Your Evening Sift

Art Basel, Art Basel, Art Basel, Art Basel, Art Basel, Art Basel, Art Basel, Art Basel, Art Basel, Art Basel, Art Basel, Art Basel...that's what it feels like cruising through the local blogosphere. Have no fear. Not everything has been Baseled. Enjoy your evening Sift.

A- Southern District of Florida Blog comments on a New Times report on phony female paralegals entertaining prisoners in the Federal Detention Center in Miami.

We should treat inmates more humanely (especially first-time non-violent offenders) by letting them have limited internet access and occasional conjugal visits. We should also let them wear their own clothing and eat their own food, like they do in most other countries. There would be lots less violence and abuse. If an inmate messed up, these benefits would be taken away.

B- Carlos Miller takes issue with the Sun-Sentinel's coverage of a couple "cop watchers" who wound up going to jail.

Nowhere in her article does she inform readers that video recording cops is legal.

C- Coconut Grove Grapevine thinks pop up cafes are a good idea for the Grove.

I know many restaurants don't like the Food Trucks and this might be similar, but it isn't really because the pop up cafe would have more licensing regarding their existence and they would be part of the community on a regular basis until they are ready to pack it in and move on.

D- Swampstyle gives us a peek at Art Basel preparations in the Design District and throws in a wonderful little video.

It is not clear how exactly success is achieved during Art Basel Miami. It depends on who you ask, but a good yardstick measure criteria is just how swampy are you willing to get.

E- Beached Miami expands a little on a New York Times article they co-authored about Art Basel's effect on Miami's cultural scene.

One thing I feel very strongly is that Art Basel is not the primary catalyst behind Miami’s ongoing transformation. While it certainly made the city a flashing dot on the art world map, it does, in fact, have little direct impact on Miami artists and Miami galleries, only three of which are showing in the Convention Center this year.

The true catalyst, I believe, are the individuals in Miami who have decided to do something great, and to do it here. We cover them all the time on Beached Miami (examples 1, 2, and 3), and in the process I have come to see them collectively as the crucial variable in the ongoing development of Miami culture and identity. (I expressed a similar sentiment in a Miami Herald op-ed back in June.)

F- Soul of Miami shares a few images collected at the Knight Arts Foundation Awards last night.

G- The upcoming Verge Art exhibition is given a few paragraphs by Tropicult.

Sticking to their founding vision, Verge provides an alternative platform for art collectives and their projects otherwise found in places remote from and yet accessible often operating at the fringes of commercial centers.

Freed from the constraints of previous decades, collectives translated in the realm of emerging art as a unique approach to participation in the art marketplace and evolved into savvy operators capable of delivering on the needs of their own self-interests.

H- Another Irish bar is preparing to open in Brickell, says Eater Miami.

Menu includes a little bit of this and that: Kobe beef mini-burgers served with caramelized onions, brie, chipotle mayo and skinny fries; chicken quesadillas,pizzas, pastas, salads, burgers and Irish faves including corned beef platter and Guinness-battered fish and chips.As to be expected, beer selection is stout, with ten on tap and more in bottles.

I- Check out all the upcoming South Florida holiday events that South Florida Food and Wine has posted.




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