Art Basel Recap (Part 1)
I spent last weekend in Miami, amidst people disposing of disposable income by day and night. As a non-buyer this year, whatever precious resources I didn’t exhaust on the beach between 8th and 9th or the Spa at the Standard, I left following in the clubs, lounges, and terraces where the bulk of the mingling took place.
Friday
What’s up with the sideways sleeting rain snow that seems to be the mode for New York winter fashion in 2007? Newark, potentially the icing on the cake of New Jersey’s existence, shone even brighter at the airport after three hours of delays. Luckily, the bartender coaxed my time-sensitive order of a small domestic beer into a double shot with a beer back, so remained iced until takeoff.
I arrived, miraculously, in time to head over to what would be my first of several nights at Le Baron, Andre’s celebrated international party train, which makes what seems like annual stops in Miami during Basel. South Beach politics unknown, this year’s event calendar iteration was held at RokBar- yes, one of the Tommy Lee certified ultra lounges with no ‘c’ and all ‘k’ ‘cause they’re really hardcore, a modest step down from last year’s parties at indoor/outdoor wonderfest Rain.
Anyways, on Friday, at least until 10, RokBar had an open Belvedere bar. We ran into a few people and headed over to The Florida Room, a basement cum-super lounge at the Delano designed by self-marketed revolutionizer Lenny Kravitz.
The door was really strict, as it was the preview party for Visionaire’s Sound Issue, and the club was still brand new. Persistence led to alternative entry, and after our group parceled back together inside for the free drinks, we happened to see Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson wearing what looked like the entire Tommy Bahama catalog. Sadly, neither Lenny Kravitz nor the revolution was there.
