Plus, Polk kindergarteners learning agriculture
 
08.01.2023 6AM-Top banner logo-small.png

SUBSCRIBE
Indiana University

Today’s Forecast

91º | Scattered thunderstorms | 50% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:50 a.m. | Sunset 8:18 p.m.
 
High Tower Roofing
 

Give in to the tempeh-tation

Vegan and vegetarian eats in Lakeland
A plate with bbq food items on a silver tray.
Try the vegan burnt ends (top right) next time you’re at 4 Rivers Smokehouse. | Photo by LALtoday
Eating meat-free hasn’t always been easy, but in Lakeland, it’s a piece of (vegan) cake.

Our local food scene is as vibrant as ever, so it’s no surprise there are a slew of local chefs serving up fresh, vegetarian bites across town. From vegetarian barbecue to scrumptious vegan tacos, here are 16 vegan and vegetarian-offering restaurants in Lakeland.

4 Rivers Smokehouse, 4729 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Try the vegan burnt ends next time you get a cravin’ for barbecue.

Anthony’s Health Hut, 5329 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Smoothies, soups, and sandwiches have been on the menu for 30+ years at this counter-service spot in south Lakeland.

LAL_born_and_bread_lkldvegan_July_2023

The vegan double chocolate muffin from Born & Bread Bakehouse is worth waiting in line.

|

Photo by @thelkldvegan

Born & Bread Bakehouse, 1113 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Open only on Saturdays and Wednesdays, this Lakeland staple is known for having a line out the door — and for good reason. Stop by for vegan bakes like the double chocolate muffin.

Cafe Zuppina, 4417 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | This Mediterranean restaurant offers vegan eats like the vegan patties platter and vegetarian options like the veggie moussaka.

Good Thyme, 1037 Dixieland Mall Ln., Lakeland | This Dixieland spot marks its vegetarian (VG) and vegan (VE) eats right on the menu — we recommend the Stir Fry, a gluten-free, VG + VE menu item with rice noodles, veggies, and ginger.

A green Guac an’ Bowl from The Juice Box

Grab a Guac an’ Bowl from The Juice Box for a refreshing snack. | Photo by @thejuiceboxlakeland

|

Photo by @thejuiceboxlakeland

The Juice Box, 4295 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Bowls, smoothies, sandwiches, and of course, juice and juice shots are up for grabs — we recommend the vegan eggs and rice breakfast bowl for an early bite.

Vegetation Cafe & Kitchen, 1439 E. Gary Rd., Lakeland | Grab a seat or take your food to go from this 100% vegan cafe and meal-prep service — the menu rotates weekly, so check online to see what’s up for grabs at the counter.
9 more eateries this way
Asked

Have you eaten at a local vegan or vegetarian restaurant recently?
A. Yes
B. No, but I’ve considered it
C. No
Tell us more
Bonnet Springs Park
 
Events
Tuesday, Aug. 1
  • LEGO Club | Tuesday, Aug. 1 | 5-6:30 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library, Larry R. Jackson Branch, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Kids aged 5-17 are invited to this monthly building club — building bricks are provided and sanitized after each use.
  • B-I-N-G-O | Tuesday, Aug. 1 | 6:30-8 p.m. | The Joinery, 640 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free entry | Join this weekly game to play for prizes while sipping on drinks from the bar at happy hour prices.
Wednesday, Aug. 2
  • Trivia Time | Wednesday, Aug. 2 | 8-10 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub, 111 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Compete with your team for gift vouchers and bragging rights at trivia and bar games.
Thursday, Aug. 3
  • New Teacher Coffee | Thursday, Aug. 3 | 7:30-9 a.m. | TECO Expo Hall, Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, 2301 W. Oak St., Plant City | Free | Local businesses are invited to collaborate with Plant City to welcome new teachers to the 2023 school year.
  • Night Market | Thursday, Aug. 3 | 6-9 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 West Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Free entry | Shop from local vendors and pour your own draft beers in the taproom.
Friday, Aug. 4
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
Edu

Why Indiana University may be the place for your child
3 students sit in chairs in a lobby
Indiana University offers students various opportunities to connect with others in and out of the classroom, grow and establish leadership skills, and build their network. | Photo provided by Indiana University Communications & Marketing
It’s never too early to start planning for college. As your child starts thinking beyond high school, here are a few things that set Indiana University apart:
Applications open on Tuesday, Aug. 1 (yes, that’s today). Pro tip: Wednesday, Nov. 1 is the early action deadline and your child’s best chance for the highest scholarship consideration.
Become a Hoosier
News Notes
Civic
  • Lakeland’s Fire Station 3 recently had its the first all-female engine crew since the early aughts, according to a post on its Facebook page. And, if you should ever need assistance from the department, you’re in luck — the department has an Insurance Services Office rating of 1, reflecting preparedness for fires. (WFLA)
Edu
  • Students at Willow Oak Elementary in Mulberry are learning agricultural skills like growing plants, hatching eggs, and raising chickens this year. The school is the first in Polk County to adopt an elementary agriculture program. In the future, it plans to have a greenhouse and outdoor classroom. (The Ledger)
Traffic
  • East Highland Drive will be resurfaced between Cleveland Heights Boulevard and South Florida Avenue from Monday, Aug. 28 to Friday, Sept. 1. The road will be reduced to one lane of traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prepare for minor delays and detours during working hours.
Asked
  • Multiple readers have asked us about the development underway at Memorial Boulevard and Lake Parker Drive. We’ve seen some chatter online about a three-story storage facility, which developer Bay to Bay Properties has built before, but we don’t have a definitive answer yet. Do you? Give us the scoop.
Try This
  • Cow Creek Farm is launching its fall farm tours on Saturday, Sept. 2. Tickets go on sale today at 12 p.m. Purchase yours online — these sell out quickly.
Biz
  • Parkesdale Market is reopening on Wednesday, Aug. 16. You can look forward to classics like fresh produce and frozen treats, plus our favorite fall staple: The pumpkin pie milkshake. Fall is officially around the corner.
Sports
  • Fans of Polk County high school football may be cheering for new names this season. Over the summer, players have transferred within the county — read up on the top 10 transfers to watch this fall. (The Ledger)
Retail
Job
  • Lakeland Christian School is hiring Substitute Teachers for the 2023-2024 school year. Substitute Teachers are a valuable and important part of the school’s staff — allowing instruction to continue when a teacher is ill or away. If selected, individuals will be added to a pool of available substitutes. Learn more + apply.*
 
Answered

Nearly 80% of our readers were correct...
Blinky the alligator playground

Find this 100-ft Blinky playground at Florida Children’s Museum.

|

Photo by @lkldlense

In a recent edition of New to Lakeland, we quizzed our readers about Blinky, Lakeland’s iconic communal pet and resident of Lake Mirror in the 1970s.

A whopping 79.4% of you knew the correct answer was B, Alligator, with the second most votes being cast for A, Swan. Others guessed that Blinky was a cat or armadillo.

In case you missed it, New to Lakeland is our ultimate guide to help those who may be asking, “Why Lakeland?” Whether you’re interviewing for a job in Lakeland, searching for a place to live, or you’re already here and want to learn more about the community, this guide is meant for you.

We’ve broken it down into three main categories: Live, Experience, and Work.
Explore New to Lakeland
 
Share LALtoday
 

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Have someone who needs to stay in the know? Get amazing rewards for every new subscriber you bring by sharing your unique referral link (below).

{{profile.vars.rh_reflink_15}}
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_15}} friends are looped into all things local because of you.
Claim your rewards
 
The Wrap
 
Rilee-Delgado-Headshot-LAL

Today’s edition by:
Rilee
From the editor
In case you missed it, we shared our current happy hour obsession on Instagram — it’s nestled inside one of Lakeland’s most iconic historic buildings. Check out our full happy hour guide.
Missed our previous newsletter?    
Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback     ›
Subscribe     ›
Advertise     ›
Shop     ›
 
 

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

Copyright © 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY