Hidden Gems of Gainesville

This past Wednesday, Jan. 23, I reported on the Point-In-Time survey in Alachua County. This survey counts all homeless people in the county. Volunteers who help with the survey are either homeless themselves or were recently homeless. For each homeless person they find, they will ask them questions including: Where did they sleep last night? Do they have any family embers who are homeless? Length of time they have been homeless? Do they deal with physical or mental abuse, drug addictions or alcohol? And many more. The purpose is to see how many people are without homes and living on the streets. According to GRACE Marketplace Director Jon DeCarmine, these surveys help them figure out how to better suit their needs. I followed Shachia Alexander and Betty Hollar, two homeless women who were volunteering that day, and handing out goody bags filled with toiletries and food to every person who took the survey. They were taking surveys at St. Francis House in Gainesville; they spo...

Hi Everyone, I hope you all enjoyed your holiday season! Over the break, I went back to my home town of Miami. So most of December I was not in Gainesville. I wanted to share something really cool I did over the break. I rode the polar express; just like in the movie. My family wanted to go, so we all bought tickets and I brought a friend of mine, as well. The night started at the Gold Coast RailRoad Museum on Dec. 27. When we boarded the train, and it was decorated with lights, presents and it even smelled like Christmas. When everyone boarded, the crew started to sing about hot chocolate and then actually gave us hot chocolate and cookies. My family, friends and I saw Santa and the elfs at their factory from on the train. Santa then came aboard the train and gave everyone a bell and a candy cane. We also sang Christmas songs. Overall, it was a lot of fun. In Gainesville, you can't ride the Polar Express but they do have a Christmas train at the Kirby Family Farm. Ne...

One of my good friends is graduating this semester with a degree in telecommunications - media and society at the University of Florida. As part of his bachelors degree, he must complete an undergraduate research/thesis. He called it "The American Experience," it was a look inside the three different races - Black, Hispanic and White who are either American and live here, or are from another country and discuss their experience living in America. He asked many different questions that were touchy subjects that has a different side to each answer, he also pertained some questions based on their race and their sexual orientation, and how they dealt with stigma, racism and even hate. Some questions were:  - Do you feel discriminated in some places, or have you been discriminated in some places based on your ethnicity? - As a latina growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, did you ever feel unwanted or different? Did you miss the culture back home in Puerto R...

Over the weekend I went to an indoor trampoline park. It was so much fun! I went with two of my best friends, and we jumped around for a good two hours. They have so many trampolines, and they have an obstacle course, swings, basketball and a foam pit in the trampoline area. They also have laser tag, and my friends and I played like five times. We went pretty late at night so it was just us three playing the game, and we loved it! DISCLAIMER - We were very soar the next morning, so don't be surprised if your body ached a little the next day, but it was totally worth it. Here is there website:  http://flipfactoryzone.com

Troy, New York. It used to be home to wealthy industrial workers in the early twentieth century, it was thought that the city would continue to blossom. By the 1970s, and maybe earlier, that thought vanished. Factories, highly-regarded workers and business owners has left for the bigger and better life in other cities and town; a chance for them to expand their business. Now, Brenda Ann Kenneally photographed who the people of Troy are. Most photos are shocking, a different from the life people had in the twentieth century. The photographs taken in this article does show a difference in life style, not what's better or worse. The article reads about Kenneally's life and how she grew up in Troy herself, and the photographs help describe the place, and who the people are. I really like this article and the photographs because it displays the people of a small city, just like Gainesville. I would love to do a project like that in Gainesville, who are the people that represent ...

One of the smallest, cutest and best places to visit is just around the corner from Gainesville - It's Micanopy! I have been wanting to go here since I transferred to the University of Florida. Since it was homecoming this weekend, my friends and I had a couple hours to kill before we went to Gator Growl (a huge concert held at the school,) and we decided to head over there. We had about two-three hours to kill, so we went to the most popular street, Cholokka Blvd. It's filled with beautiful and historical-like buildings. The street has several antique shops and cafe's, they even have a sword shop. It was a pretty neat little place to spend my afternoon. I took a 360 photo on the street so you can see all the places I visited: http://on.bubb.li/530880ax7l535jtl27aa932

I know I post things about Gainesville, but there is this great event in Orlando on Tuesday. If anyone is a blogger and is looking to expand their readership, followers and their brand all together, you should definitely attend this event.  The event is called "Advanced Instagram for Business." You will learn about a dvanced Instagram techniques to help your business grow. Orlando based blogger Brittany Clark will host the event. You will go over Feed Planning, Instagramming with Intention, Photography, Engagement Tips and How to Use Instagram Stories to attract new readers and followers.  Brittany Clark is not your ordinary blogger. She has been blogging on Instagram for the past 3 years. In that time she's grown her following from 1k to 10k and started making money each month on sponsored brand posts on Instagram. Some brands she's worked with include: Wendy's, Dr. Pepper, Reebok, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Caesar's Palace and more! I am in Orland...