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New resort gets green light

Pondbay
A new luxury hotel/resort at Chocolate Hole has been approved by the island’s Coastal Zone Management Committee. The project, known as the Pond Bay Club, has been in development for several years.  The Committee’s approval came with about two-dozen conditions, some dealing with environmental issues, the St.. John Source said in its report of the decision.  (Click on the photo for a larger picture.)

During previous consideration of the project, there were concerns about a reverse osmosis plant the developers planned to build. It would have included a long pipe snaking out of the bay into the ocean.  This week, an architect for the developers said that idea is dead and, now, Pond Bay will connect with a planned undersea water line operated by the V.I. Water and Power Authority.  Any homeowner who lives between where the line comes ashore in Cruz Bay and Pond Bay’s location at Chocolate Hole could tap into it, the Source reported.

Robert Emmett, who heads up First American Development Group/Carib Limited Partnership, said construction will be complete by summer of 2009.  The project is planned to include 52 two- and three-bedroom units on its 13.55 acres.

Brewers’ pub is hopping at Mongoose

Ale_1
Brewers' pub is hopping at Mongoose 1The two guys who decided to give St. John its own beer have now also
opened the island’s first beer bar. Chirag Vyas and Kevin Chipman’s Tap
Room features their Virgin Islands Pale Ale.  “Brew small scale and
serve it in atmosphere,” is their plan, according to an article in the
St. John Sun-Times.  The duo does serve other beers, as well as wine; but
no liquor or food.  Tourists are invited to come up have a beer while
their spouses shop on the ground level at Mongoose. Vyas and Chipman
began selling their beer on their own, door to door, but have since be
able to secure a distribution deal with the territory’s major spirits
vendor, West Indies Corporation.  The Tap Room also has free wi-fi.

Advice on renting a villa

There are now as many as 600 rental villas on St. John, with hundreds more condos and time shares set to hit the market in the next 18 months.  How do you find the right one? Most folks contact one of the island’s dozen-or-so management companies. 

This week’s podcast features Eileen Duffy, the owner of Catered To, offering information and advice.  Hear what people most often forget to bring, why the refrigerator never seems to get cold enough, and why to can leave the party dresses at home. Listen by clicking the "play" button below.

Subscribe by copying and pasting this link to your podcatcher’s or iTunes "Subscribe" entry field: http://fbarnako.libsyn.com/rss  Or go to the iTunes Music Store, search for "st. john" and you’ll find it.

Disclaimer:  Catered To manages rentals for our two-bedroom  villa, BlueTang.

Punch and art in paradise

Estern_2
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.

Tennis anyone?

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.

Tune ups for 8 Tuff Miles

Tuff
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!

A half century at Caneel

Travel author Joan Tapper’s "Caneel Bay: A Celebration of Fifty Years" is now available.  Illustrated with photos by National Geographic’s Theo Westenberger and St. John’s Steve Simonsen, the coffee table book is a lush and glossy telling of the Resort’s founding, growth, and prosperity.  The first chapter, "Beginnings," goes back to the time when Arawak Indians populated the island, 900 A.D.

The Inquiring Iguana hears …

  • Ocean Grill has dropped its Sunday brunch operation but has added lunch and dinner on Mondays.  The Iguana has always loved the Sunday brunch at Caneel and Miss Lucy’s, but there MUST be others.  Where are they?  Send an e-mail to [email protected]
  • Pastory Gardens, where the miniature golf is (along with the
    killer sunsets) is beefing up Tuesdays.  "Carnivore night", said one
    visitor.  Prime Rib and Pork Tenderloin were on the menu, done by Wally who used to be at Island Blues.
    Two word review: "Very good."  B y the way, Pastory has extended its
    roof so that many of the tables are now covered.  More shade and
    protection from those unexpected island showers.
  • And Lime Inn gets a tip of the sun visor for smoothies in the Ficus Bar, where you can pleasantly wait for a table.  "Best on island," said one imbiber.

New governor says the right things

Gov
Gov. John deJongh brought the traveling inauguration show to St. John this week. "Saving the best for last," said Brion Morissette as he made an introduction for the crowd at Cruz Bay Park, according to the St. John Source.

DeJongh pledged to "initiate a master plan" for the island, the report said.  The Governor also pledged to spend a time on island, paying attention to challenges including real estate and development, as well as the quality of public services.  He tried to calm anxious residents that the ongoing real estate re-assessment will result in huge tax increases. (If the bills are ever issued.  They were not in 2006.)  DeJongh said, "Taxes can be adjusted."

The Source also said the Governor also will pay attention to the island’s need for a public high school and that many government services are inconveniently available only on St. Thomas.

The Gov.’s Web site is http://www.governordejongh.com/.

The next thing in cameras?

Waterproof_1I’m not selling anything here, but over the holidays I saw an ad for a camera from Olympus that’s good to 10 feet underwater.  This was new to me.  I thought you had to use one of those plastic boxes, shove your camera inside it, and hope for the best as you swim and aim and try not to hit someone, all at the same time. 

But now, these digital cameras, themselves, can go swimming.  Here’s a starter guide from About.com.

Just a thought.