The Lakelander | March - April 2015

MARCH - APRIL 2015

THE NEW FORMAL / THE LAKELANDER COFFEE TOUR / GOOD VIBRATIONS GLITTER AND GRACE / CHANGING LIVES THROUGH ART

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THE LAKELANDER

A promise made is a promise kept.

For the last 100 years, we have honored traditions, planned for the future, and delivered healthcare you can count on. We have stayed true to our promise to provide our community with the best care there is to offer.

Today, we are transforming healthcare and receiving national recognition. Our exceptional medical staff, nurses and team are inspired and ready to help make positive, lasting improvements in the health of those we serve.

To reflect that transformation, our name is changing to Lakeland Regional Health.

Together, our Promise is YOUR HEALTH.

THE LAKELANDER

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ATRIUM

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Lakeland-Lake Gibson 6625 US 98 North (863) 858-3866 Lakeland North 1409 N. Florida Ave. (863) 682-8107 Haines City 35495 Hwy. 27 (863) 422-3144

Lakeland Combee 1225 N. Combee Rd. (863) 665-3111 Lakeland Christina 6100 S. Florida Ave. (863) 646-2921 Lake Wales 126 Hwy. 60 W. (863) 676-6515

Frostproof 500 N. Scenic Hwy. (863) 635-2645

Ft. Meade 1401 Hwy. 17 N. (863) 285-9757

Auburndale 521 Hughes Rd. (863) 967-6602

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1350 N. Broadway (US 98) Bartow (863) 533-1611

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

46 MARCH - APRIL 2015

DEPARTMENTS MARCH - APRIL 2015

20 NOTE FROM THE EDITORS 22 EDITORIAL BIOS 124 EVENTS 130 HISTORY

ON THE COVER Coffee has evolved over time, and with this evolution has come the rise of unique coffee establishments. Now is an ideal time to be a coffee drinker in Lakeland as our coffee scene flourishes with a robust menu of options.

THE NEW FORMAL / THE LAKELANDER COFFEE TOUR / GOOD VIBRATIONS GLITTER AND GRACE / CHANGING LIVES THROUGH ART

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THE LAKELANDER

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It’s the perfect place to improve your golf swing, enjoy a meal with friends, or even host a celebration. You work hard and you deserve a place to relax and let loose. The unexpected is right here waiting for you. Find it at The Club at Eaglebrooke, where everyone’s invited.

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Your Table. Your Statement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CULTURE 26 GLITTER AND GRACE Ballroom dancing is alive and well in Lakeland

TASTE 36 ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY Brunch inspired by the Middle East

STYLE 46 THE NEW FORMAL Make a statement this spring

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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SPECIAL FEATURE 58 THE LAKELANDER COFFEE TOUR These local coffees will perk you up

PHILANTHROPY 72 CHANGING LIVES THROUGH ART

How the Polk Museum of Art is becoming a museum for the modern age

SPECIAL FEATURE 84 HOME-COOKED MUSIC

Lakeland’s amateur musicians find their muse in local eateries

PEOPLE 96 GOOD VIBRATIONS

Lakeland’s Scott Totten, musical director of the Beach Boys, tells us why Lakeland is in tune

SPECIAL FEATURE 104 BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE LAKELANDER Meet Jarman Peacock

SHELTER 112 REWRITING CONTEMPORARY DESIGN A new and inspired take on iconic design

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CenterState Bank is a proud partner of Southeastern University. Go Fire!!

Angel Gonzalez, Vice President of Commercial Banking, and his wife Rosalie live in South Lakeland where they raise their daughter Aaliyah. Angel and his wife met for the first time as students at Southeastern University where they later got engaged. Angel and his family now attend Victory Church @ Lakeside Village. They are proud Lakelander’s and big advocates of all the great assets Lakeland has to offer.

at the

of our community

Downtown Lakeland • Lake Miriam • 12 Polk County Locations • centerstatebank.com

PUBLISHER Curt Patterson ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS Jason Jacobs, Brandon Patterson Advertising ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Curt Patterson; 863.409.2449 ADVERTISING SALES Jason Jacobs; 863.606.8785 ADVERTISING SALES Brandon Patterson; 863.409.2447

Editorial EDITOR, DIRECTOR OF CONTENT Alice V. Koehler EDITOR, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Tina Sargeant GUEST EDITOR, BEHIND THE SCENES Rachel Plating GUEST EDITOR, SPECIAL FEATURE Kristin Crosby CULTURE EDITOR Abby Jarvis MEN’S STYLE Abdiel Gonzalez PEOPLE EDITOR Adam Spafford PHILANTHROPY EDITOR

Tara Campbell SHELTER EDITOR Christian Lee TASTE EDITOR Jenn Smurr WOMEN’S STYLE EDITOR Courtney Philpot COPY EDITOR Laura Burke OFFICE MANAGER Deb Patterson ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Kristin Crosby Design ART DIRECTOR Philip Pietri GRAPHIC DESIGNER Daniel Barcelo Photography CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rob Crosby, Michael Nielsen, Penny & Finn,

Philip Pietri, Tina Sargeant, Jason Stephens, Jordan Weiland Circulation CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Jason Jacobs

General Counsel

Ted W. Weeks IV

Published by Patterson Jacobs Publishing, LLC

Lakeland’s Premier COFFEE HOUSE & CASUAL EATERY

The Lakelander is published bimonthly by Patterson Jacobs Publishing, P.O. Box 41, Lakeland, FL 33802. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission of The Lakelander is prohibited. The Lakelander is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions.

Contact Patterson Jacobs Publishing, P.O. Box 41, Lakeland, FL 33802 863.701.2707 www.thelakelander.com Customer Service: 863.701.2707 Subscription Help: jason@pattersonpublishing.com “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

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EDITORIAL

NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

CARPET CLEANING AND WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION Alice V. Koehler

Tina Sargeant

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s the sun rises with each new day, we are presented with opportunities. We are gifted with the chance to do something different, to take a plunge, to embrace a fork in the road. We have opportunities to give kind words to our friends and neighbors, to make a difference with the moments we have. We can choose a new job, a new home, a new love, a new school.

Opportunities swirl around us all the time. We get to choose to accept their arrival and dive in, or we can choose to ignore or decline. The beauty of it all is that it’s our own choice. We get to choose which opportunities to take on, which ones to internalize, and which ones to leave behind.

With each opportunity comes a chance to try and a chance to learn. An opportunity is the world at your fingertips. It’s the moment when everything is possible. All that could be swirls around you, inspires, and gives life to dreams yet to be realized. It’s the cusp of what comes next, the edge of something new. There is no other moment in life like an opportunity before it becomes reality. In that moment, there is no failure and there is no success. It is utter purity.

Every day, we look at life in the face. It stares at us, and we move through the moments it gives to us, sometimes gracefully and sometimes clumsily. How often do we really see it, though? Too naturally we fall into patterns that welcome the mundane and robotic movements of patterned behavior because that’s what is easy. Life unfolds quickly as we navigate each turn through work responsibilities, family obligations, and relationships. In life’s unfolding, how many opportunities have we missed because we’re too busy? How many have we declined because we’re scared of something new?

Take a moment this spring to practice being present. Commit to living fully, to breathing in moments and accepting the challenge to take on an opportunity, despite the success or failure that lies on the other side.

Warmly, Alice and Tina

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EDITORIAL BIOS ALICE V. KOEHLER

EDITOR, DIRECTOR OF CONTENT Alice Koehler is a longtime Lakeland resident, graduate of Florida Southern College, returned Peace Corps volunteer, mother, and lifelong learner. She holds a certificate in nonprofit management as well as a B.S. in sociology and education. In 2013, she graduated from Leadership Lakeland Class 30 and began her journey as an MBA student. In her free time, she enjoys adventure seeking, memory making, joy giving, bargain hunting, community building, mind bending, knowledge acquiring, and soul filling. Alice is currently the senior representative of Community Engagement for the American Cancer Society in Polk County where she gets to see more birthdays celebrated every year by supporting and implementing efforts that help our neighbors get well and stay well, find cures, and fight back.

ABDIEL GONZALEZ MEN’S STYLE EDITOR

From a young age, Abdiel Gonzalez was inspired by design and art, and influenced by the colorful culture of his native Hawaii. After moving to Florida in his teens, Abdiel formed an award-winning dance company, No Confusion, for which he received national recognition. His love of fashion developed while earning a bachelor’s in business administration at Florida Southern College. He has managed multimillion-dollar retail establishments, designed stage costumes, and styled high-profile photo shoots. Currently, Abdiel runs Style Instinct by Abdiel, a styling and image consulting business. As a longtime Lakelander, Abdiel gives back by volunteering his talent to local production companies and teaches weekly dance classes at studios here in Lakeland.

ADAM SPAFFORD PEOPLE EDITOR

Adam Spafford came to Lakeland in 1999 to attend Florida Southern College and, except for a 20-month graduate school stint in Massachusetts, has been here since. When he’s not writing page-turners for The Lakelander, he trades stock and index options.

TARA CAMPBELL

PHILANTHROPY EDITOR Tara Campbell is a longtime Lakelander with a passion for serving others. A graduate of Florida Southern College, she is currently the team and outreach director for Access Church. In the past she has worked as the teen development director for the YMCA of Central Florida, the outreach teacher at the Polk Museum of Art, and a classroom leader at Parker Street Ministries. Believing firmly that only boring people get bored, Tara spends her free time mentoring middle-school girls in the Parker Street Neighborhood, teaching art lessons, and serving the community through several civic organizations, as well as enjoying all of the friends and culture that Lakeland has to offer.

CHRISTIAN LEE SHELTER EDITOR Christian Lee is a Mississippi native who moved to Lakeland in 1992. After spending several years raising her family, she re-entered the design and decorating industry in 2004. Today, she works with contractors and clients to remodel homes and commercial properties. Christian is passionate about spaces that have soul, and she loves to find ways to make that soul come to life. She is skilled at interior decorating, repurposing antique and vintage furniture, and has designed a line of clothing for the home as well. In her spare time, Christian runs marathons and volunteers on the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Leadership Council. She is also a 20-year member of the Junior League of Greater Lakeland.

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EDITORIAL BIOS COURTNEY PHILPOT WOMEN’S STYLE EDITOR For as long as she can remember, Courtney Philpot has been doodling girls in dresses on any available paper, pad, or napkin. Born and raised in Lakeland, she attended FSU, where she received a degree in sociology and then earned a degree in fashion design and marketing from the Academy of Design in Tampa. She created Style by Courtney, where she works as a stylist for personal clients, groups, photo shoots, and runway shows. Eventually, she wants to design her own prints to be used in her own apparel line. Until then, she plans on spending time with her husband, Bryce, and daughter, Sydney, while sharing her fashion philosophy that “You don’t need a million bucks to look like a million bucks” with her clients and readers.

KRISTIN CROSBY GUEST EDITOR Kristin is the administrative assistant for The Lakelander at Patterson Publishing. Outside of an obvious affinity of coffee, her interest in writing about all things from life, love, and politics can be found at kristincrosby.com. Also, Kristin has contributed as a film critic for relevantmagazine. com and vitalmagazine.com.

RACHEL PLATING GUEST EDITOR

Rachel Plating is a Florida girl through and through. Growing up she split her weekends fishing in the many lakes of Central Florida and playing bluegrass with her family on the lawn of her grandparents’ house in Eustis. When the time came to go to college, Florida Southern swept her off her feet with its ancient oaks draped in Spanish moss and the sleepy brick roads leading to and from the lakes around town. She and her husband met at FSC, and though called away from Lakeland for a time, they just couldn’t stay away forever. Three years later saw them moving back to this special town and making a home to raise their children among the community they love so much. When she’s not writing for The Lakelander, you can usually find her spending time with her family, making delicious meals, having art time with her kids, and playing music at church. When she is writing for The Lakelander, she can usually be found at Mitchell’s.

ABBY JARVIS

CULTURE EDITOR Abby Jarvis is a writing buff with a deep appreciation for the history behind modern cultures and habits. She attended Florida Southern College and, while enrolled there, fell in love with Lakeland’s ability to blend its history with its contemporary identity. Today, Abby works in marketing and outreach at Qgiv, a Lakeland tech company, and spends her spare time writing fairy tales and poetry, which can be found strewn haphazardly through her apartment.

JENNIFER SMURR GUEST EDITOR, TASTE Jenn is a Florida native and a proud Lakelander. She is a lover of people and all things food (especially dark chocolate), an excursionist, and the owner of Born & Bread Bakehouse. For the last four years, Jenn has traveled the world working full time as a fashion model. Taking advantage of the gift of travel, she spent her free time exploring the local cuisine. Her affinity for bread came to a tipping point when she visited a standingroom-only cafe in Paris. It was there that she first tried “life-changing fresh bread and local butter.” She has since traded a life in fashion for one in food.

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CULTURE

Glitter Grace Ballroom dancing is alive and well in Lakeland

story by Abby Jarvis photography by Tina Sargeant

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F

rom Argentina to Austria to New York City, the art of dance is kept alive by a small but dedicated group of people that meet in ballrooms and dance halls all over the country. The dances span hundreds of years, including the centuries-old waltz and the more contemporary New York Hustle. Dancers, whether they meet to swap stories and laugh with each other, or glitter in the spotlights of dance competitions, are part of a long and beautiful history of the art of dancing.

Mary Dague is one of those dancers. She owns and teaches at Dancin’, a dance studio on South Florida Avenue where she’s taught for decades. Dague believes that part of ballroom

dancing’s longevity is that it can appeal to almost everyone. “There’s something for everybody,” she says. “Then there’s the feeling of the music — there are many benefits to listening to music.” She also says that dance styles evoke different emotions in the people who learn them. “The foxtrot, for example, is full of energy; the tango is passion; the waltz is romance. Those things — energy, passion, romance — never go out of style.”

Dague, who especially appreciates the social aspect of dancing, loves the creativity associated with it as well. Different styles of dance aren’t rigidly defined, and she likes that people can relax and learn new steps to old

Ben and Stephanie Castellano, competition dancers with Lakeland Ballroom

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dances. She also says it’s a good way to meet people, make friends, and boost your mood. “It’s good physically; it’s good socially; it’s good mentally. It keeps you young.

And you never see sad dancers on the dance floor!”

Another local dance teacher, Deborah Boatright, runs Lakeland Ballroom, a dance studio that serves the South Lakeland area. Boatright has taught ballroom dancing since she was 16 and has been teaching in Lakeland for years. Her dancing style and preferences reflect her energy and commitment to excellence. Her favorite dance is the New York Hustle, an energetic dance that was wildly popular in New York in the 1970s. She also organizes ballroom dancing competitions in Orlando and manages a dance studio in Jacksonville.

Boatright owns and operates two dance studios with her husband, Richard. In addition to being a dedicated dancer, Richard is a double lung transplant recipient.

Dancing has been an important part of his recovery. Deborah says her husband’s doctors encourage him to keep dancing as a way to get exercise and stay active. It’s a benefit, she says, that’s inherent to ballroom dancing. “It provides cardiovascular benefits as well as keeping the body moving,” she says. “It’s also fun exercise with some sort of interaction, because it has to be done with a partner instead of going to a gym and working out by yourself.”

Letitia Miller, another local dancer, shares the Boatrights’ love for ballroom dancing. Miller studied with them for years, and she too loves the energetic, physical aspect of ballroom. But she also loves the old-fashioned graciousness inherent with it — men asking women to dance, escorting them onto and off of the dance floor, and thanking them at the end of the dance. “It’s a wonderful place where the social graces have not died,” she says. “It’s that old-time cotillion grace.”

Miller credits ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars for making ballroom dancing more popular in recent years. “It makes you look glamorous,” she says. “It makes you feel good about yourself.” And, hopefully, the ballroom dancing craze continues.

Miller much prefers the graceful elegance of traditional dance over, as she laughingly put it, “just shaking your body parts on the dance floor.”

The crowd gathers for a spring training baseball game at Henley Field in Lakeland, Florida, the spring training home of the Detroit Tigers. The Detroit Tigers and Lakeland, Florida have had a longer continuous relationship than any other major league baseball team and its spring training home. The Tigers first came to Lakeland for spring training in 1934 and, except for a three year interruption during World War II, have been here ever since.

Photo Courtesy of Special Collections, Lakeland Public Library

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“The foxtrot is full of energy; the tango is passion; the waltz is romance.

Those things — energy, passion, romance — never go out of style.”

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As with any hobby, starting with ballroom dancing can be intimidating. New dancers may not be familiar with the different styles. They might not know if they need any dance experience, or which studios or teachers to approach about private lessons. Dague suggests trying a larger group class before committing to private lessons. She teaches one such class at Kelly Rec and introduces students to most types of dances over a 12-week period. She says that, by the end of the program, students are familiar with most aspects of ballroom dancing. “You’re going to know if you like it or don’t like it at the end of 12 weeks,” she laughs. “And the price is right!”

Boatright recommends jumping in and taking a class.

Ballroom dancing lessons, even if a student doesn’t take them long-term, are a good investment with physical benefits. If students do decide to stick with their lessons and learn to become better dancers, she assures them of this truth: “If they want to get more fun and enjoyment out of life, they should take dance lessons. It’s an investment that will constantly pay you back. Once you learn it, you will never forget it, and you can use it anytime you desire.”

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TASTE

BRUNCH INSPIRED BY THE MIDDLE EAST

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STORY BY JENN SMURR PHOTOGRAPHY BY PENNY & FINN

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N

ot long ago, Lakeland wasn’t part of my five-year plan; I wanted to be anywhere but here. Give me San Francisco, Nashville, or New York. Give me a place with culture and interesting people, a place that’s just as inspiring as the creatives who live there. I was on a constant search to get more out of life. I wanted to squeeze every drop from every moment, sometimes to a fault. I’ve never been OK with just OK, and I still want quality, depth, and substance in the place I choose to call home.

And I want great food!

The truth is, Lakeland is experiencing a burgeoning and vibrant culture, as well as a craft movement that invites and welcomes its residents to stay right here and create something new, exciting, and of great quality. And, now, Lakeland is in my five-year plan.

I know what you’re thinking: what does any of this have to do with brunch?

This has everything to do with brunch. Brunch turns ordinary breakfast into a fantastical eating adventure. A self-professed foodie, I measure moments by the tastes and textures I experience within them. When I travel to a new place, across town or across an ocean, I’m on a quest for something great and authentic. I’m not interested in tourist attractions but real food experiences that I can carry with me forever.

Last May I visited Bruges, a little town in Belgium. Picture this: stone streets, sidewalk cafes, and back-alley beer gardens, all within walking distance. The people were friendly; craft beer was served with pride; and the brunch was uniquely extraordinary. It was simple stuff, but the quality and freshness made my experience unforgettable. Cured meats, sliced cheeses, croissants, toast, jams, a soft boiled egg, freshly squeezed blood orange juice, and espresso filled my brunch in Bruges’ plate. Everything was local, fresh, and homemade.

Jenn Smurr

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My second morning there, I asked the owner where he got the jams and bread. He stared blankly at me for a few seconds. He seemed confused but answered, “I make them.”

By the end of the trip, I understood that this is simply their way of life. It’s a beautiful town of local restaurants, farmers, breweries, bakers, and artisans. I went to Bruges to find it but came home to find it in my own backyard as well. This culture of artistry and creativity and an appreciation of great food is being cultivated in our city right now.

When is the last time you enjoyed a memorable meal?

Each of my travel experiences has fed both my soul and my belly in ways that allow me to fold what I’ve learned into the dough of my life. It’s true that certain foods are better for the body while others are intended for the soul. My body, for example, loves avocado anything, whole grains, and Honeycrisp apples. My soul, however, relishes fresh bread and French butter, Parisian chocolate, pistachio pastries, street hot dogs in Israel, crème brulee donuts in NYC, handmade pasta in Italy.

Food is part of the human experience, so much so that it’s easy to let the act and art of it disappear. But, with a small amount of effort and commitment, we can create meals that we, our families, and our friends will remember. With a little thought and exploration, we can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

RECIPES SHAKSHUKA 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1/2 medium brown or white onion, peeled and diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 medium green or red bell pepper, chopped 4 cups ripe diced tomatoes, or 2 cans (14 oz. each) diced tomatoes 2 Tbsp. tomato paste

1 tsp. chili powder (mild) 1 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. paprika pinch of cayenne pepper (spice it up!) salt and pepper to taste 5-6 eggs 1/2 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro or parsley for garnish

Heat oil in a large skillet or sauté pan on medium. Add chopped onion, sauté for a few minutes until the onion begins to soften. Add garlic and continue to sauté until mixture is fragrant. Add the bell pepper and sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add tomatoes and tomato paste to pan, stir till blended. Add spices, stir well, and allow mixture to simmer over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until it begins to reduce. Take a second and give it a taste; now is the time to add any spices if desired. Add salt and pepper to taste and more cayenne pepper for a spicier shakshuka (I’m a spice fanatic, but my niece is not, yet! Keep your eaters in mind). Crack the eggs, one at a time, directly over the tomato mixture, making sure to space them evenly over the sauce. Place 4-5 eggs around the outer edge and 1 in the center.

Cover the pan with lid or aluminum foil and allow mixture to simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked and the sauce has slightly reduced. Keep an eye on the skillet to make sure that the sauce doesn’t reduce too much, which can lead to burning.

Note: Some people prefer their shakshuka eggs more runny. If this is your preference, let the sauce reduce for a few minutes before cracking the eggs on top. Then, cover the pan and cook the eggs to taste. Garnish with either the chopped cilantro or parsley, if desired.

Shakshuka can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Serve with warm, crusty bread.

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Slow Food. Fast

Plant City - Lakeland - Riverview - Sarasota www.fredsmarket.com THE LAKELANDER

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THIS CULTURE OF ARTISTRY AND CREATIVITY AND AN APPRECIATION OF GREAT FOOD IS BEING CULTIVATED IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.

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TURKISH COFFEE This recipe was supplied by Berna, owner/operator of Café Zuppina. This quintessential, unassuming mom and pop restaurant is a Lakeland gem and home to some unforgettable brussel sprouts. More on that another time... Enjoy this coffee before or after your meal, and enjoy every sip.

Turkish coffee kettle 2 small espresso cups 2 Tbsp. Turkish ground coffee 2 tsp. sugar Fill espresso cups with water and pour into the kettle. Add the ground coffee and sugar. Stir. Heat kettle over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until a foam begins to form. Divide the foam and half of the coffee between the two cups, and return the kettle to the heat for an additional minute before pouring the rest.

Note: Turkish coffee is finely ground and does not need to be filtered. After you’ve enjoyed, there will be grounds at the bottom of the cup.

“If you drink this coffee without foam, it is not Turkish coffee.” ~ Berna

NO-KNEAD BREAD Bread has a special place in my heart. I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting about bakery business with the creator of this famous recipe, Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery in New York City. No matter your bread-making skill level, this is one of the best introductory baking recipes. It’s so approachable, just like Jim. 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour 1/4 tsp. instant yeast 1-1/4 tsp. salt cornmeal, wheat bran, or multigrain mix as needed

Ron and Iris Smith enjoy the brunch prepared for them by author Jenn Smurr

In a large bowl combine flour, yeast, and salt. Add 1-5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles.

Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it. Sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice.

Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran, or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

At least one half-hour before the dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex, or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When the dough is ready, carefully remove the pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn the dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is OK. Shake the pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes.

Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes. Then, remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

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BAKLAVA BISCUITS What’s not to like about a pastry with beautiful layers of flaky pastry sheets lightly brushed with butter and filled with a thick honey-and-nut spread? After deciding that a Middle Eastern brunch was the direction I’d take for this article, I was inspired to add something sweet and balance such a wonderfully savory main dish.

Biscuit recipes are often underrated. There are a variety of tastes and textures with each. For this recipe, I wanted something layered and flaky similar to the dough used for traditional baklava. After the biscuits have cooled for a couple minutes, unfold one of the layers close to the center, fill with walnut butter, replace the top, and generously spoon honey syrup. The recipe makes 15 biscuits. You will probably have leftovers. Thank you letters can be mailed to The Lakelander office, haha.

FLAKY, LAYERED BISCUITS 4-1 ⁄ 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. cream of tartar 2 tsp. baking soda 1-1 ⁄ 2 tsp. salt 1 ⁄ 2 cup cold unsalted butter cut into pieces 1-3 ⁄4 to 2 cups cold buttermilk 1 ⁄ 2 cup unsalted butter, plus 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, cut into 1 Tbsp. portions 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter melted (optional, for brushing tops) Preheat oven to 450 degrees (500 degrees if using a convection oven).

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Cut cold butter into dry ingredients with a pastry blender. (Mixture should resemble coarse crumbs, with no large chunks of butter.) If butter gets very soft at this point, refrigerate mixture for 20 minutes. Add 1-3/4 cups buttermilk, stirring just to moisten all ingredients.

Dough should be soft and moist; add remaining 1/4 cup as needed. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface and knead gently about 10 times or just until dough holds together. Roll or pat dough into a 14-by-10-inch rectangle.

With the short side nearest you, spread top two-thirds of dough with 3 tablespoons soft butter, leaving bottom third, closest to you, unbuttered. Fold dough into thirds (like you would fold a letter) by pulling the bottom third up over the center and then pulling the top third over the middle.

Turn dough so the short side faces you. Pat into a 9-by12-inch rectangle.

In the same manner, spread again with 3 tablespoons soft butter and fold letter style. Turn once more in the same manner. Pat into a 9-by-12-inch rectangle; spread with remaining 3 tablespoons of soft butter and fold up.

Note: Work quickly and gently so as not to overwork dough or allow the butter temperature inside the dough to get too warm.

Pat dough into a rectangle 3/4-inch thick on floured surface. For more consistent sizes, trim dough edges and cut into squares with a sharp chef ’s knife. Place on pan, 1 inch apart. Lightly brush tops with melted butter (optional).

Bake in center of hot oven about 20 minutes (about 12 minutes in convection), until golden brown.

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set assistance by Christy Sallee

SEE MORE RECIPES FROM THIS STORY AT THE LAKELANDER.COM

Jan_Lakelander_Triple J_8x9.875 1/28/15 11:16 AM Page 1

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STYLE

Make a statement this spring story by Courtney Philpot and Abdiel Gonzalez photography by Jordan Weiland hair by Josh Vasquez of Evolve Studio makeup by Melissa Kinsey

It’s spring! A time when rebirth, regrowth, and renewal abound. A time to put those pesky New Year’s resolutions on the back burner and have a little fun. Celebrate the accomplishments, big and small, you have already made this year. Celebrate the upcoming season, one of the nicest times to soak in the great outdoors.

Most importantly, celebrate YOU! Allow this season of rejuvenation to flow through every facet of your life, including your wardrobe.

What better way to make your new style debut than at a friend’s wedding or a spring cocktail party? These Lakelander looks will keep you looking fresh, distinct, and on trend this season.

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ON HER ivory lace dress Skies Are Blue, Dillard’s white leather pleated skirt TopShop, Nordstrom floral bomber Ted Baker, Piperlime black drop earrings Nordstrom mint-green bangle Banana Republic leopard clutch Dillard’s

ON HIM suit Zara shirt Urban Outfitters bow tie Express belt H&M watch Ted Baker

SPORT GO BOLD OR GO HOME

This spring, make a statement. Step into spring with confidence. Choose pieces that will make you stand out in a crowd — no wallflowers on our watch. Whether you choose to go bold with your clothing or your accessories, just make sure to go one way or the other — not both.

Ladies, if you choose a dress or suit in an allover print or vibrant color, go minimal on your jewelry and accessories. On the other hand, if you find a statement necklace, earrings, or dynamite shoes, allow those pieces to take center stage while the rest of your ensemble acts as mere players to complement the main attraction.

Fellas, don’t shy away from a bold print. You too can make a statement. A large-print floral shirt under a neutral-colored blazer is a good way to avoid blending in and give your party suit a stylish spring refresh.

COLOR CONFIDENCE

As you pack away the winter blues, send with them your blah winter wardrobe color choices. Keep in the spirit of revival this season, and start spring with a clean color slate. If there is any time to try out new colors, this is it! Bright, fresh colors exude fearlessness and confidence in their wearers. You’ll be ready to set the world on fire! So be brazen. If you normally stick to the basics, step outside your comfort zone. This season you will find a spectrum of colors from which to choose — bright pinks and blues to more earthy tones and pastels like blush pinks, mint greens, and softer blues. Whether you chose a bold bright or a subtle pastel, make sure it works with your skin tone, and wear it with confidence.

Ladies, we give you examples in this article of how to wear brights and neutrals. If you’re feeling like you need to throw some color in with your neutrals, pair a printed or colorful jacket (as we have done here) or pashmina. Or, use your accessories as that pop of color. Pair a marsala (Pantone color of the year) bag or shoe with an aquamarine or strawberry-blush dress.

Guys can easily experiment with spring colors in their suiting. Pick a bold color for the tie/bow tie, shirt, and even a vest that complements a neutral suit of a different color, like the featured green and gray suit combination.

This is also an excellent way for guys to try their hand at this spring’s monochromatic color trend.

fuchsia, purple floral midi A-line dress Adriana Pappel, Dillard’s white clutch Aldo pink pumps Guess, Marshall’s green resin bangle Trina Turk earrings Nordstrom

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MAD ABOUT MONOCHROMATIC

This year’s spring runways were full of monochromatic looks. Designers combined looks in head-to-toe single color saturation or combinations with layered hues in the same color family. All-over white is making a comeback this season, a trend that has stood the test of time. There is nothing more chic or dapper than head-to-toe white.

Ladies, try it in a suit or separates in varying textures. We’ve shown you an example of this on a previous page by pairing a white pleated leather midi skirt with a white and cream lace frock for a new spin on this old classic.

If the idea of one color tone scares you, try approaching it by selecting two neutral/ complementing colors, wearing only those head to toe in larger color blocks. The white and blue color combination, like the one shown here, is a great example of a classic color mix that gives the look and feel of monochromatic coloring while not committing all the way.

blazer and pocket square J.Crew striped crewneck Ralph Lauren chambray trousers Zara blue suede loafers Aldo

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ON HER pink skirt After Five, eBay short-sleeve Oxford button-up 5th and Hall floral kitten heels Ivanka Trump, Nordstrom rhinestone tiered necklace Nordstrom clutch Banana Republic

ON HIM blazer and trousers Zara shirt Scotch and Soda watch Michael Kors shoes Ted Baker

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MIX IT UP

Don’t be afraid to mix formal pieces with typical casual wear. A formal event, like a spring wedding, is the perfect opportunity to try this new idea. Create a cool look by pairing unsuspecting pieces together.

Ladies, we show you an example of this by pairing a floor-length satin skirt with a short-sleeve button-down chambray top. The key to mastering this look is in adding formal jewelry and accessories. Want to add a little more oomph to your basic frock? If it has a waist seam, limited material on the skirt, and the lengths work, try throwing a skirt over it as we have done here with our pleated leather skirt.

Gentlemen, play around with the idea of deconstructing your formal suit by pairing it with a more casual knit, like the lightweight nautical striped one (shown on a previous page) and layered with the camel-colored sport coat. For an even easier approach, simply leave your suit blazer at home, unbutton your shirt, and throw on a classic pair of suspenders to create a more relaxed, remixed, spring party look.

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shirt, belt, and suspenders H&M trousers Zara watch Ted Baker shoes Banana Republic

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TIRED OF THE DAILY GRIND? PERK UP WITH A COFFEE FROM ONE (OR MORE) OF THESE LOCAL PURVEYORS

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STORY BY KRISTIN CROSBY • PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB CROSBY

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L

egend has it that coffee was discovered by goats, dancing goats, in fact.

One afternoon in Ethiopia, a goat herder discovered the goats chewing on a unique fruit that kept them jumping and dancing through the night. When the goat herder recognized the “magical energy” these berries contained, he made a drink out of the plant to help local monks make it through their late-night disciplines of prayer (or so the story goes).

By the 17th century, news of the potent drink spread throughout Europe and was received with differing views. While many loved the spirited beverage, others deemed it the “bitter invention of Satan himself.” Controversy over coffee caused such a stir that the Pope was asked to intervene. As it turned out, the Pope wished to try this bitter beverage himself before issuing his opinion. After tasting the coffee, however, the Pope enjoyed it so much he wholeheartedly approved.

Soon after this papal endorsement, the coffeehouse was established. Throughout Europe, coffeehouses and cafes became places of conversation and inspiration. Artists, politicians, and writers gathered to discuss culture and philosophy while sipping a hot cup of coffee. Communities created by these English

MITCHELL’S COFFEEHOUSE 235 N. Kentucky Avenue Mitchell, who is better known as Mitch and is the owner of Mitchell’s Coffeehouse, has been serving coffee in downtown Lakeland for nearly 20 years. It turns out that the inspiration for specializing in a coffee shop had something to do with a little show called Friends back when hanging out with a cup of joe in an eclectic space on big couches was all the rage. Inspiration didn’t solely come from the TV sitcom, however. Mitch visited coffeehouses from Florida to London to scope out just what makes a coffeehouse tick.

After signing for a location on North Kentucky Avenue, he remodeled over a weekend, and Mitchell’s Coffeehouse was up for business that following Monday.

He recalls opening day as “exactly what every owner would dream of; the line was out the door.” Years later, Mitchell’s Coffeehouse is still bustling from breakfast to lunch, serving a variety of regional blends and a full menu of hot, iced, and blended beverages.

Mitch’s pick: Coffee of the Day, black a steady and solid cup of coffee

The Lakelander’s pick: I Dream of Jeannie

A dreamy blend of mocha, hazelnut, and caramel — what more could you wish for in a cup?

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coffeehouses quickly became known as “penny universities;” at the price of a penny, a cup of coffee would stir enough stimulating conversation and liveliness to rival that of any university. (OK, well maybe not Oxford.)

While coffee certainly no longer costs a penny, it continues to offer a similar community and inspiration for us here in Lakeland.

And considering the rise of coffee options in town, it’s fair to say most of us are more than willing to pay a pretty penny for a cup of coffee; we know the return will be more than worth it.

At The Lakelander, we too love coffee. It’s rare to walk into the office and not get swept up in its aroma. From morning fresh-brewed to the midafternoon reheat, we enjoy a culture that includes coffee as it simultaneously serves to enliven our brains and comfort our souls.

It just so happens to be an ideal time to be a coffee drinker in Lakeland. With the evolution of coffee also came the evolution of coffee establishments providing the opportunity for Lakeland’s coffee scene to flourish with a robust menu of options. What follows is an exploration of our city’s coffee purveyors: the dark, the sweet, the frothy, and the unique. Here are Lakeland’s coffee pros’ (and The Lakelander’s) top selections in town.

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DRICA’S FAVORITES various mobile locations throughout South Lakeland One of the few food trucks that daily rides around town, Drica’s Favorites is a Brazilian mobile coffee experience not to be missed. Born in Brazil, Drica started her career in the coffee business in New York City, managing a Starbucks and then an independent coffee shop. Drica’s Favorites serves a wide selection of specialty coffee to Lakelanders every day, Monday through Friday. In addition to a full espresso menu, Drica’s specializes in authentic Brazilian treats baked fresh, including Brazilian cheese bread and yucca cakes (both gluten-free).

Drica’s pick: Latte steamed, frothy milk and espresso — simple but classic

The Lakelander’s pick: Mocha

steamed milk and espresso flavored with a dark Ghirardelli chocolate syrup

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Lakeland’s Starbucks Regional Manager, Alyssia Totten’s pick: Sumatra with cream an earthy, near bitter and robust flavor, full body mellowed out with a dash of cream

The Lakelander’s pick: the Flat White (in a short)

A condensed latte, this velvety beverage has equal foam and milk throughout, with a rich presence of espresso.

STARBUCKS 5 Lakeland Locations With five locations and three drive-thrus keeping Lakelanders a-buzz, we couldn’t leave out the caffeinated empire that is Starbucks.

It may be the one place that needs no introduction. Starbucks serves a dependable cup of coffee as well as a steady study (or work) space for any time of the day. While their most popular daily picks vary between Caramel Macchiatos, White Mochas, and Frappuccinos, in recent months Starbucks has upped their coffee game by introducing and reintroducing classic espresso beverages, such as the cappuccino, Americano and macchiato (sorry, no caramel in that one) — simplicity at its best.

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PORTICO 1000 Longfellow Boulevard Portico Coffeehouse at Southeastern University is an archaic yet modern study space. Though the decor is minimalist and monochromatic, the coffee selection, supplied from Lineage Orlando roasters, is anything but. Joey, manager of Southeastern University’s campus coffeehouse sees to it that Portico focuses on making each cup a fine experience. The key is starting at the foundation — the espresso. Portico’s espresso machine, a La Marzocco, was handmade in Italy and is considered one of the best in the world. They are semi-automatic (which means baristas have more control over each shot, creating better quality). The machine also allows for top-notch control over the

steamers, allowing for perfectly steamed and sweetened milk.

Also, it’s a workhorse; it can handle a massive volume of drinks and won’t give out.

Considering all of the student and professors stopping in for their afternoon lift, a great espresso machine is a good thing.

But don’t let the coffee-connoisseur chat lead you to believe this coffeehouse to be stuffy. With options like the Ron Burgundy, a sweet blend of milk and espresso sweetened with brown sugar and butterscotch, this chill shop is anything but pretentious.

On a liberal arts campus surrounded by students and professors, this shop is sure to keep you and your taste buds young at heart.

Joey’s pick: The Cortado

Larger than a macchiato, but shorter than a latte, this espresso “cut” with steamed milk is a sweet change from a solo or doppio espresso shot but still packs a punch.

The Lakelander’s pick: a Chemex of Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Adado

A classy, pour-over style glass coffee maker designed in 1941, this method of brewing is making a major comeback. The brew is floral-like with blueberry notes and a red wine finish.

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CONCORD COFFEE 1037 S. Florida Avenue This craft coffee company, set to make its debut in Lakeland’s Historic Dixieland area this spring, is sure to teach us all a thing or two about the coffee experience. Concord Coffee will feature a variety of exclusive roast selections, from the West Coast to the East, to order in store or take home.

Concord Coffee will not only enliven your taste buds to flavors you never imagined for coffee, but it will also impart to you knowledge of brewing techniques that are sure to enrich your at-home coffee experience.

Naida’s (Concord’s Senior House Manager / brewing wiz) pick: a Chemex of Bold! Bean: Finca El Alto a deep and rich fruity blend that finishes off clean

The Lakelander’s pick: an Aeropress of Supersonic Coffee: Concorde Espresso

a blend of Kenyan, Guatemalan, and Ethiopian coffee, with a fine balance of cocoa and cherry notes

BLACK AND BREW 205 E. Main Street Lakeland-born and -raised brothers Chris and Mike McArthur opened Black and Brew to create “a place where anyone could come, at any time, for any reason, and reconnect to the most important things in life,” co-owner Chris shared with us. “With a culture that has become increasingly disconnected and superficial, it was important for us to create a warm space for genuine community and excellent coffee.”

Creating a space not only for their business, but for local entrepreneurs, musicians, and college students, Black and Brew’s downtown location has certainly become the space for the community to reconnect, and surely their tasty coffee has had something to do with that success.

Chris’ pick: Cold Brew of 205 blend an unheated special brew

The Lakelander’s pick: Caramel Frappe

a creamy, coffee-based beverage, blended with ice and topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle. This tasty treat just might rival any ice cream shop in town.

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TEA LARGO 4632 Cleveland Heights Boulevard At Tea Largo, a tea and coffee shop nestled inside PicassoZ Art Cafe, the drink selections are just as whimsical the space itself. Though the duo recently moved to a new location on Cleveland Heights, Tea Largo hasn’t altered much of its current menu. They have, however, certainly built upon it. In fact, one could say that Tea Largo has been a bit ahead of the coffee game, offering cold-brew coffee in all of its iced beverages for years. Owner Kristin Miller chose the cold-brewing method for its qualities of low acidity and overall more flavorful body long before cold-brew became trendy. Tea Largo is popular for its robust selection of Boba beverages as well as its imaginative and inspiring coffee drinks. Located in the heart of an art studio, it’s an ideal place to give one’s imagination a caffeine rush.

Kristin’s pick: Iced Toddy

a cold-brewed and smooth blend of iced coffee with cream and a surprise of cool coffee jellies at the bottom — a coffee drinker’s candyland

The Lakelander’s pick: Frozen Oreo Mocha

a coffee-based (cold-brew again) ice-blended beverage with mocha, Oreos, topped high with whipped cream and an Oreo cookie. Need we say more?

DIVICIOUS 128 E. Main Street 5327 S. Florida Avenue Owned by Yohansi Santana, Divicious may be best known for their Cuban sandwiches, but they sure do know how to serve up a classic cup of Cuban coffee. Yohansi, who runs two locations in Lakeland (one in South Lakeland, the other downtown, can be seen at both locations on any given day. She keeps both stores in tip-top shape and is always ready to serve you her own version of her all-time favorite, cafe con leche. It’s much like the trusty latte, only a whole lot sweeter.

Yohansi’s pick: Cafe Con Leche, half the sugar a Spanish white latte, on the sweet side

The Lakelander’s pick: Colada

a few shots of espresso, syrup-y sweet, served in a cup along with small, plastic demitasses. Small, but packs a punch. Meant to be shared among two or more people.

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Southeastern University presents an unforgettable evening at its

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Lakeland, Florida 33801-6034 THE LAKELANDER 69

CONTEST After making our way through some of the richest and most robust coffees Lakeland has to offer, we want to make sure that all you avid coffee drinkers in Lakeland will get out and explore all the great coffee in this city.

That is why we have created The Lakelander Coffee Tour Contest!

We will be giving away 10 Lakelander coffee prizes chock-full of coffee goodness.

ONE JAVA JUNKIE WILL WIN THE

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$500

The rules are simple, the tour is tasty, and the prizes are sure to please the pickiest of coffee connoisseurs. Simply follow these rules for your chance to win:

1. Purchase any coffee beverage at each of the participating 12 businesses.

2. Mention The Lakelander and receive a Lakelander Coffee Tour sticker.

3. Post your coffee experience on social media (Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter).

The first 10 people to buy a coffee from all 12 locations and bring in all 12 stickers to The Lakelander office at 214 Trader’s Alley will receive a gift basket full of coffee prizes!

Out of those 10 winners, one will be randomly selected to win the Grand Prize!

Ready… set… go… (or get your coffee on, get your caffeine jolt, etc.)!

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MORE DETAILS AND PRIZE DESCRIPTIONS AT THELAKELANDER.COM 70

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© Kristen Weaver Photography

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PHILANTHROPY

CHANGING LIVES THROUGH ART

HOW THE POLK MUSEUM OF ART IS BECOMING A MUSEUM FOR THE MODERN AGE STORY BY TARA CAMPBELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHILIP PIETRI

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“TO SEE THE JOY, EXCITEMENT, AND PRIDE EXPRESSED BY THESE CHILDREN WHILE THEY ARE COLLABORATING IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS IS TO REALIZE THAT ART IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE THAT GIVES VOICE TO THOSE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE REMAIN UNHEARD.” ~LAURA PUTNAM, POLK MUSEUM OF ART

artwork by Tessa Geiger, preschooler at Lighthouse Ministries

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This photo was taken outside in the Polk Museum of Art’s sculpture garden. Gemariah (left) is a Harrison volunteer mentor. Here, he works with Gryphon who is practicing drawing from observation.

We are sitting in a comfortable circle within the offices of the education department at the Polk Museum of Art (PMoA). The museum’s Education Manager, Ellen Chastain, welcomes me with the vibrant eyes and genuine enthusiasm of an educator who loves her work and warmly introduces me to the rest of the team. Art supplies painstakingly catalogued and readied for use, all manner of instructional media, innovative learning materials, and, of course, an array of children’s art works, surround us. The paintings, sculptures, and sketches offer a testimonial to the many years of outreach programming carried out by the museum aimed at exposing the youth of this community to the visual arts.

But, even more compelling than these physical manifestations is the tangible sense of mission and commitment in the voices and bearing of the program leaders assembled there.

“Any entity that seeks to be an agent of real and lasting positive change must first understand the evolving needs of the community it aims to serve,” Trae Holland begins. He is the Polk Museum of Art’s director of development, and a former classroom teacher.

“In the past,” Holland says, “museums were stereotypically seen by the public as literal fortresses of art, where the visitor experience was limited to seeing the collection within the confines of the space. This by definition excluded self-directed or hands-on enrichment.

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Though a core aspect of our mission remains collection stewardship and exhibition, that’s simply not the only way we define a successful museum anymore.”

For the past 15 years, the Polk Museum of Art has been evolving to become accessible and relevant to the greater community outside of the building itself. “With a mission to enhance the lives of our varied communities by bringing people and art together, PMoA has pursued that end by growing the definition of a museum itself. In addition to being a repository of the artistic works entrusted to our care, the museum is an active outreach center focused on youth and at-risk members of our community. In the name of offering a deeper and richer service to the public, our comprehensive approach to arts education and cultural experience reaches across racial, ethnic, generational, and economic divides by design. Through a multifaceted model of broad-based engagement that includes education, outreach, exhibitions, and events, Polk Museum of Art is an agent for positive change (PMoA Organizational Information Document, 2014).”

As the overall program of outreach, “Changing Lives Through Art” is a vital realization of the Polk Museum of Art’s mission. This program is structured to not only bring people in contact with the arts, but more importantly, to utilize the arts as a vehicle for social change and civic engagement with the

hope of improving the overall emotional health, well-being, and quality of life for everyone in the Polk County community. From preschool students in homeless shelters, to teenage mothers, to youth diagnosed with autism and adults facing dementia, the museum’s education department has made a vast impact on the people of Polk County in ways that may surprise many who may feel they are already familiar with the museum’s programs.

PMoA’s commitment to maintaining and growing its outreach efforts rests as much on data as it does a compassionate impulse. “The body of research establishing the positive impact of access to the arts, especially among at-risk youth, is as convincing as it is exhaustive.”

Holland says. “Whether it’s lowering teen pregnancy, incarceration, and drug addiction rates, or significantly raising the chances that a student goes on to higher education, exposure to the arts correlates to everything we as a society claim to want for our children: academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity.”

But, for each of the members of the PMoA educational team, the power that consistent and relevant access to arts can wield has been proven to transcend the individual and has been shown to provide a powerful means to healing divisions and uniting all members of the community, regardless of state in life or background.

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Through the museum’s education department, PMoA offers a full spectrum of community service. “Beauty is relative. Service, however, speaks to everyone.

We are always looking for ways to break down boundaries, new ways to bring the community together to share in a common experience,” Holland says.

Laura Putnam is the resident museum educator. She is charged with taking the museum to the community, making the museum relevant to those who might not venture into its four walls. Putnam is in the trenches. “I fell into this job,” she says. “I’ve always loved the idea of working with kids and art, but I wanted to work with kids who needed it. I wanted to be a resource to provide them with an opportunity to experience art. It’s a great feeling to see art helping kids.”

A strong partnership with the Polk County School Board, combined with generous community sponsorships, provides for the permanent student gallery within the museum — one of only a handful of its kind in the state of Florida.

Artworks of all mediums and genres, from paintings and drawings to sculpture and photography, are created in classrooms across Polk County, the experience facilitated by classroom teachers. This partnership generates healthy and inspiring competition among students. Each show, a total of 10 per year, culminates with both a Museum Purchase Award as well as a School Board Purchase Award. To date, the museum has purchased more than 200 student works for its permanent collection.

“Art improves lives. I am proof, because a young artist changed mine,” Holland says. “I had the privilege of experiencing Leadership Lakeland alongside Claire [Claire Orologas is the museum’s executive director] several years ago. During one of our excursions, Claire led the class through the museum. We were instructed

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Using watercolors, preschool students at Lighthouse Ministries paint pictures of what their gardens would look like.

to roam the galleries and choose a particular work that spoke to us. Mine was Chrysalis, a heart-moving and vivid work about father/child relationships by a high school student that spoke so very deeply to me about my own youth.

That day started an internal conversation about my place in this life, my career, and hopes for making a bigger difference in my community. That journey culminated in my later joining Claire’s team here at the museum. It can rightly be said that the work of a young girl who had never met me literally changed the direction of my life.”

Holland’s isn’t the only life that has been enriched by the Polk Museum of Art. Last year, while working with students at Parker Street Ministries’ after-school program, Putnam met a student who had a dream of attending Harrison School for the Visual and Performing Arts. However, the student didn’t have access to art classes in school or the resources for private tutoring and guidance needed to complete his application portfolio. With the help of the student’s Parker Street teacher, Putnam provided the student what he needed to nail his audition, and he is now a freshman at Harrison, pursuing an arts-centered education.

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Company, Melanie McDaniel was looking for more than the conventional MBA. “Finding a program that blends creativity with traditional business acumen was paramount for me,” says McDaniel. “FSC takes that mix and adds an entrepreneurial lens—it’s the perfect program for my needs.” McDaniel was also drawn in by the program’s flexible 16-month schedule and AACSB accreditation; but, it was Florida Southern’s hands-on approach that has had the biggest impact. “The immediate applicability of the concepts in my day-to-day life has to be my most valuable take-away.”

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“Any entity that seeks to be an agent of real and lasting positive change must first understand the evolving needs of the community it aims to serve.” ~TRAE HOLLAND, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, POLK MUSEUM OF ART

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CURRENT OUTREACH PROGRAMS • The Parker Street Summer Art Camp, Afterschool Program, and Teen Program – Parker Street Ministries • The Creative Play Preschool Program – Lighthouse Ministries & Salvation Army • Step Up the PACE in Math - PACE Center for Girls & Learning Resource Center • Family Art Workshops – On and off site • Children’s Spring Break and Summer Art Camps at the Museum – Needs-based scholarships available for summer • The Empowering Youth Through Art Program • Teen Parent Program – Ridge Career Center

PROPOSED OUTREACH PROGRAMS • The Carver Village Program – Carver Village Neighborhood Putnam was so inspired by her experience that she spearheaded the effort to create Empowering Youth Through Art, a program that provides kids like the aforementioned student the opportunity to harness their talents, communicate their skills, and bolster their portfolios. Over the next few years, the museum will strive to launch several new youth and arts initiatives similar to Empowering Youth Through Art. But they can’t do it alone. Polk Museum of Art has long been a place of connection and collaboration, a history that will prove invaluable as the organization continues to become an outward focused entity in Polk County.

Partnerships with organizations like PACE Center for Girls, Learning Resource Center, Parker Street Ministries, and Lakeland Montessori School make the museum and its programs accessible to those who might not otherwise have the means to experience the museum within its four walls. These partnerships often focus on program consulting; PMoA helps organizations add art to existing programs in valuable and meaningful ways.

For more than a year, PACE Center for Girls’ Step Up the PACE in Math program (funded by GiveWell Community Foundation), museum staff, and contracted teachers have been teaching foundational math skills and concepts using artful mediums that include drumming, painting, mosaic, and fashion design. Art, like math, can create order out of chaos; for students who struggle with math, art is a perfect neutralizer.

“We’re not trying to spread our wings so far that we’re doing everything everywhere,” says Chastain. “We’re legitimizing the museum’s programs, understanding our partners’ needs, and creating meaningful collaborations.”

As I listened to the staff reminisce about past events, including the Smithsonian’s Innoskate, I was warmed by the thought of thousands of people experiencing art in ways they never had before.

“Working at the museum is replete with moments when your stomach jumps and you have to catch your breath because you can’t believe how beautiful what you’re seeing is,” Holland says. He couldn’t be more correct.

As a museum educator, I have experienced these moments time and time again.

These moments are the reward, for both the staff who work inside the museum and for all of us who enjoy the artful experiences brought to us by the Polk Museum of Art.

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• The Survivors of Domestic Violence Program

ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS • Adult and Teen Art Classes and Workshops – Fall, Spring, and Summer Sessions • After School Art for Children and Their Families – Fall and Spring Sessions • Art Crawl Emerging Arts Festival • Eight Weeks of Summer Art Camp • Mayfaire by-the-Lake Children’s Art Tent • Nine Annual Student Art Exhibitions: - Art Out Loud: Artwork by Middle School Students - Transcendence: Artwork by High School Students - Harrison School for the Arts Senior Exhibition - Creative Youth: 15th Congressional Art Competition - Free to Be Me: 3rd-5th Grade Students - Learning to Be Me: K-2nd Grade Students - CreateAskate: Skate Deck Artwork by Middle School Students - VSA Florida: Artwork by Gifted Students and Students with Emotional, Physical or Mental Disabilities - Kids Tag Art: A program by the Polk County Tax Collectors Office

• Spring Break Art Camp • Workshops for Polk County Art Instructors

TOURS FOR ALL GROUPS AND AGES • Curator-Led Tours • Docent-Led Tours • Fifth-Grade Tours • Meet Me at PMoA for Individuals Affected by Dementia

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SPECIAL FEATURE

HOME-COOKED Lakeland’s amateur musicians find their muse in local eateries

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Tony’s Studio B

It was a Tuesday night in October.

The air was moody, and so was I. I wanted to write, but I knew that if I went home, sleep would find me sooner than my pen would find itself to paper. So, I ventured into Tony’s Studio B, where I knew I’d find a quiet spot to set up shop for the night. And I did ... for a few moments.

I wrote a few lines, but before I got too immersed, I was joined by a handful of other Lakelanders. We struck up a conversation and had a few laughs. Then, in a moment of spontaneity, a fellow with a guitar stepped onto the stage and started to play. His name was Hector Alcaide, and that Tuesday night was the first time he had gathered the gumption to play in public (with the exception of a graduation ceremony many moons ago). Since then, he has been a staple at Tony’s Studio B on Tuesday nights. Now, though, he’s no longer the lone wolf on the stage. He’s joined by other artists wishing to express an emotion, to entertain a crowd, to test out an idea, to have a moment with a microphone.

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Tony’s Studio B

Next time you’re looking for a dinner spot, try somewhere that includes music.

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Alcaide had an inspired vision to give performing artists a community in which to test their crafts — a warm, safe space to share their talents. Poets, jazz musicians, drummers, pianists, comedians, singers, and performing artists of all kinds gather to give their best to an eager audience on Open Mic Night. “For me, playing music makes me feel alive, and I know that’s a mutual experience for many artists. So it excites me to be part of a movement that gives these fellow artists a venue to come perform where they can sing a song, read a poem, or even do a little dance and just have fun. If I get the chance to make something like this happen, I need to do it and see where it takes me,” Alcaide says.

The Pink Piano

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The Pink Piano

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Appeal

Tony’s Studio B is just one of several downtown spots that have opened their doors to local musicians. Sure, there has always been live music in Lakeland (anybody remember Lillian’s?). Molly McHugh’s, Ybor Cigars and Spirits, and others host live, local music, and have for years. Until 2009, though, live music options were mostly limited to the latenight bar scene. It was the Red Door Wine Market that spearheaded a movement to fuse craft food and wine with a musical experience.

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Frescos

With Richard DeAngelis and his Red Door vision, live music became a staple in local dining spots as well; it’s not just for bars anymore. In fact, the Brian Sutherland Band (then the Brian Sutherland Trio) played their first gig at the Red Door Wine Market in 2009. Frescos added live music to their dining experience several years ago as well. The musicians playing this scene — at Frescos, Tony’s Studio B, and beyond — aren’t just playing standards; they’ve found a partnership that allows them to share their own music or a new take on an old favorite.

Frescos doesn’t limit live music to Friday and Saturday night. Now, on Sunday mornings, the bistro welcomes fresh, fun musicians who add flavor to the Sunday brunch experience. Others are on board, too: Jimmy Belle’s Seafood Market and Grille and Patio 850 mix Lakeland’s creative spirit into the menu, offering a full and robust experience. The recent opening of the Pink Piano in late 2014 brought live music of a different nature to town. The bar features beer, wine, tapas, and piano standards on, what else, but a pink Yamaha piano.

Lakeland’s creative spirit bubbles up around every corner and now on menus around town as well. Next time you’re looking for a dinner spot, try somewhere that includes music. You won’t be disappointed.

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PEOPLE

Since the beginning of The Lakelander, we’ve enjoyed interviewing many leaders from the city’s civic, business, and educational organizations. Punctuating these interviews are the compelling stories of some of our neighbors — from Dave Leslie’s brews, to the Lucas’ microfarm, and more recently, Maurice Johnson’s service in WWII. As you read Scott Totten’s words below, you’ll be reminded that, in Lakeland, it’s easy to have a neighbor with a remarkable story to tell.

story by Adam Spafford photography by Philip Pietri

The Lakelander: As a California native, and musical director and guitarist for the The Beach Boys, how did Lakeland become home?

Scott Totten: My wife, Alyssia, grew up here. We were living in Los Angeles, but when we started having kids we decided that good schools, parks, and safe neighborhoods were the most important things for us.

Lakeland offers those things in abundance. I knew that a community that takes such pride in its parks clearly values its children and their quality of life.

TL: In high school you gave up the clarinet for the social benefits bestowed by the guitar. What was your first band like and what/who influenced it? What/who influences you today?

ST: When I switched to guitar, it was so that I could join my friend’s Beatles tribute band. I’ve always been drawn to the music of the ’60s and ’70s, from The Beach Boys and The Beatles to Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. It seems like the older I get, the further back I look. Over the last few years I’ve had the opportunity to arrange for symphony orchestras and other large groups, and I’m more and more amazed by the great arrangers Nelson Riddle, Billy May, and Gordon Jenkins.

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At this point I feel as though the music of The Beach Boys is as important and as established as any classical music.

TL: After attending Berklee College of Music, where did you play?

ST: For a few months I was a street performer in New York City, playing guitar for tips in Times Square. Later I played weddings, jingle and recording sessions, and Broadway shows in NYC and on tour throughout North America. I did play in original bands, but they always seemed to fall apart after a couple of years over “creative differences.�

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TL: How did you become part of The Beach Boys?

ST: It was after I had left the show Rent in 2000. A friend told me The Beach Boys were looking for a guitar player, but he didn’t say who to call. So I called Capitol Records and left a voicemail. Amazingly, a lady from Capitol called me the next day and gave me the band manager’s fax number, and I sent him my resumé. I got a call back asking for a CD and eventually landed an audition. At first they used me as a sub for the other two guitar players when they needed time off. Eventually one of them left to pursue his own music, and I became a full-time band member in 2001. My persistence paid off!

TL: In addition to performing with the band, your role as musical director is really like that of an art conservator, especially given the band’s longevity. Describe how you view your responsibility to the music.

ST: In 2007 I became musical director. At this point I feel as though the music of The Beach Boys is as important and as established as any classical music. Everyone knows how it’s supposed to sound, and I view my role as similar to the conductor’s role in an orchestra, which is to keep everyone on the same page. No one wants to hear my interpretation of the music, they want to hear the music as they know it and love it. I’m proud to have that responsibility and I take it very seriously.

TL: There must be many great moments while you’re touring and performing — any particularly memorable ones you’d like to share?

ST: In the 14 years I have been with the band there have been so many great moments! A few that stand out would be the 2012 Grammy Awards where The Beach Boys performed in the longest segment of the broadcast, and the same year performing 61 songs for a threehour show at the Royal Albert Hall. Certainly the time at the Sydney Opera House where the applause after “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” halted the show for 10 minutes!

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TL: When you’re home in Lakeland, what do you like to do?

ST: I love to spend time with my family. I have young children, ages 10 and three, and I miss so much when I’m gone. I love to read books to them and catch up on TV dramas with my wife.

TL: Is there any chance to see you and the band perform locally?

ST: Yes! For the first time in over 10 years The Beach Boys will be playing in Lakeland.

Earlier I mentioned the number of quality parks here. Now, I have a chance to help in the efforts to build a new playground in Lake Parker Park. It will be called the Rotary Playground in Hernando’s Landing. On May 2nd The Beach Boys will perform at Marchant Stadium for the Rotary Playground Benefit Concert, presented by Allen & Company and the Rotary Clubs of Lakeland. It’s a great cause for a great community that I’m proud to call home. Come out and see us. It’s going to be a fantastic show!

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BEHIND THE SCENES The Lakelander loves community. We strive to reflect our city and its diversity, to incite pride of place, and to reveal lesser known facets of our community. We connect people, resources, and ideas. We’re aspirational yet approachable, sophisticated but homegrown.

We dig deeper. And we aren’t afraid of a little grit.

We believe in the culture of our city. We believe that one of our best assets is the talented and inspiring individuals who call Lakeland home. We believe that this city is better because of the people who choose to live here.

Making an issue of The Lakelander is a labor of love. It takes a community of contributors working hard because they believe in this city as much as we do. In the coming months, we will highlight one of our very special contributors in each issue so you, the reader, can get to know the true makers of the magic behind this publication and get to know some fellow Lakelanders a little better in the process.

During my tenure as Shelter editor for The Lakelander, there was one obvious recurring theme: an unabashed love of plants. In nearly every spread styled by our Shelter team, green things were tucked throughout, bringing each scene — both interior and exterior — to life with plucky vivacity.

Turn off South Florida Avenue onto Easton Drive (across from Southgate Shopping Center), and you’ll see the Green House Garden Store, a shop on a little plot of land in the heart of Lakeland. With its handmade sign, orchids in the window, and vines overgrowing the building, 104 THE LAKELANDER

the whole place looks as though it sprung from the ground in a magical burst of tropicalia. This shop has been both muse and resource time and time again for The Lakelander, whether styling the Usonian house at Florida Southern as a dreamy residence or writing a houseplant guide for the brown-thumbed of Polk County. Owner Jarman Peacock and his wife, Sara, have created an enclave of tropical paradise in their store. Customers come from miles around to query Jarman’s expertise as they build their own oasis, specimen by specimen.

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The Lakelander: Jarman, as you say on your website, you left a career in landscape design in Miami to move back to Lakeland and open the Green House Store. Some folks would say you’re nuts for doing that. What brought you back home?

Jarman Peacock: I did practice as a landscape architect in Miami for many years, and I lived on Miami Beach, which was pretty awesome.

Every 20-something in Florida really ought to live there for a few years just to experience it. But starting a business in Miami is a very expensive process. The cost for renting or buying space is breathtakingly high; you are basically competing with Prada for retail space. Finding something with an outdoor area or easy parking is even harder. I did have a small indoor version of my store in Coral Gables for a few years, but a garden store needs to have a garden. When my wife, Sara, and I decided to start a family, the thought of spending the next few decades in a condo or a zero-lot-line house just wasn’t that appealing. Miami is Florida’s global city, and the energy and culture is truly unbelievable, but at the end of the day, Lakeland is a much easier place to run a business and raise a family.

TL: With the rise of big-box home-improvement chains like Lowe’s and Home Depot, an independent garden store has become a rare thing indeed. What would you say not only differentiates you from those places but also keeps your customers coming back year after year?

JP: The big-box store question: I get that a lot. You know, homeimprovement stores are great for drywall or 2x4s, but they just don’t

106 THE LAKELANDER

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do plants very well. I liken it to buying your groceries at a gas station.

You’re not going to find the same things at a Racetrac as you would at a Publix. So, if you want plants actually grown in Florida and not trucked in from a greenhouse in Ohio, shop at a local garden center.

You’ll be much happier with the results.

TL: In my case, the Green House has definitely been habit-forming.

I love that I can come in, latte in hand, and meander around while my kids stare into the pond hoping to see a koi fish, and eat those tiny fruits off the ginger we call “Jolly Rancher Ginger.” It’s not a place to visit in a hurry. It’s a place you can come, hang out while you shop, and possibly even make a new acquaintance or two while you’re there. What experiences prepared you most for what you do now — opening a shop that is not only a shopping destination but a community in and of itself?

JP: Well, I worked at Disney World all through high school and college. I think every teenager in Lakeland would be wise to get a summer job at Disney. As a teenager it can be daunting to be friendly to someone who wears a full burka, or who only speaks Japanese, or someone with severe disabilities. That, however, is the only way you get to see that we are all amazing people. We just look or sound a little different, or need a little extra help. I have carried that with me my whole life, and I have tried to make the Green House an oasis business, in the spirit of Walt Disney, where everyone is welcomed with a smile and respect, no matter what.

Equally important, however, is that my parents, John and Virginia, owned a gift and antique store downtown for about 20 years. That’s where I learned the practical side of the business, like keeping a tight mailing list, understanding profit margins, and smart merchandise purchasing.

I talk with them about the business every week, and I always learn something I could be doing better. They could really teach a workshop for small business owners; they are such a wealth of knowledge.

THE LAKELANDER 109

If you want plants actually grown in Florida and not trucked in from a greenhouse in Ohio, shop at a local garden center. You’ll be much happier with the results.

110 THE LAKELANDER

TL: What have you enjoyed about working with The Lakelander over the last two-plus years?

JP: I love working with The Lakelander. Really, for a city of our size to have a locally published and designed magazine of this caliber is outstanding. It seems like it’s really starting to function sort of like how newspapers once did, reporting on all that is good with Lakeland, the things that are going right, the people that make it such a wonderful place to live. I really can’t even read the paper much anymore. It’s just crime and violence and not much else. The paper makes you want to run in your house and lock your door and never come out. The Lakelander makes you want to be outside and go to the Polk Museum, stroll around Lake Morton, stop for lunch or coffee in Dixieland, and maybe enjoy a glass of wine alfresco before heading home. To be a part of the city — that’s really what it’s all about.

TL: How much of a Floridian are you?

JP: I’m a pretty serious native. I live with my wife and two little girls in the home my grandparents built here in the 1930s. I go back to great-grandparent Floridians on both sides on my family.

My two favorite stories about them: My father’s grandparents lived on Reddington Beach, and in the 1940s there was a tsunami, actually a set of three with the third being the biggest. It washed through the house up to the second floor. I have never seen anything written about it, but in the ’40s hardly anyone lived on the barrier islands. Maybe it was an earthquake or undersea landslide in Mexico, but they sure don’t ever mention tsunamis to homeowners on the Gulf very often!

My mother’s grandparents lived in Jacksonville and had a garage apartment they rented out. One of their renters in the 1920s was Charles Ponzi — the Ponzi scheme guy.

Of course, he could only pay them in land deeds, so they ended up with lots of his land parcels in North Florida.

His scam was that they were only a few feet wide, so if you only bought one or two there wasn’t much you could do with it. He was eventually arrested again and deported back to Italy, but the land is still in the family.

JARMAN’S FAVORITES FAVORITE HOUSE-PLANT FOR NOVICES: My favorite houseplant is easy: the ZZ plant. ZZ is short for zamioculcas zamifolia (yep, it’s called zz for a reason). The wonderful thing about it is that it needs virtually no real light or water to survive and grow. And, it’s beautiful. Green. Glossy. You can’t beat it.

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK FOR KICKIN’ IT AROUND THE GARDEN: Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds,” and Joao Gilberto’s “Girl from Ipanema” play a lot at the store. In my opinion, some gentle reggae or baroque violin or Rio bossa nova is a definite plus when it comes to plant happiness.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIVING AND WORKING IN A PLACE LIKE LAKELAND: There are so many! I’m a plant guy, so to live in a place where Camphor Street exists — wow! Just to drive on Camphor… What about Cleveland Heights with the rolling hills and walls of Washington palms? Absolutely beautiful. It makes me happy just to drive around town. I especially love that we live in the steamy subtropics. I don’t know that I could live in a place where you couldn’t grow orchids or passion flowers. Locationwise, it’s just perfect. We did an article in The Lakelander where the homeowner said his favorite thing is that he can be either at the beach or at Disney World in less than an hour but still live in a walkable neighborhood with tree-canopied streets. That’s huge to me and my family as well.

THREE PLANTS LAKELAND GARDENERS SHOULD HAVE IN THEIR GARDEN: 1. Medinilla — for pure Dr. Seuss appeal. It’s also very hardy and blooms almost all the time.

2. White Geiger Tree — for everyone trying to pretend we live in the Carolinas. It looks like a dogwood, but grows and flowers in the Sunshine State.

3. Sweet Almond — This is one of my favorite plants. It’s a butterfly attractor, evergreen, tough as nails, and smells just like amaretto!

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SHELTER

112 THE LAKELANDER

REWRITING CONTEMPORARY DESIGN A new and inspired take on iconic design As they set out to put down roots in Lakeland, young, energetic homeowners Hillary and Jason DeMeo took on a hefty renovation project. Their house off of Cleveland Heights Boulevard has morphed from a disjointed historic 1920s’ cottage to a stylish, hip, fresh home. This isn’t a time warp, though. By rewriting contemporary design with timeless appointments, it’s a new and inspired take on iconic design eras.

Twelve years ago, Jason and Hillary met and fell in love as students at Southeastern University. Today, they have been married for eight years. Jason is the director of spiritual formation and communication at Oasis Community Church, a role he has had for five years. “I have the privilege to help people on their path by opening up spaces for our congregation to engage God and one another,” he says. Hillary is the director of leadership at Southeastern University, a position into which she transitioned after the birth of the couple’s daughter, Eliana, because it allows her the freedom to spend part of her week at home.

story by Christian Lee photography by Jordan Weiland

THE LAKELANDER 113

Hillary and Jason assist and support each other in their respective careers and at home, and they worked together as a team on their home renovation project. Says Jason, “Hillary and I are opposite on every metric, which has given us a roller coaster of love. Over the years, though, we’ve learned to appreciate the differences that God has given each of us, and we are both better people because of it.”

With the help of many friends, including John Kazaklis and Pat Peaster, Jason and Hillary began an ambitious first-home resurrection after discovering and recognizing the potential of their 1920s’ cottage. “We were in a bit over our heads, and our community rallied behind us to make this project a success.

This home and our family are forever indebted to them.” Over time, the old house had become disjointed, lacking a consistent and harmonious flow. Jason and Hillary found continuity could be achieved by staining the floors a single color and selecting a balanced, modern, and cohesive color palette. “We took a large canvas and made our own storyboard for the house. We pinned up ideas for each room and collaborated with our designer friend Mary Galletta in picking colors.”

114 THE LAKELANDER

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An Elegant Masterpiece of craftsmanship with 135 of lakefront sitting on an acre of “in town” living. The home features 8 bedrooms; 6 Full & 2 Half Bathrooms with 9200 square feet of Living Area and a private walled pool and entertainment area. Call for the full list of features and to schedule a private showing.

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Country living at it’s best! 4 bedroom, 2 bath pool home located in gated community featuring upgrades and acreage. You will feel right at home as you walk into this gorgeous open floor plan with hickory hardwood flooring Jen Lysak • 863-248-5838 welcomehomefl.com

SOUTH LAKELAND, Gated neighborhood of Highlands Ridge. This quality home has 4 BR, 2 Bath 2126 sq ft living area on a .23 acre lot. Contact John 863-286-8645.

Beautiful unique equestrian property on 2.3 acres with a two story home that has 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. The property is perfect for horses and has a full size training pasture and a house barn.

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Lakefront Pool Home, One-of-a-Kind. Truly the only home of this design and type in Polk County. Custom designed and built by current owner. Many extras! 3 Beds / 3 Baths • 5194 sq ft MARY ANN TOUCHTON • floridahomesbymaryanntouchton.com 863.640.6650

Christina Boulevard : The WOW !!! starts as soon as you enter through the private gated entrance onto the almost one acre professionally maintained grounds of this 5 Bedrooms; 4 & 1/2 bathrooms ; 5087 square feet of living area custom built pool Hulbert masterpiece. JAY REARDON • buyorsellhomeslakeland. com • 863.602.4781

SOUTH LAKELAND, Gated neighborhood of Ashton Oaks. This quality home has 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 4038 sq. ft living area with a screened Pool on a 1/2 acre lot. Contact John Preston 863-286-8645

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THE LAKELANDER 117

Initially, Jason thought the kitchen would need only paint and new appliances, keeping the renovations simple and manageable. Hillary had other plans, though.

As things turned out, they invested a sizeable chunk of their time and money into the kitchen, with no regrets.

After removing walls, tearing out the ceiling, relocating the plumbing and gas, and building an entirely new wall, the new kitchen reaches out and invites guests to enjoy conversation over a hot latte. (Yes, they have a latte machine for just those occasions.)

When asked about their design aesthetic for the house and furnishings, the couple said, “The architecture of the home is from the 1920s, so we wanted a restrained color palette and wanted to incorporate some traditional elements into the design. At the same time, the roof on the home has a very modern feel to it with strong geometric lines. This gave us a little more liberty to express our own personal taste of modern and mid-century decor. Our home, as we see it, gives off an authentic, historic vibe while the modern and mid-century touches give it an updated, hip feel.�

Jason has always been drawn to design. The couple collected their furnishings over a three-year period, combing yard and estate sales, local vintage stores, and online sources for eclectic yet functional pieces, always aiming to score a deal. They are both followers of the work of Hans and Florence Knoll, and Ray and Charles

118 THE LAKELANDER

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Step into our beautiful, spacious new building, and you’ll unexpectedly find yourself in the most unique aquatics store in Central Florida. Whether you’re shopping for saltwater fish, koi for your pond, a fountain for your backyard, or plants for your planted tank, we’re confident you’ll find what you’re looking for. Ask questions of our friendly, knowledgeable staff, and let us help you select from among our broad offerings of livestock and dry goods.

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120 THE LAKELANDER

Eames, husband-and-wife teams and major contributors to architecture, furniture, and graphic design. This influence is evident in the design decisions found in every aspect of their home. They found a Knoll-style leather couch for $300, now at home in their living room. A contemporary dining table is surrounded by 1960s’ embossed vinyl chairs. At the end of the foyer, a Scandinavian rug leads to a four-stack lawyer bookcase. The office is located off the living room and contains an old school typewriter on the corner of a mid-century desk and a tribal-style, hand-knitted rug on newly stained oak floors.

With a discerning eye and distinctive taste, Jason and Hillary have pulled together contrasting elements from a former time and combined them to create a unique and modern home.

THE LAKELANDER 121

122 THE LAKELANDER

THE DeMEOS’ HOUSE HAS MORPHED FROM A DISJOINTED HISTORIC 1920S’ COTTAGE TO A STYLISH, HIP, FRESH HOME.

For inspiration and to create a look like the DeMeos’, visit their online shop, CURIO, at etsy.com/shop/weareCURIO. Use the coupon code, THELAKELANDER, to receive a 30 percent discount.

The shelf life of design, like fashion, can be relatively short. But classic design endures through the years and manages to survive the passage of time and mistreatment of careless generations. If you pause and look around, you might just find that one great piece that will complete a space, establishing the perfect tone. And, if you’re smart about it, what used to be Grandmother’s credenza can have a new life in your home today. Using their love of design and unique furniture and objects, Jason and Hillary created an Etsy shop called CURIO. It’s filled with vintage pieces, like the ones found sprinkled throughout their home, old objects with stories to tell and new lives to live.

Jason and Hillary discovered that renovating an old house is equal parts challenge and stress, teamwork and initiative, frustration and satisfaction. But, overall, the rewards far outweigh what can be described as the do-it-yourself remodeling blues. “Now that we’ve made it through,” Jason says, “I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world.”

THE LAKELANDER 123

EVENTS CALENDAR

Lakeland Food Truck Rally

MARCH EVERY SATURDAY IN MARCH DOWNTOWN FARMERS CURB MARKET 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Downtown ldda.org MARCH 12 FOOD TRUCK RALLY tampabayfoodtruckrally.com MARCH 12 CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE PRESENTS THE BEATLES: LET IT BE The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com MARCH 13-15 THE LAKELAND VW CLASSIC The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com MARCH 14-15 GLUTEN-FREE FOOD ALLERGY FESTIVAL The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com MARCH 18 JIM BRICKMAN The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com

124 THE LAKELANDER

MARCH 19 SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com MARCH 21 BREWZ CREWZ BEER FESTIVAL Citizens Bank & Trust building 402 South Kentucky Avenue downtownlakeland.com MARCH 25 ROCK AND SOUL FEATURES FELIX CAVALIERE AND DARLENE LOVE The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com MARCH 30 FLASHDANCE The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com MARCH 31 CESAR MILLAN The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com MARCH 31 – APRIL 2 60TH STATE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR OF FLORIDA The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com

APRIL EVERY SATURDAY IN DOWNTOWN FARMERS CURB MARKET 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Downtown ldda.org APRIL 4 FLORIDA MARINE RAIDERS VS. FLORIDA TARPONS The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com APRIL 7 TEA & SYMPHONY The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com APRIL 9 FOOD TRUCK RALLY tampabayfoodtruckrally.com APRIL 9 BUDDY VALASTRO: THE CAKE BOSS The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com

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KICKOFF 7 PM FLORIDA TARPONS APRIL 4 GEORGIA RAMPAGE APRIL 18 CAPE FEAR HEROES MAY 16 ALABAMA OUTLAWZ MAY 23 ORLANDO RAGE JUNE 6

THE LAKELANDER 125

EVENTS CALENDAR APRIL 10 MICHAEL McARTHUR ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT The Polk Theatre polktheatre.org

APRIL 19 SONGS OF LIFE: HYMNS FOR THE JOURNEY CONCERT First Presbyterian Church fpclakeland.org

APRIL 11 MUSTANGS & MUSTANGS: LEGENDS HAVIN’ FUN 2015 Fantasy of Flight imperialmustangclub.org/MM2014.php

APRIL 20 ROBERT IRVINE LIVE The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com

APRIL 14 IMPERIAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: MASTERWORKS CONCERT #5 – CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF ISO The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com APRIL 18 FLORIDA MARINE RAIDERS VS. GEORGIA RAMPAGE The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com

APRIL 21 - 26 SUN ’N FUN INTERNATIONAL FLY-IN AND EXPO Sun ’n Fun Complex centralfloridasports.com APRIL 23 KATHY GRIFFIN The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com

MAY EVERY SATURDAY IN DOWNTOWN FARMERS CURB MARKET 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Downtown ldda.org MAY 2 FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE GRADUATION The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com MAY 7 POLK STATE COLLEGE GRADUATION The Lakeland Center thelakelandcenter.com MAY 14 FOOD TRUCK RALLY tampabayfoodtruckrally.com

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FAITH & LEARNING

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THE LAKELANDER 127

Sch to e beau Chri

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May 2, 2015 @ 7pm

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Purchase tickets at TheRotaryPlayground.org

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128 THE LAKELANDER

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THE LAKELANDER 129

HISTORY

A young fan receives an autographed baseball from a member of the Detroit Tigers during spring training in Lakeland. The City of Lakeland and the Detroit Tigers have had the longest continuous relationship of any major league baseball team and its spring training host city. Since 1936, Lakeland has hosted the Tigers’ spring training, with the exception of only two years during World War II. The latest contract signed for the Detroit Tigers has extended their spring training relationship with Lakeland until 2036. With 20 more years ahead for the Tigers to train at Joker Marchant Stadium for opening day, you can be sure there will be plenty more sunny spring training games to enjoy in the years to come, right here in our city.

Check out the Detroit Tigers’ spring training schedule at detroit.tigers.mlb.com at Joker Marchant Stadium, and go enjoy America’s favorite pastime this spring!

SOURCE: LAKELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY

130 THE LAKELANDER

by Niche.com

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Centered Around You When it comes to your health, only the best will do. Our doctors understand your wellness goals and design a healthcare plan that caters to your individual needs. We have over 200 board-certified specialists, plus the convenience of multiple locations with on-site

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