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  • Time to Organize A Krewe for Mardi Gras

    News Staff Reports|Updated Dec 6, 2023

    Although it's only early November, hundreds of people from Lake Wales and far beyond are preparing for the area's biggest festival of 2024. The 40th annual Lake Wales Mardi Gras celebration will reach a climax on the busy weekend of February 10 when more than a dozen parade "krewes" will step off in colorful costumes and festooned floats to present the annual parade, the traditional high-point of weeks of celebration. "Mardi Gras" is French for "fat Tuesday," the day before...

  • Singing for Theater Offers Young Vocalists a Pathway to Advancement

    Casey Gist, News Correspondent|Updated Nov 15, 2023

    Aspiring performers between the ages of 9 and 17 have a new opportunity to advance their vocal skills and enhance the talents they bring to future performances. A new partnership between Lake Wales Little Theatre and the Lake Wales Arts Council offers students a chance to learn basic vocal techniques, breath control, range extension, and emotive expression with seasoned vocal coaches. The program offers a dynamic method that focuses on empowering participants to build and...

  • Thanksgiving Morning "Turkey Trot" 5K to Benefit Lake Wales Care Center

    Casey Gist, News Correspondent|Updated Nov 15, 2023

    The Ultra Ultras, a running club, is offering area walkers and runners a good excuse to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast without overwhelming guilt. An Ultra Ultras Turkey Trot 5K will offer families plenty of exercise and a fun outing Thanksgiving morning while also supporting the important local charity, Lake Wales Care Center. "Scott Hoover and his running club, Ultra Ultras are donating a portion of the registration fee," said Jolee Beamer of the Care Center, "and...

  • Movie Review "What Happens Later" Is a Touching Tale of Second Chances and Rekindled Love

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Nov 8, 2023

    "What Happens Later," stands out as a refreshing and poignant exploration of second chances and rekindled love amidst the backdrop of mature relationships. This romantic comedy stars Meg Ryan and is also directed by Meg Ryan. This is her second directorial effort. The film revolves around Willa (Ryan) and Bill (David Duchovny), two former college sweethearts who unexpectedly reunite after decades of separation, finding themselves snowed in at a regional airport overnight....

  • On Golden Pond Returns to Theatre Stage

    Chevon Baccus|Updated Nov 3, 2023

    Lake Wales Little Theatre has another entertaining offering on the boards in November, as the company offers the tender classic, "On Golden Pond," which opens Friday, November 3 for a three-weekend run. A talented cast, under the direction of Jamie Clark, turn the script into an enjoyable night out. During a visit to their rustic cabin on Golden Pond, the cantankerous retired professor Norman Thayer Jr. and his long-suffering wife Ethel expose the inner workings of their tende...

  • Free Downtown Concert Series Starts Friday, November 10

    Special to the News|Updated Nov 1, 2023

    A series of free downtown street concerts will enliven evenings downtown over the coming months, thanks to an alliance between the Lake Wales main Street, Lake Wales Arts Council, and the City of Lake Wales. The shows kick-off with the Outta Hand Band on Friday, November 10. "Lake Wales Live" will offer residents good reason to visit the downtown area, and perhaps get a sneak peek at the ongoing transformation of the area as the Lake Wales Connected plan proceeds, according to...

  • Film Review: Killers of the Flower Moon

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Oct 31, 2023

    Martin Scorsese's new film, Killers of the Flower Moon, is a sprawling epic about the serial murder of Osage Nation members in 1920s Oklahoma. The film is based on the best-selling book of the same name by David Grann, and it stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone. I read this book back in 2019. I thought it was an excellent book and I thought then that it should be a movie. The film's acting is top-notch, with all three leads delivering excellent...

  • Movie Review - Strange Way of Life Earns Four Stars

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Oct 23, 2023

    Strange Way of Life is a 31-minute 2023 Spanish Western drama written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke. It's a gay cowboy movie that I have been looking forward to all summer. The film follows Silva (Pascal), a gunslinger who rides into town to visit his old friend, now Sheriff Jake (Hawke) after 25 years. Silva is in love with Jake. However, there is more to this reunion. Almodóvar explores the complex relationship between the two men w...

  • Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods Earns Three Stars

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Oct 19, 2023

    Zachary Levi is back as Shazam, a teenager, who can turn into an adult superhero, and his band of foster siblings who are trying to save the world from angry Greek gods. There's a lot of silliness in this as kids are trying to be grown ups in this superhero adventure. I laughed a lot at this. Some jokes are cheesy though. Helen Mirren, the Queen herself, and Lucy Liu are the villians in this. They play Daughters of Atlas trying to reclaim the world for themselves somehow. Ther...

  • Susan Coyne, Samantha Bourke Win Week One of News Contest

    News Staff|Updated Oct 11, 2023

    Winners of the first week of a 13-week contest sponsored by Lake Wales News.net and Pizzano's Pizza and Grinderz have been have announced, and tasty awards await, ideal for that football gathering, birthday party, or other get-together. Susan Coyne and Samantha Bourke were chosen as winners of a large pizza of their choice, enough to feed a family of four. The winners gained entry simply by sharing a story from LakeWalesNews.net on their social media. To be sure that we don't...

  • Two Winners Each Week from Pizzano's in Our New Contest!

    News Staff|Updated Oct 9, 2023

    We love contests, and we love prizes, so we're giving two lucky families free dinners from Pizzano's! Best of all, we're doing it EVERY WEEK! Win the large pizza of your choice, including the works if you like, just by sharing the important stories we publish about our community. Pick something from our sections about Schools, Fun, Ridge Life, Business, it's all up to you! Just know that you could very well be enjoying one of our delicious prizes. Two winners will be randomly...

  • Pizzano's Earns Notice For Superior Pies, Italian Food

    News Dining Critic|Updated Sep 26, 2023

    Among the most popular options for a quick restaurant-supplied meal in the Lake Wales area is pizza. With multiple outlets available, including several national chains, we decided to conduct a taste-test survey of local choices. Among those we have tried, one stood out. Pizzano's is a locally-owned pizzeria that turns out consistent pies that meet all the several measurement points we set out. Consistency was one of the most important, and the quality of the several pies we...

  • MOVIE REVIEW: A Haunting in Venice Earns Four Stars

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Sep 26, 2023

    Kenneth Branagh's latest Hercule Poirot film, A Haunting in Venice, is a haunted house movie but isn't that scary. It is a surprisingly enjoyable and suspenseful mystery. While it may not be the most original or groundbreaking film of the year, it's well-made, well-acted, beautifully shot and fun. The film is set in the atmospheric city of Venice, where Poirot is invited to investigate a series of mysterious deaths at a séance. The cast is full of talented actors, including Br...

  • Big Al and the Heavyweights Perform in Lake Wales Friday Night

    News Entertainment|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    A special performance by the well-known touring band Big Al and the Heavyweights is happening this Friday night, September 22, at The Spot in Lake Wales. Led by "Big Al" Lauro, the band was originally formed with Warren Haynes of Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule, along with pianist Rick Gergen, formerly of Sweethearts of the Rodeo. It now features Louisiana Music Hall of Fame pianist and vocalist Wayne Lohr, along with guitarist and vocalist extraordinaire Marcel Anton and...

  • "Are We There Yet?" Still Time to Catch the Fun!

    News Theatre Reports|Updated Sep 21, 2023

    The history of human transportation gets a rousing send-up in the humorous "Are We There Yet" which will be on stage at Lake Wales Little Theater this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Director Alicia Bush and Kara Wiseman, with the assistance of Musical Director Mindy Kessler have combined the clever songs of playwright Stephen Murray to marshall the tremendous force of dozens of young performers into an entertaining show. Whether you are a parent or grandparent, or just wish you...

  • Blue Beetle is a Fun Superhero Film

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Sep 15, 2023

    I finally got to see Blue Beetle over the weekend. This is a superhero character I had never heard of. Blue Beetle is a fun and enjoyable superhero film that brings a fresh perspective to the genre. Xolo Maridueña delivers a charming and charismatic performance as Jaime Reyes, a young man who stumbles upon an alien scarab that grants him extraordinary powers. Together with his family and friends, he must learn to control his newfound abilities and use them to protect his...

  • Red, White, and Royal Blue Earns Four Stars

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Aug 29, 2023

    Red, White & Royal Blue is a fun, silly, and heartwarming romantic comedy about the unlikely romance between Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the United States President, and Prince Henry of Wales. The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Casey McQuiston. I have not read the best-selling book but now I fully intend to. The film's two leads, Taylor Zakhar Perez and Nicholas Galitzine, are perfectly cast as Alex and Henry. Perez brings a lot of charisma and...

  • Lake Wales Junior Woman's Club Kicks Off Fall Festival Planning

    Special to the News|Updated Aug 29, 2023

    Plans are underway for its 2nd Annual Fall Festival, a free event that features food trucks, beer, music, professional carnival games, inflatables including two bounce houses, general vendors, community booths, farm animals from several area schools, selfie photo spots, and more. The annual event is sponsored by the GFWC Lake Wales Junior Woman's Club, and will run from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm on Saturday, October 14. at Lake Wailes Park. Event proceeds will fund programs that...

  • Contemporary Ceramics in the Sunshine State Opens at Arts Center

    Special to the News|Updated Aug 28, 2023

    A gallery exhibition entitled "Floridian Fire: Contemporary Ceramics in the Sunshine State," will be unveiled September 5th at the Lake Wales Arts Center. Featuring 39 ceramic pieces created by 17 exceptional artists from across Florida, the show will display vivid colors, intricate textures, and captivating forms that will take viewers on a journey through the rich diversity of ceramic artistry. A special evening gallery reception will be hosted on Thursday, September 14,...

  • Movie Review: Happiness for Beginners Catches Three Stars

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Aug 8, 2023

    Happiness for Beginners is a July, 2023 romantic comedy film that follows Helen Carpenter, a 32-year-old woman who, in an attempt to rebuild her life after a difficult divorce, signs up for an extended hike in the Appalachian Mountains. Along the way, she encounters Jake Taylor, a handsome doctor who is friends with her brother and obviously has a crush on her. The protagonist is annoying and obnoxious. I wanted to smack her at several points during the movie. The film,...

  • Movie Review: Rye Lane Streams on Hulu, Earns Four Stars

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Aug 1, 2023

    The newest release from streaming service Hulu is Rye Lane, a fun and enjoyable romantic comedy that follows two youngsters reeling from bad break-ups who connect over a particularly eventful day in South London. The film is directed by Raine Allen Miller in her feature film debut, and stars David Jonsson and Vivian Oparah as Dom and Yas, respectively. The film's strengths lie in its characters, its humor, and its setting. Dom and Yas are both relatable and likable...

  • Movie Review: Barbie Earns Four Stars

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Jul 27, 2023

    It's Barbenheimer weekend...the other half! I saw Oppenheimer first, but now I've caught up by viewing Barbie, the other blockbuster movie, this past weekend. Barbie is a 2023 American live-action comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig and written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. The film stars Margot Robbie as Barbie, Ryan Gosling as Ken, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Will Ferrell, and Issa Rae. Rhea Perlman, Carla from Cheers, makes an appearance t...

  • MOVIE REVIEW: Oppenheimer Gets 5 of 5 Stars.

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Jul 24, 2023

    Movie goers were really excited this past weekend to have two big movie openings that did not involve superheroes. As a film fan and reviewer I was mostly excited about Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer is a challenging film, but it is also a rewarding one, well worth the three hours it takes to watch it. It is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it. If you are interested in history, science, or the human condition, then I highly recommend seeing Oppenheimer. Christ...

  • Zombies Attack High School, Can a Nerdy Student Save the Day?

    News Theatre Reviewer|Updated Jun 11, 2023

    A typical day at a local high school suddenly turned even weirder by an outbreak of brain-hungry zombies in the Lake Wales Little Theatre production of "Not Your Average Zombie Apocalypse." Presented as the annual teen production of the theatre, a cast of 25 brings plenty of light-hearted entertainment. The humorous spoof of all things Zombie is filled with funny vignettes and some of the common "jock vs. nerd" themes and the awkward social interactions of teen years. The fun...

  • Movie Review: The Little Mermaid

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Jun 2, 2023

    The Little Mermaid is a live-action remake of the 1989 Disney animated classic. The film stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, and Javier Bardem as King Triton. The film follows the same basic story as the animated version, with a few key differences most notably that Eric and Ursula get a bit more back story and depth to their characters. The film also adds new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken. The new songs are...

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