Basel’s Best in Show: Our 2011 Awards!

04 December 2011
by Art Rubynstein

Admit it, you’re little tired. This was no ordinary Basel. Every marketing guru and PR genius in America decided to spend their event budgets in Miami this year and that translated to roughly 15 events each night. Some struggled, some prospered, and many stood out. Here are our 2011 Basel citations!

Best artist cameo: Damien Hirst, who stopped by a few bashes including the Swarovski dinner, Diddy hosted Mazzucco meal at Mr. Chow, and then swallowed some glow-sticks at White Cube.

Damien Hirst (Photo: BFAnyc.com)

Boom Boom Basel!

27 November 2011
by Art Rubynstein

The tenth year anniversary of Art Basel Miami promises some of the finest gallery showcases to date…Who are we kidding?! You want to know about the parties, dinners, and cocktail receptions more than NADA and Pulse. Without further suspense, here’s are top bashes from the key 2011 Basel dates.

Tuesday, November 29
Dior and Gagosian will kick thing off to celebrate Anselm Reyle’s collaboration with the LVMH giant at The Moore Building in North Miami. And Dior has the week’s most ambitious party plan with its endless pop-up shop cocktails, free manicures, and free hangover breakfasts.

At Soho Beach House, Gagosian’s biggest competitor White Cube is hosting a chic casual dinner of it’s own with the biggest artists and collectors on the planet Earth, while Nadja Swarovski will host a meal in honor of the artist Erwin Redl downstairs. Aaron Young, Simon de Pury, Ron Arad, and Aurel Schmidt will all be on premises.

Ingrid Sischy and Sandy Brant of Vanity Fair International are teaming up Dewar’s and Donna Karan for their annual MOCA Miami blowout while, the Ferrari party with Peter Brant and Interview got so large that it’s been moved to the 1111 Lincoln Road garage (where Art Ruby hosted its bash last year). Marco Brambilla is showing his new installation at the high volume bash.

Wednesday, November 30
Still have energy? How about couple of fashion cocktail for BLK DNM (at Webster) and Bally (at the W)…Craig Robbins is hosting friends like Pharell Williams at his Star Island mansion while Dasha Zhukova and Wendi Murdoch will cook up the Art.Sy BBQ at the Soho Beach House. Interview hosts another bash tonight with Belvedere.

Thursday, December 1
In the mood for a concert? Salem is performing Gusman Center for the Performing Arts late at night, while Carlos de Souza and Vik Muniz will co-host a small cocktail at the Osklen store on Lincoln.

The main event will of course be the Aby Rosen’s annual spectacular party at the W with the dinner at The Dutch and Dom sponsored bash at the Wall that usually goes on till dawn. And everyone is coming, led by Naomi Campbell.

Friday, December 2
Bing will sponsor concerts by Theophilus London and Young the Giant at the Sanctuary Hotel, while Richard Phillips will host a bash with Exhibition A and Details at the Standard Spa on the other side of the island. Venus X will DJ at that party. Andre Balazs will host a Dzine installation with Kanon vodka few feet away.

Pringle of Scotland and Tilda Swinton cocktail re-unite this year for another big party in North Miami, while odd group of hosts like Jimmy Iovine, P. Diddy (!!!), Andy Valmorbida will come together for an awesome sounding dinner for Raphael Mazzucco at Mr. Chow. Also at the W? A nice little Emporio Armani cocktail after 10.

Saturday, December 3
Don’t know if you’ll make it till Saturday but our ping-pong buddies from Spin Galactic are hosting a wonderful party with MOCA at the Standard, while Gareth Pugh will storm into town for his own dinner with Byrdie Bell and Dewar’s.

The Best Gems of Basel: Where You’ll Party This Week!

25 November 2010
by Art Rubynstein

Sure, we all travel to Miami every December for the billion-dollar gallery maze at the Convention Center…and NADA, Seven, Ink, Pulse, and other wonderfully random fairs and exhibits. But who are we kidding?! All you really want to know is where the best parties are, right? Well, without further ado, here’s where you need to be eating, drinking, and getting Aby Rosen’s business card come next Tuesday.

November 30

Melissa bash at the Webster to celebrate a collaboration between the Brazilian plastic shoe giant and Italian Architect Gaetano Pesce. Lorenzo Martone is a co-host, so expect a lively, happy group to start your week of right.

The Jonathan Meese exhibit opens with the bash at MOCA (it’s worth the $35 cab ride). Bruce Weber will be on premises (his Little Haiti show opened few weeks ago at the institution) along with Ingrid Sischy and Sandy Brant. And all the hosts are very satisfied about the commutes this year. Why? Because Sischy and Brant usually stay at Weber’s home while in Miami.

Andre Balazs celebrates the US sea launch of The Aquariva, designed by Marc Newson at the Standard. The week’s favored (and often naughty) spa oasis will host plenty of bashes, but this is a nice little early evening tune up.

Nadja Swarovski and Craig Robbins celebrate Swarovski Crystal Palace and Design Miami with a big dinner at SoHo beach house. Do you remember Robbins’ BBQ feast at his house to celebrate the start of Basel? We sure do. Kim Heirston and Doreen Remen already booked their seats.

Your Comprehensive Art Basel Miami 2009 A-Z Memory Box!

13 December 2009
by Art Rubynstein

It took us a whole week to process four fairs, fifty-six events, and hundreds of faces we’ve encountered in Miami during this year’s Basel. Here’s your complete A-Z guide to places, works, and names you should keep in mind until the next craze fest kicks in.

Altmejd, David. The Canadian (!) delivered and we all wanted to keep staring at that strange Glasswalker mutant.  Well done, Andrea Rosen.

Ben & Jerry’s. Yes, the ice-cream maker finally joined the performance art derby by having thousands of people peacefully dancing on the beach to a John Lennon number curated by Natalie Kovac. Cherry Garcia lovers were rewarded for their efforts with sweets.

Chow, Eva and Michael. Most diners went into for lobster with ginger and left with a pocketful of business cards. Deals were made, every big name artist paid a visit to a brand new eatery, and Larry hosted his own big dinner on Mr. Chow premises.

Deitch, Jeffrey. Sure, we enjoyed the booth (Shepard Fairey and Miranda July were very strong) but it seemed like everyone had an even better time at Jeffrey’s Santigold concert at The Raleigh. Could the music promoter be his next big job title?

Efron, Zac. Yes, the High School Musical icon made it to Basel thanks to Richard Phillips’ Five Most Wanted Men series. It was sold almost immediately.

Fernández, Teresita. One of Maupin’s brightest stars and a Miami native had a strong week: cocktail party in Setai in her honor, strong reviews, and good Chelsea show momentum.

Geers, Kendell. That “F&%!” disco ball was pretty cool to look at.

Hirst, Damien. You might have heard of this fella.

Irwin, Robert. Two strong works (at Pace and White Cube). At 81, he can still knock it out of the park.