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st. john real estate

Virgin Islands are for Hooters and Housewives

Hooters There may be some hot times on St. Thomas and St. John in the next few days, and not just because the temperatures are in the mid-80's.

The Hooters restaurant chain is bringing "16 of the most gorgeous Hooters girls from around the world" to compete in a TV taping to find the Hooters Dream Girl. 

They'll be doing some modeling assignments, "as well as participating in various competitive events around the islands," according to a news release.

It could mean they'll visit St. John.  (Wouldn't be the first time.  See our story from 2007 at http://barnako.typepad.com/news_of_st_john_usvi/2007/03/hooters_does_st.html.

Meanwhile, a rumor that another reality TV show will use the island as a backdrop has ginned up reaction at the Virgin-Islands-On-Line forum. 

"Lock the doors! The tacky invasion is about to start," said one correspondent on hearing that this weekend the Real Housewives of New York show may be arriving.  While there's no official confirmation from the producers, that hasn't stopped people from commenting.

Iowaguy said, "I'm trying to envision the Real Housewives at Larry's Landing or the Beach Bar–would love to be there." St. John Ruth pointed out that the weather can be a factor, saying "If they were here today it will be pretty interesting. I think we had a monsoon this morning and then a pretty dreary day. Not exactly bikini weather."

Meat at Maho

Pavilion Maho Bay Campground has a great reputation as being earth-friendly and environmentally responsible. 

So, the Inquiring Iguana is only mildly amused to hear that the eco-resort's restaurant has resumed its Friday night specials featuring beef(!) and prime rib.  Dinner is served at the Pavilion restaurant from 5:30 p.m. (Early Birds?) to 7:30 p.m.

The end-of-the-week hunk of beef comes with veggies and a salad.  There are at least three other entrees also on the menu, priced from $17 to $23.  Here's a link to the nightly specials: http://www.maho.org/MealsMenu.cfm

For dessert, you might like to browse the Maho Bay Art Center.  It features works in glass, clay, and textiles, with an emphasis on recycled materials.  It seems there's always a sale going on, too. The Art Center's Web site is http://www.maho.org/TTAC.cfm

Read a review of the Pavilion at IgoUgo. "We arrived just in time for dinner and a sunset that set the magical ambiance for the remaining of our stay," wrote the post by Jose Kevo.

St John restaurants ready for new season

The Inquiring Iguana hears:

  • That Walter Hinds is planning a few new dishes and deals at his self-named restaurant, located across from the Winston Wells ball field in Cruz Bay.  Among the new offerings will be an early prix fixe dinner.
  • Coral Bay’s Loreli Monsanto is going into the restaurant business.  Known best as the spark plug for the St. John Unity Day Group , which is Sportsbarfighting new real estate valuations, she’s planning to re-open Chateau Bordeaux.  Monsanto is said to be on the look out for a stellar chef to return the restaurant to its former gourmet glory.
  •  Wharfside's sports bar, on the second floor, is advertised for sale on CraigsList.  (Pictured at the right.) Asking price: $225,000.  More info at http://caribbean.craigslist.org/bfs/1400506024.html

See the view from St. John 24/7

From high above Mongoose Junction, looking off to St. Thomas across Pillsbury Sound, the boys at St. John Brewers have added more flavor to their offerings.  The latest spice comes online, via a new island Webcam. This was the picture Wednesday morning.

Webcam

But wait, there's more.  

Visit the site and click on the words "Open Player in Popup," above the photo, and you'll be logged into Reggae141, a streaming music station owned by a fellow in New York but the site says is "broadcasting from the sunny shores of the Caribbean." (http://www.stjohnbrewers.com/radio.html)

Meanwhile while the Brewers rock on, they've whipped up a new seasonal selection: The Island Hoppin’ IPA (India Pale Ale). A fall/winter seasonal brew, it is already available in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in a limited pre-release. (Think of it as a 'beta beer.'  beta release, test … get it?) Bottles will follow in the VI sometime in December, and a full scale release in the Brewers' distribution states (RI, NJ, MA, FL, NE, CA) is expected in mid-winter.

St. John ferries to start issuing receipts

After decades of lax money handling procedures, ticket sellers for St. John's two ferry companies will begin giving receipts to passengers. 

The giant step to accountability comes along with the installation last week of computerized ticketing by Varlack Ventures and Transportation services.  The system was paid for by the companies at a cost of $100,000, according to the Virgin Islands Daily News report of the ticketing system. (Full story here.)

Sellers will use computer terminals to issue tickets and luggage tags while crew members use a hand-held scanner to check in passengers and track the bags.

S believes the ferry companies' bought the ticketing system as a way of preparing the VI government to be more open to allowing for fare increases and operating subsidies.  For years, the Public Service Commission has complained that the financial records of the ferry operators are confused and unreliable.

The Iguana is amused that computers will be used for ticketing.  Frankly, he doesn't believe the equipment will be operable for very long.  He is reminded of a change of airplanes in San Juan once, on his way to St. Thomas.  "I have a ticket," he showed an agent behind a counter at the terminal.  "It was issued by the computer."  The agent said, "We don't have computers."

Anyone want to bet how long those ticket/luggage tag scanners function?

Sleepy St. John

Sleep If it seems like you sleep better when you're on island, you're not imagining it. 

The Centers for Disease Control reports the best rested Americans live on island territories and the state of Hawaii.

A nationwide survey of 403,981 people asked, "During the last 30 days, for about how many days have you felt you did not get enough rest or sleep?"

Folks from West Virginia said they were sleep-deprived 19 days, the highest number in the survey. Virgin Islanders were well down the list at 9.6 days.  In fact, the Virgin Islands was fourth-best for slumber, while Utah and Kentucky were at the bottom of the list (worst).

Honk if you see this car

LovecitysuzukiGenBug, an island visitor, spotted this little beauty parked in that oh-do-dear spot next to Connections.






GenBug's got a lot of St. John photos.  See 'em at http://www.flickr.com/photos/genbug/sets/72157622553719613/. (I love Island Dog.

Caneel charging for parking

Caneel1 If your idea of a great day is to camp out on the Caneel Bay beach, it's gonna cost you.

A visitor to the Virgin-Islands-On-Line forum report that as Caneel has reopened this month it's also begun charging $10 to park in the resort's lot.

However, the fee will be waived if you spend that much on food, etc, while you're there, according to one person on the forum.

For The Inquiring Iguana, this is going to be no problem.  He's always wolfed down a fantastic lunch at the beachside bar and actually refers to the place as "the home of the $40 hamburger."  That's what it ends up costing him and Mrs. II for lunch and a couple of frothy rum drinks.

Folks who don't partake of the ambiance and luxury of Caneel can always take a taxi.

Food price discount alert

Dolphin Gerry Singer writes an interesting blog, St. John Life.  He's a long time island resident and author of several excellent guidebooks.  He also keeps tabs on Dolphin Market and its on-again off-again discount deal. It's on-again.

Dolphin's in a tough location. Has been for months, located as it is at ground zero for the traffic Roundabout construction.  Getting into the store, never mind parking, has been difficult.  So, to try and make up for the hassle of shopping there, Dolphin's reinstated a 10% discount on orders of $50 or more.  Weekends, it goes to 20%.  Gerry says you may have to ask for the deal to get it.

The VI Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs often finds Dolphin has the lowest food prices on the island.  Add a 10-20% discount, and the deal is unbeatable.  You can put up with a lot of hassle for $10.

Cleaning the Creek

Creek_1 There's lots of talk and some action – finally! – about developing the Creek, the waterfront area where the car barges used to dock.  Now it's used mainly as a truck/taxi/van parking lot and for cruise ships to deliver their day visitors.  But before that happens – and it's a long way off – the Creek needs some cleaning.

Heavy rains a year ago drove runoff and sediment from the hills, into the waters around St. John.  Thanks to currents, lots of the dirt ended up in the Creek and actually formed little islands, reducing the navigable waters for cruisers and boat owners who use the Creek or the National Park Service dock.

Creek_2So, the Deputy Inquiring Iguana was not surprised to see dredging operations underway at the Creek. 

Think of it as underwater plowing to smooth out the creek bed and allow boats to go to and fro.  Mark Hardgrove, the VI National Park Superintendent, said that in some places the water level came up as much as two-and-a-half feet.