André Saraiva and Benjamin Moreau man the DJ Booth at Le Baron. All photos on site for Art Observed by Caroline Claisse.

Beyond the red velvet rope, André Saraiva’s Le Baron party went well in to the A.M. on the first night of Art Basel Miami Beach, tucked beneath the Delano hotel in the Florida room. The first of several nights out, Le Baron kicked off the exclusive endurance test of the South Beach party week, many of the parties invite only. Hence, though the party certainly filled up with a diverse crowd of dancers, the fair’s gallerist and gallery goers were not in yet in full force, likely saving themselves for the rest of the long week. Mingling and dancing throughout, behind the DJ booth at times, Saraiva is notorious for his international pop-up clubs. Le Baron Miami originally took place in the basement of the Shelborne, where this year Savaiva’s other party, Paris Paris will also be happening this week.

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All photos on site for Art Observed by Caroline Claisse.

An extensive collection of Ferraris, spanning decades of makes, models, and colors, filled the seven floors of 11 11 Lincoln Road on the first preview night of Art Basel Miami Beach. Officially a party in honor of Ferrari chairmen Luca di Montezemolo, hosted by Interview magazine, Peter Brant, and Tobias Meyer of Sotheby’s, the latest Ferrari 458 Spider was unveiled in shades of both red and yellow. The Herzog & de Meuron designed open-air parking garage could be seen glowing from blocks around.  RPM, a Ferrari-inspired 3D film by Marco Brambilla came to life with Wayfarer-esque glasses on hand.  While no doubt many enthusiasts would consider Ferraris to be works of art the event certainly leaned to the commerce side of the art and commerce equation and could be seen as a harbinger of some of the big ticket selling within the walls of the art fairs to occur over this week.

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