US Virgin Islands News

Read this if you love St. John

A few months ago, word on island was that a writer from Conde Nast Traveler was working on a story about St. John. Some folks worried the result would be a piece about how crime has increased in the past few years, as it has in many places.

The story's out now and that's not its focus. It is a very thoughtful essay about the island, what's made it a respite and even refuge for many, and the effects of all the new condo and villa construction.

"We thought we had discovered an island unknown to tourists," Joanne says. "Now it's being overpopulated. It's not our oasis anymore. We'll try to find someplace more secluded next trip. Maybe the other side." Read the full article: http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/detail?articleId=11507&pageNumber=1

St. John Post Office to lose staff

If we still owned the Mail Center at the Marketplace, we'd be shaking our heads in disbelief at news three St. John employees at the Post Office are being transferred to St. Thomas.

The St. John Administrator, Leona Smith, complained about the move to the St. John Source saying, "We're already faced with delays and the island is growing."

The only thing this can mean is longer lines at the Cruz Bay Post Office. and more lousy service. Supposedly, mail is to be delivered to mailboxes by 11 a.m., but Smith says it's now more likely at 3 p.m.

The three workers have been told to show up for work at 6 a.m. at the St. Thomas airport, according to the Source story - irrespective of the fact the St. John ferry doesn't make its first run until 6 a.m.

So, if you'll be spending a few weeks or a few months on St. John, getting your mail at the Post Office is going to be even more of a hassle. When magazines arrive months after their publication, and Priority Mail takes four days, fewer people working at the Post Office is only going to make things worse.

Jason Corley, the new owner of the Mail Center, and Nakira, the terrific store manager, are going to feel the effects, too. But you can avoid that additional stress by renting a mailbox at their Marketplace business and letting Jason and Nakira do the heavy lifting. This is not an advertisement, just a fact of life.

Read the St. John Source story.

Virgin Islands Delegate knows how to party

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says Donna M. Christensen may not have a vote in Washington, but she knows how to drink at the trough with the best of them.

The headline: Monster junket shocked even jaded DC staffers.

Some might say, "You go, girl!"

Read the story.

Cleaning Cruz Bay

An effort to spruce up downtown Cruz Bay next weekend is expected to include business people, government employees and residents.  Visitors will also be welcome.  The fun begins at 8 a.m. in Cruz Bay's Frank Powell Park.

The idea for the effort, dubbed St. John Pretty, was offered by Winston Bennett, the owner of several island restaurants. With the backing of the island Administrator, Leona Smith, the weekend's work is to include painting curbs, power washing streets, and minor landscaping chores.

Areas to get attention included Sprauve School, Cruz Bay Park, and Mongoose Junction, according to reports published by the St. John Source and Virgin Islands Daily News.

The cleanup was originally schedule for last weekend.  But, even 'island time' affects good deeds, too.

Baby, it's been cold outside

The Weather Channel reported record-breaking cool weather across St. Thomas Saturday sent the thermometer down to 68 degrees on Saturday.  On St. John, a low of 70 was recorded. The previous low for the date, 69, was set in 1974. the Weather Channel said.. Forecasters credit/blame a recent, rainy weather for the cold spell.

The latest forecast is for more seasonable, and reasonable temperatures in the low 80s. 

Picking up the pieces at Villa Tesori

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

See Villa Tesori

New BVI connection

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.)

Hooters does the Virgin islands

So, it looks like that visit by the Hooters yacht to the Westin Resort in March this year really may have been for business.  Read our coverage.

The company has now reportedly leased 5,000 square feet for a restaurant on St. Thomas at Buccaneer Mall.  This means it will be conveniently located near where large cruise ships dock.

(Cruise the Caribbean ... discover a Hooters.  What a country!)

The Virgin Islands Daily News reported the new Hooters is expected to open in December.  Hours will be 9 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.  Read the Daily News article.

Looking for Return of Tage?.  Click here.

Report: Chesney selling land at half-price

The Inquiring Iguana (hereinafter possibly to be known as i-Iguana - ' cause I just bought an Apple MacBook and now everything will have an "i' in front of it) hears that Kenny Chesney's got done a deal to sell his mountaintop land in upper Peter Bay. 

The three-acre lot is reportedly where the singer and Renee Zelwegger were married. It's said to have been on the market almost a year and a half. 

The original asking price was $11 million.  The i-Iguana hears from a former villa-owner who understands the deal was done for about half ... $6.5 million. Ouch!

The tourists are coming to St. John, US Virgin Islands

The winter season is shaping up strongly for hotels, resorts, guest houses and villa managers. 

Caneel Bay's manager Nikolay Hotze told the St. John Source December bookings are ahead of last year, with the Christmas period full up.  (Read the story.)

The Source also surveyed Estate Zootenvaal and found "the property is booked up from mid-November all the way through April." (If that's true ... WOW!)  Robin Clair, the Zootenvaal manager, told the Source one guest is coming for four weeks as a birthday present to herself and she's bringing her folding kayak.