Plus, a local movie night.
 
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Swan Scene City

30+ murals around Lakeland
A blue woman drifts sleepily to the right, almost as if she's falling, surrounded by colorful ribbons.
The Legend of Ondine, by Cecilia Lueza | Photo by @cecilialuezaap
We all know that Swan City has a vibrant art scene — and we’re not just talking about the Polk Museum of Art. One of our all-time favorite galleries? Lakeland itself.

Lakeland is home to a number of meaningful murals and street art pieces. Today, we’re sharing where to find pieces that really paint a picture of our city.

The Legend of Ondine, 927 S. Florida Ave. | By Cecilia Lueza
This mural is inspired by Ondine, a mythological water nymph who falls in love with a human, becoming human herself.

A colorful mural depicting 1950s-style cars, fashion, and activities.

It looks like they were having fun back in the Dixieland of “then.”

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Photo by LALtoday

Dixieland THEN, 948 S. Florida Ave. | By Ahmad H. Taylor
Take a trip into Lakeland’s past with this mural. Featuring vintage cars and an ice cream parlor, we feel like we’ve stepped back into the 1950s just looking at it.

Magnolias, 230 N. Kentucky Ave. | By Maegan Carroll
These blooms are tucked away in Traders Alley, on the side of Stationery Loft. Did you know that southern magnolias are native to Florida?

Magnolia mural by Maegan Carroll-Simmons in Traders Alley | Photo by LALtoday

Look for these in Traders Alley on your next trip downtown.

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Photo by LALtoday

Want to make a day out of finding all the murals our city has to offer? Have a peek at this mural map and share photos of your artsy adventure with us on social media by using #LALtoday.

Pro tip: You can check out many of these (plus more, found at the button below) on two wheels during EMERGE Lakeland’s Mural Bike Tour on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 12 p.m. The tour takes off from Swan Brewing before winding through downtown and pausing at each mural for photo ops.
More murals to muse
Asked

How often do you attend local art galleries, museums, or art events?
A. Weekly
B. Monthly
C. 1-2 times per year
D. 3-4 times per year
E. I do not attend these events
Paint us a picture
 
Events
Friday, Jan. 12
  • Discovering Bok Tower Gardens Guided Tour | Friday, Jan. 12 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Bok Tower Gardens, 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales | $5-$27 | Take a walking tour of the gardens to learn about their history and design.
  • Crafternoon | Friday, Jan. 12 | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Children ages 5+ and their grown-ups can drop in after school for arts and crafts — dress for a little mess.
Saturday, Jan. 13
  • Stories and Stones Historic Cemetery Tour of Lakeview Cemetery | Saturday, Jan. 13 | 9-10:15 a.m. | Lakeview Cemetery, East Parker Street, Lakeland | Free | Register for this walking tour of Lakeland’s oldest cemetery to learn about Lakeland history through the stories of past residents — seats are limited.
  • Day of Caring | Saturday, Jan. 13 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Florida Children’s Museum, 600 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Admission is free to enjoy art performances, community resources, and the museum’s exhibits.
Sunday, Jan. 14
  • Goat Yoga on the Farm! | Sunday, Jan. 14 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | The Cloven Hoof Farm, 6170 Robins Rd., Lakeland | $10-$25 | We’re not kidding around — try this beginner-friendly, 45-minute goat yoga class.
  • Bob Thompson w/ Sun’s Just Egg Rolls | Sunday, Jan. 14 | 2-5 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Musician Bob Thompson will play his first show at Swan Brewing.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Eat

🥩 This inaugural Triple Crown of BBQ competition is smokin’ hot
LAL.TBAY-Visit Central Florida Triple Crown-1.12.24.JPG
Dig in to world-class BBQ eats from top chefs at these three cookout events happening in January + February. | Photo provided by Visit Central Florida
The steaks have never been higher — three beloved barbecue cookoffs are back, but for the first time ever chefs from around the nation are competing across all three events for a chance to take home the Triple Crown.

While barbecue chefs show off their skills, Lakelanders are invited to pig out on barbecue eats galore during the Triple Crown of BBQ, which includes:
Get ready to grub, LAL
News Notes
Development
  • The City of Lakeland is giving residents living on South Boulevard, Success Avenue, and East Park Street a say in how their streets are repaved. Originally slated to start next week, the project has paused while the city collects resident feedback. (LkldNow)
Real Estate
  • Roughly 15 homeowners insurance companies have ceased writing new policies in Florida since 2021. A dozen more have been unable to pay claims. The change has posed challenges to homeowners locally and state-wide. Learn more + read one Lakeland couple’s story. (LkldNow)
Try This
  • Looking for a reason to go to this year’s SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo? We’ve got 24. This year’s festivities will include 500+ exhibitors, an air-conditioned tent designed for families, new museum exhibits, an opening day concert, and more.
Feel Good
  • The Visit Central Florida Welcome Center was granted a Certified Autism Center designation by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. The center has enhanced its accessibility efforts to accommodate visitors with autism and other sensory needs. Visit the center daily, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Biz
  • The Aquarian Market is looking for new vegan vendors to participate in 2024 events. Interested parties can send a message to the organization’s Instagram account or inquire via email.
Concert
  • Bok Tower Gardens is kicking off its Concert Under the Stars series on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. with Donavon Frankenreiter and Goodnight, Texas. Get tickets for one night, or to the whole series.
Watch
  • Are you a Jo, Meg, Amy, or Beth? Either way, you can watch “Little Women” (2019) at Pressed for its first-ever “The Book Was Better Movie Night” on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 6-9 p.m. While there, you can buy the book and shop t-shirts, East of These merch, and Pressed drinks.
Drink
  • We hope you’re ready to fall in love, because Hana Tea House has special Valentine’s drinks on the menu. Check out the biz’s Instagram to learn about all four flavors: Cupid, Flirty Fizz, Choco-Pie, and — our favorite — Perfect Match, a strawberry milk tea with taro foam.
Eat
Number
  • $95.8 million. That’s how much Casa Fresca Homes has spent on land in Polk + Pasco counties for new developments. In Polk, developments will primarily go up in Haines City and Davenport. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Stat
  • 6-16%. That’s the projected growth for the HVAC job market by 2032 (and, yes, that’s faster growth than average). Gain the technical and marketable skills you need to become an HVAC Technician with SEU’s AAS in HVAC Technician Services — providing a hands-on, earn-while-you-learn degree. Learn more + apply.*
Finance
  • 2024’s “it card” is here. Not only does it offer a $200 bonus, but also unlimited 1.5% cash back and 0% intro APR until 2025. (Oh, and did we mention the annual fee? No — because there isn’t one.) Learn more + apply.*
Health
  • Anxiety can make every day a challenge. Connect with a therapist on BetterHelp + take the first step towards a calmer mind. Save 25% with BetterHelp’s New Year offer.*
 
Outdoors

Prepare for a park pilgrimage

Our guide to visiting 7 of the best national parks
The sun sets over a pond at Everglades National Park.
The Everglades are gorgeous any time of day. | Photo by Charles Patrick Ewing
Where can you see endangered species like manatees, American crocodiles, and even Florida panthers? Everglades National Park, of course. There’s no better time to plan your visit — Monday is the first free entry day of the year. Keep reading for everything you need to know about camping, hiking, fishing + boating, and more.

Fees and reservations
You’ll pay either $20 per person or $35 per car or boat. Repeat visitor? Get an annual pass for $70. Pro tip: Entrances can be very busy. Save some time by snagging a digital pass in advance.

Major rules
Pets are only allowed in certain places and must be kept on a leash. Don’t take your pet on the following:
  • All trails
  • Unpaved roads
  • Shark Valley Tram Trail and Road
Ready to hit the road? Click below to check out our full Everglades guide, plus our guide to six other national parks across the county.
Explore more
The Buy

The Buy 1.12.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Workout gear from Aesthetic Built’s collection, which features durable, cutting-edge fabric technologies without compromising aesthetic appeal. We love this scuba oversized hoodie.
Shoutout
Happy birthday, LALtoday member Jana Filip. We hope your special day (January 14) is filled with your favorite things in Lakeland! — LALtoday team
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The Wrap
 
Rilee-Delgado-Headshot-LAL

Today’s edition by:
Rilee
From the editor
If you’re like me, January is the time of year when you might partake in some kind of activity challenge. I’m doing 75 hard, which requires an indoor + outdoor activity every day. Luckily for me, Lakeland has plenty of places to walk and indoor gyms.
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