Coworking spaces

• Catapult Lakeland, 502 E. Main St. | Pick up a day pass for $20 and enjoy access to private phone booths, complimentary coffee + snacks, views of Lake Mirror, and walkability to downtown Lakeland.
• The Well, 114 E. Parker St. | The Well offers memberships for Lakelanders looking to work outside the home. Check out the various tiers, which range from virtual memberships to private offices.

Caffeine fiend

• Hillcrest Coffee, 119 Hillcrest St. | Stop in for a morning quiche or an afternoon pick-me-up, stay for the cozy atmosphere and coloring book breaks.
• Mitchell’s Coffee House, 235 N. Kentucky Ave. | Lakeland’s longest-standing coffee shop recently got a renovation with even more indoor + outdoor seating options.

BYO hotspot

• Lakeside Village, 1479 Town Center Dr. | Lakeside Village’s central green is complete with seating and a shady pergola. When it starts to get hot, step inside Books-A-Million and cool off with some fro-yo from Yogurt Mountain.

Patio spaces

• The Joinery, 640 E. Main St. | This vibrant food hall is known for its large lake-front patio on Lake Mirror. For a more secluded outdoor vibe, head to the back patio (just remember trains pass back here, so you may need to mute those microphones if you have a call).

Countdown to 5 p.m.

• Dissent Brewing, 125 S. Kentucky Ave. | Close the laptop and open an Outspoken Ale. Pro tip: Dissent welcomes kids, pets, and outside food, so bring whatever you need to get comfortable.

• BOGO Bingo | Monday, April 29 | 6 p.m. | Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ, 2250 Griffin Rd., Lakeland | Price of purchase | Get a free bingo card with your purchase — cookies and glasses of wine will be BOGO also.
• Auditions: “School of Rock” | Monday, April 29 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S. Lake Ave., Lakeland | Free | This community production is seeking both adult + child actors to audition.
• “A Few Things Old and a Few Things New” | Monday, April 29 | 7:30 p.m. | Branscomb Auditorium, Florida Southern College, 1100 Johnson Ave., Lakeland | Free | Join The Hollingsworth Winds for an evening of classic + innovative compositions.

• Storytime at the Florida Air Museum | Tuesday, April 30 | 10-11 a.m. | Florida Air Museum, 4075 James C. Ray Dr., Lakeland | Free | Children ages 2-5 years will enjoy interactive learning experiences that bring stories to life.

• Conversations in Behavioral Health | Wednesday, May 1 | 9 a.m. | Polk State College Center for Public Safety, 1251 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven | Free | Learn about “Navigating the Digital Age” from speaker and clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Strohman.

• Game Show Night | Thursday, May 2 | 6-9 p.m. | Lakeland Manor, 3020 Crews Lake Dr., Lakeland | $15-$25 | Enjoy a “Family Feud"-style game night to benefit READ Lakeland’s annual Kiss the Pig fundraiser.

• First Friday: Tres De Mayo | Friday, May 3 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free entry | Start the Cinco de Mayo party early with drinks, dancing in Munn Park, and later hours at downtown businesses.

• The city charter review committee has recommended more local changes, like increasing city commissioner term limits, redrawing voting districts, and filling vacant commission seats as quickly as possible. Voters will see recommendations in 2025’s municipal election. (The Ledger)

• The Five Points Roundabout has opened to traffic — 94 days ahead of schedule. The roundabout aims to enhance connectivity between West Main Street, West Lemon Street + Sloan Avenue, and serve as a gateway to the Downtown West area. See what else is in store for Downtown West.

• Meet the fourteen Polk County students who earned Silver Garland Awards for their commitment to community service. Five of the winners came from Lakeland schools, including Kathleen High, Harrison School for the Arts + Central Florida Aerospace Academy. (The Ledger)

• We’re breathin’ easy. The Orlando-Lakeland-Deltona area ranked as one of the cleanest metropolitan areas in the country for ozone + 24-hour particle pollution by the American Lung Association. Several other Florida cities also earned top honors, including Sarasota and Titusville.

• Developer Blue Sky Communities has requested a zoning change for nearly nine acres of land in southwest Winter Haven. If approved, Blue Sky would be allowed to build up to 132 units of affordable or workforce housing on the site. (The Ledger)

• Celebrating Mother’s Day with brunch is great, but have you ever considered celebrating with axe-throwing? Head to Ax-Caliber on Saturday, May 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Mother’s Day deals ranging from $10 unlimited mimosas to 50% off one hour of axe-throwing.

• Lakeland artist Karla Pirona received recognition at the 17th Annual Bay Area Art Exhibit, a juried fine arts show with entrants from across Tampa Bay. Pirona’s painting of the Polk Theatre earned the “Best of Oil” award.

• Get a behind-the-scenes look at Camp Fire Sunshine’s recent kitchen renovation. Every aspect of the kitchen was designed with the kids in mind, from child-sized sinks to custom counters. Learn more about Camp Fire Sunshine and its history in Lakeland.

• Free Comic Book Day, the largest event in the comic book industry, is coming up on Saturday, May 4. Lakelanders can head to Coliseum of Comics (1517 Bartow Rd.) or Intergalactic Plastic (5367 S. Florida Ave.) to celebrate with various events + giveaways.