11.06.2023

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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.

We’re not kitten around

Come with us to Kitty Cat Lounge, Lakeland’s newest cat café

The exterior of Kitty Cat Lounge in Lakeland, FL

You can’t miss Kitty Cat Lounge’s bright green building. | Photo by LALtoday

City Editor Connor here, LALtoday’s resident cat lady. I’m letting the cat out of the bag about the newly opened Kitty Cat Lounge. Come with me to check out the space, try a drink from the café, and — of course — chill with cats.

Kitty Cat Lounge serves a dual purpose: At the front of the building is a lounge and coffee bar, and in the back is a room where cats can roam and play. The building is decorated with a mid-century modern style, giving you the feeling of stepping back in time. Pro tip: Both spaces are separately ventilated, so the lounge is allergy-friendly.

The lounge seating space at Kitty Cat Lounge — It’s all local here, from Ethos Coffee to snacks by Meraki Bakehouse to the art on the walls by local artists.
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Photo by LALtoday

If you’re not a cat person, you should still drop by just for the coffee. My first stop was the coffee bar for a pumpkin spice latte, and I can confidently say this was one of the best I’ve ever had.

The cats here are available for adoption and are seriously sweet. You can see their personalities shine in an environment like this — I loved Samson, the “grumpy old man,” and Minnow the kitten who wanted a sip of my latte.

A cat sleeping on a hanging hammock at Kitty Cat Lounge — Get to know the cats before deciding which one’s right for you.
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Photo by LALtoday

All the cats are spayed/neutered and vaccinated, so they’re ready for loving homes. It costs $7 for a 30-minute reservation and $12 for an hour. Be careful, you might want to adopt all of them when your time is up.

Owner Cindy Skop wants Kitty Cat Lounge to be known as a “third place” — somewhere Lakelanders can spend time away from work and home — so the lounge is hosting events like pop-ups, painting nights, and the Chess Mates club. You can keep up with events on Instagram.

Feline like visiting? Kitty Cat Lounge is currently open Tuesday-Sunday at 946 E. Orange St.

Events

Monday, Nov. 6

The Generators | Monday, Nov. 6 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library, Main Branch, 100 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland | Free | Join this genealogy discussion group to talk about this month’s topic: DNA sampling.
TAKE TWO: Free Style Basket Making Workshop | Monday, Nov. 6 | 6-9 p.m. | ART/ifact Studio, 820 N. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland | $20-$25 | Create freeform baskets using natural materials.

Tuesday, Nov. 7

2023 Lakeland Municipal Election | Tuesday, Nov. 7 | 7 a.m.-7 p.m. | Locations vary | Free | Head to your polling place to vote for City Commissioner District A Northwest and At Large Seat 2 positions.
Autonomous Vehicles and Their Safety | Tuesday, Nov. 7 | 3:30-5 p.m. | Florida Polytechnic University, ARC-2200, 4700 Research Way, Lakeland | Free | Hear from a panel of experts about the technology and safety measures used in developing self-driving vehicles.

Wednesday, Nov. 8

Salsa y Bachata Class | Wednesday, Nov. 8 | 6:15-8:15 p.m. | Coleman Bush Building, 1104 Martin L. King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $10 | Learn two Latin dances in an hour-long class, then show off your moves in a social.
Live Trivia w/ The One Stop Food Truck | Wednesday, Nov. 8 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Show what you know with trivia led by Hold On I Know This.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Community

How you can support LALtoday’s 2024 vision

City Editor Rilee’s 3 favorite Lakeland news stories from 2023

City Editor Rilee holding up a delicious looking iced coffee.

Becoming a member is a powerful way to support our local news team. | Photo by LALtoday

It’s hard to believe it’s almost a wrap on 2023 — and what a year it’s been. We’ve been privileged enough to bring you incredible Lakeland news stories straight to your inbox.

Check out some of City Editor Rilee’s favorites:

We’re asking for your support to bring you even more stories like these next year.

We’re passionate about our approach to local news. In 2024, you can depend on us for newsletters free of divisive political content. Instead, we’ll deepen your Lakeland roots, celebrate our city, and tell you ways to get involved with our community.

Joining our membership club is a powerful way to support our mission and keep our free newsletters hitting your inbox. Join and support us today.

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News Notes

Environment

The Cherry Hill Water Production Facility in north Lakeland will be the site of a $2.59 million pilot project to treat wastewater to make it drinkable. It’s one of 11 pilot projects in Florida aiming to meet the growing need for water as the population increases. (The Ledger)

Number

$6.25 million. That’s how much state funding PCPS received this school year for mental health programs. The school board has approved funding for student mental health services and 40+ full-time positions to help students with mental health and behavior challenges. (LkldNow)

Biz

What’s coming up for business development in 2024? The Central Florida Development Council shared three strategic initiatives for building Polk’s talent pipeline: Expanding the tech industry, pursuing the Central Florida Innovation District, and improving infrastructure. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Community

The Lakeland Fire Department is now using a mobile radio repeater on calls to 11 buildings that may cause signal issues. LFD is awaiting two permanent repeaters that will be installed in its battalion chief vehicles. (The Ledger)

Edu

While Lakeland’s dairy industry has stalled in recent years, PCPS is working to inspire future farmers. Several schools offer agriculture programs, and School Board member Justin Sharpless is visiting elementary classrooms to share about careers in agriculture. (LkldNow)

Learn

The next speaker in the Florida Lecture Series at Florida Southern College is Jeff Baker, the architect leading the restoration of FSC’s buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Hear Baker speak about the school’s architecture on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. in Annie Pfeiffer Chapel.

Award

Camp Margaritaville in Auburndale is a finalist for the Large Park of the Year award from the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. The winner will be announced this week — until then, plan your fall camping trip.

Cause

There’s a reason kidsPACK was the most reader-nominated nonprofit in our Publix Giveback Giveaway. Get to know the important work this Lakeland nonprofit (plus hundreds of volunteers) does to ensure local kids don’t go hungry on the weekend. Hint: It includes packing + delivering 1,000,000+ meals per year.*

Plan Ahead

Dress to the nines while supporting Polk County kids? Count us in. The fourth annual Black Diamond Ball is set for January 6, 2024. The one-of-a-kind gala aims to raise awareness around clothing insecurities in our community and will include jaw-dropping aerial entertainers, dinner + fireworks. Tickets this way.*

Health

Need immediate medical care? Try Watson Clinic’s new FAST Access service, offering same day, next day, or walk-in care. Bonus: Weekends are also available for walk-in care. See how to get the care you need on your schedule.*

Finance

Billionaires wanted this painting, but 54,538 everyday investors got it first — all thanks to Masterworks, the award-winning platform for investing in blue-chip art. Investors have benefited from 16 sales with returns including 17.8%, 21.5%, and 35.0%. Interested? 6AM City readers can skip the waitlist to join. †*

† See important Masterworks disclosures.

Try This

⏰ Make the most of that extra hour

Six ways to spend an hour in Lakeland

Pro tip: The sun sets before 6 p.m., so try a lakeside walk in the morning. | Photo by @kalebwalding

Time is precious — and now that we gained an hour after daylight saving time yesterday, we’re looking for even more ways to use the time we have. Try these activities to make the most of 60 minutes in Swan City.

Get sporty

Book a bay at The Back Nine to play simulated golf and other sports, or try ax-throwing at Ax-Caliber. Both offer delicious eats and reservations for as little as one hour.

Work in a workout

Take a walk around Lake Hollingsworth — at three miles, it would take you about an hour to make your way around the walking trail if you take it at an average pace of 2.5-4 miles per hour.

Break out

Can you solve the clues to escape in under an hour? Try your luck at Escapology or Lakeland Escape Room, where you only have 60 minutes to find a way out.

3 more ways to spend an hour

The Buy

The Buy 11.06.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Cuisinart’s 16-inch roaster and rack — because you deserve an easy-to-clean roaster this year, and this one’s big enough for a Thanksgiving turkey and has a nearly five-star rating.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Connor

From the editor

Have you answered our survey to plan your ideal Lakeland music festival yet? I’m loving the responses so far from readers like Lynn T., who would plan a winter festival called The Hearts of Music with headliner Blake Shelton.

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