Is it just us, or does the Cyril E. King Airport seem to be always changing things around. Now that the latest facelift is done, you’ll notice a more open TSA screening line. And the Hibiscus Café & Bar has a whole new look and a better menu with more extensive salads and sandwiches, although there is still at least one mystery dish available. If you have to ask them what it is, you probably shouldn’t be ordering it.

Why do we write so much about this airport? Because we spend so much damn time going through it!

Captain Brandi tells us what Rockefeller, Caneel Bay and the BVI’s all have in common with everybody’s favorite Little Buddy. Gilligan’s Island, uh, we mean, Sandy Cay, below.

Wow, this is going to be some place. Work continues on the St. John Waterfront Bistro that is replacing the former Panini Beach. This is much more than a minor renovation. On-StJohn.com was, once again, granted unprecedented access to the worksite (we ducked under the yellow tape) and we’re impressed. In front of the redone existing kitchen is a brand new and open “watch them cook” kitchen. (No five second rule.) A new bar is being built, this time beachside. And the patio itself is completely new, and they saved the tree in the middle of the old patio. Lots of new island stonework and lots of beautiful mahogany woodwork. And a new restroom you don’t have to be a gymnast to get into (former Panini fans know what we’re talking about.)

At the end of the day a restaurant’s only as good as its food, but if what they put on the plate is as good as the kitchen it’s coming from it’s got great possibilities.

When does it open? We’ll take what we were told…and double it. So let’s guess sometime in February.

A guy who’s been coming to St. John for ten years, who loves the island, who’s a fitness freak and who’s looking to relocate to the island and buy a business. If a Realtor couldn’t close this sale, they should be waiting tables. 

Mark Dallas, a South Jersey guy who was married on Cinnamon Bay last year (wedding picture), and wife Michelle are the new owners of Gym in Paradise at The Marketplace, and they want your arse - fat or skinny - to stick to your routine while you’re down here. Look for this brochure in your villa. The gym’s rates are reasonable (for both tourists and locals) and Mark and Michelle have some expansion plans, which include muscling in (like that?) on some vacant space next door to add room for personal trainers. They’ll also start carrying a line of nutritional supplements, add small lockers, TV screens to the cardio machines, and gradually upgrade all the equipment. And there’s an employee discount for companies that sign up.

So if sticking to it is your New Year’s resolution, no excuses. Just stay away from the bike with the Red Stripe in the cupholder. That one’s mine.

From all (two) of us at On-StJohn.com, here’s wishing 2008 includes at least one St. John trip report from you. And may 2008 include even more cool stuff from us.

Happy New Year, Jeff and Russ.