Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 1st of April.
Good morning, Gainesville.
💼 Business
B'z Gelati celebrated the opening of its new storefront — The Hive at 1130 NW 23rd Ave on March 28, 2026 in Gainesville.
The location shares space with Baloo's Donuts and Coffee and was hosted by owner Brandon Grabhorn.
🎭 Culture
UF Opera Theatre presents student-led The Pirates of Penzance at Phillips Center this April.
The production features over 40 performers + a full orchestra, with a free educational performance for local schoolchildren on Apr. 9 at 10:30 a.m. and public shows on Apr. 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Former Alligator general manager Ed Barber (86) died March 29; he spent over 50 years mentoring student journalists and keeping the paper independent, with funeral details pending.
🏥 Health
Two downtown Gainesville bars, The Midnight Underground & White Buffalo, failed health inspections on March 25 & 26.
Violations included live flying insects & improper dishmachine sanitizer strength, and follow up inspections were required to address the issues.
🏈 Sports
Florida basketball’s Rueben Chinyelu earned the NABC Defensive Player of the Year honor on March 31, becoming the first Gator to receive the award; he averaged 10.9 points & 11.2 rebounds while also earning SEC Defensive POY and scholar-athlete recognition this season.
Buchholz volleyball head coach Andre Medina will not return for the 2026 season (his wife accepted a new job), and the school will hire a new coach for its top-performing team with many underclassmen.
Florida football surveyed fans this week about a $398.5M renovation of The Swamp that would add amenities such as extra entry gates, expanded concourses, more concessions, and enhanced seating—a plan that includes a potential five-year seat gift commitment.
The project will reduce capacity to about 83,000 for ADA compliance.
Leanne Wong, a standout Florida gymnast (one of only 15 NCAA athletes to earn a perfect Gym Slam), now mentors the 2026 team as a student assistant coach.
She balances this role with her master’s studies and plans to enter medical school.
Florida Gators centerback Abby Gemma has been called into the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team training camp and will travel to Kansas City next week.
The camp runs from April 7 to 16 and includes matches with Brazil's 2026 qualifying squad.
Florida basketball center Olivier Rioux (7-foot-9 and the tallest in college history) entered the transfer portal Tuesday after playing in the NCAA tournament in Gainesville; he said he appreciated the fan and team support and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
🎉 Gainesville Events
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Easy Honey Concert
7-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — $33 general admission — Experience the energetic sounds of Easy Honey in an intimate Gainesville venue.
Gainesville Asian Festival
10 AM – 4 PM — Bo Diddley Plaza — Free entry — Celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander culture with performances, food trucks, and craft vendors.
Easter Brunch Buffet
10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. — Best Western Gateway Grand — Adults $46.95, Seniors $38.95, Children $19.95 — Celebrate Easter with a festive buffet featuring delicious dishes and a joyful atmosphere.
Free Fridays Concert Series Featuring Crooked Counsel
7-9 p.m. — Bo Diddley Plaza — Free entry — Enjoy live '60s and '70s rock music under the stars with Crooked Counsel.
Executive MBA Spring Open House
9:15 AM - 12:00 PM — Hough Hall, Gainesville, FL — Free entry — Explore how the Executive MBA from UF can elevate your career with insights from program leaders and alumni.
Gainesville Speed Dating Event
7:30-9:30 p.m. — Tinker Restaurant — Ticket required — Connect with potential matches in an engaging and fun speed dating format.
Samantha Fish Live Concert
8-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Kids 12 and under free — Experience the powerhouse guitar and soulful melodies of one of today's most formidable musicians.
The Happy Fits Concert
12-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Tickets from $32 — Catch The Happy Fits live in an intimate setting.
Florida Gators vs. Jacksonville University Dolphins Baseball
6:30-10:30 p.m. — Condron Ballpark — Support your team — Cheer on the Gators as they face off against the Dolphins in this exciting college baseball matchup.
Yonder Mountain String Band Concert
8-11 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Tickets from $81 — Enjoy an evening of live bluegrass and string band music in Gainesville.
🏠 Gainesville Real Estate
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💼 Gainesville Job Board
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📣 Gainesville Announcements
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