St. John’s draft drought is over.  The Tap Room is open for business at Mongoose Junction, and it’s for serious (and not so serious) beer drinkers. No froo-froo umblella drinks here. The proprietors, Cheech Vyas and Kevin Chipman, first made a name for themselves with their home-brewed Virgin Islands Pale Ale…the ale “with a hint of mango.” This is their new venture, and it’s a nice place. We were relieved to see that there is also an outside patio. Meet them, and see their new place in On-StJohn’s newest video interview. Watch it here!

No grumbling about development, okay? It’s on St. Thomas and it’ll be great for the economy. And we can’t wait for this place to get done. The new Yacht Haven Grande is still under construction, but a restaurant and a couple of shops are already open. And this is going to be a way cool place. Someplace to see how the other half lives. Some of the biggest, most-expensive private yachts in the world will be using this marina, and that’ll make it a great place to watch rich people and spot celebrities. We love celebrity/rich people-watching (mostly because they generally look miserable and that makes us feel better about not being rich.) Anyway, high end shops, probably great outdoor cafes, pools, fountains, boardwalks. It’ll be kind of Disneyland-ish, but it’s “over there”, so if you’re curious, take a day trip. If you’re not, ignore it.

For years, the old Yacht Haven sat on this site, all boarded up and overgrown. It always looked like a Don’t Stop the Carnival place just waiting for somebody to buy it and re-open it. But, $160 million later, and it’s a whole lot more than any Norman Paperman could have done.

Anyway…read more about it, and see some sneak peak pics from the Virgin Islands Daily News here.   

On-StJohn restaurant critic Charlie Joseph rates one of Cruz Bay’s longest-running restaurants, The Banana Deck, in his first restaurant review.

Okay gang…first a warning. This place seems to be a magnet for families with little kids and I don’t like little kids at restaurants. That’s what babysitters are for. If you don’t mind un-tethered little brats running around while bad parents don’t watch, then you’ll be okay even on a bad night here. That said, Banana Deck is really one of Cruz Bay’s most underrated restaurants. Come on! Beautiful, breezy outside dining, nice views from the rail tables, a wait staff that’s having fun and a great menu. Banana Deck grills up a mean ribeye, gives you 3 ways to have the nightly fish, has great, unpretentious specials and a kooky drink menu. If the baked potato soup is on the menu when you’re there, puh-LEEZ order it. This soup is so good I want to put the bowl on the floor and slop it up like a wild dog. The bar is a locals hang out. Banana Deck is also pocketbook friendly. And another bonus: The place isn’t always packed which means you can walk right up the stairs and get a table.

Thanks Charlie. By the way, we like kids. Just not the un-tethered kind. Go late.

VIDEO ALERT: YOU’VE READ ABOUT IT. NOW SEE IT. OUR INTERVIEW WITH THE TAP ROOM GUYS TOMORROW!

  Located on the East End, just outside of National Park boundaries, Hansen Bay is within Round Bay. Vie’s Snack Shack is where you can provision yourself for a couple of hours of solitude here. And, around that rock outcropping on the Western edge of the beach is Lime Tree Bay (also called Lime Tree Cove on some maps). That spot is major, major solitude. Congratulations to Gretchen who got Lime Tree correct. We need to get T-Shirts for prizes. How about shirts that say I WISH I WAS OSJ. (Get it?)

This week’s Beach Break is definitely a beach that is off the beaten track, but it couldn’t be a more beautiful beach. The gated walkway down to the beach on the western side is on private property, but you can get to the beach from the other end. And if you hike over a rock outcropping, you’ll get to a little cobblestone beach that is so secluded, no one would ever find you (so don’t die there.). Recognize it? First one to get it right wins a….um, well…you don’t win anything. But you’ll have the satisfaction of being first. (The correct answer tomorrow.) Watch the mystery beach here!  

A funny thing happened to St. John lover Derek Abbott one evening at Villa Capiz. A prolonged encounter with a very curious little frog. Derek named the frog Fritz, and happened to have his camera handy. Several great shots, including one, well, head shot. You can read Derek’s funny Fritz the Frog story here.

Fritz, his frog friends and the other little critters are the evening soundtrack on St. John. Forgot what it sounds like? Read Derek’s story, then click below for a slideshow of a couple of Derek’s great photos, and a couple of others kindly contributed to On-StJohn by master photographer Steve Simonsen. Look, and listen here!      

Things are about to get a whole lot nicer at the Red Hook ferry terminal. The project is about three months behind schedule, but will reportedly be up and running by the end of February. No more ticket shacks. No more food trailers. The 8,000 square foot building, officially called The Red Hook Intermodal Transit Facility, has proper restrooms, indoor concession areas, a bar, a newsstand and several ticket counters. Cost of the project? $9 million. Having someplace to get out of the sun while you wait for the ferry? Priceless.  

Instead of all this war stuff, Bush and Tony Blair should be working out some kind of treaty between the USVIs and the BVIs because the thing about going to the BVIs is that it is kind of a hassle. You’re basically going to England and all, but a five mile boat ride to another island shouldn’t involve jumping through all those Customs hoops. Checking in over there requires some time. Sometimes a lot of time. And you technically have 24 hours to check back in to America after you return, and Customs in Cruz Bay is like the Brandenburg Gate! BTW, don’t forget to write down BVI on your Customs form at the airport under other places you visited. There’s a stamp in your passport, and an on-the-ball Customs agent might just notice that.

Is it worth the hassle?  Look below. I’d submit to a cavity search…for an hour in that hammock.

 

A note about villa videos. If there’s a video, it means we know the house. Full disclosure: These are paid adverisements, but the comments below are our own.

Welcome our newest advertiser! Perelandra is a very cool, very nicely appointed two bedroom villa overlooking Cruz Bay and Pillsbury Sound. Here’s where it is: Straight up Jacob’s ladder, take a left at the top of the hill, go past Serendip and look for the rock sign at the end of the driveway. Great views, great sunsets, nice pool, well cared for, pretty darn private, and it has the biggest fan palm we’ve ever seen! If you’re honeymooners, or one or two couples, and you want to be close to town, Perelandra would be an excellent choice.  Watch the video here!

The additional Westin timeshare buildings are well underway. Looks can be deceiving. Driving down South Shore road, it looks like several new buildings are going up. In fact, they are existing buildings that have been completely stripped of their roofs and walls, and the concrete shells are being built out from scratch. They’re the top tier buildings on the hotel side of South Shore Road, and the once 180 or so rooms are being converted into about 90 two and three-bedroom timeshare villas. Some of them will get private little pools.

But that’s old news.

Here’s what we hear. The entire property will soon be timeshares.

Why not? It’s good money for the Westin. Sell ‘em. Get paid to take care of them, and take a cut when it rents them.

On St. John right now, there are about 100 Westin timeshare (oops! “vacation club“) weeks on the market, from $13,500 for a week in September, to $295,000 for a month from late February to late March.  There are also about a half dozen timeshare weeks listed for the Virgin Grand Estates timeshares. (A couple of ultra nice villas at the very top of Virgin Grand Estates.)

Hey, timeshares are hot business. About $8.6 billion in annual sales in the U.S., says an Ernst & Young study (not Ruth Ernst.) Timeshare sales have posted double-digit sales growth every year except one in the past 17 yrs.

And ya know what? Whatever ends up happening, the Westin is a pretty darn cool property.

As promised, here’s our exclusive interview with the beautiful Liza DeGuia, host of Travelistic’s The Map online travel show, about her recent trip to St. John:

OSJ: You’re hot.

Liza: Why thank you, I’m flattered. It’s a big relief to get that comment ’cause when I was born two-months premature, my dad thought I’d always look like an alien!

OSJ: Where did you stay on St. John? What did you think of it?

Liza: I stayed at the Inn at Tamarind Court. While it didn’t blow me away, it was all I needed! The showers were hot, the rooms were clean, the meals were hearty, and the air conditioner worked. The thing about the island is that you’re never in your room until way past midnight, so as long as the bed is made, I’m happy!

OSJ: What was the best thing you did while you were on St. John?

Liza: Bonding and hanging out with the locals was my favorite part! I guess everyone gets a nickname once they land on St. John and we got to be known as “The Video Girls”. I’ve never knew the island was going to be like one BIG family! I enjoyed saying “good morning” and “good evening” to everyone while walking the streets. I love that it’s custom to say hello. It’s a big change from New York City and a welcomed one! Other than that, I enjoyed jumping on the Ocean Runner powerboats and getting a tour of the island from the water. It was amazing!!!! And to have the wind in your face going 50mph while watching the beauty of the island and all it’s hidden nooks unfold…well, that was just pure bliss. I kept thinking how wonderful it was to see an island so underdeveloped! You could just imagine what it was like during the prehistoric age with the tree-lined hills and cliffs towering above you with no houses in site! I’d go back right now if I could!

OSJ: Why did you pick St. John as part of your very first The Map shows?

Liza: We wanted to find a destination that would make people feel a little jealous that they weren’t there too…a place that you had to go a little out of your way to get to. Plus, St. John had the perfect blend of laid-back culture, nightlife, outdoor adventure, and proximity to other islands!

OSJ: What did you drink?

Liza: Whatever the bartenders handed me! I rarely asked for a drink…I was “given” drinks! Thank you oh gracious and kind bartenders!!! ha ha… But I did love the Painkillers! The Blackbeard Ale was good.

OSJ:. Eat out? Where? Review?

Liza: Thumbs up to our great meal at The Banana Deck! That was delicious. I had grilled mahi-mahi and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned! We also did go to Woody’s to fill our craving for deep-fried goodness. I haven’t had conch-fritters in awhile and downed theirs with some ice-cold beer and a smile on my face! Other dinners we had were on other islands, but I can vouch for your local lobster! To me, they tasted sweeter than the lobster I get up here from Long Island and Canada!

OSJ: Did you hate the mosquitoes?

Liza: My middle name is Mosquito. For real! Look at my U.S. Passport! Anyhow, I never go to an island without a healthy supply of unhealthy DEET. It was my saving grace! And I know if I didn’t have it, I would have been miserable. Your strain of mosquitoes seem especially nasty! Not to forget the nats too!

OSJ: What would you have done if you had run into Kenny Chesney?

Liza: Kenny who????? ha ha. That was my answer every time people kept name dropping his name! “Kenny drinks at this bar.” “Kenny’s my best friend.” “I’m Kenny’s personal boat escort!” He’s like the unofficial spokesperson for St. John! I’m not a big country fan and had no idea who he was until someone mentioned Renee Zellweger. I guess he’s a town hero or something! So, knowing that, I would have just followed the rest of his fan club and offered him a beer!

OSJ: If you could go back, what would you do that you didn’t have time to do this time?

Liza: Hmmm…drink while driving??? (just kidding - I still can’t get over that law!) I would for sure hike Ram Head Trail and watch the sunrise. And Scuba dive! And don’t forget to check out new episodes of The Map on Travelistic.com!!!

Thanks Liza. Safe Travels!  

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Fish have gills. People have feet, and I don’t see many fishes taking jogging lessons. But plenty of folks love the diving experience and everybody’s got to start someplace. Low Key Watersports of St. John has lots of diving packages, including one for beginners who don’t want to make a big up-front financial commitment just to see if they like diving. In On-StJohn’s newest video interview, meet Ann Marie Estes from Low Key and learn about their very low key introduction. Watch it here!   

We got to this link thanks to a posting from “bobcside” on the usvi-on-line forum. Travelistic is a COOL site loaded with travel videos, and its new, weekly show is called The Map. It is hosted by Liza DeGuia, who is hot. No, she is hawt. She came to The Map from Plum TV (a start-up that does local TV programming aimed at rich people in places like The Hamptons and Aspen.) And Travelistic’s The Map is her new gig - doing online travel videos - and her first assignment was the good old Virgin Islands. Anyway, watch the St. John Part 1 video (they promise Part 2 soon), and her ventures to Jost and Virgin Gorda now, and then see our interview with her this weekend. We interviewed her because she is hawt. Watch Liza on St. John here.

ON-STJOHN VIDEO ALERT! Ever wanted to learn how to dive? Stay tuned for our first timer’s Low Key adventure!

Introducing a new, occasional On-StJohn feature: Beach Break. There is absolutely no worthwhile editorial content to this feature. Just a video showcase of some of our favorite beaches. A minute or so of beach video. Sometimes stagnant shots. Sometimes we’ll get fancy and mix it up a bit. But otherwise just mindless Website entries. Our first Beach Break is Little Cinnamon Beach on a shady late afternoon. Even in high season, this is one of those beaches you may be lucky enough to have entirely to yourself.  Go there for a minute!