A Miami Weekend With Art Basel

Meryl Pearlstein, Travel and Food Notes|Dec. 6, 2013 11:23 am EST

Were you wondering what to get your hard-to-buy-for family members and friends for the holidays? You'll have lots of choices of innovative, sometimes shocking, and distinctive pieces from the international offerings at the 2013 edition of Art Basel, now happening in Miami through December 8. It's not too late to grab a flight and spend the weekend perusing and shopping at one of the most exciting art shows in the world.

Art Basel 2013

You can plan your breaks on beautiful Miami Beach on a beach towel or at a table at Big Pink on Collins Avenue and watch the stream of visitors, enjoy dining experiences that range from stone crabs at Joe's to innovative, South American and Asian influenced creations by Chef Todd Erickson at Haven, or Andrew Carmellini's Miami Beach outpost of his successful NYC restaurant, The Dutch. Or go strictly local and head to Calle Ocho for a Cuban sandwich that puts the ones in Havana to shame.

Architecture and design fans will love walking along South Beach in the Art Deco capital of the country — start at the Art Deco Welcome Center at 10th Street and Ocean Drive and take the Miami Design Preservation League's Art Deco Walking Tour, it's well worth it.

While rooms are harder to score during this time, consider staying over on Brickell Key at the gorgeous Mandarin Oriental. With its wonderful service, spectacular views across the water, indulgent spa, oasis beach club, and lovely Azul restaurant, it'll give you some serenity time away from South Beach and the crowds at Art Basel.

For more information about Art Basel, https://www.artbasel.com/en/Miami-Beach/About-the-Show.

Here are some of the more unusual art pieces that you'll see.

Art Basel 2013