The historic Villa Paula, used off and on by its owners as an art gallery over the years, appears to have been turned into an event venue, with a brand-spankin’ new website, and even had somewhat of a debut, hosting an industry night about a week ago, with various hospitality and event industry vendors who had booths and everything. We missed the party, but the enigmatic building, which once served as Miami’s Cuban consulate, you know, before all that communist stuff happened, has always sparked fascination. Constructed in the 1920s with materials and labor from Cuba and in the style of a luxurious Cuban villa, with high ceilings, chandeliers, tall cedar windows, Cuban tiles, statuary, etc., the villa was named after the wife of Cuban consul Domingo Millord.

Previous Villa Paula coverage on the Big Bubble