Beirut is a layer cake with a shiny sugar crust. A sweet insult. A highly problematic spit of Mediterranean paradise, that has spawned a world famous breed of artist-intellectuals.
Check Wikipedia for more general info on Beirut.
Here are some links to the City of Beirut and the official Beirut website for some more practical information.
www.beirut.com is a very nice online magazine for more cultural info and other goings-on.