First Friday Downtown

Downtown Lakeland was jumping last night at the monthly First Friday event. This was my first time attending as a newcomer to town, as much as I like Lakeland I must say I was impressed. Several streets where shut down for live music and other activities such as a classic car show. You could even get a portrait done by a local artist. Munn Park was filled with booths for Lakeland Public Works, local businesses and organizations, the parking adjacent to the park was full of Public Works vehicles which kids of all ages enjoyed. It was a very lively atmosphere and lots of fun.

If you haven't been to a First Friday downtown yet, check out upcoming events here at the Lakeland Downtown Partnership's calender. Come on downtown, you'll have a great time. The theme for June 5th is "Schools Out For Summer" sounds like fun to me, I hope to see you there.

The Shadows of Frank Lloyd Wright

Shadows are the theme this month in the City Daily Photo community. I saw lots of interestinf shadows around town the last few weeks. But these from the esplanade of Frank Lloyd Wrights Child of the Sun collection of buildings at Florida Southern College won in the end. The play of light and shadow was one of many things Frank Lloyd Wright excelled at in his designs. Which I think shows up very well here.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

On Location

I had heard that there was a movie being filmed here in Lakeland, and I happened to be in a location where shooting was taking place. It's an independent film called Endure, doesn't really look like my cup of tea, but it's still cool to see a movie in production.

Front Porch

As I was walking around one of the older neighborhoods I saw this rocker sitting on a front porch. It looks so inviting and a reminder of a life lost in the suburbs. Fortunately that life isn't lost in neighborhoods like this. I found it easy to be neighborly and strike up a pleasant conversation with people on their porches here even though I live out in the burbs.

Brooke Pottery

As I get to know Lakeland I will be sharing some of the businesses that I like here. Brooke Pottery is absolutely one of them. I was very much attracted to this store the first time I visited Lakeland.

It is a great collection of many types of American crafts in a wonderful atmosphere. The selection is delightful as is the friendly staff, one of whom I seem to have caught adjusting lighting.

Historic Walking Tour

Sorry for the downtime of the last couple days, I started blogging Lakeland before actually moving here. Now I am here, I love it, and I have Internet access up and running again.

Yesterday I had a very enjoyable morning on an historic walking tour of Downtown Lakeland. This free event put on by Downtown Lakeland Partnership is just one of many events they host downtown. This Friday will be First Friday a monthly celebration with artists, music, and fun for everyone. I'm looking forward to my first one.

On the walking tour we didn't just walk by buildings, we got special access to several. One in particular we got access to a closed second floor. Several people including myself thought it held great potential for loft type living. Hopefully that will be something the building owners will pursue in the near future, I'd sure be interested.

In another building we had access to a private rooftop terrace, I got some great photos there that will be showing up here. That was also a building, overlooking Lake Mirror and downtown, which I need to seriously look at living in!

Earth Day

Earth Day Post

HELP WANTED NOW! The earth needs your help. This isn’t a photo of Lakeland today, although Florida is sticking out under the Help Wanted sign!

This is a reminder that the most important cause on the planet IS the planet. I know there are many important causes so that’s a bold statement. Simply put, if we don’t respect this planet, all other causes, everything else will cease to exist.

Find out how you can help respect, protect, preserve, and enhance our environment while making a living. This is a cause that can pay and we need help NOW! This IS the time for action. Go to Go Free Go Green and call the recorded message at 1-646-222-0163 to learn more.

Go Free Go Green is officially launching today, April 22nd, Earth Day 2009. We invite you to join us and make a living making a difference.

Call tonight to listen to special Go Free Go Green Live Launch Conference Calls at:

Pacific 2:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:15 pm
Mountain 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 8:15 pm
Central 4:00 pm, 8:00 pm, 9:15 pm
Eastern 5:00 pm, 9:00 pm, 10:15 pm

The number to call is
1-712-432-7641 pin code 76879#

There will be a lot of great information on these special calls tonight! Take Action NOW, let’s work together to help save our planet and build a better future. We can live AND make our living more responsibly, but we must take action NOW!

All My Best,

David

Hot Dog Stand

It had been a long time since I had a hot dog and they smelled so good that I couldn't resist. So Jim put together my hot dog while I took a couple photos, I really like the colors and lighting in this photo. Thanks Jim the Hot Dogs where great, if you are around Munn Park in Downtown Lakeland stop by to get a dog and say hi, they are there 6 days a week.

Neighborly Street

A challenge is presenting itself to me as I go around Lakeland taking photos, that is posting JUST one a day here! This town is so charming it's hard to limit myself, but that is one of the rules of the City Daily Photo community so I will do my best. However, I probably took over 100 photos on just this street alone.

Nestled between and around lakes Morton and Hollingsworth are street after tree covered street of delightful older homes like these. Last night I had a business call for Go Free Go Green and I sat on a bench overlooking Lake Morton just down from these homes, what a wonderful place to do business!

Youth Orchestra

Here I am in a new city where I know virtually no one yet. Friday I was looking online at what events there might be to go to. I saw a listing for a free symphony at Florida Southern Collage, so I went. It was the Polk County Schools All County Orchestra Festival and these kids in grades 7-12 put on an extremely impressive performance. Polk County Schools have in fact garnered national recognition including a prestigious Kennedy Center Award for their arts programs. After attending this concert I can easily understand why.

As I was looking at moving to Lakeland I had some people asking why I'd what to move from where I was to Lakeland, implying that it was a step backwards. I am finding it anything but. It is a very friendly smaller city with many beautiful areas, it has an ideal location between two major cities (Tampa and Orlando) and maintains it's own great sense of place with a delightful downtown area, rolling hills, lakes, a fantastic park system, an active small collage scene, and a flourishing arts culture. I am very glad that I made the move and recommend Lakeland to others.

Downtown Children's Festival

Munn Park in downtown was alive with families today. The children's festival had lot's of fun activities for kids and great information for parents. It was a perfect day for it as well which I'm sure brought a lot of people out for the fun.

Old City Hall

This wonderful brick building is Lakeland's old City Hall established in 1913. I just had to see what the inside was like so I got a tour of it today (sorry no photos) it has been very respectfully updated with one corner office still having the exposed old brick.

City Hall needed more space and built a new building, this historic structure is now home to Heacock Insurance. Mr. Heacock was one of the first people I met on a recent exploratory trip to Lakeland before moving. It would be hard to imagine a nicer person, except that I have met a lot of exceptionally friendly and helpful people here.

Train Station

I don't know who the architect is, but ever since I first saw it I thought Lakeland's train station was very nice. It is also well placed with a commanding view of Lake Mirror and downtown.

This post is also symbolic, as this is my last post before moving to Lakeland. I hope to start posting again in just a day or so. However, due to my current situation I'm doing this move on a wing and a prayer, so we'll see. I'll get back to this as soon as I can.

Green Grotto

This lush green grotto is one of many "rooms" in Hollis Gardens on Lakeland's Lake Mirror. With the many green plants on the walls, water falling down the walls, and small lily pond in the center, I find this grotto to be a refreshing and rejuvenating delight.

Butterfly/Swan

There are wonderful butterflies and swans all around Lakeland, one artist beautifully combined both into one.

Happy Easter

Easter to me is about renewal, joy rising from darkness. In these tough times that is needed by most everyone. Whatever your faith may be I am wishing you a relaxing and renewing day full of friends, family and joy!

Boarding

I saw these two guys boarding down the street the other day. It looked like they where having a great time and it was an almost perfect day. The kind of day that was just meant to be enjoyed.

Kentucky Ave.

Mature trees, flowers, outdoor seating at many restaurants, a mix of old and new. Downtown Lakeland is a very inviting people friendly place.

Lakeland Chamber of Commerce

The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce is located in an attractive old Spanish style building. This photo is taken from close to the swan in yesterday's photo. I often like framing my views with trees and such.

I have been in some chambers where I have been ignored even when someone was sitting at the front desk. At the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce I've always been warmly greeted every time I've gone in, even if no one was at the front desk! They have always been most helpful, the chamber here is clearly staffed by people who love their city and welcome people to it.

Lake Morton View

This nice uphill view of another of Lakeland's many lakes was shot across Chamber of Commerce property. The Chamber enjoys a very attractive setting here on Lake Morton and of course they have one of lakeland's artful swans as well. (in the shade at the bottom of the photo)

Fountain Plaza

Hollis Gardens with this delightful fountain plaza and trellis is one of the most enjoyable and beautiful places that I have been in many years. It's an absolutely wonderful place and one of Florida's little known hidden treasures. I hope that you will have the opportunity to discover it for yourself.

On Kentucky Ave.

Several blocks of Kentucky Ave. are very nice with park space in front of the buildings and art. Also a bit of a missed opportunity to me. I think these nice blocks would be even better if the buildings had store fronts rather then just single entries.

Sunday in the parks

Lakeland has one of the best parks systems that I have seen. They are great places to enjoy on Sunday or any day. Here are Hollis Garden an exquisite botanical paradise and a great place for taking photos. Beyond that is Barnett family park with three very nice building that can be used for events, in addition to children's play areas and nice places to sit back and relax. Both are on the Lake Mirror Promenade.

Saturday Market

On the plaza of a federal building in downtown Lakeland, there is a Farmers Curb Market every Saturday (and now Wednesdays too). I thought of showing some of the fresh produce, but this shot of the plaza is rather interesting.

Frank Lloyd Wright in FL

Florida Southern College in Lakeland is the home of the largest on site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. This photo includes two of my favorite buildings on campus the William H. Danforth Chapel and the semi-circular Thad Buckner Building which also houses a visitor center.

Munn Park

The heart of downtown Lakeland is Munn Park. This is a very inviting place with huge old oak trees and beautiful landscaping. Several restaurants across the street have outdoor seating that are almost always full with people enjoying this setting.

Butterflies Too!

Yep, there are artful butterflies around town as well. This one has been moved to a great knew park since the photo was taken. I’m showing it because I wanted a photo of Munn Park right in the heart of downtown today, but I also wanted to participate in the City Daily Photo theme day.

The theme today is yellow and this fit’s the bill wonderfully! Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Mosaic Swan

In addition to live swans, artful ones can be seen in locations all around town. In fact there is an abundance of public art in Lakeland, just another of the nice things about it. Right now this one, just outside city hall, is my favorite but I’m not sure that I’ve seen them all yet, and there are many other very nice ones. As I get around town I seem to keep discovering others that I hadn’t seen before. There are also several rather large artful butterflies as well.

This swan suffered some damage and is now missing a few tiles, I’m glad that I got this photo before that happened, and I hope it can be repaired soon. I don’t know what caused the damage, but this is the only one that I’ve seen any damage on at all. That is remarkable in most communities.

Swans Nesting

Swans have graced Lakeland for many decades, they are descendants of swans gifted to the city by Queen Elizabeth of England in 1957. This pair I found nesting in the corner of a parking lot just up from Lake Morton.

Lake Mirror from downtown

Here is another view of Lake Mirror this time from Downtown. Across the lake you can see the stair stepped lawn amphitheater in Barnett Park, that is a location for frequent concerts and movies. With the street going down to the lake here and the park rising from the lake this photo shows another aspect of Lakeland that I like over much of Florida. There is a somewhat hilly rolling landscape here that is very nice. Most of Florida is very flat.

First Post

I Chose this for my first post as it shows several elements of Lakeland that I like so well. 1st, Lakes. This is one of many lakes in the city, Lake Mirror is right downtown and has a delightful pedestrian promenade around the whole lake. 2nd, Parks. This photo was taken from Hollis Garden an incredible public botanical park, it is right next another park with play areas, a lakeside amphitheater, and more, just two of many wonderful parks in this city. 3rd, Downtown. Just over the tree tops is a hint of downtown Lakeland. This city's downtown has a charm and sense of place that is hard to match in ANY city in Florida.