Plus, your "third places" around Lakeland.
 
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6AM City In-house

Today’s Forecast

90º | 41% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:58 a.m. | Sunset 8:05 p.m.
 

👑 A city fit for royalty

A Lakelander’s travel guide to Charlotte, NC
The reflection of the Uptown Charlotte skyline is seen in the water of a pond surrounded by trees.
U.S. News & World Report voted Charlotte one of the “Best Places to Live in the US.” | Photo by CLTtoday
In case you missed it, Avelo Airlines announced it will fly to seven additional locations out of LAL, starting this fall. To help you prepare for takeoff, we’re starting a new series covering the must-dos for each of these destinations.

For our first stop, we’re heading to Concord, NC/Charlotte, NC, and we’re bringing in the big guns for recommendations: City Editors Jack + Maria from CLTtoday.

✈️ Fast facts

Flying into: Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA) in Concord, NC — about 30 minutes from Charlotte
Flight time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Est. cost: $46+
Est. population of Charlotte: 897,720
Avg. high in October: 72º

A photo inside Bank of America Stadium during a Carolina Panthers game.

Go Bucs — shh, don’t tell the Panthers fans.

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Photo by CLTtoday

🗺️ Things to do

Sports fans will feel right at home in Charlotte. Racing lovers can visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s new exhibit, while football fans can catch a Carolina Panthers game at Bank of America Stadium. Pro tip: the Panthers play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Dec. 1.

There’s an equal amount of exciting activities for the non-sports enthusiasts. Charlotte is packed with loads of landmarks to visit and vistas to explore so you can choose your own adventure. For the best views, Maria recommends hiking to Lake Julia in DuPont State Recreational Forest while Jack prefers Crowder’s Mountain.

If you’re wanting to wait until after the holidays to make your trip, check out Charlotte SHOUT!, a major arts + culture festival, or the Cheerwine Festival that celebrates North Carolina’s signature beverage — both happen annually in the spring.

Charlotte_Steak 48_May_2024

Steak 48, a go-to Charlotte eatery, just released a new menu. You’re looking at the Shells + Cheese — Boursin cheese + Velveeta, and garlic bread crumbs.

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Photo by CLTtoday

🍽️ Where to eat

When it comes to places to eat, Charlotte has a whole host of options for every palate. Jack’s go-to place is Calle Sol, a Cuban-Latin American fusion eatery featuring dishes like croquetas and vaca frita.

If you’re looking for a fancier night out, Maria recommends Peppervine — particularly the yeast rolls that “truly melt in your mouth.”
Spots to stay + more pro tips
 
Events
Thursday, Aug. 15
Friday, Aug. 16
  • kidsPACK Food Drive | Friday, Aug. 16 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Helping Hand Nursing Services | Free | Drop off cans of Chef Boyardee for kidsPACK and receive a free t-shirt.
  • Brett Foster Band w/ Smokin’ Chanchos | Friday, Aug. 16 | 7-10 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free entry | Kick off the weekend with live music and sunset views of Lake Wire.
Saturday, Aug. 17
  • Coffee Social | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 9:30 a.m. | Concord Coffee | Free entry | Beginners + experts can meet with Lakeland Insight Meditation Group for an informal chat on meditation.
  • Cocktails and Card Tricks | Saturday, Aug. 17 | Times vary | Lugo’s Distillery | $40 | Magician Erick Olson will have you in awe of his tricks and Lugo’s will wow you with a welcome cocktail.
  • WWE SuperShow Summer Tour | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | RP Funding Center | $30-$150 | Wrestling champs from Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown will put on a show in the Jenkins Arena.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Stat
  • 9.5%. That’s how much Lakeland has grown on average over the past seven years. High growth rates, plus the rising costs of goods, are just a few of the reasons why commissioners are looking to raise property taxes for the first time in eight years. (The Ledger)
Civic
  • Bartow city officials declared a state of emergency on Tuesday based on the Peace River’s high water levels. City leaders can now take measures to protect the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which could shut down if the river floods. (The Ledger)
Real Estate
  • It’s no secret that we think Lakeland is the best place to live — and other cities are starting to see it, too. A new study from Realtor.com shows that 41.7% of Polk homes viewed in Q2 were looked at by folks in other states, with New York being the most popular.
Asked
  • Should Buc-ee’s build in Polk County? According to one Polk State grad’s research, data suggests exit 48 off I-4 near Polk City and Lake Alfred could be an ideal location for the franchise based on traffic patterns, available land, and proximity. Let us know if you agree.
Edu
  • PCPS will hold its annual College & Career Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 6-8 p.m. at Florida Southern College. All Polk students, parents, and adult learners are welcome to attend — see the full list of exhibitors.
Sports
  • Drivers, start your engines. City Garage Motorsports, Lakeland’s first-ever ARCA racing team, made its debut in July in Indianapolis. While the team fell short in lap 128, they’re focused on making improvements before their next race on Oct. 5 in Toledo, OH. (Auto Racing Digest)
Opening
  • Access Church is opening a second location on Sunday, Aug. 25 in the former Salvation Army Worship Center on Kathleen Road. Prior to opening its first permanent location in south Lakeland’s Palm Center Plaza in 2021, the church operated on a portable model for nearly 14 years.
History
  • The Douglas DC-3 passenger plane that sat near I-4 outside of Fantasy Flight in Polk City for nearly 25 years has been removed for repairs. The airplane was far more than a roadside attraction — it flew during World War II on D-Day + in the Battle of the Bulge. (Bay News 9)
Eat
  • Today marks the first day of Winter Haven’s inaugural Downtown Dining Week. Now through Aug. 25, stop by one of the 20+ participating restaurants for exclusive specials ranging from $10-$45. We’re eyeing the ice cream flight from Ripples.
Home
  • Friends don’t let friends skip renters insurance. Luckily, your friend can get monthly coverage from Lakeland’s local GEICO Office on South Florida Avenue for less than the cost of lunch.*
Older Adults
Shop
  • Cringe alert: Every 24 hours, 27,000 trees are cut down for toilet paper. But this new bamboo toilet paper just might save the planet. It feels just like high-end TP, but doesn’t harm trees. Plus, code 6AM30 gives you 30% off your first purchase. Read more.*
 
Community

Where’s your third place?

Reader recommendations for “third places” around Lakeland
An exterior shot of Black and Brew's patio
Grab a spot on the new patio and enjoy your favorite B&B menu items. | Photo by LALtoday
The third place. Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, the term describes the places outside of your home (first place) and your work (second place) where you find community. This could be a coffee shop, church, gym — really any place where you feel at ease and connected to others.

One of the things we love about Swan City is the community atmosphere, which prompted us to ask our followers: where is your third place in Lakeland? Nearly 200 comments later, here are a few of the spots that got called out.
  • Mitchell’s Coffee House | “I’m there so much, that my drink is usually done before I even get up to the counter.” — @_viledesigns_
  • Bonnet Springs Park | “Our Lakeland oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle.” — @lora_116
  • Marvelous Mud Pottery Studio | “The place to go for being creative among a great community of creative people.” — @laurie_and_tildy
Add your third place
The Buy

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More worth The Buy
Answered
Tuesday, Aug. 13 marked the 20th anniversary of when Hurricane Charley struck Polk County. At the time of its landing, the Category 2 storm was the first to hit the county in 44 years. In remembrance of the occasion, we asked you to share your memories of the historic storm.

“I was a senior in high school when Charley hit. We were out of school for a week! I remember being terrified to go to sleep that night and ended up sleeping in the hallway instead of my bedroom. We lost power for several days, but we didn’t get hit as hard as east Polk did.” — Reader Megan M.

“Charley was only the beginning! He/she was followed by Frances, and Jeanne. All three were scary and did their share of damage. I hope we never experience anything like that again!” — Reader Carol B.
Stay prepared this hurricane season
 
The Wrap
 
Amelia Herring.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Amelia
From the editor
We asked you what Lakeland-inspired events you’d add to the Florida Man Games — 40% voted to add a Pub Sub Eating Contest, another 40% voted the Swan Wrangling Round-Up, 11.4% voted for the Alligator Marshmallow Toss, and 8.6% suggested something else. Personally, I think I’d demolish the Alligator Marshmallow Toss. It’s all in the wrist.
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