| Miami Beach is actually a separate city from the City of Miami, but the media images of Miami almost always are in fact of Miami Beach -- specifically, South Beach. The beautiful people (many of them 'models' waiting for their big break), the almost non-existent clothes, the wild nightlife, the classy hotels, the expensive cars, and that beautiful beach and sunshine are all part of the South Beach appeal. Miami Beach is a relatively young city which appropriately attracts youthful energy (click here for a guide to Miami Beach and here for one for South Beach.) Miami Beach's origins were no less than visionary, when at the turn of the century, businessmen such as John Collins and Carl Fisher foresaw the commercial potential of the sandstrip in the Atlantic across from the Florida mainland. Even the Depression was, in a way, beneficial to South Beach. It was during this time that several Jewish developers arrived and built a large number of small hotels in Mediterranean, Art Deco and Moderne lines. This building boom helped the area survive the Depression and would later help form the famous Art Deco District (this link takes you to the Miami Design Preservation League's site). Today, many of these South Beach hotels are among the swankiest of establishments with the most prestigious of addresses on Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive (yes, as in the song). |
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| S E N E N M E L C H O R A M P I L A N T O N I O |
| It's a perfect opportunity for people watching and sketching. I have an ongoing project to sketch all the lifeguard stations on South Beach. These structures were the product of a competition to design stations that would replace those destroyed by Hurricane Andrew and would complement their respective locations. Architect William Lane came up with these funky, pastel hued waterfront follies that blend 20's Deco and 60's pop, with nicknames such as "George Jetson's Place", "The Wave", "The Wing", and "Mayan Radio". So far, I've only managed to sketch three. I guess I should spend even more time on the beach... |
| S o u t h B e a c h |
| S o u t h B e a c h |
| South Beach! The mention of those two words conjures many vivid images of the good life on the southern tip of Miami Beach. |
| Photo credits: (Below Left: www.philip.greenspun.com |
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| At Ocean Drive and 11th, you'll find the infamous Versace Mansion - fortunately, I haven't experienced any Andrew Cunanan-fuelled backlash yet. The Mansion is rumored to be soon converted into another luxury hotel. |
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| Click here for an interactive map of the Miami area |
| Miami, Florida |
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| The Beach is of course a must-see for visiting family and friends. But even without out-of-towners in tow, I try to head over on weekends, usually on Sunday afternoons. |