I love a theater with history and 1920's architecture and I found both in the Polk Theatre in…read moredowntown Lakeland. This 1,400-seat theatre was designed by architect James E. Casale and built in 1928 when the town of Lakeland had only 15,000 residents. The Polk Theatre opened on December 22, 1928 with Pauline Frederick in "On Trial". This theatre has the distinction of having the first air conditioning system in the county which pumped artesian well water to cool the building. Other features of the theatre include a mezzanine, a high balcony, a Venetian piazza backdrop, an orchestra pit, a cloud ceiling against which images of twinkling stars are projected, and terrazzo flooring. In 1941 the Polk Theatre was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks. In December 1978 it was taken over by Plitt Theatres. On September 23, 1984 the theatre was closed for low attendance after a showing of Jim Henson's "The Muppets Take Manhattan". A group of concerned people got together to save the historic theatre from demolition. It was purchased for $300,000 with a grant from the state. On October 15, 1984 the Polk Theatre reopened as a performing arts venue. The Polk Theatre was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Today the theatre has a live performing arts series as well as independent films and special events. In December the event calendar is filled with classic films and a performance of the Nutcracker. Tickets can be purchased through the Polk Theatre website.

Fun and different experience than the traditional move theatre. They sell very reasonably priced…read moresnacks and drinks, and the theatre has been well kept for the number of years that it's been there. My partner loves older movies, so this is right up his alley. I enjoyed the theatre but not so much the older movies.

**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more The Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum (which I will shorthand simply to RWWR Museum for the remainder of this review) has been on my "need to check out" historic places and museums around and about Historic Plant City for the longest time. Besides the fact I love trains, and that I now have a much bigger appreciation for them given the fact our primary means of transportation is automobiles on roads, this museum pulled the heart string for my love of treasure/scavenger hunts thanks to their Henry's Hidden Train Hunt. It took longer than I wanted it, but I was able to finally go to the RWWR Museum. Not only that, my aunt accompanied me. It is nice to have family actually want to join you in partaking in one of your admired hobbies and actually enjoy it. Though an address is provided, RWWR Museum is located on the Eastside of McCall Park, which is the park that is in the center of Plant City's Historic Downtown. Firstly, there is plenty of parking available just north of the RWWR Museum. Though it is the eastern-most part of the historic downtown area, that is fine to park there as the part of said downtown area that would be enjoyed by people, primarily tourists, is less than nine square blocks. Walking shouldn't be an issue if one is able to do so. The RWWR Museum is kinda small as its historic locale is the Plant City Train Station. There is only so much you can fit in such a small space, but they did a great job showing a lot with the little amount of space and resources they have. A caboose and steamer are available for viewing just outside of the museum, and inside, there are artifacts throughout the Florida Railway's history, as well as photo opportunities which my aunt and I partook in. There is also a small "gift shop" desk selling t-shirts, stickers, and other museum-branded items, and a small room showcasing "professional" model train designers and operators as they operate model trains for guests. Another note worth mentioning is the restrooms are clean and well-stocked (men and reportedly the women by my aunt). Also, the RWWR Museum also has a Little Free Library, so take that into account if you want to place or take some free books. NOTE: This Little Free Library is not an official Little Free Library by Little Free Library Organization, so they are not recognized by the Little Free Library App. Finally, Henry's Hidden Train Hunt must be discussed. There is a brochure with riddles that take you to locations all around and about Plant City's Historic Downtown and trivia questions one must answer at each location. There are 10 in total and each location gives you the answer needed for the trivia question. Bring back the completed brochure to the RWWR Museum during its hours of operation to receive a free gift for completion: A Henry's Hidden Train stamp lapel pin. Probably the only possible vice/criticism is the hours of operation which are Tuesday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. only. At least admission is free with the option to donate to their cause and upkeep. Overall, this visit to RWWR Museum was everything I wanted and got. I learned more about trains, learned more about Florida's history with trains, enjoyed an adventure, and got free stuff, whilst being able to donate to a good cause. Add in the fact that despite all you can do, you can complete everything you want to do on your initial visit. Ergo, that is why the RWWR Museum gets five stars out of five stars, for me.

A nice selection of railroad items in the musuem. Handsome set of antique railroad buildings…read more Next to to a functional diamond crossing, Yay ! Unlike at Ocala, ( which as handsome buildings but no museum ), all tracks leading into this diamond look spiffy, whereas in Ocala one direction is tip top and the other live but decrepit. A nice elevated train viewing platform close by, all in all, a great stop for the train fans amongst us.

Came here recently for a private team-building event for work and we had a blast! 2 hours to walk…read morethrough our chosen painting and come out with a unique canvas piece and some good bonding time. Our instructor Abigail was awesome- very high energy and kind and easy to follow along with. I've taken many painting classes before this and already knew what I was doing so I didn't need as much help, but it was new for most of my coworkers so Abigail was super amazing assisting them when needed or giving them guidance on what to do next. We chose "Broccoli" the cat, and you have the option to follow along with the instructor and paint your canvas exactly like the demo or go your own route- I chose to make mine look like my own sweet kitty so it's fun to have some creative freedom if you so choose. They host a lot of different events here, even a "paint your pet" night. After you come and paint something, if you want something fixed, adjusted or help with it you can come in any saturday morning and the artists will help you adjust your painting for free! Normally, this is a paint & sip place as well so you can bring a bottle of wine or your drink (alcoholic or NA) of choice to sip while you paint which is fun too. Definitely recommend this for a date night, girls night, coming with family or even to one of the events by yourself, it's a great way to wind down and let your inner creative come out!

Had such a great time painting Midnight Glow with Abigail Estamponi as our instructor and Alex as…read moreour helper/DJ. Both Ladies were very friendly, energetic, and encouraging! A fun time had by all and must do it again!

I retired 10+ years ago and have been involved in many aspects of the Life Enrichment Center of…read moreTampa, FL. I have learned to paint in watercolor, oils, acrylics, ink, digital, and mixed media. I have attended Tai chi, chair yoga, creative writing classes, pot lucks, plein air outings,photography outings, visited museums, and volunteered. This is a great organization for those 55+ people that need to be around intellectual stimulation and creativity. The benefit of being in this group has been working, playing, and creating around other highly creative people. I am never bored.

Life Enrichment Center is such a giving and joyous place! I'm grateful for it, and for the…read morewonderful teachers, volunteers, and staff.

The theater can sit 600 and more. The seat is a bit wider than the airplane seat. The leg room is…read moreexcellent for the comfort and past an audience. Great design. AC control is good for the comfort. Today we were here for the Alumni develop dance school to show their art dance work. The show range from elementary to adult. We have good view due to slope floor system. The show is very well organized. Some dance groups have great choreography. The dance costumes very colorful. I enjoy the night of dance here.

I like to attend dance concerts at USF Theatre one. The facility got all the essential elements for…read moreviewing stage performances- good sound system, lighting, seats. The space between rows is big enough for people to pass by and also comfortable legs room. Although each seat is not that wide, but it is cushioned and OK comfortable. The ladies restroom wasn't big, so there is a waiting line during the intermission or after the concert. This is a good Theatre inside USF campus that offers different performances for students, faculty and local community.

This is a nice little railroad museum in downtown Plant City. Amtrak trains pass by and it is next…read moreto McCall Park. There are several eateries and shops around the area. The collection is displayed in an old station house and includes vintage signage, vintage brochures/ time tables, model trains, some train equipment you can sit in and maps. It's a fun diversion and great for train enthusiasts and kids who like rail equipment. There's also a train car outside. I was there during a downtown car show and enjoy all the nostalgia. :) All aboard!!!

Don't confuse this with the city's museum next to the tracks. This museum has several incredible…read morelayouts on the top floor of the 1914 Plant City High School building, now the Community Center. There are three classrooms with different gauges and all kinds of RR artifacts. The rooms are open on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Call ahead and bring your kids. Awesome! The main room is HO CDD and includes a layout of Plant City in the early 1900's.

I had the most amazing week at Florida school of woodwork for the Beginners Woodworking class. The…read moreinstructor Andrew and other staff were very friendly, knowledgeable and skilled with the curriculum. We learned the history about wood and furniture, which was very informative for starting as a woodworker. By the end of the week, the entire class made full tables and a cutting board that we will have as a memory starting our journey as woodworkers.

Okay, I'll admit it. I may enjoy an art project here or there but I have zero woodworking (or power…read moretool) experience. Zero. Zilch. Nonexistent. I am also pretty klutzy in general, so the idea of making anything using sharp objects vaguely terrifies me. That being said, the Florida School of Woodwork in Tampa is outstanding. A valuable resource for fledgling newbies (like myself) and for those who are more advanced. I signed up for the cutting board course with my mother. Apart from both leaving with all our fingers and toes present and accounted for, we learned a lot and had fun too. Our instructor walked us through the entire process, and allowed us to flex our creative muscles (within the scope of the intended project). We glued, sanded, cut, and other far more technical terms I cannot pretend to recall. Even better, we left with two beautiful and functional cutting boards (complete with my own pyrography pen design) and a lot of great memories. Book in advance for an afternoon, or even a weekend workshop, their classes are outstanding. Very well organized, and safe too. It is also a delight to work alongside instructors who are not only knowledgeable but truly passionate about their craft.

This is a large complex on the USF campus used for basketball and special events, especially…read moretoday's Graduation for my grandson Conner! They did charge $15 for parking, even to the graduating students who drove themselves in today. Security lines are appreciated at such venues but some staff members need more training on how to handle the public. Inside facilities and snack stands to replenish what had to be thrown away at security point.

This place is huge! It's located on the campus of the University of South Florida (in Tampa)…read moreFlorida. It is home to the college men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams. In addition, the Center is a multi-purpose facility that hosts over 300 events each year, including sporting events, concerts, family shows and more. We came here for a grandson's high school graduation. It was at 8:00 am, but cars lined up much earlier to get the graduates here in time and to get better seats. They were hosting several high school graduations in one day -- back to back. The acoustics were fine plus they have big screens in a couple locations to see the stage area. Seats were plastic in tiered rows. Not that comfortable, but okay. It's not very accessible nor handicapped friendly. If you have any problems walking, the aisles to the seats had lots of steps and were steep. I was surprised that they charged everyone $15 for self parking. No outside food and drink were allowed. And they make you go through metal detectors and search all bags. The concessions were over priced. And are cashless. Still it was nice to attended a happy celebration here. The school did a good job recognizing all the excelling students. And because the venue was so large, there were no restrictions on the number of family attendees.