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Best Date Night LKLD LINDY HOP lkldlindyhop.com What a fun date night! Join LKLD Lindy Hop every Monday night and learn to swing dance! The night begins with a lesson, learn step by step how to do the Lindy. Next is dancing, show us what you’ve got! Whether you’re on an actual date with someone, or on your own, the LKLD Lindy Hop is an excellent choice for a fun night! Congratulations to the LKLD Lindy Hop team! 2nd: Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre 3rd: Cob & Pen Best Live Music Venue UNION HALL 1023 Florida Ave S, Lakeland Congratulations to Union Hall! This is such a great place to listen to live music! They get a huge variety of genres visiting, from country to emo, punk, and tons of tribute artists. With their professional sound and lighting, plus a full bar, you get one fun evening of live music. Check their socials for upcoming shows. 2nd: Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Cabana Cabins Auburndale 3rd: The Barter Box Best Band DANIEL BURNS BAND danielburnsband.com This is a Southern roots rock band mixing in some blues, folk, and soul. The bandmates are Daniel Burns on vocals and guitar; Kevin Bowen on drums; Dwayne Collier on guitar and keyboard; and Michael Maddox on bass. Congratulations to the band who always brings a crowd and gets them dancing! 2nd: The Blues n’a Suitcase 3rd: Ripperduski Best Dance Studio LKLD LINDY HOP lkldlindyhop.com Specializing in the Lindy Hop, this mobile dance studio is so much more. The weekly dance nights and the larger events they put on, are all about connection. Yes, you learn to dance and it’s so super fun, but you also meet people and build friendships. Congratulations (again) to the team at LKLD Lindy Hop for getting Lakelanders moving and making new connections. What more could you ask for? 2nd: Southern Grace Dance Company 3rd: Uno Dos Tres Studio Best Visual Artist SARA SAVANNAH JONES IG @sara.savannah.jones Miss Jones wins AGAIN this year! Sara is such a talented painter, I personally love everything she does. Every one of her canvases tells a story. Although we may not know the details of that story, we can feel it. Her paintings are daring. They will stop you and pull you in. I will look and look because I don’t want to miss a single detail of this local talent. Congratulations & keep painting! 2nd: Nick Curtis 3rd: Swan City Ceramics Best Local Maker SWAN CITY CERAMICS swancityceramics.com Congratulations to the talented team behind Swan City Ceramics, Jess and Nick! Together, they create some seriously gorgeous ceramic pieces for your home, your pet, your kitchen, your plants, and more. They even make their own glazes, which is so impressive. Every piece is crafted with intention. Visit their shop online! 2nd: Jaime Jay Handmade 3rd: The Glass Elemental Best Art Workshop | Studio SPACE ART COLLECTIVE IG @space.artcollective SPACE is a Sanctuary for Polk’s Arts, Culture, and Education. This collective is open to all artists. There is no cost to join and no obligation to commit as a member. The Collective aims to close the gap between artists in Polk County and help you find your community and your creative voice. Congratulations to SPACE Art Collective! 2nd: Notta Gallery 3rd: Depot Arts District Best Pro Photographer SHAI LYNN SMITH IG @smiithfiilm Congratulations to this repeat winner! We all have important times we want to remember forever, and Shai can help. Your memories will be picture-perfect for years to come. Shai and her camera will capture those emotions, those feelings, those moments of your life that are special to you. Don’t let them slip away! 2nd: David Dickey Jr. 3rd: Bethany Blanton Best Tattoo Studio SUGAR PLUM TATTOO 209 E Badcock Blvd, Mulberry Clients absolutely rave about this place, and I don’t think we could say it any better than they do. One happy client wrote, “Sugar Plum is a departure from the normal tattoo shops. They have created a bright, welcoming, and safe environment that makes you feel like you’re hanging out in the artist’s living room. Each member of the staff has their own unique style and showcases their individual personalities with samples of their artwork, fandoms, and influences.” Well said. Congratulations to the team at Sugar Plum Tattoo! 2nd: Sarah Sunshine Tattoos 3rd: Black Swan Tattoo Best Drag Queen | King MOMMA ASHLEY ROSE IG@mommaashleyrose For over two decades, Momma Ashley Rose has performed family-friendly drag shows. As the founder and president of the nonprofit Rose Dynasty Foundation Inc., she spends her free time as a philanthropist, public speaker, activist, and singer-songwriter. Over the years, Momma has spoken to political leaders and advocated for LGBTQ+ youth and families. Congratulations on this win! 2nd: Kathryn Nevets 3rd: Butch Wellington Best Party Rental UNDER ONE TENT PARTY & EVENT RENTAL 845 N Florida Ave, Lakeland Tents! Tables! Stages! Fans! If you’re having an event, they’ve got what you need. Congratulations to Under One Tent Party & Event Rental for keeping the party going in Lakeland. One happy client wrote, “Friendly and quick service. Price for renting is excellent and Tonya was quick to send the quote by email. Thank you for helping me.” 2nd: A to Z Rental Center 3rd: Jump Around Party Rental Best Event Entertainment DREAMS COME TRUE ENTERTAINMENT dreamscometrueentertainment.com Another year, another win for the team at Dreams Come True! Since 2012, they’ve been bringing princesses, superheroes, mermaids, and fairies to a party near you. With high-quality costumes and perfectly styled hair, your characters will be the hit of the party. Dreams Come True also offers events for you to attend, like tea parties and royal spa parties. 2nd: Big Idea Entertainment 3rd: Evolve Entertainment Best Museum THE ASHLEY GIBSON BARNETT MUSEUM OF ART 800 E Palmetto St, Lakeland The AGB at Florida Southern College has done it again! They’ve curated another win for Best Museum. With free admission all year round, this is your place to visit for inspiration and contemplation. Exhibitions change throughout the year, so there is always something new to see. This museum is a gem. Congratulations to the staff at The AGB! 2nd: Florida Children’s Museum 3rd: Mulberry Phosphate Museum Best Staycation CAMP MARGARITAVILLE RV RESORT & CABANA CABINS AUBURNDALE 361 Denton Ave, Auburndale Embrace that island life with an evening at the tiki bar or fire pits, a day at the resort pools, live entertainment, a playground, dog parks, and a putting course. Bring your own RV or rent a cute Cabana Cabin. You’re only going to be a few miles away, but it will feel like a million. Congratulations to Camp Margaritaville! 2nd: The Terrace Hotel Lakeland 3rd: LEGOLAND Florida Resort Best Venue Space ENCHANTED FAIRYTALE HOLLOW 818 E Lemon St, Lakeland Decorated like an enchanted forest, the Enchanted Fairytale Hollow is home to Dreams Come True Entertainment. This is the perfect space for your next birthday party, tea party, holiday event, and more. Congratulations to this whimsical venue, and thank you for helping to make Lakelanders’ parties so magical! 2nd: Bonnet Springs Park 3rd: Union Hall Best Annual Community Event SUN ‘N FUN AEROSPACE EXPO 3875 W Pipkin Rd, Lakeland Mark your calendars for April 6 – 11, 2027 for the next SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo, “A World to Sea at 53!” Between incredible flying performances, live music, nighttime entertainment, and thousands of aviation enthusiasts from around the globe, this is more than an airshow. It’s a week-long celebration of adventure. Congratulations on your win! 2nd: The Lakeland Christmas Parade 3rd: Art Crawl Best Hidden Gem ART CENTRIC STUDIO 1035 S Florida Ave, Lakeland This is an art studio for kids of all ages! They offer homeschool art classes, afternoon classes, customized birthday parties, private events, and more. This family-owned business has been helping and encouraging kids to get creative since 2015. Congratulations to the entire team at Art Centric Studio! 2nd: Mulberry Cultural Center 3rd: The Wax & The Needle

Best After-Work Free Entertainment BONNET SPRINGS PARK 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd, Lakeland This gorgeous park is the perfect place to go after work and breathe in some fresh Florida air! It’s free to enter, to walk the trails, and let the kids run. The Rooftop Garden Bar is open until 7 p.m. so you can stop by for a bite to eat or drink before you go. Congratulations to Bonnet Springs Park! 2nd: Lakeland Public Library 3rd: Walking around Lake Mirror Best Bathroom (in a restaurant or bar) NINETEEN61 215 E Main St, Lakeland Nineteen61 has raised the bar for restaurants in Polk County, so we weren’t surprised to learn that people think their bathrooms are the best, too. Hey, when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go! Thank you to Nineteen61 for making the experience a little more glamorous. 2nd: Parlor Doughnuts 3rd: Depot 303 Best Late-Night Snack LOVEBIRD ALMOST FAMOUS CHICKEN 2101 S Florida Ave, Lakeland Just follow your heart, that’s all we’re asking. Follow it straight to LoveBird. They’re open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Whether you want it hot or not, fried or grilled, is up to you. Just don’t forget the dirty fries. When you want a second supper, there’s only one place to go. Congratulations to the team at LoveBird! 2nd: Andy’s Frozen Custard 3rd: Hakucho Best Place for People Watching THE JOINERY 640 E Main St, Lakeland Do you like to do a little people watching from time to time? The Joinery is a great place to do this because it’s always busy. With seven different restaurants and a full bar, there’s always a diverse group of locals and visitors. 2nd: Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market 3rd: Munn Park Best Place to Celebrate Your Birthday FAMILY FUN CENTER 4825 Florida Ave S, Lakeland With three different birthday packages, there’s fun for every budget! Congratulations to Family Fun Center for winning the Best Place to Celebrate Your Birthday! They’ve got all the goodies for your kids including pizza, mini golf, laser tag, and arcade games. 2nd: Skate World Lakeland 3rd: Texas Cattle Company Best Place to Cure a Hangover THE EGG FACTORY 1533 S Combee Rd, Lakeland So, you overdid it last night. Got a headache? Feeling a little queasy? Grab your sunglasses and head over to The Egg Factory for breakfast. You’ll feel better. Guests love the price, and the food comes out fast. Whether you want a big plate of french fries, eggs, or a big fat burger, they can take care of you. 2nd: LIVE Hydration Spa 3rd: Cozy Oaks Restaurant Best Place to go on a Saturday LAKELAND DOWNTOWN FARMERS CURB MARKET Support local small businesses every Saturday! Located in Downtown Lakeland on N Kentucky Ave, stretching from Lemon St N to Oak St. Open 8 a.m. through 2 p.m. every Saturday, September through May, and 8 a.m. through 1 p.m. every Saturday, June through July. Closed in August. 2nd: Bonnet Springs Park 3rd: Circle B Bar Reserve Best Place to Meet an Online Date for the First Time THE PINK PIANO 1015 Florida Ave S, Lakeland So, you need a safe place to see if the profile pic matches your date. The Pink Piano is perfect. They have live performances every week, which is good because if you don’t like your date, you can focus on the music. If you do like your date, which I hope you do, then stay and have a drink and get to know each other. Either way, good luck & godspeed! 2nd: Swan Brewing 3rd: Concord Coffee Best Place to Take Out - of -Towners CIRCLE B BAR RESERVE 4399 Winter Lake Rd, Lakeland Yes, take them to see a giant alligator, your guests will love it. I’m going to go ahead and sit this one out, but you go explore the 1,267 acres of restored wetlands and see all of the wildlife. Bring a camera. Say hi to the snakes for me. I’m kidding. (no, I’m not.) But seriously, this is great for hikers, cyclists, and wildlife enthusiasts. Enjoy! 2nd: The Joinery 3rd: Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre Best Ranch Dressing LOVEBIRD ALMOST FAMOUS CHICKEN 2101 South Florida Ave. Lakeland Yes. Yes. Yes. Would it be weird if I just filled my morning coffee mug with their Buttermilk Dill Ranch instead of coffee? Asking for a friend. It’s housemade, and it’s fabulous, and I love it. I will dip almost any food into it. It will improve your life and take care of any problems you may have. (not really) But it is a good listener. I’ve gotta go. I need more ranch. Congratulations LoveBird! 2nd: Cob & Pen 3rd: The Peach House

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR Saturdays and Sundays beginning Sept. 12 at Busch Gardens from noon – 4 p.m. Families can see a costume parade, trick-or-treat around the park, listen to story time, and more during this not-sospooky and immersive Halloween experience. Family-friendly and included with admission to the park. buschgardens.com/tampa RED BULL DANCE FINALS Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m. at the Tampa Convention Center. The nation’s best street dancers will compete at the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Final, with the audience voting live to crown the champion. The national champion will then head to Zurich, Switzerland, for the World Final, representing the USA. redbull.com/danceyourstylenf SURREAL NATURE Select nights at The Dali. This limited-time evening presentation takes you on a 30-minute journey through nature in the 360-degree format at The Dali Dome. Watch waterfalls cascade overhead, flowers bloom, and landscapes transform. Must purchase tickets in advance. thedali.org PB&J RUN Sept. 19, 7 a.m. at Albert Whitted Park in St. Pete. PB&J lovers will gather for scenic, waterfront 5K, 10K, and 1 Mile courses, PB&J swag, and unlimited PB&J sandwiches for all participants. All proceeds go to Directions for Living, helping those living with mental illness, are homeless, and those experiencing other traumas. runguides.com/ tampa/runs SCIENCE AFTER DARK Sept. 4, 6 – 9 p.m. at MOSI. Adults only! Guests will enjoy food & drinks, including liquid nitrogen ice cream. You can try hands-on science experiments, hear a special research talk by Dr. Kailey McCain, and see the “Ready Player One” laser light show at the Saunders Planetarium. Tickets available at mosi.org. THE WIZARD OF OZ Sept. 18 through Oct. 3 by the Carrollwood Players. Join Dorothy, Toto, and their friends as they travel over the rainbow to the magical Land of Oz. Follow the yellow brick road in this stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score you know and love. carrollwoodplayers.org THE STROKES Sept. 12, 7 p.m. at Benchmark International Arena. This tour supports their seventh studio album from 2026, “Reality Awaits.” They will have Geordie Greep and Promiseland open for them. Purchase tickets at benchmarkintlarena.com. LIGHTNING PRESEASON Catch the Tampa Bay Lightning play two preseason games at Benchmark International Arena in September. They will play the Nashville Predators on Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. They will also play the Florida Panthers on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets at nhl.com/lightning. SIP & SCRIPT Sept. 13, 3 p.m. at Keel Farms. During this 1.5-hour class, you’ll learn essential lettering techniques before putting your new skills to work on a final project: hand-lettering your own mini faux 3” white pumpkin to take home! No experience is necessary, this class is designed especially for beginners. keelfarms.com BE A CHEF FOR THE NIGHT Sept. 22, 6 p.m. at Armature Works. Join Chef Noha Chalawit of SAHA Network and cook, taste, mingle, and compete. Learn how to prepare an authentic Lebanese feast from scratch. Come with a friend, make it a date night, or come solo and meet new people. More info and purchase tickets at armatureworks.com.

FALL VEGETABLE GARDENING Sept. 5, 10 – 11:30 a.m. at Mead Botanical Garden. Learn the science of how to grow better, healthier plants and ways that you can grow more garden vegetables with less work. Beginners and experienced gardeners are welcome. Register online. meadgarden.org BENISE Sept. 24, 7 p.m. at Dr. Phillips Center. “The Prince of Spanish Guitar” celebrates 25 years of fiery Spanish guitar and dance. Benise will take the audience on an epic adventure through Spanish flamenco, Cuban salsa, Brazilian samba, Parisian waltz, exotic drumming, and more. drphillipscenter.org HALL-O-SCREAM Select nights through Nov. 1 at SeaWorld. During the day, families can immerse themselves in spooktacular festivities and trickor-treating. At night, the screams of scared adults will be heard at five haunted houses, six scare zones, and terrifying live shows. seaworld.com/orlando WU-TANG Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m. at the Kia Center. Wu-Tang returns for The Final Chamber with special guest Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Founded in New York City’s Staten Island in the early 1990s, the Wu-Tang Clan is comprised of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, and the deceased Ol’ Dirty Bastard (ODB). kiacenter.com HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS Select nights through Nov. 1 at Universal Orlando. This year will feature ten haunted houses, mind-ripping scare zones, killer live entertainment, and themed food and drinks. Guests under 13 are not advised to enter. Bwa-ha-ha! universalorlando.com ALL MY SONS Sept. 19, 11 a.m. at the Enzian. Filmed live in the West End, this is part of National Theatre Live. Watch Bryan Cranston and Marianne Jean-Baptiste perform in this fivestar, triumphantly acclaimed new production of Arthur Miller’s classic play. enzian.org SELWYN BIRCHWOOD Sept. 8, 6:30 or 9 p.m. at Judson’s Live. This Orlando native has a sound he calls “Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues,” this guitarist, lap steel player, songwriter, and vocalist returns for a night of deep blues, psychedelic rock, funk, and Southern soul. drphillipscenter.org SUNSET AT THE ZOO Sept. 25, 5 – 8 p.m. at the Central Florida Zoo. Visit Sunset at the Zoo for a celebration of Hispanic heritage, culture, and community. Enjoy an evening filled with music, movement, and incredible flavors that bring the Zoo to life in a whole new way. centralfloridazoo.org HAVANA HOP Sept. 19, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Orlando Family Stage. Yeila loves to sing, dance, and dream big, but she struggles with the confidence to share her talents with the world. Hoping to help, her mother sends her to visit her grandmother in Cuba. This fun production for kids is filled with audience participation. orlandofamilystage.com HAMILTON Sept. 29 – Oct. 18 at Dr. Phillips Center. “Hamilton” follows the rise of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation, set to a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway. drphillipscenter.org

BRICK OR TREAT Sept. 5, 6, 12, 19, and 26 at LEGOLAND Florida. Families can enjoy the all-new immersive Brick or Treat Street, plus a hands-on Halloween adventure filled with playful LEGO monsters, fun builds, spectacular live shows, interactive light trails, and nighttime thrills! legoland.com/florida GIRLS IN AVIATION DAY Sept. 19, 10 a.m. at the Florida Air Museum. This is a free event where participants can explore the Museum, test their flying skills in the Redbird Flight Simulation Lab, and explore space through Science on a Sphere. No registration required. Aceedu.org LABOR DAY AT THE GARDENS Sept. 5 – 7 at Bok Tower Gardens. Free admission will be offered to all military veterans, including active duty, with valid ID. The Singing Tower carillon concerts are at 1 & 3 p.m. daily, and the Blue Palmetto Cafe is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. boktowergardens.org BLINK-180 DEUX & SAD BOI Sept. 11, 8 p.m. at Union Hall. Blink-180 Deux will celebrate 25 years of “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.” Jam out to the classics and sing along to every lyric. Plus, Sad Boi will be performing a set of Fall Out Boy hits. Ages 18+ only. unionhallevents.com DOWNTOWN FARMERS CURB MARKET The Market is back every Saturday from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Located on N Kentucky Ave stretching from Lemon St N to Oak St. Find local, handmade, homegrown produce, plants, artisan gifts, pastries, breads, specialty foods, and more! downtownlkld.com/ farmerscurbmarket COMPANY Sept. 11 – 20 at Lakeland Community Theatre. On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor Robert, contemplates his unmarried state and is forced to question his adamant stance on bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions. lakelandcommunitytheatre.com DWIGHT ICENHOWER Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Ritz. Step into a night of nostalgia with the award-winning Dwight Icenhower as he presents “Juke Box Time Machine,” a high-energy concert celebration of the greatest hits from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. theatrewinterhaven.com 5K COLOR RUN/WALK Sept. 26, noon, at SUN ‘n FUN. The ROAR FLORIDA 5K will have participants run surrounded by aircraft displays, aviation infrastructure, and open runway and tarmac sections. Proceeds support ROAR FLORIDA and its mission to provide inclusive living and community opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. roarflorida.org LSO GALLERY SERIES Sept. 10, 6 p.m. at The AGB. Hear the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra play September’s program, “Resonancia: A Celebration of Hispanic Brass Music” featuring LSO’s brass quintet. A pre-concert reception is included with your ticket. lkldsymphony.org LAKELAND PUNK ROCK FLEA Sept. 27, noon – 6 p.m. at Swan Brewing. Shop from over 70 eclectic vendors & food trucks from all across Central Florida. Hang out in the free skate area with ramps. Listen to your favorite local bands play live all day. And of course, drink beer! This is a very family-friendly event, more info on FB @lakelandpunkflea.

DWIGHT ICENHOWER Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Ritz. Step into a night of nostalgia with the award-winning Dwight Icenhower as he presents “Juke Box Time Machine,” a high-energy concert celebration of the greatest hits from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. theatrewinterhaven.com A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD KIDS Sept. 18 – 27 performed on the small stage at Theatre Winter Haven. Follow best friends Frog and Toad as they journey through the seasons, sharing adventures that celebrate friendship, kindness, and the simple joys of everyday life. Filled with catchy songs, playful humor, and sweet life lessons. theatrewinterhaven.com BRICK OR TREAT Sept. 5, 6, 12, 19, and 26 at LEGOLAND Florida. Families can enjoy the all-new immersive Brick or Treat Street, plus a hands-on Halloween adventure filled with playful LEGO monsters, fun builds, spectacular live shows, interactive light trails, and nighttime thrills! legoland.com/florida CELEBRATE WINTER HAVEN Sept, 17, 6 p.m. at Nora Mayo Hall. The Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce celebrates all things Winter Haven! In keeping with tradition, they will award the 99th annual Citizens of the Year Banker’s Cup Awards, honor the Small and Large Businesses of the Year, and the Entrepreneur of the Year. winterhavenchamber.com LABOR DAY AT THE GARDENS Sept. 5 – 7 at Bok Tower Gardens. Free admission will be offered to all military veterans, including active duty, with valid ID. The Singing Tower carillon concerts are at 1 & 3 p.m. daily, and the Blue Palmetto Cafe is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. boktowergardens.org GROVE ROOTS 10TH ANNIVERSARY Sept. 15 – 20 at Grove Roots Brewery. Congratulations on 10 years!!! They have something special planned every day of the week, and a big party on Saturday the 19th! Expect a fully loaded special trivia night, a 5K Fun Run, a Beer Dinner, Friends of GRB special releases, tons of bands, lots of food trucks, and more! FB @groverootsbrewing LADIES NIGHT Sept. 10, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Participating Downtown Winter Haven businesses will be open late for a fall night of shopping, sipping, pampering, and socializing. Hosted by Main Street Winter Haven, you can purchase your ticket at mainstreetwinterhaven.com and then have an evening just for YOU. GIRLS IN AVIATION DAY Sept. 19, 10 a.m. at the Florida Air Museum. This is a free event where participants can explore the Museum, test their flying skills in the Redbird Flight Simulation Lab, and explore space through Science on a Sphere. No registration required. aceedu.org PURSES WITH PURPOSE Sept. 10, 6 p.m. at the Women’s Resource Center. Enter to win designer purses, enjoy light refreshments, meet WRC staff, and shop the Cheep Boutique afterhours! All items donated and 100% of the proceeds benefit the Women’s Resource Center. wrcfl.org LAKELAND PUNK ROCK FLEA Sept. 27, noon – 6 p.m. at Swan Brewing. Shop from over 70 eclectic vendors & food trucks from all across Central Florida. Hang out in the free skate area with ramps. Listen to your favorite local bands play live all day. And of course, drink beer! This is a very family-friendly event, more info on FB @lakelandpunkflea.

Gene Leedy's Bold Mid-Century vision turned a citrus town into a quiet capital of modern design. On a crest of land between an old grapefruit grove and the gentle shoreline of Lake Elbert, eleven low-slung homes sit beneath flat roofs and sliding glass walls, looking very much as they did the day Gene Leedy drew them. Locals call them the Craney Spec Homes. The rest of the world, increasingly, calls them a treasure. Decades after Leedy first set up his drafting table in town, Winter Haven remains the indisputable epicenter of one of the most original architects Florida has ever produced. BEGINNINGS Gene Robert Leedy was born on February 6, 1928, in Isaban, West Virginia, but the design world claims him as a Floridian. His family settled in Gainesville while he was still a boy, and by sixteen, he was enrolled at the University of Florida’s College of Architecture. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1950, headed straight for Sarasota, and walked into the office of a young Paul Rudolph as Rudolph’s first employee. Working under Rudolph—and earlier for Ralph and William Zimmerman—Leedy joined a small group of designers who were quietly reinventing how Floridians could live in their climate. That group came to be known as the Sarasota School of Architecture. Leedy was one of its founders. The Gene Leedy House A CITRUS TOWN FINDS ITS ARCHITECT In 1954, a commission to design the Sparrow House brought Leedy to Winter Haven. He never left. The town was a citrus hub then, modest and unassuming, and at first glance an unlikely setting for radical modern design. Leedy saw it differently. The lakes, the light, the openness, he believed Florida living deserved an architecture that answered the climate honestly, with crossventilation, deep overhangs, courtyards that pulled the outdoors in, and walls of glass that erased the line between living room and lawn. THE DOUBLE-TEE SIGNATURE What made Leedy’s work unmistakable was his audacious use of pre-cast concrete. While most residential architects of his era reached for wood and brick, Leedy embraced industrial structural systems, most famously, the long-span “doubletee” concrete beams more typically seen in parking garages and warehouses. In his hands, they became poetry. Exposed overhead, the twin ribs of the double-tee cast crisp shadows across courtyards and ceilings, providing both structure and ornament in a single, honest gesture. Combined with locally quarried “Ocala Block,” sliding glass doors, and clean postand-beam framing, the look was unmistakable: low, horizontal, calm, and very Florida. Dormon House THE CRANEY HOMES AND A LIFE LIVED IN HIS OWN DESIGN Among Leedy’s earliest Winter Haven projects, none became more beloved than the Craney Spec Homes. Begun in the late 1950s on a parcel between a grapefruit grove and Lake Elbert, the eleven modular houses ranged from roughly 1,200 to 1,500 square feet, modest by spec-builder standards then or now. Leedy’s goal was to prove that an inexpensive home could carry the charm and dignity of a custom-designed one. The prototype was the home he designed for himself, where he lived for sixty-five years until his death. The Craney Homes have since been recognized as a National Historic District, and Leedy’s own residence has been carefully restored as a public landmark, opened for tours and a designer-in-residence program. PRESTIGIOUS COMMISSIONS Leedy’s reach extended far beyond his neighborhood. Among his prestigious commissions were the President’s House at the University of South Florida, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house at his alma mater in Gainesville, the First National Bank of Cape Canaveral, Brentwood Elementary School in Sarasota, and the Syd Solomon Residence on Siesta Key. Closer to home, his fingerprints are on much of civic Winter Haven—City Hall, the Chamber of Commerce, the Country Club, and the Garden Center—and a long roster of houses including the Strang, Dormon, Sands, Ellison, Brogden, and Sparrow residences that read like a directory of mid-century Florida design. The profession noticed. Leedy was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 1992, and in 2014 the Florida Chapter of the AIA awarded him its Medal of Honor. A PROTÉGÉ’S DEVOTION Few have done more to keep that legacy visible than architect Max Strang, FAIA, who grew up in a Leedy-designed home and went on to apprentice in Leedy’s Winter Haven office before founding his own firm. After his mentor’s death in 2018, Strang acquired both the architect’s residence and adjoining studio, buildings that had served their owner for 58 and 62 years respectively, and led a meticulous restoration that earned a 2021 AIA Florida Award for Historic Preservation. “The boldness of his personality comes through in the boldness of his structures,” Strang has said of his mentor. “He evolved this very signature, identifiable style and it was bold, like him.” Asked once to sum up Leedy’s reach in their shared hometown, Strang put it more colorfully: “Gene Leedy designed damn near the entire city of Winter Haven.” Gene Leedy & Max Strang Max Strang A LEGACY ETCHED IN CONCRETE AND GLASS Gene Leedy died on November 24, 2018, at the age of 90. But step out into Winter Haven on almost any morning, past a Leedy bank on the way to a Leedy city hall, past a Leedy home with its courtyard fountain catching the light, and his presence is impossible to miss. He gave a small Florida town an architectural identity that designers from around the world now travel to study. For his neighbors, the legacy is more personal: the quiet conviction, embedded in concrete and glass, that even the most ordinary day deserves a beautiful place to live it. Photos: Cody James + Provided

Amidst the ocean breeze and tropical climate of Key West, high schooler Selina had fallen in love with the Sunshine State and told herself, “I would never live in the cold again.” Originally from Michigan, Selina was introduced to her newfound fashion style of lightweight and breathable clothing while living the island life. Years later, her high school outfits would become the inspiration behind her brand’s identity. Today, she calls Winter Haven, Florida, home and is the owner of Island Dreaming, a boutique dedicated to natural, sustainable clothing inspired by the easygoing spirit of the Keys. Founded in 2017, Island Dreaming began as Selina’s creative clothing line featuring naturally tie-dyed yoga wear and beach wraps. In partnership with a woman-owned yoga apparel company in California, Selina personally handdyed each piece, making every item one of a kind. “I used bamboo fabrics and I did a whole collection,” she said. “It was a lot of fun, but a lot of work.” Although she discontinued making handmade clothing, Selina kept her business name to open her own bohemian, chic, and classy-wear boutique. With the intention of selling thoughtfully made clothing, Selina fills her shop with items that will make her customers look and feel great. With a wide range of styles, Island Dreaming offers effortless everyday outfits, chic date-night looks, and versatile athleisure that can be dressed up or down. From breezy dresses and fashionable tops to skirts, shoes, and statement pieces, the boutique adapts to your lifestyle. “This is my happy place,” shared Selina. “With every price point, every style, and every age range of clothing, I want others to feel like it’s their happy place too.” When customers step inside Island Dreaming, they’re greeted by natural light, vintage island-inspired décor, and a calming atmosphere that reflects Selina’s personality. In addition to clothes, you’ll also find a variety of natural self-care products, from candles and perfumes to essential oils and botanical-driven fragrances—items Selina found to be her favorite and wanted to share with the community she calls home. “Everything on the walls are fun little collectives that are almost all from my first house,” Selina said. “It’s my little vibe here. It’s islandy and easygoing, and I want people to walk in and not feel overwhelmed by colors or scents, just aesthetically calm.” While Selina has made Island Dreaming her own style, she credits much of its foundation to her college boss turned lifelong friend, Gina Fox, owner of Down to Earth Boutique in Gainesville. The two first met with an unforgettable first impression during Selina’s freshman year of college, where she was dressed head-to-toe as Cinderella at a Project Princess fundraiser. Laughing about their first interaction, Selina recalls telling Gina, “This isn’t what I look like on a regular day.” Once Gina met Selina outside of the fundraiser, the two quickly connected. What followed was a decade-long mentorship that introduced Selina to natural living, sustainable fashion, and smallbusiness ownership. “She is like my family, and it’s really funny to think about that first meeting,” said Selina. “We are so close now.” More importantly, it showed her how clothing could help people feel confident. “I watched her perspective, and then I grew my own,” said Selina. “I fell in love with helping people feel good about themselves, and I learned about the ways to help others dress with confidence.” Even as a child, Selina loved fashion. She styled friends, made clothes for her Barbie dolls, and hand-sewed her own clothes. “The inspiration was there,” Selina said. “And my mom always told me, ‘You’re going to do something with fashion one day; I just know it.’” Two decades later, Selina has created Island Dreaming with the hope that everyone who walks in leaves feeling beautiful and confident. Since opening the boutique, exceptional customer service has remained at the heart of it, with every customer receiving the care and attention they deserve. “Whenever someone walks in, everything in the world stops, and what they need becomes my first priority,” Selina said. Whether it’s someone’s first time in or they’re a regular, Selina strives to create an experience for all her customers to feel welcomed, valued, and never overwhelmed. “I really try to focus on my customers, and although I love fashion, I love them even more,” said Selina. “We have a lot of fun, and it’s created a sense of community here.” After years in the fashion industry, Selina’s developed what she calls her “superpower.” Her instinctive ability to remember every piece in the store, visualize how it fits on different body types, and quickly pull together outfits for any occasion. “When someone needs help matching pieces together, it becomes a fun puzzle for the day,” Selina said, “especially when people say, ‘Can you just pull me a room?’” To Selina, fashion is more than just styling someone—it’s about helping them discover how to confidently dress themselves. Rather than simply picking out an outfit for her customers, she guides them through the process of discovering styles, colors, and sizing that complement both their personality and body type. “One of my favorite things is when someone comes in and says, ‘I don’t know how to dress myself,’” Selina said. “And I’m like, ‘Okay, we’re going to learn because we’re going to do it together.” She also believes brick-and-mortar boutiques will always have a place because of the personalized experience they offer—something online shopping can’t replicate. “The white-glove service of walking in and having someone actually see you, help you find what you need, and encourage you along the way—that’s something you just can’t get online,” Selina said. “That’s why places like this are still important, especially in our little communities.” For Selina, Island Dreaming is more than a boutique—it’s a welcoming space where women are encouraged to slow down, discover clothing that makes them feel confident, and leave feeling like the best version of themselves. ISLAND DREAMING BOUTIQUE 337 W Central Ave, Winter Haven islanddreamingboutique.com IG @islanddreamingboutique FB: Island Dreaming Boutique by Selina Gaudette Photos by Kamryn Tutiven

It’s something about the words ‘bang bang,’ it’s so fun to say. It’s so easy to remember. And people always remember our name. Cake with a bang. We wanted [our] name to reflect what you’re feeling when you’re eating our cake. - Raquel Figueroa It’s a bang in every bite, in every jar, or plate waiting for the next customer to encounter the onomatopoeia of it all. One part idea, one part cake, one part icing, one part rum. And not the essence of rum … or rum extract … or rum flavoring … it’s rum from your favorite cocktail rum. And that is just the start of this ideal rum cake. To make it the perfect adult treat, you need key ingredients from creators Raquel Figueroa & Christian Rosario, and then you have the perfect Bang Bang Bakehouse surprise. Figueroa and Rosario are graphic designers by day and rum cake extraordinaires by morning, noon, evening, and on very special nights. The “more than a bakery” brand, Bang Bang Bakehouse, created and solely run by this husband and wife team, is centered around individualized, specialty flavored rum cakes. One part idea. One part rum. One part topping. One part unique. Figueroa and Rosario aren’t making your average rum cake. They incorporate elements from traditional and non-traditional craft cocktails into cake form. They do the same with snacks and cultural staples from their childhood. Figueroa describes a favorite of hers, “... one of the most fun flavors that I love is the Thai Tea rum cake. We do a Thai tea cake, and we do a cereal milk frosting, which we actually use the Fruity Pebbles cereal to soak in the cream, and then a funfetti crumble on top. Super fun flavor!” and along with Rosario, they continue to share other cakes that represent how invested the duo is in knocking on nostalgic doors, “Our Hottie cake, which is Mexican hot chocolate inspired. It’s a dark chocolate rum cake and then we put a little bit of cayenne pepper in it so it’s a little spicy like Mexican hot chocolate. It has a dulce de leche icing and cinnamon sugar churro crumbles on top.” Of course, many of the flavors come from things they had growing up in their Latino households. Rosario, being Puerto Rican, and Figueroa, who is Cuban and Nicaraguan, have plenty to pull from. “We have a guava and queso flavor which is inspired by guava and cheese pastelitos,” adds Figueroa, before exclaiming how they’re always wondering what more they can do. “I like cocktails, so obviously I get a lot of inspiration from [them], and I’m always asking myself, ‘How can I turn this into a cake?’ And now I go crazy with flavors. I like to throw in something fun, something you’re not expecting in a cake, like we’ve thrown stuff in with cereal milk, and we have our own version of Twinkies now, too, called Bangies!” The cakes are decadent and made with care and intention. Imagine a vanilla rum cake with toasted pecan crumbles, that’s The O.G. Imagine a take on bananas foster, with a caramelized banana rum cake, espresso tahini icing, and salted dark chocolate crumbles. Imagine a PB&J rum cake, topped with smooth peanut butter, strawberry preserves, and brown sugar peanut crumbles that are toasted and finished with classic rum icing. Using toppings to make the cakes interesting, like pistachio buttercream, toasted crunchy crumble with pistachio and black sesame, and variations to make the cakes unexpected like matcha olive oil, pina colada cake, and even cornbread rum cake. The flare of Figueroa and Rosario‘s enjoyment in their recipes is more than evident. We like to consider ourselves a brand, not just a bakery. Our brand is built on creativity and community. One part wholesale. One part shipping. One part catering. One part pop-up. Bang Bang began when the couple decided during the pandemic to turn a hobby into a business. Figueroa had been making rum cake since she was a teenager. And she thought that it would be cool if they could make them into personalized sizes. She started with her best friend as a birthday gift, only to then open up orders to family, friends, and neighbors. As word spread and internet posts were shared, they found themselves delivering door to door around Miami until they packed up the bakery and headed to Polk County. Now, as members of Catapult (Lakeland), they have an industrial kitchen where they are doing their best to handle the expansion of the brand. The vision of Bang Bang Bakehouse is to be the one you call for catering needs as well as collaborations between small businesses, for small batch jars to groups having ‘make your own’ Bang Bang parties and workshops. Bang Bang cakes are at restaurants in Orlando, The Gnarly Cuban, Diablicos Coffee, and Aguila Coffee. They can be found across Lakeland at stores such as Bodega Market, dining establishments like Sabu Ramen, and Hakucho (where you can even experience the delicious rum cakes as a plated dessert following your entree). They’re currently in Concord Coffee, both the Winter Haven and Lakeland locations, where the featured Cortadito rum cake is an espresso martini that uses Concord’s classic coffee. Of course, for these confectionery imagineers, the greatest pleasure is meeting the customers in person. They want to do intimate parties, be a part of pop-ups, and events that they organize. Their two big events they are looking forward to are a festival for Hispanic Heritage Month in October and The Central Florida Food Festival in November at Bonnet Springs. The chance to personally grab a bite of Bang is but an Instagram scroll away. The digital duo updates their page @bangbangbakehouse to include all new products and partnerships, but also where in Central Florida they will be. Click their profile and look for the cool yellow pickup truck that screams Bang Bang.

As we all know, Florida occupies that peculiar borderland where the unusual settles down, raises a family, and retires. It seems fitting that America’s strangest fictional newspaper was born and raised here. Weekly World News began in Lantana, Palm Beach County, Florida, in 1979 for an entirely ordinary reason. When the National Enquirer switched to color printing, its black-andwhite presses suddenly became available. Rather than retire them, publisher Generoso Pope Jr.’s company created a new weekly newspaper. In its earliest years, the paper resembled countless other supermarket tabloids, but under editor Eddie Clontz, it evolved into something wholly unique from its South Florida offices, which it shared with the National Enquirer in Boca Raton. For twenty-eight years, with peak circulation reaching 1.2 million copies per issue, Weekly World News insisted it was “The World’s Only Reliable Newspaper.” It was certainly the world’s only interesting newspaper, in my childhood opinion. Among my sharpest memories are those of standing in the checkout aisle at Publix with my eyes glued to the fantastic claims on the cover. I felt what I can now only describe as sideshow fear: a curiosity charged by the human condition, capable of making the desire to peek between our fingers at an oddity impossible to resist. Weekly World News was unlike anything else on the newsstand: a peculiar blend of pulp science fiction, urban legend, religious allegory, and parody journalism. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, its pages became home to alien abductions, time travelers, government coverups, miraculous births, supernatural phenomena, and just enough recognizable reality to connect readers to the parallel world it designed. Though it welcomed freelance submissions, breaking into its pages was not easy. As former writer Bob Lind recalled, “We had brilliant journalists like Joe Berger and Jack Alexander. One came from The Washington Post; one was from The New York Times. Berger was a White House correspondent.” The publication’s influence spread far beyond the supermarket checkout line. Bat Boy became something of a folklore figure, inspiring an acclaimed off-Broadway musical and countless references in film, television, and advertising. Although its print run ended in 2007, Weekly World News found a new life online, where it continues to publish and adapt its style to the digital attention economy. Its headlines now circulate widely across social media, increasingly divorced from their original context and often shared alongside genuine conspiracy theories, creating the curious spectacle of satire becoming nearly indistinguishable from the culture it once parodied. The X-Files, Men in Black, and countless later works drew upon the same ecosystem of conspiracies, cryptids, UFOs, and impossible headlines that Weekly World News helped popularize for a mass audience. Some UFO researchers have even suggested that the paper unintentionally—or perhaps conveniently—trained the public to associate flying saucers, extraterrestrials, and paranormal claims with obvious absurdity. Whether or not there is any truth to that idea, the effect is difficult to deny: genuine mysteries and obvious jokes increasingly occupied the same cultural shelf, making it easier to dismiss one by laughing at the other. Weekly World News parodied, in exaggerated black and white, the style of newspapers that once reported astonishing accounts with surprising sincerity. Strange creatures, unexplained lights, prophetic dreams, haunted houses, and impossible inventions routinely appeared in local papers throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Previous generations were not uniquely gullible, but their relationship with newspapers, rumors, folklore, and speculation was more complicated than that. There is a kind of mental play that develops differently according to the shared cultural moment. Traditions such as Dadaism, Absurdism, Discordianism, and even Forteana invite us to examine culture by exaggerating it. Some of history’s most influential artists and thinkers deliberately blurred the line between sincerity and satire, provoking reflection precisely because audiences could never be entirely certain where the joke ended. Too often, these traditions are dismissed as nonsense by those unwilling to engage with ideas they have already decided belong to the realm of people “not quite right in the head.” It seems more appropriate to contextualize pre-internet ridiculousness and crude Photoshopping as the creation of proto-meme imagery shared in print rather than online, revealing not simply a different sense of humor but a different way of collectively playing with truth, fiction, and possibility. Instead of black-and-white tabloids beside the grocery checkout, we now scroll through endless feeds populated by AI-generated photographs, fabricated videos, cloned voices, and synthetic articles that can be nearly indistinguishable from authentic reporting. Unlike the gleeful fabrications of Weekly World News, today’s content is engineered to maximize engagement, influence opinion, manufacture outrage, and harvest data. Weekly World News invited readers to laugh at the impossible while quietly reminding us that the world remains full of genuine mysteries. Absurdity, in an absurd moment, can be a comfort, or at least a moment’s respite from the ache induced by the weight of a heavy world. I have always experienced an uptick in awareness of the bizarre occurrences dancing just behind everyday curtains during my seasons of sadness; it seems to me that the ridiculous is the only member of the family that pain is still willing to sit down with, the conversation between them creating an atmosphere that is just a little easier to breathe in. In that spirit, I’ll end with a prediction: in a December 2001 issue, self-proclaimed time traveler Hyram Trowbridge revealed to government officials that Bat Boy would become president in 2028. His campaign slogan: “HE BITES FOR YOUR RIGHTS!”

“I don’t believe in ghosts. I don’t believe in ghosts.” Evers laughs at himself. In part because of how absurd it is to say that out loud. To feel compelled to remind himself he’s a rational person. Mostly though, he laughs because it calls to mind the Cowardly Lion’s timorous refrain: I do believe in spooks. I do believe in spooks. I do, I do, I do, I do, I do believe in spooks. “I don’t believe in spooks,” he says, trying on the impression. Then—as if to convince himself—he screams it, from the bottom of the staircase, up into the darkness. “I don’t believe in spooks!” His voice caroms off the walls of the old cracker house. A bleat of defiance that fills him with a confidence as durable and enduring as a chewing gum bubble. Because if he truly does believe that he doesn’t believe in spooks, why is he so convinced his dead girlfriend from thirty years ago is in his bedroom upstairs? Probably because of the dream he had last night. His first night back home in years. In his old bedroom, in his old bed. Of course he dreamed of her. She was covered in black plumage and perched on the hood of his truck. A line of dried clay split her face like a horizon, across the bridge of her nose. Above that line, she was as she was. The way he tried to remember her. Milk-white skin with just a touch of freckles. Those huge, wet, green eyes. Below that line, everything was caked and cracked and gray. Like sunbaked mud. Like a molting statue. She opened her mouth to speak, but instead she let loose a string of low, chittering hisses and croaks. A staccato of chirps and squawks. The sounds of carrion birds fighting over scraps. Then he woke up, impossibly, to the overwhelming scent of her. A cheap, department store body spray called Meadow Rain that she used to mask the musty smell of her dad’s old Army jacket. The same jacket she wore every day, over everything she wore, regardless of whether it clashed. For a moment, he was convinced the fragrance was simply a sliver of the nightmare that he had yet to fully slay; but it only seemed to deepen the longer he laid there. Laura had been the new girl in school. In town. In the country, really. She was an Army brat. A title she wore with pride. Like a gaudy epaulet on the shoulder of that damned giant jacket. She had stick straight, straw-blonde hair that swished around her shoulders and she cursed like a Wild West madam. Her eyes—if you could catch them before they rolled at nearly anything anyone said—were a paralyzing grass-green; and when she smiled, it looked like she had too many teeth. But in a good way. She had seen him play Bo, the lovesick rodeo cowboy in the school production of Bus Stop. It was a caricature of a performance. Shit-kickers and a secondhand Stetson, a big belt buckle and an over-the-top southern drawl. After the show, she elbowed past all the gushing moms and aunts and grandmas to tell him how great she thought he was. She’d seen him around and never would have guessed he had it in him. “You were really, really, funny. Honestly. And so sweet.” “Wow, thank you. So much, I—” “Wait, what happened to your accent?” “What accent?” “From the stage. Before. The Oklahoma thing you were doing.” “Well, that’s just… That’s the character. I don’t really talk like that.” “Oh really?” She frowned. “Damn. Oh well, never mind.” And then she turned and walked away. Left him standing there stammering, bewildered and bewitched, until finally she spun around and stuck her tongue out and laughed. “I’m kidding!” “Oh, okay, that’s good. That’s funny.” “My name’s Laura by the way.” “I’m Evers.” “Nice to meet you, Evers." “Likewise.” “Likewise? What are you, forty?” “People say likewise. It’s a real word.” “Okay. Well, the next time you see me you should ask me out.” “Maybe I will.” “Well maybe I’ll say yes.” “If I do, should I use the accent?” “It can’t hurt.” By the start of that summer, he was as big a fool in love as ever there was. A full foot taller from floating. They were seventeen. He spent every last nickel he made at the car lot on presents and flowers and burgers and fries, movie tickets and Twizzlers. They held hands and made up silly songs and she painted his fingernails. He met her parents. Had dinner with her family. Afterward, her father insisted on showing him all of his guns. For his birthday, Evers’s dad gave him a stubby little Japanese pickup with a quarter-million miles on the odometer. He and Laura would watch the Tuesday night softball games and afterward sit there in the truck and make out. She kissed him a different way every time. Like she was practicing for some future, worthier boy. Like she was trying out all the styles she’d seen in movies to find the one that worked best with her mouth. When the timer finally turned off the big outfield lights they would fumble through their own awkward baseball game, right there in the cramped cab of his Toyota. Usually, they pulled up at second base. A few times, they managed to leg out a triple. Most nights, before he dropped her off at curfew, they would stop at the video store and rent two copies of the same movie. One for each of them. When he got home, he would plug the extra-long cord he kept in his sock drawer into the telephone at the end of the hall and quietly drag it all the way to his room and wait for her to call. They tried as best they could to sync the two videos over the phone. Play, then pause, then play, then pause, until the sound mostly matched up. Then they would talk over the movies the whole time anyway, only occasionally referencing what was happening on screen. The big hair, or the big boobs, or some gratuitous axe murder. There were a few mornings he only realized he’d fallen asleep talking to her when his mother yanked the wire outside his door and tore the phone out from under his cheek. “Sorry,” he’d say, “sorry, sorry,” and scramble to collect the cradle and receiver. The first time it happened, she just shook her head and said, “Honey, I want you to remember something, for later on, when it feels like you’re gonna die: If it was supposed to last forever, they wouldn’t call it First Love.” Then she unclipped his not-sosecret extra-long cord and handed it back to him. It was sometime in late July, during one of their witchinghour phone calls, that Laura first mentioned the Night Birds. It would be easy, in retrospect, to call it a portent. They were the reason, she said, that she’d been so tired all the time lately. “The night birds?” “Yes.” “What night birds?” “I don’t know. They’re in the trees outside my window or on the roof maybe, but they wake me up, over and over, all night. They never stop.” “It’s probably just a mockingbird. They’re night singers.” “No, it isn’t a song. It’s not birdsong, it’s like… a screeching.” “A screeching—?” “THERE! THERE IT IS! Right there, do you hear that?” “No, I don’t—” “Here listen…” He heard the bed springs groan and the snap of a latch. He heard the window being wrenched open. But he didn’t hear any birds. “You hear that?” “I’m sorry I—” “SHUT UPPPP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!” The window slammed and the bed squealed again and there was silence for a long time. Then, softly, she said, “I wasn’t telling you to shut up.” “Oh I know. I know, it’s okay.” “I think I’m just homesick.” “But you always say you aren’t from anywhere.” “I know!” She laughed a little. “That’s why I feel so crazy.” “You’re not crazy.” “I miss the mountains.” The next night he packed a cooler with snacks and contraband beers and drove her out to the Wekseth phosphate mine on Barlow’s southernmost frontier. The truck wound its way along a service road flanked by massive settling ponds filled with a milky, blue-grey, slurry of water and clay. The entire place looked like an abandoned moon colony. Monotone and pocked with craters. On a ridge in the distance, a dragline crane the size of a gymnasium sat like the carapace of some enormous, ancient spider being uncovered in the sand. And then there it was, towering ahead of them, so tall she had to stick her head out the window to see the whole of it: Barlow Gypstack 3. A colossal, four-hundred-foot-tall pyramid of slightly radioactive phosphogypsum waste. The tallest mountain in Florida. “That’s not a mountain.” “I know. But it’s the thought that counts, right?” She smiled and kissed him. He spread a blanket out in the bed of his truck and they lay there for a while. He stared at her. She stared at the stars. There were three words in his mouth and he was working up the nerve to finally spit them out when she said, “Ev, we need to talk.” It had been one of the best summers of her life, she said. But she didn’t want to get too attached. It was always too hard when she had to leave. She thought it would be best, for both of them, if they went into senior year without any obligations to anyone else. No hurt feelings, no titles or commitments. It was their last chance to be reckless and free and have fun and she didn’t want to resent him. She hoped they could still be friends. He said it anyway, “I love you.” “Likewise,” she said. Then she asked if she could stay the night, one last time, so she didn’t have to hear the birds. Three months later, a worker at the Wekseth mine found her body in one of the giant clay settling ponds. At first, he thought an osprey or a buzzard had fallen in and drowned. Until he saw her bright green eyes. Open. Peeking out, just above the still, murky surface of the water. Her hair had been meticulously threaded through with vulture feathers. Dozens of them, all knitted into a strange, black headdress. Her new boyfriend confessed a few weeks later. Some soccer player with a ponytail. He said she insisted they drive out there because she wanted to see the mountain. They had an argument. He pushed her, she hit her head. He panicked and dumped her in the slurry pond. He thought the sludge might keep her under. He was insistent and emphatic, that he had nothing to do with the feathers. “Did you hear me?!” Evers takes two quiet steps up the stairs and says it one more time, louder, “I said I don’t believe in spooks!” Somewhere on the second floor, a phone rings. He yelps and retreats to the relative safety of the dogtrot. An exit at either end. He has half a mind to take one, right then, hit the turnpike and be back in Mobile by breakfast. Call his brother on the way out of town and tell him whatever is left he can keep it, or junk it, or sell it, or let it rot. Hell, he can burn it for all he cares. The house along with it. He swore when he left the last time, that it would be the last time. That he was never coming back. And yet here he is. Barlow sets its hooks in people. It might let you run for a while, but it always reels you back in. Hauls you up by your lip and has a good long look at you. Sometimes it throws you back. Sometimes it eats you up. The phone rings again. An analog, metallic trill that somehow proves nearly as transportive as the smell of Meadow Rain. The sound triggers a long-dormant Pavlovian response in him. He has to answer it. On the second floor landing he sees that the wall phone is missing. In its place, his super-secret, extra-long, sock drawer cord snakes around the corner and down the long hallway. He follows it, and the shrill, relentless ringing, to his bedroom, where he finds the old phone on his bedside table. He closes the door and sits and stares at it. He picks it up. A muffled hum of white noise crackles on the other end. “Hello?” he asks. And then, somehow, from somewhere, her voice: “Evers?” “Laura?... Is that really you? “Evers…” “How is this possible?” Then, she asks him, one last time: “Do you hear the night birds?” The cord snaking into his room suddenly pulls taut. The phone is torn from his hand. It clatters and smashes in a heap at the base of the door. And then, from the hallway, and the rooftop, and the trees outside his window, he finally hears them.

August is the heart of Florida’s rainy season. On a typical summer afternoon, towering puffy clouds build on the horizon before producing the thunder, lightning, and rain that many of us associate with summer. For lifelong Floridians, these daily storms are familiar and almost comforting. For newcomers and visitors, they can be surprising. Either way, lightning is one of nature’s most fascinating (and dangerous) phenomena. WHY DOES FLORIDA GET SO MUCH LIGHTNING? Florida is often called the lightning capital of the United States. The highest frequency of cloud-to-ground lightning in Florida occurs in the stretch of land between Tampa and Orlando … which includes us, here in Polk County! Florida is surrounded by warm water and receives intense sunshine throughout the summer. As the land heats up, warm air rises and cooler air from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean moves inland. These sea breezes help fuel the afternoon thunderstorms that are so common across the state. In Central Florida, where sea breezes from both coasts often meet, thunderstorms can become especially active. WHAT IS LIGHTNING? Lightning is a giant electrical discharge in the atmosphere. Inside a thunderstorm cloud, water droplets, ice crystals, and hail collide, creating areas of positive and negative electrical charge. When the difference becomes large enough, electricity suddenly moves between clouds or between the clouds and the ground. The air around a lightning channel can briefly become hotter than the surface of the sun. This intense heating causes the surrounding air to expand rapidly, producing the sound we know as thunder. Put simply, lightning is a massive electrical discharge that occurs within a storm cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground. Thunder is the sound created by that spark. Without lightning, there is no thunder. LIGHTNING’S ROLE IN NATURE Although lightning can be dangerous, it also plays an important role in Florida’s ecosystems. For thousands of years, lightning has been one of Florida’s primary natural sources of fire ignition in our ecosystems. These natural fires help recycle nutrients, reduce accumulated vegetation, and maintain habitats such as longleaf pine forests, sandhills, and pine flatwoods. STAYING SAFE Lightning can cause serious injury, damage buildings, and destroy electronics. One of the biggest misconceptions is that danger only exists when it is raining overhead. In reality, lightning can strike 8-10 miles away from a storm and even when the skies above you are blue and sunny! It’s also worth remembering that lightning does not need to strike you directly to cause injury. A nearby strike can send electrical current through the ground, especially in wet soil or water. A note about counting “Mississippi”: Many of us learned to count the seconds between lightning and thunder to estimate a storm’s distance. That’s fine for satisfying your curiosity, but I often see people use those calculations to justify staying outside longer. Remember, every five seconds equals roughly one mile. If you can hear thunder, you can continue debating the math … after you head inside. ALWAYS REMEMBER: WHEN THUNDER ROARS, GO INDOORS. If you hear thunder, move to a substantial building or a fully enclosed vehicle. Avoid pavilions, tents, dugouts, boats, and isolated trees. If you’re fishing, hiking, camping, participating in or coaching youth sports, or spending time at the beach, watch for warning signs that a thunderstorm is developing: • Darkening clouds • Shifting winds • A drop in temperature • Distant thunder Before heading outdoors, have a lightning plan. Know where the nearest safe shelter is and how quickly you can reach it. Florida’s weather has a reputation for being fickle and changing every five minutes. That may be the case but remember lightning can strike well away from the heaviest rain and even beyond the edge of the storm. Once in a safe lightning location, remain there until at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder. A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY Living in Florida means learning to live with thunderstorms. By paying attention to changing weather conditions and planning ahead, we can safely enjoy Florida’s lakes, trails, parks, and natural areas throughout the summer. If you’ve been here a while, I hope you learned something new about lightning that you can share with friends and family next time you’re watching nature’s fireworks during the next summer storm. If you’re new – well, you’ll get used to the rain, the lightning, the frequently changing weather, and believe it or not I truly believe you’ll come to love our rainy season in Florida. As we move through the peak of storm season here in Polk County, please take a few minutes to talk with your family about lightning safety. Consider your usual outdoor activities and discuss what a ‘safe shelter’ location looks like with kids. A simple plan today could prevent a tragedy tomorrow. For more information about lightning safety, including a link to the Naturally Florida podcast’s All About Lightning episode, visit my webpage at go.ufl.edu/HAVENLKLD.