Vampire Penguin: Polk County’s Enchanted Parlor of Impossible Flavors This is the story of a magical shaved snow shop where each spoonful transports customers into the world the flavor was inspired by, a feast for the eyes and even better for your soul. When I walked into Vampire Penguin on a steamy Saturday afternoon, the dark brownish brick walls enveloped me in a cool, celestial, adventurous hug. I had stopped by the shop before it opened earlier in the year, so it was a d

Calling all art lovers, this one’s for you! I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with two artists in Polk County who are hoping to make a “splash” on the art scene come November. Gillian Fazio and Katerina Santos have a festival in the works running from November 6 through November 14, 2026, that is sure to knock your socks off. Coming from a shared love of each others’ work and a serendipitous meeting through murals at Disney Springs, Gillian and Katerina are the geniu

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mary Correa is the vice president of the Lakeland Arts Association and was kind enough to answer a few questions about the new Depot Art District in Lakeland. Learn about their vision for making art more accessible, their passion for community, and how they’re turning inspiration into impact. WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR THE DEPOT ARTS DISTRICT ORIGINATE? The Lakeland Arts Association (LAA) had long had a dream of having a physical location to host workshops and gallery space. Ove

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, tell me, which is the fairest festival of them all? The very first Rainbow Roots Festival, of course! Projected to be chock full of performances, history, stories, tasty food, and vendors, this event is sure to fill your brain, belly, and tote bag with all sorts of wonderful treats and treasures. Jason DeShazo, aka the incomparable Momma Ashley Rose, chatted with us about what to expect and how excited all of us Polk County residents should be to

Most of us take for granted the privilege of being able to read. Did you know that an estimated 24% of adults living in Lakeland are functionally illiterate? That means nearly a quarter of the adults living in Polk County’s largest municipality can’t read above a 4th-grade English reading level. Roughly one in every four adults that you pass in the Swan City might not be able to read “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis in English. On an even more basic level,

From curating the perfect lineup of vendors to swapping stories about rare finds, Jessi Zilka of Jesse Carl Vinyl gives us a glimpse into what makes this record fair more than just another stop for collectors—it’s a full-on celebration of sound. If you’re ready to step up your vinyl game, this is where it starts. TELL US ABOUT IT There’s a magic to being in one room with so many people who share the hobby of record collecting—it promotes camaraderie and acceptance. We knew La

You can debate the luxuries of 4-D, surround sound, IMAX experiences, and electronic reclining chairs till the credits appear, but born-and-raised Polk County residents will tell you the best place to see a movie in town has none of those. They’ll wax poetic about the Silver Moon Drive-In, and its Americana theater experience: the smell of popcorn, a freshly baked pizza on your dash, the sound quality that can only be achieved by speakers in an enclosed space, the prices that

A nostalgic coffee shop sits tucked into the Shoppes at Hallam. Its retro vibes and damn good coffee are all the reasons needed to add Pour Bear Coffee to your morning routine. “I’ve just got a love for coffee, so we decided to open this place,” said co-owner Jordan Bjorn. He and partner Rob Winters previously worked together at an engineering firm in Lakeland. The two were often on the road for work together. “We always liked trying different coffee spots,” Bjorn said. The p

The couple behind Lakeland’s favorite popup café is opening a bake shop! Gio and Gabriella Favilli-Vigoreaux have dreamed of opening a bakery since they were kids. What started as two separate culinary ventures operating out of the Catapult Kitchen Incubator, Vicky G’s and Casita Verde, combined to create Bandidas. A Central Florida native and first-generation American, Gio would travel to Nicaragua several times a year to visit family growing up. She delighted in meals made

The Light in a Dark Place Lorree’s faith is a gleam of sunlight hitting the water and reflecting in a million directions. Bright enough to catch and hold your attention. Brilliant enough with its aqua echoes to make you want to go for a swim. There’s just something compelling about this woman. She threads wisdom and tenderness throughout each sentence, sewing together the narrative of her life – a tapestry of good times and hard ones. Her’s is the story of a life lived in qui

Twenty-nine-year-old Russell was born in Fort Lauderdale. He was an only child for nine years before his little brother came along. The siblings didn’t exactly get along, but that’s changing now. “It was good at first, then it got bad, and it’s slowly working itself to where we’re starting to get along again,” he said. As a kid, he was into Hot Wheels, sports cards, and the WWE. As he got older, things got harder. Life no longer revolved around toy cars and favorite wrestlers

Talbot House Ministries has been serving the homeless since 1979. The organization offers food, shelter, free medical and dental care, residential recovery programs, employment training and placement, and affordable housing opportunities to those in need. Its aim is to empower the unhoused men and women of our community with purpose and self-sufficiency. Talbot House is the most comprehensive provider of homeless services in Polk County. “I believe we have the best, knowledge

Get your reading glasses and bookmarks ready – it’s time for the 2024 Lakeland Book Crawl! The annual bookish bash will take place April 22-27. The Lakeland Book Crawl is a six-day tour de force of books, books, and more books! The book crawl aims to bring booksellers, book lovers, and the greater Lakeland community together. Stop at each store throughout the week and meet the owners and staff, purchase books from local booksellers, and join along in the fun and unique experi

For the first time since 2014, the Florida Mission of Mercy (FLA-MOM) will take place in Polk County. The free, two-day dental clinic hosted by the FDA Foundation is slated for May 31 – June 1, 2024, at the RP Funding Center (701 West Lime St., Lakeland). The FDA Foundation, which started in 1980, is the philanthropic arm of the Florida Dental Association. Over the years, they’ve given back to the community in various ways, from dental scholarships to support for clinics and

You’ve just received the news. It’s breast cancer. The diagnosis shatters you. Questions pile one on top of the other in your mind. What are you going to do? What toll will the treatment take? Are you going to lose your breasts? Are you going to lose your life? How will your family cope? How will you afford medical bills on top of all your basic needs? This is a familiar crisis to many women across Central Florida. Thankfully, there is an organization that seeks to ease the b

Approximately 140,000 visitors meander the galleries at Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College annually. Boasting more than 3,000 works of art in their permanent collection – including works by Rembrandt, Andy Warhol, Faith Ringgold, Pablo Picasso, Miriam Schapiro, James Rosenquist, Barbara Kruger, Chagall, Damien Hirst, Hung Liu, and others – the Smithsonian affiliated institution is bursting at the seams. The Museum was founded in 1966 by the Junior Welfare League o