An Online Blog About the Daily Happenings of St. John, USVI
Celebrations observing the 50th birthday of the Virgin Islands National Park this weekend include dedication of a new memorial garden near the National Park Service building and a fund raising dinner at Caneel Bay. Representing the Park will be Walter Chavez, the interim superintendent, who will be on the job through most of the winter … Read moreInterim Park Supt. ready for anniversary
After almost 20 years, the Fish Trap restaurant is making some big changes. "We needed a little kick in the pants, and we gave it to ourselves," said Lonnie Willis, the owner, In an interview with NewsofStJohn.com, Willis said the expanded menu at the landmark downtown-Cruz Bay restaurant includes more West Indian soups, lobster and … Read moreFish Trap: East meets West, West Indian, that is
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 … Read moreCaribbean day trip to Jost Van Dyke
A barbecue featuring live music and free food is planned for the community playground next to the National Park Service building on Dec. 1 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Virgin Islands National Park, the St. John Source reported. The Park will also observe its birthday by dedicating a new garden next to the … Read morePlans for the Park’s 50th birthday
If you have been to Cinnamon Bay, you have seen a huge old kapok tree near the beach and the archeological dig. That tree is nothing compared to lots of other trees in the territory, and which are chronicled in a new book, Remarkable Big Trees in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Meeting Place Trees, Grave … Read moreBig Trees get their own book
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 … Read moreHiking trails get attention
(I got it wrong. It’s the Westin, not Caneel. here’s a Daily News story link, too.) Roland Czekelius, who was a cook at Caneel Bay in the ’80s, has returned to the island as the new executive chef at the Westin St. John Resort & Villas. He’s been on the mainland for the past 25 … Read moreWESTIN names new executive chef
Caneel Bay Resort’s marchers dressed as golden Aztecs powered the team to a first place finish in the Floupe category of the St. John festival. Second place went to the Westin’s performers, outfitted in madras dresses, sewn by St. John seamstress Yolanda Morton, the St. John Source reported. The island’s Love City Pan Dragons won … Read moreJuly 4th parade winners
The first meal cooked by members of the VI Culinary Team was a success, according to people who attended a fund raiser at the Westin to help finance the competitors’ entry in the annual Taste of the Caribbean later this month in Miami. Team chefs included Andrew Power and Rodney Rightenburg of Caneel Bay, along … Read moreWestin hosts VI Culinary team prep
Both Caneel Bay Resort and Westin Resort and Villas are reporting record occupancy rates during the first quarter of the year. Matt Balcik, at the Westin, said "we’re running at 92% occupancy," while Caneel’s chief, Rik Blyth said the resort has had occupancy in the high 80s to low 90s during the first three months … Read moreBusiness is great at resorts
