Miami Art Week 2016: Pop-Up Restaurants, Bars, and Parties During Art Basel

It's that time of year again: Art Basel and Miami Art Week are happening, turning Miami and Miami Beach into a playground for celebrities, gallerinas, the ultrawealthy, and people who want to look at art and score a free drink or two.

Miami restaurants, chefs, and bars don't disappoint — opening new locations, popping up bars, and hosting menu collaborations. Here are the best food-and-drink-related Art Basel and Miami Art Week happenings this week.

Alter
Wynwood's best-known restaurant will expand its dinner service to include Sundays and will open at 6:30 p.m. daily rather than 7. In addition, chef Brad Kilgore will introduce a winter menu in time for Art Basel week, including four- and seven-course tasting menus with additional options to customize and expand dinner.

Bar Alter
Alter's terrace bar will introduce a food menu that will include more casual and bar-driven options. Bar Alter is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to midnight. In addition, the venue will host James Beard Award winner Will Elliott from Maison Premiere and Sauvage in Brooklyn. Wednesday, November 30, through Friday, December 2, Elliott will showcase eight of his signature cocktails.

Basel House at Bitter Truth
Bitter Truth (3252 NE First Ave.) turns into Basel House during Miami Art Week November 30 through December 4. The pop-up, open noon to 5 a.m. daily, features live hip-hop, live art, and great cocktails.

Coppertail Brewing at Boxelder, Mignonette, Wynwood Yard, and the Anderson
Tampa's Coppertail Brewing hosts Evan B. Harris. The artist, who has created artwork for the beer, will paint a mural near Boxelder as part of the Smashed Canvas event. Harris will also paint a mural at the Eneida M. Hartner Elementary School in Wynwood for the RAW Project, (Re-imagining the Arts in Wynwood). In addition, Harris' art will be available to purchase at a show Thursday, December 1, at 7 p.m. at Boxelder. The brewpub will also host a Coppertail tap takeover. Thursday, December 1, from 5 to 7 p.m., meet Coppertail brewmaster Casey Hughes at Mignonette. Saturday, December 3, Coppertail will take over the taps at the Wynwood Yard from 4 to 6 p.m., and beginning at 7 p.m. the same day, the Coppertail team will head to the Anderson for a "beertails" mixology contest.

Coyo Taco Block Party
Tonight, November 29, Coyo Taco will host a block party in its parking lot. The party starts at 7 p.m. and features DJ, performer, and producer Walshy Fire, along with Major Lazer and Diplo. Tickets cost $40 and are available through eventbrite.com.

Diamonds Unleashed at Mandarin Oriental
Thursday, December 1, at 8 p.m., the Mandarin ORiental will host a fashion-inspired exhibit in partnership with Kara Ross. Chef Diego Oka, of La Mar by Gaston Acurio, will feature some of his dishes.

Employees Only Pop-Up
Employees Only is opening later this winter, but the NYC cocktail bar is popping up at the Washington Park Hotel (1050 Washington Ave., Miami Beach) for Art Basel. Thursday, December 1 and Friday, December 2, the bar will open from 5 to 10 p.m. with a curated cocktail list, DJs, and a fortuneteller.

Hive Art Village & Lounge at Mana Wynwood
All week long, Hive Art Village & Lounge will feature live DJs, craft cocktails, art vendors, a food truck garden, and an experiential skateboarding environment curated by artist Andrew Schoultz. Hendrick's Gin will host a section with cocktails, games, and other diversions. Hive is open through Sunday, December 4.

Luke's Lobster Pop-Up and Food Trucks at Wynwood Arcade
Thursday, December 1, through Sunday, December 4, Wynwood Arcade will host several pop-ups, including Luke's Lobster. The NYC favorite, set to open in Brickell City Centre later this year, will pop up with a "sneak eat" of its traditional New England fare. In addition, food truck B.C. Tacos will be on hand Saturday, and Local Boy Poke will roll by all weekend. Art lovers can make mural art in virtual reality at the pop-up shop Aureal Immersive Experiences or watch artist Tristan Eaton at work all week. Shoppers can purchase Bryan Samuel Footwear’s sneakers and locally hand-crafted women’s clothing at Makers Collective. The pop-ups are open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Michelle Bernstein's Michy's and Garden Cafe to Pop Up in Miami Beach
The James Beard Award winner returns to Miami Beach this week to launch two pop-up restaurants during Art Basel. Beginning Monday, November 28, Bernstein's Garden Cafe will be open at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden with an assortment of sandwiches, salads, soups, and baked goods, similar to the fare offered at Bernstein’s Crumb on Parchment in the Design District. The chef will also open a Michy's pop-up at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Note: It's located in the Art Basel Collectors' Lounge, which means you need VIP credentials to dine. Both pop-ups are available through Sunday, December 4.

Night Market at Pao by Paul Qui at Faena
From November 29 through December 3, the terrace at Pao by Paul Qui is transformed into an Asian night market, featuring hand-held street market-inspired bites by chefs Paul Qui, Edward Lee (610 Magnolia), Christopher Haatuft (Lysverket in Norway), and Erik Bruner-Yang (Toki Underground). Bites are paired with specialty Bombay Sapphire craft cocktails and live music. In addition, a four-course chef collective dinner will be offered nightly at 8 p.m. at Pao by Paul Qui.

Shake Shack and Harry's Pizzeria Art Basel Collaboration
Danny Meyer's venerable burger palace and Michael Schwartz's pizza restaurant are coming together in celebration of Miami Art Week and Art Basel Miami Beach with a limited-edition menu of mashups. Shake Shack's Coral Gables and Miami Beach locations will offer the Harry's Shorty burger ($6.89). The sandwich, taking inspiration from Harry's short-rib pizza, starts with Shake Shack's 100 percent all-natural, antibiotic-free Angus patty and then tops it with slow-roasted beef short rib, caramelized onions, arugula, and Gruyère cheese. At Harry's Pizzeria, find the Shack-cago pizza ($17). The pie is topped with fire-roasted Vienna beef hot dogs, mustard-mornay cheese sauce, sport peppers, pickles, tomatoes, onions, and fontina cheese. The pizza is available at Harry's Coconut Grove and Design District locations. The items are available through Sunday, December 4.

Swig n' Swine at the Broken Shaker
On Sunday, December 4, from 2 to 7  p.m., the Broken Shaker will host its annual Swin n' Swine. This sister event to Tales of the Cocktails' Pig & Punch is a charity barbecue event hosted by the Bon Vivants that includes DJs, unlimited punch, and an all-you-can-eat pork-centric feast by the Bon Vivants’ Scott Baird, Dale Talde (Talde Miami Beach), Halid Quiroz (Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co.), and Orsenis Perez (the Anderson). Forty bucks gets you unlimited food and drinks, plus a limited-edition T-shirt designed by Joseph Klingenberg, while supplies last. All proceeds will be donated to charity, so you can end Art Basel weekend on a good note. Purchase tickets at eventbrite.com.

Vagabond Kitchen & Bar
Vagabond Kitchen & Bar is teaming up with the Tax Team Saturday, December 3, from 7 to 9 p.m. to bring money to life through art. Several artists, including William Live Livesay, Dude Be Awesome, Le Creep, and Atomik, will paint a blown-up $100 bill. RSVP through eventbrite.com for one free cocktail.
J. Wakefield Brewing
J. Wakefield Brewing (JWB) celebrates Miami Art Week with a series of events featuring six specialty bottle releases whose label art was created by local artists. The Wynwood brewery will release two beers Thursday, two Friday, and two Saturday. All bottle sales begin at noon at the brewery's garage bay door, and bottles are cash only (there will be an ATM onsite). In addition, food trucks will be on hand to serve lunch and dinner. The release schedule is as follows:

Thursday, December 1: Wakefield will release Cousin Eddie's Christmas Ale (barrel-aged Scotch ale with cinnamon and cloves), with label art by Lebo. Bottles cost $25 each (limit of three bottles per person), and Lebo will be at the brewery from noon to 3 p.m. In addition, Project X Wild Ale (barrel-aged sour ale with cherries and brett) will be released, featuring label art by JWB's design team. Bottles cost $25 each, and there's a limit of one bottle per person.

Friday, December 2: JWB,  in collaboration with Other Half Brewing Company, will release Street Dreams Are Made of These (barrel-aged imperial sour ale with kumquat, starfruit, and a dose of Brett), with label art by Claudio Picasso. Bottles cost $25, and there's a limit of three bottles per person. In addition, Welcome to the Thunderdome (imperial porter with coconut, coffee, and vanilla), with label art by Claudio Picasso, will be released for $20 per bottle. Limit three bottles per person.

Saturday, December 3: JWB will release Harbinger (imperial sweet stout with hazelnut coffee), with label art by Art of Jose Varese. Bottles cost $20 per person, with a limit of three each. In addition, a bourbon-barrel-aged Harbinger with label art by Art of Jose Varese will be released for $25 per bottle (limit one per person).

The Wynwood Yard
The Wynwood Yard celebrates six days of Art Basel activities collectively called We Are Miami. Each day features a different theme. Tuesday, November 29, is Wynwood Day from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Wednesday, November 30, is Culinary Day from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Thursday, December 1, is Wellness Day from 9 a.m. till late; Friday, December 2, is Arts Day from 9 a.m. till late; Saturday, December 3, is Music Day from 9 a.m. till late; and Sunday, December 4, is Community Day from 9 a.m. till late.