It's so low that boat traffic for restaurants and places like us, becomes ... it's not there.

I know we want to keep downtown tuned into it. We want the restaurants and the shops and the downtown to benefit as well.

Every year travelers ask us for recommendations on restaurants, nightclubs, cafes and spas in Miami Beach, but the one request we receive most often concerns hotels,

I don't know right now. I've been afraid to ask. Because if I ask, then that means it's bad and if I keep thinking good and being positive that rain will come, then we'll get some lake back into the water.

Our congressional delegation has really come through for us with PRTC. Over the years we've gotten $15 million in federal earmarks.

That never seemed to manifest, either. Our customers seem pretty loyal. I can't speak for other restaurants, but for us, it wasn't nearly as detrimental as it might be.