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.
To fully understand this story, you must first watch the above video. A clip from Alton Brown’s new Food Network series, Feasting on Waves, a tour around the islands in search of local food.
Captain John Brandi of Palm Tree Charters took Alton up on the treasure hunt challenge, and he and first mate Sue found the spoon. There is some controversy over this claim, but we assure you, Captain Brandi did indeed find the exact spoon Alton Brown hid away, even if he exaggerated his chart-reading skills for artistic sake.
“I got the coordinates off the show and went on Google Earth and found it was Sandy Cay,” says John. “I figured we’re in the neighborhood and it sounded like a fun adventure.”
So what does he get out of it?
“I emailed the Food Network Friday, but I haven’t heard anything yet,” says John. “Maybe they’ll at least use my video on the show.”
Just in case they don’t, you can watch it below. It’s good TV. Alton has a crew of 20. John and Sue have a tripod.
OnStJohn.com readers Dale and Greg sent us this picture of their brand new, 2008 Taurus…the ultimate “we love St. John” statement.
There is a naming rights deal for the masses here. Beverly Nicholson Doty loves us (okay, she acknowledges us when we see her and then turns away and makes conversation with real movers and shakers.) This could be our big “in” with her. What a great guerilla marketing campaign. Will you paint St. John marketing propaganda on your car for a few bucks? Thought so. Location, vehicle type, miles driven, etc please.
On-StJohn.com reader Debra sends in pictures of an Irish linen she found at a thrift store in Ohio. She paid $1.45 for the linen and an island poster. Cool old piece of art, with detail almost suitable for navigation, even if the artist reworked the National Park borders considerably.
We checked with Antiques Road Show. For insurance purposes, Debra should value the linen and the poster at $1.45
Ann Heeger, who works at Katie Lady Catering, is getting married next month to Mike Hedy, one of the managers at Woody’s (and previously at the Beach Bar.)
Ann is also a St. Louis native, and her bachelorette party included the honor of throwing out the first pitch at a Cardinals game last Saturday.
“We trained throwing the ball at the National Park field for a few weeks before she went up there,” says Mike. “She was so excited.”
There are some pretty funny On-StJohn.com readers, and some of your comments deserve a little extra attention. Wade the Shark picks. We re-post.
It’s good to know the ferry dock is so well protected. I can just picture the terrorists standing there, holding the bars, saying, “Curses, you well-protected Virgin Islanders, we have no way of invading your paradise without getting our feet wet.”
-Chicago Steve.
Craig Barshinger speaks out about utility bills, Sirenusa, and the “outrageous actions against him,” taking his candidacy to the Internet a day before the primary elections.
This is not Barshinger’s own production. All of the candidates got a chance to appear on St. Thomas public television Channel 12′s The Candidates Speak feature. But Barshinger is, as far as we can tell, the only candidate clever enough to put his segment online.
“I asked them for a copy of the tape, and I did it myself. I just opened a YouTube account, and converted it in iMovie,” Barshinger tells us on the eve of the big primary. “I took a cue from Obama.”
Okay, now we get it. Construction complete. Now there is an IN gate and an OUT gate. Get it?
My grandfather worked at The Stockyards in South Omaha. Similar principle. Restrict movement. Single file. Then, BAM! Just like that thing the guy had in that movie, “No Country For Old Men.”
The only the bam you get is the baggage fee. “Hold hold! Dat bag too big!”
Did you know there are more than 500 known historic structures on St. John? One of the oldest is the great house on Cinnamon Beach, dating back to the 1680’s, and the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park wants to turn it into a museum to house the thousands of artifacts unearthed over the years on the island…most of which are crammed into a warehouse right now.
The museum would be open to the public, as well as teachers and researchers.
Karen Brady, development director for Friends, says there is currently no museum anywhere dedicated to the chronological history of the Virgin Islands.
“We’ll begin the project as soon as the funding is secured,” Karen says. “I hope that will be by the end of this fall.”
Turing the old building into a museum will be a delicate operation. No one wants to disturb its own historical significance. It’s also near a beach, so all the display cabinets have to be readily movable in the event of a storm.
The estimated price tag is $180,000…$45,000 of which has already been raised.
So out of everything that’s been found on St. John, what’s Karen’s favorite? “The coolest thing discovered is relative, but personally I like the Taino zemi faces that were found right there, at Cinnamon Bay.”
Easy online donation for this project (and others) here. (Buy one of those zemi face reproductions ,and you also support archaeological projects. They’re also at the Friends store at Mongoose Junction.)
If you miss your turn onto Great Cruz Bay Road, don’t worry. Just go over the top of the hill and take your first right. That’s Mary Holter Road and it will take you right to Great Cruz Bay Road. There are also several popular villas either right off this road or accessed by it. (We’ll point out the ones we know…and as always …chime in if we missed one or got one wrong.)
Trivia: We’re told Mary Holter was a popular STJ resident who hosted the Red & White Ball at her home every Valentine’s Day until the mid-1980’s. Her home was sold after her death and is now the location of the famous Eden’s Whim villa.
Hurricanes are unnerving, but the rainy season also brings St. John back to life. This is Peace Hill, as seen from Hawksnest Beach this week…and back in July.
The island will stay its beautiful emerald-green color through winter and spring.
