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Westin’s new restaurant is ready for prime time

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By Karin and Bob Schlesinger

Cruz Bay Prime is the new steak and seafood restaurant at the Westin Resort. We noted just minor changes (from previous food ventures on the second-floor of the main building, besides adding some) modern twists to the décor.  The friendly attentive service from the entire staff exceeded our high expectations.   

Cruz Bay Prime’s full-menu offers everything from salads ($8 Caesar) and appetizers ($12 lobster cappucino) to entrées including local seafood ($25) and a 16-oz. prime rib eye ($45).  The wine menu was small but diverse with a selection which most wine drinkers will find very acceptable. Our individual glasses of Louis Jardot Pinot Noir ($11 glass; $44 bottle) arrived aerating in mini-carafes ready for an initial pour by the waitstaff. Nice touch.
 
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Read moreWestin’s new restaurant is ready for prime time

Surly Cantina’s back

Surly_2"Anyone in need of a steak asado taco/burrito?," asks Suzanne Schlessinger, co-owner of what was the Surly Cantina at Wharfside. "We're back!!"

(Co-owner) Craig Sullivan is taking over the kitchen at Crazy Cracker's. We open on Saturday. With the Surly Cantina menu plus some other new bites."

A few weeks ago, a dispute with the landlord forced Suzanne Schlessinger and Craig Sullivan out of their Wharfside location the street even as a new eatery opened up in their place, using a similar name and the same chef, she said. 

Read moreSurly Cantina’s back

Hawksnest, out with the old

Park_sign Hawksnest is one of the best beaches on the north shore.  And it's getting some buffing thanks to new signage from the National Park Service.  These picture's show the difference between the old (The Inquiring Iguana took the one at the bottom) and the new one, above, was (taken by a real pro, Janet Simonsen (http://www.stevesimonsen.com/).

Hawksnest_old

It's been good beach weather for several weeks, even hot, say locals.  AccuWeather forecast today is for Real Feel of 90.  No rain for several weeks, either, which is putting a lot of pressure on cisterns.  (That roaring sound you may hear is a water truck on the way to your villa!)

Where the money for Gifft Hill repairs came from

Cnn CNN reports … "The U.S. Virgin Islands are riding a wave of federal tax dollars these days."

CNN estimates Gov. John de Jongh's administration has the territory in line to receive $130 million dollars.

Read moreWhere the money for Gifft Hill repairs came from

Construction projects benefit parking, roads, fishermen

Nearly $20 million dollars worth of government-financed construction, excavation, ferry boats and consulting are being spent on the island this year, according to an article in the Virgin Islands Daily News. Most of the work is being financed by an $87 million government bond issue

Reporting on a statement from the Department of Public Works, the Daily News said the largest project is the $6.9 million Cruz bay Roundabout which is 90% complete and due to be finished in June.

MapOther projects:

A marketplace for local fishermen and a parking lot at the Enighed commercial port costing $2.2 million.  Commissioner Darryl Smalls is quoted saying the lot is "temporary" until land can be found for a parking garage.

Read moreConstruction projects benefit parking, roads, fishermen

St. John music video on YouTube

Eslpeth_rose The island's multimedia guru, Steve Simonsen, has completed production on a music video featuring the work of a London-based rock group. Elspeth Rose, lead singer for The Awe Kids, asked him to produce the video.

"Elspeth contacted me through Facebook months before her trip," Simonsen said. "She asked if I would help her create a music video."

Her parents and brothers live on St. John. Her mother, Helen Lalich, is an artist (www.heleneltis.com).

The Awe Kids were founded just about a year ago. Within a few weeks, they were playing clubs and heard on the radio.

"Just in it for the Music" is their motto.  All their music  is produced by 19-year-old James Rockhill who also plays keyboards. They are touring the UK now.

Island Notes for Tuesday

Live de Life Living

St. John Life

Yelp

Stelzer on the move, doing good works

After almost a week doing charity work in Haiti, journalist and teacher Bill Stelzer is still off island.  Since heaving Port au Prince, he's been to Cambridge/MIT where he did some work with the One Laptop Per Child program (www.laptop.org).

Then it was on to New York trying to figure out ways technology can help Haiti rebuild.  The islander had a bit of trouble adjusting to Gotham, though.

"Was absolutely freezing. St John and Haiti just don't prepare you to walk blocks in NYC at night without a real coat," he wrote on his Facebook page.

Meet Me in Cruz Bay

The island's best known 'mainstream' singer may be Kenny Chesney. But a sextet from Mill Valley, California also deserves some love from Love City.

The Cow Bay CruzBoys were a hot 'house band' on the island in the '80s. Tom Funkhouser and Whistler Doug Van Nostrand first ran into Dore Coller in Coral Bay in 1979.

After years of being 'big fish in a small pond', the Cow Bay CruzBoys headed back for the mainland. Now they're on the west coast, playing private parties and festivals.

They've released one CD, Island Time. You can hear tracks from it, and learn more about the group at http://www.songpeddler.com/CowBayCruzBoys/index.asp

Looking for a St. John job?

Craigslist is carrying three advertisements for restaurants looking for help. 

Positions include manager, line cook or sous chef, and top chef.  The ads are here: http://caribbean.craigslist.org/search/jjj?query=st.%20john