Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
Profusion, much like its famous football-playing co-owner, has been deactivated.
The 8,000-square-foot East-West restaurant, co-owned by the Mah family and former Bucs receiver Keyshawn Johnson, shuttered its doors Sunday. Since its 2001 opening, Profusion played an active role in the community and frequently hosted charity fundraisers.
Alas, the efforts weren't enough.
Owners will try to reopen in another spot.
"It was a necessary business decision," said Clarence Mah. "However, we look forward to focusing our efforts on our new Tampa Bay location."
MEANWHILE, RUMORS are circulating about Old Hyde Park Village's Samba Room. A waiter told me the popular Latin restaurant will go through extensive remodeling and reopen as Timpano, an Italian chophouse. Both chains are owned by Orlando-based e-Brands Restaurants.
Asked if she could comment on a possible change at the restaurant, Village general manager Pat Westerhouse said, "Not yet." And Kevin Enderle, e-Brands vice president of operations, could not be reached for comment.
SPEAKING OF Old Hyde Park Village, Lounge Cat kicks off the summer concert series Wednesday and the Stanley Cup will be on display.
The concerts are held the last Wednesday of each month, May through October. The events are free to the public and all proceeds from beverage sales benefit local charities. Over the past 17 years, the concert series has raised more than $1-million for local charities.
WARREN SAPP GOT PUNK'D. The former Bucs defensive end was in Los Angeles for Hollywood Squares and Jimmy Kimell Live when he became the unsuspecting target of Ashton Kutcher's Punk'd, a Candid Camera-type show that airs on MTV.
Sapp was dining with friends when he ran into a less-than-friendly waiter who chastised him about his 2003 performance and brought him portions that were significantly smaller than other guests were receiving.
The 325-pound defensive tackle was less than pleased, to say the least, but the fact the segment has aired indicates he signed a waiver allowing it to be broadcast. At least Sapp has a better sense of humor than Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who reportedly refused to sign a waiver allowing his segment to air.
OPEN BARS AND LIVELY BANDS were on all three floors of the Italian Club, food was everywhere, art was up for auction and authors were signing books.
But the first half of the Artists and Writers Ball might as well been the Artists and Pucks Ball. Nearly everyone huddled around a television on the first floor watching the Lightning hold on for a 2-1 Eastern Conference championship victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Roars erupted and the dancing started when the game ended.
A similar celebration occurred at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The first act of Les Miserables, the long-running musical about sacrifice and redemption, ended about three minutes before the end of the game on Saturday night. TBPAC vice president Michael Kilgore said patrons who had been furtively checking scores via instant messaging and radio earpieces flooded the lobby so they could use their body language to will the Lightning to victory.
At game's end, a huge roar went up before fans returned to watch Act 2.
With the Broadway musical running through Saturday, similar cheers may be heard during the Stanley Cup Finals.
This uncontrolled cheering in unexpected places may be the result of some bandwagon fans, but who's complaining? I would be mad if the community wasn't climbing aboard.
One thing is sure, no longer will Les Miserables double as a name for the once-hapless Lightning.
That's all I'm saying.
- Ernest Hooper can be reached at 813 226-3406 or Hooper@sptimes.com