Are you wondering how local shops and businesses are faring in 2023?

Affordable housing updates for Tampa

Hoping to add more trees to your slice of the Burg?

• Paws in the Park | Thursday, Dec. 7 | 5-8 p.m. | Snow Circle Shops, 1627 W. Snow Cir., Tampa | Free | Celebrate Wolford’s first birthday with a little shopping, drinks, puppy treats, and a visit from Ms. Santa Paws.
• Chanukah in the City | Thursday, Dec. 7 | 5:30 p.m. | South Straub Park, 250 Bayshore Dr. NE, St. Petersburg | Free | Head to the waterfront park for a menorah lighting, aerialist performance, Chanukah gelt drop, latkes and donuts, and raffles.
• Sunset Market | Thursday, Dec. 7 | 6-10 p.m. | Midtown, 3659 Midtown Dr., Tampa | Free | Shop wares from more than 40 local artists while sipping on cocktails and enjoying live music.

• Thomas Rhett | Friday, Dec. 8 | 8 p.m. | Seminole Hard Rock, 5223 Orient Rd., Tampa | $125+ | The country superstar brings hits like “Life Changes” and “Remember You Young” to the Cigar City stage.

• Christmas in the Country | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Cracker Country at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 N. US 301, Tampa | $0-$14 | Experience a 19th-century Florida Christmas by taking in music and traditions, like butter churning and salt dough ornaments.
• Clara’s New York City Christmas | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 11 a.m. | Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $15 | Watch a girl visit and dance across a Christmastime New York until she discovers a magical portal in a Fifth Ave. candy store window leading to the Land of Sweets.
• Winter Wonder Ride by OnBikes | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 2-10 p.m. | Curtis Hixon Park, 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa | $55-$125 | Bike through downtown Tampa dressed in 80s and 90s retro garb, then stay to watch LOCASH rock the stage.
• Downtown St. Pete Christmas Lighted Boat Parade | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 6:15 p.m. | St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, 500 First Ave. SE, St. Petersburg | Free | Grab a spot on the St. Pete Waterfront to watch the festive parade. We suggest near the St. Pete Pier.

• Yoga On The Courts | Sunday, Dec. 10, | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Shuffle, 2612 N. Tampa St., Tampa | $0-$15 | Get your flow on with Lucky Cat Yoga on the shuffleboard courts.

1. Sport Hoodie: This top-seller is almost sold out.
2. The Anson performance polo: It’s rated five stars by 99% of customers.
3. The Sully quarter zip: Many of these colors match up with The Anson colors for a coordinated, layered look.

• This evening marks the beginning of Hanukkah — the Jewish Festival of Lights. Celebrate at Chanukah in the City with The Chabad Center of Greater St. Petersburg in South Straub Park, starting at 5:30 p.m.

• Huge Howard Frankland construction news. State officials say the bridge’s final concrete piles will be placed into the floor of Tampa Bay this month. The next phase of the project will start making the new bridge look more like a bridge (instead of rows of pillars). Officials expect to complete construction in 2025. (Tampa Bay Times)

• The Foodie Labs is nearly open in St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District. The new Burg spot — which is home to ghost kitchens, a shared commercial kitchen, and an event space — is hosting its grand opening this Friday, Dec. 8. The party includes brews, coffee, wine, and of course, in-house eats. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

• Oh hey, Havana. Southwest Airlines is upping its flights from TPA to Havana from eight to 14 per week. The airline will roll out the new flights starting June 4, 2024. (That’s So Tampa)

• 3 Daughters Brewing is celebrating its 10th birthday. The laid-back St. Pete brewery’s celebration is this Saturday, Dec. 9. The party kicks off with a free Yoga For A Cause class at 10 a.m., followed by a food truck rally, market, and live music. (I Love the Burg)

• Speaking of housing costs, Tampa Bay was just rated one of the hottest rental markets in Florida. The Big Guava was the fifth hottest rental market in Florida, according to a new report from RentCafe. This past November, the average rental cost for an apartment in Tampa Bay was $1,920. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

• Next week, St. Pete foodie fave Wild Child is hosting “One Crazy Night” — its annual Chanukah pop-up. The event is booked for Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. + features a food and drink menu of Jewish-inspired fare like sufganiyot, schnitzel, and other Kosher dishes. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

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