ABSTRACT
In addition to the distinctive ethnic combinations of Jewish, Caribbean, Russian, and FrenchCanadian communities, among others, Miami’s landscape of beaches and canals lends itself to warm-weather activities such as swimming, sunbathing, boating, and fishing. As the only major tropical city in the continental United States, it also has a material landscape of houses and resorts oriented to the water and tropical conditions. Its warm-weather aesthetic emphasizes pastel colors such as pink and aqua in folk decorative arts. Its foodways emphasize drinks and fruits associated with the tropics. It is a location for both old and young-a haven for elderly retirees and a common destination for fun-seeking youth. South Beach especially has emerged as a playground for the young and fashionable. The city also claims one of the East Coast’s notable gay communities, which features social events such as circuit dance parties. Northern Miami has many centers featuring cultural activities for the large population of retirees, many of whom are identified by the folk term “snowbirds” (those who live in Miami during the fall and winter and return north-especially to the New York, Philadelphia, and Boston areas-during the spring and summer).
