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st. john

Resorts, Realtor using Twitter, FaceBook

Social media marketing is making inroads on the island, slowly. Many businesses on the island, from villas to snorkel cruises, have FaceBook pages and Web sites.  The Inquiring Iguana is most interested in what’s new, so static sites don’t catch his attention.  He wants to know ‘the haps”!

Grandebay

View from Grande Bay to St. Thomas

One of the latest efforts comes from Grande Bay Resort, the condo/fractional ownership development at Cruz Bay (and an advertiser).  Grande Bay is sending tweets several times a week, sometimes including photos of the islands, alerts about island entertainment events, and other times just sending best wishes to recently guests.
Islandia Real Estate has had a blog for several years.  Sometimes there’s news, most often they’re pitching properties. 

Caneel Bay’s Facebook page is updated a few times a week. The most recent post includes a photo of an annual staff party marking the closing of the resort until November 1st. 

Do you know of other newsy blogs/Twitter/FB marketing efforts on the island? 

Virgin Islands business opportunities

There are some interesting businesses for sale on the island right now, but what if you're an entrepreneur and want to start your own? Forumites at the Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com site have been mulling this question.

Lsugolfer in Baton Rouge said "So, here's what I do when I sit in my cube and think about how crappy this is compared to STJ. Start a gas station or a 'Louisiana'-themed restaurant."

JMhouse said, "Ha ha. I'm in a cubicle, too, listening to someone else have a loud conversation on a speaker phone.  I'd much rather be the Park Ranger that leads the Reef Bay hikes."

Other suggestions people have for new island businesses.

  1. "A storage business where you could leave your snorkel gear/beach chairs, shoes and whatever you don't want to cart back and forth." (Diana2)
  2. "A wind turbine, maybe somewhere on Ajax peak." (Laurie)
  3. "An electric car rental company.  And a self-serve car wash and vacuum area." (Msgcolleen)
  4. "Chicken Removal Service." (StJohnRuth) Details 
  5. "Underwater camera rental. Would have to be a side business. (Not big enough to sustain itself.)" (Jmaq)

Why people bring food to St. John

Twenty years ago, our packing for St. John always included a cooler of food and salty snacks.  

Not because we wanted to save money but, back then, there weren't fully-stocked food stores.  You couldn't be sure you'd be able to buy bread and milk never mind good cuts of beef.  That's changed now, but many people still bring coolers.

In a thread on Trip Advisor, most people said they bring food for convenience, not to avoid restaurants.  

"We dine out, but we visit STJ for relaxing," said Toes_in_the_Sand.  "We find it more relaxing at the end of a day at the beach to sit at the villa, enjoy a couple of drinks while we fix dinner.  No hurry, no parking, no worries."

Poolmom_9 added, "We saved a lot of money (bringing food).  We still ate out plenty.  It was nice to grill (at home)." Cleobeach1 said, "We generally eat out every lunch and dinner, but we have taken a cooler more often than not. We are particular about our meals, especially meats and specialty snacks like cheeses."

What about you?

Advertorial

The developers are calling it the Grande Bay Renaissance.  

Conceding "years of challenges and construction delays," the Grande Bay Resort and Residence Club is open for business.  An experienced, high-end resort manager is now on board to help oversee the project which is offering fractional ownerships with prices starting at $14,900. Read more about it here.

The return of Thankspigging

Thankspig

St. John's Ken Yolman is at it again, for the 11th time, hosting a community holiday feast at Skinny Legs. The blowout draws several hundred people, many bringing along a little something to share, in the spirit of the day: turkeys, yams, stuffing and other holiday foods – as well as beer, punch, sodas and whatever.

He tried to call it a decade last year. He's been doing the dinner since 2000, and tried to tell everybody that last year's would be the last.  Didn't turn out that way.  Lots of people pitched in to help him put it together this tear and so, he says, it'll go on. "It looks like Skinny Legs has nine more years, so I guess Thankspigging will, too," he said.

The event grew out of Yolman's 15 years on the island, attending his first Thankspigging but he had nothing to share. Now, he repays the generosity of others to him by organizing the event for everyone.

"This is a perfect opportunity to showcase our small island’s very giving and sharing nature on a day for giving thanks. Your country cousins in Coral Bay wish to extend an invitation to our city cousins in Cruz Bay to attend. Also our cousins in Fish Bay, Maho, Concordia, East End and even Peter Bay ( Aunts and Uncles ). To those who raft up or get together for an annual feast, do something different this year."

Bob Schlesinger was on hand at Skinny's for Thankspigging last year. There were about 400 people in the joint at 7 p.m. Looks like a good time was had by all.

Test 2

Test 1

Bob Schlesinger and his wife Karin own Tropical Focus Photography, specializing in weddings and family portraits.

Historical Society’s book on sale

Book_cover_MEDYears in the making, years in the telling. That's the story behind the St. John Historical Society's new book, St John – Life in Five Quarters. (The Five Quarters refers to the original five administrative districts of the island: Cruz Bay, Maho Bay, Reef bay, Coral Bay, and East End).

The island history is available in the Society's online store for $29.95. The book is described as more than 200 pages of "local stories, pictures, and history … accounts of prominent people and notable places, firsthand descriptions of earlier ways of life on St John, fact-based histories of estate ‘ruins’ we have rambled, and an impressive collection of interesting and beautiful images and photos."

The Society does more than sell books.

Read moreHistorical Society’s book on sale

Dream jobs on St. John

Rising Stars Some people would even take a boring job on the island if it meant they could wake each morning to beautiful sunsets, go to world class beaches, and roll into Woody's each happy hour.

But that life would be a fantasy. How about imagining the best job possible?

That's what some people have been talking about at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com.

BigCheeze started off the thread, writing "I think there may a few people that consider how to spend more time on STJ."  His dream jobs?

  • Charter Captain 
  • Villa Video production 
  • Bartender 
  • Villa agent 
  • Tour Guide 
  • Drink mixologist
  • Island Gigolo 

Xislangirl suggested bartender, villa manager and real estate agent.

SOonthebeach's ideas included photographer, event planner, and volunteer at the Animal Care Center.

"Funny you should ask. I told my husband just recently I think I could be happy pumping gas at Domino's in Coral Bay," said Joppa.

Hugo offered some realism in his comment. "Most of those jobs do have a pretty high burn-out rate here–fine for a couple of years, but then you have to start something like No-See-Um's blog to stay sane."

Other suggestions:

  • Beach raker
  • Rum taster
  • Sunscreen applier
  • Head of quality control at the Beach Bar
  • Personal assistant to Kenny Chesney

Mickey threw in this nugget of realism:

"I am doing my 'dream job' of maintaining villas for a very classy villa management company. Today (Saturday) my wife and I went to a villa of angry guests to work on their 'list'. We decided they don't 'get it' … (don't)l understand STJ. That is sad but we like what we do. "

Dream on.  What's YOUR idea? How would you make a living on the island? Comment here.

St. John guidebook available online

St-john-guidebook copyThere are two indispensable tools for tourists on the island, the St. John Map and the St. John Guidebook.

Both are published by Arne and Barbara Jakobsen and their company, Great Dane Inc. 

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The Internet version looks just like the one published on paper, four colors, cute cartoons and a bit of information about the island and its history.

Clicks on the pages take you to advertiser's pages with more information. It's just the thing for getting a head start on a vacation, even while you're still on the mainland.

A mobile-friendly version is also said to be available, but the Inquiring Iguana's iPhone found nothing when he clicked on the Web link via Google.  Nothing but this blank screen >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
A phone version would be ever so useful, with live maps and easy telephone calling.  There may be a version for Android phones, but the Iguana doesn't have one of them.

In the meantime, use the old fashioned Internet site: http://www.stjohnguidebook.com/st-john-guidebook/index.html. It's very helpful.

The silver lining story about Silver Cloud

You can't miss her in the Coral Bay harbor.

Silver-Cloud
Three masts, steel black hull, lots of rigging, looking like a pirate ship. 100 feet long and 110 years old. What stories she could tell.

Silver Cloud.

Like how during World War 1 …yes "1" … she did duty as a fire boat, according to a story in the latest issue of the St. John Sun Times.  Before that, a kind of ferry, taking captains to shore when storms threatened.

Over the years, the hulking vessel was in service up and down the east coast, as far south as the Bahamas. Some of the runs were doing the Lord's work, at least one involved smuggling, the Sun Times said.

Read moreThe silver lining story about Silver Cloud

Sloop Jones: colorful talent

Pic_sloop_2(From the archives)

Sloop Jones is a man of many colors, two names, and lots of talent.  Born Terry McKoy, he picked up the "Sloop" nickname in college and went into business with his partner, Jones, in South America several decades ago.  So when he came to St. John more than 20 years ago, he named his company Sloop Jones.

Working in Guatemala, Jones said he was struck by the vivid colors of the Mayan Indians, and their contrast with his grey suit, white shirt, and black shoes. He said, "Theirs' was a life full of color. The color in my life was limited to a sliver of silk (a tie)."  That was a push that eventually brought him to St. John, in a studio far out on East End, where he and his other partner, Barbara Alperen built a business designing and hand-painting shirts, dresses, skirts, hats, rugs, pillows and more. His artistry and execution are first class; his palatte rich in vibrant yet relaxing colors.

While you can find some of his clothing for sale in Cruz Bay, driving out to East End for a visit to the studio/store is not to be missed. Jones took time one afternoon to show me around, and we began talking about how he got from El Salvador to East End.