Plus, $4 million for smart water meters.
 
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6AM City In-house

Today’s Forecast

81º | 15% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:47 a.m. | Sunset 6:30 p.m.
 

Eight coffee shops. One winner.

Vote in LALtoday’s coffee shop bracket
A graphic including a Round 1 bracket of Lakeland coffee shops. The design is white and light green, with a coffee mug and beans around the bracket.
Choose your favorite place for a cup of coffee in 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.

Last year, you helped us name the best pizza parlor: Palace Pizza. This year, we asked you to share your favorite coffee shop in Lakeland. Now — thanks to you and the help of a random generator — we have the official lineup for our bracket.

Who’s in the running

Going head-to-head in the first round are:
How it works

Beginning today, we will host several voting rounds within our newsletters and social channels to determine Lakeland’s best coffee shop. Who moves on is up to you. Vote for your favorites, and the cafe with more votes moves on. Simple as that. We’ll go until we have a champion, which will be announced in our Tuesday, March 26 newsletter. You will be able to vote once per round.

How to participate

Vote for the coffee shop you’d like to see advance to round two using this poll. You can vote for all four spots or as little as one. Once we count all the votes, we’ll share an updated bracket + new poll in an upcoming newsletter.

Ready to cheer your “team” to victory? Vote now at the button below.
Choose your favorite brews
 
Events
Tuesday, March 5
  • Florida Strawberry Festival 2024 | Tuesday, March 5-Sunday, March 10 | 10 a.m.-10 p.m. | Florida Strawberry Festival, 303 BerryFest Place, Plant City | $4-$15 | Celebrate all things strawberry — today, kids under 18 get in free with a paid adult after 12 p.m.
  • Tacos, Margaritas + BINGO! | Tuesday, March 5 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | The Back Nine, 124 S. Tennessee Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Snag deals on tacos and margarita flights while you compete for five in a row.
  • Molly’s Musicians Showcase | Tuesday, March 5 | 9 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub, 111 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | Take the stage or support local musicians at this open mic night.
Wednesday, March 6
  • Knit One, Crochet Too! | Wednesday, March 6 | 5-6:55 p.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Bring your current knitting or crocheting project to work and chat with others.
  • Family Game Night | Wednesday, March 6 | 5-8 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free entry | Bring your family-friendly games to the Rooftop Bar to play with others.
Thursday, March 7
  • Making Love Last: Couples Workshop Parts 1 & 2 | Thursday, March 7, Saturday, March 9 | Times vary | ROAR Florida, 500 Inspiration Dr., Lakeland | $325 | Couples can learn principles for problem solving and strengthening bonds in this two-day class.
  • Night Market | Thursday, March 7 | 6-9 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Free entry | Visit this monthly night market to shop local vendors while you pour your own drinks.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Number
  • 34,000+. That’s how many water meters the city’s Water Utilities Department will replace over the next four years. The city commission unanimously approved a nearly $4 million contract to install new smart meters, which can track leaks and water usage in real time. (LkldNow)
Civic
Traffic
  • Crews are working to make the intersection of West Pipkin Road + Medulla Road safer by adding a traffic light outside the Riverstone neighborhood. The stoplight should be operational by Wednesday, March 20. (WFLA)
Sports
  • City commissioners approved a contract for nearly $75,000 to replace the sand in bunkers at Cleveland Heights Golf Course for the first time in 10+ years. The city-owned and operated course will celebrate its 100th anniversary in November 2025.
Transit
  • What are your priorities for improving transportation in Polk County? Share your thoughts about roads, trails, public transit, and more in the Polk Transportation Planning Organization’s five-minute survey.
Award
  • Three cheers for this beer. Swan Brewing earned a silver medal for its Toma Citra brew at the Best Florida Beer competition. Pro tip: It’s currently available in the taproom — try it tonight during music bingo.
Plan Ahead
  • Speaking of events at Swan Brewing, mark your calendar for the next Lakeland Punk Rock Flea Market on Sunday, March 24, 12-6 p.m. Shop from 80+ vendors and rock out with six punk bands right outside the brewery.
Sports
  • Lake Gibson High School’s boys wrestling team earned a second place overall standing at this weekend’s state competition. Team members Elijah Lowe, Gianni Maldonado, and Gabriel Tedesco also brought home individual state championship titles. (The Ledger)
Travel
  • Spring break is upon us — which means spring travel is, too. Travelers using Orlando International Airport (MCO) are expected to increase by 11% over last year’s record breaking numbers. MCO’s tip: Follow the 3-2-1 rule to ensure spring traveling is a breeze.*
Job
  • Interested in working in education? Polk County Catholic Schools has multiple job openings for teachers + school staff. Bonus: See the benefits of working at one of their five local schools and why PCCS educators love what they do.*
Fun Fact
  • Smart printers can monitor ink levels and send new cartridges directly to your door before you run out. Get a $10 credit for HP Instant Ink.*
6AM City In-house
 
Pets

🐾 Every dog has its day

A bark and a bite: Check out these dog-friendly patios in Lakeland
A brown puppy gazes over the shoulder of a red-haired woman in a white shirt.
Black & Brew is another favorite of our furry friends | Photo by LALtoday
Sometimes you just can’t stand the thought of leaving your fur-baby at home. We connected with BringFido to compile a few dog-friendly restaurant recommendations.

Cob & Pen, 1221 S. Florida Ave.
“We love Cob & Pen and had to take Ragnar here for his first real outing. The lawn and patio area is great for pets! You simply place your order inside at the bar and waitstaff will deliver your food and drinks to your table outside.” — Aubreigh

Cozy Oaks Restaurant, 1201 E. Orange St.
“They have a small patio that they are going to cover but they were very dog friendly and even brought my dog a small bowl of water. The food is really good too!” — Teri

Palace Pizza, 114 S. Kentucky Ave.
“Beautiful patio with string lights, great spot to enjoy some delicious pizza. They even brought Waffles some water without being asked — so thoughtful!” — Shelby

Have another recommendation? Let us know.
7 more pet-friendly patios
The Buy

The Buy 3.05.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Prepared Hero’s Emergency Fire Blanket, a highly-rated staple to have on hand in your kitchen or yard. It’s easier to use than common fire extinguishers + leaves no mess behind, too.
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The Wrap
 
Connor Jacobson

Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
Did you hear that Black & Brew’s downtown cafe is now open for breakfast on Sundays, starting at 8 a.m.? If you stop by this weekend, I recommend the praline bacon sandwich + the pistachio baklava latte.
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