The roar arrives before the view. At Sebring’s notorious turn seven, a tight and punishing hairpin, the bone-shaking sound of prototype V8 engines can be felt as much as heard. The most advantageous view of turn seven can be had by hotel balcony or elaborate homemade viewing towers constructed on site by campers and die-hard fans. Overlooking the track, spectators are introduced to one of endurance racing’s most famous and unforgiving corners. During the week of Twelve Hours

Generally, people don’t learn independence, independently. In the best of circumstances, the lesson of self-sufficiency is guided by a person/people with good intentions and care. In the case of the local, visually impaired community, Lighthouse is the guide. Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision is a non-profit organization that provides services and resources for the population in its title. The mission is for these individuals to be able to maneuver independent living acco

If you’re looking for a restaurant that feels like you’re visiting a dear friend of yours who made you a home-cooked meal, Maria Petit Food Boutique is the perfect spot. With antique wooden furniture painted in neutral and green colors, framed wall baskets with childhood trinkets and plants along the windowsills, it feels both welcoming and comforting from the moment you step in. “You get here, and you don’t feel like you’re eating at a restaurant. You feel at home, as if you

Bringing Hope and a Future to the Homeless of Polk County “But after so many years, I knew what to do with hope. I held it an arm’s length away.” — Laura Taylor Namey, “The Library of Lost Things” Hope is not an abstract concept for Travis Doodles. It is not something he studies from a distance or discusses in theory. Hope is something he encounters face to face— on sidewalks, in parking lots, beneath overpasses, and across folding tables set up for shared meals. In Lakeland,

Sometime in March 1974, the Betz family discovered a metal sphere on their property on Fort George Island in Jacksonville while investigating the aftermath of a small brush fire. Partially exposed in the scorched earth was a smooth metallic sphere, roughly the size of a bowling ball. It had no seams, no markings, no visible openings—nothing to indicate how it had been made or what it had once been used for. The family, Antoine, Jerri, and their son Terry, turned it over in th

It’s that time again, book lovers! Your indie bookstores are hosting the fifth annual Lakeland Book Crawl to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day (April 25, 2026). The Crawl will be a three-day event, running April 23–25, and culminating with a bookish afterparty at Union Hall on Saturday evening. Just like last year, participants can make their stops at all seven participating bookstores between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. every day of the crawl. Each store has its own unique vi

L. Shannon Graves comes from a boarding school background. It makes up his entire educational career of 30 years. From St. Petersburg to Hawaii, he’s worked for military and traditional boarding schools. He believes in them. And that belief is ever present as he speaks about the Vanguard School. “It’s a place where kids feel comfortable. Our faculty and staff are on campus. Our residential staff is on campus. Our coaches are on campus. And the students develop a real sense of

Whether you’ve heard of the three-year champion of the “Best of Florida Food Trucks” or not, you will now. Taco Riendo is a family-owned and operated Mexican cuisine food truck based in Lake Wales, FL, serving their food “Fresh, Hot and Authentic” since 2019. Taco Riendo originally began as an expression of love for sharing homemade tamales with individuals on the weekends out of a Thunderbird. It’s now grown into a family business serving an array of communities in Polk Coun

There’s a cherished tradition in Puerto Rico, when your cousin or uncle bursts through the door and announces, “I’ve brought the pitorro,” you know the party is about to begin. Pitorro, the island’s answer to American moonshine, is more than just a drink; it’s the heart of party culture, crafted in backyard stills and infused with fruit, then aged to perfection. Every region has its own recipe, and every family has their own secret method. Lugo’s Craft Distillery has carried

In the 1970s, the unexplained was never absent from the table — especially in Florida, where strange weather and stranger claims sometimes met. Psychokinesis, or “psi,” the ability to alter either the internal or external environment by mental effort alone, or “mind over matter” was discussed on television, tested in laboratories, and debated in newspapers. Cold War anxieties quietly fueled interest and created government-funded research programs to study whether consciousnes

When was the last time you truly danced the night away? For generations, dance has been woven into the fabric of society. I’m a product of the 80s, and dancing was not only on everyone’s minds and schedules, but it was encoded in our DNA. Your biggest decision on Friday and Saturday night was which club you would go to. The new age of the MTV VJ was in full swing, and country line dancing was still a bit far off on the horizon. In LA, where I was living, there were Goth clubs

When Concord first opened in 2015, the owners had little knowledge about running a coffee shop. However, after a decade of maturing in their craft, Concord embodies their vision. A place where you’re greeted with friendly smiles and conversations that go beyond your order. “It’s not just about selling them coffee,” said the owners, “but, it’s about seeing how they’re doing even when it’s busy.” Whether you’re enjoying delicious, house-roasted coffee made just the way you like

From the genius mastermind behind LoveBird Almost Famous Chicken, Jeremy Brumley strikes gold again. Grievous Angel offers “deceptively good burgers + dogs.” They offer five different burgers, pictured is the Peppercorn Saint with white cheddar, sautéed mushrooms, black peppercorn sauce, and arugula. All burgers are doublepatty smash burgers on locally-made potato buns, and they are SO wickedly good. The “dogs” are Snap-O-Razzo maple-smoked beef hot dogs in natural casings, n

Los Comadres Restaurante Mexicano y Marisqueria We’re going to tell you one of our secrets, because we really like you. We’ve been holding on to this for a while, and it’s time to share. One of our most favorite brunch spots of all time is Los Comadres Restaurante Mexicano y Marisqueria in Lake Alfred. This hidden gem serves up authentic Mexican dishes, and we seriously can’t get enough. First things first, it’s so cute inside, the prices are great, and the service is excelle

Every now and then you hear about a school that has a spark, a niche that makes it stand out amongst other institutions; one that wants to serve a particular purpose, which makes you smile and have hope for the students that get to attend. Other times you will hear about that one cool teacher featured on the local news for going full Ms. Frizzle meets Mr. Roger’s neighborhood leaving an impact as they dared to push the norm. This time you will hear about both. A spectacular s

We talked with Timothy Collette from Clean Pirate Life to learn about the fifth annual Foot the Chain Music & Waterski Festival happening in February. With a new sober living facility as the end goal, find out about the fun happening along the way to get there. HOW DID FOOT THE CHAIN COME ABOUT AND WHY? TC: Foot the Chain (FTC) started with a group of guys who came to Winter Haven every year after the holiday season, to warm up and barefoot waterski our beautiful chain of la

Dwight Icenhower, the legendary Elvis tribute artist, along with his wife, Vicky, who he proclaims to be a “rockstar that does everything but get on stage and perform,” have crafted a three-day, very intimate, multi- faceted experience for those who loved The King and Icenhower’s ultimate tribute to him. “When my wife and I first designed the weekend, we wanted it to be like a ‘Dwight Fan Retreat’ for the die-hard fans that have been with me for years and years,” explained Ic

Jack Spengler was born in Buffalo, New York in 1930. He shares his decades with a lightness that feels almost subversive in a climate that so often feels like rain on the day you planned the picnic—even testing the dispositions of those who keep the glass a quarter full and steady eyes on the silver linings behind unexpected clouds. Jack carries a pragmatic joy, as if he shook hands with what he couldn’t control, making friends with both rain and sunshine. He jokes about skip

Bringing back a citrus festival isn’t just about celebrating oranges and grapefruits—it’s about honoring the generations who helped shape it. Citrus built this region. Reviving a citrus festival reconnects us to that shared history and creates new memories for today’s families while supporting local growers and businesses. It’s a little nostalgia, a lot of community pride, and proof that some traditions are simply too sweet to let fade away. We sat down with Event Director Ly

Photo by Alexa King Stone Released independently on September 13, 1999, Mary Gauthier’s “Drag Queens in Limousines” introduced the world to a singular songwriter whose character-driven narratives centered on outsiders, those not considered the “normal” members of society. Like many of her musical heroes, including John Prine, Lucinda Williams, and Tom Waits, Gauthier used thoughtful lyrics and an unvarnished voice to illuminate the humanity within her characters, reminding li

If you had to choose, which would you pick: teaching an entire class of T. Rexes how to paint (reminder about the big heads and little arms) or participate in a figure drawing class of Lady Gaga in her meat suit, but you’re blindfolded, so you have to rely on touch and smell? For Sara Jones, Director of SPACE Art Collective, there is no choice. “T-Rex art class. Easy. Literally the same as teaching art to Kindergarteners, which I do on the regular.” Maybe one day T. Rex art c

The Black and White Photography class at Polk State College is far more than its name suggests. This foundational film course is a gateway to mastering the art and science of photography, offering students hands-on experience with 35-mm cameras, film processing and darkroom techniques that are unique in Polk County. Under the guidance of Professor Sarah Brewington, students like Candace Knoebel, Michael Comings, and Ean Pennypacker are discovering the timeless craft of film p

As evident by the many construction sites all across the city, Winter Haven is changing. New stores, new housing developments, and new recreational centers are being built and will result in the physical representation of the area’s growth. However, the ideals that permeate special pockets remain constant, such as those held by the 75-year staple that is the Ridge Art Association (RAA). RAA’s objective is to provide an open door for all to appreciate art, the literal creation

WHAT NOTTA? If Lakeland were the “small” town setting for a budding film festival romcom and the main characters met up for a day date, they would meet at Notta Gallery. With the farmers market in the background, they would stroll up the incline of N. Kentucky Ave. knowing Downtown was the perfect choice. There are just enough people around to not feel either secluded or overwhelmed. There is just enough happening to provide options just in case the date goes stale. They woul