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The annual July 4th Celebration Parade began at the ball field next to the National Park’s offices and wound through Cruz Bay to the Sprauve School. Paraders included, as usual, the Middle Age Majorettes, and, new this year, the Guy Benjamin School. Both the Westin Resort and Caneel Bay sponsored floats. If you weren’t there, "nikiarw" was and posted a 10-minute video.
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
Dozens of the finest, four-legged, furry denizens of St. John and St. Thomas showed their stuff Saturday at the 8th annual Wagapalooza, the dog show for the benefit of the Animal Care Center.
As many as 50 dogs participated in one of more contest categories, which
included Best Costume, Best dancer, and Best Jumper.
Jennifer Dale, one of the event’s organizers, estimated the crowd on hand at the Winston Wells ball field at several hundred people. She said there were almost 50 sponsors who advertised on the Wagapalooza t-shirt. Additional funds came from the sale of raffle tickets and canine contest entry fees. Last year, the event raised almost $35,000.
Music was provided by Michael Beason, Gregg Jones and Rich Greengold, while MC duties were handled by St. Croix radio’s Roger W. Morgan.
Click here for a gallery of photos from Wagaplaoooza, courtesy of the ACC and photographer Kim Cardwell of St. John Sun Times.
The island's doggone, tail waggin', family and furry friends fun dog show is this weekend.
Wagapalooza is set for Saturday afternoon from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Sprauve School's ball field in Cruz Bay. Expect to see dozens of dogs, from pedigreed to mixed-breed pooches in the competition, along with their owners, some of whom are pedigreed and some of whom are pooches, too.
This year the audience will participate in the judging in categories like Best Dancer, Best Lap Dog, and Best Spots. High technology will be employed in the judging. "Designed to measure the level of applause emanating from the audience, the Waga-Meter will determine the Dog Show winners by increasing the wag of its tail," said the event's organizers.
Besides the dog show, there will be live music, food, and drinks. A police K-9 team will demonstrate its skills, and dogs will be able to have their nails clipped, free.
Proceeds from Wagapalooza benefit the St. John Animal Care Center. You can support the ACC by buying the Waga T-Shirt. Send $25 to P.O. Box 429, St. John, 00831.
The emcee this year will be St. Croix radio star, Roger W. Morgan.
The Wagapalooza Web site is http://www.wagapalooza.com.
The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park are is planning activities to mark Earth Day, beginning with a slide show at the St. John School for the Arts. The presentation will be based on Al Gore’s documentary, An Inconvenient Truth.” The slideshow will be presented Friday at 7 p.m. by Kent Taylor, a volunteer trained by The Climate Project. Earth Day.
The Friends’ annual Earth Day Environmental Fair is set for Tuesday April 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the National Park Ball Field in Cruz Bay. This event is free. "Participants can learn about alternative energies and landscaping with native plants, participate in simulated archeology digs,” the Friends announced.
The Fair will be followed by beach and trail cleanups on Saturday and Sunday, April 19 & 20. Participants of the Friends’ Adopt-A-Beach/Trail program are asked to remove debris from their adopted beach/trail as part of an island-wide cleanup.
Anyone can participate, local or visitor. And this kind of activity is a great way to learn more about the Park, the island, and the folks who live on St. John. If you are interested in adopting a beach/trail or joining the Friends for a beach cleanup of Drunk Bay Saturday April 19, please contact the Friends at 779-4940.
Interesting thread on TripAdvisor.com’s St. John Forum.
Troyce started it, writing “I’ve seen some statements that things are overrated such as brunch at Miss Lucy’s and the Trunk Bay snorkel trail. What are the top things you WOULD NOT do?”
Pia, a local, said you should “not wear a bathing suit without a cover up "that includes you guys-wear a t shirt please) around town.
Larryjohn had several recommendations including, “I WOULD NOT ... forget to say ‘good morning, afternoon, evening ... complain about prices ...drive like a local ... go to Trunk Bay between 9 and 5 ... walk around town with a drink in hand ... (and) leave water running.”
Two other fans of the island offered their take on the same question, with a wide divergence. VIaddict sad, “I would not take my cell phone, think about work, worry about stuff at home, or plan many activities.” But Tnkbstr55 cautioned you not to go to the beach without a cell phone ... or iPod, or radio. “Watch the day unfold. If “you’re) lucky, you’ll watch a pelican catch a meal 10 feet in front of you.”
Here's a link to the forum thread: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147409-i432-k1822277-l11150766-Things_you_would_avoid_doing-St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html#11150766
The 6th annual St. John Blues Festival kicks off Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Beach Bar in Cruz Bay. The free opening party will feature Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys. (Listen to samples of their blues at http://www.reverendraven.com/.
"The Festival has become one of the largest destination entertainment events in the Caribbean," said Steve Simon, the founder and producer of the five days of music. "With four major celebrity acts, this is the biggest Blues concert I have ever produced."
Simon is so excited about this year's Festival, he's arranged with a videographer to record some of the events. "We can't do a CD due to the restrictions with the artists' recording contracts, but we do plan on doing a DVD if the video comes out good.
There are additional free concerts and events Thursday and Friday and Sunday nights night at Shipwreck Landing, Aqua Bistro, and the Beach Bar. (The concert schedule is online at http://www.stjohnbluesfestival.com/new/schedule08.htm#schedule.
The big show is Saturday night in Coral Bay at the ball field. The headliner is Cajun blues star Tab Benoit. Others performing on the stage will include Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp band, the Waylon Thedodeaux Band, and the Sean Carney band. The performers are all staying at the Tamarind Court in Cruz Bay.
Advance tickets are $25, and $30 at the gate. Ticket sales were characterized by Simon as "way ahead of last year, and last year was our biggest festival ever."
The date's been set for next year's 8 Tuff Miles road race.
It's Feb. 28, 2009.
Here are photos of this year's participants: http://8tuffmiles.com/Linc-2008/leaders%20-%20first%20file%20is%20winner/index.html
The fastest man on St. John - again - is Jeremy Zuber. In last weekend's 8 Tuff Miles road race from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay, the St. Joh
nian crossed the finish line with a time of 49 minutes and 23 seconds. Zuber, who works at Caneel Bay resort, has won the 8.375 mile race five times in a row. "It was tough," he commented to the St. John Source.
A fitness trainer from St. Thomas was the first woman to complete the race. Ruthie Ann David's time was 59 minutes and 5 seconds.
The weather for the race was relatively cool and definitely rainy. That made Centerline Road, the course, slippery in spots.
This year's race boasted 726 finishers, a new record. Many runners from off island participated in the race, too. The oldest man who finished the race was 71, the oldest woman was 69. The youngest boy finisher was five, and the youngest girl was six.
Here's a link to the race results. http://8tuffmiles.com/2008-AGE-GROUP-FINISH.HTM#14
A good time was had by many ... hundreds of runners and hundreds of volunteers, not to mention all the people along Centerline Road who watched and urged on the 8 Tuff Mile runners.
Virginia Westrick (on the right), from East End Bay, ran the race and finished - taking two hours and 37 minutes. Her victory is not in the time, but in the completion - kind of like getting there is the best part of a trip. Ginny's tall friend on the left is Athena Swartley
Ginny also took dozens of photos before and after the race. It also appears that her husband, Wade, took some photos during the race. They sent some to news of St. John. (If you have some St. John photos you'd like passed along here, send 'em! E-mail them to frank@newsofstjohn.com.)
The 8 Tuff Miles road race from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay is about more than running. It's also a community-building event that over the years has introduced lots of neighbors to neighbors and locals to tourists.
Race founder Peter Alter also uses the event to promote his concern about the island and littering. So, part of every race event is an effort to police the route, Centerline Road. Volunteers participated in this past weekend's Litter Patrol. "As a result we will have a clean race course on race day and show off to our hundreds of visitors that we care," Alter said in one of his race updates at http://8tuffmiles.com/.
Meanwhile, the procrastinating publisher is taking it easy. Eloise Anderson said she did a practice run a few weeks ago, then sluffed off for the next few days. "January 20: Think about running. January 21: Work. Think about running. January 22: Work." Get the picture?
Anderson's sounded discouraged in her latest report. "I seem to be doing everything perfectly wrong," she confessed. Skipping meals, not running enough practice miles. "I'm thinking: maybe I'm more of a Pilates girl now."
The 12th annual 8 Tuff Miles race will be run starting at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23rd. Online registration closes at 11:59 p.m. Feb. 9th. You can register on island until Feb. 21.
Steve Simonsen, the island's well known photographer, is also a teacher who loves to get people excited about taking better pictures. For a second season, he is offering classes to help you become a better digital photographer.
This month's courses include "Digital Space", iPhoto Workshop (Steve's a Mac fan), and a four-hour class, "Digital SLR Photography: Beyond the Automatic Settings." Some of the instruction is are taught at the Gifft Hill School. Other classes may be presented on a beach, surrounded by an infinite number of picture-taking possibilities.
Contact Steve at ssimonsen@mac.com for prices. Here's his Web site showing what's available http://www.sjphotoschool.com.
Eloise Anderson, the new newspaper publisher in town, has wasted little time getting involved in the island. Six months into ownership of the St. John Sun Times, she's added talent from the mainland, coached folks already writing for the bi-weekly, and adopted a positive mission statement: "The Sun Times Family: Always free. Always positive."
Anderson's also signed up the paper as a co-sponsor of the 8 Tuff Miles road race. Beyond offering coverage and probably a contribution to help pay costs of the event which will draw hundreds of runners, Anderson's also putting herself on the line. She's going to run, too.
But, wait! She's procrastinating!
"I have been working a lot, selling my house in Los Angeles ... so there's not much free time" to do practice runs.
She did take one baby preparation step; she got a physical exam. Then, she thought she was ready to join in a tune up. "Today my running shoes are in the backseat. I WILL go." But the best intentions didn't help. Anderson felt the next issue of the Sun Times needed a lot of work on the day of the practice run. Instead, she wrote, "I go on in to work, and work all day and night, not much thought of running."
Race organizer Peter Alter counsels Anderson and all 8 Tuff Milers to be serious about preparing for the race from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay. "Train smart, eat right, and stretch before and after," he says.
Good advice for Eloise ... and all.
Will Eloise's running shoes ever get out of her car?
Will the newspaper editor show up at a Tune Up run?
Stay tuned? (No pun intended.)
This year’s St. John Arts Festival will run from February 9th to February 14th. The theme will be "St. John Through the Ages". Frank Langley, president of the Festival origanization, said the six days of events and activities will "trace back to the original formation of the island some 100 million years ago under the sea until the present day using the media of arts, crafts, music and drama to portray the natural and anthropological history of the island."
Each day there will be a concert in Cruz Bay Park. Musicians to be featured include Inner Visions, the Love City Pan Dragons Youth Steel Orchestra, Koko and the Sunshine Band, and St. John Church Choirs. And of course West Indian crafts and food will be offered each day from Noon to 5 p.m. (Great hot sauces!!!)
The Artists Association of St. John and individual art galleries and studios will be exhibiting many works by St. John artists, including those of children, with special “Meet the Artists” nights complemented with live music and refreshments. The St. John School of the Arts will host short plays depicting island life as it used to be.
Festival Web site: http://stjohnartsfestival.org
Hundreds of St. Johnians, and runners from the other islands, as well as the mainland are expected to race in next month's 8 Tuff Miles, the road race from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay. Race Director ands Founder Peter Alter said, "If you're physically able, there's no reason not to do it if you live here." To which I would add, and even if you're just visiting. The race is open to runners, joggers, lopers, walkers, and even kids in strollers. And it's a great way to meet people who do live on island. Last year's race saw 640 people cross the finish line. They ranged in age from 7 to 75 years old.
This is the 12th annual 8 Tuff Miles race. Gatorade is the primary sponsor again, but local businesses also support the event.
You can register online here.
The Friends of
Virgin Islands National Park will have its annual meeting next Sunday, the 27th, at the T’ree Lizards Restaurant at
Cinnamon
Bay.
The keynote speaker will be Virgin Islands Governor John P. deJongh. Other speakers will include VINP superintendent Mark Hardgrove, who will give the State of the Park address, and Friends’ president Joe Kessler who will present the Friends’ annual report.
During the meeting, the Friends recognize outstanding volunteers who will receive “Volunteer of the Year” awards. The Friends will also recognize a VINP staff member, who best embodies the partnership between VI National Park and the Friends.
St. John got two more hours of fame this past weekend as the focus of a radio talk show, "Traveling Feet" with Stephanie Abrams. She broadcast the from a restaurant at the Westin Resort.
"Palm trees are barely swaying, but just enough to kind of caress you as you sit outdoors,", Abrams said at the start of the first hour of her Saturday show. Then, she asked her engineer back on the mainland, "Can you hear the steel drums in the background? These lovely gentlemen in their pretty tropical shirts ..."
Abrams talked enthusiastically about St. John and interviewed about half a dozen people. They includedthe general manager of the Westin, Kim Chappel, as well as Rafe Boulon of the USVI National Park, Patty Johnston, manager of Cruz Bay Watersports, and James Penn, owner of Penn's Taxi.
The shows are archived online. Right-click on the links below to save the programs to your computer and then listen to them with iTunes or Windows Media Player.
The Artists Association of St. John debuted its third annual "Replicating the Masters" event. The theme is to have local artists try their hand at painting in the style of the great masters, like Monet and Chagall. The exhibition opened this week with dozens of pieces of art on display and an auction at the Association's gallery in the Lumberyard. The show is scheduled to continue until Feb. 10.
Web site: http://www.stjohnarts.org/
A visitor from Washington DC, on island for a day trip from St. Thomas, brought along a folding kayak and lived to blog about it.
"Weeble" explained how it took about an hour to get the Feathercraft (kayak) assembled. Once in the water, things got a bit rough. "To my dismay, she was weathercocking pretty hard into the wind," Weeble wrote. "Early on, I tried to compensate by changing my stroke. This became a real struggle that I could not sustain. It was putting real pressure on my left rotator cuff. Not fun."
The 6th annual St. John Blues Festival schedule's been released and there will be plenty of music for everyone.
The show founder and organizer, Steve Simon, said "We are tying this year's Blues Festival into a 'Ragin Cajun' New Orleans Party with some of the greatest Blues talent to ever come out of the delta."
The Festival is dedicated to the Voice of the Wetlands to assist Tab Benoit’s efforts to put a stop to the dramatic and constant loss of Louisiana’s wetlands. Benoit will be one of the stars of the festival's main concert Saturday March 22 at the Coral Bay Ball Field. Other performers include Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band, Waylon Thibodeaux, and Sean Carney and the Sean Carney Band.
“The loss of Louisiana's wetlands contributes to the loss of our unique culture, our heritage, our wildlife, our people and their livelihood”, said Blues legend and life long Louisiana wetlands resident Benoit.
Here's the full Festival schedule:
The 108th Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the National Audubon Society, is being conducted across the nation now. St. John's participation is scheduled for Sunday, Jan 5.
Laurel Brannick, the local organizer, told the St. John Source that experienced birders and clipboard-toting note-taking volunteers are encouraged to meet at the ferry dock at 7 a.m. She said the number of bird watchers on island has been decreasing, as they have moved away. Some older bird watchers are also no longer able to trek through the brush and coastlines.
Brannick, a V.I. National Park Ranger, also told the Source said the number of bird species on island has fallen in recent years. She attributes some of the change to real estate development that has eliminated nesting areas. The national Audubon organization said it's gathering data to measure the impact of global warming on bird populations.
A highlight of any winter vacation to St. John is attending one of the dozens of workshops and activities organized by the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park.
This year's schedule has been posted online. It includes opportunities to explore the ocean and island from above and below water level, visit homes and learn about their architecture, study the environment, and hear first-hand from knowledgeable locals about life on St. John.
New seminars this year include lessons in crocheting woven bags from plastic grocery bags, using pastels in painting, a hiking and snorkeling trip near Lameshur Bay, and Afro-Caribbean drumming
In previous years we've taken Doug White's tour of island buildings - this year he's focusing on 'green building techniques.' We've also sailed the coastline with archeologist Ken Wild.
Steve Simon and the Jazz Islanders have been making great Sunday afternoon music for years at the Beach Bar. Now the group is adding a weekly appearance at Shipwreck Landing in Coral Bay. The Islanders will play Wednesday nights from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. beginning January 2. Call 340-693-5640 for reservations.
The core group of musicians includes Andrew Cameron on drums, Cliff Finch on bass, Joe Ramsey on sax, Sally Smith on keyboards, and Simon on clarinet. Often, musicians who may are vacationing on island, contact Simon (340-693-8120) to join in. The Islanders play Sundays at the Beach Bar in Cruz Bay form 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Just days after organizing the St. John Christmas Music Festival, Steve Simon is back at work preparing for his 6th annual St. John Blues Festival. It's scheduled for March 19-23. The event's big concert will be Saturday, the 22nd, in Coral Bay at the ball field.
There's a Cajun feel to this year's planning. Tab Benoit, winner of Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Awards, is the headliner. The blues singer and guitarist from Louisiana has made it his cause to protect the culture of the region which, he believes, is in danger as the flow of the Mississippi River is threatening the state's wetlands. "The wetlands of Louisiana fade daily due to erosion at the rate of one football field an hour," Benoit said.
Here's the festival's schedule: http://www.stjohnbluesfestival.com/new/schedule08.htm
In his 'spare' time, Simon is also heading up fund raising on behalf of St. John Rescue. The goal is to buy a new ambulance boat.
The annual Mongoose Junction Christmas party drew more than a hundred people Saturday night. (A reader of the site said the number was more like 700-1,000.) The dress code was "island fancy," which means, knock yourself out if you want to! The party, known as "The Prom," also helped kick off the 30th anniversary of the Glen Speer-designed shopping center. Food, drinks and conversation were in abundance ... and the dancing went on to the small hours of Sunday.
Amanda Smith, the new Gallery Director for the Artists Association of St. John, is drawing up some big plans.
Suspecting there's a little bit of artist in many locals, she's hoping that, eventually, the group's gallery will host not only regular exhibits of members' work but also daily classes.
"Everybody thinks you have to be a pro, but that;'s not true," Smith explained in an interview. While she started painting nine years ago as a hobby, "When you constantly (keep at it), you improve." By having classes in many media ranging from oil painting to watercolor to sculpture to jewelry making, she hopes to "reach people who are even just looking for a hobby. I don't want them intimidated."
You can listen to the interview with Smith.
Press the "Play" arrow.You can also download or hear the conversation by clicking here.
Smith signed on as Gallery director earlier this year, just as the group was moving from the Marketplace to larger space at the Lumberyard, where Polli's Mexican restaurant used to be. The Association has 152 members, most of whom are full-time residents. Each is given 16 square feet each month to display their work.
Each month's featured artists are given an entire wall. The current exhibit highlights photography and paintings by Janet Cook-Rutnik. December will highlight the paintings of Smith, the gallery director, and Lucy Portlock, a watercolorist. An opening reception is planned for Dec. 13th at 6 p.m.
Smith also plans to open a small art supply shop next month, adjacent to the Gallery, Pirates Paradise Art Supply. Inventory will include "better and best" lines of acrylics, watercolors, oils, brushes, canvases and paper.
The Association's Web site is http://www.stjohnarts.org/
The annual "Taste of St. John" is set for Saturday evening at the Westin Resort and Villas. It's an annual fund raiser for Rotary Club of St. John.
Rotary is a service organization focused on doing good works. It's helped renew the playground at Coral Bay's school, while this weekend's "Flavors" event will fund a $15,500 college scholarship for a St. John high school senior.
Joan Bermingham is the group's President. In an interview, she talked about the upcoming event which will include a smörgåsbord of food and wine under a tent and dancing on the beach, to the music of Greg Kinslow and the In the Sand Band. You can hear samples of Kinslow's music in the podcast, below.) Press the "Play" arrow to listen to it.
You can also download or hear the conversation by clicking here.
Flavors, of course, is open to anyone, local or visitor. Tickets: $100 donation per person, available at: Connections, Kaleidoscope Video, and online at http://www.flavorsstjohn.com/ticketpage.html.
St. John Rotary's annual fund raiser, a taste of St. John, is scheduled for next weekend, November 17 at the Westin Hotel. The annual event raises money for scholarships and the KATS Sailing program.
As many as 20 restaurants, caterers, and food and beverage distributors will be offering samples during "Flavors." The evening will feature food, drinks, wine tasting and dancing. Tickets cost $100 and dress is 'island fancy.' You can order tickets online at http://www.flavorsstjohn.com/flavorsonline.html.
If you'll be visiting that weekend, attending is a great way to meet people who are active in the business and community life of the island. You'll have fun and come away with a greater sense of the spirit of St. John.
I guarantee it.
New Podcast!
Michael Mullen just wanted a 4-bedroom villa at Rendezvous Bay. What he got was an argument with his builder, a barely-started project, the opportunity to nearly go broke, a 5-bedroom retreat called Villa Tesori and an awful lot of experience.
Mullen stepped in when his builder walked out. He tells the story in a soon-to-be-published novel, "Keep Left." He describes the story as "the transformation of an uptight executive to being a laid-back person living in a world which says 'No Problem, Mon'."
But Mullen had plenty of problems. His workers left the job. He had to beg them to return. He did lots of employee recruiting at Island Blues and the Beach Bar.
"I walked around with dollar signs on my forehead" which, he said, told any workers he was desperate. How desperate? He avoided running out of money only by taking $5,000 advances on 20 credit cards.
Mullen talks about his experience in this conversation. Press the "Play" arrow to listen to it.
You can also download or hear the conversation by clicking here.
Order Mullen's book by e-mailing him: mtbgroup@hughes.net
If you're looking for an easy way to get from St. John to the BVIs,
it's going to get easier.
Road Town Fast Ferry, operated by Caribbean Martine Excursions, has leased a ticket counter at the new Red Hook ferry dock.
The company's Web site says you can buy tickets online, but hasn't caught up with the plan to open an office at Red Hook. The deal for the Fast ferry was just approved by the V.I. Port Authority, the Virgin Islands Daily News reported. (Read the article.)
The Animal Care Center is hoping home owners will do a little late summer cleaning this week and sell their old household "stuff" at the ACC's first "No Fleas, Please, Flea Market".
The sale begins at 10 a.,m. on Saturday at the Winston Wells Ball Field at the Sprauve School. All children and dogs on leashes are welcome to join in the fun, according to an ACC member. :)
Local shops and businesses are contributing items to the sale. Both the Westin and Caneel have also contributed items. Donations of other goods are being accepted this week. The ACC is also making space available to individuals who want to set up their own shops. Proceeds from the space rental and the sale of donated items will go to help fund the Animal Care Center's activities on island.
Chateau Bordeaux has been voted the top restaurant in Coral Bay by readers of News of St. John. Perched high over Coral Bay with an astounding view of East End and the BVIs, its dinner offerings include Mahi Mahi, escargot, lobster tail. Here's the menu. There are no prices on this online version of the menu, so beware - it's not cheap. The phone is 340-776-6611.
Second place goes to Miss Lucy's, whose original owner was also a cab driver, whose island tours were the best! The restaurant is located way outta town along the south shore and is best known for its Sunday brunches with live jazz, Lucy's is a long-time favorite. There are a handful of tables on the beach - arrive early (very!) to get one. The phone is 340-693-5244.
Continue reading "Bordeaux, Lucy's are top Coral Bay picks" »
The Lime Inn is the best bet for a reasonable night out for dinner with your sweetie and/or the kids, according to results of our week-long poll on Cruz Bay restaurants.Specializing in seafood, Caribbean lobster, and known for its Wednesday night Shrimp Feast, the Lime Inn has been an island favorite for almost 20 years.
Other old reliables finishing near the top of the voting included Morgan's Mango, featuring South American spicy specialties; Rhumb Lines, known for 'Asian fusion'; the Fish Trap, specializing in, what else?, fish and some imaginative Asian-inspired treatments of old favorites; Banana Deck and its solid bar food, and Cafe Roma, serving up pasta and pizza.
Here are the results of our poll:
While Coral Bay is rapidly developing ... 'cause that's where the available land is ... it's still kind of laid back and relaxed. Which explains why its choices for a meal are all over the map. From a fantastic budget breakfast at the Donkey Diner to a moonlit, waterside dinner at Miss Lucy's, the variety is broad.
Frankly, Coral Bay is often a state of mind. Its restaurants range from tacky to white tablecloth. Enjoying Coral Bay is easy to do. Sometimes you're in a rock-and-roll state of mind, other times you're looking for smooth and relaxing. So, in choosing a Coral Bay restaurant or bar, vote for the one where you have the most fun and the best memories.
The Ninth Annual Love City Triathlon was run Sunday. The grueling event included a half-mile swim, a 14-mile bike ride, and a four-mile run. It began in Maho Bay, at 7 a.m. and ended at the Annaberg Ruins.
The results are here (triathalon) and here (dualathalon).
Last year's event drew about 30 individual men and woman competitors, as well as several dozen who participated in three-person relay teams. Here's a gallery of photos from last year's event.
Sponsors of the Triathalon included Skinny Legs, Gym in Paradise, Coral Bay Capitol, St John Hardware, Gallows Point Resort, Maho Bay Camps, Paradise Lumber and Hardware, GNC/Endurance Sports St. Croix, 104.3 The Buzz, Jolly Dog, and Caribbean Surf Company in St. Thomas.
The Stone Terrace finished solidly at the top of a poll of visitors' favorite high-end restaurants in Cruz Bay over the past week. Zozo's at Gallows Point came in second. While Tage comes in for much praise on various travel forums praise, it finished in third place, far back of the leaders.
Almost 750 votes were cast. Here are the results:
Vodka and wine tasting are now part of Kate Steinborn's Katilady Catering. The 10-year-old firm has staged events like these in island villas. A beer tasting is planned, too.
"We're trying to appeal to the local market," said Edika Franco one of Katilady's chefs. "There's not much to do here for locals, so we just want to have some fun" with things like cooking demonstrations and wine pairings.
In the second part of an interview with Steinborn, she also explains how a Virgin Islands business owner like herself has to be flexible and always adapting. "If you want to do one thing, and only one thing, this is not the place for you," she explained.
To listen, click the "Play" button below.
You can also download or hear the conversation by clicking here.
Everybody's gotta eat, even if they are on vacation.
That simple fact, and the fact that many of St. John's visitors have money or want to splurge, may be behind the fact that there are at least four catering businesses on island. Each will provision your villa before you arrive, have a private chef prepare a great meal for you in the villa, or maybe even prepare a beach picnic for you.
Perhaps the oldest catering business is Katilady, owned by Katherine Steinborn. She started 10 years ago, by herself in a 12-foot-by-12-foot efficiency apartment, putting together "Welcome Baskets" of snacks and drinks and delivering them to rental homes. Now, Katilady has 18 full- and part-time employees.
Continue reading "How Katilady puts the 'Welcome' in baskets" »
Several of the island’s most talented creative types have begun sharing what they know.
Chef Ted Robinson's doing cooking classes as part of his new venture with KatiLady Catering, and Arleen Hitchock is offering painting lessons at her studio/store in Coral Bay, Tu Tu Tango, at the Cocaloba Shopping Center. Steve Simonsen, the nature photographer, will resume teaching photo and video classes this Fall.
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The weekly podcast is being published a day early because I expect lots of you won't be working after Tuesday and many of you check the site, and download the podcast, at work.
There won’t be much work on St. John after Tuesday afternoon, either. The St. John Festival features Cultural Day in the park followed by the Festival Mix and its bands Tuesday night at the ball field behind Sprauve School (and across the street from Tage).
Then on the 4th, the partying starts at 4 a.m. with J'Ouvert, a marching through town, followed later by the Festival Parade with dancers, steel pans, and floats. The annual Fireworks (to which News of St. John is a contributor) will be ignited at 9 a.m. (Anyone on island who'd like to e-mail some photos, please do. I'll be happy to post 'em.)
Part of the annual Festival's fun is the Village in the Cruz Bay public parking lot, across the street from the Post Office. More than a dozen plywood shacks are erected, painted brightly, and imaginatively lit as folks sell island foods, drinks, and fun.
One of the booths, the Shuga Shack, is the work of Jessie Cawley and Miss Val. They are teachers at the St. John School on Gifft Hill. This is the second year Jessie and Val have run the Shack, offering Johnny Cakes, Pates, and beverages. And while it's a lot of fun, they'll be happy when it’s over. What's it like to do a booth? Listen to this conversation with Jessie. Click the play button below.
You can also download or hear the conversation by clicking here.
Free Beer Offer! If you're on island, and go to the Shuga Shack, and say "The Jumbies are in Town," Miss Jessie and Miss Val will give you a free Virgin Islands Pale Ale - if you're among the first 10 people to say those secret words. Happy Carnival wishes from News of St. John.
Subscribe to News of St. John's weekly podcast at the Apple iTunes Store and search for "news of st. john," or copy "http://fbarnako.libsyn.com/rss" and paste it into the "Subscribe" field under the iTunes software’s "Advanced" tab. You can also use that link to subscribe with other podcatching software. If you’re having a problem, e-mail: frank@newsofstjohn.com.
The beat goes on Thursday evening when Festival Village opens in the Cruz Bay parking lot. The bad news is this
reduces parking availability downtown; the good news is that crafts and food
and music are on display for all to enjoy. The Village is being called "Parisville", in respect to the Village's
Speaking of parking, they've begun to pave an the ground across from the old barge dock, next to Nature's Nook. The plan is to use it as a sort of staging area for taxicabs/safari buses - perhaps reducing the number of taxis taking up parking spots along the waterfront.
A News of St. John reader e-mailed this morning asking for some advice. Thought I'd pass the answers along to all.
While last weekend's Beach to Beach Power Swim was a big success, after the race a good time was had by all at an island barbecue was at Oppenheimer Beach. At the beach, St. John Brewers Kevin and Cheech set up a tap to pour their new Island Summer Ale. We had a chance to talk with them about the new brew. Here's part two of that interview. To listen on your computer, click the play button below.
You can also download or hear the file by clicking here.
Subscribe to News of St. John's weekly podcast at the Apple iTunes Store and search for "news of st. john," or copy "http://fbarnako.libsyn.com/rss" and paste it into the "Subscribe" field under the iTunes software’s "Advanced" tab. You can also use that link to subscribe with other podcatching software. If you’re having a problem, e-mail: frank@newsofstjohn.com.
Caneel Bay's tennis facilities were rated tops in the Caribbean by US Tennis Resorts Online. The St. John resort also scored #12 among the Top Resorts, #3 for staff, and #4 for most romantic.
TennisresortsOnline.com said its survey included "vacationers like you: people who pay for their holiday and have every reason to be objective." The Caneel Bay tennis complex has 11 courts and is overseen by its resident tennis pro, Patrick Alle.
While summer rates at Caneel start at $375 a night, you don't have to stay there to play there. The resort offers complimentary round robins Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. when locals as well as guests are invited to pair up and march up.
Here’s what TennisResortsOnline.com has to say about Caneel: http://tennisresortsonline.com/trofiles/CaneelBay.cfm
The fourth annual island Power Swim is scheduled for 8 a.m., Sunday, May 27.
Organized by the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park, there are four races including three contests for solo swimmers and one for a relay team. The individual
courses range from one to three-and-a-half miles, while the three-person relay is three-and-a-half miles. All begin at Maho Bay. The long route ends at Hawksnest Bay.
In a practice swim two weeks ago, the nationally ranked swimmer Jack Zakim finished first on a Maho to Trunk Bay course. Another practice was scheduled over the past weekend.
"The event has become part of the list of challenging sporting events inn the Virgin Islands," said Joe Kessler, president of the Friends. "It features the incredible waters and beaches of the Park."
Sponsors of the Friends fund raiser this year include Alfredo's landscaping, Mongoose Junction, American Paradise Realty, St. John Insurance, Skinny Legs, the Tap Room, Starfish Market and St. John Rotary.
Winners in the various competition categories will get their awards during an end-of-day barbecue at Oppenheimer Beach. There is more information online at www.friendsvinp.org/swim.
