Swan City shines, even across the country. | Photo submitted by Reader Bob K.
How does Lakeland’s quality of life measure up against other cities? Are our economy and population still booming? These top nationwide rankings of 2025 tell the story.
Economy: For the second time, our metro area was No. 1 on Checkr’s “Best US Cities for Women in the Workforce” list. The area had the largest increases of local women in the workforce — plus their salaries — from 2018 to 2023.
Real estate: Lakeland ranked No. 1 on CoreLogic’s list of fastest-developing US cities, based on the number of new construction properties built + sold.
Lakelanders are loving life, thanks to outdoor spaces and affordable living.
Photo provided by Bonnet Springs Park
Quality of life: Bonnet Springs Park took the top spot in USA Today’s awards for the Best City Park in the country, beating out places like New York’s Central Park.
Education: Florida Polytechnic University ranked No. 1 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of “Top Public Colleges” in the South for the fifth year in a row.
Here’s one more ranking to add to the list. Florida Southern College’s beauty is once again gaining national recognition, with the school ranking No. 4 on Travel + Leisure’s list of “30 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the US.”
Number
$750. That’s the average amount Polk homeowners can save on property taxes by filing for a homestead exemption. See if you qualify on the Polk County Property Appraiser’s new website — don’t forget to file by the March 1 deadline.
Open
Black & Brew will celebrate its 20th anniversary next month with four locations, including its newly opened cafe at Lakeland Regional Health. Find favorite menu items and a familiar vibe daily from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. inside the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children. (LkldNow)
Cause
Here’s a scrumptious way to support childhood education. United Way of Central Florida will host its Brunch in a Box fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 7, featuring pick-up charcuterie by Sabrina’s Delicacies. Place your order to give back to UWCF’s Success by 6 educational programs.
Closed
Amonie Jo’s Coffee has closed its cafe at the corner of South Florida Avenue + Lime Street. The space is now home to Hometown Nutrition, and you can still shop for antiques at The Curated Collective on the building’s third floor.
Active
Pilates pros and newbies can hop on a reformer at HerForm, now open in south Lakeland. This fitness studio is open to women of all levels, with class packs and memberships available, plus single-class options if you want to try it out first.
Finance
You’re smart — but your spending can still be dumb. Here are the 11 dumbest things smart people waste money on.*
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Event Spotlight
This exhibition team has stunned more than 148 million people in the last century.
Did you catch the 1952 Harlem Globetrotters in the new movie “Marty Supreme”? Tonight, you can see the 2026 team’s trick shots at the RP Funding Center as they celebrate 100 years on the court. Here’s what to know before you go:
Tip-off for the game is at 7 p.m.
You can access the court + arrive early by adding a Magic Pass or Celebrity Court Pass to your ticket.
The facility is cashless, so have a card ready to pay for parking ($12) and concessions.
The Buy
Take the guesswork out of healthy eating with chef-cooked meals from Forkful. Instead of spending hours on Pinterest looking for recipes, opt for high-quality, nourishing meals delivered right to your door. Forkful’s meals boast only the finest ingredients, like grass-fed meats, wild-caught seafood, and organic produce. Think: protein-packed pastas and plant-based burrito bowls. Plus, Forkful meals are never frozen + only take 2-3 minutes to prepare.
Is getting into running one of your goals this year? I improved a lot through 2025, but now I’m considering joining the Lakeland Runners Club 5K Training Program, which starts next weekend. If you’ve been through it, I’d love to know your experience — just respond directly to this email.
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