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Miami Beach, FL, United States (AHN) – South Beach is once again ground zero for art lovers, collectors and those who enjoy the parties that surround them. The ninth annual Art Basel Miami Beach kicked off on Wednesday to VIPs and opened to the public on Thursday.

The annual art party which showcases works from over 250 galleries around the world is a way for deals and discoveries to be made. The art of wheeling and dealing amidst the lights, murmuring and at times surreal parties is not for the faint at heart and better handled by those who have traversed the world of Brooks Brothers Suits, boat shoes, hipster jeans, and avant-garde hair and makeup before.

Yes, Art Basel has begun.

Wednesday’s balmy South Florida weather seemed to have been lost on many of the visitors who made the trek across the Atlantic from Europe or who hopped on a two and a half hour flight from New York. However those use to taking redeyes from either end of the this nation’s Golden State or are use to wearing flip flips annually in Miami-Dade county seemed to fit the most on the sand and shores of this billion dollar explosion on the Miami social calendar and economic register.

The Miami Beach Convention Center which is the epicenter of the three daylong event looked like it was still hosting the car show which was in town a few weeks ago. The normally empty parking lot was overflowing with Bentleys, BMWs, Rolls Royce, Porsche, Aston Martins, Maseratis, Mercedes, Jaguar, Land Rover and all other makes and models of high end luxury asphalt riding people movers.

However, inside the Convention Center works of art featured at the trade show easily cost more than the cars outside the facility’s walls. The art hung or stood waiting to be gazed upon, fawned over, analyzed, scrutinized and ultimately bought.

However, if that many zeros is out of your price range or you revel in being the first of your friends to scoop up some young, new, hot thing…umm artist work, that is. Then the NADA (New Art Dealers Alliance) fair further north on the beach held at the Deauville Beach Resort is probably more your speed. It is targeted for younger dealers showing plenty of work priced under $10,000.

Some items were bought however total day sales figures still remain hush-hush as it was just a select crowd able to tour the spaces. But what many people who woke up in Miami and those who are landing in the Magic City today know, Wednesday night was the kickoff party night.

Despite the private showings on Wednesday many workers and artists simply wrote the day off as time to set up their space, get settled and meet up with friends from across the globe at parties and fancy dinners all over the beach…while networking of course. After all the name of the game is to see and be seen while promoting the work.

Aside, from the celebs and artists who sparkled with their usual glitterati. Flashing lights and pulsing sounds could be seen, felt and commanded your attention.

Most of the major hotels on Collins Ave., had performances by bands. However, the one on most people’s lips was Metric’s performance at Collins Park on the northeastern end of South Beach.

Attendees to the FREE beach concert (on the actual sand not barrier island of Miami Beach) were first greeted by elaborate aerial structures of assembled neon lighted cords soaring into the sky. The displays at the 2010 Oceanfront Nights program organized by Creative Time were designed by Phu Hoang Office and Rachely Rotem Studio. The cords which decorate the pavilion are reflective and phosphorescent rope which gives the visitor an interactive open-air environment art space that they can be literally inside of.

Metric, the Toronto-based electro new wave group’s concert was highly fitting for the visual spectacle that attendees passed through before meeting the stage and was an excellent way for those who didn’t know about the exhibit to tell others.

Upon further investigation I learned that the Oceanfront Nights program features four cities that many in the art world credit with being at the forefront of artistic experimentation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The nightly extravaganza will feature four different cities: Detroit, Mexico City, Berlin, and Glasgow.

Each night will spotlight one city with film, music, video and performance all while being enveloped on Miami Beach’s sand and feet away from its surf.

Miami’s uniqueness and proximity to Latin America makes it an ideal choice to have this yearly Mecca for art lovers. Its own distinct American pulse and proximity to the Latin culture give it the credence to have works of Picasso, Twombly, Murakami next to emerging artists from around the globe.

But Basel’s days of looking at art, talking about art, haggling over prices for art, going to art sponsored parties…aren’t just for the superficial or the moneyed. Art really is for everyone.

There is something unmistakable about Art Basel, whether you have money or you don’t, whether you’re in a show or not, people who talk about Art Basel always agree on one thing…they enjoy it.

Last night there was an almost auditory buzz of excitement in the air and people had the look of anticipation fully realized. December in Miami was here, Art Basel is here, let’s party and go look at some art.

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