Which neighborhoods would you like to see covered?
Photo by @_guaro_
With a city that ranked No. 2 on U.S. News’ list of the 25 Fastest-Growing Places in the U.S., it’s no surprise ~115,000 people call it home. With a population like that, where do all of these Lakelanders eat, drink, play, and live?
We are setting out to answer that with LALtoday’s Neighborhood Guides — an ongoing series that will take you on an exploration of the communities that make Lakeland feel like home. We’ll dive into history, things to do and discover, places to park, where to live, and more to showcase some of the best qualities our unique neighborhoods have to offer.
So, what do we define as a “neighborhood”?
While we love suburbs like Christina + Delphi Hills, these guides will focus on small communities within our city (think: Dixieland and Lake Morton). These small but mighty parts of Lakeland typically feature restaurants, parks, living spaces, festivals, events, and more, and span one to a handful of blocks.
How will we choose what neighborhoods to cover?
This is where you come in. We are asking you to rave about all of your favorite neighborhood communities in Swan City — whether it’s one you call home, always stop by with out-of-town visitors, or daydream about moving to.
Are you intrigued by Cleveland Heights’ history? Do you love being able to walk from a Downtown coffee shop to a clothing store in a matter of minutes? Ever wonder why Midtown gained popularity so quickly? We want to hear all about it + share the inside scoop with our readers.
Head to the button below to point us in the direction of some of the best neighborhoods around town — from areas with rich history and unique architecture to the best places to retire or purchase your first home.
Trivia Night | Mon., Aug. 29 | 7:30 p.m. | Cob & Pen | Free | Bring your friends to trivia night + take advantage of happy hour prices all day. 💭
Movie Monday | Mon., Aug. 29 | 8:30-10:30 p.m. | Quinteassence Kava Bar, 839 N. Massachusetts Ave. | Free | Sip on kava and celebrate Star Trek month with a free screening of “Star Trek: Into the Darkness.”
Tuesday
B-I-N-G-O | Tues., Aug. 30 | 6:30-8 p.m. | The Joinery | Free | Play for prizes while enjoying drink deals on beer, wine, and more.
Story Time at The Florida Air Museum | Tues., Aug. 30 | 10-11 a.m. | Florida Air Museum, 4175 Medulla Rd. | Free | Junior ACEs ages 2-5 can hear a story and take part in an interactive learning experience. ✈️
Wednesday
Clearwater Threshers at Lakeland Flying Tigers | Wed., Aug 31 | 6:30 p.m. | Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd. | $6+ | Cheer on the Lakeland Flying Tigers and enjoy half-price drink specials — all concessions are cashless. ⚾
Thursday
2022 Wawa Summer Fun Days | Thurs., Sept. 1 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Bok Tower Gardens | Free | Register online for complimentary admission to Bok Tower Gardens, courtesy of Wawa.
90º | Scattered thunderstorms | 60% chance of rain
Number
250 million. That’s how many smiles we can expect to see at the grand opening of Bonnet Springs Park on Sat., Oct. 22-Sun., Oct. 23. New details have been released about the packed opening festivities schedule, including food samples, bands, art installations, and a fireworks show. 🌳
Seven. The number of days left on the calendar until Labor Day. But if you’re team ☀️ over team 🎃, don’t fret — you still have time until the last official day of summer (Wed., Sept. 21) to book that epic vacation. Scott’s Cheap Flights Elite plan gives you up to 90% offbusiness and first class flights.*
Ranked
No. 28. That’s what Publixranked on Forbes’ list of Florida’s 100 Best-in-State Employers. Rankings were based on employee feedback, including how likely they are to recommend their employer to friends + family. Polk County Public Schools and Lakeland Regional Health also ranked at No. 72 and 94, respectively. (Forbes)
Civic
City Commissioner Phillip Walker, Lakeland’s longest-serving government official,will leave office on Sun., Nov. 6 after resigning in May to run for state representative. His seat will be filled by an interim commissioner appointed by the City Commission. Think you could be a good fit? Get more details here. (The Ledger)
Learn
Fall education programs are back at the Polk Museum of Art. Adults + kids can learn something new about art through an artist-led class, hands-on workshop, or tour. See the full list of programs and register for your favorite class before the Sun., Sept. 18 deadline. 🎨
Show
Ain’t no mountain high enough to keep us from this show. “Motown with a Twist” is coming to the RP Funding Center on Tues., March 7. Singers + dancers from “Dancing with the Stars,” “American Idol,” and more will perform live to Motown hits. Tickets go on saleWed., Aug. 31 at 9 a.m. 🎤
Eat
There’s one thing we know for sure:Cutting out chores like meal planning + prepping gives us more time for all the activities that make Lakelandso great. Home Chef agrees — their meal kits are rated No. 1for a reason. 🥗 *
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Culture
Every day I’m puzzlin’ 🎶
Solve this Lake Mirror puzzle
Make this puzzle as easy or difficult as you’d like.
Photo by LALtoday, screenshot via Jigsaw Planet
Long weekend?Pour yourself a cup of coffee and wake up with this virtual puzzle. Once you’re done, you should have a picture of our very own Lake Mirror — and maybe brighter eyes + a bushier tail.
We set the difficulty to medium for you to start. Try it on a harder level for an extra challenge, or make it easier if you’re still waiting on that coffee to kick in.
When you’ve finished the puzzle, let us knowyour finish time — we may shout out the winners in an upcoming newsletter. If you’d like to see your own Lakeland photo used in a future puzzle, send it our way or tag us on Instagram.
Editor’s pick: I spent the weekend at EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival — because yes, I’m a Disney adult. It had me planning my own international food fest here in LAL, starting at Curry Mango for butter chicken and ending with al pastor tacos at Mega Mercado. How would you plan an international food festival here? Let me know.
Missed Friday’s newsletter? Stroll down Lakeland’s historic streets, here.
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