Hillary Bonner

Hi! I’m Hillary Bonner. I’ve been on St. John for 8 years and have worn A LOT of hats in my time on island. Most of us do tho…A lot of times island life calls for ingenuity, flexibility and resiliency. And those things are what I kind of LOVE about the people in our Love City Community. Between boat days and day hikes and happy hours with so many happy faces, you may have seen me behind the bar at Asolare, Zozo’s, The Terrace or Drink (once upon a time, Motu) over the years. But after Hurricane Irma, I jumped from behind the bar into non-profit work. That desk job made me remember that, way back when, I DID go to college and I might have been letting some of those skill sets get a BIT rusty. My degree is in Journalism and Public Relations. When asked if I ever used it, my programmed response was, “Bar tending IS relating to the public.” But, back to the desk job…I was doing everything. Which is, again, what you do in a small office on an island. Events, marketing, handling in-kind donations, unloading containers, attempting to figure out logistics I didn’t even know how to spell, community meetings, board meetings, FEMA meetings. All of the meetings. One day, I decided that there were aspects I loved. And aspects…Well, not so much. So I started my own thing, supporting local small businesses and non-profits in the realm of design, marketing and events (specifically music related events…you’ll hear a lot about music from me). I have a bleeding heart for the small yet ambitious non-profits on St. John. And an overwhelming amount of respect for the small business owners who made their ideas take flight in a place where it’s very difficult to do so! I love life here on St. John. The highs are the highest and the lows are not so low as they can be in other places. The accessibility to Mother Nature on this little slice of perfection is unparalleled. She’s all around us all of the time. You can watch the phases of the moon, the rotation of the planets, the shifting of the sunset and the tides. Every damn day. Mother Nature’s restless spirit reflects the transient nature of the people here as well. That was hard for me at first. The coming and the going. But now, I like the fact that I will rarely visit a place that I don’t have a place to stay and a friend to catch up with from St. John. So, now, here I am (using my degree, Ma!). Contributing to a long standing super positive blog. Here I feel like I’m in a position to use my voice to entertain and inform you about the community and island that I love so much. I’m grateful for this opportunity and am ALWAYS open to story ideas! Let me know what, where or who you want to hear about!

Where to Stay Spotlight: WindSong Villa is the Perfect Home for Your Next Vacation!

August 22, 2022August 9, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! I know we cover a ton of Real Estate here on News of St. John. But, this post is dedicated to those of you looking for your next vacation rental! WindSong Villa encapsulates the perfect escape for a family or group of friends. Four Primary Suites with exquisite private baths, mountain and ocean views, 6000 square feet of luxurious outdoor and interior living and entertaining areas combine to make this the perfect vacation destination for up to eight guests. Oh, and for the first time in twelve years, this home is ready to welcome guests AND they have very limited availability. So, if you like what you see here, act fast. This divine home will book up quickly!

Coral Bay Fresh Market- Opening This Fall!

August 8, 2022August 8, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Happy Monday everyone! I hope that you all had a magnificent weekend! Things FEEL like they are slowing down a bit here on St. John, but the crowds of people with luggage in tow exiting the ferry over the weekend seem to be maybe proving my instincts wrong. But, this is typically the beginnings of our slower time of year. And, as businesses take the time they need to rest and recuperate from a busy year, forward progress and new things are also in the works for some of these well-known establishments. And, this Fall, a neighborhood boutique grocery shopping experience is coming to the Isola Shoppes in Coral Bay!

Bikini’s on the Beach at Honeymoon Announces Permanent Closure

August 5, 2022August 5, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning All! I don’t have much info on this topic because I have not yet received a response to a request for further comment. But, I have received SO many messages about this topic that I felt I should share the news with you all….The services on the beach at Honeymoon will officially not be re-opening with VI Eco Tours leading the the operations.

The Night Sky Lights Up at Maho!

August 8, 2022August 3, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Last week, a brilliant meteor shot across the night sky over Maho Bay. And some friends had the good sense to immediately check the Maho Bay Friends of the Park webcam to get some imagery of it! The blurry imagery above is a screen shot of the webcam capture and the video itself is just awesome! Oh, and you might want to keep an eye on the night sky over the next week as well…This comet was likely the beginnings of one famed meteor shower. Or the end of a lesser known one…

Green Eats on St. John: Tips and Tricks for Staying on a Healthy Track During Your Stay

August 2, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! So, we’re in the land of salt and sand and bikini bods, right? So there should be healthy food options abounding, right? Well, not so much. Living and vacationing on St. John can make healthy eating extremely difficult, especially when you factor in the inevitable happy hour cocktails that drown your daily calorie count. And, well, we all WISH our priduce sections on island looked like the one in the photo above right? Well, unfortunately, that is not the case and, as we move into the off season here, I have been plotting and scheming about my own healthy choices that I intend to install in daily living in order to start next season off on the right foot. And I thought that maybe some of you would find this info useful for your next trip down or for your own healthy living track here on island 🙂

Let’s Talk Travel: Flight Tips, Tricks and Trends

August 1, 2022August 1, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Happy Monday Everyone! I hope that all of you had a fantastic weekend and that you’re jumping back into the work week well rested and rearing to go! In June, I was on a direct Frontier flight out of St. Thomas to Orlando that made the dreaded San Juan fuel stop, putting several travelers on board in danger of missing their connections in Florida. And then, this weekend, my sister was stuck at an airport in the states over the weekend with two little ones for multiple hours with a delayed flight. All of this has got me thinking about ALL of the airport and travel woes going on today. Not just to and from here, but everyone traveling everywhere! So, I took some time this morning to take a look at direct flights to and from St. Thomas. Because, let’s face it, if you can squeeze in a little extra time on either side of your trip down, it might be worth it to skip the unexpected travel delays surrounding your visit to Love City.

Delyvonne Breakfast Bistro is Open For Business on Bordeaux Mountain!

July 29, 2022July 29, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning and Happy Fri-YAY to all of you out there! I spent the day yesterday in Coral Bay and, WOW…There are a lot of expansions, new openings and transitions for different businesses out there in the works right now! Many of them are not ready to share their story quite yet, but you know you will be the first to know when they are 🙂 Today, though, I do want to tell you about a lovely little breakfast stop, high on Bordeaux Mountain, that is currently open for business six days a week.

The Restaurant Report- Fall 2022 Seasonal Closings

August 10, 2022July 28, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Hello, hello!!! I present to you all, the much anticipated, fully comprehensive, St. John Seasonal Restaurant Closings List! 🙂 But, before we dive into the nitty gritty of who is staying open and who will be closing their doors during the 2022 off-season, I have a few things that I would like to point out for those of you who will be traveling to St. John this summer and fall….

Real Estate Spotlight: Experience a Home Where Comfort Meets Luxury at Alice By The Sea

July 27, 2022July 27, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! How are we doing out there today? It is an absolutely gorgeous morning here on St. John with a light breeze and scattered sunshine peeking through the patches of clouds. Wish you were here? Well, today I’m going to tell you a bit about an absolutely stunning villa in a remote area of Coral Bay with sweeping views, solar power, a breathtaking pool area and a killer layout that is absolutely perfect for entertaining. And, as the owner of Alice by the Sea, you can spend less time wishing you were here. And more time just being here 🙂

St. John Establishment Lands in “Top 50 Restaurants in the Caribbean” by Carib Journal

July 25, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Happy Monday everyone! I hope that all of you had a stellar weekend! Teddy and I thoroughly enjoyed our time dining about in the “big city” of Old San Juan this weekend but when we got on that boat last night, I breathed a big sigh of relief to have arrived HOME to St. John. Even after ten years, it still warms me from the inside out when I arrive back from any length of trip off island. Oh, but speaking of dining…Last week the Carib Journal released their 2022 list of the top 50 restaurants in the entire Caribbean. And, while I was taking vicarious notes for any upcoming travels that might land me in the locale of some of the other fine establishments on this list, I was over the moon excited to see my favorite St. John restaurant had secured a spot in this extensive list! And, I would imagine this one a favorite for many of you as well….