Downtown Cruz Bay turned into a bit of New Orleans late in December
as Jambalaya became the island’s favorite food for a day. "Mardi Gras
was a main theme as colorful beads hung from trees and costume masks
were readily available," according to a report by
CaribbeanNetNews.com. Chosen as the best chef with the most hot stuff
was Seamus Mulcare, the chef at Woody’s. But he had some experience.
Mulcare’s been crafting a Jambalaya menu since 1999. Funds raised by
this year’s cook-off will be donated to St Thomas Chapter of Habitat
for Humanity, CaribbeanNetNews.com reported.
Podcast: “A magical island”
Even folks who live in the territory agree St. John is special.
Anthony Finta, whose Caribbean Online Web site and forum is a great
source of information for visitors, can’t explain it. Reading messages
on his own boards, Finta said, "They just feel it’s a magical place.
People love to go there and when they are not there, they love to hear
about other people going and hearing what’s going on."
In an
interview, Finta said many of the questions on his St. John forum are about the
same subjects. Where are the best beaches, where’s the best
snorkeling, how much does it cost to get from the airport to Red Hook,
and so on. From his vantage point, Finta hears several restaurants
getting good reviews this year, including Sweet Plantains and La Tapa.
A conversation with Anthony Finta of Caribbean-On-Line.com. Listen by clicking the "play" button below.
Subscribe by copying this link to your podcatcher: http://fbarnako.libsyn.com/rss Or go to the iTunes Music Store, search for "st. john" and you’ll find it.
The Inquiring Iguana hears …
The island was packed over Christmas week. Reservations at
restaurants were a must, and not just at the high-end places. Sweet
Plantains (777-4653) in Coral Bay – getting great reviews – packed. Call ahead.
Aqua Bistro (776-5336), also in Coral Bay, slammed by people (lots of customers) and experiencing a
staff shortage simultaneously … not good.
Satyamuna at Marketplace … the new veggie place … is getting
some good comments. Mushroom lasagna and an eggplant dish got four
stars. Kudos also for old reliables Cafe Roma (776-6524), Lime Inn (776-6425), and Panini
Beach (693-9119).
Skinny Legs’ shopping arcade is drawing attention.
Lots of island souvenirs and clothing for the beach and limin’.
The ferry from Charlotte Amalie is much less a hassle than from Red
Hook, which requires a length-of-the island cab ride. Here’s the
schedule.
Tourists welcome
The general manager at Caneel Bay says his resort is sold out
through the first week of the New Year, while Ocean Runner boat rentals
agreed, "We’re booked just about every day." In comments to the St.
John Source, the businessmen suggested this season’s shaping up about
the same as last year’s. "We have lots of longtime guests back. The
property is filled up, and people are making merry," Caneel Bay Resort
manager Rik Blyth told the Source.
Lonnie Willis, owner of the Fish Trap and Stone Terrace restaurants
and St. John Car Rental, sounded cautious in her remarks to the
reporter. She worries that more hassles at airport over security may
be holding people back from traveling. She’s also concerned those
visitors to the Westin’s new time share units may be less likely to
travel downtown. "People tend to eat in," she said. Listen to an earlier podcast with Lonnie Willis.
NY Times finds St. John a bargain
In a recent feature about long weekends to the Caribbean for less than $1,000, The New York Times said it can be done on island – including airfare. "You don’t have to spend $530 a night at Caneel Bay," but … 🙂 Oh, well.
The economical alternative is, you guessed it, Cinnamon Bay Campground. Two-person tents for $86/night. The Tree Lizards restaurant gets kudos
for "basic fare like burgers and sandwiches at reasonable prices." The
Times likes Orbitz for bargain hunting plane tickets. Here’s the
story.
Trip Report: 14th visit, still more to do
Bill King’s been coming to St. John since 1991, when he visited
the VI’s to be with his son, then a chef on St. Thomas. That was
about 14 trips ago, King said in a conversation. But he hasn’t tired of St. John.
The latest vacation, in December, was
made memorable by a trip to the East End, an afternoon at Vie’s beach, a "fantastic" dinner at the Balcony, breakfast at the Donkey Diner, a scuba dive off Caneel, and a disappointing visit to the Ocean Grill at Mongoose Junction.
King is active in the St. John forum at Anthony Finta’s Virgin-Island-On-Line where he’s known as Bill in Va. Several other posters were on island while he and his wife were there,and they met up at the Beach Bar on a Sunday afternoon. "We knew all about each other instantaneously," because of the forums, King said.
A conversation with serial-visitor and chat board regular Bill King is this week’s News of St John podcast. Listen by clicking the "play" button below.
Subscribe by copying this link to your podcatcher: http://fbarnako.libsyn.com/rss Or go to the iTunes Music Store, search for "st. john" and you’ll find it.
Turtle Time
In the 20+ years I’ve loved St.
John, I’ve been able to swim with turtles only once, and that was off the Caneel Bay beach.
Lark22
had her up-close-and-personal time with a Hawksbill at Trunk Cay last week. Her husband had
the camera … and she’s given us the video. (Click to see it.) Here’s her story.
Hearing for new resort draws residents
Island gift shop owner Susan Stair and former Sen. Robert O’Connor Jr. spoke in favor of approving plans for the Pond Bay resort project at Chocolate Hole during a Coastal Zone Management hearing.
O’Connor said that when plans were proposed for the Westin,
residents expressed concerns. "And this has been one of the best things
for St. John," he said.
Stair added, "This piece of property was
intended to be a resort, and most of the people who bought property
knew it was going to be a resort," the St. John Source reported.
However, Lisa Durgin, a villa home manager, opposed the Pond Bay project. She
said there is no need for more hotel rooms, since the island has more than 500
rental villas.
The Inquiring Iguana hears
- 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."
Calling all VI bloggers!
I haven’t found many. Here’s one, from a fellow who moved on
island a few months ago. Sporadic posts, not much about St. Thomas island life. Guess he doesn’t have much time, working two
jobs. There’s a lot of that in the islands. Ain’t cheap.
And the archeologists at Cinnamon Bay have a blog, too.
Pass along others and I’ll
start a blogroll.