Where can I park my car? What do I need to know about tailgating? Where are the most inspiring art galleries? Where’s the best restaurant for a first date ? What’s the best tutoring service? What’s it like to live in Greek housing? Who has the best coffee? 2016Wh | UNDERGRADere are EDITION the best apartments in Midtown? How does the RTS bus work? What’s the best way to get around campus? Where’s the best placWHEREe to stu TO dyGO & on WHAT cam TOpu DOs? What’s the deal with Greek Life? Where can I get sushi? What’s open late when I have the munchies? THE BEST OF GAINESVILLE What’s the best spot for dessert? Where’s the best place to get my nipple pierced? Where can I get with moth2016er nature? Where’s the best vegetarian restaurant? How do I survive living in a dorm? What’s the best local brewery? Where can I buy stylish clothing? What’s the best local gym? Where are the all-you-can-eat buffets? Who has the best yoga spot? How do I survive game day? What’s the best place for breakfast? Where can I play arcade gameswww.gnv.guide like I’m a kid How do I change my major? 2016 | UNDERGRAD EDITION YOUR HANDY CRASH COURSE IN THE BEST OF GAINESVILLE 2016 | FRESHMAN EDITION Welcome to Gainesville! We know from experience that arriving in a new city can be overwhelming. From the basics, like how to ride the bus or where to grab a good burger, to more complex issues like dropping a class or finding a new apartment, GainesvilleGuide is your ultimate handbook for life in the swamp. www.gnv.guide 2016 | UNDERGRAD EDITION TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR ACADEMICS & INVOLVEMENT 2016 | FRESHMAN EDITION GATOR ATHLETICS HOUSING TRANSPORTATION FOOD & DRINK SHOPPING & SERVICES HEALTH & FITNESS ARTS, MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT NATURE & OUTDOORS STARTUPS & TECHNOLOGY www.gnv.guide letter from the editor When I arrived as a freshman to the University of Florida, I had mixed feelings about Gaines- ville. Part of me felt it was too small and too “in the middle of nowhere,” and part of me longed to explore its quaint, mysterious charm. Now, as a UF graduate and the founder of my own Gainesville-based company, it’s clear that the latter part of me won. I didn’t just build a resume in Gainesville; I built a life. This life is an enigma to many of the univer- sity students, whose bubble does not extend past campus and the tri-weekly trips to mid- town. But this life is so enjoyable, fulfilling and Midtown, don’t skip out on board games and uniquely its own, that I created this guide to beer at one of the local breweries, conversa- help others discover its richness. tion and cocktails at The Dime, a play at the The Hippodrome, live music at High Dive or ta- If you haven’t stargazed from Paynes Prairie, cos and trivia at The Backyard. marveled at Devil’s Millhopper, set up a ham- mock in the Loblolly woods or taken the plunge My cravings for fresh quality eats, romantic into the crystal waters of Devil’s Den, then you dining or a hungover meal are delighted by haven’t experienced the rejuvenating power of the nearly 300 restaurants in town. I have op- a town intertwined with the lush, natural world. tions for delicious pizza, greasy food truck binges, late night Cubans, cheap Mexican, While cheap pitchers and college vibes rule wine-soaked Italian dates and everything in content provided by GainesvilleScene.com 4 letter from the editor between. GainesvilleGuide Freshman Edition Gainesville is a home base. It’s an old friend that doesn’t judge you for wanting to leave the Published by NativeVox Design by Digikea Digital comfort of its embrace to go explore the world Content by GainesvilleScene & and still welcomes you back with open arms. GainesvilleGrub It’s a city where the first question isn’t “What Emma Sullivan Editor do you do?” or “Who do you know?” but instead Marc Lefton Creative Director “What inspires you?” or “What do you love?” Disclosure You shape Gainesville while it subtly shapes GainesvilleGuide contains sponsored you back, until one day, the town doesn’t seem content. In the instance a piece of con- tent is sponsored, it will be clearly la- to be in the middle of nowhere anymore. beled as such. While sponsors paid for the space to be included in Gainesvil- Cheers, leGuide, the opinions and content are the opinions of the NativeVox / Gaines- villeScene / GainesvilleGrub editorial Emma Sullivan team. In some instances, this guide will contain “affiliate links” that generate revenue for NativeVox, however, these relationships do not increase the cost to the end-user. content provided by GainesvilleScene.com 5 GUIDE H Academics OVERVIEW of University of Florida Academics The University of Florida is on a quest for it’s well on it’s way to climbing the prestigious preeminence. In other words, they want to be higher-education ladder. a damn good university. Fall 2015 freshmen With 16 colleges, 100 undergraduate majors came in with an average 4.3 G.P.A. and an av- and 200 graduate programs, you’re free to erage S.A.T. score of 1918, so needless to say, start panicking about your career choice at any there are some pretty smart people walking time. (Just kidding...kind of.) There are a lot of around UF’s 2,000-acre campus. In 2014, US stellar subjects to study at UF and a solid fac- News & World Report ranked UF at number 14 ulty to help you trailblaze from syllabus week of public universities and the school attracts to graduation day. over $700 million in research each year, so content provided by GainesvilleScene.com 7 GUIDE H Academics WHERE TO STUDY ON Norman Norman library is tucked away on the second CAMPUS floor of the education building and is conveni- Marston ently located across from sorority row. Because of this, you will likely only run into a handful of The five floors of Marston Science Library ca- education majors, sorority girls and thirsty fra- ter to all a student’s needs. Group project? First ternity men. The library is relatively empty most floor. Silent study time? Fourth and fifth floor of the time, which, along with their spacious have got you covered. Built in 1987, this library seating areas (comfy chairs, long wooden ta- has the statue “Alachua” next to it, a landmark bles and private cubicles), can make for a great more descriptively called “The French Fries” by study sesh. Not to mention, Norman is set to be students. getting a much-needed makeover soon. Library West Abandoned Classrooms When students say they’re going out to the Depending on the time of day, a lot of class- club during finals week, Club West is generally rooms are unlocked and empty. Take the time what they mean. One of the most popular and to explore all the buildings, and you’ll quickly social destinations on campus, students at Li- find quiet abandoned classrooms to study in. brary West can be found studying, pretending The added benefit is that you’ll be studying in to study or in line at the Starbucks downstairs a similar environment to where you’ll take your deciding which to do. exams, which can help you retain information better. content provided by GainesvilleScene.com 8 GUIDE H Academics The UF PaCE Program talk to upperclassmen, talk to advisors and spend some time not talking at all, but instead PaCE students are just like any other UF stu- listening to yourself. If you need to change your dent, except that they must take their first 60 major a handful times, it’s okay. Just don’t be credits online (minus any college credits earned impulsive about it. We gathered some stories in high school, of course). PaCE students can from other UF students who dealt with the oh- live and work anywhere except on-campus crap-I-picked-the-wrong-major thing. You can housing, while completing the online require- check them out here. ment, and still receive the benefits of being a traditional student. Starting in Fall 2016, PaCE Dropping or Failing a Class students can choose to pay a slightly higher tu- Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, accept- ition in exchange for all of the added benefits of ance. Ironically enough, the fives stages of traditionally enrolled students, like Gator foot- dropping/failing a class fall right in line with the ball tickets, bus passes and gym memberships. fives stages of grief, except instead of a person Changing Majors (or your beloved cat) dying, it’s your pride kick- ing the bucket. Whether it’s concepts in organic Let’s clear one thing up right away: nobody has chemistry that you genuinely cannot grasp no any idea what they want to do with their life. matter how hard you try or it’s realizing that no So, don’t waste time freaking out about it. Even matter how easy the class is, you can’t go out those kids who knew they wanted to be brain six nights a week and get everything done, you surgeons from the time they were 5 years old realize that you aren’t infallible. It’s a crappy are probably just in denial about their deep- feeling, but it’s one that everyone experiences seated dream of being a rock ‘n’ roll star. Pick at least once in their collegiate career.