Here’s something I never thought I’d say: I just bought a purse. A big one too. And some lucky On-StJohn.com reader is going to get it. We just have to figure out how we’re giving it away. 

Not just any purse. This is a very special purse that you can get only at the new Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park gift shop. The grand opening is tomorrow and these purses won’t last long. They’re made from old Friends of the VINP license plates by a company called Little Earth Productions.

Next time you’re down, stop in the store at Mongoose Junction and say “hi” to Angie Gorneau, the manager. (You might also recognize her from her night job waiting tables at ZoZo’s.)

Now….how will we give away this purse? ($105 retail value by the way!)

Today’s Beach Break is at a secret little spot on the far Southeast corner at the entrance to Chocolate Hole. A handful of waterfront houses that surround Chocolate Hole have access to little spots like this. We reached this one from a house called La Miramar, which we’ll show you on another day. A peaceful spot on Chocolate Hole, below!

It is either a case of premature advertising, or the premature demise of a business plan. Or…it’s a clever way to generate buzz, in which case we’re happy to oblige. 

A mystery advertisement in that new St. John magazine (which is beautiful by the way) touts a replacement restaurant for Tage. Right there, opposite the letter from the publisher, the big, full color ad touts “180 Degrees…formerly Tage….a modern French inspired restaurant with a twist,” and promises 7 day a week dining and Sunday brunch. The problem is the Website listed is dead, and the phone number listed has been disconnected. Ted Robinson, the original Tage founder, told On-StJohn last week he heard there were people throwing ideas around for the space, and said he’d be interested if the right thing and the right people came along. But nobody we know is telling us anything. If you’re in the know, do tell. We’d love to hear about it.

We’ll pick up where we left off, leaving Peace Hill, continuing on to the most-photographed overlook on the island (maybe in the Caribbean), and end up at Trunk Bay. Again, not much to point out, so just enjoy the ride. North Shore Road, Part 3, below!

Stacy Mulcare, the first true wedding planner to set up shop on St. John, is one busy woman. Her business, Ceremonies of St. John, has been featured on the Travel Channel and in several magazines, and the testimonials on her Website speak for themselves. She knows all the right people on the island and can pull off just about any request. And it doesn’t hurt that her husband of 15 years, Seamus Mulcare, happens to be St. John’s top wedding cake maker. Remember The Royal Wedding Cake? That’s Seamus’ work.

If you’re planning on getting hitched, you work on the hitching part and leave the planning part to Stacy. Learn more about Ceremonies of St. John here.  And, read a little Q&A with Stacy here.

Here’s an update for the ladies (and the sensitive, ornament seeking men among us.) The stores are starting to display all the holiday stuff, including the sought-after island themed tree ornaments. Here’s Pink Papaya owner Linda (right) and store manager Jeanette proudly showing off their goods. Linda, and husband John took over Pink Papaya a couple of years ago. We should interview them. Nice folks. (And WHAT is that frog on the table in front of them doing???) 

This out of the way place is an easy hike and well worth the drive to Lameshur. You’ll follow a well-maintained trail past a beautiful little cove that was a Beach Break a few weeks back, and when you get to the end of the trail, the payoff is a spectacular, 270 degree view. Watch out for the little cactuses though. They’ll jump up and grab you.

Oh…you’ll also hear Gerald Singer’s commentary. You’ll meet Gerald in an upcoming installment but for now, enjoy his comments about Yawzi, and hike the trail with us, below!

Ted Robinson, former chef at Paradiso and former, former chef at Tage has a new day job. He’s classing up the carryout at Starfish Market. You’ll find Ted back in the Starfish kitchen making sandwiches to go like maple glazed sirloin wraps, pulled chicken salad with cucumber and tarragon on crusty whole wheat bread and buttermilk fried mahi on roasted corn brioche. They’re stacked up and waiting for you in that cooler over by the bread. About $8 to $10.

Ted says Starfish asked if he’d come in and come up with new things to keep the old store up with the new Starfish Gourmet store across the hall, and he tells us he plans on doing crossover stuff between the two stores, like food demos paired with wine tastings.

That’s his new day job. He’s still got his night job as a private chef and, although he says he’s no longer working directly for Katilady Catering, he still takes bookings through her, and others on the island. He now calls himself an independent contractor, and takes bookings through his Ted’s Supper Club.

But the big question is, with Tage, the restaurant he founded, now closed down by its most recent owner, would he consider yet another shot at it? “If the right thing came along with the right people again, I would be interested,” he tells us. “The first time around, it was really a fantastic group of people that made it all work so well.”

Ted says he hears there are some people throwing ideas around for the old Tage, but he’s laying low for now. “I’m building a house in Fish Bay,” he says. “I’m keeping pretty busy watching my house go up and my bank account go down.”

You may remember Operation Storm Cruz Bay a few months ago when DPNR came through with backhoes and dumpsters and cleared Cruz Bay Beach of the mishmash of dinghies, rowboats and kayaks. The beach really does look good these days. But that old metal boat is still refusing to leave. This was shot just a couple of days before the mystery dinghies showed up. Cleaned up Cruz Bay, below!

Grand Opening for Big Belly Deli this week, a brand new restaurant that takes over the former Mosquito Bites location. Tim Cummins, who came to St. John just five months ago, and his sister Peg Yolman are running the joint, and they promise good food and “good price value.” Big Belly Deli will serve breakfast (eggs to order, blini -Tim spent some time in Russia, bagels)-, lunch (made to order deli sandwiches and daily soups) and dinner (3 specials a night to go, like ribs or sausage and pasta.) Big Belly Deli: 7 am to 7 pm, 7 days a week.

Meet some of the folks that read your posts and add their own on the USVI-ON-LINE forum. Forgive them if their words are a little slurred. It was evening at the Beach Bar after all. Forumites, below!