You're "in-store" for An Incredible, Even Innovative Dining Experience at Gainesville's New Warehouse Restaurant

Farm-to-table is the newfangled culinary label that prepares the diner's palate for a fresh from the field experience. The Warehouse, one of Gainesville's newest restaurants is not only tantalizing our taste buds with fresh and yummy but is kicking this "f-to-t" term up a notch (sorry, Emeril) by going from "Tractor to Table."

Literally, The Warehouse, located in the up and coming Downtown Main Street and Depot Road area is a revitalized well, warehouse, complete with towering loft-like ceilings which was a perfect location for its original inhabitants 70 years...International Harvester Tractors. The last 30 years it was home to an import auto parts store!

Now this location has quite successfully traded selling spark plugs and carburetors to dishing up sauteed spinach and crabmeat! Whether selecting from their lunch or dinner menu, each seemingly traditional dish offers a new, delectable twist. Take the Warehouse Steak Fries for instance. In their most basic form they are lightly, cripsy, slightly salty fried Yukon gold potatoes. But that's where the basic stops --- okay, halts. These delightful potato planks only get better when dipped in your choice of Goat cheese fondue (velvety, creamy, yummy), roasted pepper ketchup (zippy and not your everyday burger condiment), mushroom fondue (earthy and delighful) or roasted garlic aioli (rich, Italian goodness in a bowl). Really, there are no bad choices here; it's just that actually making a choose is truly the challendge. But here's a tip -- ask your server if perhaps you can have more than one ramekin of heavenly dipping sauce which was most assuredly prepared by gifted foodie gods!

And a dining experience wouldn't be complete until you sink your teeth into the heavenly puffs of the apricot beignets. The vanilla creme anglaise is literally the "icing on the cake!" so to speak.

Since opening in May, The Warehouse has quickly developed a strong cult following. And with the literal roadblocks due to the Depot Road corridor construction and revamp, not to mention those figurative road blocks associated with the opening of any business (especially a restaurant), owner Richard Yon and his dedicated team, are "plowing" the way to delight many a diner indeed.

Bottom line, don't be deterred by the detours..they're temporary...the wonderful experience of dining at The Warehouse may just last you a lifetime!

Read what other lucky Warehouse diners hav e said at Yelp as well as UrbanSpoon posts

Devilishly Fun - Devil's Milhopper State Park Delivers A Great Gainesville Adventure!

Just a hop, skip, and jump away from several of Gainesville's upscale neighborhoods, are 232-steps that wind down into the devil's torture pit! Oh, well, that's according to old Florida Indian folklore and this devil's den of doom is actually a conical shaped sinkhole and the centerpiece of Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park -- one of Gainesville's six Florida State parks.

It was the plethora of animal bones that the native Floridians regularly found at the bottom of this deep bowl that lead them to conclude the Millhopper was the ultimate resting place for the devil's victims. Now it's just a great (and safe) place to visit.

Trekking down 120-feet on the winding, but ever so sturdy, wooden boardwalk is an exhilarating "only in Florida" adventure indeed. If you opt to 'trek' in summer here's the good news: your round trip descent will make for a great calorie busting workout especially if you warm-up with a hike around this State Park's 67-acre gentle hiking trails.

Your reward is that at the bottom, it's several degrees cooler. Almost cave, plus canopy-like, cooler. It's also cooler in the awe-inspiring kind of way. With trickling waterfalls and a labyrinth of green leafy vines, it's as if you've been magically transported to a exotic Tahitian island. But caveat hiker...if your exercise regime is well, a bit dusty, step slowly, take cool water and apply plenty of bug repellent.

So do hop, go ahead skip and jump at the chance to see the Sunshine State's only geological state park and one of Gainesville's natural treasures.

Eating Local Made Easy

Ironically, some of the best consumers of Gainesville's local produce are actually vacationers staying at one of the area's seven historic Bed and Breakfasts. Here's a great example of how to sample our incredible (and delectable) produce. The Grady House's veggie frittata contains plenty of ingredients that can be found in any of Alachua County's local farmers markets. The recipe goes as follows:

• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup diced bread
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (evoo)
• 1 cup chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup chopped red pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 small crookneck squash, chopped
• 1/2 lb. fresh baby spinah
• 1/2 lb. baby bella mushrooms
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups half & half or whole milk
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan
• 1/4 cup grated romano
• salt and pepper
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. In an baking dish, toss together two of the minced cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp evoo and the bread. Bake in oven, stirring once, for 8-10 minutes, or until bread is lightly toasted. Set aside.

In a skillet over medium heat, add 1 tbsp of evoo and the onion, peppers and squash. Saute the veggies for 6-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

In same skillet, saute two garlic cloves in 1 tbsp of evoo. Add mushroms and saute for 6-7 minutes until softened. Season with salt and pepper.

Place bread cubes into a lightly oiled 9" x 13" inch baking dish. Pour veggie mixture on top. Place spinach leaves over top of veggie layer. Pour mushrooms over top of spinach leaves. Spread cheeses on top of everything.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Pour egg mixture over cheese layer. Place halved grape tomatoes on top. Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 40-50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Music Lover? Gator Fan? Start Bidding!

A "Gatorized" Steinway Piano Model M is available for bidding by the University of Florida College of Fine Arts. This custom-decorated piano also comes with player attachment that plays all your favorite gator songs: the alma mater, "We are the Boys of Old Florida," and "Go Gators." The bidding for this piece of UF memorabilia starts at $25,000--a great deal considering the piano itself is worth about $55,000, the player $17,000, and the orange and blue artwork $18,000. The auction for this prize item is open until Nov. 1, 2010. Check out the video before placing your bid. Money from the bid will go to help UF's College of Fine Arts.

Who Let the Dogs Out? Check Out Gainesville's Pet-Friendly Lodging and Activities!

Gainesville is the perfect vacation spot--for you and your dog(s). The pet-friendly lodging and attractions mean you don't have to leave that extra-special canine at home while you let loose. For the month of July, Magnolia Plantation Bed and Breakfast Inn is giving 10% off for guests who bring their dogs (only for those staying in cottages). Camellia Rose Inn, Sweetwater Branch Inn, and the Herlong Mansion also allow pets as guests.
You have your dog in Gainesville, now what? Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, Paynes Prairie Reserve State Park, the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park all offer outlets where you and your dog can play and explore. Of course, there is always Dog Wood Dog Park as well.
We know how much your furry friends mean to you, so we offer a vacation experience you can enjoy with them.

Nothing Says American Like Free Concerts and Fireworks

Join other patriotic Gainesville-ians on Fourth of July weekend for free activities! Listen to the All American Song Fest for Free Fridays downtown on July 2. There will be various artists playing songs that celebrate America's past to present. The concert will take place from 8-10 p.m. in the Bo Diddley Community Plaza.

For fireworks and another free concert, head out to UF's Flavet Field on Saturday, July 3, for Fanfare and Fireworks. The concert will start at 7 p.m. with performances by 6th Street Rhythm and Blues Review, Hartley Leacock and the Collective Format Band and the Gainesville Community Band. The firework show will begin around 9:40 p.m.

The city of Alachua will once again host its "Largest Small Town Firework Display in America" on July 4 at the Hal Brady Recreation Complex. The annual event draws around 20,000 people per year and provides them with activities for kids such as a petting zoo, bounce house and water slide. For adults, there is live music, dancing and bingo. Don't miss out on any of the opportunities to celebrate 2010's Independence Day in Alachua County!

Whet Your Appetite Wednesday

The featured recipe this week is: Cinnamon Raisin Souffle from the Camellia Rose Inn. It was chosen because of its inspiring list of ingredients to this already-hungry author. They are:

• 1 large or 1 1/2 loaves of cinnamon raisin bread (chopped enough to fill a 9'x13" baking pan)
• 12 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 6 oz. butter, softened
• 3/4 cup maple syrup, divided
• 10 eggs
• 3 cups half & half
• cinnamon sugar
• more maple syrup

Place chopped bread into well-buttered 9"x13" glass baking dish. With a mixer, whisk cream cheese, butter and 1/4 cup maple syrup until smooth. Spread on top of bread, leaving some openings to pour egg through mixture. Beat eggs, half & half and 1/2 cup maple syrup. Pour over bread. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Cover and leave overnight in the refrigerator. Uncover and bake 60 minutes (covered with foil for last 10 minutes to keep from burning) at 350 degrees. Cut into squares and sprinkle with powdered sugar and drizzle with maple syrup. Serves 8-10.

This is a great treat for the family on Father's Day which is coming up Sunday, June 20. Make sure Dad gets the biggest piece with breakfast in bed. For more mouthwatering recipes, visit the Camellia Rose Inn or better yet...make a reservation for Dad at this charming Bed & Breakfast -- one of Gainesville's seven historic inns!

Set Your Mouth on Fire at the Hot Pepper Festival

Spice up your weekend at Harmony Gardens with its annual Hot Pepper Festival! It takes place at the plant nursery at 10100 NW 13th St. on Saturday and Sunday, June 19 and 20. The festival celebrates all things hot from peppers to spicy icecream. This is a must-do for the seekers of all things spicy. Once your mouth is sweltering, it's time to enjoy the music and other fun activities at the festival. For those interested in a challenge, there is a chance to enter a Hot Concoction Contest on Saturday by 1 p.m. The Hot Pepper Festival is put on by Harmony Gardens and Bike Route.

Shear Madness! A Cut Above the Rest

Shear Madness opened at the Hippodrome on June 4 where hair stylists from all over Gainesville provided attendees of the show with blow-outs and updos. For the rest of the summer, participating salons will compete to see who can send the most clients to the show. Those involved are: Absolutely Hair Styling, Charisma for Hair, Elan Hair Studio, The Hair Groomers, Jacquelyn Totura Hair Salon, Mode Salon, Nice Cut!, Scissors, 6th Street Station, Tecnicolors Salon, The Salon @ 716, The Strand, Thornebrrok Hair Design, Total Image Salon and Veda Salon & Spa.

Shear Madness is a comedic murder mystery that will be different every night it plays. It calls on the audience to solve the crime, making it a mix of comedy, mystery and improvisation. It also incorporates current events, celebrities and gossip into the script. Each show will be different and fresh, keeping you guessing no matter how many times you attend a production of Shear Madness this summer.

How Can You Be a Lawmaker? Act It Out!

Popular belief is that the theatre exists for entertainment purposes. It can comment on society and possibly raise awareness of issues, but its main purpose is to provide amusement and distraction from daily life. However, the Hippodrome State Theatre is hosting a two-day workshop by Julian Boal, director and innovator of the Theatre for Social Change. He will be using techniques from the Theatre of the Oppressed, specifically Forum and Legislative Theatre. The workshop will take place Wednesday, May 19 from 1-6 p.m. and Thursday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Forum Theatre presents a scene where the protagonist encounters a situation of oppression in which he or she fails. Next, the "spect-actors" in the audience help recreate the scene with suggestions on how to remedy the situation using possibilities that exist outside the theatre. Legislative Theatre tries to make citizen desires into actual laws. After a Forum session, the group creates a mock-Chamber and perform a ritual of lawmaking. At the end, suggestions are collected and pressure is put on the true lawmakers to put legislation into action. It creates an environment where actors (and nonactors are welcome to join) can come up with real solutions to real problems on a local level. The workshop is open to everybody, but there is only space for 30 participants. The cost for both days of the workshop is $60. There is a final performance on Thursday at 6:30 that is free and open to the public.

Gainesville's Green Goddess is Spreading the Word

Trish Riley, Gainesville's Green Goddess, was recently named Audubon's Earth Day Action Hero. Also, she won a national award for her book on green living. This is the same person who publishes the Web site GoGreenNation and organized the First Annual Gainesville Environmental Film and Arts Festival in April. Now she is going to be the keynote speaker at the 2010 Seminole County Tourism Celebration Luncheon next week. Trish is a true representation of what it means to live green and a great example of the environmentally-aware movement in Gainesville. Here is a round of applause to the Earth Day Action Hero--our very own Captain Planet.

Get to Know Gainesville

Gainesville is celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week 2010 starting Saturday, May 8 until Sunday, May 16. It's kicking off with the 18th Annual Bed-Making Contest on Monday, May 9 at the Paramount Plaza Hotel from 9 a.m. to noon. What does NTTW mean for visitors and residents alike? Free admission to attractions! Many places are offering free admission with the purchase of one regular priced admission one day of the week:

• Sunday, May 9: Haile Homestead at Kanapaha Plantation
• Monday, May 10: FL Museum of Natural History
• Thursday, May 13: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

On Wednesday, May 12 Poe Springs is offering $5 off canoe and kayak rentals. On Friday, May 14, the "Let's Go Downtown Free Fridays" Plaza Series presents Hudost, an alternative/folk rock band that will play downtown in Bo Diddley Community Plaza from 8-10 p.m. "Free Fridays" begin on Friday, May 7 and last until Oct. 15. Go see what Gainesville has to offer this week by taking advantage of the great deals our attractions are giving.

Get Cookin' With Gainesville Grub

The 2010 Eat Local Challenge is here. It kicked off on May 1 and will last the entire month. What does this mean for those participating? The goal is to eat food that has been locally grown in every meal--it can be every ingredient or just one piece in each dish of the day. You can also eat at locally owned restaurants that serve locally grown food. A few examples include:

• Sisters
• Ti Amo
• Harvest Thyme Cafe
• The Jones
• and many more

The only catch: this isn't much of a challenge. Gainesville is teeming with opportunities to "eat local." There are farmers markets every day of the week (except Tuesday) in various locations throughout Alachua County. On May 30, the "challenge" will celebrate a successful month with a Family Kickball Game 4-6 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

See What's "Bugging" Us at the FL Museum of Natural History

Do you ever feel like a fly-on-the-wall? You might want to rethink that after visiting the Florida Museum of Natural History's newest exhibit, CSI: Crime Scene Insects. It will be available May 8 to June 17 and give visitors the opportunity to learn how bugs like flies, maggots and beetles help in solving crimes every day. It's based on the fact that insects play an important role in decomposition.
For the particularly steel-stomached and morbidly curious, there will be a chance to view five stages of decomposition in morgue drawers that will hold models of cadavers in each stage. Then see if you can pick out the same details as someone investigating the actual crime.
**Suggestion: Don't go out for pizza after eyeing the decaying corpses**

You can also see the stages of a fly's life at "The Fly Wheel." It also gives information on how a forensic entomologist investigates cases and the tools they use.

Just when you thought it couldn't get more repulsive, there will be the filthy opportunity on opening day to paint a picture using maggots. Gross.

By the way, the National Science Education Standards deem this exhibit suitable for children 8 years and older.

Fruit, Vegetable, or Zucchini Festival?!

Come see if you can carve the kookiest courgette (that's what they call zucchini across the pond) at the 26th Annual Windsor Zucchini Festival! It will be Saturday, May 8 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Windsor which is located seven miles east of Gainesville on CR 234 between SR 20 (Hawthorne Road) and SR 26 (Orange Heights Road).

You'll be surprised at how many zucchini related activities there are:

• Zucchinithon Fun Run
• Duke of Zuke and Zuqueenie Pageant
• Arts and Crafts Vendor Show
• Cook-a-Zuke Contest
• Zucchini Carving Contest (judging categories include biggest and ugliest)
• Hay Rides
• Live bands

Let's not forget this is a festival about food, so there will be plenty of eating to be done. Tease your tastebuds with fried zucchini (we are in the South), zucchini ice cream and other goodies. Also, proceeds from the event go to help the local fire station.

Interesting facts about zucchini:

• Normally labeled as a vegetable, it is actually an immature fruit.
• It is low in calories, but a good source of potassium, vitamin A and folate.
• It comes from a flower (below).

First Annual Garden Bike Tour of Gainesville

Start stretching those quads and get ready for some biking and beauty! On Saturday, April 24 the Citizens Co-op will be leading its First Annual Garden Bike Tour of Gainesville. It will start at the Downtown Plaza and end at Citizens Co-op new location on 435 S. Main St.

The tour takes you on a 14-mile loop of public and private gardens throughout Gainesville. After the ride, there is a music festival from 5-11 p.m. at the store with live music, beer and local food.

Registration for the event is $20 for adults, $15 for students and free for kids (no age specified). This can be done prior to the event or between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. in the Bo Diddley Plaza on Saturday. Registered participants will receive a bike tour t-shirt, tour map, refreshments and free entrance to the music festival. It's $10 for those only interested in attending the festival.

Gator Gymnastics Flips to Host NCAA Champs in Gainesville

You'll get more "spring" than you bargained for this season. University of Florida gets to host the 2010 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastic Championship for the first time in over a dozen years. The event will take place at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on April 22-24. The schedule goes as follows:

Thursday, April 22

Semifinal #1 @ 1 p.m.

Semifinal #2 @ 7 p.m.

Friday, April 23

Super Six Teams Finals 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 24

Autograph Session 4-5:30 p.m.

Individual Event Finals @ 6 p.m.

Tickets for the event must be bought through ticketmaster for all three days; tickets for separate days are not available yet. Adult tickets are $45 to $55 and children and seniors are $30.

You can also attend the autograph session with the participating gymnasts between fan gates one and two on Saturday.

As of Monday, April 5 UF is ranked fourth in the nation. To see where the Gators train, click here.

Green Garden=Green Thumb

Get a greener garden this year--and I'm not talking about having the greenest grass in the neighborhood. Get all the makings of a true Florida paradise next weekend at the Spring Native Plant Sale. The Morningside Nature Center will host the sale on Saturday, April 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be plant experts there who will help you pick those perfect additions to your yard. The great thing about these horticultural treasures is the easy upkeep (no green thumb necessary). These plants are supposed to be in your back yard, so they need less care.

So how does this make a "green" garden? You're protecting the natural environment by not bringing in invasive plant species as well as using less water. Get flowers, shrubs, trees and grass that are all Florida natives. Yes, you can have the greenest grass in the neighborhood by getting "green" grass next weekend.

Orange, Blue and Spring Arts -- A Colorful Splash in Downtown Gainesville Next Weekend!

Circle the date and circle the fun-things-to-do wagons around downtown Gainesville `cause with all the activities on the calendar next weekend Gainesville's the place to be!

Sports fans, it's time again for the Orange and Blue Game at the University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin stadium --this intrasquad Gator vs. Gator scrimmage next Saturday gives spectators a sneak peek at next Fall's Gator gridiron line-up and hopefully a happy hint of the 2010 season.

Just five minutes east on University Avenue, a different line-up is assembled as more than 250 artists from around the nation will display their works all along NE 1st Street in historic downtown Gainesville for the 41st (wow!) Santa Fe Springs Arts Festival.

The official festival poster created by the ever-talented local artist, Angela Hoppe, was just unveiled this week...and it's fantastic. A fitting foretaste of other masterpieces to be discovered at this year's festival, Saturday and Sunday (April 10 & 11).

Reminder -- It's Census Day Today

Pardon us while we temporarily remove our Visitor and Tourist Hats and replace them with our

Citizens Alert Beanies!

Remember today is no longer April Fool's Day -- now it's the official Complete & Return the Census Form Day -- no fooling.
For those of us who haven't had the chance to complete this important document, it's a quick and easy process.

Really.

Our hats are off to you all!