Teach Me How to Basel: A Weekend of Art in Miami

December is quickly approaching and we all know what that means: Art Basel time!  Book a hotel in South Beach and spend your weekend strolling through beach-front art exhibits, sipping mojitos, and running into everyone you've ever known.  

Hotels:  Any of the big hotels in South Beach will put you in the middle of the action.  My favorites are: 1 Hotel South Beach, The Delano, The Raleigh, Soho House, and Edition Hotel. 

Restaurants: See and be seen at Prime 112 and Casa Tua, both of which require reservations in advance.  For some authentic Cuban fare, try Puerto Sagua.  The best brunch spot is Cecconi's, at Soho House.   

Art: The major fair is Art Basel, which would take the whole weekend to see in its entirely.  Make sure to get tickets ahead of time, because the line here is long.  I actually prefer the smaller, less crowded art fairs that present the art in more manageable doses.  My favorite is Untitled, a small but well-curated fair that happens to be right on the beach and has a bar.  Other great shows are: Scope, Design Miami, Spectrum, Pulse, and Art Miami. 

Nightlife: My strategy for going out at night during Basel is to choose a place I love and get there early.  Last year, I went to The Delano around 8pm and when I left around midnight, there was a serious party happening and a terrifying line situation.  Party hopping isn't a good idea because taxis are sparse and every door will be difficult, even if you're "on the list."    

1 Hotel South Beach

1 Hotel South Beach

1 Hotel South Beach

The Edition

Untitled Art Fair

Untitled Art Fair

Untitled Art Fair

Untitled Art Fair

The Delano

Where to Party this Summer: Host Committee's Carli Roth Shares Her Tips for an Epic Summer Out East

As co-founder of Host Committee, the ground-breaking start-up that helps friends turn professional sporting, live music and theater events into incredible group experiences, Carli Roth certainly qualifies as an expert in partying.  Recently named one of the most powerful women in the Hamptons by Hamptons Magazine, and one of the most eligible women in New York City by Business Insider, this San Diego native has become a fixture in the New York social scene.  I was lucky enough to catch up with Carli about this summer's hot spots and get her advice on how to organize an epic get-together out east. 

Where will you be staying?  Either my favorite, the Atlantic Terrace, a motel in Montauk, or Sole East.

Getting there: drive, Jitney, train or Blade?  Generally I take the train there, but will do Jitney home if it’s a Monday morning or if I want to sleep.  Last summer, after too many bottles of rose on Sunday, we picked up a large pizza from Pizza Village, jumped in an Uber and drove back.  That was the best return ever.

Where are the hot spots this summer?  Definitely the Salt Box in Montauk, which just opened, by Jon Krasner, and obviously the original favorite, Surf Lodge. 

Any tips for surviving the Surf Lodge bathroom line?  Make friends with someone who has a hotel room...or utilize the secret bathrooms.

Where are you most looking forward to getting dinner?  Jon’s other restaurant, the Shagwong Restaurant in Montauk, and La Brisa, the Tacombi of Montauk.

What's the best place for a big group dinner?  Moby's in East Hampton.  Peaceful and gorgeous ambiance! They have these big communal picnic tables outside, live music and the food is delicious.

What’s the most fun group activity you've done in the Hamptons?  Spent the day cruising the bays, with pit stops in Shelter Island and Navy Beach.  Wine tasting in the North Fork is also fun. 

What's your perfect schedule for a day in the Hamptons?  Morning yoga at Love Studio in Montauk, followed by plenty of sunshine at Ditch Plains Beach, finishing off with a boozy day and boogie somewhere.

Let's talk about some of the classics.  How do you typically get into Ruschmeyer's? Say "hi" to Marcus.  Great guy.

Weirdest story from inside the Ruschmeyer's teepee:  A really funny game of spin the bottle.

Favorite memory from the Memory Motel:  My friend Julia and I jumped on stage with the band at four in the morning.  Swigs of Fireball, jamming out...we added a lot of extra spice to that performance to say the least.

Where will you be when you're not in the Hamptons?  Exploring new places in New York like Brooklyn Crab.