Business and brushstrokes combine thanks to murals like this one by Gillian Fazio. | Photo by LALtoday
You may know Summit for its history in the Lakeland business community, but now it’s becoming a local arts hub, too. The company commissioned seven local muralists to use its office as their canvas, and we got an exclusive look inside at the murals they created.
The morale-boosting project was inspired by downtown Lakeland’s collection of murals, many of which you can see from Summit’s high-rise building. After months of designing + painting, basic corporate beige has been replaced by a rainbow of nature-influenced murals in offices, common spaces, and lobbies.
This piece may inspire you to literally run through the hallways.
Photo by LALtoday
“The Ripple Effect” by Jon Sierra
It’s hard to have the blues when taking in this piece. It takes over an entire hallway, with runners’ footsteps creating ripples that turn water drops into a swan at the end. Sierra used virtual reality tech to map out the image before painting.
It was a hard choice, but this was Editor Connor’s favorite.
Photo by LALtoday
“Birds of a Feather: Soaring Together” + “Wings over Water, Flutter and Flow” by TRATOS
This art team consists of Katerina Santos and Juan Travieso, a couple from Miami that recently relocated to Lakeland. Their style combines bold, graphic angles with incredibly detailed brushstrokes. They took over several walls with birds in punchy colors.
Morning Mindfulness | 9-11 a.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free | Bring yoga mats to the Blanton Family Lagoon for two guided yoga sessions at 9 and 10 a.m.
Legends of Rock | 6:30 p.m. | The Ritz, Winter Haven | $35 | Johnny Wild and the Delights bring the hits of Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and Hank Williams Sr. to life on stage.
Thursday, July 24
Yoga with Kitties & Kayla | 6:30-8 p.m. | Kitty Cat Lounge | $15 | Find your flow with free-roaming felines during a meditative yoga session.
Have Mercy On Me Talent Night | 8-9:30 p.m. | Rose Dynasty Center | $8 | Show off talents of any kind, from music and dance to comedy and beyond.
Friday, July 25
Film Friday | 2-4 p.m. | Larry R. Jackson Branch Library | Free | Only a supervillain would miss this free screening of “Despicable Me 4.”
“Memphis: The Musical” | Friday, July 25-Sunday, Aug. 3 | Times vary | Theatre Winter Haven | $36 | See the story of Huey Calhoun’s mission to spread blues and soul music in the 1950s South.
Saturday, July 26
Downtown Cars & Coffee | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | The Joinery | Free+ | Grab a cup of joe and talk cars with other enthusiasts in The Joinery’s parking lot.
LKLD SantaCon in July | 2-6 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub | Price of purchase | Dust off your Santa hat for an afternoon of holiday cheer and beer.
Looking for help with home projects, debt consolidation, or planning for retirement? | Photo provided by Unison
Make home improvements? Book a trip? Start saving?
If you’re a homeowner, you likely already know that your home has equity you can tap into. HELOCs might come to mind — but they’re not the only option.
Enter: Equity Sharing Home Loans. This flexible alternative allows borrowers to access their home’s equity at a below-market interest rate (read: lower monthly payments than a traditional loan).
Interested? See how much you could be eligible for — and how low your payment could be.
City commissioners approved a conditional use ordinance this week that allows for 64 new townhomes between Sleepy Hill Elementary + Middle Schools. The conditions require developers of The Enclave at Kathleen to preserve existing trees and add an entrance via Kathleen Road to redistribute traffic. (LkldNow)
Community
First United Methodist Church of Lakeland is partnering with the Dream Center of Lakeland to build a $17,000 shower facility for those facing housing insecurity. Construction starts this week at the Dream Center, with the facility expected to open in September.
Cause
Calling all nonprofits: Score $1,000 for your organization with Lakeland Electric’s Community Giving Grant Program. Contact Lakeland Electric with any questions and apply before Friday, Aug. 1.*
Number
Speaking ofLakeland Electric, customers have received $8.2 million in assistance through its new Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program partnership with tech company Promise. The program detects when customers are at risk of missing payments and connects them with federal funds to keep the lights on.
Real Estate
If you’re looking to drop some dough on a home in Polk County, Davenport is the city for you. It ranked No. 1 on a list of cities in the Lakeland area with the highest-priced houses, with an average home value of $354,184. Here’s what that price will get you. (WJAX)
Try This
A gourmet burger bursting with tempura shrimp, pepper jam, smoked pork belly, and pimento cheese. Polk County Burger Week is back through Sunday, July 27, with plenty more juicy + delicious burgers around the region. Dig into the local lineup.*
Biz
If you see a tent over Cob & Pen this week, have no fear. The restaurant shared that it’s taking preventative measures against termites to keep its nearly 100-year-old building standing strong. Catch up on the story of the 1927 Tudor mansion Cob & Pen calls home.
Show
Who runs the world? Squirrels. The Moxie Le Femme cabaret troupe has just a few shows left before it ends its 18-season run, including the squirrel-themed “Moxie Le Femme Goes Nuts” at Union Hall on Saturday, Aug. 23. Grab tickets.
Finance
Did you know? Endowment life insurance offers peace of mind and a payout you can use in retirement. It’s a financial strategy to care for loved ones and invest in your future. See if it’s right for you.*
Community
Do you need hiring help? We’ve got your back. Post your open roles on the LALtoday Job Board + get connected with local candidates quickly and efficiently. Pssst — did we mention it’s free?
Category
Community
🚲 Just like riding a bike
Bicycle Friendly Community awards will likely be announced in December. | Photo by BeFly Bike Tours
How easy is biking in Lakeland? Answer this question and more in the 2025 Bicycle Friendly Community survey by Sunday, Oct. 5.
Lakeland was designated as a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists in 2012, and now it’s back for more. The city has applied for recognition once again, and it will use survey responses to further enhance local biking options.
If you’re not a biker, now’s the time to get out and see the city from two wheels. We recommend hitting the Lake-to-Lake Bikeway and Greenway Connector. This 26-mile trail offers a path from north to south Lakeland, wrapping around nine lakes in total.
Teva’s original universal sandal, now 50% off on Nordstrom Rack. A cushioned footbed + adjustable canvas straps make this a hikeable, wadeable, walkable sandal that will see you through all of your outdoor summer adventures.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
The votes are in, and the winning drink for Pressed’s anniversary is A Wrinkle in Toast. This Cinnamon Toast Crunch-inspired latte will be available only this Saturday, July 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., along with additional local vendors + plenty of books.
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