Lakeland, FL

Celebrating its 10^th anniversary, the annual Mercedes-Benz Lake Mirror Classic takes place around Lake Mirror and in the downtown Lakeland area on October 16/17, 2009. Lakeland expects an estimated 35,000 people wandering around Lake Mirror for the two day event which is considered as one of the best shows in the Southeast. Visiting the extraordinary event will mesmerize car enthusiasts around Lakeland and the country.

This two-day charity event raises money for Lakeland’s non-profit groups, such as the Junior Achievement, Pied Piper Players, Boy Scouts, the First Tee, Historic Lakeland, and Lakeland Regional Cancer. More than $200,000.00 has been raised or donated helping them raise needed funds through the sale of food and beverage at the event.

The honorary chairman for this year’s Festival is Hall of Famer and endurance racer Hurley Hawood, known as a one-of-a-kind driver winning the 24 Hours of Daytona five times – a pioneer and a legend indeed.

What can you expect at Lakeland’s Lake Mirror Classic?

Friday, October 16^th from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. there will be a free Budweiser Hot Rod Rendezvous at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater with a free outdoor concert featuring live music by Jr. and the MDs, 100 hot rod and custom cars.. The Hot Rod Rendezvous will benefit the Junior Achievement of Polk County

Saturday, October 17^th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Lake Mirror Park and downtown Lakeland, Judged Concours d’ Elegance – “contest of elegance” for 100 selected cars in the following categories:

1. Brass Era Vehicles
2. Pre-War Classics 1925-1942
3. Pre-War Production Cars 1900 - 1942
4. Post-War Production Cars 1945-1962
5. Commercial Vehicles thru 1959
6. Muscle Cars 1964-1972
7. Domestic Sports Cars Thru 1972
8. Foreign Sports Cars Thru 1972
9. Cars of Particular Interest

Art Deco Automobiles featuring 1930 Mercedes-Benz 130H (German), 1938 Panhard Dynamic (France), 1937 Tatra T87 (Czechoslovakia), and the Peugeot Darl’ mat (France). Classic Wooden Boat show at Lake Mirror, Classic Motorcycles

Noon: Lunch Parade to the Lake Mirror Promenade led by Scottish bag-piper as tuxedo-clad Terrace Hotel waiters delivers lunch to Concours d’ Elegance participants.

2:00 p.m.: Parade of Classic Wooden Boats at Lake Mirror

3:00 p.m.: Awards Ceremony of Concours d’Elegance trophy presentation

I invite you to check out the photos by clicking on the picture I took at last year’s event of the Lake Mirror Classic – you don’t want to miss it – Truly Amazing!

Lakeland Florida - Lake Mirror Classic 2008

Lakeland Fl attract new residents – Makes Forbes Top 10 List of ”U.S. Cities on the Rise”

Despite the recent reports that Florida’s population growth slowed down considerable the last few years. There were more accolades for the State of Florida, especially for the City of Lakeland. Forbes.com released its Top 10 list of U.S. Cities on the Rise. With Colorado Springs, Co snatching up the top spot – no surprise to me, especially after visiting this beautiful city. This statistic was based on the percentage of residents, one year or older, who moved in 2008 into the 100 most populous Metropolitan Statistical area.

Equally and no surprise to me, Florida with its top 4 cities of #7 Cape Coral, #8 Lakeland, #9 Palm Bay, and #10 Bradenton rounding out the “Top 10 List” with most newcomers selecting moving to college towns.

Lakeland, Fl – Winter Haven metropolitan is a very diverse community, not only a good place for attracting retirees, but also people that have graduated from our local colleges and universities and attracting like-minded folks.

College and University Information for the Lakeland-Winter Haven Metropolitan area:

• Everest University
• Florida Southern College
• Keiser University
• Polk State College
• Southeastern University
• University of South Florida
• USF Polytechnic
• Warner University
• Webster University

As always the Downtown Lakeland Partnership prides itself of hosting and organizing First Friday. Expect the unexpected at this month local event’s theme “Art Walk” on October 2^nd, 2009 in downtown Lakeland. Art Galleries throughout downtown Lakeland hosting art exhibits and reception and you are invited. Take a moment out of your busy schedule and see what our local artists have to offer and patron our local merchants. We have true talent here in Lakeland showcasing their art work displayed throughout downtown Lakeland – it’s worth checking it out.

It all starts at 6:00 p.m. – restaurants, stores, galleries, and coffee shops are open late. What else can
you expect to see?

• Dance performances
• Music & Entertainment on the streets
• Big Tent Sale
• Mitchells Coffee House – art reception and poetry reading
• Senator Paula Dockery will be there to talk with you!
• Performances in the street from Rae’s Retro Mannequin and Modeling.
• Performances stat at 7:00pm in front of J Rowan Galleries with Michael’ Jackson’s “Thriller“, Rocky Horror’s “Time Warp“ - Plus a Michael Jackson Impersonator will be there!
• Garden Bistro – next to Hollis Garden offers a German Buffet at $9.99 – Wiener Schnitzel, red cabbage, hot German potato salad and more. Music will also be provided by The Sofa Kings from 7:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• Brooke Pottery – meet two local birding enthusiasts Rob Mason and Linda Snavley and hear their stories, they may reveal some of their hot-spots for bird watching. In addition, they will show off Rob’s outstanding photographs of Florida birds, including Lakeland’s mascot – the swan.

Although there is no comparison to Mr. Rob Mason's outstanding photographs, I do want to share with you some of my
photographs of this wonderful creature – hope you enjoy!

Don’t forget to stop by the classic car show on Tennessee Avenue

The month of September kicks off another 50-week Farmers Curb Market in downtown Lakeland Florida on Wednesdays between 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays between 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Located on 200 N. Kentucky Avenue, right in front in the plaza of the Peterson Building you find so many different and unique products from over 25 vendors at any given day such as:

• fresh locally grown vegetables
• organic herbs, spices and teas
• bake goods
• plants
• homemade soaps
• Local crafts

Parking is easy too; Saturdays are free to park on the north side of Munn Park or the Bay Street lot as well as the yellow zone parking and in bank parking lots. Driving downtown to the Farmers Curb Market on Wednesdays please follow your parking limits of 2hrs in the yellow zone parking. There is ample parking available nearby in public parking garages. Also check out local businesses when you are Downtown Lakeland at the Farmers Curb Market.

I enjoy going to the Lakeland Farmers Curb Market on Saturdays, especially after getting a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Mitchells Coffee House nearby. C’mon down and support our local merchants, growers and artists. Take a stroll around Munn Park and enjoy the great Lakeland, Florida weather.

Bi-weekly update for the Lakeland real estate market! Currently, there are 1933 homes for sale throughout Lakeland – as of 09/10/09. The homes newly listed for sale decreased from two weeks ago to 127 homes in Lakeland with an average sales price of $160,907 or $84.66 per square foot with area Realtors®.

The types of homes and average prices just listed in Lakeland, Florida according to the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) are as follows:

1 duplex unit listed for $41,085

6 condos listed with an average sales price of $105,075

17 mobile homes listed with an average sales price of $84,979

3 Townhomes/Villas listed with an average sales price of $110,466

100 single family homes with an average price of $179,876

The priciest home that came newly on the market here in Lakeland, Florida is a 1986 completely renovated lake front pool home overlooking Lake Gibson located in the Wedgewood Lake Estates subdivision; featuring 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with over 4,800 square feet of living space currently offered for $985,000. On the contrary, the cheapest Lakeland real estate newly listed is a 2 bedroom 1 bath bank-owned property listed for only $20,900 – just over $22.00 per square foot – located in Weswego subdivision.

There is more information to read here about this report including a map on where the Lakeland homes for sale are located.