Mayor Philip Levine, fresh off a successful re-election campaign, was on hand Wednesday morning to open up the Art Basel VIP preview at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
The mayor spoke in a strained voice, which he confessed was a little hoarse "from too much Baseling last night."
Levine attended a party for the opening of the Faena Hotel in mid-Beach, where he gave the key to the city to Argentine developer Alan Faena, and also dropped by the Delano.
Tonight he's headed to the Design District to party with college roommate Craig Robins.
Although some art-goers have expressed party fatigue, Levine said he's ready to go.
"We have 51 weeks to get ready for this," he said.
At Basel, the mayor said he's most interested in checking out Latin art.
"It's so expressive and colorful and symbolic of the Latin American spirit, which has helped give Miami Beach so much energy," he enthused.
Levine will be keeping a special eye out for works by Cuban exile artists Julio Larraz, Tomás Sánchez and Cundo Bermúdez, all of whom he collects.
Would he be looking to buy?
"Always," the mayor replied.
-- Nicholas Nehamas
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