Haven & LKLD

02/14/2025

Happy ♥️ Day from all of us at Haven & LKLD Magazines! We ❤️ you! XO

Pic: Keith Haring 1999 First Edition “Love“ book

02/12/2025

"MYTH: VULTURES ARE AGGRESSIVE OR DANGEROUS.
Truth: Vultures are shy birds and rarely interact with humans. Their intimidating appearance and behaviors—such as hissing or vomiting as a defense mechanism—are purely for self-protection."

This could easily be one of my favorite stories we've ever published, thank you Shannon Carnevale. As I read it, I was stopping to tell everyone around me facts about vultures. I didn't even know I was a fan of vultures until now. I'm guessing you will be, too. Read the full story below:

While February often conjures images of lovebirds and heart-shaped candies, not every species in Polk County has such romantic associations. Enter the vultures and buzzards: nature’s misunderstood cleanup crew. These fascinating scavengers—essential to the health of ecosystems in Polk County—m...

02/11/2025

Jessi Zilka of Jesse Carl Vinyl gives us a glimpse into what makes this record fair more than just another stop for collectors—it’s a full-on celebration of sound. If you’re ready to step up your vinyl game, this is where it starts.

Read all about Lakeland Record Fair, Volume V! in the February issues below. Thank you to Jesse Carl Vinyl for talking with us!

From curating the perfect lineup of vendors to swapping stories about rare finds, Jessi Zilka of Jesse Carl Vinyl gives us a glimpse into what makes this record fair more than just another stop for collectors—it’s a full-on celebration of sound. If you’re ready to step up your vinyl game, this...

02/10/2025

How sweet is this? This month we visit with the Hope Equine Rescue, Inc to learn about the "Reading with Rescues" program. It happens every month, and it's just so cute! Find more info & details below:

Reading with Rescues is a fun and engaging community program for K-8th grade students to visit Hope Equine Rescue and read to a horse, donkey, or mule supervised, but unassisted, for approximately 30 minutes. Typically held on the second Friday of each month, the February date has been moved a week....

02/10/2025

Who needs Valentine's plans? Find more info about the events below plus find even more events at centralfloridatix.com

02/04/2025

“Our local farmers and ranchers LOVE to talk about what they do. They LOVE to teach. I mean, they do this for a living. Growing food is their passion.

This month we learn about a brand new CSA called The Harvest Collective designed to bring local produce, food & products to your home. Read all about it below:

“Mooo-ve over grocery stores, a new concept for convenient, local ingredients has arrived, fresh from the farm!”What do you get when you mix a love of local, farm fresh produce with a need for convenience? The Harvest Collective, that’s what! I caught up with Mikaela Booth, the owner and opera...

01/27/2025

February issues are here! 🌺

🥕 This month we learn about a brand new CSA in Polk County that offers local produce, meat, bakery items, & more.

🎵 There’s a huge record fair in February, we give you all the details. Great for the beginning or experienced collector.

🐴 Did you know that there’s a place in Polk County where kids can read to horses? Get ready for some serious cuteness.

🖼️ We visit a new pop-up gallery in downtown Winter Haven, find out about upcoming shows & classes.

🍲 Our section is all photos of Polk County Taco Week 🌮

📚The Lakeland & Winter Haven Public Libraries give us book selections, so good!

We also learn about vultures, trust me… you’ll be telling everyone you know about vultures. Who knew they were so interesting? IV takes us in a Time Machine to find love, Anne writes about the joy of garden journaling, and Bob talks about Black History.

Our calendar & Top Ten lists will keep you busy, tag us when you’re out and about and you might find your post in the next issue.

Have a very happy February!

01/23/2025

Seven saddles and salted alligator hides? This month, Bob Gernert takes us back to 1892...

HENRY SNELL OPENS WINTER HAVEN’S FIRST BANK In 1892 a man named Henry W. Snell left his home in Georgia and relocated to the Polk County area. He opened a mercantile in Bartow followed by stores in Mulberry, Ft. Meade, Chicora and then Winter Haven. That store was located on what was then called W...

01/22/2025

We just happened to walk by last Saturday at the perfect moment for a sneak peek! The inside is super cute, with a disco ball 🪩 and cool little touches everywhere. The cocktails? Really, really, really good—seriously, we wanted to try them all. We grabbed some food, and while the Island Wedge is the only pic, we also got wings and a burger, which brought us right back to those Happy Endings food truck days. The in-house DJ is fun, and the whole space has a chill energy. We will be back for more cocktails and to check out the rest of the menu!

(IT’S NOT OPEN YET)

📍254 W Central Ave, Winter Haven

01/21/2025

"For me, writing isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of living, of expressing gratitude, hope, and reflection. I’m grateful for every opportunity to share my stories and to inspire others to live intentionally and embrace the power of their own words."

This month we talk with author Nikki Sterling about the beauty that writing brings to her life.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF I am a writer, author, and poet who believes in the power of words to inspire and connect. I love to travel and use it as a creative source for my writing. I make it a priority to explore and immerse myself in a variety of cuisines and cultures, always seeking to expa...

01/20/2025

“Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”

Taken from the “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington DC on August 28, 1963.

Portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. by Boris Chaliapin (1904–1979) / Watercolor and pencil on board, 1957, at the National Portrait Gallery.

Our office is closed today in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

01/18/2025

🎈HAPPY BIRTHDAY AARON!!! 🎉

Aaron is our art & production manager & we love, love working with him. We hope you have a super fun day 🎂

01/18/2025

Thank you to everyone that came out for tonight at the ♥️ Thank you Dr. Rich for the tour, thank you for the excellent food & drinks from and , and everyone at the museum.

Have a great rest of your weekend!

01/17/2025

Our “Dry January” mocktail has fresh basil & cucumber. So good. So perfect to sip while you take a minute for yourself.

Recipe in the January issue.

01/17/2025

Congratulations on your new studio space ♥️ You’re going to be an excellent teacher. 😍

01/17/2025

⚡️heads up: this post is a little sappy.⚡️
Because I’m choked up right now.
Really.
I am so proud of our art museum. It’s so beautiful and gorgeous and it’s filled with classrooms and ideas and energy. Its stunning. Such a brilliant job and everyone involved.

As a former art school student from up north, I am so very proud to have this museum in my life, and I’m looking forward to hanging out with all the art. ♥️I’m excited for the young artists to walk in and find their place.

01/16/2025

📚 2025 is for less doomscrolling and more page turning! 📖 Check out the full lists of the January book recommendations from the and the online. The LKLD books are all how-tos so you can learn something new this year! The Haven books are all beautiful stories to get lost in.

What are you currently reading?

01/14/2025

Cocktails, food, art…that’s ♥️ A build-your-own poke bowl by Cob & Pen is included with your ticket to Polk at Nite happening this Friday, January 17th from 5 to 8 pm at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art. Create your own poke (or chicken) masterpiece while exploring the brand-new, multimillion-dollar museum expansion before it opens to the public. A free beer or wine is also included with your ticket, with a full cash bar and specialty cocktails available after free drink redemption.

Get your tickets now for only $15, $20 at the door at centralfloridatix.com