News of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Esquire names Skinny's a Best Bar

Raise a toast to Skinny Legs!  The Coral Bay institution has been named one of the best bars in America, by Esquire magazine.

"Skinny Legs is one of those rare points on the face of this dirty globe from which all good feelings emanate," says the magazine's review.  "Travelers wash up at Skinny's for the harmonic convergence and stay for the rum punch and a cheeseburger grilled behind the bar in the open for all the world to smell."

The magazine tells the story that, "Dedicated bartenders and best friends Moe Chabuz and Doug Sica (from Lawrence, Massachusetts, and Red Bank, New Jersey) found a little spot by the water on the Coral Bay side of the island and started Skinny Legs in 1991, because the world just needed the place, Moe says. He and Doug put their last dime into it, and 'we did everything wrong,' but it's become the center of the Coral Bay community, and one of those joints you just never want to leave. So don't."

Here's a link to Esquire: http://www.esquire.com/bestbars/bb-SkinnyLegs

St. John team wins Power Swim

165 swimmers from around the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and the United States participated in the 5th Annual Friends Beach-to-Beach Power Swim. Ed Gendereau of Dover, N.H. was first across the finish line of the 3.5 mile course, from Maho Bay to Hawksnest Beach.  He plowed through the water in 1 hour and 17 minutes.

The St. John Landsharks took top honors this year in competition for the ScotiaBank Team Challenge for groups with at least three swimmers.  The Landsharks had a a combined time of 4:41:25, and won a trophy and a cash award of $250. Scotiabank’s Zahida Ishmael was on hand to present the trophy to team members who included Jeff Miller (St. John), Megan Cliff (St. John) and Louise Wearmouth (Tortola).

Here is a link to the full results of the Swim, sponsored by the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park: http://www.friendsvinp.org/swim/results_08.htm