Plus, a Publix executive retires.
 
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Today’s Forecast

87º | 6% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:38 a.m. | Sunset 7:36 p.m.
 

🥧 The pie’s the limit

Celebrate Pi Day with Reececliff Diner, Lakeland’s longest-running restaurant
Five pecan and pumpkin pies in a display case at Reececliff Diner
Are you hungry for pecan, pumpkin, or something else? Head to Reececliff to try some of Lakeland’s favorite pies. | Photo by @reececliff.diner
We hope you’ve got your forks ready, Lakelanders, because today is Pi Day.

What is Pi Day?

Pi Day occurs annually on March 14 to celebrate the mathematical constant π (pi), which starts with 3.14. The earliest known official celebration of Pi Day was organized by Larry Shaw, a physicist at the San Francisco Exploratorium, in 1988. During the celebration, the Exploratorium’s staff and public marched around one of its circular spaces, then consumed fruit pies.

While today’s Pi Day celebrations may call for a lot less marching, there’s still plenty of pie to eat. Want to grab one of the best slices in Lakeland? Head to Reececliff Family Diner (940 S. Florida Ave.).

The exterior entrance of Reececliff Diner outlined with red neon lighting at night

Reececliff Diner has been a Lakeland staple for over 75 years.

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Photo by @reececliff.diner

The history of Reececliff

With more than 90 years of operation under its belt, Reececliff is hailed as Lakeland’s longest running restaurant. While the menu covers classics from country fried steak to liver and onions, the pies are often what keep people coming back.

Crafted by the same expert for 50+ years, Reececliff’s pies include a wide variety of flavors like apple, chocolate cream, and cherry. City Editor Amelia’s personal favorite is the peanut butter pie, whereas Connor’s is coconut cream.

Where else to celebrate Pi Day

If you still want to get in on the pie-eating celebration but sweets aren’t your thing, you can head just up the street to Born & Bread Bakehouse to pick up a take-and-bake chicken pot pie or over to Palace Pizza for a pizza pie instead. After all, the pie really is the limit.
What's your favorite kind of pie?
 
Events
Thursday, March 14
  • Original Sewing & Quilt Expo | Thursday, March 14-Saturday, March 16 | Times vary | RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland | $8-$15 | Join sewing classes, workshops, demos, and fashion shows — parking is $10.
  • City of Lakeland Water Utilities: Water Purity Experiment | Thursday, March 14 | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Peterson Park Pavilion, 3700 Cleveland Heights Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Kids can learn about the importance of clean water with a hands-on experience.
  • Karaoke Nights | Thursday, March 14 | 6-9 p.m. | Union Taproom, 245 W. Central Ave., Ste. 102, Winter Haven | Free entry | Grab the mic and sing along to your favorite song.
Friday, March 15
  • Yoga for Beginners | Friday, March 15 | 10-11 a.m. | Coleman-Bush Building, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $5 | Bring your mat and water to this class for all levels of yogis 16 or older — locations vary by day.
  • Lakeland Cruisers Cruise Night | Friday, March 15 | 5-8:30 p.m. | Lakeside Village, 1479 Town Center Dr., Lakeland | Free | View modern and classic cars at this family-friendly car show.
  • Movie on the Lawn: “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” | Friday, March 15 | 6-9 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Watch this small movie on the big screen at 7:30 p.m., and arrive early for science-themed activities.
Saturday, March 16
  • Plant Swap | Saturday, March 16 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Exchange full plants, seeds, or clippings with other gardeners.
  • 28th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Street Party | Saturday, March 16 | 11 a.m.-2 a.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub, 111 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free entry | The festivities last all day with a full food menu, green beer, and live entertainment.
  • Board Gamers at the Library | Saturday, March 16 | 2-4 p.m. | Lakeland Public Library, 100 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland | Free | Bring your family and friends for a relaxing afternoon of gaming.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Wellness

Not your grandpa’s hearing device
a hand holds a hearing aid between two fingers
Cutting-edge German technology allows users to control these hearing aids with the Horizon App using precision smartphone connectivity and Bluetooth. | Photo provided by hear.com
What happens when you combine German engineering with the world’s most trusted name in hearing care? The biggest breakthrough in hearing technology in more than a decade.

Introducing the Horizon IX hearing aid by hear.com. It’s one of the world’s first dual processing hearing aids, which separates speech and background noise to deliver never-before-heard clarity.

Ready to join 385,000 people hearing better than ever? See if you qualify for a 45-day no-risk trial of the award-winning Horizon IX hearing devices below.
Start my 45-day, no-risk trial
News Notes
Traffic
  • Pipkin Road travelers, rejoice. The road’s eastbound lane between Harden Boulevard and South Florida Avenue will reopen at 3 p.m. today after being closed for more than two years as part of a $55.6 million widening project. (The Ledger)
Number
  • $1.2 billion. That’s how much Polk County’s cattle industry contributes to the local economy each year. As the county faces a critical shortage of veterinarians to care for these large animals, Dr. LuJean Waters of Bartow is sharing her story to raise awareness. (Fox 13 News)
Biz
  • Howard Jenkins is closing his chapter as a Publix executive. The son of founder George Jenkins has served on the company’s board of directors for 45 years, but will not be up for re-election. Upon his departure, only one board member will have ties to the Jenkins family. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Sports
  • Former Detroit Tiger Willie Horton will host the eighth annual Willie Horton Detroit Tigers Celebrity Bowl tonight after the Tigers’ spring training game. All proceeds from the event at Orange Bowl Lanes (4318 US Hwy. 98 N.) will benefit youth sports development. (The Ledger)
Award
  • Six Polk County sports icons ranging from all-star baseball players to notable coaches will be inducted into the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday, June 18. The ceremony will take place during the Polk County All-Sports Awards at the RP Funding Center. (The Ledger)
Cause
  • Parker Street Ministries is requesting non-chocolate candy + prize-filled eggs for its upcoming Easter celebration on Saturday, March 23. Donations can be dropped off Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 719 N. Massachusetts Ave.
Featured
  • Did you know Lakeland is home to two of Apartment Therapy’s favorite vintage shops in Florida? June Taylor and Lloyd’s of Lakeland are highlighted as must-stop places for vintage and antique lovers. What can we say? Lakelanders have great taste.
Festival
  • The Swan City Piano Festival announced its guest artists for its fourth season happening June 6-9. Attendees can expect to hear new + classic piano works, participate in master classes and artist talks, and enjoy interactive children’s and community events — all for no charge.
Try This
  • Little Lake Play (111 S. Florida Ave.) is now hosting Kids Morning Out on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Parents can rest easy while kids enjoy hours of fun and imagination at the indoor playspace. Advance registration is required.
Feel Good
  • Lakeland guitarist Joe Gavin is being honored for helping youth find hope through music. Gavin fixes broken guitars and donates them to Cups Mission, an outreach that distributes them to kids in the Dominican Republic. (Bay News 9)
Kids
  • Applications for Tenoroc Youth Conservation Center’s summer camps are now available. Kids in grades 3-9 can engage with nature through week-long camps — themes include Precision Sports, Hooks and Hulls, and Outdoor Adventures.
Travel
  • Spring break (and summer vacay and weekend getaway and fall destination…) travel bucket list — here you come. See our recs for the top 9 destinations to add to your 2024 bucket list. Hint: It includes Spanish street markets, Icelandic geothermal baths, pink sand beaches + more.*
Award
Shop
 
Community

🚘 Not all parking lots are created equal

Where to park in downtown Lakeland
LAL_Downtown_Parking_Signs_MAR_2024
If you want to park for free, make sure to look for the white and green. | Photos by @thelaltoday
If there’s anything that’s been the talk of the (down)town — it’s parking. We know all of these changes and updates can be daunting, so we’re here to break it down.

The basics

Free on-street parking is available to everyone downtown for up to two hours every day and is unlimited after 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and all weekend long. There are also several free garage, lot, valet, and accessible options.

ParkMobile vs. 717 parking apps

Residents and visitors can pay for parking beyond their allotted two hours via the ParkMobile Parking App. You’ll know you’re in a city-owned zone and can pay via ParkMobile by the green and white signs. If you see a blue sign for 717 Parking Enterprises, that particular lot is privately managed, meaning it has its own parking rules, rates, and payment system via the 717 Parking App.
Get the rest of the parking 411
The Buy
The Wedding Shower Gift Guide. From the card to the main attraction, you’ll be considered a gift-giving superhero.
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The Wrap
 
Amelia Herring.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Amelia
From the editor
I’ll be honest, pie has never been my go-to dessert. However, if there’s one thing I love, it’s a themed holiday, so I fully plan on indulging in a slice later this evening.
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