Click here for the 2012 Art Basel Guide

My best picks for parties, events, and art fairs for Art Basel Miami Beach.
I chose most of these events based on a set of prioritized criteria:

• Will I be able to indulge in copious amounts of free liquor?
• Will I be able to get my dance on?
• What invite-only events can I shamelessly try to sneak into and pretend to be a celeb at?

For a guide on how to survive the week, check out my other post at Holy Moly: How to Survive Art Basel in Miami.

Tuesday, 11/29

Tuesday is a little slow starting off the week. Take a stroll through the Design District and Wynwood to get familiarized with all the new structures and wall murals that are now up.

MOCA & Vanity Fair International Party
Time: 7pm-9pm
Address: MOCA North Miami / 770 NE 125 Street North Miami Florida 33161
Cost: $25 for Non-Members
Liquor Sponsor: Dewar’s
RSVP: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2365445110

Art Miami VIP Opening Night Preview
Time: 5:30pm-7pm / 7pm-10pm VIP Preview
Address: 3101 NE 1st Avenue (between NE 31 ST and NE 32 ST) Miami, FL 33137
Cost: $25
RSVP: None, but you can purchase tickets in advance: http://www.lotushouseshelter.org/events.html

Wednesday, 11/30

Art Basel is starting to get in full swing – hit up some the Eleazar Delgado studio for a drink, kick it to the beach to check out some cool art at the Gansevoort and then scale the walls of the Raleigh to catch 2ManyDJs and Soulwax.  After you fail, hit up the Pickle for a dance party.

Eleazar Delgado Behind The Lights: Miami 2011 Art Basel Reception – Free Booze Alert! 
Time: 6pm-11pm
Address: Eleazar Delgado Studio  2703 NW 2nd Avenue
Cost: Free
Liquor Sponsor: Pernod Absinthe
RSVP: http://www.plugmyevent.com/events/298 

Art Basel Kickoff at the Gansevoort Hotel – Free Booze Alert!
Time: 7pm-11pm
Address: The Gansevoort Hotel 2305 Collins Ave Miami Beach FL 33139
Cost: Free
Liquor: Sapporo Beer, Rex Goliath Wines, Zu Vodka, Cointreau, Riazul and Scorpion Tequilla and Perrier Sparkling Water
RSVP: rsvp@miguelparedes.com or 866-534-2184 ext 2244

Jeffrey Deitch Gallery Private Dinner Party / 2ManyDJs & Soulwax – Crash this party!
Time: 7:30pm-12am
Address: The Raleigh Hotel 1775 Collins Avenue
Cost: Free
Special Performance: 2ManyDJs & Soulwax
RSVP: “Impossible” (Nothing is impossible)

Macy Gray (DJ Set and Live Performance) with Rich Medina and Martin Luther, plus a screening of The Art of 5 Minutes
Time: 9pm-???
Address:  Bardot 456 North Miami Avenue Miami, FL 33127
Cost: $30
Purchase: http://www.showclix.com/event/206842

Beached Basel Bash – Dance Party Alert
Time: 8pm-3am
Address: Electric Pickle 2826 North Miami Ave Miami, FL 33127
Cost: $10 at the door
Liquor Sponsor: Grolsch, everyone’s favorite art party beverage.
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/events/174057486020407/

Thursday, 12/1

Using Downtown as your base, check out the OHWOW opening reception, grab a drink at the Miguel Paredes gallery, walk around the Design District and end up at Grand Central for the show. If it’s too packed, head over to Pickle for a fun YACHT show. Hopefully the floor upstairs doesn’t feel like it’ll collapse this time.

OHWOW It Ain’t Fair Opening Reception
Time: 6pm-9pm
Address: 81 NE 40 Street, Miami Design District
Cost: Free?
RSVP: None

Miguel Paredes Fine Art Gallery Perrier Refresh Lounge – Free Booze Alert!
Time: 7pm-11pm
Address: 173 NW 3rd Street
Cost: Free
Liquor: Sapporo Beer, Rex Goliath Wines, Zu Vodka, Cointreau, Riazul and Scorpion Tequilla and Perrier Sparkling Water
RSVP: rsvp@miguelparedes.com or 866-534-2184 ext 2244

Interview Magazine Andy Warhol Film San Diego Surf Screening – Free Booze Alert!
Time: 9:30pm-12am
Address: The Standard Spa 40 Island Venture Miami Beach, FL 33139
Cost: Free?
Liquor Sponsor: Belvedere
RSVP: artbasel@brantpub.com

YACHT (DFA) LIVE – Dance Party!
Time: 10pm-5am
Address: The Electric Pickle 2826 N Miami Ave
Cost: $20
Purchase: http://www.wantickets.com/Events/ShowEvent.aspx?trackingid=656&id=656&activeTab=EventTicketInfo&eventId=96091

Toyota Antics | James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) | Black Lips | Grand Central – Dance Party!
Time: 10pm-3am
Address: Grand Central 697 N Miami Ave
Cost: Free w/ RSVP
RSVP: http://www.uptheantics.com/discobasel

Friday, 12/2

Check out the Absolut Vodka event in Wynwood. There’s not a lot of info about it but it sounds interesting.  Then head to the Fountain for the open bar. You’ve got a few musical choices today – if you’ve got a connection or cash to spend – hit up David Guetta.

Absolute Vodka | Twin Shadow Performance | Mr. Brainwash Exhibit – Free Booze Potential
Time: 8pm-???
Address: 27th Street, 2nd Ave
Cost: Free
RSVP: FRIDAYRSVP@EPOPLIFE.COM

Artlog Presents Opening Night Reception at the Fountain – Free Booze Potential
Time: 7pm-12am
Address: 2505 N Miami Ave
Cost: $10, but tends to have open bar
RSVP: Nope

Moby Acoustic Performance – Packed like a can of sardines just to get a glimpse of that bald head.
Time: 9pm-???
Address:  Bardot 456 North Miami Avenue Miami, FL 33127
Cost: $50
Purchase: Sold out online, buy at the door

Yelle Live – Dance Party!
Time: 9pm-11pm
Address:  The Fillmore 1700 Washington Ave
Cost: $33
Purchase: http://www.livenation.com/event/0D00473AB17573BC?artistid=1242767&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

F*** Me I’m Famous w/ David Guetta LIV
Time: 11pm-5am
Address: LIV 4441 Collins Ave
Cost: $200
Purchase: http://www.wantickets.com/Events/96559/F-Me-I-m-Famous-w-David-Guetta-LIV/

Saturday, 12/3

Basel Castle is likely the safest bet tonight after you’ve spent the entire day gallery-browsing and food truck-eating. The DFA party at Bardot is likely to be insanely packed, but if you make it in, it’s sure to be EPIC.

Art Whino Reception – Free Booze Alert!
Time: 8pm-12am
Address: 425 NW 26th St
Cost: Free
Liquor Sponsor: Milagro, Izze
RSVP: ArtBasel2011@artwhino.com

Basel Castle – Yelawolf, Penguin Prison, The Rapture, Tamara Sky
Time: 5pm-4am
Address: 41 NW 20 Street
Cost: Free before 9pm, $10 guaranteed all night
RSVP: http://baselcastle.theoverthrow.com/

F*ck Art, Let’s Dance w/ Miami Horror and DJ Harvey – Dance Party!
Time: 8pm-5am
Address: Electric Pickle 2826 N Miami Ave
Cost: $25
Purchase: http://www.wantickets.com/Events/ShowEvent.aspx?trackingid=656&id=656&activeTab=EventTicketInfo&eventId=96155

DFA Art Basel Bash w/ Nancy Whang and The Juan Maclean, and Special Performer – TREMENDO Dance Party!
Time: 9pm-???
Address: Bardot 3456 N Miami Ave
Cost: $32
Purchase: http://www.showclix.com/event/206849

My Favorite Art Fairs (and other things to look at)

Wynwood Walls Pop Up Shop
167 Northwest 25th Street
http://thewynwoodwalls.com/

Nada Art Fair
Time: Till 8pm every day, 5pm Sunday
Address: The Deauville Beach Resort, 6701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33141
Cost: Free
http://nadaartfair.org/

Art Asia Fair – Bring your student ID
Time: Till 7pm every day, 6pm Sunday
Address: NE 1st Ave (Midtown Blvd) @ NE 30th St, Miami, FL 33127
Cost: $20 One Day Pass, Students and Seniors $15
http://www.artasiafair.com/

Art Miami – Bring your student ID
Time: Till 7pm every day, 6pm Sunday
Address: 3101 NE 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33137
Cost: $15 one day, $30 multi-day pass, $10 Students 12-18 years and Seniors
http://www.art-miami.com

Fountain Miami
Time: TBD
Address: 2505 N Miami Ave at the corner of 25th Street, Miami, FL
Cost: TBD
http://fountainexhibit.com/

Pulse Miami – Bring your student ID
Time: Till 7pm every day, 5pm Sunday
Address: The Ice Palace, 1400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33136
Cost: General Admission $15, Students and Seniors $10
http://www.pulse-art.com

Scope Miami – Bring your student ID
Time: Till 7pm everyday,6pm Sunday
Address: NE 1st Ave (Midtown Blvd) @ NE 30th St
Cost: General Admission $20 and Students $15
http://www.scope-art.com

BONUS! Art Fair Map: http://batchgeo.com/map/811e880f4fccbe0425f08dab307f7030

Other Helpful Art Basel 2011 Guides:
Art-Collecting.com
Soul of Miami Art Basel Schedule
BeachedMiami’s Art Basel Guide