Adopting Angels

Some life experiences can change our lives in all facets and on all levels. Nearly three years ago, Gainesville native Shannon Barr was actively seeking a life altering experience. She wanted an addition in her life in the form of a child to love. At the time she was pursuing the adoption of a child, she was earning firsthand experience with the system along the way. Her successful ...

Angel Gardens

People come to Angel Gardens to unwind; to soak up the peaceful, spiritual energy; to visit the huge live oak soon to be added to the national registry of historic trees. People visit Angel Gardens to find an extraordinary gift for a friend or spouse, always a hit no matter what they choose. They know that new merchandise arrives daily, keeping things fresh and fun. Many love ...

CFOPlus!

In most retail businesses, there are the big boys who are usually part of a national chain, and there’s the local store that has been in the community as long as people can remember. That can describe many types of businesses in Gainesville and the office supply store is no exception. But in the case of Gainesville and Central Florida Office Plus that’s where the similarities ...

Dining in Gainesville

There was a time in the not-too-distant past that dining in Gainesville was not easy. But the time when there was once a small handful of nice downtown restaurants, and little else, is long past. Today, you can find restaurants to suit almost any taste, even the most unique – and probably have more than one from which to choose. The selection of restaurants today includes places ...

Education in Gainesville

When people think of education in Gainesville the first thing that pops into their mind is obviously the University of Florida. While there’s no getting around the fact that with UF and Santa Fe Community College Gainesville is a college town, it is also educationally much more. UF enrolls 44,000 students, and has become one of the major research institutions in the southeast ...

Gainesville at a Glance

Gainesville, the county seat of Alachua County and the commercial hub for the entire North Central Florida area, is centrally located between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean in North Central Florida. Within two hours of Gainesville are a host of destinations including some of Florida’s top sites of nature and man-made destinations, including Disney World, the most popular ...

Gainesville Quick Facts

Gainesville, home of Florida’s largest and oldest university, is one of the state’s centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics. The University of Florida and Shands Hospital at UF are the leading employers in Gainesville and provide jobs for many residents of surrounding counties. Known for its preservation of historic buildings and the beauty of its natural ...

Health Care in Alachua County

Residents of North Central Florida have access to some of the best health care in the United States. The city is home to four hospitals with a total of more than 1,800 beds. About 1,200 physicians, surgeons, and dentists maintain practices in the county, the largest per capita count in all of Florida. Shands Hospital, with its affiliation to the UF medical school, has some of ...

Letter from the Editor

Thank you for reading our first edition of Gainesville Today’s Guide to Gainesville! Since I purchased Gainesville Today over five years ago I have wanted to incorporate a guide to our beautiful city. Obviously, I finally figured it out and what a guide it is (if I do say so myself). It is even better than I had hoped. I want to send out a special ‘Thank You!’ to all of ...

A Little History

When Spanish explorers first explored North Central Florida in the 1500s, they came to a land that had already been populated by a complex Native American civilization called Timucuan. Spanish explorers exploited the area before Franciscan priests founded missions and a cattle ranch was developed on what is now the Paynes Prairie State Preserve. Much of the area we now know ...

Live the Lifesyle You've Earned

Located in the heart of the beautiful rolling countryside just seven miles from the action and entertainment of downtown Gainesville. The natural beauty of the golf course with local wildlife including cranes, egrets, foxes and hawks all inside a gated community makes Williamsburg at Meadowbrook very special. Whether you live on the course or across the street you’ll be able to ...

Living the Life in Town of Tioga

Once in a blue moon something comes along that redefines the standards by which we live. The Town of Tioga began with a vision: a town where residents could stroll to the town center, where children could play in safety beneath a canopy of century-old oaks, where adults could linger at sidewalk cafes overlooking a grand esplanade. Now it has become a reality: A nationally recognized, ...

McIntyre Stained Glass Studio

Chances are you have already seen examples of Mike and Mary Ellen McIntyre’s art. For over 20 years, they have been creating original, custom stained glass windows for area homes, businesses, and churches. The couple opened McIntyre Stained Glass Studio & Art Gallery downtown in 1980, and three years ago moved the business to Thornebrook Shopping Village. With the added ...

ME2 - Your Personal Assistant

People are always saying that they don’t have time to go to the grocery store, pick up the dry cleaning, take the dog to the vet, bring the car to the mechanic, pick up the kids from school, etc. The list is endless. But now there’s a solution for residents and businesses in Gainesville and Alachua County. The answer is Me2, a personal concierge service operated by Jill Acree. ...

Move Up to Progress Corporate Park

University of Florida’s Sid Martin Biotechnology Development Incubator (BDI), is located in the Progress Corporate Park, a research and development park that opened in the city of Alachua in 1985. An incubator in the business world is a place where fledgling business is housed and nurtured to a point where it can eventually fly on it’s own. In the business of biotechnology ...

Renovation Experts

The home that was once comfortable has now grown too small. The office that worked like a charm when you first moved in no longer functions in a productive fashion for your business. The problem in both cases is that the location is ideal and you don’t want to move. There is a solution in both cases – renovation. And one of the experts in the Gainesville community in fixing ...

Gainesville Dining Directory

Banyans: Award winning. Daily hot breakfast and lunch buffets. Fabulous weekend breakfast and Brunch, Friday all-you-can-eat Seafood, Saturday Prime Rib. Breakfast 6:30-10:30 a.m. Lunch 11-2 p.m. Dinner 5-10 p.m. 7417 W Newberry Road at the Holiday Inn West (Near the Oaks Mall) 332-7500. Calico Jacks: N. Florida’s finest oyster bar, wings, sandwiches, seafood. Great daily ...

Seeing is Believing at Adonis Optical

Three and a half years ago Adonis Optical started business in Gainesville with one simple philosophy that still proves true today, "Consumers are motivated by high quality products at reasonable prices and professional service." In keeping with that belief, Adonis Optical offers nothing less than the best to its customers. Jon and Lisa, who operate Adonis Optical, have built ...

Shopping in Gainesville

The centerpiece of Gainesville area shopping is the Oaks Mall at Newberry Road and Interstate 75. The largest retail outlet in North Central Florida, the Oaks Mall serves as a magnet for people from a dozen neighboring counties. The Oaks Mall is anchored by Burdines, Sears, JC Penney, Dillards, and Belk, and has about 160 specialty stores and restaurants. In the shadow of the ...

The Computer Corner

1. I am a new computer user and I wanted to know if there is a difference between “Word” and “Word Perfect” or is it the same thing? A. The two terms are similar in that they are both word processing programs. The difference is that they are produced by two different companies. Word is part of the Microsoft Office program and Word Perfect is part of the Corel Suites program. ...

The Original Crevasses Florist

Businesses can come and go, while few stand the test of time. A business that flourishes for decades is consistent in delivering value and satisfaction to its customers. In three years a Gainesville institution, The Original Crevasse’s Florist, will celebrate 60 years of pleasing local residents with their talent, value and customer satisfaction. In 1946, Joe and Margaret Crevasse ...

A Jazzy Art Festival by Heather Hatch

- The 21st Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show will include a Jazz Festival this year! The historic downtown district will come alive to a celebration of art and music this fall as the City of Gainesville presents the 21st Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show, a free cultural event that has been ranked among Sunshine Artist magazine’s top 200 Fine Art Shows in the ...

Completing the Dream!

by Serena Vita The Haile Village community welcomes Dr. Cynthia M. Busch and her staff at the newly completed Vein Therapy & Skin Care Center. Consisting of many different shops, medical groups, eateries and other service providers, the Village looks forward to this exciting new addition to their uniquely-fashioned business section. Dr. Busch commented, “Seems like ...

Dog Bytes Family by Samantha Ahl - At Dog Bytes, building a computer specific to you or your business needs is just what the vet ordered.

In today’s society, big name discount stores and commercial shops have become the norm, and in turn, family-owned businesses are sometimes overshadowed. However, these smaller businesses can offer many advantages that aren’t often found in the general marketplace, such as personalized attention, quality and most importantly, overall customer satisfaction. Dog Bytes ...

American Business Family Style by David Greenberg - Read how local families that work together deal with the challenge of mixing family & business.

It seems that American families want to spend more time together than ever before. To achieve that many now add business hours to their leisure time together. Today it is more and more common to see American families working together on a regular basis. In fact our cover story this month is about an American family business that has been operating for 76 years. Jim Douglas Chevrolet ...

Hickory Hill Hideaway

by Anisa Perbtani - Escape the city to nearby peace and tranquility along the Santa Fe River. The monotony of daily life can leave you feeling uninspired, and looking for a haven to rest and recharge. The pastoral riverside beckons its visitors to a surreal heaven on earth. Follow a twisting country road down to the most rustic scene the Santa Fe River has to offer, and that’s ...

In Full Bloom…It’s Haile Plantation

by David Greenberg It will be like the end of an era, but what started as a master plan for a Development of Regional Impact in 1979 has turned into a Gainesville icon and will soon finish its build out. Haile Plantation, home to more than 6,000 residents, only has about 300 lots remaining from a total of 2,700. According to its development order all construction must be ...

Publisher's Letter

Welcome to Gainesville Today’s November magazine as we showcase our community. This month our cover proudly displays Jim Douglas Chevrolet located in High Springs. Jim Douglas is located just 20 minutes north of Gainesville right off Interstate I-75 at exit #399. We think an American car on our cover looks pretty fantastic, and the dealership that offers it to you is ...

The New Saigon Cafe

by Anisa Perbtani - A new restaurant on University Avenue features a tasty menu that is hard to find. There are many great restaurants in Gainesville that provide delicious food, but it’s rare to find a restaurant where you can experience authentic ethnic cuisine prepared by an expert. If you’re seeking a unique dining experience tonight, the Saigon Café is ...

See With Your Ears

by Sumter Cox - What a business sounds like can determine whether a customer stays in a store or on the phone line. In tough economic times and a more competitive environment, businesses are always looking around for new, creative and cost-effective ways to appeal to customers and create a positive work environment for employees. In fact, many business owners and executives ...

Thornebrook Gallery

is a premier North Florida art gallery and custom framing establishment specializing in work by local and national artists. Since 1981, the gallery has offered personalized service and solutions to all your art and framing needs. Owners Dave Arrighi and Art Frank are graduates of the University of Florida College of Fine Art. The gallery's collection includes fine jewelry, each ...

Union Street Station

Now you can not only work, eat, shop and play in the middle of downtown Gainesville; you can live there too. , the 140,000-square-foot, multi-faceted urban development sits right in the heart of downtown Gainesville. Nestled in the historic district, within walking distance of a wide variety of restaurants and shops and right across the street from the Hippodrome State Theatre, ...

If You’re Planning a Wedding

by Enrique Amantez Thank you to the following businesses and friends for making our wedding a magical, beautiful success. After 18 months of decision making, planning and worries over everything going just right we ended up with a truly memorable occasion. Pranges Plantscapes created a wonderful atmosphere of gorgeous flowers. We worked together to plan a magnificent floral ...

What is Pilates?

One of today’s hottest fitness trends, and a well-kept secret of celebrities and ballet dancers, has made its way to Gainesville at Balanced Body Pilates. Pilates, pronounced (pill-Ah-teez), is a 75-year-old system of movement education developed and taught by Joseph Pilates. Once practiced exclusively by dancers, Pilates has gone mainstream in the last decade, with celebrities ...

What’s a Prosthodontist?

by David Greenberg - Dr. Ben Javid is the only full-time, private-practice prosthodontic specialist in Gainesville. If you struggle with discomfort when you bite down on food or your teeth are simply worn down from age, use or grinding, you may need something beyond what is offered by general dentists. You may need to see a prosthodontist. Dr. Ben Javid, of the Javid Dental ...

Where to Stay and Live

Within the Gainesville area there are 46 hotels and motels with roughly 3,500 rooms, as well as eight bed and breakfast inns and several fishing camps. Many rooms are within walking distance of UF and the downtown shopping and restaurant area, while others are near the retail areas at the Oaks Mall and Butler Plaza. For those looking to settle in the Gainesville-Alachua County ...

Wolfgang's

Somewhere in each of us is the need to excite our senses with fine tastes, sounds, or sights. The pursuit of happiness for some calls for some true relaxation, no matter how brief. At Restaurant, in downtown Gainesville, patrons have come to find all of the above. With a step off a brick walkway, patrons are greeted by the street side café front that is nestled beneath ...

Phyllis Kotey

Editor’s Note: For the fourth year, Gainesville Today magazine honors women who contribute to the community. This year, three community leaders are recognized in this “Women Who Make a Difference” issue for their contributions to the community, not only in their professions, but because of their efforts as volunteers, as well. Each honoree was selected for having ...