On Sunday, Nov 8, Swan Brewing and the streets surrounding Lake Wire will once again become a gathering place for artists, performers, makers, and art lovers during this year’s Art Crawl. This year’s event will add something new to the experience: Street Stories, a community mural project created in partnership with Art Crawl. The partnership feels like a natural fit for two events with a shared goal: both are interested in what is happening here in Central Florida and in giv

Meet the people and discover the passion behind a world renowned bowling center right here in Polk County. Kegler may or may not, be a term you’re familiar with. I have to admit, it is one I just became aware of. Kegler is borrowed from the German verb kegeln, which means “to bowl,” and its first known use, according to Merriam-Webster, was in 1932. So, we can certainly say it has been around for some time, and so have its derivatives Kegel (bowling pin) and Kegling (bowling)

As the first 10 seconds tick away, Blake Conner, a semi-pro paintball competitor based in Polk County, knows it’s go time. Before the paint starts flying, Blake’s voice cuts through the anticipated chaos, calling out codes and directing his teammates with the strategy they need to execute their defensive and offensive plays. “Paintball is an adrenaline-heavy game, and when I’m playing, it’s with four of my best friends, who I’m not going to let get shot,” said Blake. “So at t

Gram Parsons will be formally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on November 14, 2026. His recognition falls in the Early Influence category. The Hall honored him as the visionary architect of country-rock, praising him for pioneering a cross-genre sound he called “Cosmic American Music,” which fused country, rock, soul, gospel, and folk. The official induction materials and remarks highlighted several key elements of his legacy: • Cosmic American Music: He was cele

In a pattern often attributed to the young, though not necessarily confined to the first quarter of life, the direction we take in pursuit of all things falling under the category of “destiny”—whether manifested in our interests, our chosen places, or some other sort of fate—tends to ensure that our compass points directly away from our own backyards, toward skies and scenery unfamiliar but better and different. They must be. So we go, and if we get the chance to return, we d

This month’s article is going to take a different path than many of my previous articles. I hope you’ll come along with me this month. Maybe you’ve felt it already. The cool air that signals Florida’s autumn has started to arrive. Though I’m writing this in October, the mornings and evenings are already beginning to crisp up. Will it still reach the high 80s some days? Probably. But after months of heat and humidity, even a breezy afternoon in the upper 70s to lower 80s can f