Take a bite out of the Edgewood dining scene. | Photo by LALtoday
Finding your new favorite restaurant could be as easy as putting the car in drive. Take a restaurant ride with us down East Edgewood Drive, where you’ll find excellent eateries within just 1.2 miles of each other on the east side of Lakeland.
Top rated
When you’re looking for an upscale date night spot or just want to treat yourself to fine dining, make a reservation at Scarpa’s Italian. It’s a local go-to for freshly made pasta + perfectly paired wines — plus, it’s one of the top 10 restaurants in Lakeland according to Yelp.
The whole family will love sharing a pie at J. Burns’.
The first J. Burns’ Pizza Shop opened in Winter Haven in 1965, and the local chain’s current owners have breathed new life into the brand. Head here for its signature: square slices on thin crust.
Fresh out of the oven and new to the street is Bandidas Bake Shop. The duo behind this spot started out as Catapult members — now they’re serving up breakfast, lunch, and pastries made with seasonal ingredients in their own brick-and-mortar.
Try the Scarpa’s Italian sandwich at Jessie’s — that’s right, good food runs in the family here.
On the run? Get lunch on a bun. Drive through or stop inside Jessie’s Gourmet Sandwich Cafe for hot + cold creations inspired by Italian flavors. Grab a spot on the shaded patio during a sunny day to enjoy lunch al fresco.
Readers rave about the authentic Cuban sandwiches at Elena’s Cuban Cafe. Order yours with rice and black beans on the side, or go big with ham croquetas stuffed inside.
Reader + editor’s picks
Here’s another reader-recommended spot: Decisions Grill & Bar. Grab a seat at the bar to watch a game over pub bites like wings, burgers, and nachos.
For City Editor Connor, not much can compare to the glazed croissants at Hole in One Donuts — except maybe the apple fritters. Don’t skip this (donut) hole in the wall in the mornings.
Asked
Asked
Where should we go for lunch today?
A. Bandidas Bake Shop B. Elena’s Cuban Cafe C. J. Burns’ Pizza Shop D. Jessie’s Gourmet Sandwich Cafe
Preschool Storytime | Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 10 a.m. | Lakeland Public Library | Free | Bring kids ages 2-5 to read, play, and sing together.
Salsa Fundamentals | Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building | $10 | Gain a better understanding of salsa dancing with classes + socials in Munn Park.
Thursday, Oct. 24
Fall-o-ween | Thursday, Oct. 24 | 5-8:30 p.m. | Downtown Auburndale | Free+ | Hit the candy trail or enjoy live performances at this Halloween block party.
Friday, Oct. 25
GenAI Deepfakes Learning Gallery | Friday, Oct. 25 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Williams Centre, Bartow | Free | Learn the ins and outs of artificial intelligence, including strategies for protecting your information from scams.
Wonder House Halloween Night Tour | Friday, Oct. 25 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Wonder House, Bartow | $15+ | Take a family-friendly, Halloween-themed tour of this historic home — tickets are cash-only.
Stories and Stones Historic Cemetery Tour | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 9-10:15 a.m. | Lakeview Cemetery | Free | Register to take a guided tour of Lakeland’s oldest cemetery + the funerary iconography on its gravestones.
Sunday, Oct. 27
Pooch-o-Ween | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 2-4 p.m. | Lakeside Village | $10 | Show off your pet’s best looks in a parade + costume contest during the Second Sunday Market.*
The City of Lakeland announced plans to use two industrial water pumps to reduce flooding in Lake Bonny. Crews will pump water to a stormwater outflow that empties into Lake Parker. Expect indefinite road closures on East Main Street and surrounding residential roads.
Number
58. That’s how many total weekly arrivals + departures Lakeland International Airport will offer between cargo and passenger flights by next month. To reduce air traffic noise, the Federal Aviation Administration has approved new air traffic routes over the Polk Parkway. (LkldNow)
Community
The USDA will spend $1.9 million to rehabilitate the New Horizons apartment complex in Auburndale. The project is part of the federal Off-Farm Labor Housing program to provide renovated, affordable housing for farmworkers, including 500 Florida homes. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Try This
Get your head in the game. Sim Boss Gaming and Simulation Lounge is now open on South Florida Avenue, near Sushi Masa. Stop in to grab a drink, challenge your friends to a virtual car race, or join monthly car meets.
Cause
Residents at Light and Life Mobile Home Park, a 55+ community, are asking for help cleaning up their homes after Hurricane Milton. Find out how you can help these older adults in need in northwest Lakeland. (WFTS)
Job
Is a new job on your Christmas list? Amazon plans to hire 1,000 seasonal employees in the Lakeland/Winter Haven area ahead of its busy holiday season. The base pay is currently around $22/hour. (WFLA)
Edu
A new technical college will open in Plant City next fall, offering one-year career programs for fields like HVAC, construction, and welding. The name of the school? That’s where locals like you come in. (WFLA)
Opening
Take a look inside the newly renovated Lake Wales History Museum during this weekend’s Pioneer Days Festival. Under the direction of Angela Rosado, the museum will feature upgraded + expanded exhibits of local history.
Cause
Help kindergartners learn to love reading by becoming a United Way ReadingPal. The program is seeking more volunteers at several Polk schools, including Crystal Lake + Dixieland Elementary Schools in Lakeland.
Five minutes. That’s how quick it is to start advertising with LALtoday using our self-service ad portal. Explore your options.
Category
Real Estate
🔎 Just call us house hunters
Could this be one of Lakeland’s first recorded Sears homes? | Photo by @hunter_blaise2000
Can we get our own HGTV show now? It turns out we may have a few readers + followers living in Sears Modern Homes after several reached out with stories of their own houses.
@hunter_blaise2000 shared photos of a 1926 bungalow that’s believed to be from a catalog, saying, “My husband and I live in one, we had no idea until a contractor told us.”
A 1927 home in the Cumberland neighborhood resembles the Elsmore kit according to Reader Sandra J., so it could be another addition to the list.
On Instagram, @trinrouv said the layout of the quadplex at 901 Pennsylvania Ave. looks very similar to the “Lakeland” style home kit.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. wasn’t the only company in the home kit biz in the 20th century. @bunnyinglasses said they think their 1925 home may be Style 300 from The Aladdin Company’s 1912 catalog.
The Buy
The Buy
The only thing we love more than a trendy find is a timeless one. Check out these five fall and winter fashion must-haves you’ll be wearing for years to come:
The first time we asked you where to Eat Down the Street, you sent me to S&L for a classic burger, so I trust my lunch plans into your hands. Missed the last one? Come along for the ride.
