The familiar red pots will soon pop up in front of area stores. Tonight, the Salvation Army of Western Polk County will kick-off the local Red Kettle campaign with an event at Lakeside Village. From 6pm to 7pm, as Christmas music fills the air, six teams of local leaders will encourage shoppers to drop spare change, and the occasional helpful bills, to benefit Salvation Army programs. The event will open with Santa arriving riding the "World's Largest Kettle" to help light the Lakeside Christmas tree. After the kick-off, the Salvation Army will set up the red kettles at area businesses. The Salvation Army reports that a portion of the funds collected will "provide gifts and food boxes for thousands children in local families." “All of these services are made possible through the generosity of this wonderful community,” says Captain Stan Colbert, Corps Officer. “With the help of our community, we are confident we will reach our 2009 goal of $150,000.00 and be able to reach out in a meaningful way to the less fortunate again this year.” Those interested in volunteering to help the kettle campaign can call Major Jim Robbins at 863-899-5456.
It's the third year for Roar N Soar, Fantasy of Flight's air, water, and land show. If it is fast, you'll probably find it in Polk City today from 10 am to 5pm. On Saturday morning, photographer Tom Hagerty and I toured the grounds to take in the events.....
Doctors are slicing and dicing this morning. Not at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center. They're operating for a couple of hours Downtown at the Farmer's Market. This isn't a gruesome Halloween-inspired surgery, but a pumpkin cutting contest to benefit VISTE....
There are two great, family-oriented events taking place next Saturday, and you should make plans to attend at least one of them — preferably both! The first one is Polk Museum of Art’s annual Family Day. The fun runs from 11am – 3pm, with the theme of “Going Green.” Art activities and projects will be eco-friendly, [...]
Just for the fun of it, Polk Museum of Art has gotten together with Explorations V and the Downtown Lakeland Partnership to create lots of fun stuff for First Friday (this Friday, the 5th!). One of the highlights is the sidewalk art contest for teens and adults that PMoA is hosting on the South Kentucky block (between [...]
So, I just found out about a really cool, innovative series of events happening this summer. I’d heard rumors of it, but this is the first I’d seen that showed it was a done deal. Polk Theatre and Florida Dance Theatre are teaming up with some serious local talent to present SummerJamz at Polk Theatre. [...]
Since I was out walking around MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire by-the-Lake this morning, I figured I’d go ahead and take a shot of the two Best of Show Winners:
Just a couple of shots I’ve taken so far at MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire by-the-Lake. It’s hot out here!! But the art is great and the food smells wonderful. I’m actually debating between a couple of necklaces…
There are a few art events happening in Lakeland this weekend that are worth noting and attending. I would be, but I’m skipping town this weekend to visit some friends who live north of Gainesville… First, something involving kids: Next, for lovers of Folk Art: And finally, one I don’t have a flyer for: Lakeland Community Theatre’s production [...]
When the production of Dinner with Mark Twain hits Southeastern University’s Tuscana Ristorante this week, it will represent a series of “firsts” for the school’s theater department. It will be the first time the department has taken on a dinner theater production. It will be the first original main stage production. The first compiled by a Southeastern alumna. The first time a student has directed a major Southeastern production. And it will be the first “theater-in-the-round” production.
Did anyone go see the Florida Dance Theatre performance Saturday night? It was really, really great. I’ve been going to quite a few dance concerts recently, and this was definitely one of the best. It was even better than the one I saw in Jacksonville at the beginning of March. I don’t have the playbill in [...]
Florida Dance Theatre has just announced that they’re extending a special offer on tickets for their upcoming performance: buy one ticket, get one free! This offer not only applies to the general admission and childrens tickets, it also applies to the pre-performance V.I.P. Cocktail party tickets. Whoo hoo! Carol, the Artistic Director at FDT, decided [...]
Looks like Polk Museum of Art is planning a day to celebrate its folk art exhibition, Unfiltered: Self-Taught Artists from the Permanent Collection. I don’t know very many details at this point, but I do know that it’s going to be on Saturday, April 25, and it will start with a workshop with Lakeland folk [...]
I’m going to take a second to plug a non-art event I’m attending this weekend. Why, you ask? Because I can, that’s why. Chuck didn’t say I always had to write about art and culture… So, Friday night, I’m going to the Wine Festival of Central Florida, which is a big fundraiser for Alliance for Independence. [...]
Whew! What a weekend. I forgot to mention that I was at Race for the Arts at the Fort Frasier Trail — the part that starts at PCC Lakeland — this morning. But here are some pics from Platform earlier tonight. I apologize for not remembering the names of all the artists. I also apologize [...]
I think I’ve mentioned it already, but one of my other favorite non-profit arts organizations is Florida Dance Theatre. Not only am I on the board, but I’ve also been a student for almost 6 years. Anyway, I’m excited about their next performace, Innovations Dance, which will be held April 18 at 7:30pm at Polk [...]
While I’m thinking about it, the next Platform Art Party is going to be held next Saturday, March 21, 6:30 – 10:30pm at PCC Lakeland Campus. The theme this time is “Eco Vision.” Tickets are $18 online ($20 at the door) and for students: $12 online ($15 at the door). Admission includes beer and wine. [...]
Bio: The short line? Father, husband, writer. My online presence is primarily through as the editor, writer, and occasional photographer for the news sites, Lakeland Local, a sampling of the news, concerns, and events for Lakeland, Florida, and Metro i4 News, which covers the Interstate 4 corridor in Central Florida. Both sites feature the work of myself and other contributors. As a hobby, I manage a forum and some web sites that feature a pulp fiction series written by Lester Dent -- Doc Savage Organized, Doc Savage Info, and Flearun.