It’s been a swan-derful seven years — here’s to many more.
Photo by LALtoday
Happy birthday to us. Tomorrow marks seven years since LALtoday first hit inboxes with a guide to August 2018 events(remember Mason’s Live + the Publix Aprons Cooking School?). Now, I’m strolling down memory lane with a few of my favorite stories:
Decades on the Dance Floor | 5-10 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Free+ | Dress up in the fashion from your favorite decade to dance, sing, eat, and shop through the years.
Thomas Anders of Modern Talking | 8 p.m. | Polk Theatre | $125+ | Hear hits like “Cheri Cheri Lady” by this singer with support from a live band and Precious Wilson.
Pottery Show - Rachelle Eason | 2-7 p.m. | Marvelous Mud Pottery Studio | Price of purchase | Shop functional pottery, ceramic sculptures, and plant-stained paper art to benefit this studio’s expansion.
Cajun Creole Festival | 4-9 p.m. | Lakeland Square Mall | Price of purchase | Turn up the heat with flavorful food vendors + live blues and funk music.
Sip & Shop with Live Music | 6-9 p.m. | Vintage Warehouse, Bartow | Price of purchase | Brad Combee will provide the tunes while you shop for vintage treasures.
Sunday, Aug. 17
Dixieland Mid-Day Market | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Union Hall | Price of purchase | Bakers, makers, and entertainers will be on hand for weekend shopping.
Lucky Luau Flamingo Bingo | 2-4:30 p.m. | United Woman’s Club Building | $20 | Play to win gift cards to your favorite local spots and raise funds for the GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Lakeland.
The Royal Treatment with the “Frozen” Sisters | 3-5 p.m. | Enchanted Fairytale Hollow | $50 | Little guests will dress up and get makeovers before meeting Anna and Elsa for a sing-along.
Thursday, Sept. 11
FSL West Division Series - Game 2 | 6:30 p.m. | Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium | $12+ | The Lakeland Flying Tigers are going to the playoffs, starting with this game — tickets are on sale now.
Municipal elections are coming up in Lakeland, and there are a few dates to know. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, so make sure you’re registered to vote by Tuesday, Oct. 7. Bonus: If you want to run for a local office, candidate qualifying week is Sept. 15-19.
Weather
Tropical Storm Erin is expected to become the first hurricane of the season, but The Weather Channel said, “The probability of a landfall from Erin along the U.S. East Coast is low at this time.” I’ll be keeping an umbrella close + watching for Denis Phillips’ updates.
Number
21. That’s how many students + scholars are in this year’s Fulbright cohort at Florida Polytechnic University — the STEM school’s largest cohort so far. The group includes some of the best and brightest researchers from around the world, as well as three scholars from Florida Poly.
Biz
There’s a new name in boba tea. Local favorite MK Boba is now known as Tanuki Boba Cafe, offering a wider selection of beverages + snacks. Try out the new menu at its Thursday morning Catapult pop-ups happening through the end of the month.
Shop
Next Saturday, Aug. 23 is a market double-header, with two chances to shop downtown. Catch the next Lakeland Vintage Market in Munn Park from 4 to 9 p.m., then head to Lakeland Film Lab for The Roll Up from 5 to 9 p.m. to shop for plants, art, and snacks.
Mailbag
Should Raising Cane’s come to Lakeland? The resounding answer in our inbox is yes. But where? Reader Sonya J. votes for the south side, “because I need it close to my house.” Can’t argue with that. Tell us which other nearby restaurants need a Lakeland location.
Sports
The Friday night lights are turning on again, with Polk County high school football teams kicking off their seasons tonight. Whether you’re a Kathleen Red Devil for life or the Lake Gibson Braves’ biggest fan, here’s where to watch. (The Ledger)
Put your business’s message here in as little as two days when you score 15% off your first ad buy on our self-service ad portal. Redeem your discount with code NEW15 at checkout.
Wellness
Wellness
Treat the real reason skin ages
Presented by Timeline
The Serum, powered by clinically proven Mitopure. | Photo by Timeline
As we age, skin loses the firmness and elasticity that gives it a youthful appearance. A key reason? Skin cells lose energy, hindering essential functions like collagen production.
Our favorite back-to-school find for college students: an upholstered storage ottoman. Dorm rooms don’t offer much space, so smart storage solutions are a must. This ottoman delivers with a roomy interior and soft teddy velvet fabric — combining function with style.
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.
Which of these is not a fact from Learning Lakeland?
If you’re one of the 227 readers who knew that downtown’s oldest building is not the Terrace Hotel, you know your stuff. The Bowyer Building (home to Amelia Paige Boutique) was built in 1902, making it Lakeland’s oldest standing commercial building.
Were you a subscriber when we first started out? I remember when I first saw an LALtoday newsletter in my inbox back in 2018. If you’ve been here since the beginning, too, tap in. I’d love to hear from you.
‡The Serum disclaimer: Based on an 8-week randomized controlled clinical trial of 36 healthy women aged 40 to 65 years.
}})
