Private rooms

• Cob & Pen | The Lounge and The Vintage Dining Room offer cozy atmospheres.
• Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grill | Rent The Wakeman Room for exposed brick, views of Munn Park, private bathrooms, and other amenities.
• The Terrace Grille | The Lake Mirror Room overlooks Lake Mirror and seats 13-32 people.
• Nineteen61 | The Banquet61 hall and rooftop patio are ideal for your next large-scale family function, work party, or gathering.
• Frescos Southern Kitchen & Bar | Contact the Frescos team for details on renting the Board Room, Banquet Room, or Speakeasy.

Activities

• The Back Nine | Play simulated sports and enjoy American fare at one of two Lakeland locations.
• Ax-Caliber | Order from the breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late-night menus at this ax and virtual gun range.
• Family Fun Center | Enjoy different gameplay and dinner options, including one that’s two slices of pizza and a medium soft drink for $3.99 per person.

Outdoor spaces

• The Yard on Mass | This indoor-outdoor venue is great for groups of all sizes — for more privacy, book a private event.
• Swan Brewing | Let the Swan Brewing team know your group is coming here — accommodations may be limited on Friday and Saturday evenings.
• Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits | Call the team at Mojo to ask about hosting your group on their outdoor patio.
• Patio 850 | Celebrate your special occasion under the stars.

On the swankier side

• Bay Street Bistro | This quaint downtown spot is known for its superb menu and ambiance.
• Grillsmith | Treat your troupe to a meal in Lakeside Village.
• Red Door | Nestled in a Lake Morton bungalow, Red Door offers indoor and outdoor seating with views of Lake Morton.

• The Aquarian Market | Thursday, Mar. 16 | 6-10 p.m. | The Yard on Mass, 802 N. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland | Free | Shop from vegan food vendors while you peruse hand-crafted items at this night market.
• Harrison School for the Arts Sr. Visual Art Exhibit and Receptions | Thursday, Mar. 16-Saturday, Mar. 18 | 6-8 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland | Free | View this exhibition featuring work done by visual arts department seniors.

• Spring Piano Concert | Friday, Mar. 17 | 6-7 p.m. | Fellowship Baptist Church, 4625 Cleveland Heights Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Join Eileen Sutton for a piano concert of classical, sacred, and contemporary piano music.
• St. Patrick’s Day Party | Friday, Mar. 17 | 7-10 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Free | Head to union taproom for green beer on tap and live music by Just Fun Celtic.

• Heritage Day | Saturday, Mar. 18 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Heritage Park, 8950 N. Campbell Rd., Lakeland | Free | Enjoy live music, Southern-style food, pioneer demonstrations, and more at this fundraiser for the Kathleen Area Historical Society.
• Architectural Tour at Polk County History Center | Saturday, Mar. 18 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Polk County History Center, 100 E. Main St., Bartow | Free | Join this tour of the History Center to discover its neoclassical architectural elements, ongoing restoration, and historic preservation resources.

• Live Music: Melissa Lee | Sunday, Mar. 19 | 12:30-4:30 p.m. | Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City | Free | Enjoy live acoustic music while you grab lunch and a locally made glass of wine or cider.
• Misty Hike | Sunday, Mar. 19 | 4-6 p.m. | Painting with a Twist, 3670 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $39 | Paint your own canvas with a mountain and flower design with friends and refreshments.

• Alzheimer Association’s In-Person Caregiver Support Group | Monday, Mar. 20 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Schalamar Creek Clubhouse, Garden Room, 4500 US Hwy. 92, Lakeland | Free | Connect with other caregivers at this group that meets on the third Monday of each month.
• Give Back Monday: Chase Sanctuary | Monday, Mar. 20 | 5-9 p.m. | Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City | Free | Your dinner can make a difference — a portion of proceeds from the Tasting Room will go to Chase Sanctuary for animals.

• 80º | Sunny | 10% chance of rain

• Lakeland-based OMS (Outsource Management Solutions) Group donated $25,000 to 10 local nonprofits in honor of its 25th anniversary. Beneficiaries include LkldNow, The Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, Parker Street Ministries, and seven others. Learn more about the organizations and how each plans to use the grant here. (LkldNow)

• Dr. Arthur C. Brooks is speaking at Florida Southern College’s Founders Day Convocation tomorrow, March 17, at 11 a.m. This will make Dr. Brooks the college’s 87th Honorary Chancellor. You may recognize Dr. Brooks as the author of various books and the “How to Build a Life” column in The Atlantic.

• $2.1 million. That’s how much PepsiCo Beverages North America donated for wetland restoration in Winter Haven. A 5,000-acre loop of planned wetlands encircling Winter Haven, known as the Sapphire Necklace, could recharge 70 billion gallons of water over 50 years according to Winter Haven Water Director Gary Hubbard. (The Ledger)

• Florida Polytechnic University is expecting up to 2,000 attendees at this weekend’s Florida PolyCon event. This year’s theme is “fantasy,” and events including archery tag, ax throwing, martial arts displays, cosplay contests, and a light saber demonstration are on the docket. Purchase tickets online — free for Florida Poly students.

• Bok Tower Gardens’ final Florida Carillon Festival performance of the year is on Friday, March 17th at 3 p.m. John Widmann will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with traditional Celtic music. Attendance is included with regular admission to the gardens.
• Calling all EDM and MTV fans — Brandon Gomes, known for his five-year run on MTV’s “Siesta Key,” is playing Union Hall tonight. Admission is free. Learn more about Florida native Brandon in this interview with News Channel 6. (WJBF)

• Works by Polk students aged 13 and up will soon be on display in the Polk Museum of Art’s “Scholastic Art & Writing Awards” exhibition, opening on Saturday, March 25. Last year’s winner was Jazmine Neloms of Harrison School for the Arts — view her winning work, titled “Veil,” here.

• Head to Art Centric Studio (1035 S. Florida Ave., Ste. 180) for “FRamily Paint Night” on Friday, March 31. Register online and select your one-hour time slot (available between 2-9 p.m.) to transform wooden eggs into miniature gnomes. Your $15 registration includes all supplies and two eggs.

• Winter Haven author Marco Magiolo has released the third and final volume of his book series: “Canine Legends.” Marco is hosting a book signing on Thursday, March 23 at the Historic Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven from 6-8 p.m. Looking for more local authors? Here’s our list.

• The Rotary Club of Auburndale is hosting its 2023 HOLE-N-WON Golf Ball Drop on Saturday, April 15. Sponsor a golf ball to be dropped from the Auburndale Fire Department’s ladder truck — the first ball to make it in the hole wins $2,500. Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels of Polk County.

• Preorders are open now for Bloom Shakalaka’s Easter bouquets. Check out and order the special Easter deals — ranging from $45-$170 — online.

• We’re looking to you to help determine Lakeland’s best pizza. Remember to cast your vote in our survey before Monday, March 20, and tune in for the next round in our Tuesday, March 21 newsletter.

• Did you know our online store Six & Main features Sourhouse, a company that creates simple tools for sourdough bakers to care for their starters? The Goldie by Sourhouse + Cooling Puck is one of the most popular items. Let’s start baking.

• Looking for a new laptop that checks all the boxes without breaking the bank? Enter: The Acer Chromebook 311. This lightweight laptop is decked out with all the essential Google apps — like Google Chrome and Google Calendar — it’s quiet, and it has up to 10 hours of battery life.

• Wedding season is practically upon us. If you’ve got love (or wedding planning) on the brain, a personal loan can give your wallet a break when it comes to big ticket items thanks to lower interest rates + set monthly payments. Here’s how.*