Everybody needs a new passport photo every ten years or so. The State Department lets you submit your own these days, provided they’re properly done and all.
Alice Kalanther, who snagged some old photo gear from the now defunct Cruz Bay Photo, sets up shop outside of Connections two days a week. She’s filling a nice little niche.
“Business has been okay. Some days are busier than others, but overall no complaints,” Alice tells us. “If it’s slow, I can always be entertained by the parade of characters here at Connections!”
Two photos for $15. Four for $20. Alice is there Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There used to be a woman who cut hair on the beach in Cruz Bay a couple of days a week. She’d hang her sign on a tree branch.
Here’s a fax campaign that is working its way around the island. If you’re a homeowner and you’re weary of WAPA, print this, sign it and fax it. Will it make a difference? I donno. Print it, sign it and fax it. Let’s see.
Here’s an example of how huge WAPA bills are: Two bedroom Bongo Bongo’s August WAPA bill: $1,516.30. How big is yours?
This has nothing to do with St. John (other than the fact that this particular iPhone takes a lot of pictures for this blog), but it’s a great photo and I have no where else to post it. The Apple IIe was headed for the scrap heap, but paused long enough to let me take a family portrait.
It’s a long stretch of road from Shipwreck Landing to Salt Pond. One can get very hungry and thirsty. Here’s a new place to stop for a cool drink and a hot dog. The Tourist Trap.
Cheryl Geller and her partner Larry have set up shop by the entrance to Concordia with their new snack shack. Larry, who bartends at Aqua Bistro, is a gourmet chef and is using those skills to make some mean sandwiches.
Cheryl wants to keep you entertained while you wait too.
“I just got the Lite-Brite I ordered off E-Bay in the mail,” she says. “It’s one of the toys we’ll have out for our customers.” (Remember Lite-Brite? You’re already singing the Jingle, aren’t you?)
Tourist Trap also has a Website (check out the address.)
We’ve told you about our education on this before. The dumpsters aren’t so much the end of the line for things as they are one last chance at another life. We love playing this game, and we did it again.
10:05 am: On the way down the hill, deposit perfectly good outdoor rug that has outlived its usefulness for us.
NOTE: It must be placed in such a way that says “it’s okay to take me,” namely in front of the dumpster not in it.
10:45 am: On way back up the hill… Bam. The rug is gone.
It’s not so much that it happens. It is just sometimes amazing at what lightening speed it happens. Live long and prosper old rug.
Meet Sloop Jones. Not the East End artist. The dog. Sloop Jones belongs to Chicago musician Don Rifkin and his wife Jenny, who honeymooned on St. John in 2005. A visit to the Sloop Jones Studio was part of their trip.
“We just loved Sloop’s store and his artistic way of life,” Don tells us. “It really inspired both of us.”
So they went home to Chicago. And they named their dog Sloop Jones. “We also call him Slooper, Sloopy and Slooper Dooper.”
But the Sloop Jones influence didn’t stop with the dog. As a professional musician, Don says he is always looking for inspiration for his music. “Sloop gave me all that I needed,” he says.
And so, was written a Sloop Jones song that Don says his band has performed many times in front of thousands of people. And now he’ll perform it for you. Click the player, underneath the picture of Don and Jenny, below.
It has been a very wet few days on St. John. Blame that guy, that low pressure system hanging around that’s likely to become a tropical storm and head to the U.S. east coast.
Some estimates say St. John was soaked with as much as 3 inches of rain in a half an hour Monday. Close to 10 inches since the weekend. That’s a lot of rain.
Our i-Reporter team (Captain John) took some time to run around the island yesterday. Here’s exclusive video of an amazing amount of runoff that’s flooding streets and turning bays brown.
The contest begins. First prize is a big Bongo purse. Second prize is a small Bongo purse. Third prize is hating yourself for not being first or second.
This time, the contest is a numbers game. A guy’s game for a girl’s purse. (Let guys be good at something. We have so little left.)
They may also come with a hint. By Thursday, you should have it figured out.
No hint today. This one’s too easy. Just the numbers. (Keep the answers to yourself.)
The home to the soon come Dolphin Gourmet store is looking really close to finishing up. Greenleaf Commons (it’s being built by island resident Wayne Greenleaf) will be home to the new Dolphin store and a spa of some sort. There’s still some commercial space available for rent. (Note listing: “Next to the Westin. Directions: Confidential!”)
One other thing, watch out for the new SPEED BUMPS right about here too. We’d hate to have you racing past a gourmet market and spa.
This is an advertisement, but the comments below are our own.
Morgan Point is an excellent Great Cruz Bay villa. It feels big and airy, it’s got fantastic views, and it’s got great privacy . And the owner makes sure the villa is always in top notch shape.
Three main level bedrooms are all air conditioned, and if you’re traveling with teens in tow, they will love having their own studio on the lower level. Read here. Watch below.
Maybe it’s just us, but it seems like there are more long-term rental notices tacked up on the Connections bulletin board than usual. Even for fall. (From an efficiency on Gifft Hill for $700 a month to a 3 bedroom pool villa in Fish Bay for $2,400.)
Connections and The Tradewinds are both good places to look for long-term rentals. Put a washer and dryer at the top of your list though.
Vacation rentals wish list: Sweeping water views, large pool, private bedroom suites.
Long-term rentals wish list: Washer and dryer, walk to town, no chickens.
The roundabout construction isn’t silly talk anymore. There’s actually stuff happening. So far, it’s just ripping up stuff.
The first change in traffic patterns has already happened. Note you can no longer turn left on the road going down the hill toward the old barge dock (or right if you’re coming down the hill from Centerline Road.)
So now…if you’re coming into town, the only way now is down the hill towards Woody’s. Always the less stressful choice anyway.
