🌱 Shopapalooza 2021 + World AIDS Day + Wander Franco Signs Rays Extension

Happy Sunday, neighbors! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and nice. High: 67 Low: 57.

Here are the top stories today in Tampa:

1. Tampa tech startup FlashDash has a mobile app highlighting deals for small businesses. The app was created in October. Founder Keith Mortensen says he believes the app will help boost sales and ease economic barriers small businesses are trying to overcome. (Tampa Patch)

2. 20-year-old shortstop Wander Franco signed a 12-year extension with the Tampa Bay Rays for up to $223 million, the Rays report. The contract is breaking records for a baseball player with less than one full year of service time. (WTSP)

3. Rising Rent: A South Tampa family saw its rent increase 33% in a year for a 2-bedroom home to around $2,000 a month, a nearly $500 monthly increase or $6,000 a year. The average rise in rent is 30% for the Tampa metro, according to Redfin. Studies say that renters facing increasing rent will demand higher wages from employers, which will lead to a rise in inflation with no end in sight. (Fox 13 Tampa)

4. Pinellas County will host free testing and an educational event for World AIDS Day on Saturday, December 4th called Access Granted: Ending the HIV Epidemic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in St. Petersburg. This year's event returns to an in-person format after a virtual 2020 due to the pandemic. (Creative Loafing)

5. Shopapalooza drew big crowds and hundreds of vendors on Saturday during Small Business Saturday. All the businesses featured are run by Florida locals and close to 80% are based in the Tampa Bay area. Shopapalooza will continue today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at Vinoy Park and is free to attend. (Tampa Bay Times)

Today in Tampa:

• Yoga on the Lawn at Armature Works. (9:30 AM)
• Sunshine Sunday - Glazer Children's Museum. (10:00 AM)
• Holiday Classics: Miracle on 34th Street (1947) at Tampa Theatre. (3:00 PM)
• Gilberto Santa Rosa at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. (5:00 PM)
• Tampa Bay's Festival Of Lights & Santa's Village. (6:00 PM)

Tampa Patch Notebook

• Tampa Bay Lightning: "Vasy on tallying his 200th regular season win: “[It’s] a big achievement. I’m proud of it. Obviously, I want to thank my teammates … I can’t win on my own. Great teamwork.” (Facebook)
• ZooTampa at Lowry Park: "🎄Lights, fun, action! Christmas in the Wild is a magical experience for the whole family. Now through December 30, ZooTampa is decked out in lights, lights and more lights. Holiday jolly-seekers can enjoy one of Tampa Bay’s larg..." (Facebook)
• Tampa General Hospital: "Few people ever have a near-death experience, but Brian Wilmoth has had a total of 15. But, in spite of Brian's chainsaw accident and a few venomous snake bites, Brian's closest brush with death was when he was diagnosed with lung cancer..." (Facebook)
• TAMPA Downtown Magazine: "It’s a perfect day to ride the Pirate Water Taxi" (Instagram)
• Tampa Theatre: "After working 19 years for Pepsi, Julio Montalvo moved from New York to Tampa thinking he would retire, play golf and be closer to his daughters, who both live in the area. One day, he was walking downtown and heard about the Downtown G..." (Facebook)

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Events:

• Miami MoCAAD presents Afro Latin X #CreativeConversation Arte, Historia, Cultura-(Art, History + Cul (November 28)
• Save 15% On All L.L.Bean Wicked Good Slippers — For A Limited Time (November 29)
• Shake Shack Donation Day (December 1)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (December 2)
• Taxes In Retirement Seminar (December 2)
• SUN 'n FUN Holiday Fly-In Festival and Car Show (December 3)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 6)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow for another update! If you're feeling these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors along for the ride. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Tampa Daily? You can reach me at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com.