Art Basel Miami Beach, the International art fair that began in 2002, following the lead of Art Basel in Switzerland (40 years running come June 2009) continues to expand and never disappoints. This year I attended the main event in the Miami Beach convention center for the VIP reception on Wednesday afternoon December 3rd. The center was swarming with the smartly coiffed toting their Blackberry or iPhone deliberate deals and snapping images of edgy art. The social anthropologist in me cannot resist being almost as interested in the habits of the attendees as the art. If you need to know what is HOT NOW (and we definitely do not refer here to Krispy Kreme) this is THE place to be – and be seen.

The international flair was rampant, galleries represented from east to west coast and around the globe, and the languages, massively diverse - many beyond the typical Germanic or Romance languages; how refreshing! Refreshing was the key word for the South Beach visit – in all aspects – art, culture, colleagues, “landscape,” fashion, friends, food, and more!

After a four-hour art-marathon, I hit sensory overload. On the way out I ran into some guests traveling with the Appleton Museum’s Trips N Tours program - great to see even more familiar faces. Those of you who know - know there is so much more to ABMB than the convention center full of high-end galleries from around the world. So much that it is impossible to experience it all. A few of the highlights follow.

Wednesday night my dear friend Jody picked me up and our first stop was Aqua Hotel – what a great concept and recycled use for a hotel – each hotel room was occupied by galleries and artists displaying their best. Navigating the waters at Aqua was like salmon spawning- watch out for that Martini! Without delay on to the Bass Museum and their opening reception for Russian Dreams… hum, Bass museum – more fish stories, no, not really. Art Positions – the containers on the beach – portable galleries - PODS or tractor trailers? Beach party, live band food and beverages, emphasis on the beverages.

Thursday’s adventures began with my companions for the day New York gallery owner Hal and his partner Don. We crossed over to the Wynwood District of Miami. First stop the 6th annual breakfast at the Rubell Family Collection – designed and presented by Don and Mera’s daughter, Jennifer.

This year’s edible display featured a mountain-sized mole-hill of bananas, tables with proper arrangements of boxes of cereal, coolers of milk and soymilk, juice, and Mr. Coffee Makers lined up in a row. Opening of the exhibit 30 Americans was the cause for the event.

Across the back street of the Rubell, we entered CasaLin and their Yard Work display. These installations were companion to a Cuban breakfast and fantastic Cuban coffee shots (and I am not really much of a coffee drinker) and fresh coconut milk spiked if you wished – but no thank you at 9:30 am!

More stops in the Wynwood district included the Margulies Collection at the Warehouse where Mr. Margulies himself was giving a tour. MOCA at the Golden Warehouse and numerous other independent artist studios and installations in vacant lots provided the venues. MOCA opened their show The Possibility of an Island and one of the highlights was a 16:40 minute video installation by Amsterdam artist Julika Rudelius titled “Forever.” This video presented “wealthy mature women who candidly discussed their lives and futures.” In essence, it was a surreal throw back to the day before in the convention center when one does a double take at something other than the art – “mature” women with faces that do not move and chests that resembles that seen in a VS catalogue – something is just not right with this picture – and I do not mean the video.

More sauntering about found us at  AQUA (not to be confused with Aqua Hotel) - more gallery options for display and overall wandering took us to independent local galleries and warehouses. Highlights included the Barn Yard display by Columbian artist Frederico Uribe – the ultimate in recycling and Punk Rock Bourgeoisie an installation in a open lot by Blair Butterfield.

Having the blood sugar running low we happened upon a recently opened (only three days!) restaurant Joey’s – food was unique and divine, but they were working through the service kinks. Making a decision about what to try was challenging since so many things made our mouths water. Hal, Don, and I shared the specialty pizza Dolce E Piccante - figs, gorgonzola cheese, honey and hot pepper, Don and I both had the Mista Salad - mixed greens, gorgonzola cheese, cheery tomatoes, figs and walnuts, while Hal opted for the Quattro Foglie Salad - arugula, endive, radicchio, spinach and the small plate of Ravioli Crema E Salmone - ricotta and spinach ravioli with cream and salmon. Our tanks restored to full we were off again.

More art marching in the Wynwood District this time at Pulse and inside Pulse, GEI SAI this consumed the remainder of the afternoon and placed us square in the midst of rush hour traffic. Oh the joys of the big city!

After a couple of hours for a break – back out for the night life. First stop to the Bakehouse Art Complex to see our friend Randy Barney who has a studio space there. He also introduced me to a number of the other resident artists, a breeze through the special exhibit Paraphernalia, and off to the next venue. Another opening party to attend, this time downtown, at the Miami Art Museum. Objects of Value was the new exhibit to peruse, but other entertainment - a live band and video installation in the courtyard of the Museum under a giant Jeff Koons-like inflatable purple bunny. Of course it would not be an opening party with out the Miami-sweet beverages. Cheers!