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A message from our team
🎳 There are some serious game aficionados among us. We hear you, and we’re delighted to let you know that our Games are back, starting today. We’re still playing around with this page, so please bear with us while we make a few changes to bring you an even better user experience.
🚗 Take a road trip of historic proportions
Map your route to destinations across Florida, from Pensacola to Key West. | Screenshot via America250FL
Road trip checklist: snacks, a great playlist, and plenty of historical fun facts. Plan a Sunshine State sightseeing tour with new road signs by America250FL that mark iconic locations.
This Florida organization is celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary by placing signage at 100+ historic sites. Use this interactive map to find the signs in these nearby “capitals” — and tap the button below for our travel tips in more cities.
Cypress Gardens | Winter Haven
This site put Winter Haven on the map as the “Water Ski Capital of the World.” Find its sign at Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Lake Silver.
The Nation’s Winter Strawberry Capital | Plant City
Did you know that Florida produces 15% of the nation’s strawberry crop each year? Just a short drive from Lakeland, you’ll find this celebratory sign outside City Hall.
Ybor City Historic District | Tampa
Head to this historic district to learn about the former “Cigar Capital of the World.” Look for cigar factories among restaurants + nightlife.
792 megawatts. That was the maximum demand put on Lakeland Electric during recent freezes. That’s below its max capacity, but the utility still said to expect higher bills due to increased energy usage. Lakeland Electric is also undergoing a base rate study to decide rates for the next fiscal year. (LkldNow)
Civic
Want to know more about the North Lakeland Government Center planned for Kathleen Road? Attend a community meeting with Polk County Commissioner Michael Scott on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 6-8 p.m. at Kathleen Baptist Church.
Arts
The Lakeland Symphony Orchestra has found an interim music director in Jason Thomas Aylward. The experienced conductor + composer will fill the role for 18 months as LSO seeks a permanent director. See what’s new in an upcoming show.
Seasonal
Plantae-Palooza is back at Hollis Garden. The fifth annual garden festival is set for Saturday, Feb. 28, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., featuring everything from annuals to exotic trees. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Hollis Garden Perpetual Care Fund.
Biz
Minute Maid will no longer produce frozen orange juice, ending a product line that goes back 80 years. Pick up a can if you see it in stores — it could be the last available — and dive into Swan City’s citrus story at the Lakeland History & Culture Center. (The Daytona Beach News-Journal)
Outdoors
Here’s another way to celebrate America250: free admission to Florida State Parks, including those in Polk County, Feb. 13-16. (WFLA)
Holiday
Out: wallet photos. In: keychain photos taken in downtown’s only photobooth. Bring a date to Lakeland Film Lab on Valentine’s Day, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., to take pictures together and craft $1 keychains from your photo strip.
Meet the intimacy gummy: Camino Wild Cherry, the ultimate edible for date night. Heighten sensory experiences and ignite that special spark with a THC gummy that fits seamlessly into your Valentine’s Day plans — without the hangover or bloat of alcohol. Get 20% off a full-size tin with code 6AM20.†*
Category
Mailbag
🎶 Memories from the first row
Were you one of the many fans in line for tickets to Elvis’s show in 1976? | Photo via Lakeland Public Library
Before there was Ticketmaster, there was the box office at what’s now the RP Funding Center. Lucky readers shared a few memories from the best seats in the house at their favorite shows.
“Drove with my best friend and little brother from St. Pete to see Elvis for the first time in 1973 or ’74 at the old Civic Center. I remember we had floor seating so we had trouble seeing, but he sounded great!” — Cindy L.
“Bob Seger at the Civic Center. It was back in I believe 1974. Pure Prairie League was there as well. Also Dan Fogelberg. I handed him a rose because I was in the front row! Good times!” — Dawn E.
“Nirvana! 1993! RP Funding Center. It was amazing! It was GA and my friends and I were in the front!” — Vicky S.
Growing up comes with plenty of firsts. With a Cash App Card, teens have a safe way to practice saving, managing money, and spending — all with their own debit card, and you as their guide.‡
I don’t see many concerts on the RP Funding Center’s schedule right now, so the Florida Strawberry Festival will be the place to find big names in music this month. So far, only Forrest Frank’s set has sold out, so you can still snag tickets to see 20 other headline shows.
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‡Cash App is a financial platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See Terms & Conditions. To view the eligibility requirements for sponsoring a teen, please visit the Sponsored Accounts section of the Cash App Terms of Service.
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