Blame it on the beautiful weather, 85 and sunny. Or on Saturday being a "turnover day" when people are coming and going and so many Beach Bar-regulars are working to welcome incoming visitors. Either way, the 6th Annual Minimal Boat Regatta drew minimal participation.
The rules limited race participants to boats build using only one sheet of plywood, two two-by-fours, and 60" of duct tape. The result … lots of people showed up to watch, but only one team showed up at the 1 p.m. start time to show off their ingenuity and craftsman ship. Victory was quickly declared, and Regatta T-shirt-clad bartenders went back to serving "Greenies" for $2 each, all day. The Inquiring Iguana was not shy about taking advantage of the deal, and BB was a great place to wile away the PM.
Steve Simonsen’s New St. John School of Film and Photography is offering an ambitious curriculum of 18 classes in classroom space at the Gifft Hill School.
While the famous island photographer teaches some of the classes, the school not a one man show. Classes on Web design, Photoshop, and Printing Techniques are being taught by others on island, indicating that just because you’re in the middle of the ocean, you don’t have to be out of touch.
The classes are from 2 to 4 hours and cost $45. Most are one session. However, a course on video editing using Final Cut Pro 5 meets weekly. Other classes cover how to use the advanced features of a digital SLR camera and working with iPhoto to organize, print and mail pictures.
Many of the classes are Mac-oriented. However, classes such as the one on digital SLR, travel photography, and even GarageBand sound editing would have applicability and useful information for Windows users. You can learn more about the School’s offerings here .
Island art and music are now a double feature at Coconut Coast Studio’s weekly gallery reception.
Elaine Estern opens her home-and-gallery Wednesday afternoons, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. A few dozen visitors and locals generally show up to enjoy the art, the beauty of the sunset on Frank Bay, and Rich Greengold’s classical playing.
Also in this week’s St. John podcast, Estern talked about the receptions as well as how she manages to be productive despite the lure of island time. One of her secrets – she has three easels around her home so, whatever the time of day or light conditions, she’s ready to be inspired. She also explains the inspiration for a new series of 50 paintings of her year-old Chocolate Labrador, Truffle.
Listen to a conversation with Elaine Estern by clicking the play button below.
You can also subscribe to News of St. John’s weekly podcast by going to the Apple iTunes Music Store and searching for "news of st. john," or you can copy the words feeds.feedburner.com.stjohn and paste them into the subscribe field under the iTunes software’s "Advanced" tab. You can also use that Feedburner link to subscribe in other podcatching software. If you’re having a problem, e-mail: [email protected].
Hundreds of couples have done it before and dozens more will do it again on Valentine’s Day at 5:30 p.m. on the Trunk Bay Beach: re-marry their mates. The ceremony is conducted by Anne Marie Porter, known as the Barefoot Minister. You can register for the February 14 event by calling 340-693-5153.
Steve Simon, the island’s music man, plans to make St. John a blue, blue place next month. He’s producing the Third Fifth Annual Blues Festival, March 21st-25th, with the main concert in Coral Bay at the ball field, March 24. "It’s the biggest music event in the Virgin Islands. We sell out all the car rentals, all the villas, and all the restaurants" he said in an in interview.
This year’s headline performers include Jon Cleary, Billy Gibson and Joey Gillmore. Simon has contacts with them through his seat on the board of the national Blues Foundation.
Most people on island know Simon for his free Sunday afternoon jazz jams, 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Beach Bar. "It started seven years ago, at Mongoose," he said, "and within a few weeks we had lots of people showing up." A few weeks ago, Simon said, there were as many as 1,000 people on the beach, in the water, and on the docks listening. "A couple of cruise ships sent their tenders over and it was glorious."
Usually, the sessions are less crowded, maybe a few hundred people, he said. The core group of seven musicians, known as the Jazz Islanders,
play standards from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s infused with influences of
Caribbean and jazz rhythms. Other musicians contact
Simon during the week to arrange to sit in, too. Often musicians vacationing on St. Thomas
will come over to jam, too.
The Jazz Islanders have big things in store this year. They are
completing a CD which Simon said should be released by April. "Our band
has also been invited to perform in St Croix in April at the Sunset Jazz event," Simon said, "and then we’ve been asked to go to Italy’s Umbria jazz festival this summer," Simon said. "We’re very pleased."
The Festival’s Web site is here: http://www.stjohnbluesfestival.com/bf/blueshome.htm. It is one of several projects Simon will produce this year. Others include the annual free Christmas Festival in Cruz Bay and a series of rock concerts on St. Thomas.
Listen to an interview with Steve Simon by clicking the play button below.
You can also subscribe to News of St. John’s weekly podcast by going to the Apple iTunes Music Store and searching for "news of st. john," or you can copy the words feeds.feedburner.com.stjohn and paste them into the subscribe field under the iTunes software’s "Advanced" tab. You can also use that Feedburner link to subscribe in other podcatching software. If you’re having a problem, e-mail: [email protected].
Orleans, a ’70s soft rock group, is touring again and they’ll be on St. Thomas in about three weeks. Listen to samples on the group’s Web site.
St. John’s Steve Simon and St. T’s Jim Tunick are producing the concert Feb. 17 at Sapphire Beach Resort. It will be a Rotary fund raiser for the Nana Baby Home.
"Every couple I know has a song they call their own that reminds them of love," Simon said. "That, to me, is what the music of Orleans has always been about."
Tickets are $25 in advance,$30 at the gate. They can be purchased on St. John at Connections Cruz Bay, Connections Coral Bay and Chelsea Drug Store in Marketplace.
Elaine Estern’s Coconut Studios is the place to be Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The long-time island resident, and award-winning artist, opens her beachfront gallery cottage for receptions each week. The get together is very relaxed, as Estern invites you to walk around what is also her home and its new kitchen. “I still don’t cook, and there’s no stove,” she told the St. John Sun-Times. But it is finished with Estern’s hand-painted tiles.
The gallery is also a wonderful gift shop, too. Besides her original watercolors and prints, Estern has managed to affix copies of her drawings and paintings to any number of knickknacks which make wonderful gifts such as potholders, key chains, coasters. I know they sound kitschy, but believe me, they are charming,
At least drop by for a chance to see the beautiful sunset, and don’t forget to scratch the ears of the mascot, Godiva, the chocolate Labrador, who’s also featured in a number of Estern’s paintings.
Frequent visitors and locals know you can play tennis at Caneel Bay, at no cost, twice a week during the Tuesday and Thursday
round robins from 4 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m., according to Lee Hersh.
This year, the resort’s Tennis Center has added Cardio Tennis, an aerobic workout on the courts. “The
focus is on fun rather than instruction,” said Patrick Alle, the
director of tennis. The cardio sessions are offered Tuesday and Friday
mornings. Sign up in advance by calling 340-776-6111, ext 7234. There is probably a fee.
Free tennis instruction for 8-to-18-year-olds is available Sundays at 3:30pm at the Cruz Bay Tennis Courts, down the street from the Fire Station. The main instructor is Patrice Harley, a teacher for 16 years. All skills are welcome to join in the fun. No equipment is needed except sneakers.
Organizers of the 11th annual St. John Gatorade 8 Tuff Miles Road
Race are expecting a bigger crowd this time around. There’s a limit on
registrations to 700 people, according to Peter Alter, the
founder and director. Almost 630 people finished the course last year.
The race is set for February 24th. The course
goes from downtown Cruz Bay, along the spine of the island on
Centerline Road, and downhill (thankfully!) into Coral Bay. "If you are the person who
says, I’m going to do that race next year, then guess what," said
Alter. "It is next year."
Daily training began this week, with more runs and walks scheduled for next week. The schedule is on the Web site at http://8tuffmiles.com/.
8 Tuff Miles includes competition categories for
sprinters, marathoners, runners, joggers, and walkers. More than 80
island-made trophies will be awarded at the end of the day. And you
don’t have to be an island resident to participate. Just register (you
can do it online), pay your money – receive a t-shirt … and go!
Simple Feast is still closed in Palm Plaza. The shopping center near the Westin has been listed for sale.
Mr. B, the new 136-foot car barge operated by Boyson, is in service. "It’s great," said one visitor, who added the new dock facility at Red Hook has made it much easier to get from one island to the other.
St. John Car Rental got a rave review from a recent visitor who said his return time was extended by an hour without asking.
New at the Fishtrap? They’re now taking reservations, according to some out-of-towners. "Had a wonderful meal."
Island art and music are now a double feature at 
Steve Simon, the island’s music man, plans to make St. John a blue, blue place next month. He’s producing the 
