🌱 Free Macayo's For A Year? + Housing Market To Stay Hot In 2022

Hey Phoenix: As you may know, Amazon Web Services experienced an outage on Tuesday that affected the Phoenix Daily. Some of you might have received a late newsletter on Wednesday, or no newsletter at all. Please know this was unfortunately beyond our control, but today we are fully back in business! -Caitlin Sievers

First, today's weather:

Turning cloudy. High: 71 Low: 53.

Here are the top stories in Phoenix today:

1. Macayo's, said to be the birthplace of the chimichanga, is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a 5 lb. chimichanga challenge. If you have the stomach capacity to finish one of the restaurant's 5 lb. chimichangas (available at select locations) in 20 minutes, you win free food from Macayo's for a year. In September, Macayo's beat the Guinness World Record for longest chimichanga, at 25 feet. (Phoenix New Times)
2. Leonard the "Christmas Comet" could be visible by the naked eye this weekend in Phoenix. The visibility of comets is always difficult to predict, but the comet should be most visible in the days leading up to and right after Dec. 12, and it's a pretty cool sight if you are lucky enough to get a look. (Phoenix Patch)
3. Real estate experts are predicting that prices in the Phoenix area will continue to increase in 2022. Part of that is simply because there still aren't enough homes on the market for the number of people moving to the city. But experts think that prices will increase more slowly in the coming year and the market will begin to cool once interest rates for mortgages increase. (Arizona's Family)

Today's Phoenix Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013)

Today in Phoenix:

• Network Now! Winter Mixer — Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. (11 a.m.)
• Understanding and Learning to Talk About Systemic Racism with Rowdy Duncan. (3 p.m.)
• State of Water: Looking Toward an Uncertain Future with Joanna Allhands. (4 p.m.)
• Big Band Grandstand Holiday Concert — Foothills Branch Library. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Phoenix Fire Department: "We would like to congratulate our newly promoted members of our Phoenix Fire Department Family!" (Facebook)
• Phoenix Police Department: "Cooper is our newest Explosives Detection K9 and he came in full speed! 🐶🚔 He is 2 ½ years old and has been with his handler since March of this year. #PPDBombSquad #EODdog #PhoenixPolice #PHXPD #Phoenix #Arizona" (Facebook)
• Downtown Phoenix: "Hoping to get your holiday shopping done all in one place? Shop at one of Downtown Phoenix’s open-air markets! Here's a list of markets happening this month." (Facebook)
• Arizona Humane Society: "Team bonding idea: Unite your coworkers around a love for pets! Group volunteering at the Arizona Humane Society is a great opportunity to give back to the community while doing a great team-building activity! Whether your team wants to help provide enrichment for shelter pets, cuddle kittens, or get down and dirty washing dogs for a 'doggie day spa,' AHS has the perfect group experience for your 'pack' of coworkers, teammates or friends." (Facebook)

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Events:

• Phoenix, save with Sam's Club Membership & Donate 25 percent to end Hunger! (Dec. 12)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday. I'll see you around! If you're loving these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Caitlin Sievers

About me: I'm a passionate writer and photographer who worked as a reporter and editor for various publications in the Midwest before landing in Phoenix. I have seven roommates. Four of them are cats. Contact me at caitlin.sievers@patch.com with story ideas and feedback.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Phoenix Daily? I'm all ears. You can reach me at caitlin.sievers@patch.com.