Support Us Button Widget

#MustRead: October Edition

Screen Shot 2018-10-30 at 1.56.55 PM

Photo by Hannah L.

October was a busy month here at LALtoday – we took an in-depth look at some of our lakes, visited the soon-to-be home of Lakeland’s first food hall, asked what businesses you’d like to see come to Lakeland, and (of course) tried a lot of Italian food + tacos.

Can we also celebrate again about Lakeland ranking number 10 for one of the best places to retire? And how ‘bout them Red Sox? Also, in just a few days, our piece on the top 11 employers in Lakeland rocketed to one of our most-read articles with over 900 views. 🤩 We love that our readers are excited about our local economy.

So, in case you’ve been busy getting your Florida fall on or making holiday vacation plans, we’re revisiting five stories from this month.

1️⃣ The Red Sox, Chris Sale + Sweet Caroline | Lakeland’s tie to the World Series

2️⃣ Your Guide to the 2018 election | Everything you need to know to vote in Polk County

3️⃣ Food halls are having a major moment | They’re coming to Lakeland. It’s the urban thing to do.

4️⃣ Not your grandma’s library | What’s all the hoopla? It’s finally a library for introverts.

5️⃣ Want to write for LALtoday? | Introducing our community publishing platform.

Know someone who needs to catch up on these stories? Share this roundup.

- LALtoday team

More from LALtoday
Ring in the season with a trip to one of these fall-exclusive spots for the whole family.
Halloween lovers and scaredy-cats alike will find something to enjoy at this popular Plant City attraction.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Hit the courts and grab a bite at this development, helmed by local entrepreneurs and pickleball fanatics.
The City of Lakeland has finalized its 2026 budget before the next fiscal year begins — let’s take a look at the $815 million bottom line.
From guilty pleasures to unexpected favorites, the “unfortunately do love” social media trend is taking over the internet — and we want your input.
From coffee to baked goods to cocktails, there’s a pumpkin spice or fall-flavored treat for everyone in Lakeland to enjoy this fall.
Directly north, east, south, and west of LAL, cities across the world await.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or the next Tiger Woods, these 13 golf courses in Lakeland are sure to make for a good round.
Polk Vision published the assessment in June 2025 after 18 months of data collection.