Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville resort opens

The rain didn’t stop Jimmy Buffett from performing at the opening of the Margaritaville Beach Resort, his new $150 million (Dh550.8 million) attraction that features nearly 350 rooms, eight bars and a spa.

By the time Buffett took the stage at 4.30pm on Saturday for his free concert, it was already 5 o’clock somewhere. Buffett joked that he finally got to play the iconic Bandshell, one of the few remnants of old Hollywood.

The Bandshell, built in the 1970s, will feature local music several nights a week, but is now run by Margaritaville.

The Miami Herald reports the city contributed more than $20 million to the project and is hoping it will transform the area into a more sophisticated vacation escape with a Caribbean-themed vibe.