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

Party like an animal with the ACC

A new 5-bedroom Chocolate Hole villa will be the site of this weekend's '60s Dance Party to benefit the animals.  Pony up $85 and you can join the fun and gawk at Tre Vista Estate from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday night.

The event begins at sunset and launches into a '60's dance theme, fueled by Preston Elliot (of Beatlemania), performing with his new local band, Illuminati. Far-out food & loose libations will be provided by Baked in the Sun, East West Catering, La Plancha, Lime Inn, Mathayom, Sugar Estate Distributors, Sun Dog Cafe, Susie Christi, Ted's Supper Club, and Westin St. John Resort

Event goers will also have a chance to win raffle prizes, including donations from Bajo el Sol, Biras Cree, Drift Away Day Spa, Calypso Charters, Jude Woodcock, La Tapa, Ocean Grill, and Zozo's.

The ACC is raising funds to both support its efforts to provide care for stray and homeless animals,. but also to fund a new building to supply additional service such as animal related vocational training, pet grooming, dog training, and pet boarding.

• See Tre Vista at cateredto.com/VillaPage/TVE
• Learn more about the Animal Care Center at stjohnanimalcarecenter.com
  

Monster cruise ship arriving Tuesday

St. Johnians may get a glimpse of the world's largest cruise ship when it visits the Virgin Islands Dec. 8. 

The ship might be seen from St. John as it departs St. Thomas that evening on its way to St. Maarten.

The Governor's office has organized a task force to prepare for the Oasis of the Seas. It is expected to have 20,000 passengers (according to a news release from the Gov.'s office).  This is wrong, as one reader made clear.

In fact the ship carries 5,400 passengers and has a crew of 2,000.  When you include the four other ships which will be in port, that's where the 20K number comes from.

Representatives from the departments of Tourism, Public Works, Police, Port Authority and others have been meeting to prepare for the ocean liner which will arrive when four other ships will be in port.

There is no word whether passengers will be able to take day trips to St. John.  Given that many cruises do offer such excursions, it's possible there may be more people at Trunk Bay than usual next Monday.   

"A feat of architecture and imagination, Oasis of the Seas (is) designed around seven neighborhood concepts, each with a distinct personality and range of sights and activities," according to a news release from Royal Caribbean, the operator. " From the awe-inspiring ocean-side seating of the AquaTheater to the lush green landscape of Central Park, there's something for everyone to discover."

• Web site for the Oasis of the Seas

Virgin Islands are for Hooters and Housewives

There may be some hot times on St. Thomas and St. John in the next few days, and not just because the temperatures are in the mid-80's.

The Hooters restaurant chain is bringing "16 of the most gorgeous Hooters girls from around the world" to compete in a TV taping to find the Hooters Dream Girl. 

They'll be doing some modeling assignments, "as well as participating in various competitive events around the islands," according to a news release.

It could mean they'll visit St. John.  (Wouldn't be the first time.  See our story from 2007 at http://barnako.typepad.com/news_of_st_john_usvi/2007/03/hooters_does_st.html.

Meanwhile, a rumor that another reality TV show will use the island as a backdrop has ginned up reaction at the Virgin-Islands-On-Line forum. 

"Lock the doors! The tacky invasion is about to start," said one correspondent on hearing that this weekend the Real Housewives of New York show may be arriving.  While there's no official confirmation from the producers, that hasn't stopped people from commenting.

Iowaguy said, "I'm trying to envision the Real Housewives at Larry's Landing or the Beach Bar--would love to be there." St. John Ruth pointed out that the weather can be a factor, saying "If they were here today it will be pretty interesting. I think we had a monsoon this morning and then a pretty dreary day. Not exactly bikini weather."

Blue Tang: #2 and proud of it!

Longtime readers know that News of St. John began as a not-so-subtle effort to encourage rentals of our home on the island.  There's a lot of competition for rentals and I thought the site would help.  It has. It is the oldest and largest Web site with news about St. John.

So it was with surprise and gratitude that, while mousing around TripAdvisor.com the other day, I found that Blue Tang was ranked as the #2 most popular rental on the island, with a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars ranking, too.  Shocked ... thankful ... happy.

Blue Tang ranked so well because of the reviews people who have stayed at the house were kind enough to post.  A few of their comments:

• "A peaceful, relaxing, romantic honeymoon at Blue Tang."
• "Blue Tang rocks."
• "Best vacation we've ever taken."
• "Awesome views and location."

I have to admit that each time we visit Blue Tang and read through the Guest Books, we are often moved to tears at the kind things people say about the house as they recount the wonderful time they had on the island and at our place.

If you're headed for St. John, I hope you'll consider our home, too.

Frank Barnako, aka The Inquiring Iguana

• The Web site for BlueTang
• Blue Tang on TripAdvisor

Lights! Action! St. John!

A trio of classic yachts from St. John will co-star with Johnny Depp in “The Rum Diary,” a film to be released in 2010.  It is based on a Hunter S. Thompson autobiography, chronicling the years he worked for a sports newspaper in San Juan.

Producers of the film decided they needed some iconic, beautiful Caribbean boats for scenes in the film. They found several on St. John, and sailed to Puerto Rico where filming was done.

Two of the ships, Patient Lady of East End, and Robin Clair Pitts’ Liberty were primarily used in background shots, according to a story about the production published in the St. John Sun Times. 

But Twig Bower’s Heron got some personal time with Depp, the actor.  “We hung out with him a little bit,” Bower told the newspaper.  The job was supposed to be done in six days, but it turned into a 3 1/2-week project.

Bower s also a shipwright and built the boat; launched it in 2003.  Summers, he and his wife do day sails out of Rockport, Maine, and during they offer charters from Maho Bay.

• More about Heron: http://www.woodenboatco.com/HeronUSVI.html
• More about Liberty: http://coralbaystjohn.com/Liberty/st-john-magazine.htm
• More about The Rum Diary, movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376136/
• The St. John Sun Times story: http://www.stjohnsuntimes.com/boating_rum_diary   

Clothing by Chesney

The most popular country singer in the US ...  who is also a part time resident of St. John ... is moving beyond music to ready-made wear.

Kenny Chesney will launch his new clothing line Aug. 31 at the MAGIC Marketplace apparel show in Las Vegas, a three-day fashion industry trade show. He will kick off his latest venture with an invitation-only concert Sept. 1 at Hard Rock Hotel, according to CNS.

The line of clothing for men and women is branded Blue Chair Bay, a reference to one of Chesney’s songs about a chair on the beach near his house at Peter Bay.

Speaking to People magazine, Chesney said his pieces are designed to feel like “that favorite T-shirt that you’ve washed a lot, that is kind of sun bleached ... your favorite khakis, and your shirt you’ve had forever.” The line also includes cowboy hats and tennis caps, produced by Dorfman-Pacific.

So far, no St. John store has been mentioned as carrying the Chesney Line.  At least one store that will carry it, Levy’s in Nashville, sells top brands like Hugo Boss, Armani, and Hickey Freeman.

Coral Bay TV episode ... who knows?

Tonight, tonight ... maybe.

This is the listing for the show that appeared on Yahoo’s TV schedule page Sunday morning. 

It could be that the house hunting in Coral Bay episode of House Hunters International will be broadcast Sunday night.  Maybe.

However, HGTV’s own page of "Upcoming Episodes” doesn’t mention it.  http://www.hgtv.com/house-hunters-international/show/index.html 

What the heck.  Set the DVR and check Monday morning.

Virgin Islands house hunting - the Lost Episode

HGTV did not broadcast the episode about a North Carolina couple hunting for a villa on St. John. 

The show, produced last December when Ted and Sharon Prosser went shopping and bought a villa in Coral Bay, had been scheduled for Sunday night at 9:30pm.

Prosser said the show was on the schedule Saturday morning on his DirecvTV guide.  However, when The Inquiring Iguana tried to set up his DVR to catch the program, the 9:30 p.m. slot was then scheduled for a segment about real estate in Toronto. 

“It might be that when St John won the contest they were running " Best Place In The World" for a second home, they moved our show,” Prosser said in an e-mail.  He’s asked the producers for more information.

New Chesney album, Letterman appearance

St. John’s Kenny Chesney does Letterman Tuesday night to mark the release of his new CD, “Greatest Hits II.”  He’ll sing a song from the album, “Out Last Night.”   That track has already been released as a single.

"I've heard it coming out of a few car radios and it makes me feel like summer,” Chesney has said. “You know, some songs just make you smile when you hear it ... maybe because I remember all the fun my buddies and I got in that night.”

Amazon link to the CD

Watch 'Momma's Boys' on St. John

Last week’s episode of the lame reality show featured ‘the boys’ and ‘their 'Moms’ in the VIs. 

There are some brief shots of their time on St. John at about 30 minutes into the show. 

You can see the entire show by clicking on http://www.nbc.com/Mommas_Boys/video/episodes/?vid=944101