Miami Beach - fashion, coffee, murder and a serial killer

Miami Vice 

- a 5 star hotel, 

morning coffee, 

a murdered fashion icon 

and a serial killer

Pat Keenan recalls a 2001 visit to Miami Beach

 The Versace Villa: locked gates in 2001                                                                                         2001photo: Pat Keenan

     The Villa By Barton G, an extravagant 5 star hotel, was opened recently on Ocean Drive, Miami Beach in Florida (2). This, the former home of Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace, is now open to all, with the proviso that money isn't an issue. I enjoyed Susan d'Darcy's review 'Is this the most OTT hotel in the world' in the Sunday Times, where she reminds us of that quote from Dolly Parton: "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap." Ouch.

News Café                                                                                                                2001photo: Pat Keenan

     The mansion was where Gianni Versace lived until July 15, 1997 when he was shot dead on the steps outside.  He had just returned from a morning walk to the News Cafe (1) for his morning papers and coffee. He was murdered by a spree or serial killer Andrew Cunanan, who had already killed at least five other people during a three month period in 1997
     Eight days later more than 100 police and FBI agents surrounded a two-story boathouse moored at 5250 Collins Avenue (3), after a reports of a gunshot from inside. When they eventually stormed in they found Andrew Cunanan had shot himself to death with the same gun he used to murder Versace.
     Gianni Versace's ashes were returned to the family's estate near Cernobbio, Lake Como, in northern Italy.

Miami Beach: locations                                     Map:HOLIDAYezine

     In 2001 during a visit to Miami Beach, and out of an admittedly morbid curiosity, I went to find the boathouse. It was long gone. In 1998 the city of Miami Beach, frustrated that the houseboat's owner, German businessman Matthias Ruehl, had not removed the sunken vessel, had it flattened and towed away. I did however find where it was moored by using news shots from the time of the police siege that showed a small white fountain. These are my pictures:

This small fountain faced the front of the boathouse                                                  2001photo: Pat Keenan

Mooring: boathouse was removed in 1998                                                                    2001photo: Pat Keenan

Travel File
     Villa By Barton G guests can stay in the designer's former bedroom in the 1,174 sq.ft. (110 sg.m.) Villa Suite for from $2,200 (€1,600) per night but other suites start at $795 (€580) per night. Please note that these prices do not include breakfast
The Villa Miami Beach, 1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida. http://thevillabybartong.com/   
     News Cafe is a sidewalk cafe, newsstand at the corner of 8th Street and Ocean Drive in the Art Deco District of Miami Beach.
News Cafe, 800 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139 www.newscafe.com/

More Information

www.miamiandbeaches.com/about-gmcvb

Irish Operators

www.budgettravel.ie/cheap-sun-holidays/north-america/usa/miami-holidays.aspx

www.lowcostholidays.ie/florida/miami-holidays.htm

www.platinumtravel.ie/fly_Drive_USA.php

www.touramerica.ie/

www.sunway.ie/usa

From HOLIDAY magazine archives 2002

Miami Nice -and so is Palm Beach