Calling all poets ✍️

Asked: Should Lakeland have a Poet Laureate?

Lakeland’s swans are the perfect inspiration for your next poem. | Photo via @catapultlkld

Should Lakeland have a poet laureate?

In many countries, including the United States, poet laureates are recognized as a voice of the people. In addition to doing official readings and often writing poetry to memorialize or otherwise mark significant events, their job titles are left intentionally ambiguous to allow them to take on projects of their choosing. US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky spearheaded the Favorite Poem Project when he served from 1977-2000.

The role originated in 17th-century Britain. Since then, it’s been localized in many states, counties, and cities.

Florida has had a poet laureate (PL) since 1928. At the city level, Tampa established a PL in 1996 — James E. Tokley Sr. — who went on to become Hillsborough County’s first official PL in 2013.

And it’s not just Tampa. Orlando and St. Petersburg recently appointed new poet laureates in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

So, who is Lakeland’s official PL? In short, no one. Not yet, anyway. From what we could find, the closest thing Polk County or Lakeland has had to a PL was back in 2007, when The Ledger writer Lonnie Brown called for one and honorarily self-appointed himself in the absence of an official poet.

If you ask us, Lakeland is chock-full of poetic inspiration. Here are just a few momentous occasions throughout history that would’ve benefitted from a professional poet:

While there doesn’t seem to be anything about establishing a Swan City-official poet on the books yet, we recommend following along with Dr. Diana Álvarez-Hughes — AKA Orange Blossom Poems, a local poet known for hosting workshops and selling poetry at Pressed.

Think you might be the perfect fit? Send us a poem about Lakeland — we don’t have any official say, we just like poetry. 📝

Reader-submitted poems

Shoutout to Reader Jeffrey L. for submitting this poem. It’s not too late to join in the fun — send us your poem and we’ll add it here.

Swan, oh swan
Of thee we sing
Our fair city your grace you bring
Some plumed in purest snowy white
Some black in drama the jet of night

Regal bird of noble root
Your royal presence an attribute
That we as sign and symbol post
Across our realm, your loving host

On our many azure waters
Seen by scores of sons, our daughters
Gently gliding you sovereign sail
Your silent beauty ne’er shall fail

The legend herself — Dr. Diana Álvarez-Hughes of Orange Blossom Poems — sent a Lakeland poem. Read it below:

Lakeland
this town,
Swan City
nicknamed after a royal gift
is a collection
of experiences to be had
its First Fridays
and Farmers Markets
its chairs lining streets in
anticipation of the Christmas parade
its the smell of fresh cut grass
when you’re running around
Lake Hollingsworth and
waving hello to strangers
with their babies and their dogs
familiar faces you can’t quite place
maybe you saw them waiting in line
for their cruffins at Born & Bread
or watching the 4th of July
fireworks at Lake Mirror
this town,
Lakeland
is catching the reflection of the
Southgate sign illuminating a puddle
that a recent rainstorm left behind,
like a love note just for you,
it’s being able to travel in time
and watch a movie at the drive-in
the smell of popcorn filling your car
as the Silvermoon’s lights beckon you
it’s the Publix birthday cake
celebrating as it towers in the sky
Lakeland
is this glorious place
where all you have to do is look
and you will find
863
reasons to call it
home.

Click here to have your event featured.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

Yoga for Beginners | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 10-11 a.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin L. King Jr. Ave., 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.
Trivia Night | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 7-9 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Free | Pour your own drinks and enjoy fresh pizzas at Union Taproom while showing off your general trivia knowledge.

Thursday, Feb. 9

LSO Gallery Concert Series: String Quartet: Painting the Real | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 7-8 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland | $49 | The LSO String Quartet is performing among the arts of Edward Hopper and Guy Pene du Bois.
Waterfall’s Glow | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 7-9 p.m. | Painting with a Twist, 3670 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $39 | Bring a beverage or snack of your choice to this guided painting class.

Friday, Feb. 10

Festive Flix | Friday, Feb. 10 | 7-9 p.m. | Frances Langford Promenade, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | Free | Bring your own chairs and blankets to enjoy a movie under the stars on the shore of Lake Mirror — this month’s flick is “Sing 2.”

Saturday, Feb. 11

Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market | Saturday, Feb. 11 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free | Find fresh produce, plants, and locally handcrafted items at this outdoor farmers market.
Valentine Night Market | Saturday, Feb. 11 | 4-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free | Spend an evening under the stars shopping, dining, and enjoying live music — downtown retail shops will be open late.

Sunday, Feb. 12

Sunday Funday & Mimosa Bar! | Sunday, Feb. 12 | 12-7 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | $1 | Pour your own mimosas with prosecco on tap for $1 per ounce and free mixers.
Forrest McCurren w/ Feasts of Persia | Sunday, Feb. 12 | 2-5 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free | Enjoy an afternoon of live music and fresh eats before watching the big game.

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

How well does your bank know you?

Dr. Ed Garcia sits in an empty hangar and shares his experience banking with Bank of Central Florida.

Bank of Central Florida customer, Ed Garcia, M.D., shares his experience with the local bank. | Photo provided by Bank of Central Florida. Member FDIC

You make an effort to get to know your colleagues and clients, right? That’s the goal at Bank of Central Florida, too: You’ll know your Relationship Manager — and they’ll know you.

“They make an effort to get to know the needs of your business, the needs of you and your family, and what you’re trying to accomplish financially,” shares Dr. Ed Garcia, a business + personal banking client of Bank of Central Florida. Learn how a Relationship Manager can get your business going + growing. 🤝 *

HEAR FROM A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER

Weather

82º | Sunny | 10% chance of rain

Civic

Lakeland City Commissioners approved Lakeland Electric’s proposed lower fuel charge of $55 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours this week. In addition to a lowered fuel rate, the base rate will increase by 2.25%. What does this mean for your monthly bill? Most likely, you’ll save “about $21 each month”. (The Ledger)

Community

Remember when we teased Catalyst Lakeland? The $380,000 online tool for potential developers and Lakeland residents allows users to explore downtown Lakeland via interactive 3D models — and it just went live. Pro tip: When you launch the program, give it 45-60 seconds to load. Learn more on LkldNow. 🖥 (LkldNow)

Kids

Need spring break plans? Send your young chef to What’s Cooking Lakeland’s spring break day camp from Tuesday, March 14-Wednesday, March 15 from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Young chemists can visit Florida Children’s Museum for the Pop, Bubble, FIZZ Camp from Monday, March 13-Friday, March 17.

Biz

LoveBird Almost Famous Chicken is now serving up your favorite sandwiches, salads, and more on Sundays. Thanks to the new change in hours, this biz is open seven days a week. Pro tip: Try adding some hot honey to your next order of Dirty Birdy fries for some extra kick. 🔥
Need a change of scenery for remote work? Catapult has multiple workspace membership options. Perks include invites to collaborative community events, access to conference rooms to host team meetings, unlimited coffee, bottomless snacks + more. Learn more and apply.*

Sports

Swan City Soccer Club — Polk County’s largest competitive soccer club — has joined the United Soccer League ahead of its 2023 summer season. Follow the organization’s social media for information on trial dates, coaching announcements, and venue information. The club’s new website is launching this month. ⚽️

Edu

Polk County is seeking community input on the name of a new Winter Haven elementary school. Choose from four proposed options — Sensabaugh Elementary, South Pointe Elementary, Osprey Elementary, or Osprey Landing Elementary — in this online poll. 🍎 (WFLA)

Learn

Ever wanted to learn guitar? The City of Lakeland is hosting a new Beginning Guitar Class, which meets each Saturday from Feb. 18-April 8. The $80 class pack is open to ages seven and up — just bring your own guitar. Send the team an email for more information and registration.

Shop

Head to Paint Nail Bar (1486 Town Center Dr.) this Saturday, Feb. 11 to shop the Arlo Jean Galentine’s Day pop-up from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. In the meantime, check out Arlo Jean’s online store.

Coming Soon

A new coffee shop is preparing to deposit some more caffeine into downtown Bartow: Banker’s Brew Coffee. The double-sided drive-thru plans to offer hot and iced coffees, plus foods like Belgian waffles, bagels, sandwiches, and more. An opening date is TBA, but in the meantime, the biz is hiring. ☕️
Bartow residents can also look forward to a new Chick-fil-A opening this week at 475 E. Van Fleet Dr. Chick-fil-A will donate $25,000 to Feeding America and operator Justin Kranitz plans to give free meals to 100 “local heroes” for one year. (WFLA)

Eat

There’s nothing fishy about this deal. Pick up select sushi for $5 today (and every Wednesday) at Publix GreenWise Market. 🍱 *

Wellness

Not feeling like yourself lately? Talkspace makes getting help easy and convenient. With live chat, video, and audio sessions, starting at $69/week, it’s affordable for everyone to fit therapy into their lifestyle, with or without insurance. Start feeling better today with Talkspace.*

Correction

Earlier this week, we got our cities swapped. We incorrectly stated that Bikes for Christ is based in Auburndale and ECHO Ministries is based in Tampa, but we should have said that ECHO Ministries is based in Auburndale and Bikes for Christ is based in Tampa.

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Payne Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. c/o McQueen Marketing

Let’s get cooking 🍳

Let’s get cooking: Upcoming classes for Lakeland’s aspiring home chefs

You can take hands-on classes or demonstration-style classes. | Photo by LALtoday

You could keep living vicariously through your favorite cooking show contestants, but if they can do it, why can’t you?

From international cuisine to wine pairing, these Publix Aprons Cooking School classes will have you feeling confident in the kitchen faster than the flick of a whisk.

Romantic Night Out Wine and Dine | Friday, Feb. 10 | 6:30 p.m. | $130 | Treat your sweetheart to a culinary adventure — each course is expertly paired with wine.
Couples Cooking: Delicacies from Nicaragua | Wednesday, Feb. 15 | 6 p.m. | $120 | Learn about Nicaraguan-style cuisine, featuring elements of African, Spanish, and French food, in this hands-on class with your partner.
Small Plates — Big Flavors | Monday, Feb. 20 | 6 p.m. | $60 | Learn step-by-step instructions for cooking small plates like lamb chops and Cuban-style grilled cheese in this hands-on class.

Pro tip: Sign up sooner rather than later, these classes fill up fast.

3 MORE CLASSES

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Rilee.

Editor’s pick: Catalyst Lakeland currently only includes downtown, but plans are underway to expand it to Dixieland, Downtown West (think: Bonnet Springs Park), and East Main Street.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We ~~submitted our applications for The Bachelor~~ told you how to have a memorable date night in Swan City, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Rilee Delgado, Connor Keith, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Kailey Burke | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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