US Virgin Islands News

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

Blue about Island Blues

You knew something was up when Island Blues took out an ad in the Tradewinds and the Daily News which said the waterside bar in Coral Bay was for sale, and the owner wanted a quick deal.  They may have gotten one, but for now the place is closed.

DiverDrew posted on the Virgin Islands Online Forum, “When we drove past Island Blues on Tuesday night (5/20) there was a sign out front saying ‘Last Day - come say goodbye’ or something like that. We ate there late last week - so at least we got one last meal in.”  While Marcia added a post that there is a rumor the place has been bought by someone stateside and there are plans to reopen the place in a couple weeks.

Let the voting begin!

While Clinton and Obama continue campaigning, voting on the design for the Virgin islands Quarter is underway.

Here's the link: http://www.governordejongh.com/features/2008/quarter/index.html

As of Friday morning, about 325 'ballots' had been cast in favor of one of the three proposed designs.

Actually, there are two ways to vote.  You can download a PDF of a ballot and mail it in (Get PDF here).  Or you can scroll to the bottom of the Web page where there is an online poll widget.

Book airline tickets now

The Wall Street Journal couldn’t make it any clearer. “Crisis” is the word the Journal uses in its front page story about the airline industry.

“By slashing flights ... American hopes to significantly push up what it can charge for every seat the airline continues to sell ...”

The Journal story goes on to explain that while the price of a barrel of oil in the futures markets may have crossed $135 Thursday morning, the airlines are paying 20% more than that.  Refiners are charging $30-$35 extra to turn that oil into jet fuel. 

So, if you’re headed to St. John within the next year (airlines only book about 330 days out), buy your ticket now in hopes of beating the fare increases you know are coming.

To help, here are some good Web sites for airline ticket shopping.

• Hotwire www.hotwire.com
• SkyAuction www.skyauction.com
• Kayak www.kayak.com
• Priceline www.Priceline.com
• Orbitz www.Orbitz.com
• Cheapoair www.Cheapoair.com
• Expedia www.Expedia.com
• Travelocity  www.Travelocity.com

Vote on the Virgin Islands Quarter

The U.S. Mint is preparing to issue a Virgin Islands quarter next year and you’ll be able to voice your opinion about it.

A trio of possible designs for the quarter’s “Tails" side has been developed by a committee of community members and historians in the Territory, according to the Virgin Islands Daily News.  They agreed on a number of historical scenes which might be included and unanimously felt there should be a map of the islands, too.  The designs were sent to the Mint for review.  Meanwhile, you will be able to  to the Governor’s Web site and indicate which of the designs they prefer, the Daily News reported.  It said the balloting was scheduled to begin today at http://www.governordejongh.com/.

The Virgin Islands quarter is one of six such coins to be issued by the Mint in 2009.  The others will honor the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The image of George Washington, as seen on the “heads side” of the current 50 State Quarters coins will remain unchanged. “The reverse of each quarter will be distinctly different with images emblematic of the District of Columbia and each of the United States Territories,” the Mint has said.   

• Read the full Daily News article at http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17624527
• The Governor’s Web site: http://www.governordejongh.com/.
• Read about the United States Mint 50 State Quarters Program.

THIS JUST IN ... American to charge for ALL baggage

Joe Brancatelli, the savviest business traveler I know, runs a great blog and has just reported ...

     "American Airlines has announced that it will begin charging $15 to check ANY bag on a domestic flight. That's for checking the FIRST bag, folks, not a second bag. American already charges $25 for a second bag.    
    "This is a NEW fee to charge ANY bag on a domestic flight.The fee is effective for domestic tickets purchased on or after June 15 and will hit most travelers. The exemptions: full fare coach, business and first-class customers and AAdvantage Gold, Platinum and Executive Platinum members. Flights to Canada and U.S. territories are also covered by the new fee. International flights will not have the $15 first-bag fee,

    "Frankly, I expect the other Big Six carriers to match American's move with lightning speed."

• Read more from Joe at joesentme.com
• American - one of the VI's main air links, also an announced it it slicing capacity by 12%, according to this story from Reuters: http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080521/amr.html?.v=4

Wagapalooza a waggin' good time

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.

Real estate update

The number of homes for sale on island has dropped a bit in the past two months.  There are two properties (including one belonging to Kenny Chesney) offered at $14 million, while on the low end there’s a $209,000, one-bedroom, one-bath that “needs work.” (Pictured at left.) 

There are currently 128 houses on the Multiple Listing Service, about 10 fewer than eight weeks ago. Almost 50 homes are priced between $1 and $2 million, while 21 are between $2 and $3 million. Eight of the homes on the MLS have a “Sale Pending” notice on their listings.

The median residential property, as it was two months ago, is listed for $1.495 million.  But, the average asking sales price has slipped four percent, to $2.077 million from $2.167 million.

Price cutting is going on among some businesses for sale.  Baked in the Sun, the great sandwich shop and bakery on the second floor of the Marketplace, has cut its price to $275,000. When it went on the market last year, in April, the asking was $450,000.

And the cute children’s store in Coral Bay at Cocoloba Shopping Center, Little Fish, which went on the market last month at $48,000 is now priced at $40,000.  (The Center is for sale, too.)

VI Brewers tap into Boston market

St. John’s brewmeisters are headed to Bean Town to kick off Massachusetts distribution of their Virgin Island beers, Tropical Mango and Summer Ale. 

Kevin Chipman and Chirag “Cheech” Vyas are planning a launch party at the Cambridge Commons Thursday night at 6 p.m.  “We’re looking to pack the house and get everyone excited,” they said.

The Commons is a neighborhood bar which prides itself as often being the first spot in New England to introduce the latest and greatest microbrews.  The bar offers 30 beers on tap.

A kickoff party invitation has generated dozens of responses.  Virginia H said, “I’ll b e there with bunch of ale-thirsty lawyers.”  And Babylonia added, “Too many nights I have craved a cold VI Pale Ale.  This is going to be a fun celebration."

The beer guys' Web site is www.stjohnbrewers.com.