Spendng time in Gainesville means visiting some of my favorite places in town and exploring what’s changed since my last visit. This time, I had plenty of both, along with some things that make Gainesville unique.
A fair walk from the house is this view in the Duckpond area, with a little stream running in the verge between two streets. There’s something about this view that makes me detour to it every time I’m walking in the area.
Walking around the neighborhood means enjoying streets full of live oaks and Spanish moss. This is just a typical street in the Northeast section of town, where I’m based.
A few streets over is Tom Petty Park, which recently received a Florida Heritage Site designation paying tribute to the musician who grew up nearby and is still probably the most famous local boy to make good.
Streets in Gainesville can be a bit confusing, due to the love of numbered streets. Yes, you can live on the corner of 11th and 11th. I’m kind of amazed how the mail finds people, given the almost-duplicate street names. Sometimes they don’t, our house gets a lot of mail for people who think their street is #### NE but they are really at #### NW.
This time of year, the flowers are making a comeback after the hot and humid summer weather.
The big shopping news is that Gainesville now has a really cool bookstore, The Lynx, owned by local author Lauren Groff. They feature a wide range of books, including those banned by state and local school districts in Florida (and you can shop there online…). I believe in supporting local bookstores when I can, so I bought a few things; the hard part was limiting myself to just a few!
Just a few minutes walk away is an open field where, if the timing is right, you can watch the colors change at sunset or check out the night sky for comets, planets, and stars. This time, it was golden hour, and playing fetch with a certain wire fox terrier. Not a bad way to end the day.
Well, some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I’ve started out for God knows where
I guess I’ll know when I get there
Tom Petty, Learning to Fly
I’ve spent the last 6 months in Gainesville and am really enjoying it.
Tom Petty memorial!! 🙂 What a beautiful place!
Ooo that random street looks so lush and inviting! Too bad there are no sidewalks though. What a beautiful place! I hear the university is very nice as well, and well regarded too. Love your updates Annie!
Looks like a great place to explore and live!
Love that bookmark. I’ll have to check out the store online.
Loved them all, but especially the Tom Petty tribute.
Yeah, I was stoked to see it, he’s a legend.