Plus, four haunted Polk buildings
 
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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.
 

We’re dishing on outdoor dining

Dinner and a view: Where to dine outdoors in Lakeland
A sandwich, salad, and iced drink from Black and Brew
Make a sandwich gluten-free by switching out your bread at Black & Brew. | Pictured here is Black & Brew’s Lake Morton location.
Is it just us, or does eating outside make food taste better? With the weather trending cooler every day, we’re ready to catch some rays or laze in the shade at one of these 30+ Lakeland patios. Pro tip: Don’t miss the shade level we’ve included for each of these locations.

Coffee Shops

Black & Brew Coffee House and Bistro, locations vary | Fully covered
Whether you’re looking for a spacious patio on the south side, a brew with a downtown view, or a shaded seat near the lake, you can find it at one of these locations.

Unfiltered Lakeland, 801 E. Main St. | Partially shaded
Shop from local businesses while enjoying your food and drinks at this quirky downtown spot.

Restaurants

Add a heading - 2022-05-06T152413.137

The Joinery’s shady back patio is only one of its three seating areas.

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Photo via @thewanderingconk

The Joinery, 640 E. Main St. | Partially shaded
Grab a spot on this food hall’s front patio for a fully covered table with views of the lake, or head to the back for smaller, umbrella-covered tables.

Il Forno, 3615 S. Florida Ave., Ste. 1310 | Fully covered
Pioggia o sole — that’s “rain or shine” in Italian, which is exactly how you can enjoy classic Italian dishes at this Merchant’s Walk spot.

Jessie’s Gourmet Sandwich Cafe, 1825 E. Edgewood Dr. | Mostly sunny
Edgewood Drive’s newest sandwich cafe just opened — stop by to order from 20+ sandwiches, including a classic Cuban.

Bars and breweries

The Yard on Mass patio with tables, chairs, turf, and tents covering patrons

There’s always entertainment to be found at The Yard on Mass.

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Photo by @theyardonmass

The Yard on Mass, 802 N. Massachusetts Ave. | Mostly sunny
It’s in the name — this communal yard often plays host to food trucks, live music, and more. Grab a drink inside and enjoy it outside in one of the shady areas.

Lakeland Loft, 108 S. Tennessee Ave. | Mostly sunny
The outdoor seating is limited, but if you can grab a spot on The Loft’s second-story balcony, you’ll have one of the best views of downtown Lakeland to enjoy with your drink or cigar.
20+ more patios
Asked

How do you feel about shared dining tables or communal seating in outdoor areas?
A. Comfortable, I enjoy the social aspect of shared seating
B. Uncomfortable, I prefer private seating arrangements
C. I have no strong preference
Share your thoughts
 
Events
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.
Tuesday, Oct. 31
  • Tasty Tuesday with Our Noire Kitchen | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Catapult Lakeland, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland | Price of purchase | Enjoy seasonal bites like creamy pumpkin pasta and the Fall Harvest cooler on the Catapult patio.
  • Bob Sneider and Jeffrey Benatar | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Anne MacGregor Jenkins Recital Hall, Florida Southern College, 1100 Johnson Ave., Lakeland | Free | Hear jazz standards and original compositions in this duo performance.
Wednesday, Nov. 1
  • BSP Photo Club | Wednesday, Nov. 1 | 5-6 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Photography enthusiasts can bring a camera to snap pictures in the park with other photographers.
  • Panel of Experts: Empowering Through Engagement | Wednesday, Nov. 1 | 3-5 p.m. | Catapult Lakeland, 502 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Learn about how business engagement affects education from thought leaders and experts in K-12 education.
Thursday, Nov. 2
  • Night Market | Thursday, Nov. 2 | 6-9 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Free entry | Shop from local vendors and pour your own draft beers in the taproom.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
Real Estate

Gated luxury in Lakeland: Single-family rental community now open
Luxury community brings gated single-family rental homes to Lakeland.
Enjoy maintenance-free, luxury living at Grasslands West, Lakeland’s first gated, single-family rental community. | Photo by Marissa Romack and Sydney Szanyi Jenkins
Conveniently located near the many shopping and dining amenities of Lakeside Village (read: Publix is across the street), Grasslands West now offers three-and-four bedroom custom homes available for rent.

Featuring unobstructed views of the waterfront or nearby golf course, each pet-friendly property includes a spacious two-car garage and access to the community pool, playground, and dog park.

Best of all: Grasslands West provides complimentary lawn, pool + pest maintenance for all residents year-round. (Never squish a bug again.)
Get started today
News Notes
Stat
  • 3.8%. That was Polk County’s unemployment rate for the month of September, 0.8% higher than Florida’s rate of 3%. Learn more about our labor force, industries experiencing the most growth, and the unemployment rate. (The Ledger)
Edu
  • The Polk County Tax Collector’s Kids Tag Art program raised a total of $42,448 for PCPS. The annual fundraiser benefits district art teachers. This year, each art teacher will receive at least $625.
Cause
  • Who’s ready to spread some holiday cheer? The Lakeland Police Department’s seasonal Cops for Kids program will accept donations of new, unwrapped toys starting Wednesday, Nov. 1. Monetary donations are also accepted — make your contributions by Saturday, Dec. 9. (LkldNow)
Ranked
Coming Soon
  • Baked goods fans, rejoice. Bandidas is opening a brick-and-mortar storefront at 1755 E. Edgewood Dr. this January. Until then, you can still shop goods at the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market on Saturdays. Pro tip: Holiday pre-orders are open on their website.
Open
  • Cinderella said “One shoe can change your life,” so imagine what you could do with a new pair. Journeys opened on Saturday in Lakeside Village. Stop by the 1531 Town Center Dr. storefront to get your new kicks.
Eat
  • Mulberry is paying homage to its rich railroad history with a new upscale dining concept: Depot 303. Renovations on a former Badcock Home Furniture surplus building will start this fall. Once complete, the $3 million-$4 million project will house seven restaurants with room for 280+ patrons. (Fox 13 News)
Traffic
  • The Pipkin Road Widening Project is right on schedule. While drivers may still have to deal with construction for another year, the $55 million endeavor will double the width of the road to alleviate congestion between South Florida Avenue and Medulla Road. (Bay News 9)
Sports
  • Lone Palm Golf Course dedicated 13 new pickleball courts, a clubhouse, a snack bar, and a pro shop last week. The courts replaced the club’s existing tennis courts which had fallen into disrepair. Not a Lone Palm member? No worries — play on these courts. (The Ledger)
Development
  • Polk County commissioners have proposed a county-operated waste-processing facility in east Lakeland. The existing organic waste recycling facility, BS Ranch & Farm Inc., plans to stop accepting biosolids. (The Ledger)
Closed
  • Rita’s Italian Ice closed its doors this weekend. The 3115 US Hwy. 98 N. creamery started serving up sweet treats in December 2021. What’s next for the spot is yet to be announced.
Biz
  • Florida Southern College students of the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise will begin operating a student-run coffee cart tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. Morning Grind, located on the campus’ east side, is celebrating its opening day with 50% off all drinks for one day only.
Featured Home
  • Experience luxury living in a tranquil environment with Grasslands West, a high-end single family gated rental community that caters to your every need. The community is pet-friendly, and boasts lawn maintenance, pest control + internet services all included. Take your pick from three different floor plans.*
Finance
  • $300 is the new $200. This card is offering a rare $300 welcome bonus, and bonuses like that don’t come around that often. That’s why thousands are lining up for it. Learn more and apply.*
 
Holiday

👻 It’s time for a ghost story

The scariest stories in Central FL
A yellow house with two cars in the yard.
The Lake Wales home features on Unsolved Mysteries looks like any other house. | Image via Google Maps
Look alive. Tomorrow is Halloween. Get in the spirit of the holiday with four of the most haunted spots in and around Lakeland. Read on… if you dare.

The Mann House | 1424 Lakeview Rd., Lake Wales

If you’ve ever watched Unsolved Mysteries, you might have recognized a familiar spot on Season 6, Episode 6 — the Mann House. The Mann family was haunted by a female spirit in the 1990s and soon began suffering from headaches, hearing strange voices, and even had paranormal investigators visit. You can watch the full episode here; it starts at the two-minute mark.

Old Polk County Courthouse | 100 East Main St., Bartow

Built in 1909 on the foundations of the original courthouse, the Old Polk County Courthouse’s history dates back to the early 1880s. Haunted claims at this location include screams from the basement, apparitions on the second floor rotunda, a “Lady in White” on the second floor, and numerous cold spots on the first floor.
2 more terrifying tales
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The Wrap
 
Rilee-Delgado-Headshot-LAL

Today’s edition by:
Rilee
From the editor
While not open yet, outdoor dining will soon return to the shores of Lake Morton when Peach House opens at the former site of Red Door Lakeland.
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