Today & Tonight Magazine

By Amy Sumerlin

So, you’ve survived the first couple weeks of social distancing while working from home and starting your new job as a homeschool teacher.

But it’s the weekend, you’ve already cleaned all your closets, and that social side of you is just itching to come out.

You still have options. Fun ones at that.

“DINE OUT WITH TAKE OUT”

I know your second favorite “F” word is food (Friday is the first, right?) and Polk County is chock full of great restaurants that make other larger counties jealous.

Fortunately, most our local restaurants are still whipping up your favorites—you just have to eat it at home. In your PJs. Doesn’t sound so bad now, does it?

Many of these restaurants will deliver, too. For example, Smokin’ Jim’s in Auburndale delivered to a group of my co-workers in Bartow; he just requested that the group’s total hit at least $50. Heck, I could eat $50 of his pulled pork all by my lonesome.

I guess I shouldn’t say that word right now, should I?

Frescos

Located in downtown Lakeland, Frescos has started a Meals to Go Program – menus change each week – but the latest one I’m looking at included Creole Shrimp ($30 for two servings; $50 for four) or Beef Tenderloin Tips ( also $30 for two servings; $50 for four), among others. Better, you could add-on a bottle of wine for $15 or a bottle of their exclusive Frescos Barrel Pick Stranahans’ Cask Strength Single Malt for $40. To view their special weekly menus: https://frescoslakeland.com/ an-update-from-frescos/#weeklymenus also you can sign up online to be added to their email list for future menus, specials and promotions. Right now, they are also offering a buy $25 gift certificate, get an additional $5 for free.

Arabella's

Similarly, Arabella’s in downtown Winter Haven has created a to-go menu—and if you’ve never tried this Five Star restaurant, now is the time. The choices are awesome – including Veal or Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Marsala (that’s what I’m going to take home Friday night) and a Shrimp Greek Salad – and any of them are $12 per person. They are also offering a discount on their bottles of wine to also complete your meal. Menu changes, please check out their Facebook page for details @ArabellasRistorante. Call (863) 293-1797 to order. Their pizzeria, Bistro Pizza, next door is also offering great deals on pizza “to-go” as well as their regular menu: 2-2 topping 12” pizza $20, 2-2 topping 16” pizza $30, 2-2 topping 16” pizza & 12 piece wings $30! Call (863) 875-4894 to order. Check out their Facebook page for details @BistroPizza326.

**Great daily specials on pizzas "to-go".**

Tanner's Lakeside Restaurant

Tanner’s Lakeside in Winter Haven is offering Boat-in and Drive-in for to-go orders Friday, Saturday & Sunday. They are also offering beer, wine and other beverages to-go. Come by boat and enjoy a cool refreshing frozen drink while waiting for your food: Hurricane, Margarita, Pina Colada and Rum Runners. Ask for the 10% off to-go special at the time of ordering; offer valid until April 30th (restrictions may apply). Call (863) 662- 5948. Check out their Facebook page for details @ TannersLakeside

Flightline Café

Some of our local restauranteurs are serving up their offerings with a side of humor. Flightline Café at The Winter Haven Airport is offering a variety of packs for customers to pick up. For instance, their Meat Lovers Pack gets you four pounds of pulled pork, two pounds of beef brisket, two BBQ chicken breasts, and a pound each of coleslaw and baked beans for $55—a really good price, I think. One of their other packs, the Quarantine Pack, offers you a gallon of milk, six bottles of water, a dozen eggs, a loaf of bread, one pound each of ham, cheese, and bacon; six bags of chips – and a roll of toilet paper. Call (863) 875-5869 to order or for more details. Check out their Facebook page for details @ FlightlineCafe.

Born & Bread Bakehouse

Born & Bread Bakehouse is now offering online ordering for their Saturday bakes. New menu is posted on Facebook each week. Place your order and time slot, then drive to their shop on South Florida Ave in Lakeland. Check in and wait for name to be called when your order has been filled. These will be the best Croissants, Cruffins and Breads ever tasted outside of Italy and France! Limited quantities baked for each Saturday so place your order on the Wednesday before because their fans scoop up their baked goods fast! Check out their Facebook page for details @ BornandBreadBakehouse

Gourmet Goodies

My go-to bakery – is showing their resilience and humor several ways. If you’re kids are bored, check out their cookie kit—you get six sugar cookies, plus the icing and sprinkles to decorate them. Also available is the cupcake decorating kit for only $10. If you just want something for yourself, their toilet paper themed cookies will make you laugh. Better, they deliver with a $15 minimum order… and you get a free roll of toilet issue with every delivery order (while supplies last). And, of course, they have more than cookies. They have a large selection of yummy cupcakes, are true artists with cake decoration, and their cheesecakes are to die for. Call 863-318-1400 for more info. Check out their Facebook page for details @GourmetGoodies.

ONCE YOU GET IT HOME

Tired of eating out of Styrofoam? Bring out your best China. Light candles. Dine on the deck – a change of scenario is good!

GO SEE A MOVIE

Yes, I know – all the Cineplexes and Multiplexes are closed.

But don’t forget the option that was one of your parents’ favorites… the Drive In.

If you’re like me, you probably haven’t been to one of these since the last time you wore PJs with footies – but hey, why not?

Head to the Silver Moon Drive-In in Lakeland, at 4100 New Tampa Highway (did you know they’ve been open since 1948?). You’ll pay $2 for kids and $6 for adults – and that allows you watch two movies, in the comfort of your car, munching on popcorn. First movie begins at 8:15 PM. FMI: (863) 682-0849.

PLAY GOLF

As of press time, if golfing is pleasure, you’re still in luck – just avoid the high-fives and handshakes and make sure you are playing smart: Stay at least six feet away from other players; wipe your club handle down as much as possible; wash your hands at each restroom you pass; and you know that extra space in your golf bag next to your tees or balls? Put your hand sanitizer there. And use it.

Playing golf offers another bonus to avoidbecoming a complete couch potato—exercise. Justskip the cart if you can – that’s one less thing youmust touch. If you can’t avoid it, come preparedwith hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Wipedown the wheel, the keys, the seat, and the handles.

As of press time, the following courses werestill open: Bartow, Willowbrook, Country Clubof Winter Haven (private), Highlands Reserve,Dundee Road Driving Range, Streamsong, LilyLake, Grenelefe, Southern Dunes, Stonegate, Lake Wales Country Club, Oakwood Golf Club, Indian Lake Estates, Huntington Hills, Links of Sandpiper, The Club at Eaglebrooke, Grasslands (private), Lone Palm (private), Sanlan, Wedgewood, Big Cypress and Imperial Lakes.

HAVE A VIRTUAL PARTY

I can’t take credit for this idea – my friend Dianne texted me the other night and said, “How about we do a FaceTime Happy Hour Saturday night?”

It was a blast—it truly felt like we had a “real” party, and we have plans to do more of those with other friends.

In fact, we might take those next parties up a notch and do some of the following ideas:

ADD MORE PEOPLE TO THE PARTY

After that first FaceTime event, I looked into more options for dialing additional couples into the fun, all at the same time. I immediately signed up for Zoom, where the basic plan is free—but you are limited to 40 minutes. With Skype, you can host up to 50 people and party for four hours at a time.

PLAY GAMES

These parties can be more than just conversation. Host a trivia night or play Cards Against Humanity (you can download the game) or even Pictionary or Charades—check out the Mural platform for a virtual whiteboard.

VIRTUAL WINE TASTING

Grab (not literally) some of your wine loving friends and set up a Virtual Wine Tasting.

I mean, why not – you’re drinking anyway— let’s make this fun and educational. Some of the wineries currently setting these up include:

St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery: They will host a virtual tasting every Thursday afternoon (at 3:00 or 5:30 pm PDT). Each week they will focus on a different wine in a six-pack they’re making available at special rates. (Zoom is the platform; Facebook Live is the second option.)

Kendall-Jackson: Look for “At Home with Kendall-Jackson”, which will be a series of short-format virtual wine-tasting videos, broadcast to the winery’s Facebook and Instagram channels.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery will begin offering virtual wine tastings soon; tastings will be announced on its website, Facebook and Instagram.

HOST A NETFLIX PARTY

If you love movies, plan a virtual watch party. Download the Netflix Party extension in Chrome, and you and your buddies can watch the same Netflix movie at the same time. The extension features synchronized video playback (so everyone’s screen will pause and resume at the same time during “intermission”).

Better it also offers a chat room so you can compare notes on the actors, the plots, and more!

JUST GO WILD

I have one more option for you – another idea from one of my friends. The other day I logged onto Facebook and saw Portia posting Zoo photos. What?? Come to find out, Wild Florida in Kenansville (about 25 miles from Polk County) offers a Drive- Through Safari. Without ever leaving your car, you and your family will be able to observe wild animals such as giraffes, zebra, antelope, scimitar oryx, American bison, mouflon sheep, and more; their website says visitors will see over 100 native and exotic animals roaming freely.

Price is $15 for adults and $10 for children. FMI: wildfl.com; 3301 Lake Cypress Rd, Kenansville. (407) 957-3135.

This social distancing and pandemic will be a blip in time for our history and daily lives will get back to normal, hopefully very soon. Until then make the best of it and get creative to spend some “social” time with family and friends.

APRIL 2020 FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND WWW.TODAYANDTONIGHT.COM

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