Show Me The Monet

I'm going to let a lot of you in on a well kept secret. It's so well kept that I hadn't heard about it until this semester... and just to remind you, I'm a senior graduating in the Spring. So you know the Harn Museum that so many of us have never been to unless we were forced to go for a class? Well it's actually pretty cool! That's not the secret though, the secret is that if you're a UF student you can become a member for free! If you don't appreciate art, like I do, there's one event that will still grab your attention. Once a semester the Harn puts on an event for members only where you can drink bottomless wine and feast on endless, delicious appetizers FOR FREE! Art, wine, and food all for free? What more could a person want! A few friends and I went to the Harn to enjoy this student privilege and admire the museums temporary Monet exhibit. Seeing that my friends and I were practically the only people under the age of 40, I would say not many students know about this. I'm always looking for exciting things to do with my friends other than hitting up midtown like we normally do. Don't get me wrong I still love Mid, but if the Harn did this weekly, Midtown would sure get a run for it's Monet.

Until my next adventure ✌️

When The Clock Strikes Midnight

So you want to explore some of Gainesville's classics, but you're feeling a bit lazy. What do you do? Order an obnoxious amount of Midnight Cookies of course! Feeling a little sick and not up for a night of drinking, I decided to stay in, but I also didn't want to let one of my precious senior spring college nights go to waste. So I quickly called up one of my best friends, who was also staying in, to come over for a movie night. Once together it suddenly dawned on us that we needed to order midnight cookies since I had never had them before. We pulled up their website and I actually got overwhelmed by the mouth watering cookie descriptions. After a lot of thought we finally picked 6 cookies to order: The Midnight, Cookies n' Cream, Peanut Butter and Banana, Red Velvet, and 2 Bananas Foster. My favorites were definitely Cookies n' Cream and Bananas Foster. These cookies are crazy yummy. They're filling so order them on a somewhat empty stomach, and while they aren't cheap per say, they definitely lived up to the hype!

Until my next adventure ✌️

I'm Feeling Lucky's

It's all about the little things, and who said that grocery shopping can't be the highlight of your day. Well Luckys, Gainesville's new market, turns the tedious task of grocery shopping into an experience. With a warehouse look and a rustic 1920's vibe, Lucky's offered a different atmosphere to shop in than most grocery stores. For me, my love lied in the amount of organic products they offered and how holistic their selection was. Similar to Nature's Food Patch, they not only had your expected groceries, but an in-store butcher, and loads of vitamins and medicine too. I do my best to shop organic and Lucky's had such a wide variety of items that I felt like I could spice up my traditional meals, while not breaking my bank. A huge plus! Oh, and did I mention that you can drink wine and beer as you shop!? I told you this place was fun. Anyways, I'm actually about to head to Lucky's in a couple hours to stock up some more so...

Until my next adventure ✌️

How Do You Faire?

For the past 28 years the Alachua County Fairgroundss have been transformed into a medieval marketplace. This year is no different, marking the 29th Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. Only about a 20 minute drive from the University of Florida, the faire was a perfect way to spend a gorgeous Sunday with friends. Tickets were $17 dollars, but my friend happened to win four tickets, so I got to go for free! As soon as I stepped through the entrance, my surroundings were distinctly different. Along with the workers, faire goers were dressed head to toe in elaborate medieval get ups. In my jeans, sweater, and scarf, I definitely felt like I had been teleported to medieval times and I'm sure I stood out like a slice of pizza in Chipotle. Among the endless array of things to do, some of the sites I saw were jousting, maypole dancing, and living chess. For some extra cash you can ride elephants and camels, have your fortune told, or practice your archery skills. Along with a crazy amount of activities to see and try, there are also vendors selling medieval clothing and accessories, incense, tapestries, and other fun trinkets. But I must say that out of all the booths, the food tents caught my attention the most. There were so many food options, I actually got overwhelmed! Every type of fried food was present from fried jalepenos to fried oreos. Of course there was turkey legs, hot dogs, and chicken on a stick. If the American options don't suit your fancy hop over to the Greek, Asian, or Indian stands, just to name a few. The faire will be set up all next weekend too, so be sure to check it out! If medieval times aren't your style, then I at least urge you to go for the epic assortment of faire food. 

Until my next adventure ✌️

Magnitude 10 Beer

I have been in Gainesville for almost four years now and until tonight, I had never been to First Magnitude Brewery. Boy, was I missing out! It's roughly a 15 minute drive away from campus, so for us UF students used to walking to midtown or downtown, it's pretty off the grid. But that's why this place is so cool, it's a nice little get away form the usual bars that some of us practically call home. But if you're not willing to stray from your Fat Daddy or Tall Paul ways, you can check out the brewery first and hit up mid or downtown after, since the brewery is only open until 9pm. You can try out their beers by the glass or by a flight. My friend and I shared a flight, which sampled their tap beers like 72 Pale, Siren Blonde, Drift English Mild, and more! While enjoying our beers we played a nerve wrecking game of life-size Jenga. For the calmer kind, they offer life-size Checkers and Scrabble, as well as regular size board games like Trivial Pursuit. They also have live music and a food truck on site, which enhanced the chill atmosphere. The food truck varies depending on the day, but today it was Off The Griddle and it was off the chain! I highly recommend the Chicken Wrap. First Magnitude is a must check out spot in Gainesville for beer lovers and those looking to have a casual night out with great friends, great food, and great music.

Until my next adventure ✌️

Gainesville Explorer: Lake Wauburg

I Lake This Place A Whole Lot