Plus, a new documentary on a popular Polk landmark.
 
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Today’s Forecast

95º | 51% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:41 a.m. | Sunset 8:25 p.m.

 

🍻 Cheers, Swan City
Two iced matcha lattes — one with pink fruit and one with yellow fruit — sitting on a coral pink Adirondack chair
In a week, we’ll be toasting to Drink Up Week and some great deals around town, like BOGO Summer Fruit Matcha Lattes at Tea Largo.  |  Photo by Tea Largo
We pride ourselves on keeping you in the mix — so take it from us, a week from today you’re going to want to raise a glass.

We’ll be celebrating Drink Up Week from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26, tipping our hats to the buzziest entrepreneurs, mixologists, venues, and beverages across Lakeland.

We asked local businesses to participate in Drink Up Week by offering drink deals for our readers. Local businesses poured their all into the task — and the deals, well, they’re flowing.

A map of Lakeland showing points of interest offering deals during Drink Up Week

We’ve got a handy map to every Drink Up deal.

|

Photo via Proxi Map + data via Google

Presenting: LALtoday’s interactive map of Drink Up Deals across Swan City for our readers to bookmark, including must-grab deals like:
Keep this map of Drink Up Week deals handy as you chart a course through our city next week. And don’t forget to forward this story to a friend and make plans to meet up for a drink.

Finally, a toast. We want to give a huge thank you to the local businesses participating in Drink Up Week 2024 and to you, our readers, because we know you’ll be out there supporting the beverage industry. We’ll see you at the coffee shop, brewery, and winery — drinks in hand, of course.
 
Asked
 

Which Drink Up Week deals are you most excited for?
A. Coffee
B. Alcoholic beverages
C. Mocktails
D. Tea
 
 
Events
 
Monday, July 15
  • Movie Mondays | Monday, July 15 | 10 a.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library, 1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland | Free | Watch the family movie “Mummies” while enjoying themed snacks.
  • Mario & Luigi Skate Night | Monday, July 15 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Skate World, 911 N. Lake Parker Ave., Lakeland | $16 | Skate on over to this themed event + grab a photo with Mario, Luigi, and Bowser.
  • Christmas in July Candle Experience | Monday, July 15 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Keel Farms, 5202 Thonotosassa Rd., Lakeland | $55 | Celebrate the holidays early in this candle-making class — tickets include one Keel & Curley drink.
Tuesday, July 16
  • School Board Candidate Forum | Tuesday, July 16 | 6-8:30 p.m. | New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1321 N. Webster Ave., Lakeland | Free | Meet the candidates for the Polk County School Board and learn about their platforms.
Wednesday, July 17
  • Salsa y Bachata Class | Wednesday, July 17 | 6:30 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building, 1104 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $10 | Wear your dancing shoes for a class followed by a social dance in Munn Park.
Thursday, July 18
  • Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy | Thursday, July 18-Saturday, July 20 | Times vary | Polk Theatre, 121 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland | $48-55 | Those 21+ will hear reimagined versions of four classic tales while sipping themed cocktails.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
News Notes
 
Number
  • $3 million. That’s how much various departments are requesting in funding for one-time equipment purchases in the city’s 2025 fiscal year budget. Key asks range from upgrading the city’s computer software to a new truck for Water Utilities. (The Ledger)
Stat
  • Speaking of numbers, Polk’s population has increased by 26.4% over the last 10 years. As the county continues to grow, so is the need for workforce housing. Here’s four housing developments to keep an eye on. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Outdoors
  • Two declining oak trees in Fletcher Park will be removed, starting today. Fletcher Park’s playground will be closed for the duration of the project, which is estimated to take around five business days. In the meantime, check out these other Lakeland parks.
Biz
  • Lakeland’s Community Redevelopment Agency is accepting proposals for a new business to take over the former Yard on Mass space at 802 N. Massachusetts Ave. The former beer garden + live music venue permanently closed on July 1 after a mutual agreement with the city.
Open
  • Polk County food truck The Lake House Kitchen has opened its first restaurant location in Bowen Yard. Stop by Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. to snag fan favorites like street tacos, birria noodles + quesadillas.
Arts
  • Polk Museum of Art is sporting a new name. After a significant donation from the Nicholas and Ashley Barnett Foundation at GiveWell, the museum will now be known as The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art (The AGB) at Florida Southern College.
Development
  • Manufacturing is taking the cake in Polk’s biz scene. From Niagara Bottling’s 1.45 million-sqft facility in Winter Haven to Assure Infusions’ forthcoming Bartow plant, check out these developments that are creating new opportunities for residents. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Watch
  • A new documentary produced by Lakeland filmmaker Jonathan Wayne Andress is highlighting the removal of the Douglas DC-3 plane that once served as a landmark for Fantasy of Flight on I-4 in Polk City. Watch the full documentary on Andress’ YouTube channel. (WFLA)
Try This
  • Chef Berna of Cafe Zuppina is bringing back her cooking classes after popular demand. Sign up for the first class on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. to learn techniques for preparing Mediterranean dishes — tickets are $75.
Eat
  • End your week right by picking up a pie from By the Chef Pizza. The small biz is offering deep-dish focaccia pizza pickups at Catapult on Fridays from 12 to 6 p.m. Just be sure to submit your order by 12 p.m. the Wednesday before.
Today Is
  • National Gummi Worm Day. Where better to celebrate than at Andrew’s Coffee, where you can add a worm to any order? Heads up — this local favorite is offering BOGO drinks with code “DRINKUP” next week.
Pro Tip
  • Have you been dropped or non-renewed by your homeowner’s insurance provider? Call James Boley at 863-400-7460 for a free, no-obligation quote. Many insurers may be leaving Florida, but your Local GEICO Office is here for the long haul.*
Finance
  • If your Saturday consisted of mowing the lawn, deep-cleaning the patio, or heading to Home Depot, here’s one more responsible task to add to your to-do list: Move your credit card debt. This card offers 0% interest on a balance transfer until nearly 2026, plus 2% cash back on purchases.*
Eat
  • Spend more time enjoying your meals than preparing them when you replace your knife + cutting board with the Fullstar Veggie Chopper. It dices, slices, and spiralizes veggies in seconds.*
 
 
History
 

Remember this Lake Wales landmark?
Photo of Chalet Suzanne in 2009
Historic Chalet Suzanne in its final years as a fully operational restaurant and inn, circa 2009. | Photo via Florida Memory
What do Burt Reynolds, Robert Redford, Johnny Carson, and Kevin Costner have in common? They all dined at Chalet Suzanne, a Lake Wales restaurant and inn that served up lavish French cuisine on one woman’s eclectic china from 1931-2014.

Bertha Hinshaw opened Chalet Suzanne after her husband Carl’s death in 1931, and it quickly became a quintessential landmark of Lake Wales. A newly widowed mother of two young children, she resolved to support her family by capitalizing on her hobby of gourmet cooking.

Hinshaw turned Chalet Suzanne into not only a restaurant, but also a successful inn, soup cannery, vineyard, shooting range, and public airport and runway — convenient for its many high-rolling patrons.

In 1943, the chalet was nearly ravaged by a kitchen fire but was rebuilt by Hinshaw’s son, Carl Jr., who used salvaged materials from other buildings on the property. This remodel resulted in an unusual layout with 14 different levels.
 
The Buy
 
🛍️ Special edition alert. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale launches today, meaning top fashion, luxury beauty, and home items are seriously discounted.

This Kate Spade New York leather crossbody bag is $68 off.

Get Nike high waist leggings $25 off.

Le Creuset’s 7.5-quart enameled cast iron brazier is $172 off.

Get a glossy Béis suitcase $75 off.

If you’ve been eyeing an LED light therapy mask, the Dr. Dennis Gross Pro LED Light Therapy Device is $186 off.
 
Visit Central Florida
 
The Wrap
 
Connor Jacobson

Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
Lakeland isn’t the only city getting in on the fun of Drink Up Week. Our friends at TBAYtoday also have plenty of deals in store if you head to Tampa + St. Pete next week (there are even dog-themed cocktails at Pups Pub in Hyde Park).
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