It may be a couple of days before Lucky Pagoda fires up the woks again.
A fire Thursday caused moderate damage to the kitchen and building, and on the brand new restaurant’s one week anniversary, no less.
“It was a small fire on the stove that spread into a fan, and then on the inside of a wall on the second story,” says Cruz Bay fire station Sergeant Fette. “When we found that the fire spread inside the wall, it took us 15 minutes to get it knocked down, but no one was hurt.”
Nearby Lumberyard tenants were evacuated for a short time as a precaution.
The restaurant owners will have to replace the ducting and do some minor kitchen cleanup. And they’ll have to pass inspection too.
On-StJohn.com reader Doug, an avid E-bay shopper for anything related to the Virgin Islands, sent us this vintage, 1961 Caneel Bay brochure. (Click to see bigger.)
Room rates started at $14 per person back then, and that’s the “Full American Plan,” all meals included.
Gallows Point does something that seems impossible. It is an incredibly peaceful place, smack dab in the middle of frenetic Cruz Bay. Jutting out on a point on Cruz Bay, Gallows Point is the first thing that comes into focus on the ferry ride over.
What a great boat watching spot, and what a great little secret beach.
The Coral Bay Community Council is encouraging Coral Bay landowners and businesses concerned about runoff from their property to line up for potential stimulus help from Washington. And help would come straight from Washington to Coral Bay. No Virgin Islands government hands need touch the money along the way.
Financing may come from a NOAA Economic Stimulus fund and could be used to restore natural drainage and correct erosion and sediment problems that threaten the bay. The money is available for both private and public land projects, and the CBCC wants to hear from landowners interested in it this week. Here are the details.
The new Chinese restaurant is off to a heck of a start. Reports of 40 minute waits or longer haven’t been unheard of in these first few days.
But early reviews say the food is good.
Jason from Computer Express took his chopsticks on a tour of the menu, including Egg Drop Soup, Hot and Sour Soup, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Mongolian Beef and Veggie Lo Mein.
Former 3Com chief executive Bruce Claflin, left, presenting a $25,000 check to Gifft Hill School head Ben Biddle, has just helped launch Kids First!, a nonprofit aiming to raise lots of money to help fund new educational programs for kids on St. John.
Claflin, who owns a house on the North Shore, retired from 3Com in 2006 and, despite recently being named chairman of computer chip giant Advanced Micro Devices, spends a lot more time on-island now, and says he wanted to find a way to help the community.
“Everyone I meet on the island is enthusiastic about what we’re trying to do,” says Bruce. “A few friends and neighbors encouraged me to start the organization, and they backed that up with participation [and] funding to get it started.”
Kids First! officially launches Monday, but the group has already been involved in several projects with local schools. And whether you live on St. John or visit, if you want to help improve the education St. John kids are getting, the group would love your support.
Read our interview with Bruce Claflin, here. And read more about Kids First!, and even make an online donation if you’d like, here.
It’s not too late to help a kid or two, and take a shot at winning a raffle prize.
The Pine Peace Auction is Saturday night. If you’re off-island, bid online. (Look for the “Place a Bid” button next to each auction item.) Online bidding closes at Noon, Saturday.
If you’re on-island, cocktails start at 5:30 at the Westin. Auction is at 8.
Proceeds help fund tuition aid for Gifft Hill School students, more than half of which get some kind of financial help. Last year’s auction raised about $125K.
There are lots of travel packages to places like Napa, Vegas, Mexico, Maine, the BVIs and even a couple of St. John villas are up for bids.
And there’s a dining package called Tour de Forks; Appetizers at La Tapa, Dinner at Morgan’s Mango and Dessert at Hinds.
Everybody’s got a favorite St John beach. Ask us, and we’ll tell you this one. While you contemplate your favorite beach – and let us know what it is – spend a couple of minutes at our favorite beach, below!
Lifelong St. John resident Guy Benjamin helped the St. John Montessori School get its kids excited about reading last week, as the school did its part for Read Across America.
The 95 year old Benjamin, a former teacher himself, read stories to the preschool class, and had a few read to him.
“Each child greeted Mr. Benjamin with a proper handshake and introduction, and a few offered great big hugs,” says St. John Montessori School Director Debra Polucci.
And she points out it was a familiar setting for Mr. Benjamin. The Montessori School occupies the old, one room Coral Bay public elementary school building, where he began his teaching career and eventually served as principal.
The wreck of the Rhone, a British steam ship that sank in the 1860’s, is known as a good dive spot. But when the water’s exceptionally clear, it’s not a bad snorkel either.
Captain John Brandi tells us the story of the sinking of the RMS Rhone, below…
Here’s a look at Lucky Pagoda’s menu. Pretty straight forward stuff. The prices may look a bit high at first, but entrees include soup or an egg roll too.
The Lucky Pagoda opens Thursday on the second floor at the Lumber Yard, where Mexican restaurant Polli’s was a couple of years ago.
