Things to do

If you’re on island this winter, don’t miss signing up for one or
more of the workshops, seminars, walks and marine activities sponsored
by the Friends of the Virgin islands National Park.  if nothing else,
you’ll meet some island residents, because the programs are conducted
by volunteers who live on St. John.  Kat Sowa, a well known artist, will offer oil painting instruction in mid-March, archaeologist Ken Wild will conduct a boat trip, and the Love City Pan Dragons will teach you how to play a pan.  The full schedule is here.

Something else you should do while on island.  Attend the annual meeting of the Friends, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Cinnamon Bay restaurant.  Joe Kessler, president of the organization, and Walter Chavez,
the interim Park superintendent, will offer “State of the Park”
reports.  You’ll learn a lot about the Park’s strengths and challenges.

A two-day holiday-themed festival of gospel music will begin Saturday Dec. 2 at the Winston Wells ball field, the St. John Source reported.  The second annual Christmas music festival will be produced by Steve Simon, organizer of many of the island’s outstanding music events. "It’s an opportunity for the community to celebrate the holiday season with our children and to put the love back in Love City," he told the Source.

Among the artists scheduled for the free Saturday evening concert are St. John’s own pan-man, Victor Provost, and Michael Dunstan, who Simon described as "the male version of Aretha Franklin."

On Sunday night, Santa Claus will be grand marshal of a candlelit parade from Mongoose Junction to the ball field.  He’ll be distributing presents.  The free concert that evening will feature Maryel Epps and the Eco People.

Even Kenny Chesney, sometimes a St. Johnian, has to get off "the rock," and Jost Van Dyke is one of his choices, as he sang in "Somewhere in the Sun."  Lots of vacationers staying at Caneel or renting villas on island also combine a day of snorkeling/diving and travel to enjoy the island’s White’s Bay and to Foxy’s famous bar/’restaurant.

The New York Times has discovered it, too.

They call Jost "the barefoot island" for its laid back atmosphere, beautiful beaches and clear water.  Getting there is easy.  There are several places on island to make arrangements, including Cruz Bay Waterports‘ at the Weston or www.divest john.com, and Low Key Waterspouts at Wharf side Village and www.divulge.com. Hint: you’ll need a passport because Jost is a British Virgin Island.

The third annual Flower and Garden Show at the Marketplace is gone but not forgotten.  The center’s general manager, Jennifer Dale, took these photos of the event Friday and Saturday.  (Click the photos for larger versions.)

Landscapers from St. John and St. Thomas, as well as artists and crafts people (from as far away as Connecticut) offered examples of their work.

Gallows Point Resort will be among the exhibitors at this weekend’s St. John Flower and Garden Show at the Marketplace. Gus Textrum,
representing the resort, will be on hand to distribute free frangipani
cuttings and Christmas Palm seedlings. He’ll be joined by two
landscapers selling plants and flowers, including Alfredo of St. John and ABC Nursery of St. Thomas.  The third annual garden show will also feature Gail Vande Bogurt of Maho Bay Clay Works selling ceramics and sculptures for gardens.  Starfish Market will have fresh pumpkins for sale and members of the Artists Association of St. John will be painting pumpkins Friday and auctioning them on Saturday.

The Student Conservation Association and the Friends of the VI National Park
teamed to work with 10 young people who spent a month on island paying
attention to some overgrown trails in the Park.  Brush was cleared,
water bars installed, trails rebuilt in parts of Cinnamon Bay, Reef
Bay, Ram Head and Caneel Hill.  Jeffrey Glenn, a co-leader of the crew, told the St. John Source
there was a lot of needed work.  "We did everything from re-vegetation
to repair eroded areas to construction of stone stairs," he said.  A
St. Thomas resident was part of the group.  She was Henrietta Alexander.
The 17-year-old high school student explained to the Source, "I just
like helping the environment because I want to study environmental
science."

Celebration Village opened in the parking lot across from the post office on Wednesday.  Named this year in honor of Nathalie Thomas, the Festival and Cultural Organization’s
treasurer, "Thomasville" will have an opening ceremony featuring the
Love City Pan Dragons.  The Jam Band will follow, playing until the wee
hours, the St. John Source reported.  Generally, bands are expected to
play inn the Village daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Thursday, the children’s village was scheduled to open, sponsored by the St. John Community Foundation.   Chairman Lonnie Willis told the Source the village will feature games, face painting, ball toss., frog toss, hot wheel racing and darts.

July 4th will begin with the annual J’Ouvert parade through the
streets of Cruz Bay, beginning at 4 a.m.  Fireworks over Cruz Bay at 9
p.m. will be followed entertainment from Cool Session and Traffik,
again into the "wee" hours.  Celebration Village will close at 1:30 a.m.

The three-day St. John Commodore’s Cup race events begins at Skinny Legs
with an opening party event Friday evening.  The first race starts at
8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, and after Sunday’s race the Awards
Ceremony and party will also be at Skinny’s.

Memorial Day weekend is primetime for St. John weddings.  One marriage planner on island has been conducted three ceremonies a day.

Jacqueline Johnson, travel director for Conde Nast Bridal Group, told a St. Croix business meeting weddings are good business.  Live music, flowers, transportation for a bridal party of a dozen or more, a welcome cocktail party, rehearsal dinner and reception — "It’s a gold mine," she said.

Erica Hebert, a wedding consultant on St. Thomas, agreed, telling the Virgin Islands Daily News, "May used to be dead.   Now it’s sizzling."  Steve Bornn, marketing director for the V.I. Tourism Department, said weddings are also an opportunity for repeat business. "If they have a good wedding, they are going to talk about it," he said, according to the Daily News. Couples return for anniversaries, and bring their kids and friends, he said.

A month-long series of activities and events leading up to the traditional July 4th fireworks over Cruz Bay began this past weekend.  This year’s theme is "Mas, Music and a Cultural Mix".  The kickoff event featured steel drums and Pan-o-Rama in Cruz Bay part.  Here’s the schedule for the celebration.