This picture really doesn’t tell the story, because by the time I grabbed my camera the barge crew had already screamed and yelled loud enough that this truck driver stopped, and pulled forward. But here’s what happened. As we’re loading on the last cars, the driver of this truck, a good half a car length in front of the little car behind him, just started backing up. Nobody guiding him. The “beep, beep, beep” of the truck’s back-up alarm caught everybody’s attention and half the cars on the barge were honking furiously. Then came the yelling and screaming, and that big, ugly hunk of metal literally stopped about 2 inches from that little car’s windshield with the hood of the car completely under the truck.
And you know the only people on the barge who were oblivious to the whole thing were? The man and woman in that little car. They didn’t even look up until the truck had stopped. You shoulda seen the looks on their faces when they did.
Technically, you can’t finish that line, since the parking lot was already there. But look what Slimman was busy doing this week. Gravel out. Blacktop in. Capital improvements are always signs of business being good. (Hey, it’s a weekend in September. This qualifies as news!) No word on whether rates will go up to pay for all that asphalt.
The fall sweeps are approaching and the On-StJohn TV execs are arranging the schedule. We need to win this book. Here’s a little preview of some of the features coming up in October On-StJohn.com. (Feel free to express your excitement. We like that part.)
Recognize that face? Low Key Watersports mascot and health inspector crackdown victim Tigger has been forever immortalized on a T-shirt. His big mug on the back with a caption that says “Be the diver your dog thinks you are.” Tigger is still officially banned from the Beach Bar, but if you look the other way, we think most everybody else will too.
The big headline Tuesday was that the Trust for Public Land FINALLY pulled off its bid to buy almost 420 acres of land at Maho Bay. The subhead that you probably missed is that ON THE VERY SAME DAY the owners of all the land Maho Bay Campgrounds sits on was put it up for sale. For $32 million, you can buy the entire 13.88 acres. The listing:“A rare opportunity to own a W-1 property on St. John on the beach. Also includes 3ba 3bb and parcel 1 Estate Abraham’s Fancy. Gorgeous color brochure available upon request.”
The operator of Maho Bay Campground has a lease that runs through 2012, so any buyer would have to honor that., and he also has first right to buy it. Barring that, it’s up for grabs.
We need 32 friends. Oh who are we kidding. We need 320 friends. We don’t even know 320 people. You?
You will probably never go to this beach…unless you are staying at a villa in this particular part of Fish Bay. And that’s probably just fine with those who are. What a sweet little spot though. It’s on the eastern edge of Fish Bay, directly across from Ditleff Point. A sand and coral stretch reached by a very short hike through parkland. Cocolobo Beach, below!
Or maybe a better question is should you stop here? We don’t stop here. And most everybody doesn’t stop here. But then again, some people stop here. This is the intersection just before Marketplace. I mean, it is an intersection and there is a stop sign, but if you’re going straight there is no apparent reason to stop. Unless you’re turning right. Then you should stop. But in 7 years I’ve never quite known for sure about going straight ahead. This much is for sure. Hiding behind that truck, or one just like it, you may just meet the law. The fuzz likes to hide there looking for people without their seatbelts on. But stopping? Do you?
After a five year retail run, business partners and New Yorkers Rudolph and Larry are closing down their Home Accents store on the second level of Marketplace. These guys had been ships that passed in the night since opening…one would work the store for a few months while the other was in NY or traveling to trade shows, then they’d swap places. Larry says they would sometimes literally pass each other at the airport. They’re going to try their retail hand in Asheville, North Carolina next. And a big, Going out of Business sale has just about cleared out their St. John store.
Once they’re gone, Pond Bay Club will take over this high-profile space and set up a sales office/showroom there. Last chance to load up on lamp shades and potpourri. Final day is September 30.
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You may have seen Perelandra on this site as an advertiser. This great villa is also for sale. If you’re looking for it, turn left at the top of Jacob’s Ladder and go past the Serendip condos. You’ll see its private drive. Perelandra has BIG St. Thomas views, and this house has been meticulously cared for.
Perelandra: Two bedrooms, two baths, fantastic view, very private pool. $1,299,999.
Note to fall travelers. US Airways has slipped Airbus 319’s into the Charlotte-STT-Charlotte route. This is a small plane best suited for Chicago to Omaha service. And the airline has obviously put in as many rows as this plane will hold. Sure, it’s low season and all. But gee. When you see Airbus 319 EOW, the EOW means extended over water meaning an FAA variance to fly over water, provided there’s some land someplace close. (Plummeting from 6 miles in the air to solid ground is apparently the preferred disaster.)
The good news is there are 3 rows in first class, not 2 which increases your odds of an upgrade by 50 percent. But when that fails, don’t do what we automatically do and pick an exit row. There is no more room in these exit rows and they are non reclining seats.
And another thing. Those flight attendants get more aggressive with the US Airways Visa Card announcement every single month. They must get some kind of commission. Exciting news! US Airways has teamed up with Bank of America to offer you the US Airways Preferred Member Visa Card, now with one billion free miles automatically credited to your account just for signing up today! (We’re getting cranky. We have to go back to America tomorrow.)
St. John lost power for about a half an hour in the middle of the night when a gigantic thunderstorm rolled through (middle of the night thunderstorms are a great excuse to get up and finish the beer that you stumbled away from on your way to bed a few hours earlier and they are always a great show.)
This little guy (left) is your villa’s best friend. The unassuming little pump sends water to everything from your shower to your kitchen sink…to your toilet. Don’t flush when there’s no power. Your pump is out of service when there’s no power.
The flashlight part is easy. Just turn a couple on and set them on a table pointing at the ceiling. It’s easy to find the kitchen that way because it’s impossible to finish a half gone lukewarm beer and not want another.
The big headline Tuesday was that the Trust for Public Land FINALLY pulled off its bid to buy almost 420 acres of land at Maho Bay. The subhead that you probably missed is that ON THE VERY SAME DAY the owners of all the land Maho Bay Campgrounds sits on was put it up for sale. For $32 million, you can buy the entire 13.88 acres. The listing:“A rare opportunity to own a W-1 property on St. John on the beach. Also includes 3ba 3bb and parcel 1 Estate Abraham’s Fancy. Gorgeous color brochure available upon request.”
