Whether you’re looking for coffee, cocktails, or mocktails, Lakeland has no shortage of spots where you can get a delicious beverage. And if there’s anything we know about our readers + followers, it’s that y’all have some serious pride for your city.
This got us thinking — what if we could combine our love for all things Swan City with our appreciation for refreshing beverages to create the ultimate pride-in-place concoction?
We asked four businesses participating in Drink Up Week to come up with a beverage that truly embodied everything we love about Lakeland — and did they ever deliver.
☕ The White Swan Freezy | Andrew’s Coffee
This frozen concoction from the winner of our coffee bracket starts with a caramel drizzle-lined cup, followed by swirls of frozen coffee with an ice cream-like texture that gets blended with white chocolate syrup before being topped off with whipped cream.
🍹 Farmer’s Market In Bloom | Cob & Pen
While the In Bloom cocktail is a staple on Cob & Pen’s menu, this version of the drink takes a distinctly downtown twist with lavender gin and ibisco bitter liqueur from Dark Door Spirits in Tampa, orange liqueur, house-made strawberry syrup, grenadine, lime juice, and ginger beer.
🥤 Dreamsicle Energy Drink | Purrology Cafe
Not a coffee drinker, but still want that extra boost? This purr-fect Purrology creation combines Lotus plant-based energy with orange + vanilla syrups and oat milk, and is then finished off with whipped cream, a crazy straw, and orange gummies.
🍹 Put the Spice in the Coconut | LUGO’s Craft Distillery
If you want to get truly adventurous, this cocktail from the team at Lugo’s fits the bill with coconut pitorro rum, coconut cream, lime juice — and the real kicker — muddled jalapenos.
Crave + Hope House Fundraising Event | Wednesday, July 24 | 5-9 p.m. | CRAVE Hot Dogs & BBQ, 2250 Griffin Rd., Lakeland | Price of purchase | A portion of all sales will be donated to Hope House during this Spirit Night.
Women’s Self-Defense Class | Wednesday, July 24 | 6-7 p.m. | Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Lakeland | $12-$38 | Enhance personal safety in this class for women ages 15 and up.
Thursday, July 25
“The Wedding Singer” | Thursday, July 25-Sunday, Aug. 4 | Times vary | Theatre Winter Haven, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Lakeland | $33-$38 | This romantic musical comedy will take you right back to the 1980s.
Friday, July 26
The Fancy Flea | Friday, July 26-Saturday, July 27 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland | $7 | Shop vintage + antique vendors spanning furniture, art, decor, clothes, and more — parking is free.
Sunset Dance Series: Swing | Friday, July 26 | 7-10 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park, 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd., Lakeland | Free | LKLD Lindy Hop will lead you through decades of instruction and a social dance.
Just Laughs Comedy Showcase | Friday, July 26 | 8 p.m. | The Stage Room, 310 E. Lemon St., Lakeland | $15 | Enjoy an evening of laughter with local underground comics.
Enter to win $1,500 of Lakeland summer fun with our Lakeland Summer Staycation Giveaway, sponsored by Welcome Canary. | Photo by 3F Real Estate Photography
Desperatelyneed a vacay? You’re in luck.
We’re partnering with Welcome Canary on our Lakeland Summer Staycation Giveaway for two, which will award one lucky winner and their guest with $1,500 worth of Lakeland summer delights to fall even more in love with our city this summer:
$500 Visa gift card to spend at local shops + restaurants
$250 gift card for fine dining at Nineteen61 (seafood paella, anyone?)
$25 dollar gift card to Black & Brew(two iced lattes, please)
Important note: Only our official account, @theLALtoday, will reach out to our winner(s) via Direct Message on Instagram. In our DM, we will give you next steps to claim your prize — we will never ask for credit card information. Please be aware of fake accounts trying to scam entrants during any giveaway. This contest is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram.
Fasten your seatbelts. Lakeland Linder International Airport is sharing a big announcement about new routes at 11:30 a.m. today — so big, it’s being called the largest expansion in Avelo’s history. Keep an eye on our Instagram to get the scoop first. (The Ledger)
Number
$28,993,354. That’s how much Mulberry commissioners approved to build a new municipal complex, double the size of its current one. With hopes to open next year, the complex will include a city hall, PCSO substation, civic center, museum, and cultural center. (The Ledger)
Outdoors
Davenport commissioners are hoping to bring a bit of old Florida to eastern Polk by purchasing 50 acres of farmland to create a new park. City officials envision the park being similar to Bonnet Springs, with amenities like playgrounds, a dog park, walking trails, and treehouses. (The Ledger)
Biz
Since opening in 2022, The Well has helped nearly 100 Lakelanders start or grow their businesses. Located in midtown off of East Parker Street, the workspace led by Dr. Sallie Stone puts an emphasis on empowering people of color, women, and veterans. (WFTS)
Arts
ICYMI, in addition to Drink Up Week and Polk County Burger Week, it’s also Arts and Health Week in Lakeland. What can we say, we like to stay busy. Looking for a way to get involved? Destress with this coloring sheet from the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art.
Real Estate
Now through Aug. 8, the Florida FFA Foundation is accepting proposals for new uses of its 114-acre Leadership Training Facility in Haines City. According to the listing, the property boasts amenities such as villas, an outdoor pavilion, and boat dock. (The Ledger)
Edu
Polk State College’s Computer Numeric Control Machining Program is ready to rock after receiving $5,000 in grant funding from All Within My Hands, a nonprofit started by rock group Metallica. This is the fifth year Polk has received funding from the organization.
Closed
Polk County Tax Collector has announced that the Winter Haven Tag Agency has closed. While the Tax Collector determines future service options, Winter Haven-ites can visit the agency’s other locations countywide for vehicle registration and title needs.
Cause
Take a look, it’s in a book. United Way of Central Florida is seeking 143 more volunteers to assist with its ReadingPals program. Aimed at helping kindergarten students improve reading and literacy skills, the program currently serves 504 students across 15 Polk schools.
Drink
If you can’t get enough of Polk’s beverage culture, get your tickets for Obscure Wine Company’s Wine Festival, this Saturday, July 27 at The Ritz in Winter Haven. More than 100 wines from 20 countries will be available to sample, along with international small bites.
Try This
Have a sporty kiddo on your hands? Polk State College’s softball coaching staff will host their first-ever camp for kids ages 8-12 this fall. Tuition is $150 — snag a spot. (Tampa Free Press)
Ranked
If you’ve been thinking about a career in human services, you’ve got a top ranked program right in your own backyard. Southeastern University has been named one of Forbes Advisor Education’s Best Online MA in Human Services Programs (one of only 10 in the nation). See possible careers + learn why.*
We’ve got our eye on Lakeland developments. | Rendering provided by James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital
Every time we look around, it seems like something new is popping up in Lakeland. Here’s a round-up of a few of the businesses + community offerings that have opened in Swan City recently.
Veterans Administration (VA) clinic, 2080 Meadowland Park Blvd. | VA care including home-based primary care, mental health services, audiology, and more
Mochinut, 6218 US Hwy. 98 N. | Eatery specializing in mochi donuts, boba, and Korean-style hot dogs
Graze Craze, 4525 S. Florida Ave., Ste. 30 | A charcuterie spot with grab + go and made-to-order options
La Gran Muralla, 2810 Lakeland Highlands Rd. | Latin-Asian fusion spot that doubles as a speakeasy
The Melting Spot, 4289 S. Florida Ave. | Personalized candle workshop space that also allows you to bring in your own beverages
The perfect shoe for the rest of summer: Birkenstock’s waterproof slide sandal, which comes in bright and cute colors like purple fog, coral peach, and popcorn.
We are officially halfway through Drink Up Week — how did we get here already? As a self-proclaimed “beverage girly,” I loved the creativity that our participating businesses had when creating the different Lakeland-themed beverages — it’s almost like our city is the best or something.
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