10.26.2023

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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.

🏈 Our readers are team players

Where to watch sports in Lakeland

Two women smile and hold up a Michelob Ultra bottle and a Wilson football.

Beer + football go hand-in-hand. | Photo by @foodand.beer

Whether you’re a longtime superfan or filling in a “Blank Space” on your calendar and hopping on the football bandwagon, now is a great time to be a sports fan. The World Series is here, and the NFL, NBA, and NHL seasons are all in progress, so join your fellow LALtoday readers at one of these local spots for game time.

Food + Beer, 3615 S. Florida Ave., Ste. 1350
We’ll start with City Editor Rilee’s favorite — this spot boasts 38 big-screen TVs and brews from local spots like Keel Farms, making it a true crowd pleaser.

Glory Days Grill, 3790 Lakeside Village Ct.
Several readers recommend this joint for pulled pork bowls, tacos, and drinks. Pro tip: According to reader Sandi S., you can use a box on your table to hear the specific game of your choice.

Two hands holding pints of beer at Swan Brewing — There’s a brew for you at Swan Brewing.
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Photo by LALtoday

Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St.
You can’t go wrong with any of the beers at this brewery, but reader Fred W. prefers the Straight Outta Lakeland IPA. Order from whichever food truck is on-site for fresh, delicious game day grub.

La La Land Liquor & Lounge, 3239 S. Florida Ave.
It’s the bartenders who make this lounge reader Megan S.'s favorite place to catch a game. Cheer on your team with friends — and play darts or pool during halftime.

Hamburger covered with shrimp and cheese from Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux — Get this Cajun-inspired burger topped with shrimp.
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Photo via @geauxeat

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, 3772 US Hwy. 98 N.
Head to Walk-On’s for Louisiana-inspired cuisine and plenty of huge screens. Reader M. A. is a fan of the food — we recommend ordering the Surf & Turf burger.

Winners Circle Sportsbar & Grill, 4215 S. Florida Ave.
Reader Brook A. loves this local spot for its hometown feel and community support. If you visit, order Brook’s favorite: The chicken wings — there are 60+ flavors to choose from.

Did we fumble your favorite sports bar? Tell us about it below.

Asked

Where’s your favorite place to watch sports in Lakeland?

You shoot, we score

Events

Thursday, Oct. 26

Alzheimer’s Association’s In-Person Caregiver Support Group | Thursday, Oct. 26 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Lake Gibson Village, 771 Carpenters Way, Lakeland | Free | Connect with other caregivers at this group that meets each month.
“Matilda the Musical” | Thursday, Oct. 26-Sunday, Oct. 29 | Times vary | Theatre Winter Haven, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven | $33-$36 | Watch local performers put on this classic tale with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs.

Friday, Oct. 27

Resurrected: Haunted Jail | Friday, Oct. 27-Saturday, Oct. 28 | 6:30-10:30 p.m. | Polk County Jail, 455 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow | $5-$15 | Keep an eye out for ghosts and goblins as you make your way through the jail and enjoy a street carnival outside.
BOYDRIVE, Olivia Grimes | Friday, Oct. 27 | 7:30 p.m.-12 a.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $12-$15 | Kick off your weekend with live music by Lakeland artists BOYDRIVE and Olivia Grimes.

Saturday, Oct. 28

The Write Spot | Saturday, Oct. 28 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland | Free | Meet with other writers monthly for writing prompts, encouragement, and prizes in the Lakeland History + Culture Center — no registration is required.
Spooky STEM in the Park | Saturday, Oct. 28 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Bonnet Springs Park and the Florida Local Section of the American Chemical Society are thrilling guests with a variety of spooky science demonstrations like dry ice, slime + more — great for ages 5+.*

Sunday, Oct. 29

Dan Pepin w/ Billy’s Roadside Grill | Sunday, Oct. 29 | 2-5 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Lakeland musician Dan Pepin is taking the stage while Billy’s Roadside Grill is cooking up your favorites.

Monday, Oct. 30

Haunted Library | Monday, Oct. 30 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library, Larry R. Jackson Branch, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | The library will transform into a family-friendly haunted walkthrough experience with candy and games.
Fall Festival at Victory Church | Monday, Oct. 30 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Victory Church, 1401 Griffin Rd., Lakeland | $2 | Attend this fall festival for games, hayrides, inflatables, and more.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Eat

Publix Limited Edition fall and winter ice cream returns

Toffee, pralines, pie crust, cookies, cocoa flakes, pumpkin, candy canes — oh my. | Photo provided by Publix

I scream, you scream, we all scream for… Publix Limited Edition fall + holiday ice cream.

That’s right, Publix’s specialty ice cream is back, featuring the seasonal flavors you love, like warm spices, fresh peppermint, rich caramel, and, of course, pumpkin.

Here are the Limited Edition flavors you can find at your local Publix:

Deep Dish Apple Pie
Snickerdoodle
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Turtle Fudge
Caramel Mountain Tracks
Marshmallow Candy Cane & Cookie Blast
Peppermint Stick
Eggnog
Santa’s White Christmas

See flavor profiles (+ get eating)

News Notes

Development

Florida Southern College is breaking ground on its 4,000-sqft golf clubhouse at Lone Palm Golf Club this week. Opening in 2024, the state-of-the-art club will feature a student-athlete lounge, two TrackMan hitting simulators, pro-style locker rooms, and more. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Tech

Automatic license plate readers could be coming to an intersection near you in the next few months. The City Commission approved 19 solar-powered cameras for the Lakeland Police Department, funded via the city’s red light camera program. (LkldNow)

Feel Good

Salvation Army of Lakeland is opening a 20-room expansion to its existing shelter on Monday. The new, fully-furnished rooms are doubling capacity at the shelter where families can stay for up to 90 days. Soon, the shelter will open Homes of Hope, where families can stay long-term for discounted rent. (Bay News 9)

Real Estate

Median home prices dropped from $310,000 in June 2023 to $300,000 in July 2023. Last year, July’s median home sale price was $334,300. Pro tip: You can access Polk County’s real estate market report online. (The Ledger)

Award

Florida Polytechnic University President Dr. Randy Avent was included on Florida Trend’s Florida 500 list for the fifth consecutive year. The list recognizes influential leaders across different industries, ranging from business to education, real estate, philanthropy, and more.

Show

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show Experience,” one of the Polk Theatre’s largest annual fundraisers, takes place this weekend. Get your tickets for Friday or Saturday night. The pre-show hosted by The Lipstick Players begins at 9 p.m.; the film starts at 12 a.m. (The Ledger)

Edu

Talk about an A+. Principal Wanda Aponte of Lake Marion Creek Middle School and Assistant Principal Gian Monacelli of Mulberry High School were chosen as Polk County Public Schools’ principals of the year. Learn more about the winners and view the other finalists.

Kids

It’s trunk-or-treat season, Lakeland. The Lakeland Police and Lakeland Fire departments saw more than 1,000 costumed kids attend the annual Public Safety Trunk or Treat on Lake Mirror. Check out Lakeland Mom’s list to find a full lineup of family-friendly Halloweekend events. (LkldNow + Lakeland Mom)

Community

Active and retired military members and first responders can get free one-day admission at Legoland Florida through Nov. 30. In addition to their free ticket, first responders + service members can get 50% off tickets for up to six guests. (Bay News 9)

Edu

Florida Polytechnic University’s board of trustees gained five members — Dorian Abbot, David Clark, Ilya Shapiro, Sidney Theis, and returning member Cliff Otto. Otto is continuing his service, which began in 2016. The university is still searching for President Randy Avent’s replacement ahead of his retirement next summer. (The Ledger)

Asked

Is the next group sporting craze on the rise? We’ve had multiple readers ask us about Lakeland bocce ball leagues. If you know of one, drop us a line. And if you’re still trying to get into the current sporting craze, play pickleball in Lakeland.

Featured Space

In case you haven’t heard the buzz, Lakeland’s newest retail experience, the Shops at Lake Wire, is set to open this spring. Pre-leasing has already begun for the 15,220 sqft of retail + restaurant space in Lakeland’s Downtown West corridor. Interested in securing your spot? Contact Natalie Imig with Century Retail.*

History

10 weird Lakeland pics in our biz-archives

10 weird old photos in Lakeland, FL

If you’re seeking inspiration for this year’s costume, this might be it. | Photo via Lakeland Public Library

We scrolled through the Lakeland Public Library Archives to find the most bizarre photos from their extensive online collection. We also looked through the collection on Florida Memory. Wondering what you’ll find in the gallery? Here’s a sneak peek:

A 1990s icon strutting the streets of downtown Lakeland while filming a commercial for your favorite fried chicken franchise.
Some of our swans appear to be in a chokehold during the annual swan roundup.
Two cadets from the Lodwick School of Aeronautics quite literally sizing up the (friendly) competition.
A Lakeland child appears to be ready for a Lakeland goat-cart race in 1931. You read that right — goat-cart.
An experimental vertical takeoff at the fly-in, or just a staged aviation photo op? You be the judge.

Have a weird Lakeland photo from the years of yore? Share it with us and we’ll add it to our list of photos.

👀 Peep the peculiar pictures

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Rilee

From the editor

I grew up in the great state of South Dakota, which doesn’t have an NFL team, so I’m one of those aforementioned bandwagon football fans. Whether I’m cheering for the Chiefs this fall because of Taylor Swift or because I’m an avid reader of KCtoday, I’ll never tell.

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