Plus, a look at Swan City's newest veterinary hospital.
 
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84º | 7% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:53 a.m. | Sunset 6:27 p.m.
 

☕️ There’s a coffee shop faceoff a-brewin’

Vote in LALtoday’s coffee shop bracket
An empty bracket surrounded by coffee beans with a coffee cup in the bottom center.
What’s your favorite coffee around Lakeland? | Graphic by 6AM City
With the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments just around the corner, we’re joining the fun of bracket competitions with a faceoff of our own with our LALtoday coffee shop bracket.

But first, we need your help nominating the spots you think should be in the bracket.

Using the nomination form below, submit the local spot that has your favorite cup of joe, and we’ll use your nominations to create a bracket and battle it out in our newsletter and on socials.

Need help brainstorming? Check out our coffee shops guide to get started.
Asked

Which coffee shop should be on our bracket?
Shoot your shot
 
Events
Wednesday, Feb. 28
  • 2024 Polk Senior Games | Wednesday, Feb. 28-Saturday, March 9 | Times vary | Locations vary | Free | Cheer on adults aged 50+ as they compete in sports and activities across Polk County.
  • Live Trivia w/ SB&B Food Truck | Wednesday, Feb. 28 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free entry | Grab a drink and a bite, then test your knowledge for a chance at prizes.
Thursday, Feb. 29
  • Yogadance | Thursday, Feb. 29 | 4-5 p.m. | Lake Crago Outdoor Recreation Complex, 525 Lake Crago Dr., Lakeland | $0-$5 | Dance to music from around the world in this uplifting exercise class for all levels — Silver Sneakers members get in free.
  • Trivia Thursdays | Thursday, Feb. 29 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | The Back Nine, 124 S. Tennessee Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Test your knowledge with themed and general trivia.
Friday, March 1
  • “Sister Act” | Friday, March 1-Sunday, March 3 | Times vary | Harrison School for the Arts, 750 Hollingsworth Rd., Lakeland | $16-$18 | Students will bring this smash hit musical comedy to life.
Saturday, March 2
  • 2024 Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center Promise Run | Saturday, March 2 | 7-11 a.m. | Lake Mirror Promenade, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | $40-$55 | Run around Lakes Mirror, Morton, and Hollingsworth in a 5K or 10K race.
  • Volunteer Open House | Saturday, March 2 | 9-11 a.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Head to the Roundhouse Coffee Shop in the Welcome Center to learn about volunteer opportunities at the park.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Pets

Business

Inside Lakeland’s newest veterinary hospital
Presented by a LALtoday Partner
A gloved veterinarian holds a radar-shaped device up to a dog's face.
Thanks to New Life’s Facebook, we learned that cats sleep up to 16 hours a day (which is 70% of their lives). | Photo via Pexels
Some paw-some news for Swan City pets: New Life Veterinary Hospital just announced the opening of Saddle Creek Veterinary Hospital, a second location for its comprehensive vet services.

Offering same-day appointments and personalized pet care, owners can now bring their furry family to either location for:
  • Wellness care — routine checkups, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and more
  • Sick visits — diagnosis and treatment for any unexpected ailments
  • Dental cleanings and surgeries — advanced procedures for squeaky-clean teeth + optimal long-term health
  • Puppy and kitten plans — smooth transitions for your newest (and fluffiest) family members
  • Specialized services — cold laser therapy (to provide pain relief and faster healing for pets with arthritis) + surgical lasers (which promote a quicker overall recovery)
No matter your pets’ needs, the state-of-the-art facility is equipped to care for cats and dogs at every stage of their lives. Pro tip: Follow New Life Veterinary Hospital and Saddle Creek Veterinary Hospital on Facebook for news, updates, fun facts, and weekly adorable photos.
Learn more + schedule your appointment
News Notes
Civic
Learn
  • Inside PCPS, a countywide, 10-month leadership program through Polk County Public Schools and Polk Vision is accepting applications for its next class. Interested in exploring the complexities of the local public education system? Apply through Friday, March 29.
Arts
  • Join the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra for a performance of The Planets in Concert on Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in Branscomb Auditorium at FSC. Music will be accompanied by visuals from designer Adrian Wyard to take audience members on a journey that’s out of this world. Get tickets.
Sports
  • “We are the champions…” We imagine that’s what the Lakeland Christian girls soccer team is singing after clinching the Class 2A state championship for the fourth year in a row. They are now the third girls sports program at LCS to win four consecutive state titles. (The Ledger)
Development
  • Watson Clinic is opening a new orthopaedic facility in Winter Haven in March. The clinic will offer orthopaedic surgery + sports medicine services and will also collaborate with nearby Winter Haven Hospital.
Health
  • The Alzheimer’s Association’s Brain Bus is coming to Harmony Baptist Church (1645 N. Webster Ave.) on Sunday, March 10, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The unique-to-Florida program offers free resources for families of those with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia statewide. (LkldNow)
Festival
Kids
  • Calling all young Picassos: Polk County’s annual Water Conservation Art Contest is open to all county students from K-12th grade and is accepting entries until Monday, April 22. Winners will have their artwork featured in Polk County Utilities’ 2025 Water Conservation Calendar.
Finance
Travel
  • Canada, eh? We can already taste the poutine. Whether exploring the city streets, hitting the slopes, or reconnecting with the great outdoors, Orlando International Airport (MCO) has flight deals to Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal + more.*
 
Lakelander

⭐️ We’re seeing stars

These 27 famous figures from Lakeland might surprise you
Moulin Rouge Karen Olivo
Karen Olivo with Aaron Tveit in “Moulin Rouge.” | Photo via WWD
While many prestigious personalities make their way to Lakeland at some point in their lives, there are a handful who were fortunate enough to call it home from the very beginning. Here are some of Swan City’s most famous alumni:

Karen Olivo
Known for: Actress

A former Harrison School of the Arts student turned Tony Award-winning actor, Karen performed in the original cast of “Hamilton,” as well as the revival of “West Side Story,” “Harry’s Law,” and “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.”

Chris Sale
Known for: MLB player

Sale began his career pitching for the Chicago White Sox. He then went on to win the 2018 World Series with the Boston Red Sox.

Faith Evans
Known for: Singer, songwriter, record producer, actress

This Grammy Award-winning R&B singer has released many successful records. You might have also seen her in the film “Girls Trip.”
24 more noteworthy Lakelanders
The Buy

The Buy 2.28.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Your must-have Stanley Quencher accessory (yes, water bottle accessories are a thing). There are straw cover caps, personalized name plates, water bottle carrier bags, and even a snack bowl that fits around your Stanley.
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The Wrap
 
Amelia Herring.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Amelia
From the editor
Goooooddd morning, Lakeland. Your new City Editor, Amelia, here with my first newsletter. I’m beyond excited to join the LALtoday team and share more about our city — especially which coffee shops you believe to reign supreme. My go-to drink is an iced caramel macchiato, what’s yours?
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