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Bienvenidos AAN.

Miami, the capital of Latin America and a global mecca for crazy news, good times at 4 a.m., and the beach. We are much more than South Beach, flesh-eating zombies, and LeBron James. We’re Scarface too.

This place that some people call the Magic City is a fine-dining destination, a world-famous nightclub scene, and -- since the arrival of Art Basel Miami Beach in 2002 -- America's center for visual arts. Here, the Brat Pack hung out, Cassius Clay beat Sonny Liston, and Dexter slices up an amazing number of bodies in the TV series. (Actually, Showtime is faking you out. The show is mostly shot in that other big beach town on the West Coast.)

The InterContinental, where you are likely staying, is in downtown at the mouth of the Miami River and on the edge of Bicentennial Park and Biscayne Bay. Just outside your front door is a tribute to schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe and the others who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The statue was paid for with Miami schoolkids' nickels and dimes. A ten-minute walk north is Bayside Marketplace, where you can catch a daytime or evening boat ride (you might want to call in advance), grab a bite, or just be a tourist. To the north of that is the American Airlines Arena -- home of the NBA champion Miami Heat -- and the nearly completed new home of the Miami Art Museum.

South Beach, with its world-renowned clubs and topnotch restaurants, is a 15-minute cab ride from downtown. On the way, you'll pass the Port of Miami, the world’s busiest cruise ship location; you’ll also see Star Island, where celebrities live in multimillion-dollar homes. Stroll along the pedestrian mall Lincoln Road, and then head to Ocean Drive and the Fifth Street beach.

Miami is perhaps America's most multicultural city. Amble through downtown or Little Havana and sip a colada or a cafecito with locals. It'll have you buzzing for hours. For more recommendations, check out our Best-of issue or download the free Best Of app.

We're delighted to welcome you here. There will be some talk of writing and business, but we're really here for the baile, el sol y la vida. So enjoy! You'll never find another place like it.

Chuck Strouse
Editor
Miami New Times
New Times Broward-Palm Beach