By Jordan Melnick | December 3rd, 2010 | 2 Comments

Did anyone else expect the Art Basel influx to be a bit more dramatic? I realize traffic has worsened, but getting around isn’t a nightmare, nor (amazingly) is parking. And there was a lot more elbow room at N.E.R.D.’s AOL/Paper Magazine/Friends With You-sponsored Rainbow City show last night than I expected. Don’t get me wrong: the Design District was bumping. But I was prepared for flash mob. Of course, Basel official is only getting underway, so we’ll see how things shake out through the weekend. For now, here are some pics from the inflatable playland called — per AOL’s focus group findings — Rainbow City.



N.E.R.D. frontman Pharrell Williams



There was a bounce house …



… and “air sculptures”



DJ Mia Moretti spun some candied crowd-pleasers before N.E.R.D.’s set.



Good people watching.



All photos by Robby Campbell