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St. John will once again show its support for Wounded Warriors and their families at the 3rd annual St. John Chaotic Kayak event.

The event pits a maximum of 32 teams – each comprised of three “warriors” – against one another in a crazy kayak race at Oppenheimer Beach. The event will take place on July 28 at 12 p.m.

St. John Chaotic Kayak is being held in partnership with Team River Runner (TRR). TRR gives active duty service members and veterans an opportunity to find health, healing and new challenges through whitewater boating and other paddling sports. One hundred percent of the event’s proceeds will be used to bring wounded veterans and their spouses to St. John each November for one week of healing.

Local businesses sponsor teams and people are encouraged to donate to their favorites. Participating businesses include: The Westin, VI Ecotours; Spyglass; Skinny Legs; Woody’s; Ocean Grille; Sadie Sea/Love City Charters; St. John App; Castaways; Across the Street Bar and Grill; High Tide; Asolare; Beach Bar; Arawak Kayaking; Crabby’s Watersports; Sun Dog Cafe; Motu; Island Blues; Magical Ninja Carpentry; Glazers Premier Distributors; Shipwreck Landing; Grande Bay; and Soggy Dollar Bar.

Please click here to support your favorite team.

Check out this cool time lapse video courtesy of Aaron Knight. Aaron shot this between July 1 and July 5 while staying at Great Escape in Catherineberg. I love watching the boats zip by- they almost look like little shooting stars.

The video looks even better in HD. Just click the cog symbol in the bottom right of the screen and click one of the two HD options.

Finding the best airfare is no easy feat. With prices skyrocketing, purchasing flights can be a hair-raising experience. Should you buy today? Will the price drop tomorrow? Purchasing flights has almost become a game of chance.

JetBlue extended its schedule yesterday through April 30, 2014, and I had major sticker shock while perusing the newly released fares. Fares to St. Thomas from destinations across the US seemed to be more than twice as much as they were earlier this year. The good thing about JetBlue, however, is that they are one of several airlines that will credit you if the fare you purchased drops. Don’t know about price drops? Well here are the details:

There is a pretty cool website called Yapta.com. Once you purchase your tickets, add your flight details on Yapta’s site. They’ll track the prices, and if a ticket ever drops below the price you paid (on participating airlines), you will get an email alert. You then call the airline and you’ll get a credit. It’s that simple.

Unfortunately not all airlines offer price drop credits, but several that travel to Cyril E. King airport in St. Thomas do. JetBlue and AirTran offer credit for any price drop at all. American, Delta, United and US Airways offer a credit for a price drop of more than $150. (Add in the expensive change ticket fees for these airlines and these usually aren’t the best deals, but give it a whirl anyway.)

Another good tool while researching fares is the Matrix Airfare Search, which is powered by Google. This website allows you to see a calendar of the lowest fares for all of the airlines, all in one place.

And for those of you who are still holding out hope for a winter or spring 2014 trip but can’t bear to pay the current prices, Southwest is expected to extend its schedule on July 22. Hopefully those fares will be a bit more reasonable. (This may be a bit trickier as Southwest only flies into San Juan. For this to work, you’d have to book a separate flight into St. Thomas.)

If you have any tips for getting the best airfare, please share them in our comments section. 

Moose and Cally need homes and I’m hoping our readers can help.

I first met Moose and Cally (short for Calabash) back in December when I stopped by the St. John Animal Care Center (ACC) to take the dogs for a walk. I was immediately taken by these two pups after learning that they have spent two years living at the ACC. The folks at the ACC do a phenomenal job caring for and loving the animals that pass through their doors each year, but every dog deserves a forever home. So that’s my goal with today’s post. Let’s get these dogs adopted.

Here are the details provided by Ryan Moore, ACC Shelter Manager:

Moose is a Boxer/American Staffordshire Terrier Mix. He’s a great dog, but a bit particular in his needs. He hates cats and is not good with other male dogs. He has had plenty of female playmates, so he does have the potential to be in a multiple dog home. Moose would really do well living on a farm or a similar type of environment. He has tons of energy and loves to chase things. On the island, it’s most chickens, iguanas and cats. Moose has been at the shelter for more than two years and sometimes the kennel environment can be stressful on the animals. All Moose needs is someone with patience and he will do very well. He’s never had that type of home, as most of his days have been spent in a kennel. Are you Moose’s forever family?

Cally is the other dog near and dear to my heart. She is a two-year-old Boxer Mix. Cally was rescued from dog fighting and was found underneath a car in Coral Bay. She was starving at the time and badly cut up. Cally is very good with people but skittish around other dogs because of her past. She is one of the most outgoing dogs at the ACC and is a volunteer favorite. She would make a wonderful pet as she is easy to walk, good in the car and rarely goes to the bathroom in her kennel; therefore Cally would be easy to house train. Think you could be Cally’s forever home?

If you think that Moose or Cally wold make a great addition to your home, and you think you have what it takes to give them the care and love that they need, please contact Ryan at the ACC. The number is (340) 774-1625. The shelter hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please click here to visit the ACC’s website.

Residents and tourists will have the opportunity to dine on locally inspired and sourced foods this fall when the owners of Sun Dog Cafe launch their newest venture – Virgin Fire Bar & Grill.

The region has a very broad culinary tradition, with influences whose roots are African, Amerindian, British, Dutch, French, Indian and Spanish. Virgin Fire’s menu will reflect the vibrant tastes of those spices, according to owner Michael Barry, who purchased the restaurant with his wife Barbie.

Virgin Fire Bar & Grill will open this October at the La Plancha site in Mongoose Junction. La Plancha will remain open through next Thursday, giving Michael and Barbie Barry the opportunity to do a little hands-on work in La Plancha’s kitchen before closing the restaurant to undergo renovations.

The Barrys plan to create a great new menu while minimizing the environmental impact.

“A growing number of restaurants are understanding that transportation costs related to food are adding to a carbon footprint that we all should be aware of. Local organic farmers are learning how to produce and market to meet the demand,” according to Michael. “There are economy of scale issues, which make local more expensive, and at the same time the idea that our guests want value for the dining dollar – Virgin Fire will reflect these values.

“We know the food will be inventive and unique, and the service attentive. At the same time, we will all be doing our best to keep the experience unpretentious, accessible and affordable.”

And for those of you questioning Sun Dog’s future, there’s no need to worry.

“Sun Dog is great and bursting at the seams,” according to Michael. “We won’t change a thing there, but the new space allows us to do a better job in Sun Dog because we’ve added a much larger kitchen, which supports our cramped, but cute little kitchen.”

I’m not sure about you, but we here at News of St. John are pretty excited to try this one out.