"The city should pay people back for spending Christmas money on bottled water," said a Walgreen's employee on Sunrise at the checkout. People snaked in lines throughout this store hoarding cases of water in anticipation of days without it.

At 10 p.m. over at The Hut, patrons joked about hurricane Scrooge and drank beer with a little less gusto, as restrooms were closed. A DJ played a water-themed loop, starting with Zac Brown Band's  "Toes in the water, ass in the sand." A pair of Boston Terriers sulked on leashes in Santa outfits while their owners contemplated whether they'd leave town tomorrow.

Three hours after the break, Lauderdale is apparently back among the first world. The water main is repaired, with a 24 hour boil-water alert affecting 250,000 homes in Oakland Park, Tamarac, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, and parts of Davie.

Pissed about the water main break, or impressed by the city's fast turnaround on Christmas Eve? Sound off in the comments.

New Times on Facebook | Clean Plate Charlie on Facebook | Melissa on Facebook | Clean Plate Charlie on Twitter | Melissa McCart on Twitter | E-mail Melissa |

• Food News