An Online Blog About the Daily Happenings of St. John, USVI
Woohoo! 8 Tuff Miles is here!
Just a reminder: The race starts at 7:15 a.m. The first finisher will probably come in by 8 a.m. The race ends at 10:15 a.m.
Remember this is AST. It starts at 6:15 a.m. EST, 5:15 a.m. CST and 3:15 a.m. PST.
So as we mentioned earlier today. Mr. News of St. John is gearing up for 8 Tuff Miles in the morning. That means we need to take it easy tonight so he can rest up. Well I figured that there’s no better way to rest than by taking a nice, relaxing sunset sail around Cruz Bay. So we’re heading out on the Barefoot Cruz. Anyone want to join us??
As we mentioned back in December, our friends over at the Sadie Sea and Barefoot Cowboy Lounge now offer a pretty incredible sunset/snorkel deal.
For a mere $40 per person, you can hop aboard the Sadie Sea and enjoy two snorkel spots. Once you’ve had your fill of snorkeling St. John’s beautiful reefs, you can sit back and enjoy one of its spectacular sunsets. Once that’s done, it gets even better. You then head back to land and over on to the Barefoot Cowboy Lounge for a Sloppy Joe and drink of your choice. And this is all for only $40. Seriously, this is the best deal this side of Texas. (Ok, we stole that line from them but we felt it was worth repeating.)
The trip’s a BYOB so feel free to bring along any soft drinks, beer, etc. They’ll provide the ice and coolers to ensure that your beverages are drank at a proper temperature.
Can’t make it tonight? Well you’re in luck. The cruise happens every Friday. The party starts at 5 p.m. at the National Park dock. You must purchase tickets in advance at the Barefoot Cowboy Lounge, which is located in the second floor of the Lumberyard complex. Tickets will go on sale for each cruise the Monday prior and will be available until departure time. For more info or if you have any questions, call (340) 201-1236.
Hey everyone, happy Friday! There’s a new webcam in town and we wanted to let you all know about it!
(Full disclosure: We received an email about this on Wednesday, so sorry for being a day late to the party!)
Ok, so as all of you know, the legendary 8 Tuff Miles road race is less than a day a way. (Side note: Mr. News of St. John is running it for the first time this year. So if any of you see him crying, panting or passed out on the side of the road, kindly pick him up and carry him to the finish line. I kid, I kid.) Sorry for the tangent … back to the story.
For those of you not on island and also for those of you who don’t feel like making the trek out to Coral Bay before 7 a.m. Saturday morning, you’ll be able to watch a new live feed of the finish line from the comfort of your own home or wherever you can get the internet thanks to Tory Lane and Keith Woodbury.
So last year, Tory was sitting at the finish line when he looked up and saw Broadband VI’s tower up on Bordeaux Mountain. Tory happens to work for Broadband VI and thought that it should be streaming the race live. So fast forward one year and it’s about to happen. So very cool!
The race begins at 7:15 a.m. Last year, David Riddle set a new course record finishing with 45 minutes and 46 seconds (Absolutely amazing if you ask us!). So if you want to see the first person cross the finish line, we suggest you start watching around 7:45 a.m. just to be safe. Remember it’s 7:45 a.m. local time, which is 6:45 a.m. EST. Early, yes. Worth it, absolutely.
Now where can you check it out? Just visit www.StJohnNow.com or click this link.
Traffic Reminder
Remember, Centerline Road will close between 7:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Saturday. So if you need to get through, plan ahead.
See you at the race!
It’s almost here folks – 8 Tuff Miles just two days away, which means the super fun recovery party is a mere three days away. We’re proud to be sponsoring a portion of the party and we wanted to let you all know about it. Here are the details:
Ok, so as we mentioned last month, the St. John Cancer Fund is holding a “recovery” party over at Oppenheimer on Sunday, February 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s free to attend and everyone is welcome. Now here is where we come in…
So for the first time this year, the Recovery Party will feature a beer pong tournament. (How cool is that?!) Well we thought it was super cool and we wanted to help. So for those of you who plan to participate (I’ll be there with bells on!), you’ll get to see our super swanky News of St. John beer pong cups.
What do you think? Cute, right??!!
The tournament costs $25 to enter and the winners will get their names places on a very cool trophy made by George Hollander, which will live over in The Tap Room. That in itself is very cool.
Not sure what beer pong is? Check out this quick video below:
Looks fun, right? All proceeds will benefit the St. John Cancer Fund, so please go clear off a table and start practicing.
DJ Adonis will be on hand to entertain the crowd and an island-style BBQ will be served. Shuttle buses will be available for $5. Parking will not be available at Oppenheimer.
Alright, so after yesterday’s post, I am pretty certain that a good majority of you are addicted to the ocean. No surprise there. And I’m taking a guess here, but I’m pretty sure that a fair amount of you would love to own a business here on St. John. If that sounds of interest to you, you’ll want to continue reading.
There are several different business opportunities available on the island ranging from a popular little eatery to a unique boutique. Here are the details on some of our favorite opportunities:
St. Johnanimals:
St. Johnimals is a pretty neat little pet shop located over in Wharfside Village. It also happens to be the pet shop that was mentioned on the House Hunters episode that featured Rob and Ken from Rhode Island. If you recall, they were looking for a small fixer upper. (You can read more about that here.) Well they opened and since listed St. Johnanimals for sale. It’s a pretty good opportunity for an animal lover. Here are the details from its listing:
St. Johnanimals is an exceptional shop dedicated to pets and the people who spoil them rotten. This small shop located in Wharfside Village carries a great selection of high quality food, innovative pet gifts, resort couture and sporting apparel, collars, leads, treats, luxury pet beds, fine dining ware, practical necessities, and all sorts of fun accessories. Special custom pet gifts and accessories are available for local island residents and visitors, all of which display a distinct island attitude. This high-traffic location is just steps from the ferry dock.
St. Johnanimals, which receives high marks on TripAdvisor, is listed for $75,000.
Fabric Mill:
Fabric Mill is another great opportunity as it is an established business with a great selection of clothing. Here are the details from its listing:
With more than 30 years in business, the Fabric Mill has become synonymous with great fashion and outstanding quality. Loyal customers, both seasonal and local, frequent this establishment. The Fabric Mill offers opportunity for continued growth and several exclusive lines, which make this a great business opportunity.
Fabric Mill is listed for $99,000.
Nest & Company:
We really like Nest & Company. It’s a funky little shop near the back of Mongoose Junction that carries a variety of fun items dedicated to the sand and sea (among other items offered for sale.) If I were interested in owning a boutique, this may be the one I’d go for. Here are its details:
Located at Mongoose Junction, Nest & Company is in a high-traffic location beside several boutique and fine dining establishments. Within the Nest, lies luxury, beauty and peace. Nest & Company on finding delicate, exquisite items made from top-quality materials. For the body, the mind, the home and the soul, you’ll find the perfect gift for a loved one or for yourself such as jewelry, candles, stationery, bedding, books, clothing, home decor, lotions, soaps and more. Visiting the shop becomes a sensual experience filled with fresh aromas, soft fabrics and gentle colors.
This well established shop is a favorite of both visitors and locals. Recently reduced, Nest & Company is now available for $125,000.
Joe’s Diner:
And last but not least today, there is Joe’s Diner. Known for its yummy eats, Joe’s Diner has been serving up good food since 1972. Located right in town (and under Cafe Roma), Joe’s Diner is yet another great opportunity for an established restauranteur or perhaps someone looking to become one. Here are its details:
Joe’s Diner offers a great location in the heart of Cruz Bay – high traffic, visibility and road access. The sale includes the business, furniture, fixtures, equipment and all inventory on hand. It comes with a five-year lease and two five-year options. The lease also includes a driveway. This easy owner-run business is turnkey for immediate purchase and partial owner financing possible to qualified buyer.
Joe’s Diner is listed for $195,000.
Want to know more about what’s for sale on the island? Check out one of these real estate companies:
If you’re like me, chances are you’re addicted to the ocean. That’s a large part of our attraction to St. John, isn’t it? Well, The Huffington Post recently put out a list of 17 signs that prove you’re addicted to the ocean. We can relate to almost all of them. How about you? Check it out:
17 Signs You’re Addicted to the Ocean by The Huffington Post
The ocean — or any brilliant, large body of water — is a powerful and beautiful thing. It gives you special moments that nothing else in the world can, from haunting yet serene silence to electrifying energy.
Some may argue that this fascination borderlines addiction. It is, after all, the only way to explain that euphoric high that being in the ocean gives you, right?
Below, 17 signs you are actually addicted to the ocean. (And are maybe going through withdrawal right now…)
1. You don’t understand the appeal of a ski vacation when you could be here:
The beach is the only vacation you ever want.
2. When you’re close to a beach, somehow more sand ends up inside your car/purse/pockets than in the sandbox at your local park.
And you never bother to clean it out.
3. The weather and/or surf report of your favorite beach is a website you visit daily …. Or perhaps News of St. John 🙂
What do normal people fantasize about?
4. Words cannot express how much you love summer.
I.just.need.it.
5. Your Instagram account (is filled with beach photos).
If there’s a sunset without an ocean, you just don’t see a reason for capturing it.
6. You don’t get it when one of your friends say, “I like going to the beach, I just don’t like going in the water.”
Seriously, why are you even here?
7. You’ll take a beach work out over a gym work out any day of the week.
Sweating is soooo much better when it’s by the sea.
8. Bali, Tahiti and Fiji are all on your travel bucket list.
And when you get there, this beach dance is completely necessary.
9. Your phone or desktop wallpaper looks something like this right now:
+50 points if the image is underwater. +100 points if it’s an image of you underwater.
10. Your heart actually hurts when you see photos of other people’s beach vacations on social media.
It’s just not fair.
11. The beach-boho trend is the perfect excuse for you to dress like it’s a beach day, everyday, regardless of weather.
A style? Nope, it’s a way of life.
12. You’ve seen every single ocean-related documentary on Netflix.
Deep sea animals are very, very trippy.
13. You either have a GoPro or have been begging for one for months.
And when you finally get one, your Instagram game jumps up 500%.
14. Your swimsuit is always easily accessible:
And it makes you smile just to see it every now and again.
15. You probably grew up close to a body of water, but if you didn’t, you definitely took on any mission just to get there as often as possible.
Whatever it takes, right?
16. You completely lose your sh!* during shark week.
I’ll see you in about seven days, kthxbye.
17. You believe, whole heartedly, that this is one of the best feelings in the world:
Hey tourists, this one’s for you…
Are you sick and tired of squeezing all of your liquids into tiny three ounce bottles and then cramming them into a quart size bag all so you don’t have to check a bag at the airport? Are you also sick and tired of lugging your suitcase around Cruz Bay on departure day (aka the walk of woe)? If this sounds like you, you’re going to want to read on.
Chances are you’ve walked past Connections one time or another while strolling the streets of Cruz Bay. Connections is located in an unassuming little building just one block from the passenger ferry dock. It’s a hub of activity for locals, but it also provides some great services for tourists.
Opened by Cid Hamling 32 years ago, Connections is the who, what, where, when and how of St. John. It offers an array of services from mailings to message boards. It receives packages for residents and tourists, and will also hold your bags for a small fee.
For those of you looking to mail a package ahead of time (for example, you’d like to send a full size bottle of shampoo for your vacation or perhaps some sunscreen), Connections will gladly receive the package on your behalf and will store it until your arrival (for a small fee which varies depending on the size and length of storage). If you plan to mail an item to Connections, you must call the office in advance at (340) 776-6922 as postal and Homeland Security requirements are necessary. You can also email them at [email protected]
For those of you who want to enjoy your last few hours on the island sans luggage, you can drop that off at Connections too. Connections charges a storage fee of $3 per bag per day. You do not need to notify Connections in advance to store a bag for a day – simply walk in.
Connections is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It’s open on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Connections is closed on Sundays. (Just a little FYI, there is a second Connections location in Coral Bay which opened 21 years ago.)
If you would like to learn more about the services offered at Connections, please visit its website at www.connectionsstjohn.com
All I can say is wow!
When we came up with this crazy idea for a contest last weekend, never did we ever imagine how popular it would become. We had more than 4,000 votes, 4,267 to be exact. That’s unbelievable! Thank you to each and every one of you who submitted hilarious “Living the Dream Problems.” Now on to the winners…
Coming in with 25% of the vote, the winner of a super duper, super swanky, News of St. John swag bag is… (drum roll please!):
Dawn with “While I was snorkeling at Maho, a donkey ate my lunch” – a living the dream problem indeed.
We have to give credit where credit’s due, so here are our second and third place winners…
Coming in with 24% of the vote and only 40 votes shy of first place is Cinnamon with “I hung my backpack from a tree at Waterlemon, only to return from snorkeling to find a mongoose hanging from the bottom of it eating my granola bar!”
And then in third place with 23% of the vote (it was such a close contest) is Kerry with “Cistern runs dry before my Rum does.” I have to admit, that’s a personal favorite of mine.
Swag bags all around!
And here are a few standout write in votes:
Seriously, you all rock. News of St. John readers are clearly the best in the world! Thanks again for participating and another big congrats to Dawn, Cinnamon and Kerry!
Looking to purchase custom, locally-handcrafted jewelry while on the island? Then you’re going to want to check out Jan’s Creations By the Sea.
Jan’s Creations By the Sea is a quaint little shop in Coral Bay. It’s located in front of Aqua Bistro in Cocolobo Plaza and offers a collection of unique, handcrafted items. Jan Keisler opened the shop in 2009. At that time, it was located near Lily’s Market on the other side of Aqua Bistro. Jan moved to her current roadside in November 2011.
Jan began making jewelry back in 2005 during a trip to New Mexico. She was visiting the state with friends when they happened upon an open air bead market. Jan’s husband Lance suggested they buy some turquoise rocks to see what they could do with them. Jan then picked up some Lapis and the rest is history.
“I didn’t take long to discover that not only could I make jewelry, but also that it was fun,” Jan said. “I’m hooked on the beauty of gemstones and crystals. The healing and soothing power of a gemstone is great.”
So how did Jan end up in Coral Bay? Well like many people, she grew tired of the cold, wintry weather of the Midwest. Jan and Lance bought a sailboat and sailed around the Caribbean for five years. During that journey, they discovered St. John. Soon after, Coral Bay became their home.
In addition to Jan’s handcrafted jewelry, the shop also sells hand-painted glassware by Stephanie Clark, leather goods by Tracey Keating of Awl Made Here, pottery by Sharon Coldren, recycled glass items by Ralph and Nina Fette and local artwork. Jan is always looking to bring new exciting goods into the shop.
Jan’s Creations is open Monday through Friday, October through August, from noon to 7 p.m.
Advertorial
So last Friday, we celebrated numerous couples who tied the knot on the beautiful island of St. John. Today, we wanted to piggyback on that story and let you all in on the secret for planning a stress free wedding. Two words: Wedding Planner.
People often wonder, “Why should I hire a wedding planner?” Well, the answer is simple: Because no one wants stress to accompany the most important day of their life. This is where Ceremonies of St. John comes in.
Ceremonies of St. John provides brides and grooms a worry-free wedding day. Ceremonies’ takes care of all of the important little details from picking up and delivering bridal flowers, to finding the best wedding cake, champagne and more. They also make arrangements for photographers, videographers, caterers, musicians and more, but most importantly, they make certain that all arrive on time and are waiting for your arrival on your special day.
Brides and grooms really just need to show up. Ceremonies of St. John will handle the rest.
Not sure what to wear? Or perhaps you’re looking for a unique wedding favor or bridal gift with some island flair. Ceremonies of St. John can help with that too. They can also arrange accommodations, welcome cocktail parties, sunset sails, scuba diving excursions, spa days for the bridal party, fishing charters or golf outings for the men, massages, private hairstylists, and anything else that you need to make your dream wedding come true on the island of St. John.
Ceremonies of St. John’s staff lives and works directly on St. John, so they know all of the ins and outs of the island and can address any need that may arise. Interested in learning more? Call its toll free number at 1-888-282-3933 or email at [email protected]
Want to know more about wedding locations, wedding requirements and more? Click here to visit Ceremonies of St. John’s featured business page.
