Basel Breaks, Brunch, Boulud and Bubbly

Posted by Maryanne Salvat On December - 25 - 2011

 

Camila Alves, Henry Gonzalez, and Gabrielle Union

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Resting at the Raleigh

As any “Baselite” will confess, short breaks are the life-blood of a successful Basel week.  The Raleigh hotel provided such respite from the art madness at the Architectural Digest sponsored lounge in the back Oasis area. During the afternoons of Friday December 2 and Saturday, December 3, special guests flocked to the Oasis to sip Macallan, which was poured from a specially branded bar and enjoy art, food, cocktails, music and spa treatments. Seen lounging at the Raleigh were actors, Gabrielle Union, Casey LaBow and Jesse Williams; designer, Charlotte Ronson, photographer Nigel Barker; singers, Colbie Caillat, and Jakob Dylan; models,Camila Alves and Erin Wasson, Iron Chef, Geoffrey Zakarian, and artists including Kai & Sunny, Gary Baseman, Demian Repucci, Vivian Rosenthal, Nick Veasey and Steven Gamson.

 Feeling “Gilty”

The Tent at Soho Beach house was THE place to be at just about any hour during Basel Week.  We caught up with friends at Gilt City Style Lounge which set up shop at The Tent on Friday afternoon and enjoyed a laid back escape, cocktails and the chance to grab a pair of perfect jeans from PRPS Goods, one of Gilt Groupe’s top brands. The Style Lounge offered members the opportunity to customize their look with an on-site tailor.  Adding to fun, Gilt City held a $500 raffle in Gilt credit for one lucky winner each day.  Other perks included lunch from the exclusive BBQ menu and relaxing to music from top DJ’s each day.

Veuve’s Clicq’Up Lounge and Champagne Bar

Veuve Clicquot toasted Basel in all its bright sunshine-yellow glory with the debut of the Clicq’Up Lounge and Champagne Bar, a mobile food truck and champagne bar offering gourmet street fare and Veuve Clicquot champagne pairings for Art Basel attendees.  Parked outside of the Stage, the Clicq’Up Lounge served perfect burgers, pork tacos, and other treats prepared by Miami’s own, Chef Jeremiah, who created this special menu to pair perfectly with Veuve Clicquot champagne.

For the Design Miami/ Designer of the Year event on Friday, December 2, Veuve Clicquot decked out the Moore Building in Clicquot style and presented the Tribute to Inspiring Women Award to art industry luminary, Rosa de la Cruz.  Among the party-goers were musician Pharell, architect David Adjaye, model Ashley Shaw-Scott, Miami developer Craig Robins, Scissor Sisters’ Jason Sellards, Sabina Belli and Vanessa Kay.  After the award presentation, guests had the opportunity to eat dinner on one of three themed floors of the Moore Building.  With over-the-top design, each of the floors added an element of excitement to the meal where guests continued to mingle as the Veuve continued to flow.  A surprise performance by the Scissor Sisters ended the evening on a high note.

 

Brunch for the Animals

Last Sunday, dogs and their owners came out in droves to the 15th annual Brunch for the Animals at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Despite a couple of heavy rainstorms, the garden in the back of the hotel was filled with excited guests and their pooches.  Deco Drive co-host, Louis Aguirre, co-chaired and served as the emcee for the event, which was also co-chaired by Selene Arvesu, Gingi Beltran, Irene Korge, Ann Rubino and Maggie Villacampa.  Many of the owners dressed their dogs in holiday wear, creating a most festive ambiance. Two-legged guests enjoyed a scrumptious holiday brunch prepared by the Loews, while sipping on cocktails and taking in the magnificent view from the lawn of the hotel. Four-legged attendees dined on a home cooked meal from the Loews Loves Pets room service menu. Among those who enjoyed the wonderful afternoon were Charlie Alvarez, Frank Amadeo, Nancy and Jon Batchelor, Sam Blum, Cynthia Demos, Nancy Denison, Jeanette Fine, Carolyn and Chris Gilson, Kelly Gold, Bobby Jones, Irene Korge, Helene Kovens, Sheila and Frank Kuhl, Alison Kunkel, Juan Lopez, Lesley Lyons-Monahan and husband Lee, Gerry Mattia, Belkys Nerey, James Murphy, Allison Nash, Alan Randolph, Suzy Sayfie, Stephanie Sayfie, Rebecca Spinale, Milton Wallace, Laurie and Irwin Wax, Ben Wilson, Lisa Wheeler, Debbie Young, and Sandy Zankl to name a few.  The foundation’s next big event is Pawpurrazzi, scheduled for Friday, January 20, 2012. Call Laurie Hoffman, 305-749-1815 for more information.

 

Boulud’s Cocktails and Amuse-Bouches

Acclaimed chef Daniel Boulud and renowned mixologist Xavier Herit from New York culinary hotspot,  Daniel, celebrated their latest book collaboration, Cocktails and Amuse-Bouches: For Her & For Him at the Bar and Lounge of db Bistro Moderne, last Monday night, where they welcomed cocktail aficionados with sumptuous concoctions and small bites from their charming new two-volume boxed set published by ASSOULINE. Several notable Miami restaurant chefs and tastemakers attended the event, including actress Gabrielle Anwar, Shareef Malnik, and the Forge’s executive chef Dewey LoSasso among others, who indulged in some of the cocktail book’s signature drinks including our favorite, the Smoky Bandit and runner up, White Cosmopolitan. Lucky guests scored a signed copy of Cocktails and Amuse-Bouches: For Her & For Him, a thriller for anyone with a discerning palate.

 

Spreading the Joy of Krug

Over the weekend, Florida Room alums-turned- Champagne Krug ambassadors Josh Wagner and John Lermayer donned furry Santa hats to spread the joy of French champagne.  The two locally-based aficionados dispensed holiday cheer, seasonal libations, and an array of culinary delights at the Krug Christmas dinner on a South Beach rooftop.  Just before the dinner bell struck, guests gathered around to share a special holiday moment: the popping of Champagne Krug Grande Cuvée. 

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