LAKELAND With COVID-19 still looming large, Christmas is going to be hard enough. So put away your apron, pots and pans and pursue a relaxed Christmas feast this year.
If you re already exhausted from your Secret Santa shopping trips or explaining to a family member for the hundredth time why you can t make it home for the big family dinner this year, preparing a Christmas feast may be just a little too overwhelming. In that case, Polk County has you covered.
While many restaurants will close on Christmas, there still will be spots open for you and your family to grab dinner on Dec. 25. And if you prefer to dig into ham, mashed potatoes and pecan pie from the comfort of your home, there are plenty of options for easy take-out dinners as well. Just make sure your oven is ready for the reheating process.
Spotlight on Pop-Pop s Gene and Patricia McFarland
Ron Beacom, For the Daily News
Dec. 13, 2020
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Gene and Patricia McFarland. (Photo by Ron Beacom)
Gene McFarland, 71, and his wife, Patricia, 67, own Pop-Pop’s on Ashman Circle in Midland’s Center City. Pop-Pop’s provides hot air popped gourmet popcorn and hand created toppings. They don’t use pre-mixed, poured-on, or shake-on toppings. They sell at their storefront and at the Midland Area Farmers Market, in season, in what Gene calls a “little red wagon.” They’re currently rebuilding their website to better sell products online. They’ll ship anywhere in the country via UPS. Pop-Pop’s has been able to stay open during the COVID-19 restrictions. Before Pop-Pop’s, Gene worked as a waiter and a mortgage lender while Patricia worked for Midland County and a nursing home. The McFarlands have been married for 16 years. They met through an on-line service, christianet.com. They share five kids an