Watch Minnie's Beach Cafe's Hilarious Take On The Red Tide Crisis

ANNA MARIA, FL -- Area business leaders and restaurateurs want everyone to know that the beaches, parks and businesses are still open despite red tide and the publicity surrounding it.

Frustrated by the drop in business due to the red tide reports that have dominated the media for the past three weeks, seven area restaurants hosted a Long Table Dinner on the Beach Sunday, Aug. 26, featuring culinary favorites, craft beers and wine on the white sands of Anna Maria Island. Participating restaurants included Sandbar Restaurant, Anna Maria Oyster Bar, The Waterfront Restaurant & Craft Bar, Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar, Seafood Shack, Dry Dock Waterfront Grill and Blue Marlin.

According to Robert Baugh, COO of the Chiles Restaurant Group, the goal of the event was to counter the perception that red tide is blanketing the Gulf Coast, preventing the enjoyment of the beaches, restaurants, parks and natural resources.

That's far from the truth, says the Anna Maria Chamber of Commerce. The chamber has been posting a daily update of red tide conditions on its Facebook page and notes that the effects of red tide have dissipated over the past week. Recent photos show the beaches free of dead fish and the water crystal clear.

The chamber is hoping to convince visitors that Anna Maria Island is safe to visit. Nevertheless, reports that the Gulf Coast is in the midst of a catastrophic red tide event continues to keep visitors away and tourists canceling reservations.

"The businesses want to bring awareness to the impact this has not only on local businesses but, more importantly, on the employees, families and partners these businesses support with the revenues generated," said Baugh.

A Holmes Beach restaurant decided to counter all the bad publicity with some humor. The staff at Minnie's Beach Cafe, 5360 Gulf Drive, wrote new lyrics to Blondie's song, "The Tide is High."

"The tide is red but we're holding on, we want to be your No. 1," sang the staff. "Many are frightened by the algae spores, but we are hanging in, we won't close our doors. We put in too many years just to give up like tha...at!"

The video has gotten 13,000 views. Diners who visit the cafe and mention the video between now and Aug. 31 will receive 10 percent off their order.

Kankakee, Illinois resident Annie Maier and her family visited Anna Maria Island just a week before the red tide became a major problem. She snapped a photo of her daughter, Rosalie, enjoying the beach for the first time. Maier said she wouldn't hesitate to return to the island, red tide or not.

"We were there visiting my uncle who lives in Bradenton," Maier said. "We absolutely love it there."

Proceeds from the dinner were donated to Mote Marine Laboratory Red Tide Research and Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START).

Video via Minnie's Beach Cafe

Photo by Annie Maier

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