It's 7 p.m. on a usually dull Tuesday, but the wait for wings at Hooters in Channelside is two hours. Down the street, at Beef "O' Brady's and Newk's Cafe, it's an hour. People bide their time at the bar. Servers hustle to keep every glass full.
It's a scene any restaurant in Tampa would crave. Packed places on a weekday, not just on the weekends.
The restaurants might credit their exceptional cuisine and first-rate staff. But we know the reality. It's hockey night, and the Tampa Bay Lightning is playing for the Stanley Cup.
WIN OR LOSE, Tampa comes out a champ. Tens of thousands have swarmed downtown and to Channelside to witness Tampa Bay's first shot at hockey's grail.
For many, it has been a revelation.
The city's not so bad. If there's a reason to, people will come and enjoy it. They'll walk on the sidewalks, hang out at outdoor cafes. A few will even use bike racks. They'll feel like real urbanites.
Jeff Barklage drove from the suburbs of New Tampa to attend the game. A few hours beforehand, he and his buddies drank Yuenglings at Newk's, soaking up the excitement.
Married with young kids, Barklage he doesn't get to the city much. When he does, it's to entertain clients at Ruth's Chris Steak House or Shula's in the West Shore district.
BARKLAGE WENT to Channelside about two years ago, before Hooters and Splitsville, before Signature Room Grille and Tinatapa's, which opened Tuesday. Stumps Supper Club was the main attraction then but didn't wow him enough to lure him back.
Before the Lightning finals, he had been to Newk's exactly once. "And it was slooooow," he said.
Outside on the deck, Gary Simmons of Winnipeg, Manitoba, made a prediction/suggestion: In two years, Tampa will have the Orlando Magic basketball team.
"Orlando's too vacationy. Too Mickey Mouse," he said, carrying his red and white Canadian flag on his shoulder. "Tampa's great. It's got culture."
As in Mons Venus, his Tampa friend declared.
Nah, Simmons said. Ybor City, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Who knew a Flames fan could be so smart?
Though the playoffs have certainly increased the city's exposure, Tampa missed some opportunities. A few hours before Tuesday's game, not a soul was at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, a beautiful, sadly underused city park in front of the St. Pete Times Forum.
No picnickers. No kids on the playground. No people walking along the waterfront en route to the rink.
Had the city done it right, it would have planned activities to draw newbies to the park. Lightning-themed face painting. Street vendors. Anything.
Few fans seemed to miss it. The Times Forum plaza, Channelside and surrounding areas had plenty to entertain.
Jason Craig, 26, and his friends hit the Hooters for the first time and weren't disappointed. Instead of sitting home watching American Idol, they were sipping beers and reveling in the "chance of a lifetime" to see the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Having gone to just a few Lightning games all season, Craig admitted to being a bandwagoner - for the time being.
"I'll probably be here more next year," he said. "It's more exciting now."
Even more so if we get the Cup.
THE LAST DROP: Take time to salute a soldier this Memorial Day weekend. Troops from MacDill Air Force Base do plenty of good for South Tampa businesses and the community.
