Ahhhhhh summer…
The days are hotter and less is more – board shorts and flip flops are the choice du jour and bikinis poke out under rompers and sundresses. Every weekend is a different pool party and life is nice the ‘ville. But all good things must come to an end. You start noticing that fresh, new crop of freshman that descended upon campus and you know that Fall semester is almost upon us.
Not that there’s anything wrong with Fall – it’s football season after all! But the lazy lifestyle you’ve gotten used to during summer is over and it’s back to the grind. Not only do you have classes, but Fall rolls around and swamps your social calendar with football, tailgating parties, rush week, drink specials, hurricane days, Halloween, Thanksgiving and every other excuse to go out. There’s so much going on, you don’t want to miss out because you’re swamped with work.
Now we’re not saying that you should completely slack off, but rather that it’s smart to balance out your schedule with some easier classes so you aren’t camping out for days in Club West surrounded by cans of energy drinks and TutoringZone packets trying to catch up on two month’s worth of lectures. Therefore the CitiSync team has compiled a helpful guide to some easy A classes that you might want to add to your schedule during drop/add to boost your GPA and lessen your workload!
TPP2100 – Acting for Non-Majors
Think you can be the next Lauren Conrad, Snooki or The Situation? Then try out this easy and fun class and let out that inner star! Yes some of the exercises are a bit lame, but once you get over it, you’ll be glad you took this class. Hey, if anything do it for the make out scenes.
Upside: Professors are hot and laid back.
Downside: There’s a $72 course fee and it fills up fast.
FOS2001 – Man’s Food
Possibly one of the most popular classes in UF; it’s also a guaranteed A unless you think Ben Franklin is the devil or you decided to go to India for the hell of it and forgot you had class. It’s not the most exciting class you’ll ever take, but it definitely requires minimal effort and just a good memory of what you ate last week.
Upside: Guaranteed A
Downside: Guaranteed snooze fest
ORH1030 – Plants, Garden and You
Always liked helping your Nana in the garden? Well then you’ll definitely love this class. Learn how to choose the best plants for your home/ garden then how to maintain them. Dead plants always suck. Doesn’t get much better or easier than that.
Upside: You get a free plant at the end of every class.
Downside: Plants are only THAT exciting.
EEX3312 – Exceptional People
A popular class every semester you probably won’t get in this late but hey, you can dream. This class is about learning how to interact with persons with disabilities and about learning how to (sometimes literally) walk in their shoes. Learn sign language, live without a limb for a day and maneuver through campus blindfolded – it’s all in a day’s work.
Upside: You’ll never be bored in this class.
Downside: You have to stalk ISIS for a spot.
WIS2040 & WIS2552 – Wildlife Issues & Biodiversity Conservation
Need an easy Biological Sciences and International credit? Choose one (or if you’re like me both) of these courses and you’ll sometimes forget you’re in this class until something’s due. Tests are online, so you can google most of the info but everything’s pretty much covered in the lecture guide and CD packet. Oh, and you get to look at all the cutesy-patootsy animals.
Upside: You get to watch a movie every week.
Downside: You HAVE to watch the movies and they’re about animals.
Happy class hunting and for more events to fill up your social calendar this fall, make sure to click “Like” in the Facebook social plugin to the right to like CitiSync on Facebook, add @CitiSync on Twitter or just head to http://www.citisync.com
– Nicola Pollard
During summer, the thing most hazardous to a student’s health is not fast food, lack of exercise or excess drinking; it’s boredom. If you feel yourself wasting away on the couch, wondering why you decided to stay in Gainesville this summer, instead of going back home to the comforts of family life, fear no more, we at Citisync provide you with the 5 low cost ideas for summer fun.
1.) Lake Walberg – This underutilized student resource is only 10 minutes away by car from campus. Take some friends, some hot dogs and some sun tan lotion and head for Gainesville’s solution to the beach. With a valid student I.D. card, paddleboats, canoes, grills and more are at your disposal. If you’re looking for fun in the sun and sand, Lake Walberg is your destination
2.) Devil’s Millhopper – If nature is your forte, Devil’s Millhopper is a great area to trek through beautiful local Gainesville flora and fauna and discover a different side to the city you live in. Besides great views, the trail is great exercise and quite secluded. If you’re looking for some alone time be it with yourself or with someone special the Devil’s Millhopper is a great place to be.
3.) The Hipp – Looking to get cultured while everyone else is out going wild? The Hippodrome has plenty of performing arts pieces that will keep you entertained all summer long. What’s the best part? With a valid student I.D., students get in for just 12 dollars. Live entertainment for just 12 dollars is a great deal considering the quality performances being put on at the Hipp.
4.) Live Music – Speaking of live entertainment, Gainesville has a great music scene with a wide range of musical styles played live. Places like the Common Grounds have live acts almost every night and ticket prices are low even for the biggest names. Some clubs and bars host live music for free. There are few things in life as pleasurable as live music. With so much of it in Gainesville, why not take advantage?
5.) Santa Fe Zoo – Who doesn’t love large animals? I know I do, and that’s why the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo is such an interesting place to go. If you’re looking for birds, insects, reptiles and mammals, the Santa Fe Zoo has over 80 species for your viewing pleasure. At $5 per ticket, this mini Safari won’t put too big of a bite into your wallet.
Gainesville may seem like a sleepy town for those who are used to cities like Miami, Tampa or Jacksonville, but there is still plenty to do that won’t cost you nearly as much as a night out on the town. Get creative, and your summer becomes much brighter.
And for lots of other ideas for summer outings, check out our What’s Happening page.
– Ryan Levick
Ok. Summer’s here. What’s the biggest question on everybody’s mind? Obviously it’s “what is the quietest library in which to study?” Oh wait. No it’s not. (btw the quietest library is Marston East) The real question is “what;s the best pool in Gainesville to party and get my bronze on????” I’ve been asked by over fifty incoming freshman this week alone, so I figured it’s best that I just shared my thoughts.
POOLS….That’s our focus and our question is what makes a good one. There isn’t one school of thought on the matter so I am going to examine three ways to look at pools and how much fun they can be, I’ll let you be the judge of how you determine the best one.
(1) Most active pool at UF. Hands down this goes to the community pool on North 34th St. This pool has everything an active aquatic gator needs. High dive, springboard, racing lanes, and even a water slide. It’s awesome, really not that crowded, and serves food (hot dogs, burgers, nachos).
(2) Best Pool Party in Gville. Quite a few complexes have tried to knock off this king of the hill but the best pool party has to go to Gainesville Place. The kegs, the pool, and the people set these parties apart from any other in Gainesville. The pool is huge, the people always come to have fun, and the booze is seemingly never ending
(3) Best everyday pool. While the other two pools are fun on weekends or specific pool party days, the Royal Village pool is always a happening place. Come on a Saturday or a Tuesday, there will always be people hanging out and having a good time. The music is loud, people are always ready for a back flip contest, and it’s proximity to campus allows for between class dips. What more could you ask for?
Pools are a subjective thing. Everyone has their favorites. I’ve told you mine and the reasons behind the choices. Now it’s your turn. What’s your favorite pool? Where do you go to soak up the rays and kick back with a drink or two. Let me know. There are so many pools in Gainesville you may change my mind.
-Peter.
Last night the CitiSync crew was all over Gainesville. From the flashing lights of Fat Tuesday to the tropical slice of paradise that is 101 Cantina. Lots of photos were taken and lots of fun was had by all involved. Usually Tuesdays are pretty low key, but not at these two Gainesville hot spots. The frozen drinks lined the bar at Fat Tuesday and a vast array of people were out carelessly having a good time. 101 Cantina on the other hand had a more relaxed atmosphere with the famous Cantina Margaritas flowing in abundance. Check out Tuesdays at these two places if your interesting in something fun to do next week.
Feel free to download your photos and share them with friends as you please.
As always, check out the What’s Happening page to see what’s happening in Gainesville so you can find other great concerts and events. . Also please follow us on Twitter and fan us on Facebook.
Many think of Gainesville as a small and dreary town that lacks the appeal of bigger cities like Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville. It’s easy to find a big city club in a big club city. If what you’re looking for when you go out are beautiful people dressed in fine clothing drinking $100 champagne and dancing to the latest club hits, the Gainesville club scene has usually not had an option for you – until now. The Vault, downtown Gainesville’s latest edition, comes to town to fill the void for those seeking a classier more upscale option.
As you walk up to the front door or the red VIP door on the side, be ready to wait in long lines (maybe artificially kept that way) and filled with people dressed in flashy suits and expensive dresses. From the get go, it certainly doesn’t feel like a regular night out at Mother’s, that’s for sure. Entering the club, it’s impressive how big the location really is. The VIP area alone feels as big as some of Gainesville’s other clubs and the dance floor opens up for plenty of dancing opportunities for the hundreds of people present. The bass speakers dwarfed even my 6’5’’frame, and there were times when I had to get away to find a place a little bit calmer. As I headed upstairs, I didn’t expect to find another bar and area for dancing. Curious as to what else the massive club had hidden away, I decided it was time for a bathroom break. Up more stairs, the bathroom attendants did double duty helping those in need in the bathrooms, and guarding the third story which isn’t quite ready for the public.
Glamorous clubs are no longer an exclusive property of big cities, something a college student must wait for when he or she goes back home to visit mom and dad. Gainesville now has a place for you and your date to show off your swag and drop serious money on some fine champagne. The Vault isn’t for your ordinary Natural Light drinking college student. If you have someone to impress in Gainesville, the Vault is your destination.
We took a lot of pictures on The Vault’s opening night. You can see them below. Feel free to take them and share them with your friends however you please.
As always, check out the What’s Happening page to see what’s happening in Gainesville. Also please follow us on Twitter and fan us on Facebook.
