06.07.2024

Today’s Forecast

95º | 20% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:30 a.m. | Sunset 8:23 p.m.

🎹 Don’t play this weekend by ear

Your guide to the Swan City Piano Festival

A pianist playing a grand piano onstage at a church at the Swan City Piano Festival

Professional pianists will bring their talents to Lakeland for your listening pleasure. | Photo by Andy Glogower

If you’re looking for the key to fun this weekend, we’ve got 88 of them. The Swan City Piano Festival starts today and ends on Sunday. The best part? Every event is free to attend.

Don’t miss these performances, masterclasses, and kids’ events all around Lakeland.

Friday, June 7

Musical Storytime
Reservations are filled for this kids’ storytelling event at Pressed Books & Coffee, but you can join the waitlist to snag an open spot. Two sessions hosted by Claire Fleitz are planned for 9:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

Robert Fleitz
This Lakeland native + Juilliard graduate will take the stage at Harrison School for the Arts (750 Hollingsworth Rd.) at 7 p.m. Don’t miss his dynamic and innovative art style in this performance.

Adults hold children on coffee shop couches as one plays a sound bowl. — Even minor musicians can get in on the fun.
|
Photo by Elisa Rose Vividor

Saturday, June 8

Educational Event
Head to the Florida Children’s Museum at 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. for this immersive theater experience featuring jazz pianist John C. O’Leary. Pro tip: It’s free with museum admission, which is $15.

Masterclass with Dr. Charles Hulin
Are you an aspiring pro pianist? Southeastern University professor Dr. Charles Hulin will teach new techniques at Harrison School for the Arts from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Martin Bejerano
Latin Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Martin Bejerano will perform among Polk Museum of Art’s exhibits at 7 p.m. Reservations are filled, but you can join the waitlist.

Sunday, June 9

Byeol Kim
End the festival with a solo performance by this award-winning pianist + artist. Catch her in concert at First Presbyterian Church (175 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.) starting at 3 p.m.

Note: Events are free to attend, but registration is required for most. Find more information on the full events list.

Events

Friday, June 7

First Friday: Family Fun Night | Friday, June 7 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free entry | Enjoy a night out with the family with inflatables, games, food trucks, and vendors.
Latte Art Throwdown | Friday, June 7 | 6-9:30 p.m. | Concord Coffee, 1037 S. Florida Ave., Ste. 135, Lakeland | $0-$15 | Sign up to compete, learn how to pour latte art, or just enjoy the show + vendors — a latte prizes are on the line.
Swan City Improv Comedy Show | Friday, June 7 | Times vary | Rec Room, 202 N. Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland | $10-$15 | Laugh along with this comedy team’s family-friendly 7:30 p.m. show and 21+ show at 9:30 p.m.
Black Business Expo | Friday, June 7-Sunday, June 9 | Times vary | Locations vary | $20-$85 | Network with Black entrepreneurs though interactive wellness workshops, a business expo, heritage bus tour, and more all weekend.

Saturday, June 8

29th Summer Sunrise Watermelon 5K | Saturday, June 8 | 7-9 a.m. | Lake Hollingsworth Park, 929 Lake Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland | $25-$60 | Run the first race in this series to fund scholarships for Polk County graduates.
Summer Naturalist | Saturday, June 8 | 9-11 a.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | Explore nature at the Boathouse Dock by using microscopes and a solar telescope.

Sunday, June 9

Hammerheads at Flying Tigers | Sunday, June 9 | 12 p.m. | Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland | $8-$35 | Brunch is served in the ’34 Club from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and kids can run the bases after the baseball game.
Oh Hello | Sunday, June 9 | 12-2:30 p.m. | Painting with a Twist, 3670 Harden Blvd., Lakeland | $44 | Say “hello” to this sea turtle you’ll paint step by step with expert instructions.
Andy Shreeve w/ Top Dog Concessions | Sunday, June 9 | 2-5 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free | Start the week off with a Sunday fun day on the patio — cold beer and live music await.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Eat

Meet your new dinner date: Purple Carrot plant-based meals

A green caraf and glass, plate of vegetarian noodles, and plate of limes on a green table.

Purple Carrot’s nutritious meals are loaded with flavor. | Photo by Purple Carrot

Introducing your secret weapon against boring, tasteless meals: Purple Carrot.

Purple Carrot offers chef-prepared, fully plant-based meals that are ready to eat in under two minutes. Prefer to cook yourself? Opt for meal kits or shop plant-based grocery items from a fully stocked “plantry.”

This spring, Purple Carrot is ushering in the warm weather with vibrant, seasonal meals like Roasted Red Pepper Farro Bowls with chickpeas and mint (yum).

Pick your Purple Carrot plan

News Notes

Biz

Taco Bus may have closed downtown, but it sounds like the spot may not stay empty for long. The previous owners wrote on Instagram that they have sold it to new local owners. Plans are TBA, but they said it would not be a Mexican restaurant. Any guesses? (The Ledger)

Watch

Local soul food truck Plates on Deck will compete on the next season of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race.” Tune in for the season premiere on Sunday, June 30 at 8 p.m. to see if the team wins the $50,000 prize.

Outdoors

Several wildfires affected areas around Polk County this week, including some parts of Lakeland, as local + statewide crews worked to contain them. Remember: Polk is still under a burn ban that was issued on May 28 due to dry conditions. (The Ledger)

Coming Soon

Bowen Yard food hall is set to open this July in downtown Winter Haven, bringing a slew of tasty options. Meet each of the eateries and see what you can expect to find on their menus. (Good Food Polk)

Environment

No “deer crossing” signs needed here. A wildlife crossing under a section of I-4 in Lake Alfred is now open. FDOT built the underpass just for critters as part of a $72.5 million reconstruction project on the Exit 48 interchange. (The Ledger)

Award

Did you know that United Way of Central Florida has 80 years of service under its belt? The organization recently honored five volunteers, philanthropists, and advocates for their community impact at its 80th Anniversary Celebration. (LkldNow)

Tech

Florida Polytechnic University’s Phoenix Racing team is gearing up for the Formula Sun Grand Prix next month. It’ll be the team’s first national competition where they will race their solar-powered cars to complete the most laps across 24 hours of driving.

Featured

Watch “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper” on CNN this Sunday, June 9 at 8 p.m. to see a familiar face. The episode will feature Lakelander Jason DeShazo, aka Momma Ashley Rose, the founder of the Rose Dynasty Foundation. (The Ledger)

Arts

New exhibits are in the works at the Polk Museum of Art. Grab tickets to the next Polk @ Nite event on Thursday, June 27, 5-8 p.m. to hang out after hours among the works of artists Mally Khorasantchi and Hunt Slonem.

Seasonal

There’s just one more week to enjoy the flower fields + fresh foods at Fancy Farms Market. Visit by Saturday, June 15 for one last time before it closes for the summer. Don’t worry, it’ll reopen this fall.

Cause

You’ve got giving back in the bag. VISTE is always in need of plastic grocery bags to use in its food deliveries for older adults in Lakeland. Drop them off at 1232 E. Magnolia St. on weekdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Pets

Bowl goals for dogs = Premium proteins. Vibrant veggies. Tantalizing textures. Be the dog parent who keeps mealtime exciting with 50% off Nom Nom’s pre-portioned, freshly-made meals.*

Arts

🎨 Off the wall

30+ murals around Lakeland

A gif including three photos of murals. One has large monarch butterflies, the next reads "Dream, Play, Explore," and the last features local Black community leaders.

Lakeland, you’re a work of art. | Photos by LALtoday + screenshot via Google Maps

One of our all-time favorite art galleries? Lakeland itself. Explore these meaningful murals and street art pieces you’ll find around Swan City

The Well, 114 E. Parker St. | By Kent McAllister
This mural by a PCPS art teacher pays homage to local Black leaders Dr. Larry Jackson, Nat Adderley, Morris Chestang, and Annie B. Phyall.

Monarch butterflies, 130 S. Massachusetts Ave. | By Gillian Fazio
Flutter on by the Lake Mirror Tower Apartments to find these butterflies + flowers on the wall facing the lake.

Dream, Play, Explore; 2947 S. Florida Ave. | By Kate Hall
This work will inspire kids to dream big as they head inside Kid Cafe, a new indoor playspace.

Want to make a day out of finding all the murals our city has to offer? Save this mural map or join The Cultivated Pig’s Wall Crawl to snap selfies + win prizes.

28 more murals to marvel at

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

The Buy

The Buy 6.07.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

The clear bag you need to go hands-free at any concerts, games, or events this summer (it’s stadium-approved).

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Connor

From the editor

You may have been a Red Lobster fan since its local beginnings, but are you as committed as rapper Flavor Flav? He took to Instagram this week to share a video showing him ordering every single item on the menu — and wearing his iconic clock necklace, of course.

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