Art Basel Miami parties are strange beasts, ones in which party planners, sponsors and publicists compete with over 200 other parties all taking place in the small city over the span of five days. Organizers have to be increasingly creative if they want to ensure strong attendance and lure those few celebrities and art world glitterati who are the week's "most invited." So what were the most successful and well-attended events in Miami this year and why? Below I break down the anatomy of the five events that I consider stand-outs and the ingredients that made them so successful.
1. GUEST LIST
On December 1st, Larry Gagosian, Dasha Zhukova and Wendi Murdoch hosted an "intimate" dinner at Mr. Chow's restaurant in the W Hotel. Although more than 200 people attended the event, it was still deliciously exclusive and filled to the brim with a VIP crowd. It seemed like everyone who was anyone in Miami on that evening was in attendance including Yankees third baseman A-Rod, actor Ben Stiller, artists Ryan McGinness, Aaron Young and Julian Schnabel, Serpentine curator Hans Olbrist Ulrich, Vogue's Sylvana Soto-Ward, Steve Martin and collectors Aby Rosen, Jean Pigozzi, Brooke Neidich, Tico Mugrabi and the beautiful Allison Sarofim. Fashion royalty like Daphne Guinness, Calvin Klein and Stefano Tonchi mixed with genuine royals like Princess Firyal of Jordan. A guest list is paramount to a successful dinner party and Nadine Johnson proved yet again that she is the master of the perfect mix. Everyone seemed to be having a raucous good time as the dinner party pushed past midnight. Even Gagosian
was spotted with a smile as Whitney museum director Adam Weinberg entertained Stiller and Work of Art's China Chow. Although the younger in the mix like Annabelle Dexter Jones and Nicky Hilton shuffled out to the heated terrace for cigarette breaks and to make plans for the long evening ahead, everyone agreed that this was certainly the only place to be.
2. SURPRISE
On December 2nd, Andre Balazs and Bruce Weber hosted a cocktail party at The Standard to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Weber's All American book series. The Standard's expansive deck is a wonderful venue in general -- the type of space that allows one to wander unimpeded through large crowds, find friends and dance if the mood takes you. Add warm, low lighting and music provided by DJ Mia Moretti and you can count on a happy crowd. Guests including Calvin Klein, Lisa Anastos, Lorenzo Martone, Chiara Clemente, Ryan McGinley, Sante D'Orazio, Luigi Tadini and Cecilia Dean mingled and were welcomed to Miami by the handsome Balazs. But what made this party exceptional was the sudden appearance of a North Miami Beach High School marching band called The Chargers, who performed two New Orleans-inspired numbers complete with dancers and baton twirlers.
Partygoers crowded towards the performance snapping pictures with their camera phones when suddenly a passing speedboat caused an enormous tidal wave to crash over the railing of the deck and burst up between the floorboards, soaking everyone. Although many guests were dripping wet everyone took it in stride and the incident made for great party conversation at the dozens of events that followed.
3. ENERGY
Also on December 3rd, MoMA and Interview magazine held a joint party at the Delano. Although the door scene was a bit of a madhouse, the event had all the ingredients for a perfect night. There are few venues that can rival the Delano in grandeur and elegance, especially when the crowd is young and attractive and looking to have a good time. Flocks of scantily clad twenty-somethings combated the 50 degree weather with vodka shots and body heat as the event's more established guests -- PS1 director Klaus Biesenbach, Fendi CEO Stacy Van Praagh, Pace director Nicola Vassell, Peter Brant, Clarissa Dalrymple, The Misshapes' Leigh Lezark, artists Olympia Scarry and Nate Lowman, Dasha Zhukova and others lounged in the VIP area watching the evening's performance piece by Mariah Robertson, which had the artist gracefully writhing in the shallow end of the pool leaving her nude- colored dress transparent. The performance only seemed to fuel the party's sexual energy with several young couples disappearing into shadowy corners. Shortly thereafter a colorful Mardi Gras group of performers led partygoers onto the beach for champagne and vodka.
4. FUN
On December 4th SPiN Galactic teamed up with MOCA Miami to host a Ping-Pong party at the Delano. When one of your hosts is Susan Sarandon (full disclosure: I was also a host) your event is guaranteed to garner attention but add to that a Ping-Pong tournament taking place in the pool with a stunning Soo Yeon Lee (former model and professional Ping-Pong player with a recent role as herself in HBO's Entourage) battling a series of serious minded opponents and you have exhibitionism at its best. Placing the table in the pool allowed for a spectacular view for everyone including Paper magazine's David Hershkovits and Mickey Boardman, Addison O'Dea, MOCA Miami director Bonnie Clearwater, Natalie Obradovich, Kristian Laliberte and DJ duo AndrewAndrew. Additional Ping-Pong tables spread along the pool's edge allowed amateurs to participate. It was the most unpretentious party to take place in Miami during the course of the week and was all about fun.
5. VENUE
Also on December 4th Yves Saint Laurent's Cruise Collection show, presented with Vogue and hosted by Eva Longoria and Loren Ridinger was held in a spectacular private home on North Bay Road. Guests swept past the velvet ropes to be ushered through an immaculate set of manicured gardens, past an enormous docked yacht designated as the VIP after party and into an expansive tent beside a regal Tuscan-style manor. This house, we later learned from Vogue's Anne Vincent, was merely a guest house, the real property was hidden behind a grove of trees... A runway had been set up around the pool (YSL logo floating in the center) and the fashion show, with the twinkling lights of the bay behind them, was nothing short of breathtaking. The crowd included Christian Louboutin, Serena Williams, Kelly Rowland and ladies men Gerard Butler, A-Rod and Russell Simmons. Everyone agreed that it was the most unique and elegant venue in Miami.
Bettina Prentice writes about art for PAPERMAG and The Huffington Post. She heads Prentice Art Communications.
2. SURPRISE
On December 2nd, Andre Balazs and Bruce Weber hosted a cocktail party at The Standard to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Weber's All American book series. The Standard's expansive deck is a wonderful venue in general -- the type of space that allows one to wander unimpeded through large crowds, find friends and dance if the mood takes you. Add warm, low lighting and music provided by DJ Mia Moretti and you can count on a happy crowd. Guests including Calvin Klein, Lisa Anastos, Lorenzo Martone, Chiara Clemente, Ryan McGinley, Sante D'Orazio, Luigi Tadini and Cecilia Dean mingled and were welcomed to Miami by the handsome Balazs. But what made this party exceptional was the sudden appearance of a North Miami Beach High School marching band called The Chargers, who performed two New Orleans-inspired numbers complete with dancers and baton twirlers.
Partygoers crowded towards the performance snapping pictures with their camera phones when suddenly a passing speedboat caused an enormous tidal wave to crash over the railing of the deck and burst up between the floorboards, soaking everyone. Although many guests were dripping wet everyone took it in stride and the incident made for great party conversation at the dozens of events that followed.
3. ENERGY
Also on December 3rd, MoMA and Interview magazine held a joint party at the Delano. Although the door scene was a bit of a madhouse, the event had all the ingredients for a perfect night. There are few venues that can rival the Delano in grandeur and elegance, especially when the crowd is young and attractive and looking to have a good time. Flocks of scantily clad twenty-somethings combated the 50 degree weather with vodka shots and body heat as the event's more established guests -- PS1 director Klaus Biesenbach, Fendi CEO Stacy Van Praagh, Pace director Nicola Vassell, Peter Brant, Clarissa Dalrymple, The Misshapes' Leigh Lezark, artists Olympia Scarry and Nate Lowman, Dasha Zhukova and others lounged in the VIP area watching the evening's performance piece by Mariah Robertson, which had the artist gracefully writhing in the shallow end of the pool leaving her nude- colored dress transparent. The performance only seemed to fuel the party's sexual energy with several young couples disappearing into shadowy corners. Shortly thereafter a colorful Mardi Gras group of performers led partygoers onto the beach for champagne and vodka.
4. FUN
On December 4th SPiN Galactic teamed up with MOCA Miami to host a Ping-Pong party at the Delano. When one of your hosts is Susan Sarandon (full disclosure: I was also a host) your event is guaranteed to garner attention but add to that a Ping-Pong tournament taking place in the pool with a stunning Soo Yeon Lee (former model and professional Ping-Pong player with a recent role as herself in HBO's Entourage) battling a series of serious minded opponents and you have exhibitionism at its best. Placing the table in the pool allowed for a spectacular view for everyone including Paper magazine's David Hershkovits and Mickey Boardman, Addison O'Dea, MOCA Miami director Bonnie Clearwater, Natalie Obradovich, Kristian Laliberte and DJ duo AndrewAndrew. Additional Ping-Pong tables spread along the pool's edge allowed amateurs to participate. It was the most unpretentious party to take place in Miami during the course of the week and was all about fun.
5. VENUE
Also on December 4th Yves Saint Laurent's Cruise Collection show, presented with Vogue and hosted by Eva Longoria and Loren Ridinger was held in a spectacular private home on North Bay Road. Guests swept past the velvet ropes to be ushered through an immaculate set of manicured gardens, past an enormous docked yacht designated as the VIP after party and into an expansive tent beside a regal Tuscan-style manor. This house, we later learned from Vogue's Anne Vincent, was merely a guest house, the real property was hidden behind a grove of trees... A runway had been set up around the pool (YSL logo floating in the center) and the fashion show, with the twinkling lights of the bay behind them, was nothing short of breathtaking. The crowd included Christian Louboutin, Serena Williams, Kelly Rowland and ladies men Gerard Butler, A-Rod and Russell Simmons. Everyone agreed that it was the most unique and elegant venue in Miami.
Bettina Prentice writes about art for PAPERMAG and The Huffington Post. She heads Prentice Art Communications.
Image: PatrickMcMullan.com
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