Plus, readers' presidential memories
6AM City In-house

A sneak peek of Unfiltered Lakeland ☕️

No filter: See inside the new Unfiltered Lakeland
LAL-unfiltered-exterior-FEB2023.JPG
Step inside Unfiltered Lakeland for surprises galore. | Photo by LALtoday
No, it’s not the caffeine jitters — we’re just excited for Unfiltered Lakeland to open its doors on Saturday, Feb. 25. We stopped by yesterday for a sneak peek to see what’s been brewing at 801 E. Main St.

This isn’t your typical drive-thru java joint. The coffee shop and artisan marketplace will be open Monday-Wednesday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. You can expect live music, beer and wine, and fresh-baked pizzas coming soon. There’s even an outdoor kitchen.

Outdoor seating area at Unfiltered Lakeland

We can’t wait to work from home this patio. | Photo by LALtoday

Take a seat indoors on a vintage couch or outside on the sunny patio with your specialty coffee and treats. Most of the outdoor seating is covered by umbrellas and pergolas so you can enjoy the sunshine.

Fans of the former Poor Porker, which previously occupied this space, will be glad to hear that beignets are back on the menu. This time, they’ll be made to order from Unfiltered’s vegan dough.

Three small storefront exteriors at Unfiltered Lakeland

Find My Crazy Plant Life, East of These, and The Vintage Warehouse here. | Photo by LALtoday

Shoppers rejoice. The space will also be home to four small business storefronts: Champagne and Gravy custom hat bar, East of These accessories, My Crazy Plant Life, and The Vintage Warehouse. The hat bar can be found inside the main building, and the other three will be housed in free-standing mini-shops.

Thanks to owner Geanie Folder, Unfiltered is definitely not short on art. It’s everywhere, from the walls to the seating — even to a bathtub fountain with Mona Lisa. Each visit is sure to reveal something you didn’t find the last time.

Thirsting for more? See everything Unfiltered has to offer at Saturday’s grand opening from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Parking is available in public lots across the street and on Rose Street.
A LATTE MORE PHOTOS THIS WAY
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Thursday, Feb. 23
  • Fine Jewelry, Permanent Jewelry, and Decadent Desserts! | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 3-6 p.m. | COhatch, 211 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Shop gems from The Jewelry Box and pastries from DOU Bakehouse at this pop-up — make an appointment for permanent jewelry.
  • Harrison School for the Arts Presents “Alice” | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 7-9 p.m. | Harrison School for the Arts, 750 Hollingsworth Rd., Lakeland | $9-$12 | Get ready to fall down the rabbit hole — Harrison School for the Arts students present “Alice!,” a student-created play based on the classic story of Alice in Wonderland.
Friday, Feb. 24
  • Black Artisan Market and Movie on the Lawn | Friday, Feb. 24 | 5-9 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Shop from Black-owned businesses at the Handmade & Homegrown artisan market and watch an outdoor showing of “Black Panther.”
  • You’ll be My, I’ll be Your... — Couples Set! | Friday, Feb. 24 | 7-9 p.m. | Painting with a Twist, 3670 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $41 | Plan a date night to paint two canvasses together with step-by-step instructions.
Saturday, Feb. 25
Sunday, Feb. 26
  • Live Hart w/ Billy’s Roadside Grill | Sunday, Feb. 26 | 2-5 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free | Bring the whole family to Swan Brewing for live music, fresh eats, and the best views of Lake Wire.
  • “Something Rotten” | Sunday, Feb. 26 | 2:30-4:30 p.m. | Buckner Theatre, Florida Southern College, 1100 Johnson Ave., Lakeland | $10-$20 | See the comedic creation of the world’s first musical in this production by Florida Southern College students.
Monday, Feb. 27
  • After School Art | Monday, Feb. 27 | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland | $5 | Parents and children can work together on an art activity — space is limited.
  • Auditions: “The Sweet Delilah Swim Club” | Monday, Feb. 27 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | Free | Come prepared to do a cold reading when you audition for this 2020 play about lasting friendships.
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
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Weather
  • 90º | Mostly sunny | 10% chance of rain
Number
  • $3.9 million. That’s how much Polk County received in state grant funding to extend the Fort Fraser Trail. The 2.4-mile extension will connect the trail from Winter Lake Road to Glendale Street, off of Lakeland Highlands Road. Construction is expected to start in October. 🥾 (The Ledger)
Development
  • The Lakeland Family YMCA (3620 Cleveland Heights Blvd.) could undergo an expansion. YMCA officials presented plans for a new 41,000-sqft field house and an extension of its current childcare building. The plans are subject to approval from the Planning and Zoning Board. (The Ledger)
Arts
  • We’re melting for this news. Florida Dance Theatre will perform “The Wizard of Oz” from Friday, March 10-Saturday, March 11 at Florida Southern College. Follow the yellow brick road to buy your tickets. 🌈
Kids
  • Legoland Florida’s Peppa Pig Theme Park is celebrating its one year anniversary. Visit Friday, Feb. 24-Sunday, Feb. 26 to join the party with special shows, activities for kids, and limited-time treats. 🐷
Film
  • Southeastern University students will premiere their short films at the Fire Film Festival on Saturday, Feb. 25. This free festival starts with film screenings at 1 p.m. in SEU’s Buena Vida West Auditorium and ends with awards and an after party. Seating is limited — register here.
Concert
  • This show hits all the right notes. Pressed is hosting a live music event with The Vanguard Room featuring local and national artists Emilie Weiss, Zan Fiskum, and Joey Ramirez. The free concert takes place on Saturday, March 18 at 6 p.m. 🎶
Eat
  • Meet Zest Bar and Grill, a citrus-inspired eatery found in a renovated Bartow building that was once slated for demolition. The restaurant’s owners are now looking to open V’Z, a fine dining restaurant, in the space next door. You can visit Zest today from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. or 4-8 p.m. (The Ledger)
Answered
  • It looks like we stumped most of you with yesterday’s quiz question: Which US President was the first to visit Lakeland? Only 23% of readers chose the correct answer, Grover Cleveland. Calvin Coolidge was the most common answer with 35% of guesses. Read more on Cleveland’s Florida visits here. 🇺🇸
Biz
  • 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.*
Eat
Listen
  • Calling all bibliophiles. Level up your reading routine with an Audible Membership. Why we love it: We can listen to our favorite books and discover new titles while doing everyday tasks like commuting, walking the dog, cooking, and cleaning. Sign up for your first 30 days free. 📚*
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Edward Jones

Readers remember President Carter’s visit

President Jimmy Carter’s 1980 visit to Lakeland, FL
Air Force One at Lakeland Linder International Airport 1980
Air Force One landed at LAL in 1980. | Photo via Lakeland Public Library Special Collections
Yesterday, we shared the story of former President Jimmy Carter’s Lakeland visit in 1980, and readers shared their memories of this presidential day.

Reader Angel T. brought her baton to keep herself entertained — until the Secret Service made her return it to her family’s car. Reader Tim D. worked at Florida Southern College and set up the stage for FSC’s band to play during the visit.

Reader Susan L. — “I remember being checked out of Southwest Jr. High by my big brother... I remember running inside the house and making a homemade sign from the back of a poster I took off my wall, saying, ‘Welcome, President Carter!’”

Reader Wendy J. — “President Carter rolled down his window and waved at us. I of course only remember seeing a hand waving but thought those 2 American flags waving on each side of the hood of the car was the coolest.”
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Connor.

Editor’s pick: I can’t wait to become a regular at Unfiltered starting this weekend. If you see me there working on a newsletter and sipping a hazelnut latte, be sure to say hi. 👋

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? See the full schedule of Jimmy Carter’s Lakeland visit.
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Editorial: Rilee Delgado, Connor Keith, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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