10.09.2023

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Today’s Forecast

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

🎃 Started from the autumn now we’re here

Where to find all things pumpkin spice in Lakeland

Two pumpkin spice lattes in mugs on table with a pumpkin muffin

Pro tip: Pumpkin spice is available at Hillcrest Coffee year-round. | Photo by LALtoday

Pumpkin lovers, rejoice: It’s time to spice things up with fall-flavored coffee, drinks, food, and more. See how many of these local treats you can try this season.

For a caffeine fix

Black and Brew | Try the pumpkin pie latte for breakfast, pumpkin gingersnap tartines for lunch, and Cajun pumpkin soup for dinner.

Pressed Books & Coffee | The Harry Potter-themed fall menu includes “The Dumbledore” cold brew with pumpkin cold foam.

Unfiltered Lakeland | Keep it classic with a pumpkin spice latte, or try the new iced Dirty Pumpkin Chai with cold foam and cinnamon.

A hand holding a pumpkin spice croissant pastry dessert with white frosting, orange sprinkles, and an edible leaf by Meraki Bakehouse in Lakeland. — We can’t get enough of these pumpkin spice pastries by Meraki Bakehouse.
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Photo by @milkandhoney_macarons

Grab a bite

The Juice Box Cafe | Sugar, we’re going down to order the Fall Out Bowl with pumpkin, banana, sweet potato, and almond butter.

Meraki Bakehouse | Head to the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market to try the Fall Y’all Supreme pastry filled with pumpkin cream and topped with an edible leaf.

Milk and Honey Macarons | You can also find these French cookies with pumpkin flavors and fun shapes at the farmers market.

Tea Largo | Fuel up with pumpkin chia pudding bowls, plus pumpkin pie smoothies, matcha, and bubble tea.

Craft cocktails on a bar with different glasses — Sip through a menu of autumn cocktails at Lugo’s rum bar.
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Photo by @lugoscraftdistillery

Raise a glass

Dissent Brewing | Gourds on Parade — a pumpkin pie oatmeal stout — and IchaGOURD Crane pumpkin beer are currently on tap.

Lugo’s Craft Distillery | Visit the lounge for pumpkin spice coquito and a seasonal cocktail menu.

Swan Brewing | Enjoy fall weather on the patio with a glass of Warlock pumpkin beer.

Events

Monday, Oct. 9

Hip Hop Fitness | Monday, Oct. 9 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $5 | Pop, lock, and drop in this upbeat fitness class for ages 16+ — just bring your own water, towel, and mat.

Tuesday, Oct. 10

Politics in the Park | Tuesday, Oct. 10 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Coleman Bush Building, 1104 Martin L. King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | Free | Ask questions and hear from Lakeland City Commission candidates in this forum hosted by LkldNow and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce.

Wednesday, Oct. 11

Sunset Yoga in the Vines | Wednesday, Oct. 11 | 6-7 p.m. | Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Plant City | $10 | Participate in this guided yoga practice in the vines — one drink voucher will be provided with registration.

Thursday, Oct. 12

ArtLab: Ahmad Taylor | Thursday, Oct. 12 | 2 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland | $0-$5 | Join artist Ahmad H. Taylor, a Lakeland native, for an interactive lab about the art of storybook illustration.

Friday, Oct. 13

Swantoberfest at Swan Brewing! | Friday, Oct. 13-Sunday, Oct. 15 | 12-7 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Raise your stein to traditional German cuisine, festive music, competitions, and newly released beers.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Tech

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This service protects your personal data not only from targeted ads, but also from scammers and identity thieves. | Images by Incogni

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The good news? There’s something you can do about it.

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Plus, our readers can now snag an Incogni annual plan for 55% off with the exclusive discount code 6AMCITY.

Less spam, more life

News Notes

Number

$1.8 million. That’s how much Polk County commissioners approved for an engineering contract to expand water flow at the Northeast Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. The flow will be expanded from 6 million to 9 million gallons per day.

Civic

City commission candidates for the District A Northwest seat met with Lakelanders at a debate last week. Read LkldNow’s summary of the discussion between candidates Commissioner Sam Simmons, Lolita Berrien, and Guy LaLonde Jr. (LkldNow)

Biz

You might see a familiar name in stores on your next grocery shopping trip. Cupcakes by Mike & Mike’s Desserts are now available in all Publix locations (yep, that means all 1,300+ across the Southeast). Look for them in the bakery’s freezer section.

Film

The Polk Theatre will roll out the red carpet for a documentary premiere on Thursday, Nov. 2. Grab free tickets to see “Gospel Village: A Story of Hope,” produced by The Collection Media and Gospel, Inc.

Community

The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Polk County is giving away gun locks to event guests and local organizations. Working with Broward County’s LWV, the group has distributed 1,200 locks this year. (The Ledger)

Outdoors

Join Lakeland’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department for a guided hiking tour through Se7en Wetlands on Saturday, Oct. 21. Meet at the Gopher Tortoise gate at 8 a.m. to hike ~2.9 miles. The tour is limited to 20 hikers — register online.

Try This

If you can’t get enough of the great outdoors, head to the Polk County Parks and Urban Trails Community Event on Friday, Oct. 27. The Polk Transportation Planning Organization will host the event at The Bike Shop of Winter Haven (249 3rd St. SW) from 4 to 6 p.m.

Eat

Eyes on the pies. Honeycomb Bread Bakers will open holiday pre-orders on Sunday, Oct. 22. While the menu is still under wraps, it was revealed that there will be pickup locations in both Winter Haven and Lakeland this year.

Asked

We’re on the lookout for food challenges in Lakeland. Do you know of a local restaurant where you can eat a massive amount of food for a prize or free meal? Drop us a line — we’re hungry for a challenge.

Active

Join Lakeland Regional Health and the YMCA of West Central Florida this Saturday, Oct. 14 for Hoopin’ for Health — a 3-on-3 basketball tournament promoting fun, cardio activity, and health screenings for all. Register your team today (or join the cheering crowds). Here’s hoopin’ your team does well.*

Edu

If you get a thrill by cheering crowds or teams coming together to do great things, a career in sports management might be for you. An MBA in Sport Management will develop the skills you need to succeed in the industry by combining business administration with your love of sports.*

Wellness

Hear this: The world’s first hearing aids featuring dual processing — and backed by cutting-edge German technology — were just unveiled. 385,000+ customers have transformed their hearing with double the power and double the clarity (plus: A 45-day, no-risk trial).*

Outdoors

Lakeland’s swans get the royal treatment

Swan saga: How Lakeland takes care of its swans

A white swan stands by a lake with the city skyline in the background

You can be part of the swans’ stories, too. | Photo by LALtoday

Maybe it’s because of their ties to royalty, but our swans are truly living the high life. Most of Lakeland’s swans reside on Lake Morton where they’re cared for by the city’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts staff.

The 43rd annual swan roundup starts tomorrow, Oct. 10 at 7 a.m., where swans are thoroughly checked by a veterinarian and receive a health assessment. You can visit Lake Morton to watch city staff collect the birds before they get their checkups on Wednesday.

Did you know that Lake Morton is a designated bird sanctuary? This makes it a prime location for swans. City workers are also tasked with filling feeders for swans + informing the public on what swans can be fed (no bread, please).

If you’re wondering how you can take part in protecting our local avian population, click the button below to learn more.

How to keep our swans safe

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Connor

From the editor

One of the easiest ways to help our royal swans stay healthy is by watching what they eat. Good thing our friend Pedro Pascal is here to remind us not to feed them bread.

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