🌱 Vine Vegan Now Open + John's Pass Seafood Festival Ends Today

Hello, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh edition of the Tampa Daily. Here's what you need to know about what's happening in town today, including...

• Tampa's rental assistance program has run out of funds after spending $6 million helping local residents survive an ongoing affordable housing crisis.
• Vine Vegan is bringing plant-based Latin American to the Brandon area.
• Today is the last day to enjoy the John's Pass Seafood Festival in Tampa Bay.

But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sun. High: 61 Low: 36.

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Here are the top stories today in Tampa:

1. Tampa's rental assistance program has helped close to 1,000 renters in the area and has now run out of funds and is closed. Nearly $6 million was used by the city to help alleviate a skyrocketing increase in the cost of living. Tampa residents are facing a record affordable housing crisis that is also straining local non-profits and workers, including teachers. (WTSP)
2. The McIntosh Power Plant was imploded on Saturday after four decades serving the Lakeland area with electricity. The remainder of the plant will be discarded in March. A new plant, powered by natural gas, will be built by 2024. (Fox 13 Tampa)
3. Tampa has made the list of the Top 50 Bed Bug Cities by pest-control company Orkin. Tampa came in at No. 41, which is down one slot from 2022. The worst offender in the nation was Chicago, IL. (Tampa Patch)
4. The John's Pass Seafood Festival returned this weekend, drawing over 100,000 to nearly 150,000 people to the Tampa Bay area in John's Pass. The city is exploring ways to protect itself as an activity destination in the event of future storms. The last day to attend the festival is today, Jan. 15. (ABC Action News)
5. Vine Vegan is bringing plant-based Latin American cuisine to locals in the Brandon area. The menu includes a Mexican Bowl, Impossible Smash Patty Melt, Cubano, and more. The new restaurant is located at 2080 Badlands Drive in Brandon. (That's So Tampa)

Today in Tampa:

• Skydiving Tandem Turns 40 at Skydive City/Z-Hills. (10 a.m.)
• The Market at Water Street Tampa (10 a.m.)
• Pups, Brunch, & Bottomless Mimosas at Two Shepherds Taproom. (11 a.m.)
• Triathalon Event: Talk Series at Bryan Glazer Family JCC. (2 p.m.)
• "The Wolves" at Stageworks. (3 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers shared: "We had a blast raising the flags with the Krewe at our drive-thru event at Raymond James Stadium 🚗 📸: bccn.rs/3Zyek5T" (Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Facebook)
• Tampa Museum of Art, Inc. shared: "Come see "Poetry in Paint: The Artists of Old Tampa Bay" exhibit at Tampa Museum of Art before it closes. Then join TMA's Plein Air Meetup group at Lettuce Lake Park on Jan. 29." (Tampa Museum of Art, Inc. via Facebook)
• City of Tampa shared: "City of Tampa offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day. There will be no solid waste service that day." (City of Tampa via Facebook))

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Events:

• HOWL - Film Fundraiser for Friends of Jack Kerouac (January 15)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (January 20)
• Junkfest Explosion 2023, 7th Annual (February 4)
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Housing:

• Spectacular Spanish Mediterranean Home For Sale! (Details)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon!

— 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? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com