Art Watch: Who Knew Hipsters Lived In Miami?

"Are you going to Basel?" We've heard that question a million times over the past two weeks, asked in a semi-urgent tone at cocktail parties, press previews, hell, even the gym. Nowhere was the query more over-asked than last weekend in Miami, (where the annual Art Basel art fair takes place)— we talked hotels, flight reservations, and, oh yea, art, while in town to boogie down at the NADA's (New Art Dealers Alliance, taking place December 2-5) pre-Basel pool party at the insanely serene Canyon Ranch Living, a combination luxury wellness hotel and residential community. Luckily, alcohol was on tap (organic, duh) as we mingled high atop the new North Tower, and serenity was momentarily suspended for a performance and video installation by Psychic Youth, the performance art troupe headed by Federico Nessi. For a moment we thought we may have been in artist's loft in Bushwick—sans the killer ocean view, 80 degree temperature, and, eh, you get the point—the balcony was populated with characters more Brooklyn than Miami Beach. Think dudes in singlets (lots of nipple slips), rolled up wool pants, and dusty oxfords, or gals sporting Robert Clergerie heels paired with unwashed bed-head and pale, pale skin. Of course, there was plenty of New Yorkers in the crowd too—editors Peter Davis (Paper), Yale Breslin (V), and Andrew Goldstein (Art Info), NADA board member and publicist Adam Abdalla, and The Bass Museum's Megan Reilly. Also spotted? Artist Nick Lobo, Miami girl-about-town Erin Newberg, and, in a major blast-from-the-past, former boy-behaving-badly Fabien Basabe, suddenly the picture of clean living. Ah, if only Bushwick looked like this.