06.27.2024

Today’s Forecast

89º | 40% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:33 a.m. | Sunset 8:28 p.m.

🍔 Sun’s out, buns out

Chow down during Polk County Burger Week

Burger Week special with arugula, crispy onions, and melted cheese on a glossy bun, served in a copper basket under moody lighting.

Fasten your seatbelts, because burgers like this one from Sauvage in Winter Haven are worth the trip this week. | Photo by @sauvagewh

When it comes to hamburgers, the options are endless: you could add cheese, load up the condiments, keep it simple, or even go vegetarian. The one thing we can all agree on? Local eateries serve up the best around, and they deserve to be celebrated. That’s where Polk County Burger Week comes in.

The inaugural event hosted by Visit Central Florida is set for Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 28. Restaurants + food trucks across Polk County have joined in to offer a burger deal priced at $12 or less, or exclusive creations available for one week only.

If your mouth is already watering, start making your lunch and dinner plans. These are just a few of the local bizzes getting in on the foodie fun:

Don your cowboy hat and ride to Cob & Pen for the Dixieland Rodeo — smash burger patties with red pepper bacon jam and bourbon barbecue sauce.
Hitting a Union Hall concert during Burger Week? Stop by Feasts of Persia for a lamb kabob burger or all-beef FOP burger.
The Depot Cafe at Bonnet Springs Park will fuel your park picnics with its Maple Bourbon BBQ Avocado and Bacon Burger special.
Don’t forget your cash when you head to S&L for the Provolone Smash burger deal.
Breakfast lovers, rejoice — Mitchell’s Coffee House is offering a Sunrise Breakfast Burger topped with an egg and bacon.

A plate with a kabob burger topped with onion, tomato, and lettuce sits in front of signage for Feasts of Persia restaurant. — Arrive to Union Hall early to enjoy a Feasts of Persia kabob burger on the patio.
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Photo by @feastsofpersia

If you’re a creator, join HotMod Agency’s Influencer Networking Event at Bar Vasco on Monday, July 8 at 6 p.m. to learn more about the event and meet other influencers.

Bonus: Polk County Burger Week also lines up with LALtoday’s Drink Up Week, happening July 22-26. Keep an eye out for more on where you can raise a glass while biting into your burgers.

Events

Thursday, June 27

Beer & Bubbles | Thursday, June 27 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Downtown Winter Haven, 400 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven | $30 | Explore downtown shops while sampling craft beer, sparkling wines, and light bites at participating businesses.
Trivia Night | Thursday, June 27 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free entry | Head to the Rooftop Bar to answer Disney questions and enjoy happy hour deals.

Friday, June 28

ONEBLOOD Drive | Friday, June 28 | 2:30-8 p.m. | The Joinery, 640 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Give blood to receive a gift card, t-shirt, and a free pint of beer from The Joinery bar.
Moxie Le Femme Presents: The 90’s Burlesque Bash! | Friday, June 28-Saturday, June 29 | 7-11 p.m. | Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $15-$20 | Catch this cabaret + burlesque variety show with a 1990s-themed twist.

Saturday, June 29

Heart Wheels | Saturday, June 29 | 1-4 p.m. | Satya Life Yoga, 4684 Cleveland Heights Blvd., Lakeland | $50-$55 | Improve heart, spine, and shoulder health in this introductory yoga class.
Juneteenth Freedom Festival | Saturday, June 29 | 1-6 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin L. King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | Free | Enjoy kids activities, family-friendly entertainment, food + African American cultural exhibits.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Health

Florida Poly researchers received a $200,000 National Science Foundation Grant to continue their work on Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Chris Kelley’s team is using “control theory” and robotics to understand the disease, in hopes of using their research for future treatments.

Coming Soon

Heads up, north Lakelanders. Curry Leaves, a Tampa-based Indian restaurant, is opening a Lakeland location near I-4 next month. An opening date is still TBA, but we’re already looking forward to filling a plate at the weekend lunch buffet.

Development

California-based company Niagara Bottling is planning to build a 1.45 million-sqft plant in south Winter Haven. The $422 million manufacturing plant is expected to create 100+ jobs once complete. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Biz

Plan your next night out at the newly opened Tienda Studio (2050 Edgewood Dr. S., Ste. 111) or The Melting Spot (4289 S. Florida Ave.). Both bizzes offer DIY classes and private events where you can make candles, paint, and learn a new skill. (LkldNow)

Opening

Ripples Handcrafted Ice Cream is set to open next Thursday, July 4 in Winter Haven’s Bowen Yard. Find classic flavors like vanilla bean + chocolate, plus creative twists like lemon and wild Maine blueberry on the opening day menu.

Edu

PCPS students are poets and we didn’t know it. The district’s 48th annual Poetry Awards took place recently, with more than 200 students submitting their work. Erica Bushn of Lakeland’s Resurrection Catholic School won the overall middle school award with her poem, “Anxiety.”

Number

$497,000. That’s how much the city of Winter Haven will purchase the Ritz Theatre for after a unanimous City Commission vote. The 97-year-old building is in need of both minor and major repairs, including a $495,000 roof + air conditioning replacement. (The Ledger)

Cause

Give back this summer by volunteering at Applied Behavioral Learning Experiences (ABLE), Inc.'s upcoming camps. Volunteers ages 15+ are still needed for ABLE’s Lakeland camps happening the weeks of July 15 and July 22 off of Pipkin Road.

Concert

Celebrate the red, white, and blue this weekend: Head to Orlando International Airport’s Terminal C this Saturday, June 29 for its free annual Liberty Weekend concert. Guests will hear American classics + patriotic favorites performed by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Bonus: Get three hours of garage parking free.*

Eat

Looking to dine out this weekend? Reserve a table at Grillsmith or Nineteen61.*

Development

✈️ LAL’s new proposals, by the numbers

Lakeland Linder Airport seeks feedback on two proposed developments

Jet at Lakeland Linder International Airport | Photo by @iflytryp

Officials held a public forum this week to share plans for and seek feedback on an expansion in the northeast corner of Lakeland Linder International Airport. Two developments were up for discussion: a four-bay aircraft maintenance and overhaul facility + a medevac helicopter facility.

The comment period is still open before plans go to the FAA for review. Here are the numbers you need to know before emailing your thoughts:

$66 million — The estimated investment + infrastructure cost
150-225 — The number of jobs that could be created at the facilities over the next five years
25 — The projected number of additional aircraft using LAL per year
0.07% — The expected increase in jet noise
Tuesday, July 9 at 5 p.m. — The deadline to submit your comments to the airport

The Buy

The Buy 6.27.24 (Affiliate)

A great basic baseball cap to keep the sun off your face all season long, like ones from Life Is Good or Adidas.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Connor

From the editor

Ever looked at a local landmark and wondered where it got its name? We’ve got the backstories of 12 neighborhoods, parks, buildings, and more that have deep roots in local history. If you’re wondering about another that’s not on our list, let me know — it may be in our next update.

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