Walk past these white-leafed trees and the gardens in the Lakeland Town Center corner to find the Depot Arts District. | Photo by LALtoday
Local artists have a new place to call home: the Depot Arts District. This creative hub is bringing life to the former Searstown shopping center and Lakeland’s arts scene as a whole.
The volunteer-run Lakeland Arts Association will operate the Depot. President Sherry Ross shared that the organization has around 200 active members, but finding local studio space is a challenge for many artists. The huge complex at 955 E. Memorial Blvd. could change that, with multiple galleries, outdoor event space, and 35+ individual studios.
You can already find artists moving in, plus a few bright murals by artist Sonia Sanchez.
Photo by LALtoday
How will these studios be used? That depends on the artists inside. They’re open for creatives of all stripes, from jewelry makers to ballet teachers, and you might even hear a music lesson down the hallways.
Be the first to see inside the Depot at the grand opening event, Depot Walk: Artwork Comes to Life, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 6-9 p.m. Dress as your favorite artwork to browse the newly filled studios and see the inaugural exhibit in the gallery.
Events
Events
Thursday, Oct. 30
Open House | 1-7 p.m. | Bob Adams Family Community YMCA | Free
Incogni can help remove your personal information from the web. | Image via Incogni
Using hidden cameras, the BBC caught workers at a scam call center laughing at the people they were tricking.
The disturbing truth? Scammers don’t pick phone numbers at random. They buy your data from brokers.
Once your data is out there, it’s not just calls. It’s phishing, impersonation, and identity theft.
That’s why Incogni stands out. The data removal service deletes your personal info from the web, then continuously monitors and removes new data as fresh threats emerge.
54. That’s how many swans were counted at this year’s Swan Roundup, up from 44 last year. Veterinarian Dr. Price Dickson said the birth rate is low, but the population increased so much thanks to six swans that the city bought to diversify the flock’s gene pool this spring. (The Ledger)
Real Estate
Looking for a new pad? If you have $7 million, you can buy Lakeland’s highest-valued home, which includes nearly 7,000 sqft and 100+ acres of land. See which high-value houses rounded out the top 12. (Gulf Shore Business)
Coming Soon
Progress is clucking along on the new Chick-fil-A location at South Florida Avenue and Shepherd Road. The restaurant is expected to open in early 2026, bringing 100 new jobs — and that’s not the only spot opening soon. (What Now Tampa)
Biz
These old dogs learned new tricks. Two longstanding local retailers, Benson’s Canine Cookies and The Doggie Bag, have merged businesses to become Benson’s Doggie Bag. Celebrate with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 1702 E. Edgewood Dr.
Award
The Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance chose Simoni Bonadies as Arts & Culture Educator of the Year. Bonadies teaches at Rochelle School of the Arts and received the award at the alliance’s Hall of Fame Gala. She also won Florida’s Middle School Art Educator of the Year award in 2021.
Feel Good
Future law enforcement officers and military recruits can receive free tattoo removal from Bella Visage med spa. Owner Jeanna Parker said it’s a way to give back to the community, and she’s helped 1,000 recruits by removing tattoos from prohibited areas like the neck or hands. (WFTS)
21. That’s how many months you could enjoy 0% APR with a balance transfer card. Read: You can tackle credit card debt while enjoying stellar perks, like up to $200 cash back. Discover top cards + apply.*
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Try This
💐 Let your inner florist flourish
The team at Bloom Shakalaka was super helpful and taught this newbie a thing or two. | Photos by LALtoday
Doesn’t the perfect bouquet make your day every time? Now, you can learn to create your own in flower arranging workshops hosted by Bloom Shakalaka.
I tried the Hallow’s Eve class to see if a new talent would blossom under their expert instruction. Upon arrival at the colorful shop on Traders Alley, we were handed snacks + bevs to enjoy while choosing the perfect planters for our arrangements.
Each attendee had a bucket of pre-selected flowers and greenery, so I knew they would look perfect together. Owner Laura Shannon walked us through every step and stem, from building the arrangement’s base with greenery to adding in those wow flowers to create a unique shape.
As a beginner, I left ready to build more bouquets. Thankfully, the next workshop is already set for Thursday, Nov. 20. This “Wicked"-themed class is sure to be popular, so sign up early before seats fill up.
The Buy
A foaming toilet cleaner you’ll be sad you didn’t make the switch to sooner. Splash Foam Cleaner is the fast, hands-free way to clean toilet rings, stains, and grime. The best part? It does all the hard work for you. Read: No more toilet scrubbing in your future.
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.
According to the City of Lake Wales, the town’s main lake was “named after Sydney Wailes, a land agent employed by the State of Florida after the Civil War.” His name was then used for the city, albeit with a rather permanent typo.
Local food pantries are seeing record-high distribution numbers and could use your help. Consider donating food, money, or your time to local causes like the Dream Center, kidsPACK, or Blessings & Hope Food Pantry to make a difference for your neighbors.
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