Miami Beach (Tapa dura)

Considered by many as the country's most dynamic, fastest growing and sexiest city, Miami is more popular than ever before. Yet, it is a city that doesn't merely change but evolves, never rewriting the past, just adding to its illustrious heritage. And this is the real beauty of Miami. The chic Surf Club and the vibrant Faena Hotel did not replace the emblematic Raleigh of the 1940s nor the Ritz Carlton of the 50s, rather they complement them. Classics like Joe's Stone Crab continue to serve their signature fare to sell-out crowds each night, as new establishments attract with name chefs. The iconic art deco architecture remains on full display as the modern Herzog & de Meuron-designed Perez Art Museum stands in stark contrast. Replete with arts and culture year round from the international art at The Bass to the street art of Wynwood Walls, each December, the city is taken over by the global cultural elite for Art Basel Miami Beach, a fair that attracts over 80,000 visitors who turn out for the momentous art, such as Maurizio Cattelan's show stopping "Comedian", and the exuberant festivities hosted each evening. Well-known for its nightlife, pleasure is a focal point of Miami life at all times. Yachts and recreational boats line its marinas, lively beaches offer front row seats to a parade of bronzed revelers, and bladers and bikers coast along its beach front promenades. Miami has become the hub for everything chic, fiery and colorful. Miami Beach takes the readers on a tour of this bold and wonderous metropolis. Over 200 illustrations.