Archive for October, 2007

Kids on parade

Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

Kids from the Sprauve School, in their storybook parade through town this morning. 

Spooky Island

Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

Ah, that one day a year when people down here get to dress funny and act goofy. Wait. That’s every day.

There are parties all over the island tonight, but you’ve got to come up with a darn good costume to turn heads on St. John.

I was thinking for pure “scare” factor, a simple black ball cap and black windbreaker with big yellow letters on the back that spell FBI. Boo!

Or for the “what are you” factor, a dark gray suit, white dress shirt with a nice silk tie and polished dress shoes. And then, to about half the good guys down here who say “what are you?”, I could say “I’m you…ten years ago.”

Watch this space for a picture or two.

Gourmet soon come

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

The grand opening for the Starfish Market Gourmet Wine and Cheese store is November 5. We’re working on a tour. Stay tuned. In the meantime, here’s a peek inside. So much to tell. Here’s one tease. If you like olive oil, you’ll love something very cool and unusual about this store. 

I think I’m going to build an ark

Monday, October 29th, 2007

Rain is NOT the water you come to St. John for. It has been rain, rain, raining nonstop for days, and every time I look at the forecast it just keeps getting worse. This may not clear out of here until the middle of the week. And there are a lot of grumpy tourists down here right now. I just saw one woman whack her hubby with a rolled up map as they were hurrying down the street in the rain. Even the locals are getting restless. A cistern can only hold so much water after all. 

There isn’t much to do inside on St. John. Is there? Hey! Good question! What do YOU do on a rainy day. Or on several?

Villa Video: South Shore Villa

Sunday, October 28th, 2007

This is a paid ad… but the comments below are our own.

Here’s a really fine, new villa in an area called Skytop. It’s on the east side of Fish Bay, and the handful of villas up here are UP HERE. The views from here can be dizzying. South Shore Villa is a spectacular property, with spectacular views and the owners have incredibly good taste. This villa was also named “Best Villa For Families” by Home Away Traveler. Four bedroom suites, great pool, amazing views. South Shore villa, below.

Ahhh. American.

Saturday, October 27th, 2007

Why don’t we fly American? Well because of Miami of course. Yuck. (The airport. Not the city.) We tripped up and did it this time. Ah, but what a great way to get here, MIA aside. And just for the expense account of it we bumped ourselves up to the front of the plane. Now this is class. We’re eating off stuff somebody’s going to have to put in a dishwasher. If you have a choice, we say choose American to get down here.

We wish US Airways would get its act together. It’s goal is to be a low cost carrier (New NYSE ticker symbol? LCC, as in “low cost carrier.”) The only problem is, so far US Airways only has the Low and Carrier part down.

Banana Deck’s open

Friday, October 26th, 2007

The Banana Deck reopened for business last week, and check out the groovy new cups they have this season. Banana Deck also redid its Website a little while ago. Wanna waste some time at work today? It’s got links to a couple of free, silly online games you can play.

Try the Banana Monkey Game. (You didn’t want to go to that meeting anyway, did you?) 

Jeep Cam: North Shore Road, Part 1

Friday, October 26th, 2007

Jeep Cam drives the North Shore Road. It’ll take 3 or 4 installments to get from town to Centerline Road. There’s not as much to point out along the way as in-town drives, so just enjoy the curves and hills. Today’s Jeep Cam: Mongoose Junction to Caneel Bay Resort entrance.

 

 

Curb appeal

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

Grande Bay Resort has started putting in the landscaping. We say “started” because we’re sure hoping there’s more than just a potted plant or two at the end of the driveway in the plans.

 Furniture’s been going in recently. Folks that bought way back when had the option to buy a full furniture package. We hear most did. But that’s not necessarily a sign it’s time to move in. That’s probably still a few months off.

We’re also just joking about the landscaping. We’re sure it’ll be extensive. Time for this project to be done and start blending into the landscape.

What we’re working on

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007

Here’s a quick preview of our next island interview. You’re gonna love her.

Beach Break: Fortsberg

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007

There are a couple of houses on a long beach below historic Fortsberg on the eastern edge of Coral Bay. Today’s Beach Break was shot from one of them, a villa called Spindrift. This beach is on the opposite side of Coral Bay from last week’s Johnson Bay. Notice how different the surf is here.

Mosquito Bites changes owners

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

If you didn’t get to Mosquito Bites in Coral Bay since our interview with the owners aired, you’ve missed your chance to have a piece of Karen’s key lime pie. Karen and Fred are out in what sounds like a dispute with the landlord. The restaurant remains open and operating under the same name. We don’t know the new owners, but we’ll check it out.

In the meantime, Karen and Fred wanted us to pass on their thanks to all of their customers who‘ve patronized them since they opened. Fred tells us they’re working on finding a new location. We’ll keep you posted.

Does the old blue chair convey?

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

The big real estate sale this month was the closing on Kenny Chesney’s Upper Peter Bay land, a beautiful spot where he was known to have had alfresco jam sessions. It sold for just under $6.6 million, below its $8.5 million asking price. (The land was on the market for about 22 months and was originally listed at $11 million.) The 2.9 acres was purchased in 2004 for just under $5 million, so he made out okay.  

All we know about the buyer is that he or she is obviously really rich.

There were plans for a house here, but the deal fell apart when Kenny refused to let her paint the bedroom yella.  (Wouldn’a hurt nothin.) 

Villas for sale: Coco Beach

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

This is a paid advertisement, but these comments are our own.

Remember the Beach Break a couple of weeks ago of Cocolobo Beach? You can get there from this villa. Coco Beach is a brand new Fish Bay villa and it’s pretty cool. Two bedrooms down. Great room, kitchen, third bath up, two covered decks, big sunny pool and deck and a hot tub. And a sweet Fish Bay view. If you know where Guavaberry Farms is, you’re very close to this villa’s location.

Coco Beach Villa. Two Bedrooms, three baths, great views, sunny pool. $1,450,000.

Recognize this place?

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

Of course you don’t! It’s all wrong right now! This is the former Panini Beach restaurant on Cruz Bay and like Lorena Bobbitt, the new owners cut that entire deck completely off. (Unlike John, it’ll get a better one.) We hear these guys are putting in not one, but two new kitchens. That’s what we hear anyway. There is a big-bucks renovation going on here…at what will be the new St. John Waterfront Bistro. A whole lot more than we figured these guys would be doing. Wow! This place may be spectacular.

There’s a place down the street from On-StJohn’s DC office called Bistro du Coin (kw-AH’) that has a great mussels in white wine dish. We think it’d work great with land crabs. We’re giving the recipe to Tim.

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