New Year's Eve in the Ville

With more than half of the town gone, this New Year's Eve the city of Gainesville is your playground. We've compiled a list of the best NYE parties around town. Choose one, or branch out a bit and bar hop to all of them. But whatever you do, don't stay home to watch the ball drop on TV. You made it through 09 and into a new decade, you deserve a little celebration.

• Never one to skimp out on a good party, Rue Bar's, 104 S Main St., "Bringing in 2010" party is sure be wild. The $20 admission fee gets guests free drinks until midnight and free champagne and Red Bull all night. Expect balloon dropping, laser shining frenzies as Kiss 105.3 and DJ R3IGN lead the New Year celebration. Preorder tickets at The Network Promotions. 
  

• Lux Bar, 211 W. University Ave., might not have the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball, but they are bringing in NYC DJ Just-Iz for its "Night of Mayhem" fiesta. An $8 cover, also gets you a free drink at this intimate downtown spot. For non-drinkers, $4 gets you in the door.
  

• Party at 1982 Bar, 919 W University Ave., with Douglas Shields & The X-Factors, Tyler Black, MP3J Sterlo and DJoshua. As a New Year's present to you, all this heart-thumping, body-shaking live music is yours for only $3, so you can have your beer and drink it too!
  

• Be the star of the show at Common Grounds, 210 SW 2nd Ave, Karaoke with Hairy Karaoke. With an endless selection of songs and a Grade A stage, CG's karaoke nights never disappoint. If the strike of 12 catches you there, the staff will be serving up free champagne toasts.
  

• If good beer and wine is your thing, move your celebration to Alcove, 110 S Main St. where Michael Parallax  jamesDUNK  and Big Smile will perform for your musical enjoyment. Make friendly with the kiddies there, and they might just invite you to the 2010: Year of the Spirit Cat after party.
  

• The Bo Diddley Downtown Plaza will be offering a free NYE party complete with champagne, balloons and live music. Opening the show is Other Voices, a "folk and roll" band, followed by the headlining band, The Imposters, a Beatles tribute band. The festivities will run from 9pm to 12:30 am.
  

Roundup: The Saddest Celeb Deaths of '09

1. Michael Jackson: The King of Pop. The Gloved One. Whatever you called him, he was one of the most prolific entertainers of our time. He gave us the moonwalk, and he made it ok to grab your crotch while dancing. His milky smooth voice and indelible songs will live on forever.

Cause of death: Homicide

Check out: This Is It, Jackson's tour rehearsal movie. It shows Jackson in his element on stage and in a way we've never seen him before.

2. Patrick Swayze: Swayze was the only man who could dance like a graceful 12-year-old girl and still look like a badass. Even though he made quite a few sappy romantic movies, most of them were awesome (Dirty Dancing, Ghost) and he made quite a few sweet action flicks too (Red Dawn, Point Break.)

Cause of death: Pancreatic Cancer

Check out: Road House, the quintissential bar-fight movie. Swayze has a philosphy degree from NYU, and uses ballet-style roundhouse kicks to clean up the fictional town of Jasper, MO.

3. Bea Arthur: The Golden Girls is a timeless classic. The lightning in the bottle chemistry between the cast of the show leads to some of the most memorabe sitcom plots in history.

Cause of death: Cancer

Check out: Nick at Nite, they re-run the show all the time.

4. Billy Mays: So, he wasn't an actor or anything, but those Oxyclean commercials were like a lighthouse on a stormy night when you're lost at sea. You could always count on seeing him on late night TV, and that was comforting.

Cause of death: Heart Disease

Check out: Pitchmen, a show where you get to meet the man behind the magic (of Oxyclean).

5. David Carradine: He was in Kung Fu, a 70's show about martial arts. In Kill Bill he had what is probably the coolest death scene ever filmed.

Cause of death: Autoerotic Fatality

Check out: Kill Bill: Vol. 2, where the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique makes its unforgettable debut.

--Jon Silman

Book: The Happiness Project

As people everywhere start writing down their New Year's Resolutions in an ultimate attempt to make themselves happier, Gretchen Rubin releases her book, The Happiness Project. The book, which hits book shelves today, traces Gretchen's journey testing out many tips, tricks and theories she found about happiness to find out what works. Ultimately finding that happiness comes from within and is different for each person. We talked to the author about what makes her book unique, what she learned from this project and what students should do after graduation.

Read the interview on our Web site!

Gator Men's Basketball vs. American University

The Gators won 76-60 against American University last night, breaking their three-game losing streak. The Gators, with a season record of 9-3, had a 21 point lead going into halftime, but American closed within nine points during the last minutes. The Gators responded with seven points in the last 39 seconds. Alex Tyus with a season high of 20 points, said "It's definitely good to get the win". Kenny Boynton added 19, and Vernon Macklin had a career high of 18. The next home game is tomorrow, Wed. Dec.30 at 7pm.

--Rodney Rogers

Shop the Shoot

Find out where to buy look-alikes for the gorgeous outfits featured in our December issue. Check out the story on our Web site!

Climb Winter Pounds Away

Ready to start burning off all those extra holiday calories? Try rock climbing. This sport, which has climbers scaling through steep, natural or man-made rock formations works every muscle in your body. The focus is on the upper body, as climbers use their arms and back to pull themselves upward, but the legs and abs are also engaged, and your metabolism is revved with this strength-training/cardio double-whammy workout (moderate-paced rock climbing burns an average of 600 calories per hour!). 

No need to travel to Nutcracker, Calif., to reap the benefits of this full-body workout, just drive down Main Street to the Gainesville Rock Gym, 704 S Main St.  The Rock Gym has over 85,000 square feet of climbing territory, from beginner routes to cave and tunnel systems, the Rock Gym has terrains to challenge all fitness levels and ages. First-timers need not worry; expert climbers are on site to train you in all the basics in the safety belay class. A first-timers day-pass with the safety belay class and gear rental will run you $16 for students and $18.75 for adults. If you want a tailored fitness program, classes are available in areas ranging from endurance building to route strategy and roof climbing. 

This month INsite visited the Gainesville Rock Gym for January's climbing-inspired workout shoot. We felt instantly invigorated and pleasantly sore after trying our hand at the sport, and we just couldn't wait to share this gem with you. Check out INsite's January issue for our customized rock climbing workout! 

Wine of the Week

Astoria-Vintage Prosecco di Valbobbiadene

One of the first bottles I ever tasted of Italy's dry sparkling wine, Prosecco, had a cute story on the back of how the gnomes had enchanted the still wines made of the Prosecco grape into a bubbly, magical treat. There is some truth to the story if you think of the gnomes as "a warmer than usual winter," which would cause a secondary fermentation of the fruit sugars in the still wine and carbon dioxide to be given off. Whether it was magic or biological chemistry, the end product is a lightly dry sparkling wine from the Veneto region of Northeastern Italy. It is named for the grape used to produce it: Prosecco.

Unlike champagne or other Methode Champenoise wines, this sparkling wine doesn't use Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, so it is a little lighter and fruitier than the classic French style bubblies, but not as sweet as Italy's infamous Asti Spumante. Prosecco is a great, reasonably-priced alternative, that appeals to a broader fanbase by being a little lighter and fruitier. It makes a great Bellini (with either Peach juice or the Bellini peach liqueur), Poinsettia or a Mimosa. I like it best alone or paired with lighter cheeses like Brie or Havarti, some fresh grapes, strawberries or a fresh fruit salad. 

It can give your New Year's celebration an Italian flavor, so bring the panettone and Perugina chocolates and celebrate like the Italians do! Ti Amo is a great brand, that means "I love you" and is under $15 per bottle and available at Gator Spirits and Fine Wines, though most brands of Prosecco are consistently excellent. Cheers!

Daniel Eddy, Gainesville Wine Pairing Examiner and Store Mananger at Gator Spirits, Westgate Plaza

Book Signing with famed editor/author Ellis Amburn

Amburn with Kim Novak

Perhaps the most fascinating revelation in the lifetime of literary endeavors for Ellis Amburn is the fact that as a young man he found himself in the oddly precocious position of editing literary great Jack Keroauc.

Ellis Amburn, famed editor and author, will be appearing at Books-a-Million on 2601 NW 13th St., on Wednesday, Dec. 23 from 1 to 3pm. Amburn has written a number of books including:Pearl (his biography of Janis Joplin); Buddy Holly: A Biography and Subterranean Kerouac (a definitive biography of the literary legend from a man who knew him personally). Ellis has also written biographies of American actress and Oscar winner Shelly Winters, and Kim Novak, perhaps best know for her role in the Hitchcock classic Vertigo.

Amburn with Shelly Winters at a pool on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

Ellis resides in High Springs and writes for HarperCollins Publishers in New York City. He recently finished an update of his 2000 Elizabeth Taylor biography and is currently working on a book about famed college football star Tim Tebow.

For the full story on Amburn, look for the January issue of INsite, out soon.

—Jon Silman

Dance Alive National Ballet: The Nutcracker

Last night, we were lucky enough to finally catch a performance of Dance Alive’s Nutcracker at the Phillips Center. It was at times romantic, exciting, mysterious—even funny. The elaborate sets, beautiful costumes and extensive cast (you won’t believe the number of toy soldiers) made for a refreshingly entertaining holiday performance.

For those unfamiliar with the classic story, it’s (loosely described as) the 19^th Century tale of Clara, whose family Christmas Eve party is followed by dreams of mice, soldiers, the eponymous Nutcracker and a fairy tale land of snowflake fairies and sweets. It’s set to famous music by Tchaikovsky (you’ve surely been hearing it in commercials and book stores these days) and this version is choreographed by Dance Alive Artistic Director Kim Tuttle. Last night, Rachel Ridley played Clara, who received a nutcracker doll from her Uncle Drosselmeyer (Tim Heflin). After her younger brother Franz (Elijah Eyerly) jealously breaks her doll, she falls asleep with it in her arms near the Christmas tree. At the stroke of midnight, she wakes to find her brother’s toy soldiers fighting a pack of mice. After saving her nutcracker, he comes to life as a handsome prince (Brian Hunter).

There are no dull moments, and both dance-lovers and willing novices would be wise to catch it while they can. The performance lasted about two hours with a 15-minute intermission—a perfect chance to get a glass of wine. There are performances ($15-$35) tonight (Dec. 18) at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm; Sugar Plum Teas (when you can taste treats and meet the cast for $15) Sat. and Sun. at 4pm; and a Chocolate and Champagne Gala ($75) Sat. at 8pm. Call the Philips Center box office at 352-392-2787 or here for more info.

—Tim Carswell

Sip Champagne with Sugar Plum Fairies

Explore the set of The Nutcracker while sipping champagne and devouring decadent chocolates at Dance Alive National Ballet’s Chocolate and Champagne Gala this holiday season.

“Last year was the first year we did it onstage, and people seemed to really enjoy that,” says DANB Director Judy Skinner.

Well, it’s back by popular demand along with a silent auction of holiday gifts, music by Gosia and Ali, Blue Water Bay catering and a scavenger hunt that takes you throughout the Phillips Center.
Each participant in the scavenger hunt will receive a passport, and once their passport is all stamped, it will be entered into a grand prize drawing, Judy says.

The gala coincides with The Nutcracker Festival, which features performances of the popular ballet, as well as the family-friendly Sugar Plum Tea. The tea follows each performance and provides the opportunity to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her court and have holiday photos taken by Johnston Photography.

“We’ve been doing it for a number of years now, and it’s really, really successful,” Judy says.

The Chocolate and Champagne Gala will be held this Saturday, Dec. 19, at 8pm at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $75 per person or $600 for a table. For more information, visit dancealive.org.

—Kate Ashby

Vintage Christmas Special at the Hipp

What better way to spend the holiday season than by watching a free Christmas movie marathon at the Hippodrome Theatre? On Saturday, Dec, 19th, at 12pm, the Hippodrome is having a repeat showing of its Christmas Triple Feature. An entire afternoon devoted to Christmas nostalgia, the triple feature will showcase the original Babes in Toyland, the camp classic Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, and the heart-warming It Happened on Fifth Avenue. While the screening is free, the Hippodrome is asking for a small donation of five to ten dollars.

The Hippodrome hosted one screening of the Christmas Triple Feature last Saturday. Shown in the main cinema, the triple feature presented an opportunity for the Hippodrome to show off some impressive new equipment. “All these films are digital that are being shown on our brand new digital projector,” says cinema manager Robert Matrone. “It’s very, very beautiful. It’s worth it so you can see these films in essentially the highest quality you can find.”

The Christmas Triple Feature offers something for every taste. Kicking off the movie marathon at noon is the original 1934 version of Babes in Toyland, starring the famous comedy team Laurel and Hardy. “A lot of people know this film from the later version, which stars Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves,” Robert says.

Known as one of the worst films ever made, the 1964 science fiction film Santa Claus Conquers the Martians blasts its way on screen at 1:30pm. In the film, the Martian children become so enthralled by the Santa-themed television that the Martian king launches an expedition to Earth to kidnap Santa Claus and bring him back to the Red Planet. “Sometimes we show movies because they’re really good,” Robert says. “In this case, we’re showing it because it’s really, really bad. But it’s as entertaining as any good film.”

Finally, at 3:30pm, the Academy Award winning comedy It Happened on Fifth Avenue tells the story of a New York City homeless man who squats in the empty mansion of a vacationing millionaire during the winter. “This is a feel-good film, more in the classical tradition of It’s a Wonderful Life,” Robert says.

For those looking for a little nostalgia, classic news reels and old-fashioned holiday cartoons from the forties and fifties will be shown in between the features.

—Allison Griner

GIVEAWAY: Nutcracker Tickets!

We're giving away a pair of tickets to the holiday ballet classic The Nutcracker presented by Dance Alive National Ballet. Get a chance to see INsite cover stars Andre and Carla, plus the rest of Dance Alive's dancers, light up the Phillips Center Stage. The performances are Dec. 17 to 20, and you could get in for free!

To win, e-mail editor@insitegainesville.com (with Subject: Nutcracker) or RT this message on Twitter!

Discover New Talent

You might not have heard Tori Sparks on the radio yet, but it won’t be long before this critically acclaimed singer/songwriter hits a speaker box near you. Tori’s folksy and ethereal sounds have been compared to the likes of Joni Mitchell and Ani DiFranco and her recent CD, The Scorpion in the Story, is up for six possible Grammy nominations. The Florida native (who now calls Nashville home) will stop in Gainesville this December, playing two benefit shows and showcasing her CD.

“This album is kind of a chronicle about the people I’ve met all over the country in 2008,” says Tori, who tours the country for most of the year. “One of the songs is even about someone I met in Gainesville.”

Despite her many performances nationwide, Tori is anxious to perform for her Gainesville fans.

“I’ve played in Gainesville before, but this year I feel very excited and very lucky to be doing this,” she says. “I tour so much, but I’m always happy to come back to Florida.”

Tori will play a Holiday Benefit Dinner at South Main Community Arts Center tomorrow (Dec. 17) at 8pm. She will play again on Dec. 27 at 3pm at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to benefit the Lake Area Ministries, featuring catered desserts and drinks, photo portraits and raffles. Tickets for this second show are $125 a person or $200 for each couple.

—Michelle Profis

Look of the Day: Blazer Bombshell

Jaimie, UF marketing senior

Jaimie made us all want to run out and get this season’s hottest item, the boyfriend blazer, when we found her sporting this look near Newell Drive. She matched the masculine piece with an embellished top and peep-toe heels to keep the outfit feminine. Blazers work best with fitted skinny jeans, like Jaimie has done here, rather than a flared leg in order to balance the weight of the jacket and maintain the outfit’s girly appeal. Jaimie says she loves that her boyfriend blazers allow her to be modern, trendy and comfortable at the same time.

Blazer: The Limited, $70
Top: Macy’s, $40
Jeans: 7 For All Mankind, $180
Heels: Target, $23
Sunglasses: Coach, $165

-Brooke Johnson

Girls go GaGa at Rue Bar

Contestants went all out for the Lady Gaga look-a-like contest at Rue Bar Thursday.

The girls were asked to dress, strut and dance like the newest wacked-out pop diva on the scene.

The winner won a flight and hotel stay in Miami and free tickets to the Lady Gaga concert at the James L. Knight Center on New Year's eve. We are really impressed by the winner's uncanny resemblance.

Look of the Day: Western Edge

Matt, drummer for the band The Gills

Matt passed out flyers for his band’s show outside of the Hub in this vintage-inspired western outfit that we love on and off the stage. His plaid, untucked, loose-hem button-down is a great mix of trendy and casual. Dark, fitted jeans are the perfect style for Matt’s tall and slender frame and can easily be dressed up with a blazer or down with a shirt like this one. Matt describes his look as “vintage-refined, classic and laid back.” We hope he’ll be back to show us what looks he’s got in store for winter.

Shirt: Grandpa’s closet, $0
Jeans: Forever 21, $29
Shoes: Zara, $75

-Brooke Johnson

Dahlia Holiday Bash & Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show

Visitors mingled, drank champagne, shopped the 20% off sale and browsed vintage couture at Dahlia on N.W. 43rd Street for the Dahlia Holiday Bash & Vintage Jewelry Trunk Show on Thursday evening (Dec. 10).

Christy Morgan, of Dahlia, says the initial idea for the event was to have a holiday party and to showcase Victoria Rohn’s vintage collection. The women decided to hold the event because people are looking for Christmas gifts for their daughters or girlfriends, and also because visitors are looking for dresses and other accessories to wear to holiday and New Year’s parties.

Thus, Rohn, who is new to town, brought some of her vintage pieces to Dahlia to showcase. She said she has a little of everything – from turn-of-the-century pieces to runway pieces to pieces that feature stones such as sapphires and diamonds.

“I have new couture, old couture, pieces from every single era and type,” she says. She said collecting and selling vintage pieces is her passion.

“I love this,” she says. “You can have a plain dress, but when you put on a piece of vintage, it changes everything.”
For the Dahlia event, she picked out pieces that she thought would compliment the clothing sold at the store. She brought purples and golds and pinks, among others, so visitors could match up her accessories with Dahlia’s clothing.

Victoria said she can acquire the rare vintage pieces that she has because she has good contacts, not because she buys them from stores or finds them on eBay. She travels once a month to find and collect authentic, unusual and hard-to-find pieces from those she is connected with, and then she brings them back to Gainesville to sell at a reduced price. For example, she said one of her necklaces might sell for $2,400 on the market, but she might be able to offer it for $300.

If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind piece (for yourself or a gift), contact Victoria at 352-225-3958. “Call me and tell me what you’re looking for, and if I have it, I will come to you and show you what I have,” she says. “And if I don’t have it, I can get it for you.”

—Sarah Hsu

GIVEAWAY: Press-On Beauty

We're giving away a set of Dashing Diva press-on nails from Sephora, featured in our December beauty story.

To win, e-mail editor@insitegainesville.com or RT this message on Twitter!

Christmas Dreamlab

Dance club denizens celebrated Christmas at the Christmas Dreamlab production at Skyy nightclub last night from Non Zero Productions.

DJs Lady Cherelle, Baker, Agent K & Bella, and DJ Monk brought the beats, while video from Hallucination on Film twisted the holiday on 3 screens.

Nothing says Christmas like go-go girls, blacklights and glowsticks, except maybe the hulahoop with built-in lighting. Hoopy Holidays!

--John Davisson

Gainesville Date: All that Glitters

December is a time of reunion with family, but often a time of parting for couples. Before you bid farewell, spend some time around a glowing tree of your own—or a whole park full of them—at the Christmas Festival of Lights at the Stephen Foster Folk State Park in White Springs. The festival kicks off Dec. 12 with the Annual Christmas Parade, live music and refreshments. Even if you miss the opening day, other month-long activities like craft demonstrations and cuddle-worthy marshmallow roasts will make the goodbyes sweeter and the post-season’s greetings all the merrier.

The park lights up 5-9pm daily, Dec. 12 to Dec. 31. If you plan to attend Dec. 12, be sure to bring canned goods, new toys or a donation.

You can find the park 52 miles north of Gainesville, off of I-75 North at exit 439. Then, travel east on S.R. 136 for three miles and make a left onto U.S. 41. The park entrance will be on the left. Call 386-397-4331 or visit the Web site for more.

—Mead Bowen

Look of the Day: Sophisticated Rock

Allan, guitar and keys player for band, The Gills

Allan promoted for his Gainesville show near the Reitz in this fierce preppy-punk outfit. Cardigans are all over the fall 2009 runways for men. Wear one with a fun graphic tee to pull off the look with youthful, fashionable flair. Fitted, uniform-washed jeans are a must for any wardrobe. It’s okay to splurge on a favorite pair - these can be worn with virtually everything in your closet. Top it all off with a funky pair of sneakers and aviators like Allan to really make a statement. Allan enjoys dressing up but still being comfortable, and credits European fashion as his main style inspiration.

Stripe cardigan & jeans: Express, $55, $60
T-shirt: Liverpool Cavern Club, $30
Shoes: Journeys, $40
Glasses: Gift, $0

-Brooke Johnson

Florida FlyIns in Brazil

This week marks the 10-year anniversary of the Florida FlyIns Exhibition, Latin America: In words, pictures and sounds. The FlyIns is comprised of nine journalism students, selected by Pulitzer-prize winning journalist John Kaplan, in the College of Journalism and Communications at the UF. 

Generally the group is made up of writers and photographers, but this year came with the exciting addition of two radio students. Our class ventured to the arid northeastern end of Brazil, the poorest region throughout all of Brazil.  We spent weeks doing in depth research on the region prior to trip, so when arriving we could hit the ground running in hopes of producing, what we consider, the best stories of our life, thus far.

To see the Florida FlyIns Exhibition visit the The Gallery on the second floor of the Reitz Union 9am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 6pm on weekends. The exhibition will run through Dec. 19.

-Photos and story by Zachary Bennett

On the Set of Extreme Makeover: Day 4

Carpenter Paul Dimeo poses with UF cheerleaders

Today on the set of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the University of Florida's Albert, Albert and cheerleaders visited to encourage volunteers and meet the cast and crew.

Shopping/style expert Didiayer Snyder mingles with the crowd.

Check our web site and blog later for more exclusive interviews and pics from the set.

Photos by Rodney Rogers

Go-Go-Gaga...

Wear your best Lady Gaga garb to Rue Bar, 104 S Main Street, tonight for a chance to win the Lady Gaga look-a-like contest. The winner will be flown to Miami with free tickets to a sold-out Gaga show on New Year's Eve at the James L. Knight Center. Hotel accommodations will also be provided. So here's what you gotta do:

Show up at Rue Bar before 8pm Gaga'd out from head to toe. We recommend American Apparel, Persona and Forever 21 as good places to scout your get-up. At 8pm all contestants will strut the catwalk showing off their looks. For the final round prepare your best pop-star lip-synch-and-dance combo. The girl (or boy) with the best Gaga look and talent wins! Whether you win or lose stick around for Rue Bar's 80s and 90s after party. You'll already be appropriately dressed.

The Basics

The racy body suit The flashy tights

Look for gloves, studded sunglasses, hooded capes and wigs at Persona 201 SE 2nd Place, Ste. #114, and Center Stage, 3210 SW 35th Blvd.

How it's done: (singing abilities not required, backup dancers might be a good idea)

-Stephanie Granada

Look of the Day: Eclectic Metallics

Cristin, UF journalism senior

Cristin’s funky ensemble brought a little urban-chic to the College of Journalism. She keeps her full, metallic-striped mini the focus of attention by pairing it with a simple, black camisole and lengthy cardigan. Her embellished metal belt is a versatile accessory that could be worn over and over again. Cristin’s floral, lace tights are a must-have for fall. Leather boots keep your feet warm and add the perfect finishing touch to accommodate a skirt, dress, leggings or jeans. Cristin loves to shop at local hot spots, Urban Thread, Flashbacks and Forever 21. She is proof that you don’t have to go far to look great.

Cardigan, skirt & belt: Urban Outfitters, $32, $40, $21
Tank: Abercrombie & Fitch, $14
Boots: Ugg, $120

-Brooke Johnson

GIVEAWAY: Market Street Bar and Restaurant Tab

Market Street Pub is a downtown bar and restaurant with good food, a large selection of drinks and a relaxed atmosphere. To wind down before finals, have a night out at Market Street, on us!

To win a $40 bar and restaurant tab to Market Street Pub, e-mail editor@insitegainesville.com or RT our message on Twitter!

GIVEAWAY: El Indio

Photo: Nicole Linton

Hungry? We're giving away a $25 gift card to El Indio!

To win, e-mail editor@insitegainesville.com or RT our message on twitter!

Look of the Day: Chic Teach

Claire, UF elementary education student

Claire taught us how to make a classically cut dress trendy for this season near the Plaza of the Americas - and we gave her an A+. Her cream, boat neck dress can be worn for decades to come, but her thick, chocolate-colored belt makes this dress perfectly 2009-appropriate, while accentuating her small waist. Comfy leather sandals and a great turquoise ring make for a perfect day-to-day look. Claire loves sweater dresses and leggings with boots for winter, and we can’t wait to see how her outfits make the grade.

Dress: BCBG, $85
Bow Belt: Calzatura, gift, $0
Sandals: Dillard's, $30
Bag: Longchamp, $135

--Brooke Johnson

Extreme Makeover: Sneak Peek

This morning, we stopped by Gainesville's set of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition before the big demolition at dusk tonight (Dec. 8). As workers set the stage for the crazy spectacle and security directed traffic, we got a glimpse of the three huge wood guitars that are going to be used to set the rock-n-roll demo in action. (See image above for a sneak peek.)

We chatted with Evelyn of Harper's Wood Shop in Starke, who just got confirmation to build the 700-lb sculpture (and its smaller counterparts) this Friday. "We've built everything," she told us, "even a motorcycle—but never a guitar!"

Tomorrow, for framing day, spectators are encouraged to bring canned food and to donate blood at the staging area (3301 N. Main St.). Go here for the full story. Stay tuned for more pics and details from tonight's demolition!

Photo by Rodney Rogers