Local News

So yesterday, over on our Facebook page, we mentioned how we stumbled on a great new bar during a day trip to the British Virgin Islands. Well today, we’d like to tell you all about it. It’s called The Club and it’s a pretty sweet new(ish) spot.

How many of you recall when Pirate’s Bight burned down a couple of years ago just as it was preparing to reopen for season? If you do, you probably also recall how quickly a temporary structure was set up to the left of Pirate’s (if looking at it from the water). That temporary structure served as Pirate’s for several months while the original Pirate’s was rebuilt – one of the quickest rebuilds ever in my opinion. Once Pirate’s reopened in its original spot, the temporary structure pretty much sat vacant … until now.

My good friend Lori Stevenson invited me out on a BVI day trip yesterday along with her daughter Lucy and Lucy’s two friends Leigh and Claire. The girls are 19, which means that they can legally drink here. Knowing that, Lori needed some backup which is why I was invited along. These girls are super smart kids and all go to some pretty impressive colleges, so I knew they’d be fine. But I still graciously accepted Lori’s offer to join and “help out”. 🙂

(Side note: Lori owns Alice By the Sea, a beautiful rental in Coral Bay. She just had a last-minute cancellation for a prime week in March and is offering a 20 percent discount. Click here to check out her rental: www.alicebytheseastj.com)

But back to the new bar! So we hit a few snorkel stops and had lunch at the Willy T before deciding that the girls needed to try a Bushwacker over at Pirate’s Bight. When we pulled up to Norman Island, I was surprised to see a new restaurant operating out of the old temporary structure. I wandered over, and I have to say, it looks amazing!

As we mentioned, the place is called The Club and it opened about three weeks ago. It looks very similar to Pirate’s Bight, but it’s a bit fancier. They use real glasses instead of plastic cups, for example. They also have very nice and super comfortable lounge chairs, but they come at a price – a whopping $30 a person. They have an open air kitchen, a menu that’s very different from Pirate’s, and most importantly, an amazing view. Check out these pics we took yesterday:

So next time you’re in the area, go and check out the new spot over on Norman Island. It’s pretty sweet.

Well we might have not won the lottery last night, but someone else here on island did … Well, sort of.

You all remember the story about Moose, right? He’s the super cute dog who had been living at the Animal Care Center for more than four-and-a-half years. A big push was made several months back to get Moose into a loving home before his fifth shelter anniversary. Well the push worked and Moose went to live with a woman in St. Thomas. That, sadly, was short lived, and before we knew it, Moose was back here on St. John.

In an effort to help Moose with some of his challenges, he went to obedience training over on St. Thomas. He quickly flourished as we all knew he would. At that time, we all knew that Moose was a lovable, adoptable pet. The only challenge was finding the right forever family for him. Well that family was found.

Meet Amelia, Bella, and Carissa, three little girls who live in the Boston area and are super excited about their new dog:

So Moose had found his forever family, but how the heck is he going to get to Boston? Well some fantastic people stepped forward to help with that too. Here’s what happened straight from Moose’s very own Facebook page:

An amazing family from New York heard about his plea for a ride and WOW are they rolling out the red carpet for Moose. Shelter Manager, Ryan, and Moose leave on Saturday, Jan. 23 with them on their plane to New York, and if that isn’t enough, this gracious family has then booked a car service for them to go from NY to Boston. We are beyond grateful for Patty, Ron, Vince and Michele Riggi for their dedication to all the animals they have saved, but most especially for giving Moose a ride to his forever home. We are one month away from it being 5 years at the shelter and thanks to this family, Moose will never see that anniversary. Thank you EVERYONE who has shared Moose’s request for a ride. The power of social media really works and Team Moose in both St. John and Boston are thrilled that he is finally going home.

My gosh, I have to admit, that brought a little tear to my eye.

So I’d like to extend a huge THANK YOU to all of you who shared Moose’s story and helped him in any and every way. And a HUGE thank you to the Riggi family. You all are an amazing family. Thanks for spreading some love in our little slice of paradise.

I was scrolling through News of St. John’s Twitter feed this morning when I came across an article on airfare. Apparently, airline prices are about to hit a three-year low. You know what that means, right? Time to start vacation shopping!

According to Hopper, an airfare price predicting app, the average price for a round trip ticket will be almost 15 percent lower than it was last January. That’s pretty darn good. The decrease in price is thanks to cheap oil, increased competition and the race among airlines to provide cheap, bare-bones ticket options. But these prices won’t last, the experts say. So hurry and buy your tickets now.

We did some research to give you an idea of what it ail cost to come and spend time with us in our little slice of paradise. Here are a few prices we found for a six-night stay in the next 30 days:

Boston to St. Thomas: $269 round trip on American Airlines leaving on February 4th

New York to St. Thomas: $326 round trip on Delta leaving January 20, January 29, February 1 or February 3

Washington, DC to St. Thomas: $290 round trip on Delta leaving January 20, 22, 26, 27 & 29, February 2 and 3

Chicago to St. Thomas: $331 round trip on Delta leaving February 3

Dallas to St. Thomas: $417 round trip on American leaving January 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 31, February 1, 2 and 4

Those are some of the best prices I’ve seen in a long time. Happy shopping!

We posed a question over on our Facebook page the other day when Powerball’s jackpot was $1.3 billion … If you won Powerball, what’s the first thing you would do? Overwhelming the answer was “buy a house on St. John.” Well folks, we’re making that a tad easier for all of you this morning. No, not in the money department, but rather in the shopping department. Check out Villa Divertimento, a private pool villa home that just listed for sale with 340 Real Estate Co.

Villa Divertimento is a beautiful custom built home that faces East into Chocolate Hole harbor. This masonry and stone villa offers one one level, and two air conditioned bedrooms with en suite bathrooms complete with outdoor stone showers. A great room, dining room, kitchen, laundry and half bath complete the home. There is a sleeping loft in the great room, offering two additional twin beds for guest overflow.

A pool cabana sits beside the 30-foot swimming pool, which offers an additional sitting area. Custom mahogany windows and doors, poured concrete counter tops and a large parking area are just some of this villa’s many features. The insulated roof has a solar net metering system on it to greatly reduce and zero out your electric bills. That’s a big deal down here. And for those of you simply looking for some extra income after winning the Powerball jackpot tomorrow night, Villa Divertimento is also a successful turnkey short-term rental.

Villa Divertimento is being offered at $1.3. For more information, please contact Tammy Donnelly at 340 Real Estate Co. at [email protected]

Looking to escape the cold for a last-minute trip to the warm and sunny island of St. John? Well you’re in luck! Our friends over at Island Getaways have some pretty good last minute deals happening for the month of January.

Chateau Margot

Chateau Margot is six bedroom, 5.5 bath home snuggled into the verdant green hillside of Bordeaux Mountain. Overlooking Coral Bay, the impressive 4 1/2 acre estate affords majestic views of St. John’s East End as well as the British Virgin Islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Norman and several smaller cays along the Sir Francis Drake Channel and is just minutes to the National Park beaches.

Guests can enjoy 20% off for all available dates during the month of January 2016. Click here for more information. 

Mystic Ridge

Mystic Ridge is a four bedroom, 4.5 bath home perched high on a mountain ridge on its own private expanse of land surrounded by the National Park. This luxurious home, located just just minutes to the National Park beaches, offers dramatic and spectacular down island views of the Drake Channel, the British Virgin Islands, St. John’s East End, Coral Bay and the National Park mountainsides.

Guests can enjoy 20% off for all available dates during the month of January 2016. Click here for more information.

Rendezview

Rendezview is a four bedroom, 3.5 bath beachfront villa that offers a combination of sophistication and romantic tropical charm. Rendezview has a massive 45 X 14 pool that’s 52″ deep with bench seating throughout, surrounded by 3,500 square feet in decking. Located just steps from Hart Bay beach, known for its great snorkeling and beach combing, Rendezview has panoramic views of St. John’s South Shore, the Caribbean Sea and St. Croix on clear days.

Guests can enjoy 20% off for all available dates during the month of January 2016. Click here for more information. 

Island Getaways is also offering 15% off of available January 2016 dates at Casa Luna and 10% off of January 2016 dates at Villa Madeira. Click here for more information. 

All offers are subject to availability.

For more information on any of these villas, please call Kathy McLaughlin at Island Getaways at (888) 693-7676.

Sponsored Post

If you love the Soggy Dollar Bar and let’s be honest, who doesn’t, if you love the islands, and if you dream of St. John on a daily basis and need a daily fix other than reading our fun little website here, you’re going to love this … Soggy Dollar just launched a new online radio station!

We received a ton of emails over the past few weeks asking what happened to Love City Radio. Well today we can tell you that the folks behind the radio station have moved over to the Soggy Dollar Bar where they just launched Soggy Dollar Radio – a sunny place for a shady broadcast. You can access the radio station online 24/7 at www.soggydollarradio.com.

Another fun part beside the music is that the website has a slideshow of sorts, making you feel like you’re right there at the Soggy Dollar Bar. Painkiller anyone?

Ut oh, the secret’s getting out…

Well it looks like our little slice of heaven may soon be getting a flurry of new visitors because it just appeared on the home page of the New York Times! How fancy is that?!!

The New York Times printed a list of 52 places to go in 2016, and you know who is number four on the list – Coral Bay! Here’s what they had to say:

It’s a big world out there. From ancient temples to crystalline waters, here are our top destinations to visit this year. 

4. Coral Bay, St. John: Visit the US Virgin Island’s quiet corner before big development

The beaches are less crowded, the emphasis is on local over commercial, and the people share a friendly sense of neighborhood pride. Among the town’s attractions: monthly full-moon parties at Miss Lucy’s, and a Thanksgiving “Thankspigging” pot luck pig roast hosted by the community at Skinny Legs, where the eating often swells into a singalong. But this quiet community may soon change. Visit before a proposed outlet mall and megamarina, expected to engulf the bay, transforms the laid-back atmosphere of this little corner of the United States Virgin Islands.

I’m happy that Coral Bay made the list. It shows just how special this part of the island is.

We have two great events happening here on St. John tonight. The first is a play that’s being put on by the students at Gifft Hill School – Bugsy Malone, Jr. The second is a fun event happening later tonight at Mongoose Junction.

Bugsy Malone, Jr. is a collaboration between Gifft Hill School and the New England Youth Theatre out of Brattleboro, Vermont. Staff from the theater group travels to St. John several times each year to work with our students on pretty incredible productions. This show features 35 students from Gifft Hill as performers, set design crew, costume designers, pit band members and tech crew members.

Here’s a quick synopsis of the play:

Two gangs in a fictitious city populated only by children are in a rivalry of Capone-ian standards. Dandy Dan’s gang has gotten the upper hand since acquiring the “splurge” gun (a weapon that shoots whip cream). BugsyMalone, a one-time boxer, is thrust into the limelight when he becomes the last chance Fat Sam’s gang has of surviving. All Bugsy really wants to do is spend time with his new love Blousey…but that just isn’t in the cards for our hero.

The play happens tonight at 7 p.m. in the atrium at the upper campus of Gifft Hill School. There are two showings tomorrow – one at 2 p.m. and a second at 7 p.m. – and there will be a fourth showing on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets can be pre-purchased by calling (340) 776-1730.

First Fridays at Virgin Fire … Or the Second 😉

The second event happening tonight also sounds like it’s going to be great fun. Beginning tonight and continuing on the first Friday of every month, Virgin Fire will be holding a First Friday event. And yes, we know that tonight is technically the second Friday of the month, but hey, we’re on island time!

Live music happens from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a dance party starts at 9:30 p.m. Complimentary champagne will be offered to all Capricorns.

Hope to see you all there!

Today we’d like to tell you all about an amazing new boat being offered for both high end day trips and term charters – Sea Mystic. This motor yacht is the epitome of luxury. For those of you lucky enough to charter it, kudos. For the rest of us, please join me in daydreaming.

Sea Mystic is a luxury 76-foot Queenship motor yacht being offered for day and term charters by Blue Mystic Charters. Sea Mystic joins the company’s 43-foot Chris Craft that first began chartered out of St. John in 2014. Blue Mystic Charters offers luxury, high end day trips, term charters, airport pickups and yacht stays out of both St. John and St. Thomas.

Sea Mystic sleeps six in beautifully appointed private cabins, each with their own bathroom. The Master cabin includes a shower and spa Jacuzzi tub and is the definition of luxury. Tempur-Pedic mattresses in the master, VIP and twin cabins, central air conditioning and all the amenities provide for the ultimate experience while cruising the Caribbean waters.

Sea Mystic will offer day charters and term charters, all of which are all inclusive of expert captain, attentive crew, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, hors d’oeuvres and fuel (customs fees not included) for two to six people. Weekly charters are $27,950 and increase for holidays. Day charters are available in the USVI and BVI for $4,950 for the day. Additionally, the yacht will be available for a two-night charter tour in the British Virgin Islands, including stops at Copper Island and the Baths ($10,000) or a three-night charter tour including St. John, Cooper Island, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke ($14,950).

All overnight and term charters are all-inclusive with the exception of customs fees and include breakfast, lunch and most dinners, with stops for meals at Foxy’s Saba Rock and other idyllic locations. Guests can enjoy on-board meals prepared by the yacht’s chef such as Pine Nut Crusted Sea Bass or Caribbean Mango Pork Loin. The yacht is also available for overnight stays in St. Thomas or St. John, perfect for those looking to extend their Virgin Islands stay, experience boat life or simply have an alternate “villa” vacation.

Blue Mystic Charters will continue day charters with the 43-foot Chris Craft Blue Mystic, formerly named Jabulani. Day charters to the USVI or BVI will be all-inclusive with the exception of BVI customs and are available for $2,495 for up to six people. Blue Mystic will also be available for airport pickups with a St. Thomas taxi arrangement from airport to the yacht at Saga Haven Marina in St. Thomas and includes an overnight, breakfast and drop off on St. John, allowing those who arrive on late flights to have an enjoyable, relaxing experience and easy transportation to St. John.

Both yachts are now available for booking, and Blue Mystic Charters will pay a 20% commission to any referral source that leads to a booked charter. Yacht photos, charter options, full rates and details are available online. For more information on the new luxury yacht Sea Mystic and Blue Mystic Charters, please visit www.bluemysticcharters.com

If you’ve been lucky enough to be on island over the past few weeks, chances are you’ve noticed an absence of leaves on certain small trees around the island. It’s also probably very likely that you’ve noticed a very attractive little caterpillar nearby. Well no need to worry, the leaves aren’t disappearing around the island. It’s simply frangipani season.

Each year the pseudosphinx tetrio, which is a fancy way of saying the frangipani caterpillar or frangipani hornworm, makes an appearance on St. John, eating up all of the frangipani leaves in its paths. The black caterpillars are very flashy looking with bright red heads and almost neon yellow stripes along their bodies. They can eat up to three leaves a day, which means you might have a gorgeous frangipani tree in the morning and simply a tree trunk and branches in the afternoon. But no need to worry, the caterpillars don’t kill the tree; they simply eat all of the leaves. 

Frangipani is also known as plumeria. There’s a great looking one out at Annaberg. We haven’t been out there in a bit, so I’m not sure if it’s in bloom or if the caterpillars have gotten to it yet. If any of you are out there, please let us know.

Here’s a bit more information on the frangipani tree and caterpillar courtesy of Gerald Singer’s See St. John:

The native or wild frangipani has a smooth bark and long slender leaves. It produces a pleasant aromatic flower that is always white.

Its imported relative, Plumeria rubra, may have pink or white flowers.

Both varieties have soft fat twigs that serve to hold water during dry periods.

Every year their leaves are eaten by a beautiful, large, black and yellow caterpillar with a red head.

They are called frangipani caterpillars, and after they eat up all the leaves they begin a metamorphosis and eventually become a big dark moth called the sphinx moth.

I don’t know about all of you, but I think the caterpillar is more visually pleasing than the moth. But alas, the circle of life. 🙂