The Gate Arty Blog - Lake Mirror Archive

Pops by the Lake - 2009

Friday, November 06, 2009 - By Gate Arty

A great event will be held at the Lake Mirror Amphitheatre and Promenade. Beginning at 8 pm, the Imperial Symphony Orchestra’s “Pops By The Lake” will perform. The ISO Guild Silent Auction offers opportunities to bid on great items such as vacation getaways, dining, golf, sports packages, concerts, arts and cultural events, family fun and more in the Magnolia Building from 6:30pm through intermission.

There will also be plenty to eat & drink at the event so make a picnic out of it! Leroy Sutton’s Fried Chicken will cater. Beer, wine, sodas and other beverages will be available at the Cash Bar and homemade desserts will also be available for purchase on our Dessert Bar.

See you there!

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Lake Mirror Fireworks & First Friday - July 2009

Friday, July 03, 2009 - By Gate Arty

This month, our monthly First Friday celebration coincides with “Red, White & Kaboom!” So as usual, go to Munn Park and the adjoining areas for Downtown Lakeland’s First Friday celebration beginning at 4 p.m., but make sure you stay for the fireworks . . . literally. Beginning around 6 p.m. you should make your way down to Lake Mirror & the Promenade. The popular local band, MillHopper will be playing music up until 9 p.m. when the fireworks are scheduled to begin. You can park in the city garages, as they will be open. There will be food & drink vendors during the festivities as well. See you there!

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First Friday - June 2009

Friday, June 05, 2009 - By Gate Arty

The theme for this month’s First Friday event will be very familiar to fans of rock ‘n roll star, Alice Cooper.  June’s First Friday will be titled, “School’s Out for Summer.” If you have children I probably didn’t need to tell you that though, right? As per usual, shops & restaurants open late. Music and entertainment along the streets and a Classic Car Show will be on Tennessee Avenue.

All along Kentucky Avenue you will found countless fun activities for the kids! Bubble-gum blowing contests, hula-hoop contests, water gun games, & an art contest. If the kids still have energy to burn, take them to the bouncy house. There will also be a DJ at Lloyd’s of Lakeland, & face-painting at Lofty Ideas. Traditions Unlimited & Brooke Pottery will also host artistic-related activities. North Kentucky will feature fun geared toward adults. Popular local band, the Sofa Kings will be playing on the patio of the Garden Bistro next to Hollis Gardens on Lake Mirror.

See you there!

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Keller Williams Realty Cleans Up, Literally!

Friday, May 29, 2009 - By Gate Arty

The Keller Williams Realty office located in downtown Lakeland will be getting their hands dirty Saturday June 6th. As participants of the "Adopt A Lake" program, Keller Williams Realty will be cleaning up Lake Mirror. The festivities will begin at 9 a.m. The City of Lakeland will be providing garbage bags, garbage grabbers, vests, gloves, & nets. Refreshments will also be provided by Keller Williams Realty. Help keep our beautiful community clean!

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Lakeland Profiles - Hollis Gardens

Thursday, May 28, 2009 - By Gate Arty

Hollis Garden is a formal 1.2 acre botanical garden donated to the City by the Hollis Family. The garden is located on historic Lake Mirror accessible from the Lake Mirror Promenade or Orange Street. The garden contains several water features and displays thousands of flowering plants, ornamental shrubs, historic trees, herbs and vegetables. The garden may be rented for weddings. Hollis Gardens was voted one of the Best of Class Gardens by the Gulfcoast Research and Education Center.

Features Include:

Grotto

Koi pond

Fountains, waterfalls & lily pond

Tropical room

Two herb rooms

Vegetable room

Red room

White room

Yellow room

Native area

Butterfly garden

Orchard

Trees of Americana

Patterned flower beds

Lake Mirror Park is located on Lake Mirror in downtown. It is a historic structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Lakeland Profiles - Lake Mirror Promenade

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - By Gate Arty

Lake Mirror & its Promenade are considered the crown jewel of historic Downtown Lakeland. This community recreation area was the vision of Tom Appleyard, the manager of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce in the early 1920s. Charles W. Leavitt, the noted New York landscape architect, eventually brought Appleyard's vision to reality. Its hallmark seawall, ornate loggias, and the wide palm-lined pedestrian pathways make this lake visually stunning and architecturally distinct.

The Promenade, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983, has often been the hub of local festivities of Downtown. Lake Mirror is surrounded by Kryger Overlook Park, Barnett Family Park, Magnolia Building, Lake Mirror Tower, Hollis Gardens, & the Lake Mirror Complex. Lake Mirror Park and amphitheater were dedicated in the fall of 1999 and Hollis Garden opened in 2000 on the southeast shore. Albert Paley's “Tribute to Volunteerism,” a conspicuously ornate & colorful sculpture, crowns the northeast shore.

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Lakeland Profiles - Lake Morton

Friday, May 01, 2009 - By Gate Arty

With Mayfaire by-the-Lake a mere week away, I thought I would blog about the site of this annual event. Picturesque Lake Morton is the beautiful backdrop of this event every Mother's Day weekend, but it's also a place to go to simply relax & enjoy the scenery. Although it is named Lake Morton, for Kentucky native John P. Morton, Lakeland residents know it is really "Swan Lake," where Lakeland's signature resident calls home. The majestic swans, the muse of many local artists, are found at this quaint locale on the southern edge of downtown Lakeland. Lake Morton is located between Lake Mirror & Lake Hollingsworth. Morton is widely considered the epicenter of artistic activities in Lakeland. The Lakeland Public Library & The Polk Museum of Art both overlook beautiful Lake Morton & the Downtown Antiques District is just a hop, skip, & jump away! The annual Mayfaire by-the-Lake, an outdoors Art festival, is held every Mother's Day weekend.

Residences of Lakeland's important community leaders and civic buildings are located here. The Public Library, the Lakeland Woman's Club, Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, and the Sorosis Club were all built on Lake Morton.

For additional PROFILES and beautiful virtual tours of sites in an around Lakeland & Central Florida, visit LakelandPoints.com.  

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Lakeland Derby - 2009

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - By Gate Arty

The Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, so that means the swans are ready to race as well! Watch these “birds” race a week before the horses gallop out of the gates. This Friday April 24th marks the 2nd annual Lakeland Derby. The event is staged on the shores of Lake Mirror. The “Derby-style” race features hand-crafted swan paddleboats manned by “jockeys” that will compete for the prestigious Lakeland Derby trophy. At 5:00 pm the festivities will begin with open concessions & a VIP reception. Other opening events include the Call to Post, the Maiden Race, & the hotly-anticipated Derby Hat Contest.

The Running of the Ducks will begin at 5:45 pm

The Parade to Post will begin at 6:15 pm

The Main Event – Lakeland Derby Race is scheduled for 6:40 pm

Music entertainment, MillHopper will perform at 7:30 pm

The spectacular conclusion of the event will be the fireworks at 9:15 pm. A great place to view the fireworks is Overlook Park. Proceeds of the event support Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, a local charity.

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Exclusive Tour of Lofts on the Park

Thursday, November 06, 2008 - By Gate Arty

In conjunction with the festivities of First Friday, the Group at Keller Williams Realty will be hosting an Open House tour of The Lofts on the Park. Local residents know that this great building is located on Kentucky Avenue adjacent to Munn Park & Lake Mirror. With the resounding turnout last month, there were requests made for an additional Open House tour. Friday November 7 beginning at 5:30 pm is your opportunity if you have always wanted to see the Lofts! Your hosts will be:

Cathy Oliver - 863 286 6732

Christy Gallant - 863 680 9988

Gate Arty - 863 529 3222

Here is a map to the location: MAP

See you there!

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Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - By Gate Arty

As you will see with the current slate of events (and another REALLY BIG upcoming event that I have yet to tell you about) October is choc’ full of fun & activities! The weekend of October 17th thru the 19th offers up the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival. Festivities will be held in Historic Downtown Lakeland with picturesque Lake Mirror being the backdrop.

The annual event revs up with a festive opening on Friday night October 17th with the Budweiser Hot Rod Rendezvous, which benefits Junior Achievement of Polk County. This kick-off to the weekend’s festivities is a FREE open-air concert and party held at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater. Typically well over 10,000 people attend enjoying good old’ Rock & Roll tunes, great food, and fierce cars. The high point occurs when the band takes a breather, & all the hot rods rev up their engines & create some sweet music of their own!

The main signature car show is held on Saturday, October 18th at beautiful Lake Mirror Park and throughout Downtown Lakeland.  The 9th annual Mercedes-Benz Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival is one of the most scenic and popular classic car events in the southeastern United States. This event is expected to showcase over 500 automobiles and 35,000 spectators.  Hundreds of classic and collectible vehicles including Street Rods & Custom cars will be displayed on the streets of Downtown Lakeland on Saturday. The cars are assembled in groups of similar makes and models in a 16-block area of downtown. This leg of the event is also FREE to the public. Registrants who arrive early on Saturday morning will be treated to complimentary breakfast. A full breakfast buffet will be served in the Magnolia Building overlooking Lake Mirror Park from 7:00am and 8:30am.

If you are hungry during the event, swing by The Lemon Street Promenade. This will be the main “Vendor Row.”  You’ll find souveniers, displays, & food. Local car dealers will also be showcasing their newest models here. Live entertainment will be performed throughout the day at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater and at various locations in Downtown Lakeland.

A popular feature at the Lake Mirror Classic is the distinguished group of classic wooden boats moored along the ornate 1920’s-era seawall of Lake Mirror. The classic boats present a stunning display adjacent to hundreds of classic automobiles. Accompanying the wooden boats will be a group of Amphicars, which are planning an exciting 1:00 PM “splash-in.” You really do not want to miss this, so plan on being there early!

Later Saturday evening, the Magnolia Building at Lake Mirror Park will host The Mercedes-Benz Banquet honoring stock car legend Bobby Allison. The catered dinner will be followed by an entertaining recounting of some of Bobby's greatest moments in motorsports. Tickets are $65 per person.

The Lake Mirror Classic will conclude on Sunday morning with a fun road rally over the back roads of central Florida.  Brunch will be served and prizes distributed at the rally's conclusion.

See you there!

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Mayfaire by-the-Lake 2008

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - By Gate Arty

Another signature Lakeland event is on the horizon, and it's a BIG one! May 10th & 11th, on the shores of Lake Morton, between 10 am - 5 pm will mark 2008's version of Mayfaire. No tickets are necessary & there will be a hospitality tent at Sorosis Building with desserts, fruit, & beverages.  

Considered Polk County's largest cultural & artistic event, Mayfaire by the Lake is where artists exhibit their original works of art along the shores of Lake Morton and on the streets opposite the lake which creates more of an open "art market" feel. It also helps visitors to view and enjoy the exhibition of fine arts and crafts within a shorter, shadier, walking area. In addition to nearly 200 artists displaying original works of art, food and drink and a full entertainment schedule are offered on both days. The Children's Art Tent is one of the most popular parts of the show, hosting a wide variety of activities. In addition, the annual Mayfaire Festival of Arts & Athletes is held on Saturday night. The Festival kicks off with the Mayfaire Classic 5k foot race around beautiful Lake Mirror, and continues into the evening with live music, dancing, food, and children's activities. Check out the views and surroundings of  beautiful Lake Mirror.

Begun in 1974 as a small crafts fair on the lawn of the Lakeland Public Library, Mayfaire by-the-Lake has grown into one of Florida's premier outdoor Art events. The art festival is presented by the Polk Museum of Art. It's also within walking distance of historic downtown Lakeland!

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Swan Lake or Swan Derby?

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - By Gate Arty

It looks like a new signature Lakeland event has been born. Friday the 25th of April will mark the inaugural Lakeland Derby! What is the The Lakeland Derby? Well, simply put it's a race. You may think that a "derby" held a week prior to the prestigious Kentucky Derby must involve horses. You would be wrong! This race involves our adopted mascot, the elegant Lakeland swan. Ten "hand-crafted swans" will race along the waters of Lake Mirror. The proceeds will support Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, a local charity that provides free primary health care to the working uninsured Lakeland residents.

Other events scheduled are:

4:30 PM    Davenport School of the Arts Pan-A-Maniac Steel Drum Band

5:00 PM    Running of the Ducks

6:00 PM    Parade to the Post

6:30 PM    The Lakeland Derby

7:20 PM    Harrison School of the Arts

9:00 PM    Fireworks

See you there!

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