The first week of December means Art-Basel Miami Beach for the art-world and its fashionable hangers-on. No longer confined to just Art-Basel, the week brings over 20 affiliate fairs that include Scope, NADA, Art Miami and Pulse - that occupies a more convenient tented location next to the Eden Roc for 2014. At Art-Basel itself, that runs from Dec. 3-7th at Miami Beach Convention Center, look for standout booths by Lehmann Maupin, Fredric Snitzer and for Zürich's Galerie Gmurzynska that will feature a booth designed by director Baz Luhrmann and costume designer Catherine Martin. There’s also a pop-up installment of longtime it-eatery Michy’s for those lucky enough to secure a ticket in advance.
There’s little doubt that the Miami real estate market is back in a boom cycle with several new hotels openings and even more on the way. Most niteable is Yabu Pushelberg-designed Edition Miami Beach that brings Ian Schrager’s design brand for Marriott hotel to town. The hotel houses two eateries by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten including the Latin-inspired Matador Room. The hotel lures art parties previously held at W South Beach including pop-ups of David Lynch’s Club Silencio, London’s Horsemeat Disco and Visionaire. Also new for 2014 is Thompson Miami Beach that brings the boho design brand to a massive beachfront address with eatery by chef Michelle Bernstein.
In terms of Art-Basel nightlife, Le Baron returns for its annual club installment inside Delano’s FDR Lounge while NYC’s Up & Down will bring its own pop-up complete with ‘Queen of the Night’ stage show from Aby Rosen’s Diamond Horseshoe. Solange Knowles will curate a nightly DJ line-up at Select Art Fair from December 2nd while The National YoungArts Foundation hosts III Points Music Series with FKA twigs on December 4th. And for the it-show of the week, don’t miss performance artist Malcolm McLaren in a site-specific ballet performance at the former Playboy Theatre that’s sure to be the talk of 2014 Art-Basel Miami Beach.
