Things to do

Friends of the V.I. National Park will host its third annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim. The race consists of three tests: a short course from Maho to Cinnamon, about 1 mile; an intermediate course from Maho to Trunk Bay, about 2-1/4 miles; and, a long course from Maho to Hawksnest, about 3-1/2 miles.

Sponsors include Alfredo’s Landscaping and Mongoose Junction.  The race will begin at about 8am.  There will be an after-race BBQ at Oppenheimer Beach at Noon.  Swimmers and everyone else are invited.  Details on the event are here.

Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is co-sponsoring Earth Day 2006 activities beginning with an Environmental Fair, Friday April 21st from 9:00am-2:00pm at the National Park Ball Field in Cruz Bay.   There will be recycling demonstrations, science exhibits, fun eco-activities, kids games, environmental story time, and a petting zoo.  Kids will also get to participate in a simulated archaeological dig, take part in a gardening workshop, and learn about coral reefs and safe fishing techniques. Friday’s Earth Day Fair will be followed by beach and trail cleanups on Saturday.

The 6th annual Wagapalooza has been scheduled for Saturday, May 13th.  For the first time, the event will be held at night  "With Waga in the evening, we hope to attract more families and more dogs.  It will be cooler," explained Nancy Louis, who’s organizing the show to benefit the Animal Care Center of St. John. "We are looking for those perfect coconut retrievers with win the much coveted prizes of ‘Best Island Dog’, "Best trick’, and "Most Look a Like."

Wagapalooza will be held at the Winston Wells Ball Field in Cruz Bay, the first time it’s not been in Coral Bay at Skinny Legs.  The event just got too big for the back yard of the bar.

Contestants can pre-register Wednesday at the Marketplace.  More information’s available from, Nancy at 340-779-4731.

The show will go on, despite the absence of the planned headliner at the 4th Annual Coors Light St. John Blues Festival. 

James Cotton, one of the greatest blues harmonica players in the world, has had to cancel his appearance at the Saturday night concert at the ball field in Cruz Bay.  Complications from throat cancer and pneumonia, explained Steve Simon, founder and producer of the event.

Simon said Carey Bell (Listen to a sample), another blues harp legend, has been added to the roster.  Also scheduled to perform are Mark Wenner and the Nighthawks (listen to a sample: ), and St. John’s Chris Carsel and the St John Blues Boys.

The Festival begins with a free party in Coral Bay at Island Blues Wednesday night.  Here’s the rest of the schedule: http://www.stjohnbluesfestival.com/bf/schedule2006.htm.

Other sponsors include the Jolly Dog Trading Company. and Theodore Tunick & Co.

The St. John Festival & Cultural Organization said the theme for this year’s event is Mas, Music and a Cultural Mix. A month of activities begins June 3 in Cruz Bay’s Franklin Powell Park featruring Pan-o-Rama, steel pan bands from the islands in day-long concert.  Other events including a seniors variety show at the Winston Wells Ball Field, the Prince and Princess Show, ending with J’Ouvert Parade and fireworks over Cruz Bay on July 4th. 

“The St. John Festival is one of the most exciting events on our calendar and travelers lucky enough to be visiting during this period are ensured an illuminating portrait of our past and present,” said Commissioner of Tourism Pamela C. Richards, describing last year’s event.  “From bike races to beauty pageants, the food fair to fireworks, this event truly offers something for everyone.”

Elaine Estern’s weekly free pour and munchies spread at Coconut Coast Studios at Frank Bay. Wednesdays, 5:30pm.

Elaine’s whimsical impressions of island life, fish, dogs, and people can’t fail to bring a smile.  Lots of gift ideas, prints, original water colors and oils, painted tiles, gift boxes, even luggage tags.  Something for everyone. 

While we were there, and sipping a rum punch, a beautiful peacock sauntered past the cottage/gallery.     http://www.coconutcoaststudios.com/

The Wall Street Journal reports the Caribbean cruise business has grown to "unprecedented levels" with nearly 1.8 million people pouring onto island beaches, up from 700,000 in 2001.  Great for Carnival and Disney, not so good for folks looking for a quiet place in the sun.

The commissioner of the VI Department of Tourism likes cruise people, but loves resort and villa vacationers.  They spend four times as much as the boat people, says Pamela C. Richards.  However, she reports, each ship that docks brings about $200,000 to $400,000 of "immediate economic impact."  And, some days, there are half a dozen ships in Charlotte Amalie harbor.

St. John gets very few cruise ships – we’ve seen only one multi-sailed Windjammer in the last two weeks. The Journal does say that, while "St. Thomas sees the majority of cruise arrivals, many (people) take day trips to St. John."

The New York Times spent 36 hours on St. John.  And an exhausting time was had by all, I’m sure. 

Start at Joe’s Rum Hut at Wharfside, then Woody’s (where they actually went to eat!!. Then on the second day, a picnic to go from Dolphin and snorkeling at Watermelon Cay, lunch at Skinny’s in Coral  Bay, shopping at Cocoloba Center, Miss Lucy’s for dinner. Sunday, Chilly Billy’s for brunch and shopping in Cruz Bay. 

I’d be pooped.

Suggestions for a short-term stay like this: Caneel Bay, Westin Resort, Maho Bay and Cinnamon Bay.  The article is online at http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/02/24/travel/escapes/24hour.html?incamp=article_popular_5

Not-to-be-missed.

Miss Lucy’s in Coral Bay is unique – and hardly unknown.  Despite being a 40-minute drive from Cruz Bay, it was packed Sunday.  Could be folks staying in the increasing number of villas on the East End, or it could be years of offering a perfect way to spend Sunday morning.

Eggs Benedict under a seagrape tree, while musicians softly play light jazz under their own branches, while you sip a spicy bloody Mary … it doesn’t get much better – anywhere.  I can’t think of another place on the island you can have a brunch, or dinner, six feet from the water. Fellow diners are in good spirits, everybody knows they’ve found something special.

If you want a table outside, you better get there by 9:15am – brunch is served 10a-2p.  We got there at 10:30, and there wasn’t an outside space available for an hour.  Parking is also tough.

An annual series of efforts to espy whales off St. Thomas and St. John is iffy right now, due to the
sale of the 50-foot catamaran that;’s been used in past years.  Last year, there were four sailings; no whales were seen.

Dalma Simon, activities coordinator for the Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John said the group is negotiating with boat owners to find a substitute.  Several species of whales migrate each year from the upper Atlantic Ocean to the warmer waters of the Caribbean in February and March.

In fact, a whale was spotted off St. John about two weeks ago, and the News published a photograph. 

If a boat can be found, watches are scheduled for Mar 4, 5 and 19, she told the Virgin Islands Daily News.