Artistically Social with Amy Rosenberg
Gearing up for Basel
Amy Rosenberg is an attorney and arts advocate who founded the Overtown Music Project and the Arsht Center’s young patrons group. She is the co-founder of the environmental non-profit Dream in Green. Amy is a member of Art Basel’s Junior Host Committee and sits on the Board of the Funding Arts Network. She also serves on the New World Symphony’s Friends Committee as well as The Wolfsonian-FIU’s Visionaries Committee.
Get Cultured
During Basel, I summon all of my fortitude to get through morning collectors’ breakfasts, home tours, shows, quirky installations and over-the-top (and often silly) themed parties (P Diddy hosting a book party called Culo, anyone?). Alternative art space, Locust Projects, hosted How to Art Basel, an event organized by Ivy and Friends (a group of smarty pants folks who graduated from Ivies and other prestigious universities) to combat art fatigue and get everyone ready for what is to come. The event drew 150 guests who dined on TIKL’s eggplant romescu and homeade kit kat bars as well as Vita Coco coconut water. Stefanie Reed, VIP relations manager for Art Basel, Marianne Goebl, director of Design Miami and Aaron Glickman, publisher of SocialMiami.com, gave the crowd tips on how to navigate the fairs wisely. The lineup of speakers also included artist Kevens who will be performing in the UR1 Festival, Megan Riley from the Bass Museum, Matthew Abess from the Wolfsonian-FIU and Omar Lopez Chahoud from Untitled, a new fair premiering on Miami Beach. Everyone walked out with a caffeinated gift bag from Nespresso.
Mangia
Usually, when I’m craving Italian in Miami, I’m thinking of sloppy red sauce classics. However, I was surprised to discover that true artistry meets gastronomy at Toscano Divino at Mary Brickell Village. We began the evening with an explanation of the restaurant’s artisan concept and full bodied Tuscan wines poured into the most beautiful purple and green crystalline goblets (the waiter mentioned they are for sale at the MoMA gift shop in New York). The hit of the evening was the sublime duck pici. Pici is the best pasta you ever had- fat spaghettis lovingly hand- formed in the kitchen. (I peered in and was surprised not to see an Italian Grandma in an apron.) The kitchen is run by an expert team, British Chef Julian Baker and Michelin-starred Chef Marco Stabile. Run to get your pici today.
Opa Locka? Opa Locka
I found myself at Opa Locka Executive Airport recently reliving the 90s with En Vogue and celebrating the soon-to -come transformation of Opa Locka into a burgeoning center for the arts. One year ago, the Opa Locka Community Development Corporation received a grant from the NEA allowing it to launch an arts intervention in an area known as “The Triangle.” In the 1980s, this area was blocked off with metal barricades to keep in the violence and crime. The project will bring down the barricades and bring in artists like Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt (remember the Living Room in the Design District?) to erect public art and create a more open, vibrant and healthy community. Ever the multi-tasker, I balanced a bowl of shrimp and grits, listened to comedian Robert Townsend expertly rip into a few of the brave hearts who were getting low on the dance floor (perhaps too low, I heard pants rip) and got a little low myself. I am very thankful to Frances Alban, Suzan McDowell and Galena Mosovich for bringing this to my attention.
Hip, no Hype
Max Pierre, possibly the best dressed man in all of Miami, put on a show to end all shows- Idle Warship – a collabaration between Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli and RES. The duo performed with the Miami Symphony Orchestra and were directed by Sam Hyken. Guests included Austin Cohen and Zubin Nagpal. Kudos to the Arsht Center for making it happen.
Fried Chicken with a Side of Jazz
Overtown Music Project, once again, showcased jazz and blues at Jackson Soul Food. The packed restaurant featured 80 year old black church ladies and white socialites. Musicians Joey Gilmore, Lee Johnson, Mel Dancy, Bobby Stringer and Jowee Omicil rocked the house. Nicole Henry, a member of the audience, surprised the crowd with a number that brought tears to the eyes of several of the guests. The evening ended with forty people shaking it on the dance floor. Guests included filmmaker Billy Corben, Tracy Robertson Carter from MoCA, Ruth Shack and Toni and Carl Randolph.
The Escape Club
My wires were starting to fray before I entered the Addison Mizener designed Boca Resort & Club, only an hour away by car from Miami. Where do you go when you only have 24 hours and you need a hot stone massage and some TLC? You drive on over to the Boca Raton Resort & Club, perhaps the most fabulous and least known bastion of luxury, comfort and de-stressing. I had the option to play croquet, stroll the sculpture garden, stick my toes in the sand and immerse myself in blue waters. I chose to take the tour of the sculpture garden and view blue chip works by Jim Dine and Claude Lalanne.
Until next time…
