January 2018 by Today & Tonight Magazine

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JANUARY 2018

Pints for Paws: Lakeland Beer Fest Returns New Location, New Date, New Look! By Elizabeth Morrisey

Bring your furry friend and grab a beer at the 5th Annual Pints for Paws Lakeland Beer Fest and help benefit the Humane Society of Polk County. This year, there is a new date and venue. It's also presented and hosted by Bernie Little Distributors; a Central Florida distributor of the popular Anheuser-Busch products. “I’ve been to other beer fests and I felt Lakeland needed a good one,” says Stephanie Eck, Bernie Little’s on premise sales manager. And Bernie Little Distributors has a huge passion for animals. “It promotes our products, and also helps the Humane Society of Polk County.” The event, now being held at the Lake Mirror Promenade January 19, will feature 100 different brands of beer, a free souvenir pilsner glass, live music, food trucks, giveaways and vendors. Apollo Peak will also have samples of doggie beer, such as Mutt Lyte, and a vendor will be giving free dog dental exams. Eck says they are expecting 1,500 attendees and about half usually bring their dogs. And 100 percent of the profit goes right back to the Humane Society.

4 JANUARY 2018

Tracey Greene, president of the board of directors, says the money will go towards the organization’s general operations such as food, immunizations, spaying and neutering. “It costs $1,600 per day to keep the shelter open,” she says. Two years ago, the Humane Society of Polk County, a no-kill shelter, opened their NEW 12,000-square-foot eco-friendly facility in Winter Haven on Dundee Road. They now have larger areas for the dogs to be housed, the cat areas are very large with lots of room to play and similar age cats live together, separate in-take areas and waiting rooms for animals that have been surrendered until they can given a clean bill of health. All animals will also be spayed or neutered before being able to be put up for adoption. “The animals are healthier and happier,” Greene says. “"There will always be a need to help animals. We are their voices when they have none!” The Humane Society takes finding the perfect families for their animals seriously. “The animals stay here until

they find their fur-ever home. There is an interview process to make sure it is a good fit for the animal and the human,” Greene says. She feels the big move to the Lake Mirror Promenade is a better fit for the event and for the community. "I think the community will be really happy with the changes to this year's event." So far, ticket sales are up over last year, says Eck. They are $45 for advanced tickets and $60 day of the event. Our adoption trailer will be at Pints for Paws with some animals that need adopting, says Lisa Baker, executive director of the Humane Society. “I think it will be a great turnout. There will be more vendors this year,” she says. “We are really thankful for Bernie Little’s support. Every dollar we get will be wonderful.” Pints for Paws Lakeland Beer Fest 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. January 19 Lake Mirror Promenade Downtown Lakeland

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Pop

Culture

By Mary Joye

Is It Easter Yet Another year has come and gone. Resolutions are being made and time is fleeting. I don’t make resolutions on the first day of the year. When you think about it a year is composed of only 365 days and that only has 52 Saturdays, so why waste them making resolutions that seem impossible to keep? I wait until Lent to give up or change a habit. That way I have guilt working in my favor for once. There are also chocolate bunnies when Easter Sunday comes to look forward to when Lent is over. Deprivation, preceded by Mardi Gras and followed by chocolate seems an odd way to celebrate, but it has worked for centuries. This year Lent begins on February 14th which if you care about Lent could really put a damper on Valentine’s Day. But first things first. This is the beginning of a new year and maybe a new you. If New Year’s resolutions work for you, then by all means make them. Most people break them. Note when you go into a store in January how they have sales on low calorie foods and work-out devices. Gym memberships rise astronomically in January. By March, no one is marching on treadmills anymore. Thanks to retail stores that devote racks to holidays alone, we are constantly reminded of the holidays quickly passing by one display after another. Halloween is on the clearance rack as they set up Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then it’s on to New Year’s, Valentine’s Day and Easter is right around the corner. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day keeps

the greeting cards going in between, then it is time for July 4th. Then somehow, magically, it’s Halloween again. Candy. Ham. Candied Yams! Feasting, fasting, feasting, fasting. It all happens so fast. Yes, it will be Easter before you know it. Time does seem to fly. In fact, if you live to be one hundred years old you only will have 36,500 days to live. Yes, it’s true. You only get 36,500 days if you live to be a hundred. Don’t let that scare you. If you look back to one hundred years to 1918, it seems like forever. However, don’t wait forever to make a resolution to enjoy your life now. It’s not about the holidays but the days in between. It’s about now. If I did make a resolution this year, it might be to enjoy life now. I will ignore the barrage of holiday reminders and remind myself to celebrate every day in some way for something. Saying yes to things you want to do is just as important to saying no to donuts. Look at resolutions in a positive, not punishing way. Many of us are trying to LOSE weight. LOSE is a negative word. So, say I am working on GAINING HEALTH this year. We use such negative terms to live life in between the holidays, no wonder we need the holidays to make us feel better! I wish that you all have a wonderful New Year full of life, love and happiness! (Remember you have approximately 330 days to shop for Christmas). QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS info@todayandtonight.com

September 7, 2015

King Features Weekly Service

POP OFF

a “To make any photo a magnet for your fridge, simply glue it to those thin business magnets you get from time to time. There’s always one for a law office on the front of my phone book. I just print out a picture and trim it to fit the magnet. Done!” -- T.D. in Alabama

• “When moving, usewonderful foam plates a Got a calendar that has picas but separators your plates. ture the datesfor from last dinner year? Cut out the Use kitchen to wrap You serving picture and havetowels them laminated. can use platters. If you have box of that sepathem as placemats for allakinds things. rates glasses, drop a spice jar into each

all tip: the Insert space,a tablet and you’ll aglass. Here’sUse a travel into a large have bag fewer move.” P.L. into plastic andboxes hang to it from the — headrest South make theCarolina back seat a theater seat on road trips. If the middle seat isstubborn empty, make a slide-proof • To remove hard-water tray to keepfrom snacksa and otherhead items(withcorralled. deposits shower Atout oneremoving end of a plastic binthis (try trick: a shower it), use Addcaddy from theofdollar slits through both a cup plainstore!), white cut vinegar to a zipbottom sides, thenbag thread middle seat’s per-topofsandwich (or the a larger bag lap beltadded through it. It should stay put! with vinegar to fit larger show-

erheads). Submerge the shower head in the vinegar and draw the plastic bag up tightly around the stem. Use a rubber band to secure the bag around the shower head. Leave overnight. Remove, scrub and shower to release the deposits. • Borax can be used to keep sidewalks free of weeds. Simply sprinkle a little Borax on the sidewalk and sweep into the cracks. This is a very effective weed killer, but it also will kill your grass if you use too much, so keep it in the cracks only! • ADD “Have DASH a stripped Place a TOscrew? YOUR DIET wide rubber band over the head and insert drill. The rubber band fills Withyour the New Year come new promises to in better, the stripped spots andandmakes the eat lose weight, exercise improve our drill catch screw. Itgluttony works ofme, health and well-being. The ofmost theTo holidays I love tothetalk about food. the time.” —universal D.D. inintentions Nebraska combined with our good for a denomnew year food is the common have us redoingaudio our grocery lists, ouror pantries • “Make recordings short inator, because everyone has to and eat. our diets. of Some people are disciplined enough to eat videos you reading your children’s Imodest loveamounts talking with strangers about of whole however, favorite books, thenfoods. playOthers, for them the foods they loved as a when child, or appreciate more and that is a strucwhen you areguidance, busy doing housework, recipes they like to prepare, because tured meal plan can be of great value. working or cooking.” — K.A. in OreThe DASH Dietare (which stands for “Dietary those stories often some of their gon Approachesmemories to Stop Hypertension”) was developed happiest and a window • If you have a sticky zipper, try run-into through research funded by the U.S. National Institheir culture. ningof aHealth candle the zipper face, and tutes as a along way to lower blood pressure My the special then zipping it upRoasted and Studies downVegetable a fewback to reduce use of medications. dating Croustade recipe is a times. its start in 1993 show that it’s ancrowd-pleaser. effective way to lose It’s a and great appetizer or side weight reduce thetorisk of many diseases. Send your tips Now Here’s adish Tip, for My who recipe for The Kitchen Diva’s Detox Soup is folks aren’t vegetarians, a FL lovely 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, a32803. nutrition-packed bowlful of goodness that’s based main course for those who are, and

Croustade Will Tempt Even Non-Vegetarians

a DASH dietway recipe.to This soup has a high amount aondelicious form bond with © 2015 King Features Synd.,aInc. of potassium, iron and calcium, and is wonderful new friends and old. for cleansing your digestive system and flushing out toxins ROASTED to kick start a healthier new year. It contains VEGETABLE plant-based proteins, antioxidants and healthy fats, CROUSTADE and best of all, you can eat it several times throughout the day, ifthe desired. To Roast Vegetables:

cup olive oil, divided

KITCHEN DIVA’S DETOX SOUP 3 red and Soaking the potatoes, chia seeds in scrubbed water makes them quartered easier to digest, and their nutrients are better absorbed assimilated in your body as they 2 andyellow squash, sliced into“sweep” through your intestinal systemslices to eliminate the 1/2-inch-thick buildup of waste. 10 Brussels sprouts, halved 1/2 cup water greenchia onions, 24tablespoons seeds root ends removed 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil or coconut oil 1/2 peeled andinto diced1/2-inch 1 medium largeonion, carrot, cut 2 tablespoons piecespoultry seasoning 1 teaspoon cumin 2 celery roots, peeled, trimmed 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper and cut chopped into 1/2-inch pieces 2 cloves of garlic, offrozen garlic, 31cups large broccolihead (fresh or andseparatthawed) 1/4 pound spinach leaves (fresh or frozen and ed into cloves, smashed and thawed) peeled 1 bell pepper, chopped 1 teaspoon salt 2 carrots, trimmed and chopped teaspoon blackchopped pepper 21ribs of celery, trimmed, tablespoons Italianroughly seasoning 12handful fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped 1 tablespoon lemon sugar or lime juice or organic 1/4 teaspoon

1. Heat the oven to 400 F. Pour 1/2 SIGN UP FOR OUR NEW WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER AT WWW.TODAYANDTONIGHT.COM cup of the olive oil on a large sheet pan or jelly-roll pan, 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 by 1 inch, coating pan with the oil.

a Make a cup (or bottle) cozy by cutting the top and bottom off of an odd sock. It slips on, and the cup stands on its own. Slip water bottles into long socks to keep the condensation from affecting other items in your bag or backpack.

a “Freshen or dust stuffed animals by putting them through the dryer for 20 minutes. Secure small ones inside a pillow case for extra security. Add a couple of dryer balls and softener sheets if they are coming out of storage.” -O.S. in Texas a Got a fitness resolution? You’re not alone. Get a buddy so you can hold each other acountable. We are more likely to keep an exercise routine going if we have standing plans with others.

appleremaining cider vinegar 1/2 cup of oil, the the Spiced Roasted Chickpeas for topping, optional, potatoes, squash, Brussels sprouts, see recipeonions, below green carrot, celery roots, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning 1. Pour the water into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and sugar until the vegetables are or a drinking glass. Add the chia seeds and shake the coated. Carefully on jar or stir the seeds withplace a spoonvegetables around in the glass the heated pan and roast to 20 for about 5 minutes. Set the seeds for aside15 to soak and minutes, proceed withstirring the recipe.once after 10 minutes.2. Using Allow vegetables before a large pot, add theto oil cool and heat over medium high the cream onions, poultry seasonmixing withheat. theAdd tofu filling. ing, cumin and cayenne pepper to the stockpot and

To theCook TofutheCream stir Make to combine. onions forFilling: 1 to 2 minutes, container (4 ounces) light and1add the garlic, broccoli, spinach, bell pepper, carrots and celery. Cook for 3 minutes, whipped cream cheesestirring occasionally. 4 ounces soft, silken tofu, 3. Stirdrained in the chia seeds and water, and turn the heat the soup tocheese a boil and then turn 1/2to high. cupBring Parmesan the heat down to a simmer, stirring occasionally, 1/2 cup light mayonnaise for 8 to 12 minutes, until the vegetables are soft. Stir 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning in the parsley and the lemon, lime or apple cider 1/2 vinegar. teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 4. To puree the soup, remove the lid completely

ter- or ol spray, ligh casserole d Place shee pieces of f overlappin croustade spray the p 3. Place baking dis lapping th cream-che the pastry. center, fol the filling, form a bow In a sma and water t pastry wit croustade

from the blender. Start the blender on low with nothing in it. Slowly add the soup, one ladleful at a time to the uncovered, running blender on the lowest setting, until the blender jar is half full and that batch of the soup is smooth. 5. Pour the pureed soup into a large bowl and repeat the pureeing steps until all of the soup is a smooth consistency. Pour the soup back into the pot to re-heat, if needed. Top with Spice Roasted Chickpeas, if desired.

SPICE ROASTED CHICKPEAS Chickpeas are high in protein and seasoning, and roasting them adds a spicy, crunchy texture for this soup or as snack. 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon Spanish smoked paprika 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

In a large bowl, mix togeth1. Heat oven to 400cream degrees F.cheese, tofu, er the whipped 2. Rinse and drain the chickpeas, and dry by Parmesan, mayonnaise, Italian searolling them around in a kitchen towel. Combine soning, salt and pepper until smooth. the paprika, cumin, cayenne and salt in a large bowl. Refrigerate forthe30oil;minutes tocoat blend Add chickpeas and toss or stir to evenly. flavors. Mix the cooled, roasted vege3. Transfer chickpeas to a parchment-lined baktables the tofu filling until ing sheetwith and spread themcream out in a single layer. Bake well-blended. 15 minutes, and then shake the tray so chickpeas will

the pastry allow to c a spatula, from the b sheets of move it on warm or at

To Make thetoCroustade: 4. Continue bake chickpeas for another 10 to 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, 12 minutes or until crunchy. Sprinkle some of the chickpeasthawed on each bowl of soup. Allow any remaining chickpeas 1 eggto cool on the pan and transfer them to a 1 resealable plastic bag.water tablespoon 1. Thaw pastry sheet at room tem-5 JANUARY 2018 perature for 40 minutes. The oven should already be heated to 400 F if the vegetables were roasted in it, or

Angela award-win culinary h of five coo book, “Th Kitchen,” i known as the execut “The Kitch

bake evenly.

S T N E T N O C F O E L B A T

TODAY & TONIGHT MAGAZINE Volume 14 Issue 7 January 2018 4

Pints For Paws: Lakeland Beer Fest

Good Eats, Good Beats

18 Harmony Dark Sky Party 30 Lighten Up For The New Year

COLUMNS: 5

Pop Off at Pop Culture

Kitchen Diva

Now Here’s a Tip

21 Brian's Brain 28 On-o-mato-poe-ia

THE FUN & AMUSING: 32 Brain Exercise 32 Crossword

LISTINGS: 10 Local Live Music 12 Snap Shotz 22 Restaurant Guide 26 Calendar of Events

Pints For Paws: Lakeland Beer Fest

Good Eats, Good Beats

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy New Year! Can you believe it’s already 2018? What a year we’ve had! So many changes around our county with new businesses going up left and right, we can’t wait to share with you all of what’s in store for our friends in Polk! January means a fresh start! Time to make those changes we’ve all been putting off for the last year. Time to tie up those loose ends, hit the gym, finish projects and start new ones! Make sure to like our Facebook page and stay up to date with spring time events, festivals, grand openings and everything else in between. Super Bowl plans? If you’re still deciding on a hot spot to hang out and watch the game, don’t forget friends of T&T Magazine! We are also excited to announce that 2018 will be our 15th year serving Polk with the best in promoting dining and entertainment. So let us entertain you! We appreciate you all so much and can’t wait to see what the New Year has in store for everyone. Expect More, Get More, We Deliver. Chris Douglas Publisher/Editor

STAFF PUBLISHER/EDITOR: ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER:

CHRIS DOUGLAS TRACEY GREENE

COLUMNS TRACEY GREENE MARY JOYE GRANT STAR

Harmony Dark Sky Star Party

30 Lighten Up For The New Year

ERICA SMITH BRIAN BRUCHEY

EDITORIAL ERICA SMITH AMY SUMERLIN JAMES COULTER

MARY JOYE ELIZABETH MORRISEY

PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS DOUGLAS

MIKE POTTHAST

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Happy New Year Polk County! 6 JANUARY 2018

PUBLISHED BY: Today & Tonight, Inc. PO Box 2612 Winter Haven, FL 33883 Phone: 863.401.8001 email: chris@todayandtonight.com Reproduction in whole or in part of this magazine is prohibited without written permission from Today & Tonight, Inc. Copyright, 2017 by Today & Tonight, Inc. Submissions: Today & Tonight Magazine welcomes unsolicited manuscripts.

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JANUARY 2018

GOOD EATS, GOOD BEATS Polk County's Favorite Festivals Return

by James Coulter The only thing more quintessential to Florida than hot finger-licking barbecue are even hotter with toe-tapping tunes. The next few months have plety of opportunities to enjoy both with the following music festivals and barbecue competitions:

LAKELAND PIGFEST

While vacationing in North Carolina in 1994, a small group of local businessmen, including the fathers of Tim and Donovan Tinsley, attended a barbeque championship sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS), one of the largest international organizations of barbeque enthusiasts. So enthralled were they by the overall experience that they were inspired to start their own competition in Florida. Three years later, they helped launch the Lakeland PigFest, which has been providing an opportunity for professionals and amateurs to show off their world-class barbecue skills. This annual Florida State BBQ Championship offers both a KCBS-sanctioned professional division and a Publix-sponsored backyard division, as well as a Kids-Q Cooking Contest for young barbecue enthusiasts-in-training. With 55 barbecue teams in both divisions, the overall event draws in approximately 110 teams total that compete for prize money on the professional side and bragging rights on the backyard side, explained PigFest Vice President Donovan Tinsley. “It is a spectacle with world-class barbecue,” Tinsley said. “The spectacle of barbecue is interesting...[offering] world-class quality barbecue…and a wonderful opportunity for good food and music.” Aside from offering good food and music, the event also serves as a major fundraiser for several local charities and other non-profit organizations, including the Alliance for Independence, Sun n’ Fun Youth Education, Learning Resource Center, Girls Inc., Exploration’s V, Camp Fire Sunshine, and the Boys and Girls Club. These organizations provide volunteers who help put on the event, and whose time and effort are in turn compensated with the proceeds from the event, said Tinsley. Last year’s event alone raised 8 JANUARY 2018

$120,000, most of which was given back to the local community, he explained. For the past 20 years, PigFest has been hosted at Tiger Town in Lakeland; however, recent renovations have contracted the overall size of the facility, making it too confining for the ever-growing barbecue competition. PigFest had since been re-located to the Sun n’ Fun Campus, where it managed to experience a record-setting year during its initial run there. The event draws in more than 25-30,000 guests per year, and the crowds are only expected to get even bigger. To help accommodate these new crowds, a few changes have been made. For example, while admission had previously been free, this year’s event will include free parking with a $2 admission fee, with free admission for children 12 and under. “With an event of our size, we were not looking

to contract it,” Tinsley explained. “If anything, we would want to grow it a bit.” FMI: 4175 Medulla Rd., Lakeland, FL 33811 Fri., Jan. 26, 5pm – 10pm; Sat., Jan. 27 10am – 5pm. lakelandpigfest.org

LAKE WALES MARDI GRAS

Vinton Davis, the owner of the former Vinton’s New Orleans Restaurant in Lake Wales, loved everything about New Orleans, from the Cajun food to Mardi Gras. So when he passed away, his family saw fit to send him off with an old-fashioned New Orleansstyle funeral procession. When they were unable to WWW.TODAYANDTONIGHT.COM • FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Hot Finger-licking Barbecue is Even Hotter with Toe-tapping Tunes do that, they did the next best thing and started a Mardi Gras celebration in remembrance of him in 1984. The original Mardi Gras event had one band and a handful of partygoers; since then, the celebration has grown to become one of the largest Mardi Gras events in Central Florida, drawing in 30-40,000 visitors each year. While most Mardi Gras events can hardly be described as “family-friendly”, this event provides two days of fun for all ages, with live music, food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and of course, the big parade. Younger attendees have become more involved in recent years, with many local schools providing marching bands to perform within the parade and volunteers to help put on the event, with plenty of arts, crafts, and other activities to keep even the youngest entertained. What started as a one day event that capped off with the parade had since extended into two days, with a 5k run and a street party Friday evening with the festivities continuing on into the very next day. What was previously spread out throughout the downtown area has since been focused onto a few streets, making the entire celebration feel even larger with all of the crowds packed into one place, explained Joshua Curchy, committee president and one of the organizers for the event. “We were more spread out downtown with a lot of space, while this year we will be packing it in,” he said. Aside from drawing tourism and revenue into the small town, the event also gives back to the local community by donating its proceeds to a different non-profit organization each year such as the YMCA. “That has really continued it and kept it growing each year,” Curchy said. “We always give back to the community, which gets a lot of people excited, and gets a lot of people involved in that.” Being one of the largest Mardi Gras events in Central Florida, the biggest challenge is with putting on such a big event in a small town and an even smaller committee of only five people. “As you would guess, that is a huge feat in itself,” Curchy said. “It is difficult but worth it in the end for sure.” Of course, such an endeavor is more than worth it when you can see it all come together, especially when standing from atop one of the many parade floats, he explained.

“The parade is a blast,” he said. “Until you have ridden in the parade and seen it [by being] elevated on the float and looking out on the streets at all the people who have come out, it is hard to understand what it is like until you do it.” Central Ave., Lake Wales, FL 33853 Fri., Feb. 9, 6pm - 12am; Sat., Feb. 10, 11am - 11pm lwmardigras.com

SMOKE ON THE WATER

Barbecue enthusiasts from all over the country flock to Winter Haven each year to prove that their barbecue is the best during this most popular barbecue competition. As a Florida Barbecue Association-sanctioned event, Smoke on the Water serves as a qualifier for many of the world’s food championships including Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational and the Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown Invitational. As such, this little competition in the small town of Winter Haven draws in teams from all across the country, and with them, drawing in even larger crowds with larger appetites wanting to taste the best chicken, ribs, pork, brisket, and barbecue sauce. The event kicks off Friday evening with a sponsor dinner offering a sneak peek for sponsors, while also providing access to the public to preview what good eats to expect the very next day during the main event. If they want to avoid the crowds on Saturday, or they are unable to attend on Saturday, it gives them an opportunity to visit on Friday night,” said Craig Clevenger, who recently started helping coordinate the event. Aside from these good eats, attendees can also enjoy other festivities ranging from live music, fireworks, and even a ski show hosted by the Cypress

Gardens Ski Team. With such a large competition drawing in an even larger crowd, the event also pulls in a lot of revenue, the proceeds of which are donated to the Boys and Girls Club of East Polk - serving Haines City, Lake Wales & Winter Haven. As their biggest fundraiser of the year, the Boys and Girls Club relies heavily on the proceeds from this event, which often generates up to $100,000 annually, Clevenger said. “That is a very large part of our annual budget,” Clevenger said. “So it is a very important event as far as the Boy and Girls Club services are concerned.” Such support comes two-fold: firstly from the volunteers lead by the Boys and Girls Club board members, and also with the overall community support throughout the city and county, especially though the many business sponsors. “If none of those people participated, it would not have been a success,” he said. “So that is what it comes down to: the people.” 2400 Havendale Blvd. NW Winter Haven, FL 33881 Fri. Feb. 2, 6pm - 11pm; Sat. Feb. 3, 10am - 5:30pm smokeonthewaterwh.com

Other Note Worthy Events Lake Alfred Bluegrass & BBQ Bash January 13th from 11 am to 9 pm located at Lions Park in Lake Alfred. mylakealfred.com 10th Annual Ribs on the Ridge BBQ Competition February 23rd from 5-9 pm and 24th from 10-5 pm. Located Lake Eva Park, Haines City. hainescity.com 47th Annual Lake Wales Arts Festival Feb 24th 10-5 pm and 25th 10-4 pm. Located Lakeshore Blvd, Shores of Lake Wailes. JANUARY 2018

JANUARY CONCERT CALENDAR PRESENTED BY JESSIE’S LOUNGE WEDNESDAY, JAN 3 BIG ASS JAM w/JIM AND JUDY

(Jessie’s Lounge, WH)

THURSDAY, JAN 4 PABLITOSWAY

(Jensen’s Corner Bar, WH)

FREE WHISKEY BAND (Idle Zone Bar & Grill, ADL)

SOUTHERN STAR

(Double Dragon/Inter Mkt World)

DAVID BRIMER (Idle Zone Bar & Grill, WH) PHIL DIRT & THE DOZERS (Polk State College, WH)

TUESDAY, JAN 9 ED WRIGHT (Ybor Lounge, LKD) LUBECK (Apple Lounge, WH) SHAKIRA (Amway Center, ORL)

WEDNESDAY, JAN 10 FRIDAY, JAN 5 JOSH BLEVINS

(Old Man Frank’s, WH) MOST WANTED

(Idle Zone Bar & Grill, ADL)

THE WHIRLYBIRDS

(Lundyville Music Hall, ADL)

STONEGREY

(New Grove Lounge, DUN)

SATURDAY, JAN 6 PICKUP ARTISTS

(Old Man Frank’s, WH) PETER CETERA

(RP Funding Center, LKD)

RANSOM

(LA’s Midway Saloon, LA) RUSTED (New Grove Lounge, DUN)

SUNDAY, JAN 7 ALMOST THERE (Old Man Frank’s, WH) 10 JANUARY 2018

BIG ASS JAM w/JIM AND JUDY

(Jessie’s Lounge, WH)

THURSDAY, JAN 11 PABLITOSWAY

(Jensen’s Corner Bar, WH)

KALEIGH BAKER

(Jensen’s Corner Bar,

WH) WONDERLAND (New Grove Lounge, DUN) LES DUDEK (Lundyville Music Hall, ADL) SPLIT SECOND BAND (Lk Wales Moose Lodge, LW) BIPOLAR (Ybor Lounge, LKD) SOUTHERN LEGACY (Apple Lounge, WH) PAK TRIO (Lakeland Loft, LKD) RUSTY (Patio850, LKD) DEAN JOHANESEN (Fresco’s, LKD) PRAISE IN THE PARK (Central Park, WH)

SATURDAY, JAN 13

DECADES REWIND (RP Funding Center, (Idle Zone Bar & Grill, LKD) ADL) KAT & THE DAWGS BLUEGRASS BUDDIES (Tanners Lakeside, WH) POWER SURGE (Double Dragon/Inter (New Grove Lounge, Mkt World) DUN) SIMPLY COUNTRY STRAIGHTJACKET (Lundyville Music Hall, SMILE ADL) (Ybor Lounge, LKD) BRIMER TRIO CHRISTIAN RYAN TRIO (Ybor Lounge, LKD) (Lakeland Loft, LKD) JACKSON HARPE SOUTHERN EXPRESS JAZZ BLUEGRASS/NIGHT (Lakeland Loft, LKD) COACH ANDY SHREEVE DIXIE BLUEGRASS EXPRESS/ (The Pink Piano, LKD) REKINDLED GRASS/ SONYA FRIDAY, JAN 12 STRATTON & B. HAVEN STRAIGHT (Idle Zone Bar & Grill, SOUTH (Bluegrass Bash, LA) ADL) DAVE MCKENNEY

KB/JORDAN FELIZ/ KARI JOBE/ WESTOVER/

THURSDAY, JAN 18

LKD)

PABLITOSWAY (Jensen’s Corner Bar, WH) ACOUSTIC DOSE (Idle Zone Bar & Grill, ADL) SIMPLY COUNTRY (Lundyville Music Hall, ADL) VELVET JONES (Ybor Lounge, LKD) MIKE HAFER (Lakeland Loft, LKD) MIKE MONTS DE OCA (Grove Roots Brewing Co, WH)

(Idle Zone Bar & Grill,

FRIDAY, JAN 19

NICK HALL/MALLARY

HOPE/DAN BREMNES/ NEWSONG/JOHN CRIST/

BUILDING 429/ SKILLET

(Amalie Arena, TMP)

SUNDAY, JAN 14 LAKELAND CONCERT BAND

(RP Funding Center, DAVE MCKENNEY WH)

ACOUSTIC DOSE

(Tanners Lakeside, WH) HIGHWAY STARZ

(Old Man Frank’s, WH) WONDERLAND

(Caribbean Bay, WH)

TUESDAY, JAN 16 ED WRIGHT

(Ybor Lounge, LKD) FOY

(Apple Lounge, WH) MUSIC TRIBUTE:

BRASS HEART BAND

(Theatre Winter Haven, WH)

WEDNESDAY, JAN 17 BIG ASS JAM w/JIM AND JUDY

(Jessie’s Lounge, WH)

PHIL SCHNEIDER AND ACOUSTIC STAGE

(Lundyville Music Hall, ADL)

JAY WHITE/ NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE (Polk State College, WH) JOSH BLEVINS BAND (Idle Zone Bar & Grill, ADL) THOMAS WYNN AND THE BELIEVERS (Jessie’s Lounge, WH) GEORGE MORRIS AND THE LEGACY BAND (Lundyville Music Hall, ADL) SHANNON REED (New Grove Lounge, DUN) GRUMPY (Ybor Lounge, LKD) STONEGREY (Apple Lounge, WH) JEFF PHILLIPS TRIO (Lakeland Loft, LKD) DULCIMER NIGHT (Central Park, WH) MIRANDA LAMBERT wsg

JON PARDI & BRENT COBB (Amway Center, ORL)

SATURDAY, JAN 20 JOSH BLEVINS BAND (Tanners Lakeside, WH) BLIND SIGHTED (Old Man Frank’s, WH) B. HAVEN (Benefit at Polk Theatre, LKD) 99 IN THE SHADE (Fire Restaurant, WH) RUMOR HAZIT (New Grove Lounge, DUN) NRG (Ybor Lounge, LKD) JONATHAN KAUFMAN (Lakeland Loft, LKD) DARK SUMMER/ TUBEFREEKS/ SHATTERED SOULS/ OTHERWORLD/ SKARZ/WILTSHIRE/ STRANGER THAN FICTION (Masons Live, LKD) RUSTY (Patio850, LKD)

SUNDAY, JAN 21 RUSTED BAND (Idle Zone Bar & Grill, WH) BLUE ROOSTER (Old Man Frank’s, WH) T MIKE & DUKE (Grove Roots Brewing Co, WH)

TUESDAY, JAN 23 ED WRIGHT (Ybor Lounge, LKD)

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American Hot Rods LUBECK

JUG BROTHERS BAND

WEDNESDAY, JAN 24

SATURDAY, JAN 27

(Apple Lounge, WH)

BIG ASS JAM w/JIM AND JUDY (Jessie’s Lounge, WH) THE KILLERS wsg ALEX CAMERON

(Hard Rock Live, ORL)

THURSDAY, JAN 25 PABLITOSWAY (Jensen’s Corner Bar, WH) RED HOT ROOSTERS

(Central Park, WH)

UNION BOYZ/

SOUTHBOUND (LA’s Midway Saloon, LA) ROCKTOWN

(Tanners Lakeside, WH)

PICKUP ARTISTS (New Grove Lounge, DUN) POWER SURGE (Ybor Lounge, LKD) HOLY CORDERO DUO (Lakeland Loft, LKD)

(Idle Zone Bar & Grill, ADL) SIMPLY COUNTRY

SUNDAY, JAN 28

(Lundyville Music Hall, ADL) ACOUSTIC DOSE (Idle Zone Bar & Grill, WH) BRIMER TRIO JOSH BLEVINS BAND (Ybor Lounge, LKD) (Old Man Frank’s, WH) CHRIS CLARKE T MIKE & DUKE (Lakeland Loft, LKD) (Tempo 1930, WH) IN THIS MOMENT FRIDAY, JAN 26 w/P.O.D., NEW YEARS DAY, DED DAVID BRIMER (Idle Zone Bar & Grill, ADL) (Hard Rock Live, ORL) WONDERLAND

(Apple Lounge, WH)

TUESDAY, JAN 30

ED WRIGHT (Ybor Lounge, LKD) THE LARIATS (Lundyville Music Hall, ADL) LOW VOLTAGE (Apple Lounge, WH) ALMOST THERE JOE SATRIANI, JOHN (New Grove Lounge, DUN) PETRUCCI OF DREAM 4X THEATER, PHIL COLLEN (Ybor Lounge, LKD) OF DEF LEPPARD B & B JAZZ QUARTET (Hard Rock Live, ORL) (Lakeland Loft, LKD) GEORGE MORRIS AND

COSMIC HEART/JIM & JUDY’S BIG ASS JAM w/JIM BIG ASS JAM/BEN AND JUDY MEYER/ (Jessie’s Lounge, WH) SOUL2EARTH THURSDAY, FEB 1 (Smoke on Water Event, PABLITOSWAY WH) (Jensen’s Corner Bar, WH) WONDERLAND PAUL ANKA (Off The Chain, WH) (RP Funding Center, LKD) ELIZABETH COOK FREE WHISKEY BAND (Gram Parson’s Derry (Idle Zone Bar & Grill, ADL) Down, WH) SIMPLY COUNTRY ELLIE LEE BAND (Lundyville Music Hall, ADL) (The Music Ranch, LKD)

WEDNESDAY, JAN 31

FRIDAY, FEB 2 AMERICAN HOT RODS (Jessie’s Lounge, WH) T MIKE & DUKE/

BEN MEYER/B. HAVEN (Smoke on Water Event, WH)

LUKE WILMOTH

SUNDAY, FEB 4 HIGHWAY STARZ (Old Man Frank’s, WH) ESCAPING PAVEMENT (Grove Roots Brewing Co, WH)

TUESDAY, FEB 6

IMPERIAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: GOOD FRIENDS TEA AND SYMPHONY (Music in Central Park, WH) (RP Funding Center, LKD) LANA DEL REY ED WRIGHT wsg KALI UCHIS (Ybor Lounge, LKD) (Amway Center, ORL) (The Brass Tap, LKD)

ETHAN BORTNICK (Polk State College, WH)

SATURDAY, FEB 3 JOSH BLEVINS BAND (Old Man Frank’s, WH) BLUE ROOSTER/ ALMOST

THERE/GLASS HOUSE

POINT/SPIRIT AND THE

FRIDAY, FEB 9 JOSH BLEVINS BAND (LW Mardi Gras, LW)

ATTENTION BANDS & VENUES Keep us up to date. Send live music info to tracey@todayandtonight.com Deadline is the 23rd of each month prior to publication.

JANUARY 2018

SNAPSHOTZ Call your favorite bar For more information!

AUBURNDALE Beef ‘O’ Brady’s 102 W. Polk Street (863) 968-0010 Full Liquor Sports Bar TVs for the Games Bottoms Up Sports Bar 419 E. Bridgers Ave (863) 845-2913 Karaoke, Pool Tables Silver Strike Bowling Beer & Wine Find Us On Facebook Brew Hounds Sports Lounge 318 Havendale Blvd. (863) 967-2739 Wed, Trivia 6p Thu, Hospitality Night/$3 wells Thu & Sat, Dart Tourn. 8p Sat & Sun, Beer Bckt Specials Football Game Specials! Feb 4, Super Bowl Party Idle Zone (Downtown) 117 E Lake Ave (863) 875-7932 Sat, Karaoke 8p Live Music 7p Sports Packages/TVs Extended Menu: Steaks, Oysters, Tuna, Full Bar!

BABSON PARK The Crooked Bass Grill/ Tavern 1010 N. Scenic Hwy. (863) 589-5887 Full Liquor Seafood, Steaks & Burgers Live Music Fri & Sat Pool Table & Darts BARTOW Beef ‘O’ Brady’s 120 East Van Fleet Drive (863) 534-3111 Full Liquor Sports Bar Fun Bar 3379 US Hwy 17N (863) 800-3400 Karaoke Pool Table & Darts Mulligan’s Bartow Golf Club 150 N. Idlewood (863) 533-1668 Karaoke, Thu 7-10p

12 JANUARY 2018

Presented By Brew Hounds Sports Lounge The Wine Stable 150 S. Broadway (863) 533-9463 Full Bar Live Music

DAVENPORT Beef ‘O’ Brady’s 45653 US Hwy 27 (863) 420-3350 Full Liquor Great Wings, Sandwiches, Burgers, Wraps Lucky’s Corner Pocket 43356 Hwy 27 (863) 420-0100 Full Liquor Pool Hall; 7 Pro Tables Outdoor Beer Garden Fri & Sun Karaoke w/Lon The Wheelhouse Bar 42637 US Hwy 27 (863) 353-6880 TVs, Pool Table Darts, Jukebox Wed & Sat, Karaoke 9p The Wheelhouse @19th Hole 102 Polo Park East (863) 424-4560 Tue & Fri, Karaoke 9p Thu, Trivia 8-10p

DUNDEE The New Grove Lounge (1/4 m north of Dundee Rd) 28390 US Hwy 27 (863) 439-1537 Sun, Specials/Entertain. Tue, Industry Night Wed, Acoustics Live 8p Thu, Country Night Fri & Sat Live Music

FROSTPROOF P & J Recreation 33 South Scenic Hwy (863) 635-9825 Home of Famous Slaw Burger!

FT. MEADE Pit Stop Package & Lounge 800 Charleston Ave (863) 285-8732

HAINES CITY All Star Grill 94 Maxcy Plaza Circle (863) 422-3455 Amos Tavern 200 US Highway 17 92 N (863) 422-1459

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s 902 Polk City Rd (863) 419-4848 Full Liquor Sports Bar Big Screen TVs Frank E’s Lakeside 1090 Shady Cove Rd E (863) 574-9830 Fri-Sun Live Music Great Sunsets Rudy’s Liquorup Lounge 600 Ingraham Ave (863) 422-8585 Karaoke, Darts, Billiards Live Bands Happy Hour 12-7p Shady Cove Bar & Grill 7140 State Road 544 E. (863) 421-6800 Full Liquor/Hpy Hr 4-7p Open Daily 12 p Daily AUCE Food Specials Daily Drink Specials Live Music

LAKE ALFRED LA’s Midway Saloon (Across from WH Airport) 3900 Lynchburg Rd (863) 875-7966 Hpy Hr 11-3p; Specials M-F Wed, Karaoke w/Alice 3rd Fri, Bike Bash Jan 27 Chili Cook-off w/ All Day Music $8 cover Feb 4, Super Bowl Party

LAKELAND

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s North 1070 Wedgewood Estates Blvd (863) 853-9464 Full Liquor Sports Bar 2-4-1 All Day, Everyday 40+ HD TVs w/sports pkgs Beef ‘O’ Brady’s South 4810 S FL Ave (863) 646-7757 Full Liquor Sports Bar 2-4-1 All Day, Everyday 40+ HD TVs w/sports pkgs The Boondocks 8515 Hwy 98 North (863) 858-3355 Wed, Pool Tourny Fri & Sat, Live Band 9p Champino’s Rest & Pizzeria, Sandpiper Plaza 6617 N. Socrum Loop Rd (863) 937-8866 Happy Hr 3-7p Full Liquor Bar Direct TV Sun, Brunch

— Continued Page 15 WWW.TODAYANDTONIGHT.COM • FIND US ON FACEBOOK

JANUARY 2018

HARMONY INSTITUTE

HARMONY ON LAKE ELOISE

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

BOK TOWER GARDENS PROUDLY PRESENT

WITH SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

Dr. richard stevens SATURDAY

Jan. 13

4 P.M. - 10 P.M.

INCLUDED W/ GENERAL ADMISSION DISCOVER THE NIGHT SKY W/ PROFESSIONAL ASTRONOMERS LEARN ABOUT THE NATURAL IMPORTANCE OF DARKNESS & HOW CONTROLLING LIGHT POLLUTION IS VITAL FOR ALL EARTH'S INHABITANTS UP-CLOSE ENCOUNTERS W/ NOCTURNAL ANIMALS MOBILE PLANETARIUM SPECIAL ASTRONOMY INSPIRED CARILLON CONCERT

Olmsted Gardens • Singing Tow er • Café & Shop Historic Mansion • Preser ve Tra ils • Children’s Garden

www.boktowergardens.org 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, Florida 863.676.1408

Full Bloom Ahead! Join guided walking tours every day of the week! Mon - Sat @ 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. • Sundays @ 2:00 p.m. January thru March, 2018

14 JANUARY 2018

included with general admission

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SNAPSHOTZ

Johnny G’s 5153 US Hwy 98N (863) 858-3366 Hpy Hr Mon-Fri 4-6p Tue, Ladies Night $1 Drinks Wed, 5¢ Drafts/$1 Wells Sun, Free Pool 6-cl

Champs Sports Bar & Grill 6645 S Florida Ave (863) 647-5900 Happy Hr 3-7p Daily Specials Mon .50 Tacos 5-10p Wed .35 Boneless Wings 5-10p Cob & Pen 1221 S. Florida Ave (863) 937-8126 Craft Beer & Wine Fine Bar Food Decisions Grill & Bar 1621 E. Edgewood Dr Ste G (863) 686-6441 Even Par Sports Bar Oak Plaza North 5100 US Hwy 98 N, Ste 13 (863) 816-7995 Happy Hr 4-6p Daily NFL Sunday Ticket/MLB Package $12 Buckets Dart Tournaments Fresco’s Bistro & Wine Bar 132 S. Kentucky Ave (863) 683-5267 Happy Hr 5-7 Monthly Beer/Wine Pairings Great Bistro Fare/Late Menu Live Music Gator’s Dockside Highland City 5135 S.R. 98 (863) 619-7627 Food, Full Bar Open late night Hookah Palace 122 S. Kentucky Ave (863) 688-1818 House DJ Mon-Thu, Nightly Specials Fri/Sat, Belly Dancers Isle of Capri 541 S Combee Rd (863) 665-6246 Food, Beer/Wine Hpy Hr 3-6p; $1.50 Drft Wed, Ladies Night 7p Wed-Sun, 8-Ball/9-Ball 6p Thu-Sun, Karaoke 9p

EMAIL US YOUR

SNAPSHOTZ TO: SNAPSHOTZ@ TODAYANDTONIGHT.COM

YOU MIGHT SEE YOUR PHOTO IN THE NEXT ISSUE

Just Larry’s Bar & Grill 3415 E County Rd 542 (863) 666-6898 Tue, $5 Burgers/$1 Drafts Wed, .50 Wings 4p-cl Thu, $2 Redneck Tacos Fri, AUCE Fish $8.95 Lakeland Loft 108 South Tennessee Ave (863) 210-5327 Jazz & Cigar Lounge Full Bar Business Casual Sun –Thu Dress to Impress Fri & Sat LakelandLoft.com

The Pink Piano 1015 S. Florida Ave (863) 937-8885 Tue-Sat, Live Music Wine, Beer, Tapas

Southside Package & Lounge 1122 S. Florida Ave (863) 683-4703 Happy Hr 10-7p & 12-2a; Full Liquor T A Slammers 1011 S. Florida Ave (863) 682-4178 Full Liquor Nightly Specials T-Bows 33 Lounge & Package 4106 Lakeland Hills Blvd (863) 683-1201 Happy Hr Daily 4-6p; $2.75 Wells, $2.25 20oz Drafts Wed-Sat, Karaoke 9p

Lucky’s Sports, Oyster & Tiki Bar (Orange Bowl Lanes) 4318 US Hwy 98 N (863) 858-3878 Mon, Poker 7p Wed, Poker 11a 1st Thu, Karaoke Contest 1st/3rd Sat, Live Bands

Wally’s Pool Hall 1136 E. Main St (863) 688-4460 Hpy Hr, Mon-Sat 11-7p Mon, 9-Ball Tourn Tue & Thur, APA 8 & 9-Ball Leag. Thu, Ladies Nite w/free pool

Martini’s Lounge 3239 S. Florida Ave (863) 644-8993 Fri & Sat, DJ Pool Tables, Darts, Big Screens

Winner’s Circle 4215 South Florida Ave. (863) 644-9464 Sun, Corn Hole Tues, Poker Wed, Ladies Night 1st Thu, Open Mic, 7-10p

Masons Live 5501 S. Florida Ave (863) 333-0096 Crafted Bar Food Tue, Trivia 7:30p Wed, Karaoke Mon, Thu, Fri & Sat, DJ Fri & Sat, Live Bands

Ybor Cigars & Spirits 5263 S. Florida Ave (863) 619-6799 Happy Hr 4-7p Darts/Pool Table/Flat Screen TVs Tue-Sat, Live Music

Mojo’s Wings, Burgers, Beer 1853 E. Memorial Blvd (863) 583-9119 Hpy Hr 2-7p Tue, Karaoke Wed, Biker’s Night w/$5 Burgers Fri, Ladies/Latin Night Sun, 50 cent Wings

Al’s Place 1530 N Scenic Hwy (863) 604-1456 $1.25 Drafts Trish is Back!

Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub 111 S. Kentucky Ave (863) 686-6231 Darts, Pool Tables Live Music, Fri

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s 19598 US Hwy 27 (863) 679-1975 Full Liquor Sports Bar Big Screen TVs

LAKE WALES

All Star Grill 2019 Hwy. 60 E (863) 679-9689 Sports Bar

— Continued Page 16

JANUARY 2018

SNAPSHOTZ Cherry Pocket Steak & Seafood Shak 3100 Canal Rd (863) 439-2031 Seafood, Full Liquor Mon-Fri, Hpy Hr 11-4p Thu, Fri & Sat, Live Music 6-10p The Good Spot 3825 N. Scenic Hwy (863) 949-4243 Mon-Fri, $1 drafts 3-7p Tue, $2 Dom Bottles Thu, Ladies Night ½ price 7-11p Lunch Specials Darts, Pool Table JayBees Restaurant & Lounge 8625 Hwy 60 E (863) 696-1901 Full Liquor Lunch & Dinner Open Mon-Sat Just One More Bar 112 E. Crystal Ave. (863) 223-8803 Mon, Tue & Thu, Poker Night 6p Thu, Ladies Night Fri & Sat, Karaoke w/Paula 9p-1a Sun, Pool Tourn & Karaoke 4p Liar’s Lair Saloon Camp Mack River Resort 14143 Camp Mack Rd (863) 696-3863 Fri, Karaoke 8p Live Music Y’all Come Back Saloon 3230 State Rd 60 E (863) 676-5759 Taco Tues, $1 Live Music/Pool

RIVER RANCH Westgate River Ranch Saloon 3200 River Ranch Blvd. Restaurant/Saloon General/Western Store (863) 692-1321 ext 40013 Fri, DJ 6p-12a Sat, Live Band 6p-1a

WINTER HAVEN A.J. Slammers 508 Cypress Gardens Blvd. (863) 875 5623

16 JANUARY 2018

Apple Lounge 2803 Recker Hwy (863) 291-0340 Happy Hr, Mon-Fri 11-7p Food Available; Daily Specials Mon, Pool Tourn Wed & Sun, Poker/Thu, Karaoke

Jensen’s Corner Bar

Ave. Bar by Arabellas 328 West Central Ave (863) 229-8142 Open Tue-Sat, 4p Smoke-Free Full Menu/Full Bar

118 3rd Street SW

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s 300 Cypress Gardens Blvd (863) 293-9464 Full Liquor Sports Bar 30 Big HD TVs Mon Burger Special Fire Restaurant 325 W. Central Ave (863) 875-5544 Sat Night, Live Music Outdoor Seating Available Grape Expectations 535 Cypress Gardens Blvd, St 150 (863) 318-8800 Wine Bar Smoke-Free Grove Roots Brewing Co. 302 3rd Street SW (863) 291-0700 Craft Beer & Wine Smoke-Free Food Truck & Live Music Open 4p Wed-Fri/12p SatSun Harborside Restaurant 2435 7th St SW (863) 293-7070 Daily, Hpy Hr 3-6p Sunday, Early Bird 3-5p Mon-Thu, Early Bird 3-6p Waterfront Dining in Lk Shipp High Seas Lounge 7000 State Rd 544 (863) 299-2233 Great Food/Drink Specials Live Music Idle Zone (At Lake May) 615 7th Street SW (863) 875-7949 Fri, Karaoke 8p Live Music Sports Packages/TVs Great Food; Lunch & Dinner Outside Lakefront Seating

100 3rd Street SW (863) 298-6755 Smoke-Free

Outdoor Patio

Thu, Live Music

Feb 4, Super Bowl Party Jessie’s Lounge (863) 298-9815

Hpy Hr Mon-Fri, 4-7p Mon, Free Pool

Wed, Big Ass Jam Night Live Music Weekly

Office Pub & Lounge 1243 1st Street S (863) 293-4767 Happy Hr 12-7

Mon & Thu, Karaoke Tue & Fri, Poker 7p Sat, Poker 1p

Pool Tables, Darts, Golden Tee Old Man Frank’s

1005 S. Lake Howard Dr (863) 294-9179

Happy Hour M-F, 11-7p Daily Specials

Sun, Live Music/$12 Bckts Oyster Bar

Jan 6 Customer Appr Party Feb 4 Super Bowl Party Past Time Lounge 1605 1st St S

(863) 293-0027

Tue, Ladies Night Darts/Pool Table

The Pour House Lounge 1560 Havendale Blvd NW (863) 299-5515

Sat, Live Bands Somewhere Sports Bar

5688 Cypress Gardens Blvd. (863) 324-7524

Mon-Sat, Hpy Hr 3-6p w/Daily

Beer Specials/Sports Packages Lunch Specials Mon-Fri

Tanners Lakeside Restaurant 1006 S Lake Howard Drive (863) 662-5948

Hrs: Wed-Fri, 4p-cl/SatSun11:30a

Happy Hr Wed-Sun, 4-6p Fri, Pot Roast 4p-cl

Sat, Prime Rib 2p-cl

Live Music Jan 13, 14, 20 & 27

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JANUARY 2018

LOOK UP!

The HARMONY Dark Sky Festival & Star Party Returns to Bok Tower Gardens By Erica Smith

you are curious about the stars above, make some terrestrial tracks to Bok Tower Gardens for the 2nd Annual Harmony Dark Sky Festival and Star Party on Saturday, January 13. One of the largest astronomy festivals in Polk County, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the Gardens by the light of Milky Way while learning about the night sky with leading astronomers, nocturnal animal encounters, a mobile planetarium, Orlando Science Center discovery stations and a special astronomy-inspired carillon concert. Is Light Pollution Harmful to Humans and Wildlife? Listed as one of the world’s hottest spots for artificial light, Central Florida is home to one the world’s most light polluted areas.

Thanks to nearly 200 acres of preserve lands surrounding the Gardens, the level of artificial light above Bok Tower Gardens is only three points higher than the darkest point on the globe and the Milky Way was visible to the naked eye. Throughout history, humans have evolved to the rhythm of sunlit days and dark nights known as circadian rhythm or more commonly known as a “biological clock.” However, with the spread of artificial lighting, most humans no longer experience

Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. — Stephen Hawking

true darkness. Research suggests that artificial light (especially white and blue LED lighting) at night is harmful to human health, increasing risks for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, breast cancer and more According the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), more than 80% of the world’s population experiences light polluted skies and 99% of Americans are experiencing the harmful effects. Enjoy an Evening of Stargazing and Fun for the Whole Family Astronomers and telescopes will be located in a new location near Pinewood Estate for the 2018 festival. This new area will provide better viewing and allow guests to adjust to night vision. According to Tricia Martin, Director of Education at Bok Tower Gardens “to see faint deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae, you have to make sure your eyes have been conditioned

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 4:00pm & 7:00pm: Dr. Richard Stevens “A Modern Marvel turned Urban Blight” 5:30pm: Francine Prager “Bats of the World” 6:30pm: Dr. Joshua Colwell “The Ringed Planet” 8:30pm: Russell Romanella “History of Space Exploration” 6:00pm, 7:00pm & 8:00pm: Orlando Science Center “Digital Planet” 8:00pm: Evening Carillon Concert with Geert D’hollander CONTINUOUS EVENING EXHIBITS 6pm-9:30pm: Astronomer and telescopes on Great Lawn 6pm-9pm: Orlando Science Center Hands On Science 6pm-9pm: Mobile Planetarium 6pm-9pm: Owl Encounter 6:30pm-8:30pm: Bat Encounter

18 JANUARY 2018

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with proper dark adaptation. It can take 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust.” Visitors will be able to access several of the Garden paths by torch light and the first 1000 visitors will receive a complimentary red miniature flashlight. An event map with directions and tips for best viewing practices will be provided and guests will be encouraged to put away cellphones and flashlights. Star Wars inspired characters from the 501st Legion have been invited to join the intergalactic family fun and will be strolling throughout the Gardens. Kids can learn more about science and biology at several exploration stations and a live bat and owl encounter. A specially designed mobile planetarium will be located in the Outdoor Kitchen area and offers tours of the solar system. Visitors can also register to win one of three astronomy binoculars provided by Harmony Institute and Harmony on Lake Eloise.

The evening concludes with an outof-this-world carillon concert by Geert D’hollander featuring epic sci-fi anthems and classical music from composers inspired by the stars. Discover The Universe with Leading Researchers Leading dark sky researcher and keynote speaker, Dr. Richard Stevens will present his latest research in a presentation entitled “A Modern Marvel turned Urban Blight” the ‘Wicked Problem’ of Light Pollution.” One of the premier scientists exploring the effects of light pollution and possible links to cancer, Richard Stevens received a B.S. in Genetics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Washington in Seattle. After many years of cancer research, he proposed a radical new theory that

use of electric lighting, resulting in lighted nights, might produce ‘circadian disruption’ causing changes in the hormones relevant to breast cancer risk, and thereby play an important role in breast cancer causation worldwide. Dr. Stevens’ theory has received wide scientific and public attention including publication in many medical journals. Dr. Stevens joins a stellar line-up of scientists discussing a variety of astronomy topics including NASA speaker Russell Romanella and University of Central Florida professor Dr. Joshua Colwell. With over 30 years of NASA experience, he has had many leadership positions at the Kennedy Space Center during his career including International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing Director, Associate Director for Engineering and Technical, and most recently Director of Safety and Mission Assurance. His broad range of experiences include Space Shuttle processing, the International Space Station, and NASA’s Exploration program. Dr. Josh Colwell is a Planetary Scientist and Professor of Physics at the University of Central Florida. Since 2011, he has been Associate Chair of the Department of Physics and Interim Assistant Director of the Florida Space Institute. His research interests are in the origin and evolution of the solar system with a particular emphasis on small bodies in the solar system. He studies the structure and dynamics of Saturn’s rings with data from Cassini, following earlier studies of the ring systems of Uranus and Neptune from the Voyager 2 spacecraft. One of the community’s best advocates for dark skies education, the title sponsors, Harmony Institute and Harmony on Lake Eloise have worked in partnership with Bok Tower Gardens to produce the area’s top night education event. The event is also sponsored by Foreman Consulting Inc. The Harmony Dark Sky Festival and Star Party is included in Bok Tower Gardens general admission and is free for Bok Tower Gardens members. The Blue Palmetto Café and The Shop at Bok will be open until 9:30pm for refreshments and shopping. The Bok Tower Gardens Gate and Visitor Center will close at 10pm. For more event information, visit www. boktowergardens.org.

JANUARY 2018

20 JANUARY 2018

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BRIAN’S BRAIN

By Brian Bruchey

KATIE

Katie is a brown and white Catahoula Leopard dog mix. She is about two months old and was found as a stray with her litter mates in the woods. Katie is a sweet and playful puppy who can't wait to fin d her forever family.

BUNNY

Bunny is a domestic shorthair cat that is 12 years old . She was surrendered because a new grand baby is now in the home who is highly allergic to cats. Bunny is declawed and is go o d with other cats, children and is litter box trained.

MOOSE

Moose is a copper and brown Catahoula Leopard dog mix. H e is about 2 months old and was found as a stray in the woods. Moose is a happy puppy who can't wait to go home to a new loving family !

SHELBY

Shelby is a brown and white female Domestic shorthair cat who is about 5 months old. S he was found as a stray and is a little shy but once Shelby gets to know you , she will purr and be a very sweet and loving little baby .

The Humane Society of Polk County 3195 Dundee Road • Winter Haven, FL 33884 www.PolkNoKill.org • (863) 324-5227 Tuesday-Friday 11:30-6pm and Sat 10-4 pm.

Veterinarian of the Month Dr. Rayburn has been a member of the Ridge Veterinary Medical Society (RVMS) since 1994. He is a Past President and the current Treasure of the RVMS. He is a past President of the Board for the Florida Veterinary Medical Association. He is also the 2011 Vet of the year, recognized by Florida Veterinary Medical Association. It is easy to see that Doc is extremely busy with work and is dedicated to the animals not only in Polk County but the welfare of all animals in our state. We truly appreciate his valuable time spent volunteering to help end the pet overpopulation problem in our community. If you are in need of a good veterinarian please consider Dr. Rayburn Dr. Rayburn at Paw Haven located at 3691 Lake Aflred Road, Winter Haven, FL 863-293-1428.

There are many difficulties in life: making more money than you spend, keeping a wife happy, keeping a wife from throwing a plugged-in toaster into the shower while you’re showering, and keeping secrets from a hyper nineyear-old son. My wife and I attempted that last one as we planned a Christmas cruise to the Caribbean, without letting our son know. Well, eventually we were going to let him know...and I don’t mean that we were going to let him know as we were walking out the door. “Hey son, remember how you had such a great time on your first cruise last year, and you thought we should go again? Well, we’re going again... except this time you’re staying home. Don’t forget to feed the dog and turtle. And how about you power wash the fence while we’re gone? Mommy and Daddy love you!” No, we would never do that to him. Daddy would, but Mommy has some odd kind of bond with the kid. Surprising the boy with a cruise? It seemed like a brilliant idea when I thought of it, mainly because most of my ideas are brilliant. But after the plan was set into motion, it sank in... I’m going to have to spend nine days in a small cabin with that hyper nine-year-old boy. And if that wasn’t enough, I even recommended that we take my mother-in-law along. Now, I don’t drink alcohol, or do drugs, so I really have no idea what I was thinking when I suggested that. Making this whole thing even more difficult was that plans had to be coordinated with the North Pole to make sure Santa Claus knew that we would be on a ship. Plus, Santa’s child-behavioral

assistant, Snowflake (the Elf on the Shelf) would have to fly to the ship each night. I mean, it’s not like we could just throw him in a suitcase and take him with us. My wife actually packed a small Christmas tree, ornaments, and tree skirt, which once onboard, we placed in our cabin window. Additionally, we also put little Christmassy felt ornaments with our faces in them on our cabin door. Yeah, we were those kind of people. Oh, but the kind of cruisers we are not: the ones who leave their tables messy after a meal, leave random plates of halfeaten meals sitting in the hallway, or trash any old place we choose. Those cruisers are the same types of people who can’t find the energy within their worthless bodies to put a shopping cart in the cart corral at Walmart. When we arrived at the Port of Miami, we finally revealed our surprise to the boy. The reaction was underwhelming. He smiled, but that was about it. Maybe he was just too shocked to express himself. Much like I was when my wife told me how much this trip was going to cost (without gratuities, excursions, parking at the Port, and paying someone to watch our house, dog & turtle while we were gone). I think the biggest surprise for anyone in this whole thing is that I didn’t throw myself overboard after nine days in a cabin with my son and mother-in-law. Brian “Mr Full of Surprises” Bruchey

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS bruchey@gmail.com JANUARY 2018

POLK COUNTY’S

RESTAURANT GUIDE To Have Your Restaurant Listed Please Call 863-401-8001

HAINES CITY BEEF ‘O’ BRADY’S Polk County’s largest family sports pub. Happy Hour M- Sat. 4pm to 7pm. 2-4-1 cocktails all day everyday. See Website for full menu. Kids eat free Tuesdays. Must Try: Blackened Dry Rub Wings 902 Old Polk City Rd. 863-419-4848 www.beefobradys.com

LAKELAND BEEF ‘O’ BRADY’S NORTH LAKELAND Lakeland’s Best Family Sports Pub. 40+ HD TV’s, NFL Ticket Sundays, NCAA Gameplan Saturdays. Happy Hour 2-4-1 All Day, Everyday. Bingo Mondays from 5-6 pm. Kids Eat Free Wednesday from 4-8 pm. Trivia Night on Thursdays from 8-10 pm. Must Try: Hot & Fresh Fajitas - Everyday! Chicken wings! 1070 Wedgewood Estates Blvd (863) 853-9464 www.beefobradys.com

22 JANUARY 2018

BEEF ‘O’ BRADY’S SOUTH LAKELAND Great Food! Great Sports! Great Family Fun! 40+ HD TV’s, NFL Ticket Sundays, NCAA Game Plan Saturdays. 2-4-1 All Day, Everyday. Coldest Beer In Town. Kids Eat Free Tuesdays & Sundays 4-8 pm. Now Featuring A Full Liquor Bar. Must Try: Our Delicious Fajitas and Awesome Burgers! 4810 South Florida Ave (863) 646-7757 www.beefobradys.com

CHAMPINO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Authentic homemade Italian cooking. Fresh, made to order meals for lunch and dinner. Happy Hour is 7 days per week from 3pm-7pm. Catering and big parties available and welcomed. New York style pizza, calzones, desserts! Try our Eggplant Parm 6617 N. Socrum Loop Rd. 863-937-8866 www.champinos.com

cials all weekend! Not your typical sports bar! Follow us on Facebook! 6645 S. Florida Ave. #14

quality food and excellent service! Easily the

863-647-5900 www.champstogo.com

Sundays.

through Saturday 11am to 7pm and closed Must Try: Famous Fish Sandwich

CHEF T’S GARDEN GRILL

715 E Palmetto St, Lakeland

Central Florida’s most beautiful dining experience. Enjoy exquisite continental and American cuisine in a historic turn-of-the-century atmosphere in the historic Chiles house. Or linger over wine and appetizers on our intimate garden patio. “I Love Food And The Art Of Dining”- Chef T Must Try: Veal lovers are in for a treat! 1525 E Gary Rd., Lakeland 863-687-4386

(863) 688-4280

JUST LARRY’S BAR & GRILL Our food specials: Tuesday $5 Burgers and $1 Drafts, Wednesday .50 cent Wings 4 pm to close, Thursday $2 Redneck Tacos, Friday AllYou-Can-Eat Fish $8.95. Must Try: Wings 3415 E COUNTY RD 542 (863) 666-6898

CHAMPS SPORTS BAR Serving Polk County for over 19 years! Monday 5pm to 10pm 50¢ Tacos. Wednesday 5pm to 10pm 35¢ Boneless Wings. Friday Homemade New England Clam Chowder. Fresh food spe-

best homemade food you’ll try! Hours Monday

MISTER FISH Family owned and operated since 1968 offering the best fish sandwich around! Seafood, chicken and much more using only the best

POSTO 9 A Brazilian gastropub, is a culinary destination inspired by the bright and exciting flavors of Braziland the south where masterfully crafted seasonal foods meet outstanding service. Also, enjoy the Ipanema Rooftop Lounge located on the third floor of Posto9. Relax in the sun or underneath the shaded terrace while enjoying appetizers and specialty cocktails. Have a special event coming up? Our second floor can host up to 130 for private events; business, classes, parties. Must Try: Passion Fruit Salmon, Chicken and Waffles, P9 Shrimp and Grits. 215 East Main Street • (863) 499-0099 www.Posto9gastropub.com FB: @Posto9gastropub — Continued Page 25

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60s 70s 80s

The Music Of Your Life Tour!

Appearing at:

Formerly Lakeland Center * * * * * A l s o a p p e a r i n g i n Ta m p a a t T h e S t r a z C e n t e r o n F r i d a y, J a n u a r y 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 * * * * *

@DecadesRewind For Tickets: www.DecadesRewind.com SIGN UP FOR OUR NEW WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER AT WWW.TODAYANDTONIGHT.COM

JANUARY 2018

24 JANUARY 2018

WWW.TODAYANDTONIGHT.COM â&#x20AC;¢ FIND US ON FACEBOOK

RESTAURANT LISTING From page 22

LAKE ALFRED CORNERSTONE GRILL Cornerstone Grill is a small family restaurant created with the local farmers and growers in mind. Our food is made from scratch and each meal is made to order with a goal of being 100% local sustainable. In-house cured and smoked meats, sourcing products from local purveyors, seasonally inspired and globally influenced. Also vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Craft beers and fine wine. Lunch - Dinner - Catering. Monday - Saturday 11 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm. Check out their Facebook for wonderful and unique “specials of the day” that incorporate seasonal products from fruits, vegetables to meats. 175 E. Haines Ave, Lake Alfred (863) 875-8913 • WWW.CORNERSTONEGRILL.ORG

LAKE WALES BEEF ‘O’ BRADY’S

Polk County’s largest family sports pub. Happy Hour M- Sat. 4pm to 7pm. 2-4-1 cocktails all day everyday. See Website for full menu. Kids eat free Tuesdays. Must Try: Over 20 Flavors of Wings 19598 US Hwy 27, 863-679-1975 www.beefobradys.com

CRAZY FISH

Land mark eatery in Lake Wales. Fresh fish never frozen. Fun and casual atmosphere. Lunch and dinner menu with daily specials. Mon. 4pm to 9pm. Tues. - Saturday 11:30am to 9pm. Closed Sun. Must Try: Shrimp or Fresh Grouper 802 Henry St., Lake Wales (863) 676-6361

JAY BEES RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

We take pride in our welcoming environment, friendly service and famous burgers. Come in and check our daily lunch and dinner specials. Weekend specials. Prime rib, frog legs, fried shrimp and catfish. Must Try: Homemade Pies 8675 Hwy 60 East, Lake Wales 863-696-1901, Find us on Facebook

WINTER HAVEN 326 BISTRO PIZZERIA Bistro Pizzeria shares the art of perfectly rendered simplicity. Wood burning oven, pizza by the slice, made to order speciality pizzas. Lunch & dinner menu. Warm & casual dining atmosphere. Must Try: Classic Pizza Napoli 326 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven 863-875-4894 www.arabellas.us/bistro

APPLE LOUNGE & GRILL #1 Happy Hour Monday-Friday 11am-7pm. $1 Taco Tuesdays! Wings, Burgers, Sandwiches, Salads, Fried Pickles, Chicken Fingers, Nachos and much more! Open Mic Night every Tuesday. Winner of the people’s choice Wing Fling 2011 Wing Champs! Come try em’ yourself. Must Try: Famous Wings

chic Ave Bar. At Arabellas, our dedicated service and inviting ambiance makes us the premier choice for your lunch or dinner destination. Must Try: Bananas Foster prepared table side. 346 W. Central Ave. Winter Haven 863-293-1797 • www.arabellas.us

HARBORSIDE Seafood, Steak, Oysters. Polk County’s Premier Waterfront Restaurant. Scenic dining on Lake Shipp. Happy Hour 3-6pm daily. Early Bird Sunday 3-5pm and Monday thru Thursday 3-6pm. Private dining room, outdoor patio, beach and boat docks. Amazing sunset views. Open 11:30 am daily. Must Try: Fried Lobster & Oysters 2435 7th Street SW, Winter Haven (863) 293-7070 • www.harborsidefl.com

HARRY’S OLD PLACE

Must Try: Hot and Fresh Wings 615 7th St., Winter Haven 863-875-7949

SOMEWHERE SPORTS BAR Enjoy great food, great games and great times in a family-friendly atmosphere. As your sports headquarters, ESPN, NFL & MLB ticket available on 14 flat screen TV’s. Daily lunch specials Mon-Fri from 11-2 pm only $5.99. Open 7 days a week. Appetizers, Sandwiches, Wraps, Salads, Burgers, Pizza & Wings. Full liquor with Happy Hour Mon-Sat from 3-6 pm. Must Try: Jumbo Wings & Pizza 5688 Cypress Gardens Blvd. (863) 324-7524

To Have Your Restaurant Included In This List, Please Call Us at 863-401-8001

Get your Fresh Fix at Harry’s Old Place. Huge selection of fresh fish including shrimp, scallops and mussels in addition to char-grilled steaks, chicken and pasta entrees. Craft beers, eclectic wines and tempting appetizers along with a great children’s menu. Less than a mile from Legoland. Like Facebook for weekly specials. We have mobile catering, Tallulah’s Table by the Sea for private parties and events. Must Try: Fish in a Bag 3751 Cypress Gardens Rd., Winter Haven 863-324-0301 www.harrysoldplace.com

2803 Recker Hwy, Winter Haven 863-291-0340

ARABELLA’S We offer the best Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, created from the freshest ingredients. Enjoy a cocktail before or after dinner in our

IDLE ZONE BAR & GRILL Located on Lake May (chain of lakes) with a brand new dock. Serving fresh, homemade lunch and dinner. AMAZING WINGS! Live music, karaoke and games. Totally remodeled atmosphere, clean and non-smoking inside. Outside patio seating.

JANUARY 2018

C A L E N D A R Get Your Listing in the Calendar

Email Listings to: tracey@todayandtonight.com Info must be received by the 23rd of the Month Prior to Publication. Events will be included as space allows.

Arts, Crafts, Festivals & Expos

JAN 9

– Meditation with Singing Bowls. Sound healing with Reiki Master Kristen Tenpenny leads you into an in-depth journey of relaxation and expansion. The vibrations of the ancient Tibetan and crystal singing bowls raise the vibration of your cells, allowing for your body to relaxing, reducing stress, pain, and tension while putting the listener into a meditative state. Each person may experience positive benefits in their own way. Please join us for this wonderful experience. Located at Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales. Tues, 5:30 pm. BokTowerGardens.org

JAN 11

– All About Alligators. Presented by Amanda West, Biologist, Alligator Management, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), presentation by Sierra. Engage in a learning opportunity perfect for the family. Amanda will bring a live alligator ambassador to augment her Power Point presentation on alligator biology and how to co-exist with this iconic, keystone species reptile. Program at 7 pm, covered dish dinner at 6:30 pm (if you wish to participate, please bring a dish to share, and bring your own drink and utensils). Bring a flashlight for the parking lot. Located Circle B Bar Reserve, 4399 Winter Lake Rd, Lakeland. Thurs, 7 pm. (863) 668-4673 ext. 205 for more info.

JAN 11

- Thursday Squared Food Truck Rally. Presented by Downtown Lakeland Partnership. 20+ food trucks line up around Munn Park to sell their unique cuisine every second Thursday, 6-9 pm. Located downtown Lakeland, 201 E. Main Street. Call for more info.

JAN 11

to 14 – Central Florida Street Rod Winter Wonder Show. 40th Florida Winter Meet. Corvette swap meet, Vintage Corvette on display, Corvettes from 1953

26 JANUARY 2018

to 1997 will be judged. Located Sun ‘n Fun, 4175 Medulla Rd, Lakeland. Free admission, $5 Parking. www.flysnf.org

JAN 13

– 39th Annual Winter Haven Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. Begins at City Hall and ends at Hilltop Church of Christ on Ave T. Lineup is at 8 am sharp! Located Winter Haven. For questions concerning the parade application or parade information, please contact Glenda W. Jones, 863-294-5860.

JAN 13

– Rick’s Bar-B-Q Bike Night. Three different categories for bike judging, music and food. All proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Club of Winter Haven. Any questions, please call Rick’s Bar-B-Q at (863) 2990354.Located Rick’s Bar-B-Q, 204 6th St NW, Winter Haven. Sat, 4 pm.

JAN 13

– Harmony Dark Sky Party. Learn about the night sky with astronomers, meet animals who survive in the dark, and enjoy a special astronomy inspired carillon concert. Darkness not only adds to the aesthetic qualities of the wildness, but is important to the health of wildlife. As most of the world is faced with the effects of artificial light pollution, the Dark Sky Festival aims to educate citizens about the importance and magic of natural darkness. Learn how you can make the darkness enjoyable and safe for all Earth’s inhabitants. Located at Bok Tower Gardens, Lk Wales. Sat, 6-10 pm. BokTowerGardens.org

JAN 13

– Lake Alfred Bluegrass & BBQ Bash. Join us for a great day of music and food from BBQ vendors competing for cash prizes and trophies. Located Lions Park, 175 N Nekoma Ave, Lake Alfred. Sat, 11-9 pm.

JAN 16

– History Center Lunch & Learn Lecture Series. The museum invites guests to bring lunch and listen to a guest speaker on the third Tuesday every month. Lectures will begin at 12:15 and last 30 45 minutes. January is Florida Founder William P. DuVal: Frontier Bon Vivant. The 2018 series runs from January to November. Located Polk County History Center, 100 E Main Street, Bartow. Tues, 12-1 pm. Cost – free. Call (863) 534-4386 for more info.

JAN 18

– Farm to Table: Soups On! Join us around the fire for the second installment of our Farm to Table dinner series prepared by World Food Championship’s Amy Freeze. Take a seat with friends or cozy up around the fire pit with bowls of soups & stews guaranteed to beat the winter chill. Amy and her team will cook up a hearty winter-themed menu, including soups, stews, a craft beer-infused dessert, and drinks. A native of Polk County, Amy began cooking at 8 years old and has never stopped. She earned her place among the world’s best com-

petitive chefs by winning the National Pie Championship, being named a 3-time World Food Championships finalist in both desserts and sandwiches, and competing on Food Network. Located at Bok Tower Gardens, Lk Wales. Thurs, 6 pm. BokTowerGardens.org

JAN 19

– 5th Annual Pints for Paws Lakeland Beer Fest. Benefit for the Humane Society of Polk County. Enjoy sampling from over 100 different brands of beer, along with a free souvenir pilsner sample glass, live music, food trucks, interactive beer stations, entertainment and more. Leashed pets are welcome! Located Lake Mirror Promenade, Downtown Lakeland. Fri, 7-10 pm. For tickets: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/pints-for-paws-lakeland-beer-festtickets-39330376214 https://pintsforpawslakelandbeerfest.com

JAN 19

- Main Street Bartow Friday Fest. A downtown street party, third Friday each month, featuring a live band, food & beverages, open car cruise-in, and activities for children. Different theme each month. Located E. Main Street, Bartow. Fri, 6-9 pm.

JAN 20

– Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. & Unity Day Festival. The parade will kick off at 11:00 AM on Main Street in front of City Hall, and will continue to Cook Field. The Unity Day Festival will take place at Cook Field and will begin at the conclusion of the parade. The event will include presentations, performances, kid’s activities, and much more! Located Cook Field, 915 N 8th St, Haines City. Sat, 11-2 pm.

JAN 20

– Cypress Gardens Ski Show. Free ski show. Concessions available. Bring a blanket or chair for seating. Located MLK Jr Park, Lk Silver, Winter Haven, Sat, 3:30 pm.

JAN 21

- Dog Day of Winter. Every dog has its day and at Bok Tower Gardens, that day is today! Leashed and friendly dogs are invited to visit the Gardens from 9:00 to 2:00 and enjoy fun contests, vendors selling specialty items, and professionals providing health, safety, and adoption tips. New this year is the opportunity to have family photos taken in front of the Tower, and a special “Blessing of the Pets” service. Fifty percent of the proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Polk County. Located at Bok Tower Gardens. Sun, 9-2 pm. BokTowerGardens.org

JAN 26

& 27 – Alafia River Rendezvous. Florida Frontiersmen host the annual Alafia River Rendezvous the largest living history event in the Southeast. Over 1,000 adults and hundreds of children establish a pre-1840 camp site on the Florida Frontiersmen club property. This event draws over one hundred traders and thousands of visitors and school children. Alafia River Rendezvous provides ample opportunities for members

and visitors to learn about the pioneer spirit of our ancestors, how they lived and the skills they used to survive. The Metis’ Indians also establish a traditional native village with teepees. Located Homeland, 1000 Old Fort Meade Rd, Bartow. Cost - $10 Adults, $5 Seniors (60+) and Kids (4-15 yrs); 3 & under free. Fri & Sat, 9-4 pm. Cash only event! floridafrontiersmen. com

JAN 26

& 27 – 22nd Annual Lakeland PigFest. Enjoy over 150 competition barbecue teams, good eatin’, good friends, and good tunes to benefit Lakeland-area charities. Admission is free. Located at the Sun ‘n Fun Campus, Lakeland. Fri, 5-10 pm & Sat, 10-5 pm. LakelandPigFest.org

JAN 26

& 27 – Lakeland Pro Rodeo Classic Xtreme Edition. It’s not just Cowboys and Cowgirls this year as we have added heart-stopping aerial acrobatics motocross that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time! Experience Polk County’s largest wild-west extravaganza as this “Xtreme Edition” rides into Lakeland for an amazing weekend! Located RP Funding Center (formerly Lakeland Center), 701 West Lime Street, Lakeland. Fri & Sat, 8 pm. Cost - $43 Reserved, $29 General Admission; 1 free child under 10 years with paid GA only. RPFundingCenter.com

JAN 27

– 14th Travel Expo. Presented by Travel & Cruise World. Free admission, free parking, travel show specials, on-site bookings, presentations every 15 min. Seminars by Scott Moore, owner. Cruise line and tour operator reps on hand for Q & A. Located at the Chain of lakes Complex, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven. Sat, 10-1 pm. Call (863) 295-9017 for more info. (free gift w/coupon from their ad on page 3)

JAN 27

- Banksy Rat Art in Winter Haven. Arts Ensemble Education Foundation & Outer Space Gallery will have an exclusive showing of the Banksy Rat featured in the current documentary Saving Banksy on NETFLIX. Banksy has become an international sensation. This unknown artist continues to keep his identity a mystery. A recent authenticated piece sold for $1.2 million. Outer Space Gallery is located directly behind Grove Roots Brewery. The Haight Street Rat will be on view through February 12, 2018. This event is FREE and open to the public. Food available by Chef Steven Rojas of Nutwood, and beer from Grove Roots Brewery. Bring your lawn chairs we will be showing Saving Banksy behind Outer Space Gallery at 7pm. Located Outer Space Gallery, 230 Ave C SW, Winter Haven. Sat, 12-6 pm; movie at 7 pm.

JAN 30

& 31 – Snowbird Extravaganza. Canadian and American winter visitors migrate to the state of Florida to escape the cold winter weather of the north. This show is a homecoming and a celebration of this unique way of life, the “Snowbird Lifestyle”. consumer show featuring products and services of local and national organizations with three stages of free live entertainment and feature areas including a Healthy Living Centre, a Memory Centre, Internet Café, The Hockey Hall of Fame and Animals of the World show. Located at The RP Funding Center (formerly the Lakeland Center) Tues & Wed, 9-4:30 am. Admission is free, $7 parking. RPFundingCenter.com

FEB 2

– Lakeland First Friday. One of the most popular recurring events at Historic Munn Park

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in Downtown Lakeland; new theme each month. Join us for an evening of FREE family friendly entertainment, activities, live music, art receptions, a car show, and, of course, the chance to check out a great, locally-owned restaurant or retail establishment. Fri, 6-9 pm.

FEB 2

& 3 – Smoke on the Water BBQ Competition. More than 20,000 gather for a day of fun, food and fabulous Florida weather all to benefit Citrus Center Boys & Girls Clubs! Professional cooks square off for the ultimate recognition as the best in BBQ chicken, ribs, pork, brisket and sauce. Live bands all day, pro water ski show, seaplane rides and more! Open Fri night 6-11 pm; BBQ, live music & fireworks. Cost - $10 donation. Open Sat 10am-5:30 pm; BBQ, live music, ski shows. Cost - $1 donation, $5 parking. More info at www.ccbgc.com/ smoke.

FEB 2

to 4 – 40th Annual Gator Cutlery Club. Custom, Modern & Antique Knife Show. Raffles to win custom handmade knives. Located RP Funding Center (formerly the Lakeland Center) Fri, 10-5 pm. Sat, 9-5 pm. Sun, 9-3 pm. Cost - $5, 1-day pass. $8, 2-day pass. $10, 3-day pass. Saturday night auction at 7 pm. GatorCutlery.com

FEB 3

– Lake Region Craft & Hobby Show. Come see the many treats and treasures crafted by local residents. Quilts, knitted and crocheted items, hand-made cards, stained glass, furniture, home décor and wood crafted objects, jewelry and beaded objects, yard and garden pieces, etc. Breakfast items for sale from 9-11 am, lunch is available at 11 am for only $5. Located Lake Region Village, 31850 HWY 27 S, Haines City. Sat, 9-2 pm. Call Kathryn Caputo (863) 547-9973 for more info.

FEB 9

– Central Florida Health Expo. Area’s premier event for health-conscious adults. The event will be held at International Market World Flea and Farmers Market in Auburndale. The market comes alive on Fridays as shoppers stroll through one of the area’s largest farm fresh produce markets, enjoy live entertainment and experience the market’s vibrant atmosphere. This event is free to the public. Everyone is welcome! ed International Market World, 1052 US 92 West, Auburndale. Fri, 9-3 pm. (863) 248-7537 for more info.

Locat

FEB 9

& 10 – 34th Annual Lake Wales Mardi Gras. Friday is the Lake Wales Mardi Gras 5k at 6 pm and street party with bands from 6pm to 12 am (midnight). Saturday live entertainment all day, beer garden, authentic cuisine, fam-

ily friendly. Saturday parade at 3 pm! Event runs from 11 am to 11 pm. LWMardiGras. com

Markets, Antique Fairs & Car Shows Main Street Bartow Farmers’ Market – Wednesdays. The Farmers Market vendors offer a wide variety of products including produce, dips and soup mixes, jams, jellies, pickles, honey, pies, candied apples, relishes, pecan and peanut brittle, and crafts. Food vendors available. Located Fort Blount Park at the corner of Main Street and Broadway Ave, Bartow. Wed, 10-2 pm. Facebook@BartowFarmersMarket Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curb Market – Saturdays. We have an exceptional variety of local vendors who offer fresh produce, seafood, pastries, breads, desserts, local honey, artisans, and crafts, to name a few. We are part of the FAB (Fresh Access Bucks) program that assists those in the SNAP/EBT program by encouraging healthy behaviors by making fresh, local produce more affordable and accessible to SNAP customers (formally known as food stamps). Stop by the Market Information Booth for more details! Located N. Kentucky Ave, Lakeland. Sat, 8 am-2 pm.

JAN 13

- Downtown Bartow Antique Fair & Collectibles Market. Held the 2nd Saturday of each month, antique vendors set up along the sidewalks in downtown Bartow. No charge for public; $20 for vendors. Located E Main Street, Bartow. Sat, 9 am-1 pm.

JAN 13

& 27 – 2nd & 4th Saturday Markets In Downtown Winter Haven. FREE community events, family and pet friendly. More than 50 local vendors offering: fresh & organic greens, raw local honey, food trucks, kettle corn, antiques, art painting, jewelry, all natural & organic body care products, wooden furniture, balloon artists, facial paintings, local crafts, fair trade, baby dresses, third party networks, non-profit, local businesses, cold treats, jams & jellies, baked goods, cottage products, live music, book signing, and much more! Located downtown Winter Haven, 41 5th ST NW, Winter Haven. Sat, 9-3 pm. (Due to holidays, Dec 16 is the “4th Sat Market” instead of the usual Saturday.)

JAN 13

& 27 - Lake Wales Farmers’ Market. The Lake Wales Farmers’ Market features locally grown produce and more on the 2nd/4th Saturday of each month. Located Park Ave & Stuart Ave, Lk Wales. Sat, 9-12 pm.

JAN 20

- Uptown Yard Sale & Flea Market. Bartow’s monthly Uptown Yard Sale & Flea Market is held on the 3rd Saturday of each month, along the 300 block of East Main Street in downtown Bartow. Sat, 8-1 pm.

JAN 26

- Dixieland Last Fridays. Dixieland businesses have formed the Dixieland Revolution to bring attention and interest to the great things Dixieland businesses have to offer. Most businesses between the Tudor to Dixieland Relics will be open with special events at each place. Check out the Dixieland Revolution Facebook for more information. Dixieland Village, S. Florida Ave, 5th and Hall at the Waller Design Center, Lakeland. Last Friday night from 6-9 pm.

JAN 27

- Lake Wales Car Show. Display of cus-

tom, classic, street rods, & antique cars and trucks in Historic Downtown Lake Wales on the 4th Saturday every month. Stroll and admire the cool antique, custom and classic cars of yesteryear while enjoying music, enchanting shops, and the unique restaurants of charming downtown Lake Wales. Located East Stuart Ave, Lk Wales. Sat, 4-8 pm.

Concerts & Theatre Lundyville Music Hall – Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays. Wed, 7:30-10 pm; Acoustic Stage Open Mic. Performers and audience free. Thurs, 6-10 pm; Country Nights with Simple Country Band. $5 admission. Sat, 6-10 pm; Karaoke Night. Located Lake Juliana Boating & Lodging, 600 Lundy Road, Auburndale. (863) 9841144 or www.lundyville.com for more info.

JAN 4

to 21 – MOMologues. This original comedy about motherhood rips away the gauzy mask of parenthood to reveal what all mothers know but don’t always talk about: it’s overwhelming and exhausting, but also very, very funny. From the joys of pregnancy, through reading the same books over and over and over, to finally seeing your baby get on that school bus, this play mines the laughs and tears of the early years of motherhood. Located Theatre Winter Haven, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven. Cost - $25 Adults, $22 Students. TheatreWinterHaven.com

JAN 10

– Dirty Dancing The Classic Story on Stage. An unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Located Youkey Theatre, RP Funding Center (formerly Lakeland Center). Wed, 7:30 pm (doors open 6:30 pm). Cost - $45, $50, $60 plus parking. RPFundingCenter. com

JAN 12

to 14 – Fancy Nancy The Musical. It is based on Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet, part of the popular Fancy Nancy book series by Jane O’Connor. Rated G. Located Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S Lake Ave, Lakeland. Fri, 6:30 pm. Sat, 10:30 am & 6:30 pm. Sun, 2pm. Cost - $15 Adults, $12 Kids (12 & under). LakelandCommunityTheatre.com

JAN 13

– Decades Rewind. Join us for an experience of a lifetime! This brand new theatrical concert features more than 60 songs blended into unique medleys from the most prominent decades in music history… the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s with over 100 costume changes and videos that turn back time. From Aretha to Zeppelin, Decades Rewind will have you singing along and dancing in the aisles. Decades Rewind. Your music. Your memories. Your life. Located Youkey Theatre, RP Funding Center (formerly Lakeland Center). Sat, 7:30 pm. *Cost $45, $35 plus parking. *Children 14 & under are free with a Paid Adult Ticket (available only at the Box Office) RPFundingCenter. com

JAN 18

– Chicago The Musical. Everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever — Continued Page 28

JANUARY 2018

CALENDAR From page 27

seen. Located Youkey Theatre, RP Funding Center (formerly Lakeland Center). Thurs, 8 pm. Cost - $60, $50, $45 plus parking. RPFundingCenter.com

JAN 20

– Night at the Opera: Gianni Schicchi. Puccini’s hilarious Gianni Schicchi, sung in English, is a comic opera based upon an incident in Dante’s Divine Comedy where Schicchi is condemned to Hell for impersonating the rich Buoso Donati in order to make Donati’s will favorable to Schicchi. The short, one act opera will be preceded by famous choruses. Located Branscomb Auditorium, Florida Southern College. Sat, 7 pm. Cost $60, $40, $15.

JAN 21

– Music at Pinewood: Dr. Ben Pila. Join noted guitarist Ben Pila in an intimate setting at historic Pinewood Estate. Benjamin Pila is the only classical guitarist ever named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He’s performed extensively throughout the United States and has been a featured artist at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and Lincoln Center, Washington, D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center, and San Francisco’s Herbst Theater. Located at Bok Tower Gardens. Sun, 4-6 pm.

JAN 23

– Musical Thrones: A Parody. 90-minutes of hilarity. 6 seasons, 5 actors, 1 dragon! Fans of the most talked about show on television can now get their fantasy fix live on stage. The parody brings your most beloved and be-hated characters to life as you journey through all 6 seasons of the Emmy Award winning Game of Thrones series. Sing and dance along with Daenerys and her dragons, Tyrion, Joffrey and all the jolly members of the Lannister and Stark families in this love letter to fans. You will be transported to Thrones’ magical locations (if you close your eyes) where bloodthirsty musical theater comics leave no joke unturned in serving up Thrones’ notorious violence, power struggles, manipulation and sex - plus worse yet - a ballad or two. This show is preparing for battle so saddle up and hold onto your swords! Located Youkey Theatre, RP Funding Center (formerly Lakeland Center). Tues, 7:30 pm. Cost - $43 Pit/Orchestra, $33 plus parking. RPFundingCenter.com

JAN 31

& Feb 1 – The Toxic Avenger. Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s cult film and winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, The Toxic Avenger is a charming love story and laugh-out-loud musical that has it all: an unlikely hero, his beautiful girlfriend, a corrupt New Jersey mayor and two guys who play... well, everyone else ... bullies, mobsters, old ladies and stiletto-wearing backup singers. Rated M; Mature audiences only. Located Lakeland Community Theatre, 121 S Lake Ave, Lakeland. Wed & Thurs, 7:30 pm. Cost - $22 Adults, $20 Seniors. LakelandCommunityTheatre.com

FEB 1

– Paul Anka. Celebrating 60 years of hits – his way! Legendary singer-songwriter, Paul Anka, became a teen singing sensation in the late 1950s with “Diana” (the second-best-selling single of all time) and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” Forging an international career writing and performing classic pop songs, Anka is also knowing for his acting work in several films. With a career that spans generations of fans, Anka main co-star has always been music. As well-known for composing classics like Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” classic and Tom Jones’ “She’s A Lady,” Anka continued to appear sparingly in concert. Don’t miss your opportunity to see one of the most-talented music icons of our

28 JANUARY 2018

day! Located Youkey Theatre, RP Funding Center (formerly Lakeland Center). Thurs, 7:30 pm. Cost - $85, $75, $50 plus parking. RPFundingCenter.com

Charity Events & Golf Tournaments

JAN 13

– Central Florida Rum & Food Experience. The ultimate rum event for rum drinkers, rum aficionados and rum lovers! This event will tease not only the palate but educate the mind as well! Cooking demos and celebrity chefs. Enjoy rum tastings and food samplings. Benefit for the Lakeland Kiwanis Clubs. Located Sikes Hall, RP Funding Center (formerly Lakeland Center). Sat, 4-7 pm. Cost - $50 General Admission, $75 VIP (early entrance at 3 pm plus commemorative glass). RumAndFood.com

FEB 2

– Winter Haven Hospital Shooter Showdown. 7th annual Shooter Showdown event; proceeds raised will be utilized locally to support the most urgent needs of Winter Haven Hospital and Winter Haven Women’s Hospital patient care. Event includes fifty clay targets, lunch and reception, live auction, raffles, giveaways and more. Located Florida FFA Leadership & Training Center, 5000 Firetower Road, Haines City. Fri, 11-5 pm. For event info or sponsorship inquiries, contact the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation at (863) 292-4138 or whhfoundation@baycare.org

FEB 3

– 13th Annual VISTEBall. VISTE’s largest fundraiser of the year. An indoor golf-themed event where attendees play golf-related games, enjoy a buffet dinner and drinks. A unique experience that allows guests to have a fun time while supporting the elderly population of our community. Silent and live auction items available. Proceeds from the event support VISTE (Volunteers In Service To the Elderly). Tickets are on sale now. Purchase from VISTE Board Members or online. For more info, Steve Bissonnette (863) 683-8458, steve@viste.org or www.viste.org. Located Sun ‘n Fun, 4175 Medulla Rd, Lakeland (Hangar A). Fri, 6-10 pm. Tickets - $65.

Sports in Polk

JAN 5

- Lakeland Magic vs Santa Cruz Warriors. Basketball 7 pm located at RP Funding Center, Lakeland.

JAN 6

- Tropics vs Syracuse Silver Knights. Indoor soccer 7:35 pm located RP Funding Center, Lakeland.

JAN 2

0 - Tropics vs Kansas City Comets. Indoor soccer 7:35 pm located RP Funding Center, Lakeland.

JAN 2

3 - Lakeland Magic vs Greensboro Swarm. Basketball 7 pm located at RP Funding Center, Lakeland.

FEB 3

- Lakeland Magic vs Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario. Basketball 7 pm located at RP Funding Center, Lakeland.

FEB 7

- Lakeland Magic vs Wisconsin Herd. Basketball 7 pm located at RP Funding Center, Lakeland.

FEB 9

- Tropics vs Harrisburg Heat. Indoor soccer 7:35 pm located RP Funding Center, Lakeland.

ONOMATOPOEIA on·o·mato·poe·ia: The naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (as buzz, hiss).

By Erica Smith

Out of The Rabbit Hole “But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked. “Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice. “You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.” “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” “Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.” “If you don’t know where you are going any road can take you there” — Excerpted from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll The year 2017 has been one for the record books given the amount of scandals, world events and general political nonsense that occurred. Lewis Carroll probably best describes our current situation with his famous lines from Alice in Wonderland… the world is simply becoming “curiouser and curiouser.” Network news is not supposed to be a comedy play; however, with the polarizing of pundits, and the constant appetite for 24 hour-a-day information, each segment begins to take on the familiarity of a farce. The public is often left wondering was that just another tweet storm or is this the “new normal”? With all of the nonsense available, how does one discern between what is fake news, real news or just pure distraction? We often forget history is filled with just as many twists and turns as our current political environment. What “ups the ante” is the introduction of social media and the ability to post comments with the push of a button. Like Alice’s

rabbit hole, the internet, and especially Facebook, is just as dark and claims just as many. Often, it is the not the topic but the comments that seem to be especially troubling. We have fallen prey to the ease of sharing our opinions with the touch of a button. Being kind and respectful is giving way to trolling and outright fanaticism. Substituting opinion for fact and perception for context is a dangerous game. We are hungry for information and our incessant scrolling is evident of that need. What we are losing as a generation is the ability to think, ponder and explore before sharing our opinions with the world. Interestingly, Alice in Wonderland, was written by a mathematician and is often described as one of the best examples in the literary nonsense genre. Unfortunately, as shown in the quotes above, what was once literary nonsense in the Victorian era has become de rigueur for the 21st century. Perhaps, it is the sheer number of resources available that causes the virtual rabbit holes. Not knowing what is fact, fiction, or a combination of both is what leads to extreme positions. For the New Year, we need less rabbit holes and better roads, both figuratively and literally. Common kindness and a greater appreciation for facts is a great place to start. I am hoping 2018 is the year we settle on a road, any road, and move forward. We deserve more than “uncommon nonsense.” QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS info@todayandtonight.com

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TID BITS TRACEY’S

By Tracey Greene

Welcome 2018

Bye-Bye 2017. Another year has come and gone. Time to make that usual list of resolutions. I’m sure that many of us just cross out the old year and write in the new one – year after year after year. I mean, we make these lists with somewhat good intentions, but do we really do anything to make things better? Resolution: 1. a firm decision to do or not to do something. 2. the action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter. A New Year’s Resolution: a tradition, most common in the Western Hemisphere but also found in the Eastern Hemisphere, in which a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve their life.

TE A D HE T E SAV LIVE MUSIC FOOD TRUCKS •

47TH ANNUAL

WALES

LAKE

CHILDREN’S TENT

FEB 24-25

FEB.

Kickoff Party with Band and Bar-B-Que: 6pm

The Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions are: Stay fit & healthy 37%, Lose weight 32%, Enjoy life to the fullest 28%, Spend less, save more 25%, Spend more time with family & friends 19%, Get organized 18%, Will not make any resolutions 16%, Learn something new/ new hobby 14%, Travel more 14%, Read more 12% (source: Nielsen) It’s really great to make a list. That’s step 1. However, completing the task at hand to achieve your personal goals is a whole other ball game. Step 2 is “How do I follow through to meet these new challenges which will ultimately make me happier and a more productive

person?” Now that is the true question! To me, the key to being successful with these resolutions is finding the right key! That’s what we are going to resolve to do this year, find the right keys to mark those New Year’s Resolutions off the list – for good. Want to read more? Then pick out 6 books, buy them, put them on your nightstand and read. Whether you read fast or slow – just mark out a little time each day to read. 6 little books – 12 months. You can make the time to enjoy reading year after year. Want to save money? Here’s a little tip my bank just emailed out. Take the 2018 Savings Challenge. Week 1 put $1 in savings account. Week 2 put $2 in savings account. Week 3 put $3 in savings account. Don’t laugh, just try it! Week after week, until you hit Week 52. Look in your savings account and you’ll see the $1,378 you’ve managed to squirrel away. Repeat each year. How about this year making a shorter list of resolutions? Ones that are truly manageable, ones that you can truly keep. This will help you achieve better happiness and fulfillment; which often leads to better growth as a human being. Isn't that what we all ultimately want – to be a better person! Here’s to a truly great New Year and happier future! QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS info@todayandtonight.com

Sat. 10am-5pm Sun. 10am-4pm

For more information:

863.676.8426

JANUARY 2018

30 JANUARY 2018

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new year, new you By Amy Sumerlin Rum cake, egg nog, buckeyes, cheesecake. And that was just yesterday. If the holiday goodies at your house have left you searching for elastic waist pants, just put down the Gingerbread and know you’re not alone: the average person gains between one and five pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. But thankfully, New Year, new you. If you start 2018 with clean-eating habits and an active lifestyle, the weight you gained will come off. However, don’t set yourself up by failure by making a mostly unachievable New Year’s Resolution like “I’m going to lose all the weight by this coming Thursday.” Fast weight loss leaves you tired and hungry and, more than likely, you’re losing muscle and water, not the unwanted fat. To lose the fat, drop the holiday weight gain at a rate of one to two pounds a week. How? Make small, realistic changes that can gradually become everyday lifestyle choices. IN THE MORNING

If you can’t get your day started without a large, frothy Frappuccino, think twice. No matter where your favorite coffee place is, some of those aren’t just caffeine-infused; many have more calories than a Big Mac! Instead, the next time you roll into Richard’s Fine Coffees, request a smaller size with either almond milk or coconut milk, and skip the whipped cream for a while. Within a week, you’ll save 500 calories (of the 3500 calories you need to slash per pound you want to lose). And if a bagel usually accompanies that Frap, pick an English muffin instead – you’ll immediately save 240 calories! TAKE CONTROL OVER PORTIONS

Controlling portions will go a long way to reaching your weight. Use the food label to figure the recommended amount. If you don’t have a food label handy, use household items to keep portions in check. A deck of cards is equal to a serving of meat; a baseball is a cup of grains, pasta, fruit or veggies; and one dice is equal to a teaspoon of oil or nut butter. Use smaller plates, bowls and cups to prevent yourself from over serving. If you’re hungry after

the first round, go for veggies for your second helping. GO DARK

Sweet tooth? Skip your afternoon pickme-up of a Snickers or M&M’s for two squares of dark chocolate. Do this Monday through Friday, and you cut 600 calories. Better, dark chocolate helps keep your heart healthy and can even boost your mood. CUT DOWN ON COCKTAILS

The problem with those spiked eggnogs isn’t just sugar and fat. Alcohol has seven calories per gram (compared to four for protein and carbs). Worse, the stomach and brain don’t register liquid calories the same way as solids, so it’s way too easy to over-indulge, calorie-wise. In 2018, skip the sweet drinks for a while and only pour the wine glass half full (that will save 60 calories per glass). During the day, drink tea (no cream or sugar) – it has zero calories and ups your metabolic rate.

20 18 TRY A FEW OF THESE LOCAL PLACES TO GIVE JUICING A TRY:

BAMBU CAFÉ

In Winter Haven is one of my personal favorites. They offer made-to-order juices, infused waters, and real fruit and veggie smoothies. If you want something a little more protein-packed, chicken, egg, and tuna salads are made in house daily. Soups (including a number of vegan options) also are house made, with organic broths and vegetables; most are dairyfree and low sodium. Last time I ate there, I saved room for dessert – a Reese’s Cup smoothie and, you’ll love this, it tasted almost sinful! Thankfully, it wasn’t – it’s made from banana, organic peanut butter, and chocolate almond milk. FMI: Bambu Café, 371 3rd St. NW, 863-2806346. FB@BambuBodyBar

DINING OUT THE HEALTHY WAY

Just because your New Year’s resolution includes healthy eating and weight loss, you are not chained to your own kitchen: It’s just time to start rounding up the local eateries that cater to a healthy lifestyle. Juicing, for example, is an easy way to shower your body with concentrated amounts of nutrient-packed vegetables and fruit… translation: vitamins, minerals, the good stuff. Plus, these drinks are automatically low in ingredients you want to avoid, like fats, added sugars and salt. GET MOVING

While what you eat is very important, exercise will tip the weight-loss equation in the direction you want. At a minimum, get 30 minutes of daily exercise, whether it’s a brisk walk around the mall or a swim at the local pool, each day. But if you want to lose, you need to bump up your daily activity to 60 minutes a day or up the intensity by running instead of walking. To offset the decrease in your body’s calorie burning as you lose the weight, add strength training twice a week, such as lifting weights or using weight machines, to limit muscle loss. Add a combination of all of the above and you will find yourself back in those tight blue jeans before bikini season. Here’s to your healthiest year ever!

THE JUICE BOX CAFE

If you’re closer to Lakeland, you still have options! Try The Juice Box Cafe, which serves fresh-pressed juices, smoothies and healthy food. Their website is quick to point out, though, that “eating well doesn’t have to mean munching on twigs and grass”. Their menu is entirely vegetarian, mostly vegan and paleo friendly. FMI: The Juice Box Café, 4295 S Florida Ave, (located in the Palm Plaza by Planet Fitness & Staples), (863) 225-5961. juiceboxcafe.com

ANTHONY’S HEALTH HUT & RESTAURANT

Also in Lakeland is Anthony’s Health Hut & Restaurant – a great store where you can grab lunch and your vitamins. They offer a wide selection, from probiotics and prenatal vitamins, to racks of flours and healthy cooking needs. I hear their chicken salad sandwich with tarragon on rye bread shouldn’t be missed. FMI: Anthony’s Health Hut & Restaurant, 5329 S. Florida Ave., (863) 644-5330. FB@AnthonysHealthHut JANUARY 2018

BRAINEXCERCISE Sudoku Puzzle STRANGE BUT TRUE BY SAMANTHA WEAVER • It was German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein who made the following sage observation: “The hardest thing to understand is why we can understand anything at all.” • If you’re planning a trip to South Africa, you might want to keep in mind that there are 11 official languages there. • It is customary in India for those who celebrate Christmas to decorate a banana or mango tree -- evergreens being in rather short supply in most parts of south Asia. • Those who study such things say that a normal cat has 230 bones in its body, but it doesn’t have a collarbone. • You’ve almost certainly heard people refer to the school they attended as their alma mater, but do you know where the term comes from? In Latin, “alma mater” means “bounteous mother,” and it was in the early 1800s that people began using it to designate their beloved schools.

TRIVIA TEST By Fifi Rodriguez

1. SCIENCE: What does the term Mohorovicic Discontinuity refer to? 2. GEOGRAPHY: How many provinces does Canada have? 3. MOVIES: Which Disney movie featured the “Siamese Cat Song”? 4. TELEVISION: In “The Simpsons” animated series, what are the names of Ned Flanders’ two kids? 5. HISTORY: What is the date on the tablet held by the Statue of Liberty? 6. FAMOUS QUOTATIONS: Which author penned the words, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year”? 7. MUSIC: What alternative rock band’s debut album was titled “Bleach”? 8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby whale called? 9. BIBLE: In what part of the Bible do the Beatitudes appear? 10. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: In medieval times, what did a chandler do? Answers

• Before horror author Stephen King became famous for novels such as “Carrie,” “The Stand” and “The Shining,” he wrote four novels and 60 short stories that failed to be accepted for publication.

1. The boundary between the earth’s crust and

• Most lizards are harmless reptiles, but there are some that are known to be venomous. Rather than avoiding these rare creatures, however, there are some who seek them out for the very venom that makes them dangerous. It seems that there’s a component to the venom that causes blood pressure to drop in humans, which could save thousands of lives.

6. Charles Dickens

the mantle 2. 10 provinces 3. “Lady and the Tramp” 4. Rod and Todd 5. July 4, 1776 7. Nirvana 8. A calf 9. Gospel of Matthew 10. Makes or sells candles and soap

ANSWERS

• It would seem that even powerful dictators can succumb to the pull of Hollywood. Il Duce, Benito Mussolini, was an extra in the film “The Eternal City,” and Cuba’s longtime dictator, Fidel Castro, had a bit part in a movie called “Holiday in Mexico.”

32 JANUARY 2018

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JANUARY 2018

POLK STATE COLLEGE

SPECIAL

PERFORMANCE SERIES

2018 SEASON WINTER HAVEN CAMPUS

Phil Dirt & The Dozers

Sunday, January 7, 2018 2:00 pm | $25 General public

“A Tribute To Neil Diamond” starring Jay White Friday, January 19, 2018 7:30 pm | $25 General public

Ethan Bortnick

Friday, February 2, 2018 7:30 pm | $25 General public

Dallas Brass

Friday, February 23, 2018 7:30 pm | $25 General public

“Broadway: Songs From The Great White Way” starring Franc D’Ambrosio Sunday, March 4, 2018 Sund 2:00 pm | $25 General public

Shades of Bublé: A Three-Man Tribute to Michael Bublé

Saturday, March 17, 2018 7:30 pm | $25 General public

Series tickets ($110) available until January 7, 2018 (a savings of $40). For more information call 863.297.1050.

polk.edu/boxoﬃce Polk State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit polk.edu/equity.

34 JANUARY 2018