Tampa Today News: Santa Fest Parade Coming + Tampa Summer Slowdown Bites
Tampa Today News: Santa Fest Parade Coming + Tampa Summer Slowdown Bites
The latest things you need to know in Tampa.
Welcome back to Tampa Today News. I’m Carlos Hernandez, your host explaining everything you need to know about what’s happening in Tampa including local news, events, and more. I hope you had a great weekend, now let’s get started!
Today’s weather: High of 72 and low of 49. Mostly cloudy skies.
A word from our sponsors: Due Amici & Geo’s Fine Wine & Champagne
Due Amici is a family-run pizza and pasta bar restaurant located in Ybor City at 1724 E 7th Ave. The restaurant takes pride in their gourmet food, handcrafting sauces to compliment the flavors in each dish. Pizza dough is made in-house, hand-spun, topped with the freshest ingredients, and carried to the oven with love.
Geo’s Fine Wine & Champagne Bar is the latest hotspot in Ybor City right next door to Due Amici. The bar has a selection of fine wines and champagnes to choose from as well as charcuterie boards and live music and events regularly.
Are you interested in sponsoring Tampa Today News and promoting your business, events, or products? Reach out at carlosreportsnews@gmail.com and I will be happy to discuss rates.
Top stories in Tampa today:
Tampa’s Santa Fest Parade returns this weekend: Tampa's popular Santa Fest Parade will return to Curtis Hixon Park on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Tampa. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. beginning at Morgan Street and Madison Street. It travels west on Madison Street to Ashley Drive, turns north and ends at Ashley Drive and Cass Street. Visitors can enjoy photos with Santa Claus, family activities, and a tree lighting ceremony with City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor at 6 p.m. There will be a screening of Disney’s Frozen presented by the Gasparilla International Film Festival after the tree lighting in the park so pack a blanket. Curtis Hixon Park is located at 600 N Ashley Dr, Tampa, FL 33602. (thatssotampa.com)
Pest control worker accused of exposing himself to women in Polk County: A lawn care and pest control worker from Polk County has been arrested for allegedly exposing himself to customers while visiting in their homes, according to police. The suspect was reported to police by a 76-year-old Davenport woman. The suspect was previously employed by Massey Services during the alleged incident. Police believe more victims could be out there and anyone with information is asked to call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200. (wfla.com)
Ybor City small business owner addressing violence with community training: Tom DeGeorge, owner of Crowbar in Ybor City, is working with the Doer Academy to setup training for addressing violence with de-escalation training. DeGeorge wants to be proactive in a community he has called home for decades. The first training event is at the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 29. (abcactionnews.com)
Tampa-themed gift shop shuttering at Krate at The Grove in Wesley Chapel: All Good Things Gifts located at Krate at the Grove is shuttering after slow summer sales. Small businesses in the Tampa area experienced a slowdown as inflation bites the pockets of Tampa residents due to soaring rent and food costs. The Tampa area has one of the highest inflation rates in the country and most of Florida is experiencing record rising costs. The shop will close at the end of January 2024, so there is still time to support the owners. (tampabay.com, bls.gov)
Catch an up and coming violinist at The Sarasota Orchestra this weekend: 27-year-old violinist Randall Goosby will debut at The Sarasota Orchestra this weekend on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3. Goosby credits his Korean mother for influencing his music career since he was a child. Tickets are on sale online for Masterworks 2: The Scottish and start at $35. The concert will be at Van Wezel located at 777 N Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. (wusf.org, sarasotaorchestra.org)
Top events in Tampa today:
WTR Monday Vibes at WTR Grill. (all day)
Native America: In Translation at USF Contemporary Art Museum. (all day)
Strictly 90's Happy Hour at Rose Bar Tampa. (4 p.m.)
Happy Hour at Ocean Prime. (4 p.m.)
All You Can Eat Pizza Skate at Skateworld of Tampa. (5:30 p.m.)
Community Yoga Class at Tampa Sports Academy. (6:15 p.m.)
Paint and Sip: Holiday Edition at Armature Works. (6:30 p.m.)
Rickey Smiley at Tampa Improv Club. (7:30 p.m.)
Everything else:
The Bucs were defeated by the Colts on Sunday in 27-20 loss. (wtsp.com)
Country music singer Cody Johnson has been announced as the final headliner for The Florida Strawberry Festival coming in 2024 to Plant City. (wfla.com)
Embarc Collective: "Don’t miss our special Fireside Chat with Atul Khosla, Chief Commercial Officer of the Buccaneers, happening this Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Embarc Collective!" (x.com)
Pinellas Gov. Careers: “Pinellas County is hiring! This week’s featured jobs are: - Automotive Equipment Operator - Budget & Financial Analyst - Elections Administrator - Landside Operations Agent - Revenue Accountant.” (x.com)
Hotel Bar: “Join us Monday, Dec. 4 for our first annual Christmas Party – We're partnering with Jack Daniel's and Brown-Forman to bring you Christmas movie-inspired cocktails, a Christmas feast, live music by @plsma.tv, raffles prizes, and more. Oh, and Santa will be there too.” (instagram.com)
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If you have a news tip, I am all ears. My e-mail is carlosreportsnews@gmail.com.
That’s all I have for today. See you tomorrow.
-Carlos Hernandez