Enjoy the Classic Miami Experience in the Van Ness Building!

Think Miami and you probably think Art Deco. Or if you don’t think Art Deco, you probably think Ocean Drive, or maybe even South Beach itself. But Art Deco, Ocean Drive and South Beach just yards away, this new condo listing is just pure Miami class!

One of just 33 apartments in the beautifully maintained Van Ness building on Ocean and 14th street is yours to buy!

There was a time when this classic apartment building stood alone on Ocean Drive, archives from the University of Miami show how it was once just beach, palm trees and the Van Ness Hotel on Ocean Drive. It was a true icon of luxury when it was built in 1931 and it definitely remains one now, with its beautifully preserved Art Deco character and large heated pool. Ocean Drive has evolved into a classy neighbourhood full of sophisticated bars and restaurants and Versace’s mansion is just a couple of blocks away. This really is the definition of glamorous living!

The apartment for sale is a cute fully furnished one bedroom unit, your prefect, ready-to-go beach pad! Listed at $229,000.

This truly is a special opportunity! Contact Kelly to arrange to see this rarely available piece of Miami glamour!

Celebrate next St. Patrick’s Day in County Miami!

If you are considering a move from Ireland to the US, why not come to County Miami? Miami may not be known for its Irish population, but it has everything that a self-respecting Irish person needs to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day and beyond! And it’s a million miles from the wet weather and economic gloom of the Emerald Isle.

You won’t need to abandon your jig practice to start with. The Breffni Academy of Irish Dancing in North Miami trains dancers of all ages and levels for feises all over the world.

If you enjoy the Cheltenham Festival, have no fear, there are plenty of dog and horse racing events at courses close to Miami, perfect for the cheeky flutter! Golfers are also exceptionally well catered for. There are 1,261 courses in Florida – that’s more than four times the number in the whole of Ireland (300).

Don’t worry about missing the soccer, 6 nations or the Gaelic Games either – subscription services can bring them right to your home. Or you can go to one of the Irish bars in South Beach – Waxy O’Connor’s, Finnegan’s and The Playwright regularly show European sports. There are occasional Irish Traditional music sessions at Waxy’s in Brickell also.

Just like any decent town back in Ireland, you’ll find a Catholic church not too far from the pub. There is a massive Latin population in Miami, so if you fancy something a bit different for St. Patrick’s Day, how about going to Mass in Spanish!

For a more traditional St. Patrick Day’s celebration, there is an annual Irish Festival in Coral Gables, which features Irish music, crafts, dancing and a drop of the black stuff. And of course, a few more Guinnesses can be found in Miami’s Irish Bars afterwards.

Property investment was one of the big pastimes in Ireland until a couple of years ago. If you invest here in Miami , you could come back after a few jigs to a fabulous condo looking back towards the Emerald Isle. You’ll find beautiful ocean views in The Blue Diamond or The Green Diamond. A couple of sea front condos. It’s only 4,014 miles to Mizen Head, Co Cork!

So, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on... Make your lucky leap in the capable hands of Kelly Charles, the specialist in Miami real estate for overseas investors. Spend next Paddy’s Day in the sunshine with a few more freckles! Sláinte!

Winter Music Conference 2011

It’s a great week to glam up and party hard in Miami! Winter Music Conference is here! The WMC was established in 1985, bringing together the best house and electronic music DJs. There are parties everywhere, on beaches, by pools, in normally vacant hotel lobbies. Even stores are hiring DJs to spin discs to cater for the massive influx of party people for the weekend. Last year 100,000 people attended the event.

The party people certainly go about town in style. Bentleys, Ferraris and Hummers liberally sprinkle the main drags of Washington Ave and Collins Ave and girls walk around town on skyscraper shoes so high they need planning permission.
Designer shoes are not the only glamorous skyscrapers in Miami right now, there are plenty of luxe pads with spectacular views for a superstar DJ or clubber to throw the perfect party either before or after a hard night in the club. It could be your very own private rooftop pool at The W or the more affordable, always fun Roney Palace.

Picking the coolest club is a tough challenge for a WMC attendee, with over 400 events going on. The biggest nights promise to be in Downtown Miami at Club Space, at the Pool Bar at the Shelbourne in the Art Deco District and at the now legendary Nikki Beach, right on the beach close to South Pointe. But with DJ delegates representing music from Industrial German Techno to Latino House and everything in between, if electronic music your thing, you’ll find your heaven at the Miami Winter Music Conference!