Today

• Hands on a Hard Body | Fri., Sept. 17, Sat., Sept. 18 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Lakeland Community Theater | $24 | An all-American musical telling a small town Texas story.
• Bully for You | Fri., Sept. 17 | 7-10 p.m. | The Yard on Mass | Free | This high-energy rock band covers the latest + greatest hits of the genre. 🎸

Saturday

• Strawberries and Cream Festival | Sat., Sept. 18 | All day | 303 BerryFest Place | Burna Boy, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Bugzy Malone, Koffee, and many more artists are performing across 4 stages for this annual Plant City festival. 🍓

Sunday

• Just Between Friends Sale | Sun., Sept. 19 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | RP Funding Center | Free | Peruse the goods at this large-scale consignment event in the RP Funding Center’s Sikes Hall.

Monday

• Superintendent’s Community Conversation | Mon., Sept. 20 | 6-7 p.m. | Presbyterian Church in the Highlands — Lakeland | Free | Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid is here to talk with stakeholders about ways to improve our public school system.
• City Commission Meeting | Mon., Sept. 20 | 9-11 a.m. | City Hall | Free | This public meeting addressing city topics is also available for remote viewing. 🖥️
• For the Love of Chocolate | Mon. Sept. 20 | 6 p.m. | $50 | Publix Aprons Cooking School at Lake Miriam Square, 4730 S. Florida Ave. | Join the Publix Aprons chefs as they explore the savory side of chocolate.🍫 Ⓟ

Tuesday

• Couples Cooking: Well Seasoned | Tues., Sept. 21 | 4:30-9 p.m. | Publix Aprons Cooking School, 4730 Florida Ave. S. | $100 | Take part in a hands-on cooking class for 2 where you’ll explore + enrich your knowledge of seasoning and flavor. 🍴

Wednesday

• The Enneagram: A Vocabulary of Personality | Wed., Sept. 22 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Shepherd’s Community United Methodist Church, 6885 Chelsea Oaks Dr. | Free | Take part in this 5-week course all about the different personality types — childcare will be provided.

Thursday

• Let it Throw | Thurs., Sept. 23 | 5-9 p.m. | The Joinery | Free | Come play outdoor yard games while enjoying drink specials, like $1 off beer + wine and $7 old fashioneds and aperol spritzes. 🥏

Friday

• The Paperback Whale, Art of Silent War, June Bunch, and Mr. Handsome | Fri., Sept. 24 | 7 p.m. | Union Hall | $5+ | Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door for this night of live performances at Union Hall. 🎤

Weather

• 85º | Scattered thunderstorms | 60% chance of rain

Development

• University Park at Bridgewater, the 713,000-sqft warehouse in Lakeland, sold and is now occupied by new tenant, HCA Healthcare. The property was rezoned for industrial use in 2018. (Connect CRE)

Cause

• United Way of Central Florida needs volunteers for the Reading Pals program. Reading Pals, which has launched in 6 Polk County schools and virtually, asks volunteers to give 1 hour of their time each week to read with students under the supervision of classroom teachers. Interested? Email Jodi Miller. 📖

Edu

• Gov. DeSantis announced his plan to eliminate common core + standardized testing on Tuesday. Some Polk County School Board members are hopeful that DeSantis’ new plan, which allows for a customizable approach to learning, will benefit students. 🏫 (The Ledger)

Network

• Well, this is awkward. Emerge Lakeland is hosting its Most Awkward Networking Event. The young-professionals group focuses on professional development, social networking, and volunteering. Come out to Union Hall on Oct. 13 from 6-8 p.m to take part. 😬

Holiday

• Government officials and Florida judges are gathering on Florida Southern College’s Mr. George’s Green (near the intersection of Lake Hollingsworth Dr. and Ingraham Ave.) from 4-6 p.m. to offer their reflections in celebration of Constitution Day, a federal holiday recognizing the adoption of the US Constitution on Sept. 17.

Try This

• Haven Coffee is hosting a fall celebration on Sat., Sept. 18 to kick off PSL season with pumpkin spice drinks, pumpkin flavored sweets, pumpkin paintings + live music. 🎃

Shop

• The Lakeland Women’s Collective is hosting a virtual yard sale of vintage furniture this Sunday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. The virtual sale will take place on via Instagram. Pickup locations and times will be shared next week — all items are pick-up only. 📱

Drink

• Red Door Lakeland has shared its cocktail of the week: The Red Door Cosmo. The beverage features Passoã Liqueur, Chinola Passion Fruit Liquor, Luksusowa Vodka, lime juice + cranberry juice. Ready for a sip? The restaurant is open tonight from 4-10 p.m.  — reservations are recommended. 🍹

Legacy

• Auburndale High School marine biology and physical science teacher D’Anthony Dorsey passed away on Tuesday at the age of 24. D’Anthony had been teaching at Auburndale since the spring of 2021. (The Ledger)

Gallery

• You might recognize 1 of the passengers on SpaceX Inspiration4, (the first all-civilian mission to fly in space). Passenger Jared Isaacman has ties to Lakeland as the founder of Draken International, a military adversary company, located near SUN ’n FUN’s ACE campus. 🚀 (The Ledger)