Hello Friday.
March 29 2024
Fans of “My Girl”, rejoice — You could own a piece of the action.
The heartbreaking classic has ties to Polk County and is trending online this week as the famous Bartow home hit the market.
Anna Chlumsky + Macaulay Culkin on the porch of the Bartow home | Giphy via YouTube
Due to the popularity of the film and the novelty of the home, the listing is the highest clicked link on Realtor.com, currently boasting tens of thousands of views.
The buzz around the property comes as no surprise to the current owner, Sam Brunt, who purchased the home back in 2019, with the hopes to restore the home to its former glory as an inn.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, Sam must move on and find a new owner to pass the baton to, though Sam has completed much of the renovations already.
Back in its heyday, the home served as a bed and breakfast, featuring 6 suites, 7 fireplaces, an enticing wrap-around porch, and of course, a generous pool out back. The 7,508-sqft. Victorian is listed at $675,000 and is located at 555 E. Stanford St.
If you could #BeTheBroker, what would you do with the home?
Don't ditch Macaulay Culkin twice in 1 year...
- Turn it into a museum
- Finish the restoration + open it as an inn
- Keep it as a family home
- Flip it entirely + update it
TryThis
- Tasty Tuesdays | Tues., July 20 | 4:30-9:30 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | $25 | Purchase your ticket package + sample selections from participating downtown local restaurants. 😋
- Virtual Knit Night | Tues., July 20 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Join + connect with Four Purls Yarn Shop for this virtual knit night event.
ForKids
- Tails and Tales | Tues., July 20 | Tues., July 20 | 10-10:30 a.m. | Lakeland Public Library | Free | Be sure to register before attending this in-person story-telling event for children. 📚
Show
- Molly’s Open Mic | Tues., July 20 | 9 p.m. | Molly McHugh's Irish Pub | Free | Whether you’re looking to participate or simply observe + grab a brew, the floor at Molly’s is open starting at 9 p.m.
PlanAhead
- Yoga a Tu Ritmo | Wed., June 21 | 7 p.m. | Ultimate Dance Center | $10 | This restorative yoga class is suitable for adults and children and focuses on activating metabolism, improving posture, increasing flexibility, and restoring a sense of calm.
- VIP Food and Wine Experience — Spanish Wines and Tapas | Sat., July 24 | 6 p.m. | $25 | Enjoy a tantalizing selection of chef-inspired tapas paired with Spanish wines. 🍷Ⓟ
This is part of our Voices series featuring Ayecia White, a female powerlifter born and raised in Lakeland, FL. Want to join the conversation? We invite you to write for us. Learn how to share your voice here.
I was born in Bartow and raised in Lakeland all of my life. I have seen just how much this county has grown over the last 30+ years in diversity and culture.
My father Samuel Bryant Sr. is a Polk County native who is very active in the community in both social and political events. My mother Carolyn Bryant, who has also lived in Polk County for over 30-years, is an assistant principal at Rochelle School of the Arts.
I intend on making my mark in my hometown just like my parents and do so via health, fitness, and showcasing just how beautiful being strong really is!
Seven years ago, my life took a dramatic turn. I was severely overweight, depressed, and barely surviving each day. I was trying my best to adjust to my new normal after escaping a domestic violent relationship of 5 years.
I desperately wanted to take my life back, but I just didn’t know how. I started working out 6-7 days a week and sometimes twice a day to drown out the voice’s depression. While doing so, I lost 80 pounds on my own with a combination of clean eating and exercise.
Fast forward 3 years later, and I was introduced to the sport that would change my life forever…powerlifting.
Weather
- 90º | SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS | 50% chance of rain
Civic
Development
- New townhouses are coming to Lake Parker in the near future after local officials approved a zoning change. The complex will feature 32 units across 4-acres along Druid St., called Lakeshore Landings. (The Ledger)
- The City of Winter Haven is planning to provide more opportunities for outdoor dining downtown. The city’s CRA program allocated around $400,000 for the project to redesign the sidewalks and their corresponding cafes. The finished product could be complete by the end of 2021 or early 2022. (The Ledger)
Dish
- Lunch, plans, anyone? Ole Tampa Cubans announced a brand new “grab ‘n go” option for its Lakeland location only. Patrons can grab a fresh Cuban, Mon.-Sat., from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., pay, and hit the road. 🎉
ForKids
- The Lakeland Police Department is hosting a Peace Teen Summit on July 30 for teens ages 13-18. The event will kick off at 9 a.m. and will act as a platform to educate local youth on federal, state, and local laws. Admission is free.
Cause
- Veteran educator + director of the Polk County Early Learning Coalition Marc Hutek is in need of a kidney transplant after experiencing issues with his kidneys late last year. Want to help? Click here for more information. (The Ledger)
Regional
- Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival is back at Walt Disney World. Visitors can try food and drink from around the world at each unique booth across the World Showcase from now until Nov. 15.
- With growing concerns over red tide across Gulf Coast beaches, be sure to stay up to date with the latest coverage + trackers for all things beach safety. ⚠️ (WTSP)
FactOrFiction
- Installing a UV light air purification system to your AC unit can eliminate indoor air contaminants, like mold, bacteria + allergens, and improve air quality. Fact or fiction? Answer here. 🌬️ Ⓟ
Polk County Fire chaplains are finishing up stints in Miami last week to assist with the Champlain Towers recovery mission.
Chaplains Murphy Hanley, Sherri Grimes, and Bill DeHart traveled south to answer a request from the Miami Dade Fire Rescue to work alongside other firefighters and medical personnel to provide both emotional + spiritual support.
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Answered: Friday, we asked you if you’d be interested in a shipping container alley right here in Lakeland and if so, where would it work. Here’s how 276 of you voted:
- 60% of you said “Along one of our lakes needing development”
- 15% of you said “A small-scale version in Munn Park”
- 15% of you said “Somewhere in Polk...just not Lakeland”
- 10% of you said “This won’t work here”
💭 Say Hello: What do you want to know about your city?
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