6AM City In-house

The best hand warmers of all ☕️

Holiday drinks from Lakeland cafes
A hot and iced coffee drink sitting on a table
The Mexican hot chocolate has just the right amount of heat. | Photo by LALtoday
Temperatures are dipping and Christmas lights are twinkling — that makes it the perfect time to try holiday beverages at local coffee shops and cafes. Here are our recommendations, from old favorites to new festive flavors.

Black & Brew Coffee House
This spot is known for its rotating seasonal menu, and this winter is no exception. City Editor Connor is staying warm with the Mexican hot chocolate, made with cayenne-cinnamon syrup.

Pressed Lakeland
This is a drink worth writing about. The Oliver Twist is a vanilla cold brew topped with orange cold foam — we think it pairs nicely with a classic book.

A mug of coffee with whipped cream held in front of a seasonal drink sign

Don’t miss Mitchell’s other seasonal drinks.

Photo by @mitchellscoffeehouse


Mitchell’s Coffee House
Run, run, run as fast as you can to catch a Gingerbread Man latte. This drink is made with gingerbread and white mocha flavors for sweet and spicy kick.

Concord Coffee
The holidays haven’t really begun for City Editor Rilee until she’s had one of Concord’s orange mochas. Try the flavor in your favorite latte, macchiato, or cappuccino for a wintry pick-me-up.

Hillcrest Coffee
We can’t get enough of the peppermint mocha lattes here. We might not see a blanket of snow, but we can get a blanket of frothy foam — which may be even better.

A peppermint matcha iced latte topped with crushed candy canes

Try this drink before your cat lounge appointment.

Photo by @purrologycafe


Purrology Cafe
The cat’s out of the bag on how good the Holiday Peppermint Matcha is, made with a touch of peppermint and topped with crushed candy canes.

The Juice Box
Skip the baking this year and try a vegan gingerbread iced latte instead. This drink is made with cold brew, molasses, ginger, and your choice of coconut, oat, or almond milk.

Do you have another favorite drink that means Christmas to you? Tell us which ones we need to add to our winter menu.
Publix

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Dec. 19
  • New Yoga | Monday, Dec. 19 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Dr., Lakeland | $5 | Bring your mat and some water to this yoga class for all levels focusing on breath, alignment, balance, and strength — must be 16 or older.
Tuesday, Dec. 20
  • Tasty Tuesday | Tuesday, Dec. 20 | 4:30-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | $25 | Dine through downtown by purchasing tasting tickets from local restaurants — get 10 samples for $25.
Wednesday, Dec. 21
Friday, Dec. 23
  • Festive Friday | Friday, Dec. 23 | 5-8 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free | View Christmas lights and characters in Munn Park — retail stores will be open later for shoppers.
Friday, January 20
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
Lakeland Regional Health

7 common mistakes when hiring a financial advisor 👀
SmartAsset matches you with vetted financial advisors in your area.
SmartAsset matches you with vetted financial advisors in your area. | Photo by SmartAsset
Life should be a balance of adventure and relaxation — not balancing finances. Enter: Working with a financial advisor. But choosing the wrong one could potentially wreak havoc on your retirement and investments.

Avoid these 7 common mistakes when hiring a financial advisor so you can get back to the balance that matters most.

Pro tip: For simplicity, try this free tool to get matched with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area.*
GET STARTED, SMARTIE

Weather
  • 70º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain
Number
  • $8.1 million+. That’s how much Lakeland Electric paid Orlando Utilities Commission for power in the last year. Through a three-year agreement between the utilities that started in 2021, Lakeland Electric was able to supply power during planned generator outages. ⚡️ (The Ledger)
Open
  • The Back Nine’s new downtown location is now open at 124 S. Tennessee Ave., formerly home to Federal Bar. Stop in for a bite from the restaurant and a round of golf on the virtual simulator. Pro tip: You can also try other virtual sports, like soccer and dodgeball. ⛳️
Edu
  • These researchers are at the top of their class. Due to their work and citations, Stanford University recognized five Florida Polytechnic University researchers on its annual list of the top 2% of scientists: Dr. Md Selim Habib, Dr. Ajeet Kaushik, Dr. Hisham Mahmood, Dr. Patrick Zhang, and Dr. Muhammad Rashid.
  • Lake Gibson Middle School is set to build its first gymnasium using funds from Polk County’s half-cent sales tax. The Polk County School Board approved the $6.6 million addition, as well as a new gym at McLaughlin Middle-High School in Lake Wales. (The Ledger)
Cause
  • Here’s some food for thought. Local organization kidsPACK is now feeding 3,085 students experiencing food insecurity, up from 1,200 children in 2019. The nonprofit is accepting one-time donations and child sponsorships — give online or find volunteer information here. 🍎 (WFLA)
Try This
  • Head to the Lakeland Public Library’s main branch (100 Lake Morton Dr.) today from 2-4 p.m. for Homemade Holiday. Guests aged 18 and up can visit the History Room to craft paper holiday decorations. The event is free and no registration is required, but seating is limited.
Answered
  • “Swan City Love,” “The Swan Who Stole Xmas,” “Christmas in Paradise.” These are just a few of the ideas for Lakeland Hallmark movie titles our readers sent in response to Friday’s story. For even more cinematic inspiration, check out our Instagram reel. 🦢
Health
  • Registration for Lakeland Regional Health’s FitChurch Challenge is now open. The 12-week wellness challenge welcomes faith congregations to form teams (or individuals to join Team Lakeland) in an effort to communally reach health goals. The group kicks off with a wellness bash on Saturday, Jan. 7. 🏃*
Home
  • Need a new AC system? We suggest investing in a new Carrier AC system from Payne Air. The local company is a Carrier Factory Authorized dealer, which means its technicians are more knowledgeable on Carrier AC systems for installation + maintenance. Bonus: Payne Air technicians are also NATE certified.*
Seasonal
  • Crafting a floral arrangement for a holiday centerpiece? Red poinsettias are $8.99 at Publix GreenWise Market through Wednesday, Dec. 21.*
Shop
  • If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for someone on your list, look no further. Let us introduce you to gift cards from our LALtoday shop, Six & Main. Purchase a gift card today. 🎁
  • Give the gift of a quality shave month after month with a Harry’s trial set and blade subscription. Choose your handle color, refill frequency, and let the good shave days roll in for as little as $5 on sign-up (yes, you heard that right). 🪒 *
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
6AM City In-house

Plan your new year right here

New Year’s Eve events in Lakeland, FL
Fireworks show in a dark sky over Lake Mirror in Lakeland, FL
Start 2023 off with a bang. | Photo by LALtoday
You don’t need a ticket to Times Square to celebrate New Year’s Eve in style. Pop the champagne at these six Lakeland NYE events:

New Year’s Eve Grand Buffet & After Party | Saturday, Dec. 31-Sunday, Jan. 1 | 5 p.m.-1:30 a.m. | Terrace Hotel Lakeland, 329 E. Main St., Lakeland | $129-$189 | Enjoy a dinner buffet with three seatings — the final seating includes a countdown after party.

New Year’s Eve Rooftop Party | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 8 p.m. | Nineteen61, 215 E. Main St., Lakeland | $150 | End the year on a high note with hors d’oeuvres and small bites, an open bar, and a live DJ.

NYE 2023 Electric Masquerade | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m. | The Yard on Mass, 802 N. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland | $20 | This electro masquerade dance party includes a free champagne toast at the ball drop.
3 MORE NYE EVENTS
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Connor.

Editor’s pick: Here’s a bonus holiday drink for you — consider it my Christmas gift. The next time you visit The Joinery, stop by Mayday Ice Cream to try the new choco-gato: Hot chocolate poured over ice cream, with the option to add a shot of espresso. I recommend ordering this with a scoop of North Polepermint.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We made Lakeland’s case for Hallmark’s newest Christmas movie, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Rilee Delgado, Connor Keith, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Kailey Burke | Advertise with us.

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