There are numerous effects of a recessed economy that often go unnoticed in the wake of larger,more talked about issues such as rising unemployment, corporate bailouts, bank failings and bankruptcies. These stories get front page press and publicity that lasts an endless number of news cycles, while often muting the plight of the small business owner and their unique circumstances.

Yet, in our community, where our economy is driven by small businesses and a usually robust service industry, the challenges we are facing are more profound and have placed a significant drag on our ability to enjoy life like we did just a few months ago. This includes even the most simple of life's joys, such as dining out.

Where belt-tightening has led to cutting expenses across the board for many, often invisible to the untrained eye is the fact that we are eating out less. And when we do dine out, we are making more money-conscious choices, usually spending less. These factors in combination have been a recipe for disaster for our restaurants.

Miami is a unique destination, and beyond our tropical weather, beautiful people and glitzy lifestyle there is a foodie paradise that exists here that we have come to take for granted. We are indeed a premiere dining destination with a taste for every palate and savory morsels that delight even the most discriminating diner. Some of the world's top chefs have long had restaurants in Miami Beach, Miami and Coral Gables and even Bravo's hit show Top Chef called Miami home for a season a few years ago.

But even with such a diverse inventory and great incentive programs like Miami Spice (thank you Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau!), it does not change the fact that people are dining out less these days. Yes, we must be more prudent and make good decisions in our spending habits, but our restaurants are suffering and they need our attention -- and more importantly, they need us to open our wallets.

On Tuesday Sept. 29th, the leadership of the community's chambers of commerce, joined by fellow business networking organizations and economic development groups, from Aventura to Homestead, will participate in a Miami-Dade-wide Dine Out! Our business leaders are all going out to dinner in our local restaurants on the same night, at the same time, across the county.

Our goals for the Dine Out! are numerous: Spend money in our restaurants and stimulate our local economy; send a message of optimism that it is time to get back to dining out; and raise awareness of the challenges facing small businesses.

Business leaders in these organizations are being asked to postpone their lunch meetings until dinner, move their date-nights up to Tuesday, change their weekend dining plans with friends and invite their co-workers, colleagues and family to participate.

While we know that it will take more than one night out on the town to help our restaurants, it is our hope that this is just the beginning. It is time for us to take control of our destiny -- we can't stand idly by waiting for stimulus dollars to flow our way, consumer confidence numbers to rise, credit markets to ease or the economy to improve. We have to make things happen with our own creative savvy and ensure that sunnier, and tastier, days are indeed ahead.

So, join us on Tuesday Sept. 29 for a night of dining and make it a family affair. Visit your favorite restaurant around the corner from where you live, work or play. Order an extra appetizer and a dessert, maybe even have a bottle of wine or the daily special. Splurge a little. Let the restaurant owner and server know you understand their woes.

Most importantly, we want, and need, you to dine out!

Mark A. Trowbridge is president and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

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