Skyward Festival – First Friday March 1st
The next First Friday street party in Downtown Lakeland is one of the most exciting themes of the year – the Skyward Festival. Hosted by the Sun N’ Fun air museum, the Skyward Festival brings a taste of the museum’s April Expo and Fly-In to downtown Lakeland. Exhibits of small aircraft lining the streets, hot air balloons glowing at dusk, aerial flyovers…oooohhh……ahhhh….
You won’t want to miss this fun, free, family-friendly event. So save the date of Friday, March 1!
24 & 4 Anniversary Party at the Shop
Happy Anniversary to Us! February marks our 24th year in business! That’s nearly a quarter century. Woohoo! We strive to bring Lakeland and central Florida the best in American Craft, with a unique selection of artisan gifts made by both local and nationally known fine craft artists. We thank each and every one of you wonderful customers for your support throughout the years. Why do we call it our 24 & 4 Anniversary? Well, February also marks the 4th year that us, Kay and Margaret, at the helm. It’s been a journey, but we’re loving it.
To celebrate our 24 & 4 Anniversary, we will serve free cake to shoppers throughout the day on Friday, February 1st. Also, the shop is open late until 9 pm that day for First Friday Downtown. We sure hope that you can join the party. Free cake – what more incentive do you need?!
Feel free to RSVP and share with friends here.
First Friday Jan. 4 – Resolution Revolution
Downtown Lakeland is hosting a wellness fair to help you make 2013 the best year ever. Find resolution inspiration during this showcase of local healthcare providers, gyms, hair salons and charities 6-9 pm on Friday, January 4. It’s an excellent chance to discover local resources and start healthy habits for the new year. As always, First Friday will also have live music, the Classy Car Show and kids activities – entertainment for everyone in the family.
Click here for a map and directions or to RSVP on facebook.
Brooke Pottery is open until 9 pm every Friday, including First Fridays.
Dec. 7 – First Friday Cookies & Carols 6-9pm
Brooke Pottery is pleased to host the North Lakeland Presbyterian Bell Ringers outside the shop once again for this month’s First Friday on December 7. Come downtown tomorrow evening and enjoy the holiday cheer! With a theme like Cookies & Carols, who can resist?
Meet Florida Potter Nolan Windholtz on First Friday Oct. 5
We invite you to come meet visiting artist Nolan Windholtz, founder of Roundtree Pottery in North Florida, during the First Friday “Strut Your Stuff” Art Walk in downtown Lakeland 6-9pm on October 5. RSVP on facebook if you wish.
Nolan’s humorous raku animal sculptures have been making our customers laugh out loud for years. The “Naughty Cat” vases with claw marks up the side and mischievous cats perched on the rim, have become Nolan’s most popular creations. The largest vase in the series is titled Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil. What a riot!
But if it’s a clay pot of extreme beauty that you desire, Nolan is equally talented at horsehair and iridescent raku techniques. Ancient methods used to create modern art. Come see for yourself this Friday at Brooke Pottery!
First Friday Dog Gift Basket Giveaway
Brooke Pottery will be celebrating the DOG DAYS OF SUMMER on FIRST FRIDAY in Downtown Lakeland on Sept. 7 from 6-9 pm. Stop by the shop and enter our free giveaway of a DOGGIE BASKET, valued at $150. The drawing for the winner will be held at 8:30 but you do not have to be present to win.
All of downtown will celebrate Dog Days of Summer with a pooch parade and all kinds of activities in honor of our wonderful four-legged friends. This First Friday theme is a favorite of pet lovers and those who just like a good time. As always, there will be live music on the sidewalks to entertain you. Come out and join us this Friday for a great night of fun – pets or no pets.
First Friday Skyward Festival 3/2
For Downtown Lakeland’s First Friday celebration on March 2, SUN ‘n FUN brings its 3rd annual Skyward Festival. The festivities include a fly-over, a hot air balloon glow at dusk, an after-dark aerial pyrotechnic light show, portable sport airplanes and flight simulators plus the U.S. Air Force Reserve Generation rock band. Brooke Pottery is proud to sponsor this event.
Skyward Festival activities begin at 6 p.m. with the vintage Stearman formation fly-over Munn Park and Lake Mirror. Concurrent with the flight of the Stearman will be the preparation and inflating (weather permitting) of tethered hot air balloons on the northwest shore of Lake Mirror, just off the corner of Cedar and Massachusetts. At dusk, the hot air balloons will “glow” enhancing the beauty of the historic Lake Mirror Promenade.
At Munn Park, enjoy music from the U.S. Air Force rock band Reserve Generation plus a showcase of exhibits for the 2012 annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo – scheduled for March 27-April 1. After sunset, First Friday participants will again look “Skyward” for the evening’s aerial light show, by Roger Buis’ pyrotechnic helicopter, Otto. Following the light show, Reserve Generation will retake the Munn Park stage to continue the rhythm of the festival for the remainder of the evening.
Now Open Late on Friday Evenings
Goodbye Thursdays on Kentucky, Hello Friday Nights! We are starting off the New Year at Brooke Pottery with new hours for Fridays. Open 9 am – 9 pm every Friday starting on First Friday January 6th. See you tomorrow night!
Closing at 5 pm Thursday for Christmas Parade
Bill Campbell Porcelain
Holiday Ornament Unveiled at First Friday
Please join us this evening as we unveil the design for the 2011 Brooke Pottery Ornament during First Friday, November 4. For the third year, Brooke Pottery held a summer Kids’ Art Contest to design our annual holiday ornament. Awards will be presented at 7pm to the three finalists. Come help us recognize the creative efforts of these young artists tonight!
The 2011 Holiday Ornament will be for sale beginning Thanksgiving weekend during Brooke Pottery’s Ornaments on Parade. We donate 10% of ornament sales to the Needlework Guild of America, a non- profit organization that provides clothing for local school children in need.
First Friday Oct. 7 – Motorcycle Mania
Dog on a Hog by Rich Kolb
Downtown Lakeland’s Motorcycle Mania event in February was so successful that’s is back for First Friday 6-10pm! Vendors far and wide have responded to our call. About 80 motorcycle groups and related vendors will fill Kentucky Avenue and Main Street. Bay and Pine Streets will be prime motorcycle parking. (Parking tips below)
Kentucky artist Rich Kolb in his own words “creates new friends out of old odds and ends.” He makes imaginative animal art pieces using scrap metal, hardware bits and castoff tools. Dog on a Hog, pictured above outside Brooke Pottery, is one of the larger sculptures that the shop carries. We also have wine caddies, napkin holders, salt and pepper shakers, desktop critters and garden sculptures. Rich Kolb’s humorous menagerie of Yardbirds, Junkyard Cats and Dogs is a hit with customers looking for unusual gifts.
Enjoy various music groups along the streets including SOUTHBOUND at the corner of N. Kentucky Ave. & Bay Street. As always, Classic Cars will be displayed on Tennessee Street at Munn Park. Because of the many vendors, Downtown streets affected will be closed at 4pm. Find ample parking in the Main Street garage, Oak Street lot and along Tennessee south of Main, Kentucky south of Orange Street. Whether you ride or not, October 7th should be an exciting First Friday. There’s so much fun and activity planned that hours are extended ’til 10pm!
Big Sale Tonight – Rain or Shine!
Are you ready for the big sale? Don’t miss Brooke Pottery’s 50% Off Sidewalk Sale this evening 6-8:30 pm during First Friday. Selected pottery, jewelry, glassware, garden art and housewares are marked and ready to go! If it rains, we’ll simply move the Sidewalk Sale indoors. Shop early for the best selection and please note that Brooke Pottery will close at 8:30 in time for everyone to enjoy the fireworks at 9pm.
To coincide with Independence Day, we are excited to announce that we are extending our 5% discount program, which we currently provide to teachers, to members of the military. All members of the military, including veterans, are all eligible for this discount. To sign up, just ask any of our associates during your next visit to the store. We thank you all for your brave service to our country.
Brooke Pottery will be closed on Monday, July 4, and reopen Tuesday at 9 am. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!
Sidewalk Sale 6-8:30 pm on First Friday July 1st
Mark your calendars for Brooke Pottery’s Sidewalk Sale 6-8:30 pm on July 1st during First Friday. Details to follow, but plan to save 50% on selected pottery, jewelry, garden art and housewares. In July, Downtown Lakeland’s First Friday event combines with the city’s Red, White & Kaboom Independence Celebration at Lake Mirror. Downtown near Munn Park, First Friday will host family style carnival games, bounce houses and live music with shops along Kentucky Avenue offering sidewalk sales. Brooke Pottery will close at 8:30 in time for everyone to enjoy the fireworks at 9pm.
At Lake Mirror, the Channel Z band, Derik Thomas, and the Taken By Surprise Step Performance Team will entertain crowds gathering for the fireworks finale. For more about Red, White & Kaboom, read here.
Brooke Pottery is now extending a 5% store discount to Veterans and Armed Forces Personnel. Sign up in the shop to receive a permanent 5% discount on all purchases.
First Friday June 3-Bicycle Night Downtown
The shop will be open late 6-9 pm on First Friday June 3. This month’s theme is Bicycle Night, so ride your bike to Downtown Lakeland and enjoy the fun family atmosphere of First Friday. Learn about biking trails throughout the city and efforts to increase bike racks in Downtown. Plus, there will be trick bike demos on Kentucky Avenue!
These photos were taken at last year's event by Tammy Wright aka the Lakeland Pedaller. Check the Lakeland Pedaller column on the Lakeland Local blog to find out more about biking in Lakeland.
We have lots of new work by American potters to share this month. New arrivals include Popcorn Studios, Dock 6, Kent Follette, Wellman and Welsch, and San Antonio. Now is a great time to add to your collection of these potters while we have a great selection of their work. Plus, we are introducing a new potter, Palms Up Pottery from New Smyrna Beach. Stop in Brooke Pottery 6-9 pm on First Friday and enjoy a taste of wine & cheese or juice & cookies while you shop.
Open late on Friday March 4 for Skyward Festival Downtown
March’s First Friday promises to be filled with aviation wonders as Downtown Lakeland hosts the 2nd annual SUN ‘n FUN Skyward Festival 6-9 pm.
SUN ‘n FUN will bring hot air balloons, an after-dark aerial pyrotechnic light show, portable sport airplanes & flight simulators plus the US Navy’s Dixieland band, “TGIF”. Bring the family downtown on Friday evening to preview the 2011 SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo scheduled for March 29-April 3 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Skyward Festival activities on First Friday begin at 6 p.m. with aerial fly-overs above Munn Park and Lake Mirror by SUN ‘n Fun’s World War II-era Stearman biplane and the inflating of tethered hot air balloons at Lake Mirror. For the full schedule of events, see the DLP blog. As always on First Friday, Brooke Pottery will be open late 6-9 pm. Browse our selection of American artisan pottery, jewelry and art for home and garden while you enjoy wine & cheese or juice & cookies. See you on First Friday!
Rodeo Roundup on First Friday Jan. 7
Brooke Pottery will be open late 6-9 PM on Friday January 7. Come enjoy the Rodeo Roundup activities this First Friday. Downtown Lakeland will host square dancers, cowboys, line dancing and live music – plus bounce houses and the kiddie train. Americom Pro Classic Rodeo will parade down Kentucky Avenue at 7 pm. Click here for the parade route. Sign up for the “Fastest” Pie-Eater in the West Contest featuring scrumptious cream pies by Fred’s Southern Kitchen,or enter your child the Cowboy/Cowgirl Cutie Contest. Free family fun in downtown Lakeland.
Dec. 3 – Shopping Night for Carlton Palmore, Lawton Chiles and Lincoln Schools
Turn your holiday spirit into school spirit by shopping at Brooke Pottery on First Friday, December 3. We’ll donate 15% of your purchase to Carlton Palmore Elementary, Lawton Chiles Middle School or Lincoln Avenue Academy when you mention your school’s name during checkout. No coupon required. Many of you will be downtown to watch your schools perform during First Friday Holiday Happenings, so stop in before or after the perfomance and choose holiday gifts that also give back to your school.
Teachers and Parents: Brooke Pottery offers a year round 5% discount to Polk County Teachers. Now, we are extending this discount to PTA members. Simply show your school ID or PTA card.
First Friday Nov. 5 is College Spirit Night
Wear your favorite team colors this evening as we celebrate College Spirit Night in Downtown Lakeland 6-9 PM. The shop is decorated with festive streamers and we’ll be serving juice & cookies and wine & cheese. Come say hello!
Artful Living Art Show October 1, 6-9 PM
Join us on First Friday October 1, 2010 for the Artful Living Festival of Artists on Kentucky Avenue. Over 25 artists have signed up to be part of this local art showcase. Our own Kathy Plowman will present her stained glass creations along with Brooke Pottery artists Wing Nut Photography, Mary Bassham silver jewelry and Birdhouses by Harry Smith. As always we will have wine & cheese or juice & cookies inside the shop for you to enjoy while browsing our collections American Artisan gifts. Come show your support for local art!
Special Promotion in Ocotober: Think Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Brooke Pottery donates 5% of all jewelry sales from the month of October to the Susan G. Koman for the Cure foundation. We have several new artists this month – silver jewelry by Mary Bassham, mosaic jewelry by Merrily Made including reversible necklaces (pictured below), and a new assortment of geometric Barbed Wire earrings.
Congratulations to Our Winners!
First Friday Sept. 3 was a chance for Downtown Lakeland to honor teachers and educators. Thanks to everyone who donated school supplies at Brooke Pottery. Caroline B. won the school supply donation raffle, taking home a gorgeous raku vase by Roundtree Pottery.
A second thank you goes to all of the young artists who entered our Kids Art ornament contest this summer. Your great drawings made it tough to pick just one! Our 2010 Holiday Ornament winner is Kelsey S. of Geneva Classical Academy. Kelsey imaginatively turned our Brooke Pottery logo into Santa’s gift bag. Now her drawing will be reproduced in clay and debuts Thanksgiving weekend during our Parade of Ornaments*. Kelsey was awarded a $100 savings bond. We also congratulate Nisha Y. of Lincoln Academy and Rachel H. of Newsome High School. Nisha earned the second place $50 savings bond for her swan on the lake, while Rachel took the third place $25 bond with her beautiful Christmas swan design. Congratulations to all three of you!
*Brooke Pottery’s Ornaments on Parade is Thanksgiving weekend, November 26-28. Don’t miss all the exciting new holiday ornaments we’ve lined up for this year. And with any purchase of $30 or more that Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you’ll receive our 2010 Brooke Pottery stoneware ornament as a free gift. The Brooke Pottery ornament will also be for sale, with ten percent of sales donated to the Needlework Guild. So mark your calendar for Thanksgiving weekend shopping in Downtown Lakeland!
First Place Drawing
Second Place Ornament Artist Nisha Y.
Kids Art Ornament Contest Awards Presentation Sept. 3rd
Whose art will be immortalized on this year’s Brooke Pottery holiday ornament? Come find out! We have received many wonderful entries this summer during our Kids Art Ornament Contest. The awards presentation is tonight at 7 PM during Downtown’s First Friday activities. The young artists behind the top three designs will be awarded savings bonds valued at $25, $50, and $100 for their creative talents. Kids will also want to play the Trivial Pursuit Scavenger Hunt downtown 6-9 PM to win prizes for their schools.
Sept. 3-Donate School Supplies to Enter our Raku Vase Giveaway
Our sale went great – we had a lot less stuff to pack up, and that made the shop repair process so much easier! Thanks to everyone who helped this week and to all our customers for your patience. The dust has settled and now we have a beautiful, freshly painted ceiling and bright, newly painted walls. The store feels fresh and new. Come on down and see!
This Friday is a great time to come see the improved shop – it’s First Friday 6-9 PM. This month First Friday is all about Back to School. It’s Teacher Appreciation Night at Brooke Pottery. If you’re a teacher, you can register for a drawing to win a basket of teaching supplies and various goodies. For you non-teachers, bring in a new school supply to donate and receive an entry into a drawing for a gorgeous 8″ raku vase by Roundtree Pottery. It’s beautiful! And you’re helping the children. Both drawings happen at 8 PM, but we’re accepting school supply donations all day.
Tonight, we’ll also announce the winner of our kid’s art holiday ornament contest at 7 PM. Whose art will be immortalized on this year’s Brooke Pottery ornament? Come find out!
Dog Days of Summer at Brooke Pottery
New Junkyard Dog garden sculptures, wine caddies, and napkins holders by Rich Kolb of Yardbirds take center stage at Brooke Pottery this week for Downtown’s First Friday theme Dog Days of Summer. Register for the Pooch Parade here.
Yardbirds are handcrafted by Rich Kolb in Kentucky. Rich and his father created the first yardbird in 1991 while talking about and tinkering with scrap materials. Yardbirds were an instant hit! Today the Yardbirds menagerie is filled with hundreds of birds, cats, dogs and critters to decorate your home and garden. As an artist, Rich maintains a tradition of creating exciting new designs. He says, “The things in life that bring us the most joy are those which are fun and unexpected, not the mere necessities. I believe we can all benefit from a little more whimsy in our lives!” We agree whole-heartedly. Brooke Pottery has carried Yardbirds and Junkyard Dogs & Cats for more than 10 years, yet we continue to be surprised and delighted by new arrivals.
Also on First Friday, Florida artist Sharon’s Glass will be in the shop with pet-inspired glass jewelry. You may have admired Sharon’s spectacular stained glass windows depicting swans, flowers and aquatic scenes; Friday is your opportunity to meet Sharon and learn more about her work. And for kids who have yet to enter our holiday ornament contest , draw your design in the shop or pick up a form. Not only might your art be selected as our 2010 Holiday Ornament but the top 3 designers will be awarded savings bonds! Deadline is August 13.
Not a dog lover? Then check out the Junkyard Cats and Clippy Crawlies. Some of our new favorites are the skateboarding frogs, pincher crab and scorpion.
Junkyard Cats
Skateboarding Frogs,$44
Clippy Crawlie Crab,$32
Clippy Crawlie Scorpion,$49
Lakeland’s Newest Fishing Hot Spot is Brooke Pottery
Turtle Serving Platter
Dolphin Relish Tray
Crab Chip and Dip
Come see Brooke Pottery’s new collection of Chamberlain Pottery. This colorful array of stoneware by Florida potter Tom Chamberlain includes serving bowls, wine chillers and a variety of useful baking dishes for brie, lasagne, paella and quiche. The most eye-catching pieces? The fabulous nautical collection, of course. Grouper platters, spade fish quiche bakers, crab salad bowls, dolphin relish trays, crab chip and dips, mahi mahi triple sauce servers, lighthouse meatloaf bakers …the list goes on and on. There’s even a kitchen sink. (Yes, really.) With Chamberlain’s wonderful new arrivals on display, our shop window looks like a beautiful coral reef. And that’s how Brooke Pottery is Lakeland’s new fishing hot spot for gifts.
Brooke Pottery has free activities for kids inside the shop and on the sidewalk out front. We’ll be open late on First Friday 6-9 PM and 6-8 PM on Saturday July 3 before the fireworks at Lake Mirror. Enjoy the live music, face painting and a Go Fish game for kids. Happy 4th of July!
