Thousands of tourists and residents basking in hot sun filled the streets of the art deco district of Miami Beach to celebrate its 100th birthday on Thursday.
"Happy Birthday, Miami Beach," yelled one of the party promoters through a loudspeaker from one of the bars along Ocean Drive -- the seaside avenue lined with hotels, bars and restaurants. It was closed to traffic all day for the festivities.
People strolled about sipping mojitos or beer, riding bikes or walked to the beach in swim trunks to enjoy a gala concert featuring opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Gloria Estefan and ex-Bee Gee Barry Gibb as a week of celebration came to a close.
The city rose up 100 years ago as a group of investors bought up land and turned it into a playground for the wealthy. It's now a magnet for tourists -- 14 million last year.
It is known for great weather, vibrant nightlife, art deco architecture and homes belonging to such stars as Matt Damon, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and Shakira.
"Everything is over the top," said Peter Van der Pot, a Dutchman who visits the city periodically and came this time to take a cruise.
"It's like the American dream. Everything is very well organized. The architecture is fantastic. But it is very expensive," said Van der Pot, who is 39.
The fact that the city was turning 100 caused some European visitors to smile.
"I live in a house that is over 100 years old," said Van der Pot, whose home is in Amsterdam.
A non-stop city
"This is a city that bombards you with information. It does not leave you alone. I got here yesterday and it has been non-stop," said Matias Pozo, a young Chilean event promoter who came for an electronic music festival called Ultra in Miami. But he crossed over Biscayne Bay to Miami Beach when he heard about the birthday party.
Locals did not want miss out either on the celebrations honoring their city, which has gone from being a military training ground during World War II, a middle class resort from 1950 to 1970 and then a wealthy but violent spot where retirees lived alongside criminals in the 1980s, an era immortalized in the TV series "Miami Vice".
Miguel Gonzalez, who arrived from Cuba in 1980 and has lived in Miami Beach ever since, celebrated the day's fun with friends and family.
But he complained that the city has become more expensive in recent decades, with major real estate projects and the restoration of the art deco district, the city's crown jewel with more than 700 buildings boasting that architectural style.
"You have to be an Arab sheikh to enjoy this now. It is overpopulated. And there is no access for the poor," said the retired electrician who used to work at seaside hotels.
Weddings and drag queens
The festivities lasted all this week and included a mass wedding of 50 couples on the beach, a drag queen festival, photo retrospectives of the city and lots of parties at night.
But the city is also looking to the future. City hall has organized for Friday a conference on rising water levels as a result of global warming. It is one of the main challenges facing this resort which is just 1.2 meters (four feet) above sea level.
The Florida coast has already seen 12 inches (30 centimeters) of sea rise since 1870, according to 2014 figures from the World Resources Institute.
Another nine to 24 inches are anticipated by 2060.
Miami Beach residents are commonly seen wading through knee-deep waters to get to their homes and businesses during high tides and floods.
Officials are investigating the use of tidal control valves and new water pumps to improve drainage as the authorities try to find long-term solutions to keep the city going.
AFP
Fri Mar 27 2015
Guests attend the Miami Beach 100 Centennial Concert on March 26, 2015 in Miami Beach, Florida. - Aaron Davidson/Getty Images/AFP
Banjir ragut 76 nyawa di seluruh Kenya
Daerah Nairobi terjejas teruk akibat banjir dengan hampir 17,000 isi rumah dipindahkan.
Nahas skuter elektrik meningkat di Jepun selepas peraturan dilonggar
Dalam tempoh enam bulan sejak Julai lepas, 85 nahas lalu lintas melibatkan skuter elektrik dicatatkan dan mengakibatkan 86 kecederaan.
Mohamed Khaled tiba di Indonesia untuk lawatan rasmi, dijadual bertemu Prabowo
Menteri Pertahanan tiba di Jakarta pada Ahad untuk lawatan kerja rasmi sulung beliau ke Indonesia sejak memegang jawatan itu.
'Tersentuh tengok golongan OKU penglihatan tunai umrah’ - Mohd Na’im
"Moga terkabul segala hajat sahabat-sahabat OKU penglihatan menunaikan ibadat umrah dan ziarah."
PM Anwar yakin terhadap IsDB dalam tangani ketidaksamaan, marginalisasi umat Islam
Bank itu mempunyai peranan untuk menangani isu ketidakadilan, ketidaksamaan dan marginalisasi terutamanya dalam kalangan umat Islam.
Harumanis antara tarikan utama Agrofiesta 2024
Mangga harumanis dan produk makanan berasaskan mangga antara tarikan utama pada penganjuran Agrofiesta 2024.
NIOSH sedia beri khidmat nasihat depani cabaran perubahan iklim
NIOSH bersedia memberikan khidmat nasihat serta rundingan bagi membantu kerajaan, majikan dan pekerja menghadapi cabaran berkaitan perubahan iklim.
Malaysia negara pertama terima visa haji
Malaysia menjadi negara pertama yang menerima pengeluaran visa haji daripada Kementerian Haji dan Umrah Arab Saudi bagi jemaah musim haji 1445H/2024.
Menteri Indonesia bincang isu pekerja migran dengan rakan sejawat dari Malaysia
Fauziyah harap Steven akan membawa penambahbaikan kepada dasar berkaitan tenaga kerja Indonesia.
Pahang peruntuk RM1.5 juta bantuan tunai bakal jemaah haji
Sebanyak 1,588 jemaah haji Pahang menerima sumbangan 'duit poket' berjumlah RM750 seorang bagi membantu meringankan beban bakal haji dalam melakukan persiapan melaksanakan rukun Islam kelima itu.
Mattel keluarkan patung Barbie Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan Barbie memakai jaket hitam dengan perincian emas dan permata.