Today’s Forecast

77º | Light thunderstorms and rain | 90% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:20 a.m. | Sunset 5:49 p.m.

And the poll says...

What’s new and coming soon to Lakeland

Ducks and birds on grass in foreground with Lake Mirror and Lakeland skyline

We’ve got our eye on Lakeland developments. | Photo by LALtoday

Last week, we polled our readers to see how frequently they use new-to-Lakeland developments and amenities now that they’ve been open for anywhere from one to six months. From public parks to grocery stores and eateries, here’s how you responded:

Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd. | Opened Oct. 2022

Roughly 20% of our readers still haven’t made it to this Magic Kingdom-sized public park.
Our suggestion: Now that we’re entering summer, plan to visit early in the morning (the park opens at 6 a.m.) or in the evening. Hungry? Visit the Depot Cafe.

Florida Children’s Museum, 600 Bonnet Springs Blvd. | Opened Nov. 2022

A majority of our readers (nearly 75%) haven’t been to Florida Children’s Museum.
Our suggestion: Even if you don’t have young children or grandchildren, you can still experience the museum by becoming a volunteer.

bodega Market, 106 N. Tennessee Ave. | Opened Feb. 2023

Roughly a quarter of our readers enjoy shopping at bodega Market.
Our suggestion: Try ordering over the phone to make your first shopping experience even easier.

Unfiltered Lakeland, 801 E. Main St. | Opened Feb. 2023

A majority of our readers who frequent this new coffee shop + artisan market go for their food and beverage options.
Our suggestion: If you haven’t been, stop by on Saturday, May 27 for the flea and trunk sale. Meet the vendors who you can shop from anytime here.

Fresh Kitchen, 4520 S. Florida Ave. | Opened April 2023

35% of our readers are building bowls at Fresh Kitchen.
Our suggestion: If you’re overwhelmed by the options, ask one of the team members for their recommendations. Or, check out our picks.

ALDI, 4532 S. Florida Ave. | Opened Feb. 2023

Our most engaged-with development is Aldi, with 61% of our readers shopping there regularly.
Our suggestion: The Winking Owl wine is so refreshing for summer — and you can’t beat the price.

Events

Tuesday, May 23

Lake Gibson Village Silent Auction | Tuesday, May 23 | 3-5 p.m. | Lake Gibson Village, 771 Carpenters Way, Lakeland | Free entry | Bid on items to support the Alzheimer’s Association at this silent auction.
Molly’s Musicians Showcase | Tuesday, May 23 | 9 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub, 111 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Support local musicians at this free open mic night.

Wednesday, May 24

Yoga for Beginners | Wednesday, May 24 | 10 a.m.-12 p.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, May 24 | 7-9 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Free entry | Pour your own drinks and enjoy fresh pizzas at Union Taproom while showing off your general trivia knowledge.

Thursday, May 25

New York Cabaret Xtravaganza | Thursday, May 25 | 6:30 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $10 | Cafe Con Leche Party and FrediDance Project will host this dance party with a live DJ, plus belly dance and fire performances.
Med (Mediterranean) Instead of Meds | Thursday, May 25-Thursday, July 13 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Virtual | $18 | Cook along with this virtual cooking class series to learn Mediterranean recipes and wellness tips.

Friday, May 26

Autism/ASD Support Group | Friday, May 26 | 10-11:15 a.m. | CJB United Way Children’s Resource Center, 650 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Join other members of this community for support and encouragement — childcare is provided.
Live Music: Kimi Tortuga | Friday, May 26 | 4-8 p.m. | Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City | Free entry | Enjoy farm-fresh food, handcrafted wine, beer, and cider while listening to the musical stylings of Kimi Tortuga.

Saturday, May 27

Memorial Day Service | Saturday, May 27 | 10-11 a.m. | Veterans’ Memorial Park, 141-199 Lake Beulah Dr., Lakeland | Free | Guest speaker John Hillery — Military Order of the Purple Heart — is speaking at this event hosted by the NAACP Lakeland Branch and Armed Services Veteran Affairs Committee.
To The Moon and Back - DATE NITE Set | Saturday, May 27 | 7-9 p.m. | Painting with a Twist, 3670 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $39 | Bring your date to this guided painting workshop — bring your own refreshments for an extra special time.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Number

$3.98 million. That was the top ticket price for a Polk home in April — and possibly in county history. The 55-acre Winter Haven estate includes a horse show arena, barn, trails, and other features for equestrian lovers. As for the house itself? It boasts 6,455 square feet. (The Ledger)

Award

WPCV radio hosts Julie Kansy and Dale Sellers won the award for On-Air Personality of the Year in a medium market from the Academy of Country Music. Listen to “Julie and DJ in the Morning” every weekday morning from 5-10 a.m. on 97.5 FM.
The GiveWell Community Foundation awarded an Empower Polk grant to local nonprofit InnerAct Alliance and its coalition partners: StandUP Polk and UthMpact. InnerAct Alliance educates the public on substance abuse prevention — learn more.

Stat

2.8%. That was Polk’s unemployment rate this April, down from 3.2% in 2022. Industries that gained jobs this year include Education and Health Services, Leisure and Hospitality, and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, to name a few. Overall, Polk has added 9,881 jobs since last year. (The Ledger)

Edu

Bartow High School teacher Adele Allison is retiring after 52 years in the classroom. In addition to her longstanding career, Adele’s students had a high success rate. In some cases, 96% of her students passed their Advanced Placement exams. Adele will give her final lesson on May 31. (The Ledger)
This fall, five graduating Mulberry High School seniors who went through the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) together will head to Michigan State. After receiving assistance from CAMP, the five students shared the importance of paying it forward and serving the community — read more. (Bay News 9)

Learn

Calling all Amazon employees — enrollment is open for Florida Southern College’s June 26 term of Amazon’s Career Choice program. Learn more about the program here.

Shop

Saturday, May 27 is for shopping. Buy furniture + decor from Unfiltered Lakeland’s flea and trunk sale at 814 E. Lemon St. from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Shop vintage clothes, crochet, and plants at Decades Reclaimed Vintage’s mini pop-up market (502 W. Brannen Rd.) from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Outdoors

After losing a majority of their output to hurricanes and citrus greening, farmers in Polk County and the rest of Florida may be turning to avocados. This year’s harvest — 15.65 million boxes of oranges — is the lowest Florida has produced in ~100 years. (WFTS)

Featured

#TerraceTabletop: Looking for a venue to host an event? Whether getting married, hosting a private dinner, or needing a unique location for a business meeting, Terrace Hotel & Grille’s historic charm and beautifully designed spaces provide everything you need for an unforgettable event. See the venue (and peep the catering menus).*

Biz

Whether a remote worker or an aspiring-entrepreneur looking for networking opportunities, Catapult offers day passes so you can give the space a try — and get a first-hand glimpse of what the 40,000-sqft co-working + entrepreneurial center is all about.*

For Family

What does your child want to be when they grow up? St. Christopher’s Project City Play at Florida Children’s Museum is a child-sized version of a real city where kids can “try on” different careers for the day, from firefighting to weather forecasting to sales. (Bonus: It’s extremely cute.)^

Active

Contemplating an e-bike purchase? Upway — the No. 1 certified e-bike provider — sells top-quality electric bikes up to 60% cheaper than retail. Shop top e-bike brands in new or like-new condition. Bonus: Your bike will ship right to your door, so you can immediately experience the sheer joy of effortless travel.*

Read

New to Lakeland

40+ reads written by Lakeland authors

Interior of Pressed Books with books on shelves and tables

Pro tip: Keep an eye out for the “LKLD Local” section at Pressed. | Photo by LALtoday

It’s no secret that we’ve officially entered the hottest part of the year — that means we’re looking for every opportunity to enjoy the nearest pool or even a whole beach day.

Lounging by the water wouldn’t be complete without a good book. Check out these books written by Lakelanders — you might just find your whole summer lineup.

“Like a Hole in the Water: A Coming of Age Novel” by J. Neil Sherouse | Set in the 1960s, this coming-of-age tale follows two young boys in the North Florida town of Palatka.
“Penalty Box” by Kayla Tirrell | Fall in love with this soccer-themed romance novel, the first in the “Love in the Arena” series.
“The Eastwood Event” by J.G. Petrichor | A mysterious mass disappearance, children with special abilities, and an unknown entity in a massive crater are just the beginning of this fantasy novel. The sequel, “On The Road,” is also available now.

26 more books by your neighbors

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Rilee

From the editor

In case you missed it, we gave you the perfect opportunity to score some free (at least, free to you) gelati on our Instagram. Get tagging, Lakeland.

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