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Venues to the rescue
Contact these venues if your wedding was affected — or if you’re looking to book any event. | Photo by @ulianaestate
Planning a wedding is hard — having your venue close its doors before you say “I do” is even harder. After a popular Central Florida wedding venue suddenly announced its closure this week, these Lakeland businesses stepped up to help couples seeking new accommodations.
Uliana Estate
“Our vendor community is rallying around you, and together we will make sure your day is still everything you dreamed of,” this venue shared on Instagram. It offers an outdoor ceremony space, an indoor reception area, and dressing rooms.
Haus 820
Marry Me Tampa Bay released a list of venues with immediate availability, and this historic building with a private courtyard and industrial feel is available as early as next Saturday, March 14.
Black Swan Venue
We love the advice this venue shared: “First: breathe. Second: this is fixable.” Reach out about all-inclusive wedding packages that include ceremony + reception space, plus coordinators to help you on your big day.
Keep an eye out for drink deals, because what pairs with tacos better than a fresh margarita? | Photos provided by Visit Central Florida
Good news, LAL. Polk County Taco Week starts tomorrow, Friday March 6. From now until Sunday, March 15, we’re treating every day like Taco Tuesday.
Enjoy creative specials from 40+ local restaurants, like island smoked pork tacos with grilled pineapple + chipotle BBQ sauce, taco egg rolls, or banana cream taco pie.
Prices and flavors vary, so everyone can indulge in Polk County’s vibrant flavors while supporting local businesses. Now that’s something worth shell-ebrating.
Have yard debris left over after the recent cold snaps? You can self-haul it to the North Central Transfer Station on K-Ville Avenue in Auburndale for a $10 flat fee. Read the requirements to take advantage of this discount through Monday, May 4.
Sports
Spring training ends this month, but that doesn’t mean baseball is over at Tigertown. Home game tickets are now available for the Lakeland Flying Tigers’ season, starting Tuesday, April 7 with a series against the Daytona Tortugas.
Opening
Buffalo Wild Wings GO, a new takeout and delivery concept from the sports bar, is coming to Shepherd Road. Join the grand opening on Thursday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. — be one of the first 100 in line to win free wings for a year.
Tech
Future calls to Lakeland Electric customer service could be answered by CayLa, an AI agent that the city commission recently approved. The utility will roll out the AI system over the summer to help its customer service agents manage the ~21,000 calls they receive each month. (LkldNow)
Award
Gallup released its 2026 list of Exceptional Workplace Award winners, and Lakeland Regional Health is the only health system in Florida to win for employee engagement. Awardees were chosen based on employee survey results. See LRH’s open positions.
Legacy
Captain Cody Khork of the US Army Reserve died on Sunday while on duty in Kuwait. Khork grew up in Polk County and majored in political science at Florida Southern College. In a statement, the City of Winter Haven shared, “Winter Haven will remember Captain Khork with gratitude and honor.”
Number
1,844. That’s how many jars were donated during the 2025 Annual Peanut Butter Challenge (plus eight jars of grape jelly). UF/IFAS Extension Polk County shared that last year’s challenge collected 89% more peanut butter for food pantries in Polk County Public Schools.
Featured Deal
Upgrade your home for less with a new Carrier system from Payne Air, with 0% interest for 36 months and personalized monthly payments to fit your budget. Apply in just a few minutes to enjoy reliable comfort as you pay overtime.*
Show
An electrifying experience is coming to Florida Southern College on Saturday, March 14: Video Games Live, an immersive concert experience, features iconic video game music with synchronized music + lighting, from nostalgic classics to modern favorites. Grab tickets.*
Health
ReadyRx pairs GLP-1 treatment with structure: physician oversight, lifestyle guidance, and support designed for follow-through. If your BMI is 27+, you may qualify for 24/7 medical access and program support. Check your eligibility and save $100 as a new patient with code HEALTH100.*
Category
Weather
🌷 See what spring will bring
Is it hot in here, or is it just this seasonal outlook? | Image via NOAA
After a winter filled with cold snaps, we’re thrilled to inform you that the first day of spring is just 15 days away on Friday, March 20. Here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for the next few months, thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center.
🌡️ Temperature
Brace yourself to start using your A/C more, because there’s a 40%-50% chance that Lakeland’s average spring temperatures will be above normal.
🌨️ Precipitation
Will we see more or less rainfall than the average? NOAA says there’s an equal chance it goes either way. However, it also predicts that current drought conditions will persist.
Pro tip: Don’t forget Polk County’s active burn ban put in place after last year’s dry conditions.
On Tuesday, we shared about Sora Eatery at LAL. What does “sora” mean in Japanese?
It’s not a crane, a plane, or to fly — it means “sky,” as 49% of readers correctly guessed. The sky’s the limit for your appetite at this restaurant, which has been open for nearly a year at Lakeland International Airport.
Five viral products that are actually worth paying attention to:
🛍️ A popular swap for claw clips: these flat hair clips for better comfortability and all-day wear.
🛍️ Owala’s best-selling water bottles, now available in exclusive prints + patterns from Urban Outfitters. Or, you can never go wrong with one of the classic color combos.
🛍️ This practical long-handle wall cleaner easily goes from cleaning baseboards to high areas — no step ladder required.
🛍️ A pair of cloud slides with an ultra-cushioned sole and sleek, durable design.
🛍️ Kasa’s smart lightbulbs that have 16+ million color options + can be controlled from anywhere using a free app.
Polk County Taco Week, here I come. I’m excited to see Plates on Deck getting in on the action this year with honey bourbon catfish + jerk shrimp tacos. Find them at the Catapult pop-up window on Sunday, March 8 and Thursday, March 12.
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