed to understand. She knew this was something big. We were moving closer to my little chicklets (granddaughters) and Daisy loved

discovered she couldn’t stand up or even take a step. This necessitated an immediate procedure under anesthesia to maneuver the leg bone back into place in the pelvis. The anesthesia proved to be too much for her, and my little girl didn’t make it through the procedure. The heartache of losing my constant companion so suddenly and so unexpectedly leaves an emptiness that is hard to express. I miss her more than words can describe.

Daisy was with me through traumatic times as well as happy times. Somehow she would know what I was feeling, even if I didn’t. In her mind, her main job was to comfort me when needed.

But in all this sadness, Daisy has left me with a precious gift. She has left me the memory of my favorite day…that beautiful “normal” last day we had together. It was a day that held so many of our favorite things: a road trip, sharing lunch together, visiting a dear friend, brushing her hair and making her feel pretty, and even a shopping trip. I wish I could live that normal day over again, and treasure it even more. While I was living it, I never thought it would be our last.

Run free through the tall grasses, my sweet girl… until we meet again.

Red, White, and Blue

WRITTEN BY SUMMER JARRO

THE FOURTH OF JULY IS MORE THAN JUST A DAY OF FIREWORKS, BARBECUES, AND POOL PARTIES. It is also a day to celebrate the independence of the United States of America. Fourth of July officially became a recognized federal holiday in 1941, but its history goes further back than that. Celebrations of Independence Day started during the American Revolution. Citizens of the United States celebrate the Fourth of July to honor the country’s independence from Great Britain.

On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence, and on July 4, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a document written by Thomas Jefferson, according to History.com. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the start of American independence, and today Americans celebrate by enjoying fireworks, going to parades and

concerts, or hosting gatherings and barbecues.

W hen battles started during the American Revolution, many colonists were against the idea of gaining independence from the British. However, about a year later, mentalities changed after tensions grew between the British and colonists. On June 7, 1776, the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee brought into question the idea of independence, according to History.com.

There was considerable debate, and as a result, a fiveman committee was formed with the sole purpose of the committee members writing a statement justifying the reasons to gain independence.

How Independence Day Was Celebrated

Before the American Revolution, colonists celebrated

HOW THE FOURTH OF JULY CAME TO BE

Great Britain’s king’s birthday yearly by ringing bells and having bonfires, processions, and speeches. During the American Revolution and as the first colonies were fighting the British, many colonists would celebrate the king’s birthday by hosting fake funerals for him as a way to celebrate the country’s work in gaining independence.

Once colonists declared independence from British rule, people celebrated their independence by hosting concerts, bonfires, parades, and firing cannons. Philadelphia held the first July 4 independence celebration, according to History.com.

Af ter the Revolutionary War, Americans continued to celebrate Independence Day each year. At the end of the 18th century, the Federalist Party and DemocraticRepublicans, the popular political parties at the time, started hosting separate Fourth of July celebrations in large cities in the country.

Fireworks have always been a popular way for people to show their patriotism on the Fourth of July. The tradition of shooting off fireworks on the Fourth of July began in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, during the first organized celebration of Independence Day. A ship’s cannon fired a 13-gun salute in honor of the 13 colonies, according to History.com.

Celebrating the Fourth of July Today

Celebr ating Independence Day became even more popular after the War of 1812, which saw the United States again at war with Great Britain. More Americans were patriotic after the end of that war. In 1870, July 4 was made a federation holiday by Congress, and in 1941, July 4 was made into a paid holiday for all federal employees.

Thr oughout the nation’s history, the patriotism of the holiday would see ups and downs during times of unrest. There were moments many Americans did not feel the need to celebrate the holiday based on what was taking place in the country. During the Vietnam War, for example, many did not celebrate the Fourth of July but instead protested it due to many citizens’ opinions of the government’s choices during the war. There was a large wave of patriotism across the country in other moments. On the first Fourth of July after the Sept. 11 attacks, many came out to celebrate to show their patriotism and that they were proud to be American.

The holiday is still popular, but its political importance has diminished over time, according to History.com.

Here’s to continuing to celebrate our great nation and the freedoms so many have fought, and continue to fight, for us to keep!

WUFT’S FANFARES & FIREWORKS

Monday, July 3 from 6 – 10 p.m.

Flavet Field, Woodlawn Drive

GAINESVILLE – Celebrate the 4th on the 3rd with an evening of live music and spectacular fireworks at the University of Florida’s Flavet Field presented by WUFT-TV, WUFT-FM and WUFT Classic. The fireworks by Skylighters of Florida will begin at approximately 9:40 p.m. Food trucks will be on site. For safety reasons, no dogs, sparklers, drones or alcohol are allowed at the event. Coolers are allowed, but may be subject to search by the University of Florida Police Department. wuft.org/fireworks

LUNGS

Friday, June 30 – Sunday, July 16

Actor’s Warehouse, 2512 NE 1st Blvd.

GAINESVILLE – The world is getting hotter, there’s unrest overseas—the seas themselves aren’t very calm—and one couple is thinking about having a child. “Lungs” is a smart and funny drama that follows a couple through the surprising lifecycle of their relationship, as they grapple with questions of family and change, hope, betrayal, happenstance and the terrible pain that you can only cause the people you love. actorswarehouse.org

SIP AND STROLL: TOUR OF THE HIPPODROME THEATRE

Sunday, July 9 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, August 13 at 11 a.m.

The Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE 2nd Place

GAINESVILLE – Sip and Stroll is an exclusive behind-the-scenes building tour of the Hippodrome Theatre. During this tour, you’ll get to explore areas of the Hippodrome that are typically off-limits to the public, and uncover hidden secrets of the theatre. This is your chance to ask questions and gain insight into the inner workings of the Hippodrome. Your journey will

take you through the Hipp’s Lower Level basement and up to the little-known third floor, where the dedicated Hipp employees work tirelessly to maintain Gainesville’s beloved theatre. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity. Admission includes one complimentary drink from our bar. $25 includes one drink (for ages 21 and up – please bring ID). thehipp.org

KINKY BOOTS

Friday, July 21 – Sunday, August 13

Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd.

GAINESVILLE – Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they realized. gcplayhouse.org

ZOOKEEPER DAY

Saturday, July 22 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

GAINESVILLE – National Zookeeper Week is

celebrated every July to bring attention to the hard work, dedication, and loyalty of zookeepers around the world. Zookeepers are chefs, care takers, builders, scientists, researchers, conservationists, engineers, architects and more. Participate in activities to see if you have what it takes to be a zookeeper, meet the animal ambassadors, enjoy keeper talks, training demonstrations and meet with representatives from other zoos and conservation organizations represented by graduates from the Zoo Animal Technology program. Regular admission applies. Additional activities are included with zoo admission. sfcollege.edu/zoo/

RECOVERING PLANT MURDERER WORKSHOP

Sunday, July 23 at 10 a.m.

Plantstay, 3739 W University Ave.

GAINESVILLE – There is no cost for this workshop. The $10 non-refundable deposit will be issued as credit for you to use towards any purchase in the shop on the day of your workshop. The New Plant Parent and Recovering Plant Murderer Workshop is a one-hour class perfect for newer plant parents and plant parents looking to sharpen their skills. This is interactive

and hands-on to meet you where you are in your plant parenting journey. plantstay.com

DONOR APPRECIATION BREAKFAST

Friday, July 28 from 8:30 – 10 a.m.

The Wooly, 20 North Main St.

GAINESVILLE – Join the St. Francis House for breakfast at The Wooly Event Space as we thank and recognize all of their amazing sponsors. stfrancishousegnv.com

RECURRING EVENTS

HAILE EQUESTRIAN RIDE & WINE

First Fridays at 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Haile Equestrian, 7680 SW 46th Blvd.

GAINESVILLE – Enjoy an adults-only evening of horseback riding, wine, charcuterie and great conversations with us. All riding levels welcome. Tickets are $75 per-person. haileequestrian.com/events

GUIDED WALK AT KANAPAHA

First Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr.

GAINESVILLE – Enjoy a guided tour through Kanapaha Botanical Gardens starting at 10 am the first Saturday of every month. Regular admission price applies for non-members. kanapaha.org

BE KIND TWINE’S MACRAMÉ WORKSHOP

First Saturdays from 6 – 8 p.m.

Unique Notions, 23641 W. US HWY 27 High Springs – Join Be Kind Twine on the 1st Saturday of each month for a 2-hour macramé workshop. You will create your own plant hanger with choice of cord color. Space is limited, don’t wait to sign up. Class is $35 per-person. uniquenotions.com/register-for-a-class

CHALK THE WALK

Second and Fourth Tuesdays

Depot Park, 200 SE Depot Ave. GAINESVILLE – Chalk the Walk is a free public program hosted at Depot Park on the second and four Tuesday of the month. Chalk the Walk is designed for children ages 2-5 years old. At 10 am children (accompanied by a guardian) will meet a park ambassador at a table in the designated area. That ambassador will provide Chalk, and instruction, and will be available to answer any questions that you may have. Chalk the Walk is a fun outdoor experience that allows children to develop their fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and social skills in nature while allowing them to express themselves through chalk art. depotpark.org

ARTIST MEETUP

Second Thursdays from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Gainesville Fine Arts Association

Gallery, 1314 S Main St.

GAINESVILLE – The Gainesville Fine Arts Association is proud to present Artist Meetups

every second Thursday of the month from 5:30-7 p.m. Join in the conversation about the current exhibitions. Exhibiting artists are strongly encouraged to attend and speak about their work. This event is free and open to the public. gainesvillefinearts.org

FAMILY FRIENDLY BIKE RIDE

Second Saturdays from 9 – 10 a.m. Depot Park, 200 SE Depot Ave.

GAINESVILLE – Please join the Gainesville Cycling Club for a family-friendly social ride at 8:30 am on the second Saturday of every month. Meet at the Depot Park parking lot and ride the Gainesville Hawthorne trail down to the Alachua Overlook for a round trip of 9 miles. Sometimes a few more miles are added if all participants agree. All riders must wear a helmet, and parents are required to participate with riders under 16. This is a Gainesville Cycling Club outreach ride that is open to all ages and riding abilities. GCC membership is NOT required. For more information email: info@gccfla.org.

JAZZ ON THE GREEN

Second Saturdays from 7 – 9 p.m. Celebration Pointe, 5001 Celebration Pointe Ave. Suite 140

GAINESVILLE – Join Celebration Point every second Saturday of the month for live music, food, drinks and more! Spread a blanket under the setting sun, and catch some beautiful music on the green. celebrationpointe.com

PHILLIPS CENTER 2023|2024 SEASON PREVIEW

Tuesday, July 11 at 7 p.m. Phillips Center, 3201 Hull Road

GAINESVILLE – Get the inside scoop on the upcoming spring performances at the Phillips Center straight from UFPA Director Brian Jose. This event will be free and open to the public for in-person attendance and will also be streaming. live: performingarts.ufl.edu

PLAYLIST AT THE POINTE

Fourth Fridays from 7 – 9 p.m. Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Ave. — The Promenade

GAINESVILLE – A music event that offers an eclectic mix of music from a variety of genres – country, rock, soul and more. celebrationpointe.com

GAINESVILLE CARS & COFFEE

Second Sundays from 9 – 11 a.m. Whole Foods Market, 3490 SW Archer Rd. GAINESVILLE – A gathering for automotive enthusiasts of all types from exotics and classics to imports and jalopies. The meet is free to attend; coffee will be provided to attendees, as well as breakfast items for sale. gainesvillecarsandcoffee.com

STORY TIME AT THE ZOO

Third Wednesdays from 10:30 – 11 a.m. Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, 3000 NW 83rd St.

GAINESVILLE – Join the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo and the Alachua County Library every 3rd Wednesday of the month for Story Time at the Zoo! Story time is held in front of the zoo on the lawn and is free for all to attend. If you’d like to visit the zoo after story time, tickets are $8 for adults; $5 for children ages 4-12, seniors over 60 and UF student and staff with Gator 1 card; and free for children 3 and under. Zoo Members and Santa Fe College students, staff and faculty with SF ID are free. sfcollege.edu/zoo

DOWNTOWN HIGH SPRINGS ARTWALK

Third Saturdays from 12 – 5 p.m.

Downtown High Springs

HIGH SPRINGS – Art Walk features local artists and makers situated both inside stores and on the sidewalks of downtown. Some locations feature live painting and demonstrations. This seasonal monthly event is an opportunity for local artisans and artists to demonstrate and display their talents and offer their works for sale in storefronts throughout the downtown area. Participating host merchants also offer specials and sales during the event. highsprings.us

GAINESVILLE SHRINE CLUB MARKETPLACE

Fourth Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Gainesville Shrine Club, 8100 SW Archer Rd. GAINESVILLE – The Gainesville Shrine Club’s MarketPlace is a yard sale/ flea market with proceeds benefiting the local Shrine Club. Contact David Jones at 336-430-910 to reserve your vendor spot. gainesvilleshrineclub.org

GAINESVILLE OLD-TIME AND TRADITIONAL MUSIC JAM

Fourth Sundays from 2 – 5 p.m. Civic Media Center, 433 S Main St. GAINESVILLE – Pickers, grinners, strummers, pluckers, and bowers unite every 4th Sunday of the month at the Civic Media Center Old-Time, Bluegrass & Traditional Jam. Expect a lot of old-time and bluegrass fiddle tunes, as well as folk songs, Celtic, and other traditional roots

music from around the world. Enter through the courtyard in the back. Bring a sliding scale donation for the CMC. Everyone is welcome. civicmediacenter.org

TOT TROT

Tuesdays from 9 – 10:45 a.m. Florida Museum of Natural History, 3215 Hull Rd.

GAINESVILLE – Get your toddler excited about science and natural history! Join Discovery Zone nature ambassadors for an exciting and interactive nature walk. Each program highlights an outdoor area and encourages exploration with a closer look at nature and museum objects. This program promotes sensory experiences, investigation and exploration with a focus on science. Recommended for children ages 2-5 years old (child must be accompanied by an adult chaperone). Tickets are $6 for members and $7 for non-members. floridamuseum.ufl.edu

BIRD WALKS AT THE WETLANDS

Wednesdays from 8:30 – 11 a.m. Sweetwater Wetlands Park, 325 SW Williston Rd.

GAINESVILLE – Discover the rich diversity of birds at one of north central Florida’s premier birding hotspots during a 2-3-hour guided walking tour. Join us to see why Sweetwater Wetlands Park is the most popular birding destination in the Gainesville area. Walks are free with park admission fee ($5/vehicle) and are offered every Wednesday morning from September 1st though the end of May. alachuaaudubon.org

MACRAMÉ WORKSHOP

Fourth Saturdays from 3 – 5 p.m. High Springs Creates, 23625 W U.S. Hwy 27

HIGH SPRINGS – Join us every fourth Saturday for a 2 hour macramé class with Be Kind Twine! You will learn the art of knot tying while creating a plant hanger for your new plant! Plants and pots will be available for purchase from Unique Notions & The Plant Plugs. facebook.com/ HighSpringsCreates

BARNYARD BUDDIES

Wednesdays from 3 – 4 p.m. (Sept – May)

Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E University Ave.

GAINESVILLE – Morningside Living History Farm is hosting an in-person, socially distant Barnyard Buddies program! This one-hour program is free, but online pre-registration through Eventbrite is required on a first-come-first-served basis. Youngsters, with an adult, can meet and greet farm animals by helping staff with afternoon feeding on the Living History Farm. September – May.

RUNNING TABS

Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m.

First Magnitude Brewing Company, 1220 SE Veitch St.

GAINESVILLE – Running Tabs is a fun, open group aimed at promoting runners and the running community throughout the Gainesville area. Runs are free and open to runners of all ages and fitness levels. If you’re looking for a running group to help you get into running or to improve your race performance, give us a shot. fmbrewing.com

LIVE JAZZ AT COVEY KITCHEN + COCKTAILS

Wednesdays and Sundays from 6 – 8 p.m. Covey Kitchen + Cocktails, 1514 SW 14th St.

GAINESVILLE – Enjoy the live music while dining or enjoying hand-crafted cocktails. Dining reservations can be made through OpenTable. “The Oak Trio” includes pianist Howard Wapner, upright bassist Rafael Abdalla from Brazil and drummer Eddie Fields from Daytona Beach with occasional guest appearances, creating an even more memorable evening. hoteleleo.com/dining

HAILE FARMERS MARKET

Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Haile Plantation Village

GAINESVILLE – Take a stroll down the tree-lined streets of the Haile Village Center to browse for groceries, prepared food and handmade gifts then continue on for more shopping or brunching at the Village Center’s locally-owned shops and restaurants. Covid-19 recommendations: maintain physical distance, don’t touch products, one customer served per vendor at one time and protect yourself and others by wearing facial coverings.

hailefarmersmarket.com

GNV MARKET

Thursdays from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Heartwood Soundstage, 619 South Main St.

GAINESVILLE – The GNV Market is Gainesville’s Downtown farmers market every Thursday from 4-7 p.m. Featuring over 40 vendors, fresh produce, live music and craft beer. gnvmarket.com

HIGH SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET

Fridays from 3 – 7 p.m. 23517 NW 185th Rd. HIGH SPRINGS – Florida grown fruit, vegetables, dairy and meats as well as honey, handmade treats and more. The Farmers Market is produced by The City of High Springs. highsprings. us/farmersmarket

PARKRUN 5K AT DEPOT PARK

Saturdays at 7:30 a.m.

Depot Park, 200 SE Depot Ave.

GAINESVILLE – Parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5K at Depot Park. Participants can walk, jog or run. The community is encouraged to get active at their fitness and ability level. Parkrun is a global movement that started in the UK and quickly spread across the world. Every Saturday over 1,700 events occur with more than 150,000 participants globally. parkrun.us/depotpark

ALACHUA COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET

Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. 5920 NW 13th St.

GAINESVILLE – Don’t forget to bring shopping bags, your grocery list, and plenty of small bills. This market prides itself on being a grower’s only market – meaning the vendors selling produce, plants and other products must have grown the items themselves. 441market.com

Naked Salsa

BY CRYSTAL SMITH

MY FAVORITE CHILD

When people ask if I have a favorite child, I answer absolutely. I have two girls who I totally love and adore, and it may be wrong to say it — but I definitely have a favorite.

In October 2008, my eldest daughter held the title. I was getting ready for my grandmother’s funeral, still mourning the loss of my twin pregnancy a few months back and longing for the little pink line that would give me hope of motherhood again.

I held my breath and stared at the pregnancy test in the bathroom at my mother’s house, and my wish came true in a matter of moments. My grandmother sent me a rainbow baby, and after all that waiting, I finally had a child on the way. She was definitely going to be my favorite.

On Father’s Day the following June, I sat in the hospital triage room waiting for the results of an amniotic fluid test. I wasn’t really having any contractions, but I thought maybe there was a slight leak in the pipes indicating that Baby was ready to make her appearance. Sure enough, it was go time, and my husband ran home to take the pork butt off the smoker. Twenty-two long hours later, I gave one final push, and Sunny was born. She wore me clean out, and I don’t know if I’d ever been that exhausted in my life. But the moment I pulled her onto my chest, she stopped crying and stared into my soul. That little newborn was my favorite.

xactly two years later, at my favorite child’s Alice in Wonderland birthday party, I got a strange feeling. A test the next day confirmed that Sunny had a sibling on the way, and I was delighted and scared all at once. How could I possibly love this new baby as

much as my favorite? I held that fear in secret because no mother should have that thought. I would just try my best to love this new baby as much as I could.

My second pregnancy was a little easier than my first. And I was nervous leading up to her birth because Sunny’s labor and delivery had been long and difficult, with tons of interventions. I wasn’t sure I could go through that again.

One morning in March, I woke up with the smallest contractions. Sunny was full of energy that day, but as the morning sun crept across our spray of toys in the living room, I realized those contractions were getting more regular and it might be time to call my doula.

It was my husband’s birthday, and he’d ridden his bike to work. When my doula arrived, she said my contractions were consistently two minutes apart. But I just felt a sense of peace and calm. I told my husband to just meet me at the house, and we’d ride to the hospital together. In the 20 minutes it took him to ride home, I’d gone from calm

e arrived at the hospital, and I was already dilated to an 8. I hollered for the anesthesiologist, but my doctor gently told me I was likely getting the unmedicated birth I wanted. And she was right. Just as the anesthesiologist walked in the room, my water broke, I was fully dilated, and Miss Violet was born soon after without so much as a Tylenol or a shot of tequila.

It was the most empowering, beautiful thing I’d ever done. She wailed and cried in protest, and I wailed and cried with a sense of euphoria. Then sure enough, as soon as I placed her on my chest we both calmed. It was a high I’d never before experienced, and it was by far my favorite.

My worries about loving a new baby were dashed to bits as soon as Violet was earthside. Sunny didn’t lose her space in my heart — my heart simply grew a new spot for Violet. Watching Sunny hold her sister for the first time almost put me in an emotional coma. It was so beautiful, and Sunny became my favorite big sister. Violet was my favorite little funny caboose.

Over the years, they’ve taken turns challenging and delighting me, and at every age, I swear, “This is my favorite.” When they became toddlers, they were feral and wild, but I loved learning about the world through their eyes.

CRYSTAL SMITH IS A FREELANCE WRITER AND COLUMNIST BORN AND RAISED IN WEST TEXAS. SHE RECEIVED HER B.S. IN JOURNALISM IN 2006 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. SHE IS IN LOVE WITH THE FLORIDA LANDSCAPE. ces03k@gmail.com

My kindergarteners still needed me, and they were so sweet and brilliant. My 5th graders were more independent, but they were hilarious and inventive. Just when I think I have found my favorite child, a new one comes to take her place.

This spring I got slammed with two promotion ceremonies. Sunny is moving on to high school, and Violet is leaving 5th grade behind for the jungles of middle school.

I will never again have a favorite child in elementary school.

So much of childhood is spent looking forward to what’s coming next developmentally and watching to make sure they’re hitting milestones. But as those little fingers have started to let go of my hand, I’m realizing that I’ve said goodbye to some of my favorite children for the last time.

Each stage brings an entirely new kid. Toddler Sunny came zooming in to replace Newborn Sunny. And I just picked up Fifth Grade Violet from elementary school for the last time.

I guess now it makes sense why my heart felt like it would explode at those ceremonies and every major milestone my children have. It’s because I keep making room for the love I’ll need for the new people they’re becoming.

But my heart is bursting because I’ve already created so many spaces for my favorite.

So much of childhood is spent looking forward to what’s coming next developmentally and watching to make sure they’re hitting milestones. But as those little fingers have started to let go of my hand, I’m realizing that I’ve said goodbye to some of my favorite children for the last time.

The Hocking Family Adventure Bus

WRITTEN BY LINDSAY SCHINDLER | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE HOCKING FAMILY

TO MOST PEOPLE, A SCHOOL BUS MARKS THE START OF ANOTHER MONOTONOUS DAY OF CLASSES.

That’s the connotation it upholds — a vehicle that takes kids to that last place they want to be; school. However, people often forget that it also marks the return home — the beginning of one’s free time. The time to adventure and spend your hours however you wish. This is how the Hocking family views the - or, rather, their - school bus.

To the Hocking family, their school bus represents adventure. It represents family. It represents the great outdoors and all the joys that come with it.

Jim and Cara Hocking, along with their four children and two pets, have been traveling the continental United States for nearly two years in a renovated school bus. On July 26, 2021, they closed on their house in Iowa and headed

to Michigan to embark on their greatest adventure yet. “We were realizing that our children were growing up so quickly,” Cara said.

She and Jim had been juggling their four children — splitting up to attend sporting events, run errands, and work their day jobs. This wasn’t the life they wanted for themselves, and certainly not the one they wanted for their children. “Everybody does it, but it’s not how we wanted to choose to live our life. We decided, ‘No, let’s try something different,’” Cara said.

Before revamping their lives, Jim worked for a finance company in Cedar Rapids. Cara had started her own photography business. They weren’t unhappy but couldn’t help but feel they were missing out on their children’s lives.

Their four children - three boys and one girl - range in age from 6 to 14. They knew they wouldn’t be this young

forever, and now was the time to travel if they wanted to. The children are very close, and this adventure has only brought them closer. “We were always in the same room together anyways, so [moving into the bus] wasn’t a crazy adjustment,” Cara said.

For reference, when a brand put them up in a cabin a few months ago, five out of six slept in the same room purely by choice. Over the past 23 months, they have grown closer, not just physically but emotionally. The small space forces them to be close, but they spend most of their time outdoors to avoid feeling overbearingly close. They can take space when needed, and this freedom to choose has allowed them to foster their relationships even more. Sure, they fight as all children do, but their friendship is strong enough to hold them together.

“ The older two are best friends,” said Jim of Amaia and Beckett.

This entire journey has been a learning experience for the whole family, not just in a metaphorical sense but a literal one as well.

The children attend online school to cover math and other core curriculum. They used to stress trying to squeeze in at least three hours of online school before they could begin the day’s adventures. After some time, however, they realized just how educational their everyday life is. They treat museums and national parks as learning experiences. They work school

around their lives instead of shaping their lives around school.

They use their life experiences to provide education and take things as they come. Amaia, their oldest, runs her own bracelet business at 14, which has taught her how to manage money and be her own boss.

While it may not be the traditional educational experience, the family as a whole is learning from life’s challenges. “Bus problems are by far our biggest obstacle,” Jim said. Buses can be frustrating. Expensive. Tough to manage. It’s not just a bus but rather their home; they must treat it as such. Fortunately, they’ve only had two instances in which their bus became a serious problem and required extensive maintenance. When their bus undergoes maintenance, they are essentially rendered homeless for the time being.

Aside from learning how to navigate the physical world by bus, they’ve also spent the last two years navigating the online world of social media. Most of their income comes from brand deals and the money they make from posting online. Jim’s business background and Cara’s photography background prepared them well for managing life on this kind of platform. While they are successful online, they also don’t have to make as much, as their expenses are exponentially lower than in a house.

The way they lead their life is not extravagant. They park for free where they can. Most of their expenses come from food and fuel, but this is a fraction of what they had to pay previously.

“People say they wish they could live like us, but they legitimately can,” Cara said. “It just requires some sacrifices. We live way cheaper now than before, just differently.”

One of their more recent adventures was a trip to Florida, which quickly became one of their favorite destinations. “We loved the combinations of springs and beaches,” Cara said. “But the springs really made us fall in love with it.”

Although commonly associated with Disney World and its other tourist attractions, Florida is a hotspot for natural beauty. They visited 12 springs across the state, but Ginnie Springs was their favorite. The springs impressed them so much that they extended their stay in Florida by a whole month to experience the springs in the springtime weather.

in your own back yard!

While it may not be the traditional educational experience, the family as a whole is learning from life’s challenges.

The Hocking family has four continental states left to visit — Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. They also plan to visit every national park. They’ve seen 39 out of the 63 so far.

Gainesville was an unexpected gem for them. Before their visit, they only knew Gainesville as home to the University of Florida. They knew they were in for a treat once they visited local museums such as the Harn Museum of Art and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. They later sought out the well-known bat houses and admired the outdoorsy feel of the city.

“Many people don’t see it,” Jim said, “but I think people should visit it because it’s a different experience than most of Florida.”

They said it was so welcoming that they could see themselves buying a property in Gainesville someday. However, that property will have to wait. The Hocking family shows no signs of stopping their travels anytime soon. Their initial plan was to travel for a year, and now, after 23 months on the road, their entire outlook on life has shifted and permanently altered their plans.

They have four continental states left to hit — Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Once they see them, they’ll slow their travels, but they certainly won’t be halting them. Their next mission is to visit every national park. They’ve seen 39 out of the 63, so they’ll likely head back west to see the ones they missed in their early days of travel when they were zooming through states.

Maybe one day they’ll buy a few plots of land for their bus. For now, they’re not tied to any belongings. They have freedom. They have each other.

“ Worst case scenario is we buy a house,” Cara said. “We have our house here, and we can take it everywhere.”

For over 12 years, we’ve been in business helping to beautify and protect your biggest investment… your home.

Our specialized process using temperature, flow, pressure, biodegradeable cleaners means we can clean all exterior surfaces with no damage!

OUR GOAL IS 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE

Dave’s NY Deli

Authentic NY deli — Serving classic NY deli favorites since 2009. Dave’s NY Deli continues to be the place to go for authentic NY Deli food. Owner, Melissa says, “Nothing beats quality ingredients combined with a friendly staff.” Dave’s NY Deli serves New York size Pastrami and Corned Beef sandwiches, Nathan’s Hot Dogs, NY Kettle Boiled Bagels, Nova Salmon, Philly Cheesesteaks and Cubans, a big variety of sandwiches, Salad and Wraps. They also offer a Kids Menu. Let’s not forget about the dessert favorites such as, Cannolies and Cheesecake from New York. Come out and enjoy Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Dave’s NY Deli. Now serving beer and wine. Dave’s NY Deli also offers Catering.

12921 SW 1st Road • Tioga Town Center

Monday thru Saturday 8 am to 8 pm Sunday 8 am to 3 pm.

352-333-0291  www.DavesNYDeli.com

That Bar and Table

Neighborhood Bar and Restaurant —Located in the Haile Market Square Publix center, we are locally owned and operated, family friendly (including dogs!), and offer indoor and outdoor dining! Lunch specials available Mon-Fri and brunch is served on weekends. Daily specials include Cluckin’ Monday, Taco Tuesday, Burger Wednesday, Wine-Night Thursday, and amazing weekend Chef’s specials beginning each Friday! Our scratch kitchen is prepping daily to deliver amazing wing dishes, glorious ½ pound burgers, and a wide selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and dinner entrees. Our skilled bartenders will serve up your favorite cocktail or can recommend one of our house favorites! See you soon!

2725 SW 91st St, Gainesville

11-9 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

11-10 Wed-Sat

352-331-6620  thatbarandtable.com

Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza

Italian Restaurant — Piesanos is a locally owed and operated restaurant that is proud to use only the finest ingredients available, including Grande brand premium mozzarella. We are a full service dine in restaurant with an attached take out center and also offer catering. Our dough is made fresh daily and all of our pizzas are baked directly on the stone in our unique Granite Stone Fired Pizza Oven. We offer a great variety of Specialty pizzas, such as our Pizza Antico-(ultra thin crust- Fresh Mozzarella, mini cup & char pepperoni & fresh basil) Specialty Pastas, Calzones, Fresh soups and salads, classic italian entrees, and a great selection of craft beer.

For full menu and list of locations visit: PIESANOSTOGO.COM

Now Serving: Gainesville, Ocala, The Villages, Clermont & Windermere, Coming soon: Lake City & St. Augustine Mon-Sun: 11am-10pm

Order online or Download our App: PIESANOSTOGO.COM

Arashi Yama

Authentic Sushi and Hibachi Lounge — Are you looking for the newest place in town to enjoy sushi? Welcome to Arashi Yama Authentic Sushi & Hibachi Lounge. Arashi Yama offers some of the best and most creative sushi by using only the freshest and finest ingredients available. Offering a pleasant and soothing dining ambiance. Arashi Yama’s menu includes all your sushi favorites, incredible Hibachi options and a full bar with craft cocktails. Don’t have time to stop in? Arashi Yama offers easy online ordering for all your to-go dining needs or is open for both lunch and dinner. Visit their website for more information and to check out their delicious menu.

Magnolia Parke - 4780 NW 39th Ave. Suite 1

Tuesday- Thursday: 11am-3 pm / 4:30-9:30

Happy Hour menu available

Tuesday to Thursday 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Friday: 11 am - 3 pm / 4:30-10 pm Saturday: 11:30 am - 3 pm/ 4:30 pm - 10 pm

Sunday: 12 noon - 3 pm / 4:30 pm - 9 pm

Monday: Closed

352-505-6000  www.arashiyamagainesville.com

Mr. and Mrs. Crab

(Butler Plaza Central) 3246 SW 35th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608

Sun to Thur 12 pm - 10 pm

Fri and Sat 12 pm - 11 pm

Customized Seafood Experience — Mr. and Mrs. Crab’s hand-held seafood integrates American country taste with traditional Szechuan spices to create a unique taste. After you’ve decided what types of seafood you would like to indulge yourself in, our chefs will have your food cooked to perfection and placed in our specially designed seafood boil bags to be tossed in one of our mouthwatering seasonings. We have a vast selection of seafood to choose from, accompanied by our famous Mr. & Mrs. Crab house seasonings. We can’t wait for you to try our Asian-inspired, Louisiana style seafood boils. We’re confident after you’ve had a taste, you’ll be sharing your Mr. and Mrs. Crab story with all your friends! (352) 554-5968  www.mmcseafood.com

Mi Apá Latin Café

Alachua – 15634 US Highway 441 (386-418-0838)

Gainesville - 114 SW 34th ST (352-376-7020)

Jonesville - 14209 W Newberry RD NOW OPEN! (352-545-4430)

Cuban — When it comes to authentic Cuban cooking, you cannot go wrong with Mi Apá Latin Cafe. Featuring authentic ingredients and classic Cuban recipes, such as Pollo Asado, Croquetas de Jamon, and the best Cuban sandwiches in Alachua County. With three locations, you’re never far from the best Cuban coffee and Cuban pastries. Visit us for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, seven days a week. Whether you’re dining in, driving through, or picking up your online order, your food will always be hot, fresh, and full of Latin flavor! And don’t forget our daily Happy Hour with half-off iced coffee and Kids Eat Free every Wednesday from 4:00-9:00pm MiApaLatinCafe.com

The Paper Bag

Deli and Catering — Using only the freshest ingredients and serving the highest quality meats and cheeses, The Paper Bag Deli in Gainesville is quickly becoming the destination for custom prepared meals designed for people with a time sensitive schedule. Serving premium Boar’s Head meats, The Paper Bag has quick serve cold options you can grab and go from the fridge or order hot options from the counter. Have time to stay a while? You can relax on their sunny patio or at the bar-style seating and enjoy a variety of freshly baked artisan sandwiches, wraps, salads and much more. Enjoy your favorite local and domestic beers or order to go! We have many catering options for corporate, schools, and private parties. Call ahead to pick you order today!

Park Lane Apartments

5750 SW 75th Court Suite 20

Open Monday - Friday 10am - 6 pm

(352) 451-4972  thepaperbagdeli.com

Cilantro Tacos

Cali-Mex Street Food — This family-owned restaurant that was founded through a passion for great food and hosting dinner parties with friends. Originally from Southern California, their love for Mexican food moved to the wonderful community of Newberry in 2013. They take pride in the quality, freshness, and vibrant flavors of their food — with meats that are never frozen and everything prepared fresh and made-to-order. Enjoy the tastefully marinated meats and savor the mild, spicy, and mouthwatering salsas that are created from scratch. They feel their purpose is to spread happiness, make contributions to the community and create lasting memories of fun, laughter, and great times. When you eat with us, you’re family. So come on in!

Tioga Town Center - 12921 SW 1 Rd Suite #103 352-472-1300

Alachua - 15551 NW US HWY 441 Unit# 50 352-660-3262

Monday - Saturday from 11:00am to 9:00pm

eatcilantrotacos.com

Copper Monkey West

Restaurant & Pub — We are located in the heart of Jonesville, this All-American dining is convenient to all neighborhoods in Gainesville, Alachua, Newberry, High Springs and beyond. Our family-friendly dining features great food at a great price. Whether you come in for the “best burger in town” or try any one of our freshly made salads, pastas or sandwiches, you will not leave disappointed. Our USDA choice steaks, served with 2 sides, offer a great alternative for the perfect celebratory meal. We also feature a full-service bar with signature drinks.

14209 W Newberry Road, Jonesville, FL 32669

Across from the Steeplechase Publix

Sunday-Thursday 11:00am - 11:00pm

Friday-Saturday 11:00am - 11:00pm

352-363-6338  mycoppermonkey.com

Bangkok Square

Authentic Thai Cuisine — Thai cuisine, blending the best elements of the freshest foods. Thai herbs; garlic, basil, ginger, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal root, chili and more, prepared with the finest blending of fish sauce, shrimp paste, and coconut milk. All of our meals are made to order and prepared on site. We specialize in vegetarian, vegan and gluten free orders. All of our foods can be prepared to your satisfaction with mild, medium, hot, or Thai hot, balanced to the four tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and slightly bitter. Meals can be prepared for take out and we cater to any event. We also have gift cards available. Save 10% off your next dining experience when a gift card is purchased.

Two Gainesville Locations: 6500 SW Archer Road & 8181 NW 38th Lane

Archer-M,W,TH, Friday 11:00am-3:00pm • Saturday-Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm 38th Ln.-T,W,TH, Friday 11:00am-3:00pm • Saturday-Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm

Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 5:00pm-9:30pm • Friday-Saturday 5:00pm-10:00pm

352-375-4488

El Toro

Get Full At The Bull — Bienvenido! Welcome! We are a family owned and family friendly business. We have been serving our guests high quality fresh food for over 28 years. We welcome our guests with our Award Winning Salsa and warm homemade chips, add some fresh guacamole and our homemade white queso and you have a great start to a great meal! Try our Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Fajitas, Aaron’s Overstuffed Burrito, Nachos Supreme or one of our Daily Specials, we have something everyone will enjoy! We serve Lunch 7 days a week till 4 P.M. and our Kids Meals come with a drink and dessert. Check out our menu on our website. Our outdoor patio is perfect for “Para Cenar Afuera”. So, won’t you please come join us and Get Full At The Bull! See you there!

15202 NW 147 Drive, Suite 1100, Alachua (Rolling Oaks Plaza)

Monday – Sat 11:00am – 9:00pm

Sunday – Closed

386-418-1039  www.eltorogainesville.com

Leonardo’s Pizza

Mouth Watering — Family friendly and locally-owned-and-operated pizza joint with a unique, nostalgic atmosphere that is as distinctive as our delicious food. Chicago-style pizzas, hand tied garlic knots, and Italian baked dinners and salad bar, we know you’ll be back for more. Come and see why Gainesville loves our signature deep dish pizza pie, the Big Leo. Since 1976 Gainesville has grown up on pizza from Leonardo’s Millhopper and we are still going strong! Our dedicated staff (many have been with us for 15-20 years) knows how important it is to treat you properly. We take great pride in our welcoming atmosphere. We can’t wait to make you part of our family.

4131 NW 16th Blvd (Millhopper)

Sunday - Thursday: 11:00am - 9:30pm

Friday - Saturday: 11:00am - 10:30pm

352-376-2001  leonardosmillhopper.com

Archer 352-672-6969 39th Ave. bangkoksquarefl.com

Make The How Bazar Your Third Place

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICTORIA VARGAS

THE HOW BAZAR IS A LOCAL FAVORITE WHILE VISITING DOWNTOWN GAINESVILLE.

Beyond a place to get your next special vintage or local artisan find, the How Bazar is a hub for local artists and creatives to build community.

“A lot of people tell me, ‘I never know how to describe How Bazar to people,’” said Laila Fakhoury, co-owner of the How Bazar, who also leads event planning for the space. “That was kind of the point from the beginning because How Bazar is really this living entity that’s constantly changing and adapting to the needs of our community.”

If you haven’t been to this worker-owned and operated shop, there are plenty of events this summer and yearlong to bring you out and make the How Bazar your third place. Third places are spaces beyond your home and where you work where you can exchange ideas, have a good time, and build relationships, according to the Brookings Institute.

“ That’s why we’re doing all of these events during the summer that can reach different audiences and communities through different activities. All of them are meant to be leisurely enough where people can come and socialize and meet other people and learn new things,” Fakhoury said.

A SUMMER SKILL SHARE SERIES IN DOWNTOWN GAINESVILLE

Third places are spaces beyond your home and where you work where you can exchange ideas, have a good time, and build relationships, according to the Brookings Institute.

How Bazar is hosting its Summer Skill Share Series every Monday evening from 7-9 p.m. Sixteen people attended the first skillshare class on June 5, where they listened to the instructor, Chris Discenza, give a mini physics lesson on the art of wood burning, a process that is just as scientific as it is beautiful. “I’ve been playing with these things for 20 years,” said Discenza. The “things” he’s referring to are neon sign trans formers, which he uses to produce his wood-burning art. Folks in this class got to choose their pieces of wood and work hands-on with Discenza to make their own creations.

Summer Skill Share Series classes range from rug tufting to songwriting and empathetic listening. Almost every session will have several pay-what-youcan spots available for those who may not be able to afford the ticket price, which goes toward covering the supplies and paying the instructor. Fakhoury said the initial plan was to host 16 classes to get through the summer, but now has plans for classes into November. The schedule came together when Fakhoury reached out to some of the frequent collaborators of How Bazar, like

Reggie Nelson, owner of Daily Burn Candle Studio and the instructor for the candle-making class.

Nelson attributes How Bazar to helping get his business running. “They’ve actually been one of the foundations that really helped get me introduced into the Gainesville community,” he said. “I can’t say enough good stuff about them.” How Bazar is also one of the few local shops that sell Nelson’s candles. The Summer Skill Share Series is just the latest way the team connects with the Gainesville community. Since opening in 2020, the How Bazar has continuously brought local talent and ingenuity to light. How Bazar began in 2020, with its original location at the historic Seagle Building on University Avenue. In late 2021, the team announced that How Bazar would be moving locations to where they currently reside at 60 SW Second Street.

W ith the first-ever Bazar À La Carte Market hosted back in 2020, the latest installments of this creatives’ market hosts upwards of nearly 60 vendors such as Nelson with goodies like candles, clothing, plants, local food, music, and more. If you’ve ever been to one,

Current Skill Share Series Schedule

July 3 Jewelry-Making

July 10 Candle-Making

July 17 Coffee Tasting

July 24 Intro to Herbalism

July 31 Public Speaking

August 7 Massage

August 14 Sewing

August 21 Empathetic Listening

August 28 Terrarium-Building

September 11 Home Fitness

September 18 Songwriting

September 25 Crochet

October 2 DJing

October 9 Self-Publishing

October 16 How to Exercise

For more info and to reserve your spot, visit: thehowbazar.com

you know just how welcoming these markets are, allowing artisans to directly connect with people in town to sell their work, build community with other artists, and celebrate each other.

The How Bazar team is always looking for a reason to celebrate. “Celebration is part of the revolution,” said Fakhoury, who also said they’re hoping to host another block party sometime in August. “It’s a part of our well-being. It’s a part of our social health as a people and community. We need opportunities to be energetic, excited, and happy to be connected to one another.”

If the Summer Skill Share Series isn’t enough to bring you to the How Bazar, there’s an event almost every day of the week this summer to get you out of the house and into the community with others. Check them out each week, and head to the @the.how.bazar on Instagram to get the latest updates on these events.

• Mondays - Summer Skill Share Series: 7-9 p.m.

• Tuesdays - Open Mic: 8-10 p.m., 1st and 3rd Tuesday evening of every month

• Thursdays - Figure Drawing: featuring clothing designed by local artists

• Fridays - Deep FRYday & Happy Hour

• Saturdays - RnB Night Dance Party

• Sundays - Summer Supper: potluck on the last Sunday of the month.

N ot in the mood for an event? Visit How Bazar during its regular weekly business hours, Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Find a spot at one of their tables or counters to dream, doodle, or simply be. “Come by even if you don’t buy,” said Fakhoury.

Charity of the Month CONGRATULATIONS CHARITY OF THE MONTH WINNER

May 2023 Winner

CHAMPIONS FOR CHAMPIONS

Champions for Champions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in Marion County, Florida. To date, we continue to provide inclusive programs and services for individuals with all abilities. We exist to serve people with special needs and their families by facilitating and providing educational, social, sports, music, arts, job training, and life skill programs. As our slogan goes Creating Endless PossABILITIES.

Champions for Champions was not just created for those who fit the traditional definition of “champion”, i.e, for those who have won accolades, awards, trophies and whatnot, but also for those who are true Champions. True Champions who overcome adversity and inspire others with their actions: mentors, supporters, volunteers, peers, friends. Anyone can be a Champion, but ask yourself this: Do you have what it takes to be a champion?

To nominate a charity or to vote for your favorite nominee visit:

About Radiant Credit Union’s Charity of the Month Program...

The program was started in 2013 as a way for our communities to recognize their favorite local charities. Since that time Radiant has donated thousands of dollars to charities in our area.

Each month Radiant awards the winning charity $1,000. All 501c3 charities headquartered in Radiant’s service area (Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee or Union County in Florida) are eligible to enter the contest.

Entering your favorite charity is easy and you could win $100 if the charity you entered wins. For complete rules and step-by-step instructions go to RadiantCU.org/com

School of the Month

May 2023 Recipient

Newberry High School

Congratulations to Newberry High School, our May School of the Month!

We are proud to donate $1,000 to support their ongoing programs and initiatives, and celebrate their commitment to shaping the future of their students.

A special thank you to branch manager Cody Cowart, for presenting the donation to Principal James Sheppard. Together, we can make a positive impact on education in our community!

“We feel the best way to find and recognize local charities in our community is by asking you!”

ARE

Taylor Swift Eras Tour Tampa

WRITTEN BY DEBRA GARCIA

THE COUNTDOWN HAS ENDED. IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. EVERYONE IS RACING TOWARD THEIR SEATS. THE AUDIENCE SCREAMS.

Fans wear elaborate outfi ts, honoring their favorite artist. Backup dancers enter the stage with huge, colorful cloud-like fans attached to their backs. Suddenly, a blonde woman emerges from behind these fans. The audience somehow gets even louder This is no ordinary concert. No. This is the Taylor Swift Eras Tour.

Starting in March, the Eras Tour finally came to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on April 13, 14 and 15. This was Swift’s first trip to Tampa since her Reputation tour in 2018. Now, five years later, Swift performed her 44 songs, a three-hour setlist, for three nig hts in a row for over 70,000 people each night.

The tour’s purpose was to celebrate the last 17 years

of Swift’s musical career, which consisted of 10 al bums. Each al bum had a different color palette, music style, and inspired outfits. The show consisted of 17 outfit changes, creative choreography, and vivid visuals with different styles to emulate the specific aesthetics of each of Swift’s eras.

Of the 44 songs she plays at her shows, she sings six from “Lover,” three from “Fearless,” five from “Evermore,” four from “Reputation,” one from “Speak Now,” four from “Red,” seven from “Folklore,” five from “1989” and seven from “Midnights.”

Before she plays her “Midnights” set, she has an acoustic portion of the concert where she plays two songs from any al bum, one on the gui tar, the other on the piano. Nig ht one, she played “Speak Now” from her al bum “Speak Now” and “ Treacherous” from her al bum “Red.” Nig ht t wo, she sang “ The Great War” from “Midnig hts” wi th her friend

LONG LIVE TAYLOR SWIFT ‘ERAS TOUR’ TAMPA

and collaborator Aaron Dessner and the song “You’re On Your Own Kid,” also from “Midnights.” Finally, on night three, Swift performed “Mad Woman” from “Folklore,” with Dessner, and the song “Mean” from “Speak Now.”

Aside from the concert, many fans attended the tour for the chance to experience a night with fellow Taylor Swift fans or “Swifties.” Fans of the show’s opening acts, Gracie Abrams and Bebeadoobee, would try their best to find their seats before the pre-show started at 6:30 p.m.

People began arriving at the stadium as early as 10 a.m. even though the show started at 7:30 p.m. These fans would tailgate, trade self-made friendship bracelets, compare outfits, and wait in line to buy merchandise at the merch truck.

Every individual entering the stadium would receive a light-up Capital One bracelet synced to the music of Swift’s songs as she performed. Even those without tickets would camp outside the stadium to socialize with fellow Swifties and eventually listen to the concert outside.

Shamsia Younus, 20, attended night two of the Tampa leg of the tour and loved the fan experience. She traded friendship bracelets and made friends with fellow Swifties.

“I loved seeing how much effort people put into their outfits and how excited we all were to see Taylor perform. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience spending over three hours with an artist that I have been a fan of since I was eight or nine years old; definitely an unforgettable night,” Younus said.

Other Swifties committed hours to creating the perfect

outfit for their perfect night. Jessica Colbert, 21, spent eight hours bedazzling the bottom of a cowboy hat and had the lyric “It’s supposed to be fun turning 21” around the top, while Kennedie Clinton, 16, attached sparkly tulle and red roses to a red dress to recreate Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me” music video outfit. Lucas Manko, 21, attended the night two show with Younus. He wore a “Lover” themed outfit with a pink leopard shirt, heartshaped sunglasses, butterfly hair clips, and a heart chain necklace, while Younus wore a “Reputation” inspired outfit with a green sequin skirt, and one-shoulder black crop top, snake jewelry, black boots, and glitter spray.

“It was really fun, and we got lots of compliments,” Manko said.

W hile the consensus of the Tampa shows was unbelievably positive, the entire Eras Tour experience was not all sunshine and rainbows. Almost every fan had an awful time trying to get tickets to the concert back when sales started in November. Whether they were waitlisted on Ticketmaster, got stuck in the queue for hours, kicked out while tickets were in their cart, or never got a presale code, almost every fan can agree that finding tickets was the equivalent of fighting in the Hunger Games.

Jessica Sweigard, 23, struggled to get tickets to night two while working at a preschool. She had to wait in the Ticketmaster queue on her iPad while the children played outside.

“It finally loaded while we were on the playground, so

Many Swifties arrived early to tailgate, trade self-made friendship bracelets, compare outfits, and wait in line to buy merchandise at the merch truck.

after waiting about three hours in the queue, I was trying to buy the tickets while there were children screaming and rain starting outside,’ Sweigard said.

Both Manko and Younus had horrible experiences with Ticketmaster as well. They were stuck in the queue for hours, waiting for a small chance to see their favorite artist.

“ The experience was awful, my friend and I had to each get into the ticket presale thing and waited hours and hours online in the Ticketmaster line, and I was lucky enough to get in literally two hours before her. Our seats were section 103, so not nosebleed but definitely not super close,” Manko said.

“Getting tickets on Ticketmaster was a really long and stressful experience – I was fortunate enough to get verified and received a presale code. I had to wait about four hours in the online queue for tickets, and it was a mad rush to get the best seats possible for an affordable price,” Younus said.

A t the end of the night, over 200,000 Swifties saw their favorite musician over the span of three enchanted nights. They sang, screamed, laughed, and cried with the artist who impacted their lives in more ways than one. It has been a long time coming, and Swifties won’t hesitate to repeat it.

A Place to Call Home

WRITTEN BY JOANNA GREY TALBOT

IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN A HOT-BUTTON ISSUE SINCE THE FIRST EXPLORERS LANDED ON THE SHORES OF NORTH AMERICA. It has also been a source of pride for many people – knowing they were descended from people who dared to leave their home country and start a new life.

On May 10th, the Matheson History Museum opened a new exhibition, “We Are Here: Stories from Multilingual Speakers in North Central Florida,” in partnership with the Rural Women’s Health Project, Gainesville’s Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative, and UF’s Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere. The exhibition highlights stories from 60+ people and illustrates the immigration journeys of our North Central Florida community through stories that hold power in multiple languages.

Alachua County’s history is full of immigrant stories, and

one of the easiest ways to find them is to search through census data. In the 1880 census, over 50 immigrants and their families lived in the county from the countries of Ireland, France, Switzerland, Norway, England, Prussia, Poland, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Canada, Belgium, and Scotland. Three people listed Africa as their place of birth. These formerly enslaved people were between the ages of 60 and 90. The importation of enslaved people had been outlawed in the United States in 1808, but they continued to be imported illegally, the majority through Texas and Florida.

The 1880 census is full of stories and the histories of families. Here is a glimpse into the lives of a few of them:

A SNAPSHOT OF ALACHUA COUNTY’S IMMIGRANT HISTORY

MOSES ENDEL

Jews were not allowed to settle legally in Florida until the territory was acquired by Great Britain in 1763. Yet, it wasn’t until Florida became a United States territory in 1821 that Jews felt free to practice their religion openly.

Moses Endel was born in Poland, under Russia’s control, in 1829 and eventually immigrated to the United States. In 1865, he moved to Gainesville with a Torah and his family and opened his clothing store on the courthouse square. His wife, Matilda, was from Scotland, and they had six children – Marcus, Jacob, Yetta, Sarah, Albert, and Esther. Moses was involved in the community and a member of the Masonic Lodge. In 1893, he served as Grand Master of Florida’s Grand Lodge of Masons. His sons, Marcus and Jacob, continued the family business, changing the name to M. Endel & Bro.

CLEMENS BAYER

Clemens Bayer was born on March 30, 1827, in Breslau, Prussia (now Poland). He immigrated to the United States in the 1850s. It’s unclear how long he stayed because he married Gertrud Hayer, a Norwegian, and their child, Ferdinand, was born in Norway. By the 1860 census, they were back in the United States and living in Texas. Eventually, they settled in Gainesville and opened a saloon on the corner of W. Main Street and 1st Avenue. Clemens died in 1882 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. His son, Ferdinand, became a lawyer and lived in Gainesville for the rest of his life. He and his wife, Beulah, built their home at 320 NE 7th Street.

TOBIAS BROWN

Tobias Brown was born in 1823 in Prussia. He married Paulina and began a family. In the 1850s, they immigrated to the United States and eventually settled in Jacksonville, Florida. Tobias worked as a merchant. In the 1870 census, they lived in Savannah, Georgia, with their children Benjamin, Max, Bertha, Tillie, Moses, and a niece, Bertha.

Tobias died in 1895 in Gainesville and was buried in Savannah. Paulina eventually moved in with her daughter, Bertha, and her family in Tampa. When she died in 1908, she was buried in Savannah with Tobias.

JOSEPH SIMONSON

Joseph Simonson was born in Germany in 1825 and married Rosalie in 1847. They immigrated to the United States in the late 1860s. By the 1880 census, they lived in Gainesville with their family, and Joseph was listed as a liquor dealer. That job description was lacking because Joseph was an entrepreneur at heart.

According to the late Alachua County historian Jess Davis, “Most of the block south of the courthouse burned in 1886. Mr. Simonson bought the corner lot and built a two-story brick structure. The upstairs became Simonson’s Opera House (later known as the Baird Theater). Mr. Simonson later built a pretentious opera house with a swimming pool and fishpond just west of Sweetwater Branch and north of East University Avenue. […] During the freeze of late December 1894 – early January 1895, the fish pond froze over solid. The ice was solid enough for people to walk on it.”

An ad in the 1886 ci ty directory states that Simonson also owned a bathhouse, skating rink, saloon, and artesian mineral water well. In 1885 Joseph donated a bottle of the artesian well water to the Smithsonian Institute. Staff at the Matheson History Museum recently contacted the Smithsonian for more information, but unfortunately, all that could be found was that it was accessioned in 1886.

Joseph and Rosalie moved to New York City by the 1905 state census to live with their daughter, Jesse. Joseph died in 1908 and is buried in Brooklyn.

Joseph was listed as a liquor dealer. That job description was lacking because Joseph was an entrepreneur at heart.

WATSON PORTER

Dr. Watson Porter was born in 1840 in Nova Scotia, Canada. In the Civil War, he served as an assistant surgeon in the 3rd US Colored Infantry. He was assigned to Gainesville and decided to stay. He married Olivia Ann Kinsman, also from Nova Scotia, in 1867. He served as Gainesville’s postmaster from 1867 to 1878 and a land office clerk. In the 1880s, he bought land in southwest Gainesville, and in 1884 he established the Porters Quarters neighborhood. He sold the parcels exclusively to Black residents; today, the area is one of Gainesville’s oldest African American neighborhoods.

Watson and Olivia were long-time mem bers of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Watson died in 1911, and Olivia in 1920. They are both buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

WILLIAM MCCORMICK

Rev. William McCormick was born in 1821 in County Donegal, Ireland. It’s unclear when he immigrated to the United States, but he settled in South Carolina in the late 1840s or early 1850s. At one point, he served as the church pastor in Camden, South Carolina, where the Haile family attended.

The Hailes, Stringfellows, and other South Carolina families moved to Alachua County in the 1850s. They decided they needed a church in the area and contacted their former pastor, Rev. McCormick, to lead it. He eventually agreed and moved to Gainesville with his family in 1858, where he helped establish the Kanapaha Presbyterian Church. During the Civil War, he preached and ministered to Confederate soldiers. After the war, he returned to leading the church but died in 1883 before seeing the present church building completed in 1886. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

V isit the Matheson History Museum beginning on May 10th to tour the exhibition “We Are Here: Stories from Multilingual Speakers in North Central Florida” and gain a new appreciation for the many immigrant stories in Alachua County’s history.

(TOP) OLIVIA PORTER, (BOTTOM) COURTHOUSE SQUARE-NORTH BUSINESSES: PHOTOS COURTESY OF ACLD. (MIDDLE) REV. MCCORMICK WITH HIS BROTHERS: PHOTO COURTESY OF KANAPAHA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Congratulations!

With over 96,000 votes and more than 2,700 area businesses, places, people and events nominated, Our Town Magazine is proud to announce the finalists and winners of the 2023 FAVE Awards! Congratulations to everyone nominated and for the incredible support our community has shown these amazing businesses.

More I COULD SPEND HERE

you can shake a fork at, and upscale, yet comfortable, hotels all in one place. You’ll see why we say there’s More to the Pointe at Celebration Pointe.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR READERS FOR VOTING FOR YOUR FAVORITES IN OVER 250 CATEGORIES. WITH OVER 18,000 VOTES AND HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES, WE’RE PROUD TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR TOWN’S FAVORITES. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE WINNERS AND FINALISTS!

Culture & Recreation

FAVORITE LOCAL ANNUAL EVENT

GCM FOOD FESTIVAL

Celebrationpointe.com/events/gcm

The GCM Food Festival at Celebration Pointe is an outdoor event celebrating food, wine and beer crafted from local restaurants. The event also features live music, cornhole and plenty of fun.

FINALISTS:

Newberry Watermelon Festival

Rosé Gala

FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST

JENNA HORNER

Jennahorner.com

Jenna Horner is a Gainesville-based muralist who considers painting public spaces as an opportunity to share optimistic imagery with the community while focusing on unifying people within their environment. In addition to public murals, she also works as a collage artist using various media in order to build unique highly textured surfaces.

FINALISTS:

Samm Wehman

Earth Tonix

FAVORITE LOCAL BAND

WHISKEY JONES

Whiskeyjones.com

The sound of Whiskey Jones is like a Pontiac Trans Am full of drunken teenagers, back when the songs on the radio meant everything and curfews were meant to be broken. Igniting audiences and lighting up stages since 2018, there is no party like a Whiskey Jones party.

FINALISTS:

Late Night Delivery

Big Sky

FAVORITE LOCAL BIKE TRAIL

GAINESVILLEHAWTHORNE STATE TRAIL

3400 SE 15th St., Gainesville, FL 32641

On this historic railbed turned greenway, you’ll find native plants and wildlife; diverse scenery and backyard Florida culture. Overlooks and stops of interest tie together a rich story of small railroad towns, locomotives and human activity along this corridor.

FINALISTS:

San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park Waldo Road Greenway / Depot Avenue Rail Trail

FAVORITE LOCAL BOWLING ALLEY

SPLITZ OF GAINESVILLE

1301 NW 76th Blvd.,Gainesville, FL 32606

Aside from earning acclaim as a 30-lane bowling alley with three styles of the sport, Splitz also features a 40-game Arcade Alley, which has the World’s Largest Connect Four, Lazer Runner laser tag and a sports bar and grill – ensuring they offer something for everyone.

FINALISTS:

Alley Gatorz Bowling Center

FAVORITE LOCAL CAMPING SPOT

GINNIE SPRINGS OUTDOORS, LLC

7300 NE G innie Springs Rd., High Springs, FL 32643

From a tent by the river to full electric and water hook-ups for your RV, Ginnie Springs Outdoors has got you covered. Camp like a champion with over 200 wooded acres and spring-side tent sites right at your disposal.

FINALISTS:

O’Leno State Park and River Rise Magnolia Campground

Hart Springs RV Campground

CLARK PLANTATION

Clarkplantation.com

Clark Plantation is a gathering place for the best times of your life. Their new 7,000 + square-foot open-air barn is a true reflection of rustic elegance adorned with a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, stunning crystal chandeliers, white billowing drapes and thousands of twinkling lights. Their lush grounds host large pecan trees, a fire pit and a stone-paved walkway all in a private, quiet setting.

FINALISTS:

Cypress & Grove Brewing Company

1908 Grand

FAVORITE LOCAL FARMERS MARKET

HAILE FARMERS MARKET

5213 SW 91st Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32608

Take a stroll down the tree-lined streets of the Haile Village Center to browse for groceries, prepared food and handmade gifts, then continue on for more shopping or brunching at the Village Center’s locally-owned shops and restaurants.

FINALISTS:

High Springs Farmers Market

Grove Street Farmers Market

FAVORITE LOCAL GOLF COURSE

IRONWOOD GOLF COURSE

2100 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609

Named by Golf Digest as one of the best places to play, Ironwood Golf Course has an outstanding layout sculptured around century-old pines and shimmering lakes. The contoured fairways and strategically placed bunkers offer every level of golfer a tremendous opportunity to test your skills.

FINALISTS:

Hawkstone Country Club

Turkey Creek Golf Course

FAVORITE LOCAL LIMO/BUS SERVICE

A CANDIE’S COACHWORKS, INC.

6916 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32607

A Candies Coachworks is a family-owned service that has been in the transportation business for over 30 years and they pride themselves on using the fabulous Prevost H-Series Deluxe motor coaches as well as their excellent safety rating due to their staff and training programs.

FINALISTS:

Regional Transit System

FAVORITE LOCAL LIVE MUSIC VENUE

HIGH SPRINGS BREWING COMPANY

18562 NW 237th St., High Springs, FL 32643

High Springs Brewing Company is a family-owned and family-operated purveyor of hand-crafted beverages. They ignited this dream in a carport while enjoying finely crafted beers by other inspiring breweries. Today, the brewery attracts visitors with their hand-crafted beer and entertainment with weekly live music.

FINALISTS: One Love Café

Celebration Pointe

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSEUM

FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611

From permanent displays like Florida Fossils or Land and Northwest Florida to rotating exhibits like Science Up Close: Fantastic Fossils and Our Changing Climate: Past and Present, the Florida Museum of Natural History has been providing educational experiences to guests since 1939 when certain collections – in a previous locale –opened to the public.

FINALISTS:

Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History

Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSICIAN

KYLE KELLER

Facebook.com/kylekeller1993

Gainesville local Kyle Keller is an Americana/folk artist known for writing self-described “sad songs.” Featured on Painted Lady Records, Keller has released the E.P. “I’ve Known Love” and the album “All It Does Is Rain” along with singles “I’ll Never Hang Up My Hat” and “This Town’s Gonna Swallow You Whole.”

FINALISTS:

Shawn Manley

Richy Stano

FAVORITE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD

TIOGA

Townoftioga.com

Town of Tioga is full of open spaces that allow for bicycle rides along the many paths; picking flowers from your Community Garden plot; strolling with loved ones to dinner in the Town Center or watching an outdoor movie under the stars with your family in the Town Square.

FINALISTS:

Haile Plantation

The Village at Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL NON-PROFIT

CREATED GAINESVILLE

Createdgainesville.com

For over 10 years, Created Gainesville has been helping women who have been sexually exploited or trafficked. Since 2012, they have reached over 3,000 women, given over 175 awareness presentations, held 18 prevention classes, and have reached over 7,000 local youth.

FINALISTS:

United Way of North Central Florida

Peaceful Paths

FAVORITE LOCAL PAINT & SIP

ART STUDIO

PAINTING WITH A TWIST

6 18 NW 60th St., Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32607

Fun! Plain and simple. No creative or artistic skills are needed. Painting with a Twist is all about connecting with friends over a glass of wine, your favorite snacks and a night of laughs. Oh, and you’ll also learn how to paint!

FINALISTS:

Corks & Colors Studio

Pinspiration Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO GO

SWIMMING

GILCHRIST BLUE SPRINGS STATE PARK

7450 NE 60th St., High Springs, FL 32643

Explore 250 acres of “Real Florida” and stroll along a ¼-mile boardwalk following the springs run to the Santa Fe River. Gaze into the crystal blue depths from the dock overlooking the spring’s boil. Whether it’s swimming, picnicking, tubing, canoeing, camping, hiking or relaxing, Blue Springs is your adventure destination.

FINALISTS:

Ginnie Springs Outdoors, LLC

Gainesville Health & Fitness

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY

DAVE & BUSTER’S GAINESVILLE

3023 SW 45th St., Gainesville, FL 32608

Maximum fun, minimum effort. Give the party planning committee the day off. No matter the event or celebration, Dave & Buster’s has everything you require to have a great time. It’s not just a birthday party it’s a chance to create lifelong memories surrounded by friends and family. The birthday honoree receives tickets or extra gameplay on their Power Card®– depending on purchased package.

FINALISTS: Celebration Pointe

Bragging Rights Amusements

Car Buying the Way It Should Be

DRY

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO PEOPLE WATCH

DEPOT PARK

874 SE 4 St., Gainesville, FL 32601

Splashing in the Blue Grotto or strolling along the promenade; enjoying a picnic in the pavilion or visiting the Cade Museum; grabbing a snack at Pop-A-Top General Store or a beverage at Box Car Wine & Beer Garden – whatever it is, there’s always an adventure at Depot Park.

FINALISTS:

Celebration Pointe

Lebowski’s Pup Pub

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS

LA CHUA TRAIL

4801 C amp Ranch Road, Gainesville, FL 32641

The La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie is a 3-mile round-trip trek from the north rim of the prairie to the observation tower. This trail provides scenic views of wet prairie and marsh habitat including Alachua Sink and Alachua Lake.

FINALISTS:

Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History

Celebration Pointe

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO TAKE YOUR KIDS

DEPOT PARK

874 SE 4 St., Gainesville, FL 32601

Climb, run, slide, spin and experience an exciting custom play area designed to inspire and encourage creativity or splash in the blue grotto inspired by the underwater caverns in Central Florida complete with waterfalls, ground jets, water cannons and hidden fossils.

FINALISTS:

Butterfly Museum at the Florida Museum of Natural History

Flip Factory

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO TAKE YOUR PARENTS

BUTTERFLY RAINFOREST AT THE FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611

The Butterfly Rainforest is a can’t-miss living exhibit that features hundreds of free-flying butterflies and birds from around the world along with an assortment of other animals including turtles and fish to experience firsthand.

FINALISTS: Celebration Pointe

Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO WORSHIP

WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH GAINESVILLE

1 0000 W Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32606

Westside Baptist Church Gainesville’s mission is to join everyday people on the journey to life’s greatest potential in Christ.

FINALISTS:

Anthem Community Church

Canvas Church

FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS VENUE

BEN HILL GRIFFIN STADIUM

157 Gale Lemerand Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, or “The Swamp” as it’s affectionately known, was originally built in 1930 and has since expanded its capacity to now seat up to 88,548 fans, which makes it the largest football stadium in the state of Florida.

FINALISTS:

Stephen O’Connell Center

McKethan Stadium / Condron Family Ballpark

CLARK PLANTATION

Clarkplantation.com

Clark Plantation offers a space ideal for large gatherings of 250 guests or as intimate as 50. Along with a spacious, open-air barn to create a rustic elegance, Clark Plantation has an on-site event coordinator; floral and décor; photographer and catering recommendations; indoor and outdoor event space; reception area as well as tables, chairs and benches.

FINALISTS:

Sweetwater Branch Inn Lodging and Events

1908 Grand

Eats

FAVORITE “BEST-KEPT SECRET” RESTAURANT

VOLCANIC SUSHI + SAKE

5200 NW 43rd St., Suite 509, Gainesville, FL 32606

Located at Haile Village Center and Hunter’s Crossing, Volcanic Sushi & Sake offers colorful Japanese dishes inspired by Asian fusion. Executive chef and restaurant CEO Nester Espartero has added to Volcanic Sushi’s popularity by earning the title of Iron Chef Gainesville for the past three years.

FINALISTS: The Paper Bag

Arashi Yama Sushi & Hibachi Lounge

FAVORITE LOCAL AMERICAN FOOD

THE TOP

30 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601

From beef, veggie and chicken burgers to fried chicken, pesto melts and seitan Texas cheesesteaks, The Top has an expansive menu of American-style food. Besides hearty main dishes, The Top also offers classic appetizers like nachos, fried pickles and corn nuggets and cocktails, spirits and wine.

FINALISTS:

Crafty Bastards Restaurant

Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

FAVORITE LOCAL BAKERY

UPPERCRUST PRODUCTIONS

4118 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32605

Uppercrust is an artisan bakery that makes all its products from scratch and presents them the day they are baked. Uppercrust also showcases specialty artisan products. These foods, stationery, gift ideas and wines are specially curated by the Uppercrust team to complement their homemade offerings.

FINALISTS:

Amazing Grace Confections

The Bakery Mill

FAVORITE LOCAL BAR FOOD

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St., Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608

Truffle cheese fries, Cajun boiled peanuts, knockout shrimp and Asian crispy fried ribs offer a unique twist to bar food. If you’re interested in more of the classics, That Bar and Table also serves up chili cheese fries, fried mozzarella, fried pickle chips and nachos.

FINALISTS:

Crafty Bastards Restaurant

Mother’s Pub & Grill North

FAVORITE LOCAL BBQ

DAVID’S BBQ & CATERING

Davidsbbq.com

David’s BBQ & Catering has been locally owned and operated since the late 1970’s. Their menu offers all your BBQ needs like pork sandwiches, ribs, smoked brisket, BBQ chicken and all the classic sides like macaroni and cheese; fried okra; collard greens; BBQ beans; coleslaw and potato salad.

FINALISTS:

Adam’s Rib Co

Pearl Country Store & Barbecue

FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH/BREAKFAST

43RD STREET DELI & BREAKFAST HOUSE

43rdstreetdeli.com

For over 35 years, family owned and operated 43rd Street Deli & Breakfast House has been providing the Gainesville community with exceptional customer service for breakfast and lunch. Omelets, pancakes, French toast and waffles are just a fraction of the delicious brunch menu at 43rd Street Deli and Breakfast House.

FINALISTS:

Flying Biscuit Café Gainesville

That Bar and Table

FAVORITE LOCAL BURGER

CONESTOGAS RESTAURANT

14 920 Main St., Alachua, FL 32615

Since September 1988, Conestogas has become an area tradition where families could sit back and relax after a long day’s work. A place where guests could talk, crack a few peanuts and soak up some old-time atmosphere. A place that reflected the warmth and friendliness of beautiful downtown Alachua, Florida.

FINALISTS:

Ford’s Garage Gainesville

Copper Monkey West

FAVORITE LOCAL CATERER

DAVID’S BBQ & CATERING

Davidsbbq.com

David’s BBQ & Catering offers catering for a wide array of events including breakfast, BBQ, corporate lunches, weddings and more. They’ve served the Gainesville community since the late 1970s they offer catering options from pick-up and drop-off to drop-off with full service or cooking on site.

FINALISTS:

Cowboyz Bar BQ & Catering

Tosh Events Group, LLC

FAVORITE LOCAL CHEF

LIBBY LANGFORD (THAT BAR AND TABLE)

2725 SW 91st S t., Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608

Located in Haile Plantation, That Bar and Table’s menu includes classic American dishes, their famous burgers, brunch and changing specials crafted by Our Town readers’ favorite local chef Libby Langford. Grab a bite in their casual, family-friendly dining area; a cold drink at the bar and pub area or bring the pup along for a meal on the dog-friendly patio.

FINALISTS: Chef Sara Miller Hector Cintron

FAVORITE LOCAL CHICKEN SANDWICH

GERMAIN’S CHICKEN SANDWICHES

220 NW 8th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 Superior service, personalized attention. Germain’s Chicken Sandwiches started with the simple idea of bringing the best from them to you by putting lots of love and careful thought into all they do – including making your favorite chicken sandwich.

FINALISTS:

That Bar and Table

Birdie Box Sando

FAVORITE LOCAL CHICKEN WINGS

GATOR’S DOCKSIDE GAINESVILLE

3842 W N ewberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32607

With three different dry rubs and 19 sauces ranging from sweet teriyaki and honey garlic to the mild parmesan garlic and lemon pepper; the medium spiced Thai peanut and Caribbean jerk to the hot and spicy flavors of mango habanero and Nashville hot, there’s a reason why Gator’s Dockside is known for their award-winning wings.

FINALISTS:

That Bar and Table

Bleubird Wings & Chicken Co.

YUMMY HOUSE GAINESVILLE

3102 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL 32608

Yummy House, Florida is an award winning, Chinese restaurant serving authentic Chinese cuisine across the Sunshine State. Their team brings a wealth of experience and passion to every dish they serve: combining fresh ingredients with attention to detail and great service.

FINALISTS:

Chopstix Café

Mr. Han’s Restaurant

FAVORITE LOCAL CHOCOLATE/ CANDY STORE

THORNEBROOK CHOCOLATES

2 441 NW 43rd St., Suite 21, Gainesville, FL 32606

Nestled in the Thornebrook Village Shopping Center, locally owned and operated Thornebrook Chocolates has been providing unique gifts and assorted hand-dipped confections since 1985. With milk, dark and white-chocolate coatings accompanied by a variety of fillings, Thornebrook has something for every chocolate enthusiast.

FINALISTS:

Kilwins Celebration Pointe

Le Macaron French Pastries

FAVORITE LOCAL COFFEE/ COFFEEHOUSE

PATTICAKES

Patticakesgnv.com

Jan and David Patterson dreamt of a place that neighbors could gather and linger over top notch, hand-crafted treats and expertly prepared coffee and espresso. In 2011, they opened their first Patticakes location in the Haile Village Center and in 2020, opened a second location in Tioga Town Center.

FINALISTS:

Coffee Culture

CYM Coffee Co

FAVORITE LOCAL DELICATESSEN

HOGAN’S GREAT SANDWICHES

2327 NW 13th St,, Gainesville, FL 32609

Regular heros topped with provolone and the choice of ham, roast beef, turkey, capicola, corned beef and pastrami or deli favorites like a grilled Cuban, BLT, hot Reuben or a meatball sub served up with choice of condiments on a white or wheat sub roll, Hogan’s has whatever deli sandwich you crave.

FINALISTS: The Paper Bag

Dave’s New York Deli

Now Accepting New Patients

FAVORITE LOCAL DOUGHNUT

HALO POTATO DONUTS

Halopotatodonuts.com

Halo Potato Donuts is an independently owned and operated donut company specializing in potato donuts, which are a cross between a yeast and cake donut – light like yeast, yet dense like cake. Cinnamon sugar, maple glaze, Florida buckeye, lemon blueberry and cinnamon roll – you can’t go wrong with any flavor.

FINALISTS:

Krispy Kreme

Daylight Donuts

FAVORITE LOCAL FAMILY RESTAURANT

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st S t., Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608

From their extensive kid’s menu to their petfriendly patio, That Bar and Table offers something for everyone with their family-oriented atmosphere and dining options.

FINALISTS:

Cintrón – A Floribbean Restaurant

Stone House

Neighborhood Grill

EMBERS WOOD GRILL

3545 SW 34th St., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608

Embers Wood Grill provides a fine dining experience through their extensive menu featuring chef specialties, USDA prime beef entrees, succulent seafood, an assortment of desserts like lemon layer cake, banana foster cheesecake and flaming crème brûlée as well as a lengthy list of wines and cocktails.

FINALISTS:

Cintrón – A Floribbean Restaurant

Prime & Pearl

FAVORITE LOCAL FIRST DATE SPOT

DRAGONFLY SUSHI &

SAKE

COMPANY

201 SE 2nd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601

Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company is a modern Japanese pub featuring fish flown straight from Japan and farm-fresh produce used throughout their dishes. Their diverse menu and cozy atmosphere make Dragonfly an ideal first date spot.

FINALISTS:

Cintrón - A Floribbean Restaurant

Alpin Bistro

FAVORITE LOCAL FOOD TRUCK

CILANTRO TACOS

Catcilantrotacos.com

Say “Hola” to Gordo, a renovated 1986 Grumman truck designed to bring Cilantro Tacos to you. Their vintage truck can take your taco experience and next event to a whole new level.

FINALISTS:

Germain’s Chicken Sandwiches

Tinker Latin Food Truck (Newberry Road)

FAVORITE LOCAL HANGOVER FOOD

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st S t., Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608

From the chicken biscuit sandwich, which features fried buttermilk chicken on a fresh buttermilk biscuit with honey butter and home fries, to the breakfast burger served on a buttermilk biscuit and topped with a sunny-side up egg, wrapping up with the loaded home fry bowl packed with chorizo, cheddar, queso fresco and eggs over cheddar cheese grits, That Bar and Table’s weekend brunch specials are the pinnacle of hangover food.

FINALISTS:

43rd Street Deli & Breakfast House

Crafty Bastards Restaurant

Financial solutions designed for you.

Your financial goals should reflect who you are as an individual. That’s why we take a thoughtful approach to understanding you and what you care about most.

Anytime you’d like to explore your financial goals, we’re here to help. Reach out when you’re ready to get started.

FAVORITE LOCAL HIBACHI/ JAPANESE STEAK

YAMATO JAPANESE RESTAURANT

5 26 NW 60th St., Gainesville, FL 32607

Pork dumplings, agedashi tofu and sushi rolls – Yamato has it all. From assorted platters, traditional Japanese cuisine, teppan yaki and more, Yamato is Gainesville’s favorite Japanese steakhouse and hibachi restaurant.

FINALISTS:

Arashi Yama Sushi & Hibachi Lounge

Samurai Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar

FAVORITE LOCAL ITALIAN FOOD

PIESANOS STONE FIRED PIZZA

SCUOLA PIZZA

5240 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32605

At Scuola Pizza, their goal is not only to provide delicious pizza and entrees, but also to enhance the casual dining experience. Serving delightful Mediterranean dishes with a relaxing atmosphere of books and vintage decor Scuola Pizza truly redefines the dining experience.

FINALISTS:

Cintrón - A Floribbean Restaurant

Taziki’s Mediterranean Café

FAVORITE LOCAL MEXICAN FOOD

LAS MARGARITA’S

4405 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606

Don’t let the name fool you, Las Margaritas isn’t just a venue for sipping tasty cocktails – they offer the best Mexican food in town. Whether you’re craving tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas or another flavorful favorite, you’ll find the best authentic Mexican food at Las Margaritas.

PIESANOS STONE FIRED PIZZA

5 757 SW 75th St., Suite 101, Gainesville, FL 32608

The only thing better than pie is pizza pie and Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza knows how to make the best with freshly made dough baked golden brown and loaded with delicious toppings, you can’t stop at just one slice and with three locations around Gainesville, you don’t have to.

FINALISTS:

Satchel’s Pizza

Leonardo’s Pizza of Millhopper

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT OVERALL

SPURRIER’S GRIDIRON GRILLE

4860 S teve Spurrier Way, Gainesville, FL 32608

Part restaurant, part football museum, Spurrier’s offers field-to-fork elevated dining, legendary dishes, service and football memorabilia. Dinner, drinks and now brunch, there’s a reason Spurrier’s was voted favorite local restaurant overall.

FINALISTS:

Embers Wood Grill

Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT PATIO

ONE LOVE CAFÉ

4989 NW 40th St., Gainesville, FL 32606

One Love Café offers fresh, local cuisine like flatbreads, salads and unique daily specials in an outdoor setting. Their pet-friendly atmosphere includes fire pits; a tiki bar; an outdoor screen featuring Gator football games and sporting events; cornhole, and three acres to roam around in with a beer in hand.

FINALISTS:

Cintrón - A Floribbean Restaurant

The Keys Grill & Piano Bar

FAVORITE LOCAL RIBS

DAVID’S BBQ & CATERING

Davidsbbq.com

While a slab of David’s BBQ ribs are a favorite on their own, they’re even better purchased as a plate special accompanied by two mouthwatering sides like BBQ beans, potato salad, steak fries or coleslaw along with garlic toast or a slice of cornbread. And you can’t forget the sweet tea.

FINALISTS:

Adam’s Rib Co

Pearl Country Store & Barbecue

Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant Gainesville

NORTHWEST GRILLE

5115 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606-5943

Northwest Grille has been family-owned and operated since they opened their doors in 1996. They treat every customer like they’re part of the family and strive to serve food that is locally produced and of the finest quality at a great value including their fresh seafood.

FINALISTS:

Northwest Seafood Inc.

Wahoo Seafood Grill

FAVORITE LOCAL STEAKHOUSE

EMBERS OF FLORIDA

3545 SW 34th St., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608

Named as one of the Top 10 Steakhouses in Florida by Bestthingsfl.com, Embers Wood Grill offers a fine-dining experience like no other. Grilled over a hickory, pecan and cherry wood grill and hand cut and fully trimmed in-house, Embers’ USDA prime beef is the star of the menu.

FINALISTS:

Mark’s Prime Steakhouse

Prime & Pearl

FAVORITE LOCAL SUSHI

DRAGONFLY SUSHI & SAKE COMPANY

201 SE 2nd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601

From classic a la carte sushi creations to more unique makisushi rolls like the Mango Tango with smoked salmon, cream cheese, mango, sweet potato curls and a peach-apricot reduction, as well as vegetarian options like Magic Matt with tempura kabocha, spinach, avocado and sautéed Japanese mushroom, Dragonfly has a sushi menu like no other.

FINALISTS:

Volcanic Sushi & Sake

Arashi Yama Sushi & Hibachi Lounge

FAVORITE LOCAL TACOS

CILANTRO TACOS (TIOGA)

12921 SW 1st Road, Suite 103, Newberry, FL 32669

Cilantro Tacos was founded through a passion for great food and serving others. A family-owned business, they think of their patrons, as familia, and pride themselves in the quality, freshness, & vibrant flavors of their food as every meal is prepared fresh and made to order.

FINALISTS:

Nopal by Cintrón

Blue Agave Mexican Restaurant

FAVORITE LOCAL THAI FOOD

BANGKOK SQUARE

6500 SW Ar cher Road, Gainesville, FL 32608

8181 NW 39th Ave. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32606

Bangkok Square is a family-owned restaurant specializing in flavorful and traditional Thai food including a rainbow of curries, noodles and fried rice as well as unique desserts like sticky rice with Thai custard, lychee and Thai donuts.

FINALISTS: Eim Thai

Wah Ha Ha Thai Food & Noodle Soup

FAVORITE LOCAL VEGETARIAN/ VEGAN FOOD

THE TOP

3 0 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601

The Top’s vegetarian and vegan dishes certainly aren’t lacking in flavor and the definitely aren’t limited to salads. Seitan Phillies, blackened tofu melts, Peruvian black bean bowls and crispy fried falafel patties – The Top is a haven for Gainesville’s vegetarian and vegan foodies.

FINALISTS: Bolay

Bambi’s Café + Farm Market

TIPPLE’S BREWS & WINE

2440 SW 76th St., Gainesville, FL 32608

Tipple’s specializes in great craft beer and fine wines. Their international selection allows customers to enjoy some of the best the world has to offer and as a tasting room as well as a package store; customers can enjoy a beverage in the store while shopping.

FINALISTS:

Superette Wine + Provisions

Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN ALACHUA

BEV’S BETTER BURGERS OF ALACHUA

15010 Main St., Alachua, FL 32615

Bev’s Better Burgers combines the best ingredients and delicious recipes with true Southern hospitality to give customers an experience that’s made Bev’s a staple in Alachua since 1984.

FINALISTS:

Brown’s Country Buffet

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN GAINESVILLE

EMBERS WOOD GRILL

3545 SW 34th S t., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608

With over 300 wines and an extensive bar list featuring ports and sherries; wood grilled and hand cut steaks; succulent seafood, chef specialties and sweet desserts, Embers is Our Town readers’ favorite Gainesville restaurant.

FINALISTS: The Top Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN HIGH SPRINGS

GREAT OUTDOORS RESTAURANT

65 N Main St., High Springs, FL 32643

Winner of Trip Advisor’s Award of Excellence in 2018 and named favorite restaurant in High Springs by Our Town readers for the second year, The Great Outdoors Restaurant attracts customers with live music, an outdoor patio, dining in the upstairs opera house and delicious food.

:

Bev’s Better Burgers

Grady House Bed & Breakfast

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN NEWBERRY

STONE HOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL

1759 SW 248th Drive, Newberry, FL 32669

The owners and operators of Stone House Neighborhood Grill, a full-service restaurant in Newberry, have over 20 years of experience in the food service industry and a passion for providing exceptional food and service that will leave customers coming back for more.

FINALISTS: Local Provisions

Dave’s New York Deli

Health & Beauty

FAVORITE LASER HAIR REMOVAL CENTER

PURE AESTHETICS

217 NW 76th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32607

Beauty brought to the surface and serenity replenished one client at a time. Pure Aesthetics provides expert aesthetic care and goal-oriented coaching in a calm and peaceful environment. This approach presents an optimal opportunity to make the change you’ve desired.

FINALISTS:

Dermacare Laser and Skin Care Clinic

John W. Tyrone, MD, PLLC, Plastic Surgery

FAVORITE LOCAL ACUPUNCTURIST

THE HEALING HOUSE OF ALACHUA

14804 NW 140th St., Alachua, FL 32615

Ashley Upham started her journey of becoming a Doctor of Chinese Medicine as an Acupuncture patient. After receiving treatment and experiencing the effects, she knew she had to learn more and share the benefits she was experiencing with others. She opened The Healing House in Alachua and her enthusiasm and expertise have made her a treasured healthcare resource in the community.

FINALISTS:

Elizabeth Nobles, Floating Lotus Spa

Yan Acupuncture & Herbs

FAVORITE LOCAL AESTHETIC CENTER

PURE AESTHETICS

217 NW 76th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32607

Pure Aesthetics prides itself on helping you look your best, but more than that, they want to help you reconnect with yourself and rediscover your confidence. Unlike aestheticians who seek to transform you into someone else, they believe in helping you appreciate and care for the skin you’ve been given.

FINALISTS:

Luxe MediGlow

Accent Aesthetics

FAVORITE LOCAL AESTHETICIAN

TAYLOR MEYERS AT JOHN W. TYRONE, MD, PLLC

1 08 NW 76th Drive, Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32607

Taylor is a licensed esthetician who joined The Aesthetics Center at John W. Tyrone, MD, PLLC in 2020. She is an important member of the team, helping ensure that her patients are satisfied and their appointments run seamlessly from start to finish.

FINALISTS:

Lindsey Monaghan (Pure Aesthetics)

Leah Dennison (Floating Lotus Spa)

FAVORITE LOCAL AUDIOLOGIST

DR. RYAN BAKER (AUDIOLOGY BY ACCENT)

4340 Newberry Road, Suite 301, Gainesville, FL 32607

Dr. Ryan Baker earned his Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Florida in 2007. His clinical expertise includes diagnostics and amplification, serving musicians’ hearing needs and promoting the installation of hearing loop systems. He is also certified in Tinnitus Retraining Therapy.

FINALISTS:

Clear Sound Audiology at Crown Pointe Gainesville ENT & Allergy Associates

FAVORITE LOCAL BARBER

ALYSSA THE BARBER

Alyssathebarber.glossgenius.com

Alyssa Darling has been a Professional Master Barber since 2018 and graduated from the Hollywood Institute Hair Academy in West Palm Florida before moving to Gainesville in 2020.

FINALISTS:

Randy’s Haircuts For Men

Jonesville Barber Shop

FAVORITE LOCAL BODY PIERCING SHOP

BODYTECH TATTOOING & PIERCING

806 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 Bodytech Tattooing and Piercing Inc., was established in 1998 by Wayne Lessard. Since the beginning Bodytech has always exceeded the tattoo and piercing industry standards and continues to grow by offering a professional, clean, friendly atmosphere where their clients are their number one priority.

FINALISTS:

Anatomic Body Arts - Body Piercing

Valkyries Tattoo & Body Piercing

FAVORITE LOCAL CBD STORE

HALO HEALTH SERVICES

8611 SW 92nd Lane, Gainesville, FL 32608

Halo Health Services provides nutrition, physical fitness and mental wellness guidance to address health and wellness outcomes from all of the many aspects of influence.

FINALISTS:

Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center SouthernSunCBD

FAVORITE LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR AWAKEN

CHIROPRACTIC

5200 NW 43rd St., Suite 507, Gainesville, FL 32606

Awaken Chiropractic is focused on improving the health and wellness of the entire community, which is why their mission is to provide their patients with chiropractic care and the tools needed to improve overall health and wellness for a lifetime.

FINALISTS:

West Family

Chiropractic

Charles Tucker

Chiropractic

FAVORITE COSMETIC/ PLASTIC SURGEON

JOHN W. TYRONE, MD, PLLC, PLASTIC SURGERY

1 08 NW 76th Drive, Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32607

Enhance your natural beauty with personalized plastic surgery care and non-surgical cosmetic treatments customized just for you. Award winning, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Tyrone, is dedicated to restoring and enhancing your natural beauty, form and function.

FINALISTS:

Dr. Gregory Gaines (Gaines Plastic Surgery)

Dr. Richard Nesmith (Nesmith Plastic Surgery)

FAVORITE LOCAL DENTIST OFFICE

GAINESVILLE DENTISTRY CO.

2 441 NW 43rd St., Suite 16, Gainesville, FL 32606

Optimal dental health is about more than just addressing problems as they arise—it’s about a preventive approach that keeps you smiling for years to come. Using the best technology and a compassionate, patient-centric approach, Gainesville Dentistry Co. will guide you on a journey to optimal dental health.

FINALISTS: Tioga Dental Millhopper Family Dental

CHRISTINA MITCHELL, MD (DERMATOLOGY SPECIALISTS)

135 75 NW 1st Lane, Suite 10, Newberry, FL 32669

Christina Mitchell, MD, is an accomplished dermatologist with a passion for helping her patients feel great in their own skin. Through her work at Dermatology Specialists of Gainesville in Newberry, Dr. Mitchell is honored to play a role in creating positive change in the lives of those in her care.

FINALISTS: Betsy Beers, MD (My Dermatology Associates) Dr. Robert Skidmore (FL Cancer & Dermatology)

FAVORITE LOCAL EYE CLINIC

QUINN EYE CENTER

832 N W 57th St., Gainesville, FL 32605

Quinn Eye Center offers the highest quality eye care and an extensive selection of eyewear to Gainesville and the surrounding areas in an environment that is professional, friendly and comfortable.

FINALISTS: Hedges Eye Care North Florida Cataract Specialists

BEAUTY LOUNGE & CO

1 405 NW 6th St., Suite 110, Gainesville, FL 32601

Co-founded in 2016 by microblading artist Nikki Naylor, Beauty Lounge & Co prides itself in using the highest quality tools and products in the industry as well as employing highly-educated artists like Naylor and lash extension and waxing specialist Miranda Bohr.

FINALISTS:

The Brow Queen & Co

Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center

FAVORITE LOCAL EYEBROW SALON BEAUTY LOUNGE & CO

1 405 NW 6th St., Suite 110, Gainesville, FL 32601

Eyebrows are the frame of your face and can make such a difference in your overall look. Beauty Lounge & Co has several options for enhancing your brows and offer consultations with a brow specialist to discuss the how to achieve your perfect brows.

FINALISTS:

Salon Ziba (Ziba De Beaute)

The Brow Queen & Co.

FAVORITE LOCAL GROUP FITNESS

GAINESVILLE

HEALTH & FITNESS

Ghfc.com

With over 1,000 classes per month across three convenient locations, Gainesville Health and Fitness offers the best variety of group fitness classes in Gainesville. Whether you’re looking to raise your heart rate with cardio classes, tone your abs or find your zen, they have the perfect class for you.

FINALISTS: B3 Gym

AXIS Training Studio

FAVORITE LOCAL GYM

GAINESVILLE HEALTH & FITNESS

Ghfc.com

Gainesville Health & Fitness is the only health and fitness club offering more programs, more staff and more opportunities to get in shape and stay that way. Variety is what will help you stick to exercise and get the results you’re looking for.

FINALISTS:

B3 Gym

XCEED Sports Performance

FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON

HAIR BY MELEAH

4001 Newberry Road, Suite D2, Gainesville, FL 32607

Meleah Baker is a licensed cosmetologist that specializes in detailed blondes, healthy hair, product knowledge, daily styling and event styling.

FINALISTS:

Confidence Hair Salon

Roots Salon Tioga

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTH FOOD STORE

WARD’S SUPERMARKET

515 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609

At Ward’s, it’s not just about people coming to get groceries, it’s personal. Whether it’s a vendor, an employee, or a customer. Ward’s is also committed to buying local, wanting their vendors to succeed and their customers to have the lowest farm-to-table time possible.

FINALISTS:

Whole Foods Market

Sunflower Health Foods

All massages therapies are performed on a Biomat. We also have a chair in our lobby with a Biomat you can try!

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER (BUSINESS)

CELEBRATE PRIMARY CARE, GAINESVILLE

919 NW 57th St., Gainesville, FL 32605

Celebrate Primary Care is a Direct Primary Care practice, which means you get more time with your provider. They charge a low monthly fee with unlimited access to care, no copays and discounts on labs, generic medications and radiology.

FINALISTS:

Gainesville Direct Primary Care Physicians, LLC

Accent Physician Specialists

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER (PERSON)

JENN MCCONNELL, APRN (CELEBRATE PRIMARY CARE)

919 NW 57th St., Gainesville, FL 32605

Jennifer McConnell is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She began her nursing career in Miami, Florida as a labor and delivery nurse and advanced her career to become the Director of Maternal, Neonatal, Pediatrics and Women’s Services before returning to Gainesville.

FINALISTS:

Althea Tyndall-Smith, MD (Gainesville Primary Care)

Shenary Cotter, MD (Gainesville Primary Care)

FAVORITE LOCAL HOSPITAL

UF HEALTH SHANDS HOSPITAL

1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608

At UF Health Shands, nearly 900 expert UF College of Medicine and community physicians and more than 8,000 skilled nursing and support staff provide comprehensive high-quality patient care from primary care and family medicine to subspecialty tertiary and quaternary services for patients with highly complex medical conditions.

FINALISTS:

HCA Florida North Florida Hospital

FAVORITE LOCAL IN-HOME HEALTHCARE

OVATION HOME CARE

214 W University Ave., Suite A1, Gainesville, FL 32601

As a locally owned and operated Gainesville home care agency, Ovation Home Care addresses the issues aging seniors face. Their approach to senior care is inspired by the perspective of an experienced occupational therapist and includes pastoral care in addition to the personal care traditionally offered by private duty home care companies.

FINALISTS: Granny Nannies of Gainesville Touching Hearts at Home

FAVORITE LOCAL MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO

OKITO AMERICA

6 900 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608

Okito America instructors have studied and trained for years to be part of the Okito team and share the primary goal of assisting Okito clients in being the best they can be by helping them acquire effective self-defense skills and providing them with a comprehensive personal development program.

FINALISTS:

Pro Taekwondo School

M at Life Training Center - Jonesville / Newberry

FAVORITE LOCAL MASSAGE THERAPIST

CORI THIBAULT (CORI THIBAULT MASSAGE)

181 0 NW 6th St., Suite F, Gainesville, FL 32609

Cori Thibault offers custom designed sessions using a variety of techniques to provide a relaxing and therapeutic experience for her clients.

FINALISTS:

Mari (Relax Salt Rooms)

Katherine Russell (Rose Quartz Wellness)

FAVORITE LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN

WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE!

VENUS NAILS SPA

2835 SW 91st St., Suite 320, Gainesville, FL 32608

Indulge yourself with Venus Nails Spa luxurious treatments from a full line of nail, skin and spa care designed to pamper, rejuvenate and restore your body and mind. Their philosophy is very simple: provide a comfortable and relaxing experience with quality service while keeping the price reasonable.

FINALISTS: The Nail Spa Grand Nails - Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL ORTHODONTIST

NEXT LEVEL ORTHODONTICS: GAINESVILLE

320 NW 76th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32607 Next Level Orthodontics understands that no two smiles are alike. Therefore, they design and plan every aspect of your treatment to meet your specific goals and needs while using state-ofthe-art orthodontic technology and innovation.

FINALISTS: Martin Orthodontics Montini Orthodontics

FAVORITE LOCAL ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

DR. LINDSAY S. FLYNN, MD (THE ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE)

Toi-health.com

Dr. Flynn is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hand and upper extremity surgery, nerve surgery, and orthopedic surgery. Her goal is that by the end of a patient’s visit they will have gained a greater understanding of the diagnosis and treatment plan that works best for them.

FINALISTS:

Dr. Mark Petty, MD (The Orthopedic Institute)

Dr. Hari K Parvataneni, MD (UF Health)

DR. KATHERYN SARANTOS (ALLIANCE PEDIATRICS)

4627 NW 53rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32653

Dr. Katheryn Sarantos has always had a strong passion for helping others. Coupled with her affinity for medicine, she’s been serving the Gainesville community for almost 20 years. She began her career as a medical student at the University of Florida, where she also completed her residency, focusing on Pediatrics.

FINALISTS:

Dr. Mary Grooms, MD (UF Health)

Little Pine Pediatric PLLC

FAVORITE LOCAL PERSONAL TRAINER ANDY FARINA

(GAINESVILLE HEALTH & FITNESS)

Ghfc.com

Andy Farina is a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor at Gainesville Health & Fitness. He is self-described as being focused, determined and fun with his training and started instructing group fitness because he enjoys seeing people succeed and get healthier.

FINALISTS:

Kelvin Jones (Zen Fitness)

Jake Thompson (AXIS Training Studio)

FAVORITE LOCAL PHARMACY

GAINESVILLE

DIRECT PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, LL C

212 NW 135th Way, Newberry, FL 32669

Gainesville Direct Primary Care’s in-house dispensary allows them to give their patients medications at cost. They’ll find you the least expensive option so you’re always guaranteed to save money.

FINALISTS: Walgreens

Westlab Pharmacy

FAVORITE LOCAL PHYSICAL THERAPY CENTER

GWP PHYSICAL THERAPY

4650 NW 39th Place, Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32606

Gainesville Wellness and Performance specializes in strength and conditioning programs that are guaranteed to give you the best results. Move well, look good, and feel great. The GWP team has the expertise and experience to help you become a healthier and fitter version of yourself.

FINALISTS:

Kinetix Physical Therapy

Gainesville Physical Therapy & Wellness, LLC

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE FOR SKIN CARE

GAINESVILLE DERMATOLOGY

& SKIN SURGERY

114 NW 76 Drive, Gainesville, FL 32607

The Gainesville dermatologists with Gainesville Dermatology & Skin Surgery specialize in the treatment of a wide range of skin conditions, including skin cancer (melanoma), acne, moles, rosacea, psoriasis, warts, photodamage, eczema and more.

FINALISTS:

Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center

John W. Tyrone, MD, PLLC, Plastic Surgery

HOGTOWN 5K BEER RUN

Climbforcancerfoundation.org

Adult runners enjoy delicious craft beer from Swamp Head Brewery at the finish line along with food, root beer for the kids, music and entertainment. There’s something for everyone. Proceeds from the Hogtown 5K Beer Run benefit the Climb for Cancer Foundation, which supports cancer patients and their families at UF Health.

FINALISTS:

Climb for Cancer Foundation Hogtown Beer Run

Gator Clot Trot

FAVORITE LOCAL SPA

FLOATING LOTUS THERAPEUTIC SPA AND HEALTH CENTER

2441 NW 43rd St., Suite 3A, Gainesville, FL 32606

Welcome to the Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center, Gainesville’s unique escape from the stresses of everyday life. Indulge yourself in therapies focused on anti-aging treatments and complete wellness.

FINALISTS

Spa Royale Haile Village Spa & Salon

FAVORITE LOCAL TANNING SALON

LAE BEAUTY BAR

6 18 NW 60th St., Suite I, Gainesville, FL 32607

LAE Beauty’s standard is to provide a fresh, healthy and smart approach for customers to care for their bodies and skin. Since 2008, LAE Beauty has provided services in eyelash extensions, microblading, brows, facials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, spray tanning - a customer favorite - waxing, tanning and red light therapy.

FINALISTS:

South Beach Tanning Company

Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center

FAVORITE LOCAL TATTOO SHOP

BODYTECH TATTOOING & PIERCING

806 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 Bodytech Tattooing and Piercing Inc. was established in 1998 by Wayne Lessard. They pride themselves on a professional, clean, friendly atmosphere, where their clients are their number one priority. Bodytech Tattooing & Piercing provides tattoo services, body piercing, custom tattoos and jewelry to the Gainesville area.

FINALISTS:

Anthem Tattoo Parlor

Death or Glory Tattoo Parlor

WHERE CONFIDENCE TAKES SHAPE

FAVORITE LOCAL RUNNING EVENT

THE BROW QUEEN & CO.

9111 SW 53 Place, Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32608

The Brow Queen & Co. specializes in brow shaping, lashes and skincare They’re known as your Brow Besties and have been fixing and shaping brows, creating beautiful lash sets and helping clients of all ages with their skin for over 8 years.

FINALISTS:

Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center

Brazils Waxing Center

FAVORITE LOCAL YOGA STUDIO/ INSTRUCTOR

YOGA POD

3045 SW 34th S t., Suite 24, Gainesville, FL 32608

All Yoga Pod classes are suitable for all levels from beginner to advanced and will guide you to a greater state of health, well-being and connection. Each class will help you increase your body awareness, flexibility, and strength, while you also decrease stress and provide a platform for personal growth.

FINALISTS:

Wildflowers Yoga

Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center

FAVORITE URGENT CARE

EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS MEDICAL CENTER

Emergencypmc.com

Emergency Physicians Medical Center offers an alternative for all emergency department patients who don’t require admission to a hospital. They are a full-service, walk-in medical clinic for all ages treating a wide range of minor to serious illnesses and injuries.

FINALISTS:

OneStop Medical and Urgent Care

1st Choice Urgent Care Center

Home Services

FAVORITE LOCAL CARPET CLEANING COMPANY

THE BEST RESTORATION & FLOOR CARE

7230 W U niversity Ave., Gainesville, FL 32607

Trust The Best Restoration for all your carpet cleaning, water damage, and restoration needs. As a local, family-owned company, Best Restoration cares about their clients and their community.

FINALISTS: Clean Zone Carpet System Plus

DONE BY K, LLC

Donebyk.wixsite.com/donebyk

Founded in 2018, Done by K offers organizing, decoration, staging and un-packaging services in Alachua County and Done by K believes every project is different and every client is special.

FINALISTS: Natural Shine Cleaning Mini Maid

FAVORITE LOCAL CONTRACTOR

SCHERER CONSTRUCTION

2504 NW 71st Place, Gainesville, FL 32653

Founded in 1984 by Clark Scherer, Scherer Construction started out of a garage, with a truck, and a vision: to deliver quality projects that exceed customer expectations by providing a seamless construction experience. Today, Scherer Construction continues to fulfill that vision and has expanded their services to reach beyond the typical needs of their customers.

FINALISTS:

Everett Design Build, Inc. Robinson Renovations & Custom Homes, Inc.

FAVORITE LOCAL ELECTRICIAN

KEOUGH ELECTRIC

Keough Electric offers electrical services like electrical trouble shooting, lighting, panel changes and Lutron Caseta Wireless Systems for both residential and commercial customers.

FINALISTS: Vintage Electric

B&D Electric, Inc.

FAVORITE LOCAL FLOORING COMPANY

CARPET ONE FLOOR & HOME

227 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609

Carpet One Floor & Home in Gainesville, has served the flooring needs of the Gainesville area for more than 49 years. Their flooring team has decades of experience in the industry and can help you with your next project each step of the way.

FINALISTS:

LB Flooring

Gainesville CarpetPlus Colortile

FAVORITE LOCAL HANDYMAN

HANDYMANPROT

5722 SW 85th St., Gainesville, FL 32608

Tim with HandyManProT has been working as a professional handyman catering to satisfied clients throughout Gainesville and the surrounding area offering top quality home improvement services that you can count on.

FINALISTS:

John Linville (Central Home Repairs)

Steve Strickland (Strick Services)

FAVORITE LOCAL HOME BUILDER

RED DOOR HOMES OF FLORIDA

7420 W Newberry Road, Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32605

Red Door Homes offers custom traditionally built homes with top-quality, brand name materials. Create the home you desire by selecting the options that fit your family’s needs. Your home, your choice at Red Door Homes.

FINALISTS: GW Homes

FAVORITE LOCAL HOME ORGANIZER

DONE BY K, LLC

Donebyk.wixsite.com/donebyk

Kitchens and pantries; basements; garages, and attics; bedrooms and bathrooms; closets and linens; family rooms and dens; home offices and more, Done by K can help you organize it all.

FINALISTS: Simplify Home Organizing

Melissa Beery

FAVORITE LOCAL HVAC COMPANY

COMFORT TEMP HEATING & AIR

4301 N W 6th St., Gainesville, FL 32609

Comfort Temp provides comfort and peace of mind for every single one of their customers. Their team is made up of the most professional and experienced technicians. Comfort is their business and peace of mind is their promise.

FINALISTS:

Bounds Heating & Air

Dayton Heating & Air Conditioning

KINGS INTERIOR DESIGN

5200 Newberry Road, Suite D6, Gainesville, FL 32607

Kings Interior Design is serious about making show-stopping interior design accessible to everyone. They give their clients in the Gainesville and Haile Plantation area unbeatable interior design and remodeling services that never sacrifice quality for affordability.

FINALISTS:

Mary Schmidt Interiors

Kaelyn Schmidt Designs, LLC

FAVORITE LOCAL LANDSCAPING COMPANY

THE MASTER’S LAWN

CARE

114 17 NW 59th Terrace, Gainesville, Florida 32653

Since its founding in 2004, The Master’s Lawn Care has proudly served the Gainesville community in areas like lawn service, landscaping, irrigation, pressure washing and lighting while aiming to constantly exceed their client’s expectations by providing quality work and professionalism.

FINALISTS:

Sun Power Lawn Care

Sunscape Lawns, LLC

FAVORITE LOCAL MORTGAGE COMPANY

CHRIS DOERING MORTGAGE

3940 NW 16th Blvd., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32605

The Chris Doering Mortgage team is dedicated to providing their clients with knowledgeable and ethical customer service partnering with each and every homebuyer throughout the entire process, whether it’s answering questions, explaining concepts or helping homebuyers find the best mortgage option for their needs.

FINALISTS:

Ameris Bank

The Mortgage Firm Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL MOVING COMPANY

LATER GATOR MOVING LLC

9124 SW 51st Road, Gainesville, FL 32608

Later Gator Moving is a licensed and insured Gainesville moving company that specializes in secure, professional and efficient long-distance, out-of-state moving services. They’re dedicated to delivering your most valued possessions securely no matter the distance.

FINALISTS:

Big Kahuna Moving & More, LLC

UF Mover Guys

Get out of pain fast!

We’re excited to help more people to naturally get out of pain without pain meds, injections or surgery. Call us today!

FAVORITE LOCAL PAINTING COMPANY

COLOR PROS PAINTING, LLC

4 133 NW 9th St., Gainesville, FL 32609

At Color Pros, their attention to detail sets them apart from the rest. They use only the highest-quality products to ensure your investment is protected. They’re professional, licensed and insured.

FINALISTS:

CorsPaint Painting Company of Gainesville

Jay Whitney Painting, LLC

FAVORITE LOCAL PEST CONTROL COMPANY

PEST ASSURED INC.

25 152 NW 175th Lane, High Springs, FL 32643-2378

Pest Assured’s mission is to provide a world class customer experience by utilizing the safest, most effective, integrated pest management practices to protect families, businesses and the environment.

FINALISTS:

Newberry Pest Control

Florida Pest Control

“Great experience and wonderful staff. The tightness and discomfort in my shoulder has improved greatly.The diagnostic ultrasound was beneficial to rule out rotator cuff problems. Laser therapy was good, but the manual therapy was the best.” -Sharon

FAVORITE LOCAL PLUMBING COMPANY

QUALITY PLUMBING OF GAINESVILLE

6318 NW 18th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32653

No matter how big or small the project is Quality Plumbing of Gainesville is committed to courtesy, promptness, efficiency and total communication with their customers. They want you to be aware of options, cost and the status of your project at all times. These are the principles on which the company was built.

FINALISTS:

Sunshine Plumbing Gas Gainesville

Titletown Plumbing, LLC

FAVORITE LOCAL POOL COMPANY

SWIMCLEAN, LLC

Swimcleanllc.com

Locally owned and operated, SwimClean is licensed, insured, educated and passionate about helping their customers maintain proper water quality that will help protect the people you love as well as help maintain the integrity of your pool system.

FINALISTS:

H2Oasis Custom Pool & Spa, LLC

Fun State Pool Service

FAVORITE LOCAL POWER WASHER

INSTANT CURB APPEAL OF FLORIDA – A SOFT

WASHING COMPANY

Instantcurbappealofflorida.com

Instant Curb Appeal of Florida is a professional “Soft Wash” cleaning company that provides a safer and higher quality method for your building’s exterior. They offer their services to all of Alachua County and their mission is to make your place of work or living look like it’s brand new.

FINALISTS:

JFJ Pressure Washing

Hydro Pro

FAVORITE LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

KNR PROPERTIES –KRISTEN RABELL

5213 SW 91st Terrace, Suite A-1, Gainesville, FL 32608

Setting the Standard in Gainesville property management, KNR Properties provides the highest standard of professional management and tenant placement services for investors and homeowners in Gainesville and they work hard to ensure your properties have the best marketing strategy, tenant screening, maintenance and return on your investment.

FINALISTS:

G olden Rule Real Estate and Property Management

Gore-Rabell Real Estate

FAVORITE LOCAL REAL ESTATE COMPANY

RABELL REALTY GROUP

5213 SW 91st Terrace, Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608

With years of experience helping local buyers and sellers just like yourself, Rabell knows how to locate the finest properties and negotiate the best deals while knowing about the latest market conditions, government regulations and upcoming developments so you don’t have to.

FINALISTS:

The Curlings Group – Keller Williams Realty Keller Williams Gainesville Realty Partners

FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR

SUSAN HICKS (RABELL REALTY)

5213 SW 91st Terrace, Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608

Susan Hicks is a Florida Gator fanatic, mother of two and an aficionado of all things Disney. A home-grown, hometown real estate agent, Hicks’s uniquely positioned to help both sellers & home buyers with their real estate needs in the Gainesville area and North Central Florida’s outlying areas.

FINALISTS: Kristen Rabell

Cherrie Hughes (Keller Williams Gainesville Realty Partners)

ROBINSON RENOVATION & CUSTOM HOMES, INC.

6910 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32607

Robinson Renovation & Custom Homes Inc. is a design - build remodeling company specializing in new homes, residential remodeling and commercial projects. The Robinson Family has been serving Gainesville and the Alachua County area since 1958.

FINALISTS:

Gainesville Turnover Specialists

Southern Restoration & Design

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTORATION COMPANY

THE BEST RESTORATION & FLOOR CARE

7230 W U niversity Ave., Gainesville, FL 32607

Trust The Best Restoration for all your carpet cleaning, water damage and restoration needs. Their core cleaning services consist of water cleanup, water extraction, flood damage cleanup, mold remediation, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, area rug cleaning, air duct cleaning and tile and grout cleaning services.

FINALISTS:

Southern Restoration & Design

Dreyer’s DKI

FAVORITE LOCAL ROOFING COMPANY

TRUE FORCE ROOFING

13800 Tech City Circle, Suite 322, Alachua, FL 32615

True Force Roofing is a roofing force to be reckoned with comprised of licensed roofers serving customers in Alachua County, Marion County, Clay County and the surrounding areas.

FINALISTS:

Worthmann Roofing Energy Roofing Companies

FAVORITE LOCAL SOLAR ENERGY COMPANY

ENLIGHT ENERGY

Enlight.energy/Gainesville

EnLight Energy can work closely with you to adopt solutions that drastically reduce your electric, gas or oil bill; renovate your home to eliminate those energy bills altogether or, if you’re in the market, guide you in buying or building a zero energy home.

FINALISTS:

Carpe Sol Better Earth Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL TITLE COMPANY

HAILE TITLE COMPANY

4 739 NW 53rd Ave., Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32653

Haile Title was established with the needs of the community in mind and strives to maintain standards that exceed those of the competition by offering professional services, affordable prices and a friendly staff.

FINALISTS:

The Law Office of Robert J. Warren, P.A. Gumminger Law, PLLC

FAVORITE LOCAL TREE REMOVAL COMPANY

DAUGHTRY TREE SERVICE

26106 NW 3rd Ave., Newberry, FL 32669

Daughtry Tree Service has been serving both residential and commercial clients in Alachua County and the surrounding areas since 2001. Their business philosophy includes being fair and honest with their customers and go above and beyond their expectations while providing quality work.

FINALISTS:

Shade Shifter Tree Service

True Cut Tree Service, Inc.

ALACHUA BLINDS &

MORE

1 6036 NW 206th Drive, High Springs, FL 32643

Alachua Blinds & More is your trusted local expert in window treatments, including blinds and shades, serving Gainesville and the greater North Central Florida regions. They offer a vast array of window blinds and shades with custom functions and design features.

FINALISTS:

Budget Blinds of Gainesville, Alachua and High Springs

Seventy Two Hour Blind Factory

Nightlife

FAVORITE BAR STAFF

BLACKADDER BREWING COMPANY

618 NW 60th St., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32607

The Blackadder team is truly where the passion behind Blackadder Brewing begins. Although they come from different backgrounds, their dedication to brewing and customer service brings them together to produce great beers and a wonderful experience.

FINALISTS:

Lebowski’s Pup Pub

Crafty Bastards Restaurant

FAVORITE BURLESQUE PERFORMER

SALLY B. DASH

Sallybdash.com

Sally B. Dash is Florida’s Countess of Caricature bringing her own brand of funny to the fine art of striptease. A bawdy, boobalicious burlesquer, she has been tickling Gainesville’s fancy (and funny bone) since 2013.

FINALISTS: Phoenix Midnight Starr Shine

FAVORITE DOWNTOWN BAR

LEBOWSKI’S PUP PUB

514 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601

Lebowski’s Pup Pub is Gainesville’s only dog bar featuring beer, wine and liquor; rotating food trucks and daily drink specials.

FINALISTS

The Top Cry Baby’s

FAVORITE LOCAL BAR FOR BEER

BLACKADDER BREWING COMPANY

618 NW 60th St., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32607

From “I Cherries You,” which is a Belgian ale made with sweet and tart cherries, to “The Pink Rider,” a saison made with pink peppercorns and mosaic hops, the smoky “James’ Brown” to the spicy chipotle pepper-infused “Rumpy Pumpy Pepper’d Porter,” Blackadder Brewing Company has a unique lineup of beers for every palette.

FINALISTS:

Lebowski’s Pup Pub

Crafty Bastards Restaurant

FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER

BRIAN HIEBEL (THAT BAR AND TABLE)

Specialty cocktails like an espresso martini or blackberry lemon drop; red and white wines; cans and bottles and several drafts, Brian Hiebel with That Bar and Table is boozy beverage expert and Our Town readers’ favorite bartender.

FINALISTS:

Erin Boyle (Blackadder Brewing Company)

Geno Schmelke (Lebowski’s Pup Pub)

CALL TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY SWITCHING TO SOLAR!

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER (KIND)

LORD FLASHHEART’S GOLDEN ALE (BLACKADDER BREWING COMPANY)

618 NW 60th St., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32607

Lord Flashheart’s Golden Ale is a light-drinking Belgian blonde from Blackadder Brewing, which has been committed to producing authentic and unique beers that push the boundaries of regular brewing styles and categories.

FINALISTS:

Sandy Britches Kolsch (High Springs Brewing Company) Vega (First Magnitude)

FAVORITE LOCAL BLOODY MARY

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St., Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 Enjoy Saturday and Sunday brunch at That Bar and Table while sipping on a customizable bloody Mary: Pick your vodka and your spice level from medium to hot and extra hot.

FINALISTS:

Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille Crafty Bastards Restaurant

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY

HIGH SPRINGS BREWING COMPANY

18562 NW 237th St., High Springs, FL 32643 High Springs Brewing Company is a family-owned and family-operated purveyor of hand-crafted beverages. They ignited this dream in a carport while enjoying finely crafted beers by other inspiring breweries and opened their own location in 2017.

FINALISTS: Blackadder Brewing Company

First Magnitude Brewing Company

FAVORITE LOCAL CRAFT COCKTAILS

THE TOP

3 0 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601

Grapefruit Gimlet, Basil Martini, rose water-infused Rosy Cheeks and the non-alcoholic Pineapple Dragon or black tea and lemon Birdie; The Top has a cocktail menu that caters to both spirit and spirit-free drinkers.

FINALISTS:

Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

Cry Baby’s

FAVORITE LOCAL DIVE BAR

MOTHER’S PUB & GRILL NORTH

5109 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour and late night specials along with tavern-style pizza and daily deals, Mother’s Pub and Grill – named as an homage to the move “About Last Night” – is Our Town readers’ favorite dive bar.

FINALISTS:

Lebowski’s Pup Pub

Munegin’s on 13th

FAVORITE LOCAL FANCY-PANTS BAR

DRAGONFLY SUSHI & SAKE COMPANY

201 SE 2nd A ve., Suite 104, Gainesville, FL 32601

Distilled and infused spirits; red and white wines; champagnes and sparkling wines; Omakase cocktails; specialty cocktails; non-alcoholic mocktails; shōchū and sake provide an expansive list of bar options at Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company.

FINALISTS: The Dime

Fluid Lounge

352-222-0795

ABLACK@ENLIGHT.ENERGY

CRAFTY BASTARDS RESTAURANT

4860 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606

Crafty Bastards Restaurant’s Happy Hour runs from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Sunday with deals like $1 off drafts, single wells and house cocktails; ½ off house cabernets and house chardonnays and $1 off all appetizers – talk about a deal.

FINALISTS:

The Top Stone House Neighborhood Grill

FAVORITE LOCAL HIPSTER SPOT

LEBOWSKI’S PUP PUB

514 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601

Lebowski’s Pup Pub in the heart of Downtown Gainesville has two, fully fenced off-leash dog parks staffed with trained ‘bowncers’ to keep your dog safe. They also offer a full liquor bar for humans to enjoy, a beer garden for dogs to stay on leash and rotating food trucks.

FINALISTS:

The Top

FAVORITE LOCAL IRISH BAR

BLACKADDER BREWING COMPANY

618 NW 60th St., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32607

Blackadder Brewing serves their customers with only the best – continually crafting each taste until it’s exactly right while delivering quality flavors, honoring their customers and celebrating the culture of beer.

FINALISTS:

Mother’s Pub & Grill North Limerock Road Neighborhood Grill

FAVORITE LOCAL LIQUOR STORE

DORN’S LIQUORS & WINE WAREHOUSE

4140 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32605

Wine pairings, weddings, events, catering or drink and cocktail advice, Dorn’s Liquors & Wine Warehouse has you covered.

FINALISTS:

Jigz Liquor Store

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits

FAVORITE LOCAL MARGARITA

BOCA FIESTA

232 SE 1st St., Gainesville, FL Boca Fiesta dispenses soda pop, iced tea, coffee and an extensive beer selection as well as fresh-squeezed lemonade, limeade and their local favorite: fresh-squeezed citrus, agave-sweetened margaritas including their house, Boca and Cadillac-style margaritas.

FINALISTS:

Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant Gainesville

Blue Agave Mexican Restaurant

FAVORITE LOCAL MARTINI

EMBERS WOOD GRILL

3545 SW 34th S t., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608

Harness your inner James Bond with a delicious martini and at Embers Wood Grill, you’ll find the best martinis around.

FINALISTS:

The Top Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

FAVORITE OLD FASHIONED

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st S t., Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608-2781

Four Roses, WhistlePig Rye, Jack Daniels, Makers Mark and Woodford Reserve are all on tap at That Bar and Table to help craft the best Old Fashioned cocktail in town.

FINALISTS:

V Pizza & SideCar

Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

FAVORITE LOCAL PATIO BAR

LEBOWSKI’S PUP PUB

514 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601

Lebowski’s Pup Pub is going to the dogs, but that doesn’t mean their humans can’t enjoy the great outdoors too. Besides an off-leash dog park for small and large dogs, Lebowski’s hosts a beer garden as well as doggie and mimosa yoga on the lawn.

FINALISTS:

One Love Café

Great Outdoors

Restaurant

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO KARAOKE

STAGE 7 KARAOKE

4 110 SW 34th St., Suite 1, Gainesville, FL 32608

Stage 7 Karaoke is Gainesville’s only private-room karaoke! If you want the comfort and privacy of a night in with your friends and all the amenities of going out, they’re your ideal choice.

FINALISTS:

Vecinos Neighborhood Restaurant & Bar Mothers Pub North

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO SEE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

BLACKADDER BREWING COMPANY

618 NW 60th St., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32607

While Edmund the black cat is the star and mascot for Blackadder Brewing Company, he isn’t the only stunner at the brewery as Blackadder was voted as Our Town readers’ favorite place to see beautiful people.

FINALISTS: High Springs Brewing Company Celebration Pointe

FAVORITE LOCAL TRIVIA NIGHT

BLACKADDER BREWING COMPANY

618 NW 60th St., Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32607

Wednesdays aren’t just a camel’s favorite day of the week at Blackadder Brewing Company Wednesdays mean trivia night! Test your knowledge and maybe win some prizes too.

FINALISTS:

Crafty Bastards Restaurant World of Bear

Other Favorites

FAVORITE FEMALE MEDIA

PERSONALITY

MICHELLE (SHELLEY) VICKERS

Schererconstruction.com

Shelley Vickers has over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. She is enthusiastic and has a great deal of knowledge dealing with subcontractors, workflow, safety coordination and customer satisfaction. She serves as the Marketing Director and Executive Administrator at Scherer Construction.

FINALISTS:

Kara Winslow

Lisa Sicassio WCJB Channel 20

FAVORITE LOCAL AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

O2B KIDS

O2bkids.com

Every elementary school child who wants to investigate the mysteries of science, explore technology, plant a garden, make a movie, paint a picture, sing a song, write a story, choreograph a dance, toss a ball, laugh, learn or play with their friends will love O2B Afterschool.

FINALISTS:

Sun Country Sports Center

Okito America (Archer Road)

FAVORITE LOCAL APARTMENT COMPLEX

THE FLATS AT TIOGA TOWN CENTER APARTMENTS

105 SW 128th St., Newberry, FL 32669

The Flats at Tioga Town Center are designed to combine urban style living with small town charm. The Flats at Tioga Town Center offer residents a superbly appointed modern living space all within walking distance from a variety of convenient and upscale shopping, a premiere fitness center, restaurants and numerous professional services.

FINALISTS:

Hunters Crossing Apartments

The Paddock Club Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL ATTORNEY

JOHN ROBERTS LAW OFFICE

7 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34470

A graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, John Roberts has over 15 years of valuable experience working in the GainesvilleOcala Area. He focuses his practice on Family Law, Probate, and Estate Planning.

FINALISTS:

Monica Perez-McMillen

John Kelly – Glassman & Zissimopulos

FAVORITE LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP

RPM AUTO LLC

24850 NW 9th Place, Newberry, FL 32669

RPM Auto provides high-quality car parts for all major vehicle systems as well as off-road, marine and industrial equipment. They also offer complete automotive services for repair, performance and maintenance.

FINALISTS:

Auto ER

Continental Imports of Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE SALESPERSON

RUSSELL PEREZ (MOTORY GROUP)

1 007 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601

Russell Perez is a Gainesville native and finance specialist with Motory Group, Gainesville’s go-to dealership for used automobiles with finances available for people with all ranges of credit. Perez’s work in the automotive industry won him recognition among voters as their favorite automotive salesperson.

FINALISTS:

Elijah Miller (Gainesville Nissan)

Charles Beyer (BMW of Gainesville)

FAVORITE LOCAL BANK

SEACOAST BANK

3833 SW 37th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32608

Seacoast Bank is community banking at its best, providing a complete range of personal, small business and commercial banking solutions with a personal touch. As members of the Gainesville community, the Seacoast Bank Gainesville branch understands their customers are more than clients—they’re neighbors.

FINALISTS:

Ameris Bank

Capital City Bank

FAVORITE LOCAL CREDIT UNION

CAMPUS USA CREDIT UNION

Campuscu.com

CAMPUS serves over 125,000 members from all over the world. As a not-for-profit cooperative, they are owned by their members. Profits are returned to member-owners in the form of no- and low-fee financial services and best-ofmarket rates on deposits and loans.

FINALISTS:

Radiant Credit Union

Florida Credit Union

FAVORITE LOCAL DANCE STUDIO

INDEPENDANCE STUDIO –GAINESVILLE

Independancestudio.com

IndepenDANCE Studio believes dancing should be a joyful experience for people of all ages and abilities. Their name is a reflection of our commitment to helping every student develop independence and enjoyment as they express themselves through the artistry of dance.

FINALISTS:

Jacqueline Valdez Studio

Doxa Dance Studio Inc.

FAVORITE LOCAL DAYCARE

O2B KIDS

O2bkids.com

Programs include preschool, afterschool, summer camp and unprecedented family membership. While the O2B Kids programs and facilities vary by location, their commitment to enrichment variety, engaging play and lifelong learning are present at them all.

FINALISTS:

The Premier Preschool KidWorks at Tioga Town Center

FAVORITE LOCAL DOG GROOMER (LOCATION)

DAPPER DOGS GROOMING SALON LLC

Groomdapperdogs.com

Since 2017, Dapper Dogs Grooming Salon has been providing loyal and loving pet care and services to the Gainesville, FL area and beyond.

FINALISTS:

Charlie’s Place Pet Spa and Boutique Pelusa’s Pet Grooming

FAVORITE LOCAL DOGGY DAYCARE/ BOARDING

CAMP RUN-AMUTT

1107 S Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601

Camp Run-A-Mutt is the premier cage-free doggie daycare and boarding paradise. Their services include daycare, boarding, grooming and obedience classes. Their camp is beautiful, fun, safe and supervised 24/7 and features over 11,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor play area for dogs to romp, play and socialize.

FINALISTS:

Pet Paradise Gainesville

Charlie’s Place Pet Spa and Boutique

FAVORITE LOCAL FINANCIAL PLANNER

TRYSSA PACCIULLI (YOUR FINANCIAL LEGACY)

4623 NW 53rd Ave., Suite 6, Gainesville, FL Tryssa Pacciulli is the Founder & Lead Financial Advisor at Your Financial Legacy. After spending 15 years in the financial services industry working for a Fortune 500 company and a couple Wealth Management firms, she started her own values-based financial planning practice.

FINALISTS:

Reagan K Potts (Edward Jones)

Al Cockrell (Clarity Wealth)

GRADY HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST

2 4042 W US Highway 27, High Springs, FL 32643

Visit the historic Grady House Bed & Breakfast where morning greets you with a gourmet breakfast beautifully prepared and plated. Enjoy freshly-brewed coffee while you stroll the winding path through the fenced garden full of Florida fauna and a lovely koi pond by the gazebo.

FINALISTS:

Sweetwater Branch Inn Lodging & Events

Hotel Indigo Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL INSURANCE AGENT

DAN SHAW (FLORIDA FARM BUREAU INSURANCE)

5700 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL 32608

Get real, auto, home, life! Dan Shaw helps clients with life insurance and annuity products that are offered through the southern farm bureau life insurance company.

FINALISTS:

Chris Floyd (Insight Insurance)

Kerry Ward (Darr Schackow Insurance)

FAVORITE LOCAL INSURANCE AGENCY

BRIGHTWAY INSURANCE, THE MOFFAT AGENCY

9127 SW 52nd Ave., Suite D-103, Gainesville, FL 32608

Brightway, The Moffat Agency is not your typical independent insurance agency. As a Brightway agency, they have relationships with over 100 insurance companies and can offer you expert advice and more choice than any other independent agent.

FINALISTS:

Farm Bureau Insurance

Darr Schackow Insurance Agency

FAVORITE LOCAL IT SUPPORT COMPANY

MY IT MASTERS

20 20 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32603

My IT Masters is an IT support firm offering a full range of tech solutions to meet all of your small to mid-size business and/or residential needs. Their goal is to help our customers get more from their computer technology.

FINALISTS:

CRASH Technicians

Epic IT Solutions

JOHN ROBERTS LAW OFFICE

7 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34470

The John Roberts Law Firm is a modern law firm formed with the goal of fulfilling all of your legal needs. Let the John Roberts Law Firm handle all of your legal issues, ranging from Family Law issues to Estate Plans to Probates.

FINALISTS:

Glassman & Zissimopulos Law Firm

Meldon Law

FAVORITE MALE MEDIA PERSONALITY

LEWIS STOKES

937kcountry.com

Lewis Stokes has been a radio DJ at 93.7 K-Country for over 27 years. Stokes was raised in north central Florida and Gator games have been a way of life since 1979. You can catch Stokes on 93.7 K-Country Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FINALISTS:

Elio Piedra Entertainment & DJ Services

Jeff Cardozo

Relax and enjoy a simpler place

LIQUID CREATIVE

309 NE 1st St., Gainesville, FL 32601

Liquid Creative is your full-service marketing partner. They craft marketing strategies that align with your goals. Whatever you’re looking to achieve, they’ll help you get there.

FINALISTS:

PHOS Creative

Betterme Productions

FAVORITE LOCAL METEOROLOGIST

MIKE POTTER (WCJB)

Mike Potter, a Key West native and meteorologist with WCJB, has been reporting the weather for the Gainesville-based station since 1992 – appearing on TV20’s Morning Edition and TV20 News at Noon. However, it’s not the first time he worked at WCJB; he was a Weekend Weather Anchor in 1984.

FINALISTS:

Megan Borowski

Bill Quinlan

FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

ADRIENNE FLETCHER PHOTOGRAPHY

Women.adriennefletcher.com

Adrienne Fletcher Photography is a boutique portrait studio that looks to empower women of any age and body type through the medium of photography by creating experiences that leave women feeling confident, valued, beautiful and seen for who they are.

FINALISTS:

Magnolia Lane Photography

Footstone Photography

FAVORITE LOCAL PODCAST

VETFOLIO – ONLINE VETERINARY CONTINUING EDUCATION

Vetfolio.com

With hundreds of veterinary CE courses available in a variety of formats — videos, webinars, articles and more — covering a wide range of topics, VetFolio is the veterinary community’s most respected online education resource.

FINALISTS:

Kara’s Lipstick Diary

Jacqueline Valdez Live

FAVORITE LOCAL PRESCHOOL

THE PREMIER PRESCHOOL

Premierpreschools.com

Established in 1999, Premier Preschools is committed to providing children with a strong educational foundation through our developmentally appropriate programs in a warm, nurturing and secure environment.

FINALISTS:

O2B Kids

Education Station & Preschool

FAVORITE LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOL

OAK HALL SCHOOL

1700 SW 75th St., Gainesville, FL 32607

Since 1970, Oak Hall School has been committed to providing students with a welcoming, diverse and supportive learning community that empowers students to pursue their academic, artistic and athletic passions.

FINALISTS:

The Rock School

St. Patrick Interparish School

FAVORITE RADIO STATION

BEE PRINT AND DESIGN

Beeprintanddesign.com

Bee Print & Design helps businesses across the country to appreciate their employees and customers and promote their services with high quality products and exceptional graphic design services.

FINALISTS:

Hello Branding

EDGE Promotions

FAVORITE RADIO PERSONALITY

LEWIS STOKES (K-COUNTRY)

937kcountry.com

Lewis Stokes is a midday announcer and production director with 93.7 K-Country. Though he’s a Tallahassee native, he bleeds orange and blue and when he’s not reading, listening to country music or watching a UF game, you can hear him on 93.7 K-Country from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FINALISTS:

Brett Douglas (Kiss 105)

Elio Piedra (Tu Fiesta Radio)

WOGK 93.7 K COUNTRY

937kcountry.com

Since 2009, 93.7 K-Country has been filling radio airwaves with today’s best country, always with a better variety. With morning shows, radio personalities and Top 40 country playlists, Our Town readers are turning their dials to 93.7 for their favorite radio station.

FINALISTS:

The JOY FM 91.5 FM WCIE

WYKS-FM KISS 105.3

FAVORITE LOCAL SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

THE VILLAGE AT GAINESVILLE

8000 NW 27 Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606

The Village at Gainesville is home to those who want a maintenance-free lifestyle, the opportuni ties offered by a vibrant senior rental community, and the peace of mind of on-site assisted living and memory support. With six residence choices, The Village at Gainesville offers residents the freedom and ability to live in a home that reflects their style and fits their budget.

FINALISTS:

Oak Hammock at the University of Florida HarborChase of Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS COMMENTATOR OR COLUMNIST

PAT DOOLEY

Gainesville.com

Pat Dooley has been at The Gainesville Sun since 1987 and has been the sports columnist since 1994. He takes credit for all of the national titles won by Florida since then.

FINALISTS:

Nick de la Torre (Gators Online ON3) Brandon Olsen (Locked in Gators)

FAVORITE LOCAL TALK RADIO SHOW

98.5 KTK

98.5 KTK is an adult contemporary radio station serving Gainesville and Ocala playing the best variety music of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and today.

FINALISTS:

Jeff Cardoza (The Tailgate)

MICHAEL SOLOMON (ACCOUNTING PERSONALIZED INC.)

4210 NW 37th Place, Suite 300, Gainesville, FL 32606

Michael Solomon is the lead accountant and owner of Accounting Personalized Inc. In 2012, he graduated from Elon University’s five-year accounting program in three and a half years. Upon graduation, he was accepted by the North Carolina CPA board as well as the AICPA to be a CPA candidate.

FINALISTS:

Sexton & Schnoll

Fiore Accounting & Tax Services

FAVORITE LOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY

GIAMORE TRAVEL BY DREAM VACATIONS

Gvictorero.dreamvacations.com

GiaMore Travel by Dream Vacations is an independently owned travel agency based out of Florida designed to help anyone with their travel needs. They have a primary focus on cruising, international travel, resorts, business travel and more.

FINALISTS:

Sea Glass Travel

Cruise Planners

FAVORITE LOCAL TV ANCHOR

PAIGE BECK

Wcjb.com

Paige Beck is a West Virginia native who’s been a member of WCJB TV20 since 1989. She currently co-anchors WCJB TV20’s 5:00 Live, 6:00 Report and the 11:00 PM Nightbeat and was voted by Our Town readers as their favorite local TV anchor.

FINALISTS:

Lisa Sacaccio WCJB

Kristin Chase

FAVORITE TV STATION FOR NEWS

WCJB TV20

Wcjb.com

WCJB-TV began operation in 1971 and continues to be the only locally produced newscast in the market. The news team prides itself on supporting and sponsoring many local charities and events throughout the market while also bringing viewers the most current and breaking news.

WCJB TV20 / GAINESVILLE CW10

Wcjb.com

WCJB brings viewers the latest news around North Central Florida including sports broadcasts by sports director Kevin Wells and weekend sports anchor Chris Pinson.

FINALISTS:

CBS4 News

FAVORITE TV STATION FOR WEATHER

WCJB TV20

Wcjb.com

Chief meteorologist Bill Quinlan, meteorologist Mike Potter and weekend meteorologist AJ Willy, bring WCJB TV20 viewers the latest in weather updates. If it’s a cool sunny day or an impending hurricane, WCJB TV20 is Our Town readers’ favorite weather station.

FINALISTS:

WNBWDT NBC-9

FINALISTS:

CBS4 News

20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY

Stone House Neighborhood Grill is a full-service restaurant located in Newberry, Florida. The owners and operators have over 20+ years of experience in the food service industry, and a passion for providing exceptional food and service that will leave all customers coming back for more.

Fox 51 Thank

FAVORITE LOCAL VET CLINIC

NEWBERRY ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Newberryanimalhospital.com

Newberry Animal Hospital is a full-service small animal hospital and welcomes both emergency treatment cases as well as pet patients in need of routine medical, surgical, and dental care. They have provided the best care in Gainesville and the surrounding area for your furry friends since 1990.

FINALISTS:

Oaks Veterinary Hospital

The Veterinary Center at Hunters Crossing

FAVORITE LOCAL VIDEOGRAPHER

SHORT MEDIA GROUP

Shortmediagroup.com

Short Media Group is a content creation company in Gainesville that focuses on providing clients with the perfect creative experience. Every business or individual has a powerful story to tell and they strive to capture each story in a unique way for others to share.

FINALISTS:

Innova Leaf Creative Solutions, LLC

Betterme Productions

FAVORITE SANTA FE PROFESSOR

DAWN GRAZIANI

Sfcollege.edu

Dawn Graziani is a Reading and Writing Professor at Santa Fe College. Graziani has a Certificate for Classroom Teaching and Learning (CCTL) and a Canvas Silver badge.

FINALISTS:

Betsy Suda

Margaret Howell

FAVORITE UF PROFESSOR

DAVID BAEKEY

Dr. David Baekey is an experienced biomedical researcher and educator at the University of Florida who previously served as an Assistant Professor of Physiological Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

FINALISTS:

Cherrie Hughes

Kate Fletcher

Shopping

FAVORITE “BEST-KEPT SECRET” LOCAL RETAILER

SANDY’S SAVVY CHIC RESALE BOUTIQUE

4148 NW 13th St., Gainesville, FL 32609

The inventory on the sales floor at Sandy’s is updated every hour so there is always something new to see. Plus, there’s a sale going on almost every day of the year with popular annual events including the Pack-A-Bag Sale, Small Business Saturday Event and Dollar Dash.

FINALISTS: High Springs Mercantile DTE Boutique

FAVORITE LOCAL ANTIQUE SHOP

THE MANTLE

1856 7 Main St., High Springs, FL 32643

The Mantle is an eclectic boutique specializing in new, vintage and antique furniture, home décor & collectibles. They also offer the brands everyone loves in handbags and current styles in clothing for the whole family.

FINALISTS: Gainesville Things Earth Tonix

PADDIWHACK

Paddiwhack.com

Paddiwhack offerings are sourced from artists, craftsmen and companies we believe are committed to sustainable practices paying a living wage, this is as important as quality craftsmanship and good design.

FINALISTS:

Lost Art Gallery

Earth Tonix

FAVORITE LOCAL AUDIO/VISUAL STORE

ELECTRONICS WORLD

1261 NW 76th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606

Electronics World is your hometown resource for expert design, sales, installation and repair of audio, video, networking and control products and complete turnkey system solutions. They have extensive experience designing and installing sophisticated solutions that are simple to operate and can customize the project to fit your lifestyle and budget.

FINALISTS:

Best Buy

Sound Ideas

FAVORITE LOCAL BEDDING RETAILER

THE SLEEP CENTER

3242 SW 35th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32608

Futons, adjustable beds and mattresses from brands like Tempur-Pedic, Sealy and Serta, The Sleep Center showroom in Gainesville is there to fulfill your sleep needs with a friendly staff that’s ready to provide professional care to you.

FINALISTS:

CordaRoy’s Mattress Firm

FAVORITE LOCAL BICYCLE SHOP

CHAIN REACTION BICYCLES

3409 W U niversity Ave., Gainesville, FL 32607

Besides a diverse inventory, part of what makes Chain Reaction great is their mascot Angus the Shop Dog, who’s a fixture at Chain Reaction and loves to meet new customers.

FINALISTS:

Super Cool Bike Shop

Trek Bicycle Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL BOOKSTORE

BOOK GALLERY WEST

4121 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32605

Book Gallery West started in 1983 on main street as a textbook store, but over time the original owner decided to open a second location that offered books other than textbooks. The second location, on the west side of town, became Book Gallery West and eventually replaced the parent store.

FINALISTS:

Books and Music, Wormhole

Third House Books

FAVORITE LOCAL BRIDAL SHOP

THE WEDDING CYCLE

2441 NW 43rd St., Suite 2-D, Gainesville, FL 32606

The Wedding Cycle offers pre-loved fantasy gowns on a real-life budget. Alisha Alsbrook, the owner of the Wedding Cycle, has a background in event planning and in the wedding industry, giving her the ability to provide customers with the knowledge and information to help create the best event possible.

FINALISTS:

David’s Bridal

Allure Bridal Boutique

FAVORITE LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP (NEW CAR)

GATORLAND TOYOTA

2985 N M ain St., Gainesville, FL 32609

Gainesville’s Gatorland Toyota dealership opened in 1994, just four years after Gettel Toyota of Bradenton, making them the second Gettel dealership to open. They’ve since grown to have 17 sister stores throughout Florida, but Gainesville’s location is a favorite among locals looking for a new car.

FINALISTS:

BMW of Gainesville

Gainesville Nissan

FAVORITE LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP (USED CAR)

TOMLINSON MOTOR COMPANY

3580 N M ain St., Gainesville, FL 32609

Tomlinson Motor Company is a family owned and operated business that makes car buying easy and enjoyable. They build customer relations through repeat business and referrals and at TMC, you can browse and ask all the questions you want.

FINALISTS:

Southeast Car Agency

Gatorland Toyota

FAVORITE LOCAL CHILDREN’S STORE

WEECYCLE OF GAINESVILLE

1405 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32605

With over 7,000 square-feet of showroom, Weecycle & The Babies’ Room offers a wide selection of baby furniture, travel gear, gift items, clothing, toys and accessories. If you’re expecting your first baby, purchasing a baby shower gift, or shopping for the children in your life, Weecycle is here to help.

FINALISTS:

The Children’s Place

The Babies’ Room

FAVORITE LOCAL CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

SANDY’S SAVVY CHIC RESALE BOUTIQUE

4148 NW 13th St., Gainesville, FL 32609 Sandy’s is home to style fanatics who love the thrill of the hunt. You know that feeling of when you find exactly what you want and the price is a steal? That’s the feeling you get with every visit to Sandy’s.

FINALISTS:

DTE Boutique

Flashbacks Recycled Fashions

FAVORITE LOCAL COMPUTER

REPAIR SHOP

CRASH TECHNICIANS

Crash-tech.com

CRASH Technicians provides on-call commercial and residential support for your Windows, Mac or Linux machines, whether it’s a hardware upgrade, software solution, network installation, email setup or troubleshooting.

FINALISTS:

My IT Masters

Gadget Guys – Celebration Pointe

FAVORITE LOCAL FLOWER SHOP

CREVASSE’S FLORIST

2 441 NW 43rd St., Suite 20, Gainesville, FL 32606

At Crevasse’s Florist, which started in 1946, you can expect great customer service, fresh flower arrangements, beautiful floral designs, plants, gift baskets and much more.

FINALISTS:

The Flower Shop

Alachua Flowers and Tuxedo Rentals

FAVORITE LOCAL FURNITURE STORE

WOOD YOU OF GAINESVILLE

2400 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32609

Wood You Furniture has made its home in Gainesville since 1985 and has always stood behind their products. Built with high quality and a price that won’t break your pocket, they have something for every room in your home or office.

FINALISTS:

Furniture Country

The Home Place

FAVORITE LOCAL GIFT SHOP

HIGH SPRINGS MERCANTILE

18566 High Springs Main St, High Springs, FL 32643

Established in 2022, High Springs Mercantile offers unique, one of a kind gifts like drinkware, hats, shirts, stickers and more.

FINALISTS:

Sea Spirits Gallery & Gifts

AGAPANTHUS - Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL GROCERY STORE

WARD’S SUPERMARKET

515 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609

Ward’s Supermarket is the only locally-owned and operated grocery store in Gainesville. Their family has been committed to providing the best selection, quality, and prices for more than 50 years and offers a bountiful array of fresh local produce, seafood, meat, baked goods, beer, wine and more.

FINALISTS:

Publix Super Market at Springhill Commons

Publix Super Market at Steeplechase

FAVORITE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE

ALACHUA FARM & LUMBER

INC.

14101 NW 145th Ave., Alachua, FL 32615

Alachua Farm & Lumber is a farm store, sporting goods store, hardware store and more all under the same roof offering the very best in hardware, hunting, apparel, boots, animal care, archery, livestock and pet care or equestrian supplies.

FINALISTS:

Jonesville Ace Hardware

Millhopper Ace Hardware

FAVORITE LOCAL HOME DECOR STORE

THE MANTLE

1856 7 Main St., High Springs, FL 32643

At The Mantle, they work hard to help you find the perfect piece of furniture, a fun gift for a friend, or a new outfit to treat yourself with. Their business keeps growing and they make new friends every day because you and your shopping experience matters to them.

FINALISTS:

Serpentine Plants + Provisions

Anthropologie

FAVORITE LOCAL HOME THEATRE

DESIGNER

ELECTRONICS WORLD

1261 NW 76th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606

Electronics World is your hometown resource for expert design, sales, installation and repair of audio, video, networking and control products and complete turnkey system solutions. Their interactive showroom features the latest in audio/ video and home automation electronics.

FINALISTS:

Sound Ideas

Crime Prevention Security Systems

FAVORITE LOCAL JEWELRY STORE

HOUSE OF LUXURY @ HAILE

9116 SW 51st Road, Suite A-102, Gainesville, FL 32608

Specializing in new and pre-owned fine jewelry and watches, diamonds, gold and silver, designer jewelry and designer handbags and accessories, House of Luxury @ Haile offers a unique selection of inventory at unbeatable prices.

FINALISTS:

Brittany’s Fine Jewelry Lang Jewelers

FAVORITE LOCAL LIQUOR & WINE STORE

DORN’S LIQUORS & WINE WAREHOUSE

4140 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32605

Wine, beer, spirits and more, it’s all available at Dorn’s Liquors & Wine Warehouse, which also hosts tasting events and always provides advice on wine pairings, events, catering and cocktails.

FINALISTS:

Jigz Liquor Store

Gator Spirits & Fine Wines

FAVORITE LOCAL MEN’S CLOTHING

MEN’S WEARHOUSE

6 915 W Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32605

The Gainesville Men’s Wearhouse offers custom clothing and the option of creating your own American-made custom suit, sport coat or dress shirt. Choose from hundreds of personalized details and create a custom look that expresses your style and fits you perfectly.

FINALISTS:

Palmetto Moon

Looking Good

FAVORITE LOCAL MOTORCYCLE SHOP

GAINESVILLE HARLEY-DAVIDSON

4125 NW 97th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606

Gainesville Harley-Davidson is a family-owned and operated dealership formed in 1993 by Ray and Gail Lytle. After moving to its current location in 1995, with continued dedication to customer satisfaction, the dealership grew in 2003 and again in 2015 with the addition of a pre-owned showroom and dyno tuning room.

FINALISTS:

Stuart’s Cycle

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSIC STORE (ALBUMS)

HOGGTOWNE MUSIC

2441 NW 43rd St., Gainesville, FL 32606

Hoggtowne Music, owned by Joe and Melonie Dorsey, is committed to offering customers the best selection of instruments. With over 20 years of experience, they’re ready to service all your musical needs.

FINALISTS: Sunshine Records

Decades on Main

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSIC STORE (INSTRUMENTS)

HOGGTOWNE MUSIC

2441 NW 43rd St., Gainesville, FL 32606

Hoggtowne Music, which is now located at the Thornebrook Village, is a music store in Gainesville selling musical instruments, instrument repairs and music lessons seven days a week.

FINALISTS:

Music Junction

Guitar Center

FAVORITE LOCAL PAWN SHOP

OAKS PAWN

2530 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL 32608

Oaks Pawn has provided service to our customers for over 30 years. The quality of their unique inventory, as well as their knowledgeable and helpful staff has earned them the trust of our valued clients.

FINALISTS:

Pawn Pro

Santa Fe Pawn

FAVORITE LOCAL PHONE REPAIR SHOP

UBREAKIFIX

8181 NW 39th Lane, Gainesville, FL 32606

Your cell phone plays a huge part in keeping you connected, so when it breaks, it can leave you feeling a bit frustrated— and a bit lost. But don’t worry. Just bring it to the trusted team at uBreakiFix in North Gainesville and they’ll have it up and running for you again in no time.

FAVORITE LOCAL RESALE/ CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE

SANDY’S SAVVY CHIC RESALE BOUTIQUE

4148 NW 13th St., Gainesville, FL 32609

The Sandy’s team is passionate about resale and providing an affordable shopping alternative to Gainesville residents and surrounding communities. They are proud to be part of Gainesville’s long history, supported by small businesses and giving material items a second life.

FINALISTS:

House of Luxury @ Haile

The Mantle

FAVORITE SHOPPING DISTRICT

CELEBRATION POINTE

5001 Celebration Pointe Ave., Suite 140, Gainesville, FL 32608

Celebration Pointe is a unique mixed-use development. The number one choice for Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL STORE (OVERALL)

BASS PRO SHOPS

2650 B ass Pro Shops Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32608

When you walk through the Bass Pro Shop doors you’re doing more than stepping into a local retailer, you’re immersing yourself into a perfect blend of Bass Pro Shops history and Gainesville scenery.

FINALISTS:

House of Luxury @ Haile

AGAPANTHUS

FAVORITE LOCAL THRIFT STORE

SANDY’S SAVVY CHIC RESALE BOUTIQUE

4148 NW 13th St., Gainesville, FL 32609

Ready for a home and closet refresh? Has your style evolved? Bring in your current and gently loved goods for cash on the spot or explore the large variety or available items at Sandy’s.

FAVORITE LOCAL TUXEDO SHOP

MEN’S WEARHOUSE

6915 W N ewberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32605

Men’s Wearhouse has top designer brands, master tailors and expert stylists available and invite you to shop with confidence and trust.

FINALISTS:

Alachua Flowers and Tuxedo Rentals

Looking Good

FAVORITE LOCAL WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

VALERIE’S LOFT

14822 Main St., Alachua, FL

Valerie’s Loft is a ladies consignment store specializing in name brand clothing and accessories in Alachua, FL.

FINALISTS:

Sandy’s Savvy Chic Resale Boutique

DTE Boutique

Thank You For Voting!

“DINNER WITH

PRESIDENT:

by Alex Prud’Homme

The invitation said Black Tie Only, and you know what that means.

It means this isn’t some put-on-the-old-feedbag kind of event. You’ll need your best manners and should brush up on where the glass goes and what to do with your fork. You don’t want any faux pas attached to your name, no emotionally-charged statements, and let’s hope you’re not self-conscious. As in “Dinner with the President” by Alex Prud’Homme, the world will be watching you eat.

For as long as there’s been a President of the United States, someone’s had to ensure the guy had nourishment because it’s not like he’s got time to run to the kitchen whenever he’s hungry, right? So somebody plans the menu, the First Lady weighs in, the table is set, and in the end, meals with the President have historically been loaded with interesting dishes, culinary quirks, divine desserts, and sour grapes.

According to Prud’Homme, George Washington resorted to theft to feed the Continental Army. Thomas Jefferson knew that great food was a way to put political foes more at ease with one another, while Dolley Madison thought the same with snuff as dessert.

Abraham Lincoln helped cement one of our most beloved national holidays into our lives. Later, Ulysses Grant was known for big dinners of up to thirty-five courses, and Theodore Roosevelt held one dinner that caused considerable controversy. Our heaviest president to date, William Taft, loved a mussel-and-heavy-cream soup called Billy Bi, which probably didn’t help his diet. On the other side was Woodrow Wilson, who was “utterly disinterested in food.”

Herbert Hoover was a speed-eater. FDR loved terrapin

soup and considered it a “lucky” dish to serve. Roosevelt’s cook, Mrs. Nesbitt, was inherited by the Trumans, who intensely disliked her. Mamie Eisenhower called herself a “cooking school dropout.” LBJ used BBQ as a political asset, Bill Clinton’s diet was closely-watched, George W. Bush loved baseball-stadium-themed meals, and Barack Obama ushered in a “foodie” White House that tried to change how America ate.

So what do you do with the extra spoons, the finger bowl, the sticky butter knife, and do you need four drinking glasses? You won’t need to know any of that to read “Dinner with the President.” You can just sit down and take a bite.

That’s not to say that this book is entirely informal: the opulence of a state dinner shines through in the tales author Alex Prud’homme tells, complete with country leaders, ladies in gowns, and tuxes with tails. You can almost see the glitter. On the other hand, the casualness of, for example, an intimate several-hundred-guest barbecue seems charmingly homespun until you remember that, in politics, food isn’t always just food.

There are battles between chefs and chiefs in this book, tasty historical anecdotes, favorite White House dishes that will make you glad you aren’t at that state dinner, and recipes to make you feel positively Presidential. For you, that makes “Dinner with the President” a book you’ll eat up.

The BIG BARN

Fully Customizable Steel Buildings

Get the storage you need with a 42x26x12 Barn. This versatile unit offers a spacious enclosed garage with convenient lean-to for trailers, boats, and tractors. Installation and setup is included. Concrete packages are available in select areas. Site not ready? No problem! We can hold your pricing up to 90 days with your deposit while you prepare your space. Need more storage? That’s easy! We can customize up to 60ft wide and as long as you need with a maximum sidewall height of 20ft. Stop in and let us build the workshop of your dreams with our 3D rendering in your choice of colors.