Good Morning, Good Morning! What a weekend! St. John surely came alive this year for our first carnival since 2019. The people, the parades, the music, the food…culture and revelry at last INDEED. The USVI Festival Committee really did an incredible job on the organization of all of the events this year with the most grandly executed J’ouvert I have attended and one of the largest Independence Day parades to date. The entire island is hungover from overindulgence of Jell-o shots and electric lemonades, glitter and confetti still line the streets, our bellies are full of roti and pate and fried chicken, our cheeks hurting from over smiling, our legs aching from dancing in the streets and our hearts overflowing with gratitude for this beautiful place and the weeklong celebrations of freedom we just experienced. The events culminate on the Fourth of July for a grand parade in the streets of Cruz Bay…An Independence Day parade like no other. And, before we move on this week into “other news,” I wanted to share some beautiful images with you all from yesterday, and from the past week of Carnival celebrations.
Business Spotlight: Exquisite Lunches and Unforgettable Overnight Stays at Lovango Resort + Beach Club
Good Morning, Good Morning! The St. John Carnival Village kicked off last night and, if you were there with us, you might be on the hunt for an extremely leisurely lunch today 🙂 Well, what about a breezy boat ride, delectable cocktails AND and incredible lunch next to the sea with beautiful views and a little retail therapy? Sound good? Alright! Well, Lovango Resort + Beach Club is making it easier for all of us to head out to the Cay for an exquisite lunch over the next few weeks with their new lunch shuttle from St. John.
Real Estate Spotlight: Incredible Opportunity for Ownership at The Hills!
Good Morning, Good Morning! If you have ever thought about ease of homeownership on St. John, look no further! There is an amazing three bedroom, three and a half bathroom villa at The Hills currently on the market. But this is no run of the mill opportunity. This exquisite home, situated on the mountaintop overlooking Cruz Bay, is more than your average turnkey move in. It is fully equipped with absolutely everything you need to start limin’ here on St. John. But, it also comes with on site management, built in rental income AND resort like amenities that will allow you to just kick back and relax while you are enjoying the beauty of your new HOME!
Read moreReal Estate Spotlight: Incredible Opportunity for Ownership at The Hills!
St. John is Saving You a Seat!
Yesterday afternoon, a pretty awesome photo op was added to the Cruz Bay waterfront. A giant neon Adirondack chair that just screams, “take a selfie with me!” was constructed by the Department of Public Works in collaboration with USVI Festivals, the Department of Tourism and the Bryan Roach Administration on the beach between the ferry dock and the battery. And I think it is absolutely amazing!
Cruz Bay Comes Alive- Food Fair 2022
Good Morning, Good Morning! And Happy Monday to you all! We spent the majority of our afternoon and evening celebrating with the St. John community in Cruz Bay during the first kick-off to Carnival Food Fair since 2019. And it was absolutely magical. So, I wanted to share some of those incredible moments with all of you out there who couldn’t be in attendance on this incredible Sunday Funday on St. John!
Love City Carnival Kicks off This Weekend!
Good Morning, Good Morning! I hope that all of you out there are gearing up for a fabulous weekend filled with summertime fun! We, here in Love City are gearing up for our first full fledged Carnival since 2019! The parking lots have been closed and the booths are being built for the opening of the Village on July 30. BUT, this Sunday is (in my opinion) the BEST part of Carnival. The food, the drinks, the steel pans, the boat races and the local legends, Cool Sessions Brass, will all be a part of the fun in downtown Cruz Bay this Sunday. The vibes are in the air for an absolutely incredible Sunday Funday here on St. John!
St. John Excursions- Part One
Good Morning, Good Morning! I returned home to St. John last night after an unexpectedly LOOOONG travel day. Despite a missed flight, Delta made all of my dreams come true and still made sure I got home to St. Thomas yesterday 🙂 Pro Tip: ALWAYS book the earliest flight possible. Anyways…We have been talking a lot about boats recently but there are plenty of other excursions and activities available to visitors and residents that allow you to explore St. John with a different perspective. So, today, I am starting a series on some of those diverse activities today in order to give you more options for your upcoming trip to Love City!
St. Thomas Airport- New Updates and Early Arrivals
Good Morning, Good Morning! On Sunday afternoon the VI Port Authority released a reminder to travelers that they should arrive 2.5 to 3 hours prior to their scheduled departure time. The notice was instigated by a technical difficulty occurring on Sunday with one of the TSA screening machines. Over the course of the past few years, as the number of travelers at the Cyril E. King Airport continues to climb and random occurrences, such as the recent staffing issues at customs and regularly occurring technical difficulties, hold up the flow of traffic. It is HIGHLY advisable to always show up 2.5-3 hours BEFORE your departure when leaving St. Thomas.
BVI Update: Relaxed Entry Protocols and Mask Mandates
Good Morning, Good Morning! I’m coming to you live from St. Simon Island, Georgia this morning after a nice relaxing vacay with the fam this week. I head back home to St. John tomorrow (without having to deal with the travel portal!), but wanted to take a few moments today to share with you all some information in regards to the recent changes to COVID-19 protocol in the British Virgin Islands that hit the press last week.
Read moreBVI Update: Relaxed Entry Protocols and Mask Mandates
Cast Your Vote: 2023 Steve Simonsen Calendar Cover!
If you’re like me, the annual Steve Simonsen Photography St. John Calendar is high on your list of priorities around the holidays. I grab one for my folks each December so that St. John is on the wall and and warming their spirits 365 days a year. Well, the Simonsen’s are currently wrestling with a decision about their cover for the 2023 calendar. And I thought maybe we could help them out a bit!
Read moreCast Your Vote: 2023 Steve Simonsen Calendar Cover!