Introducing our new feature. The name says it all. We’ll take you to places both familiar and not so familiar.

In our first installment, a trip in and out of one of the island’s most beautiful spots. Remember: “Red and green, go between!”

Happy Thanksgiving to all. We will return Monday with a brand new feature.

We’re off to see family in Iowa,  the most beautiful state in the Heartland. Hope many of you spend time with family this weekend as well.

The St. John Spice Cam at the Dockside building by the Cruz Bay ferry dock just logged its 1-millionth visit. And it reached seven figures in just 11 months.

The camera keeps a constant eye on ferry passengers coming and going, dinghies and boats arriving and departing, and vacationers waving to friends who might be watching back home.

“When we put the camera up we had no idea how popular it would be. People actually come into the store and say thanks,” says St. John Spice co-owner Ruth Ernst. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

Visitor number 1 million came just before 6 pm Monday. Ruth, who held up a hopeful 1,000,000 sign earlier in the day, raced to the beach to write “Thanks” in the sand just as the sun was setting.

The annual Raffle Off a Dinghy fundraiser for Kids and the Sea is underway. $5 buys you a shot at this beauty. See it in person outside the St. John Hardware Store.

As a bonus, it appears to come with a Handicap Parking sticker!

The drawing is Nov. 28 at Skinny Legs.

Local fisherman Mack brought quite a catch back to Cruz Bay Friday afternoon. An Amberjack that was so big, Chris Tronquet, Captain of World Class Anglers, says it will be a long time before anyone sees one that big again.

The fish wasn’t caught on Captain Chris’ boat, but it was weighed on Chris’ scale.

“My scale goes to 110 pounds, and the needle kept going,” says Chris. It might have been close to 130 pounds. It’s the biggest one I’ve seen in a decade. It’ll be that long before anybody sees another one this big. ”

Unfortunately the fish was dead by the time the fight was over, so it couldn’t be thrown back. We’re told Amberjack aren’t particularly good eating either, especially with the risk of ciguatera.

Chris says it took Mack two and a half hours to bring it in, but “it would’ve taken a normal person twice that long.”

Music, food, art. Sounds like a good evening.

Mongoose Junction’s Evening in the Courtyard is scheduled for Nov. 27 from 4 pm to 9 pm. The annual event raises money for the Gifft Hill Scholarship Fund.

Among featured artists this year, Shari Erickson, whose water colors are shown here. Others include Livy Hitchcock and Caroline Rogers, who will be signing copies of her new photo book, Coral Reef Stars, A Galaxy of Underwater Images.

Mongoose stores are donating cool stuff for a silent auction, and the musical entertainment includes performances by Gifft Hill students.

The restaurant stalwarts are reopening for high season. And Lime Inn has some new stuff going this year.

There is the new, trellised courtyard, where a few tables may eventually be set up. Also new this year, a happy hour food menu, including Italian-style pulled pizza. And the restaurant, serving dinner from 5:30 to 10, Monday through Saturday, is bringing back Saturday night prime rib, going head-to-head with La Plancha for the Saturday night red meat crowd.

As long as they don’t mess with the blue cheese filet, we’re good.

Lime Inn is also serving lunch Monday through Friday and will be closed all day Sunday.

Cruz Bay’s newest restaurant, Cactus on the Blue, is now open for business. Sort of.

“We’re open for dinner with a limited menu, but it is cash only right now because we’re still waiting for our credit card machine,” says co-owner Courtney Wright. “But business has been great. The patio has been full and we’ve even had some folks waiting.”

What are they waiting for?

Courtney and husband Nile’s Mexican food, knocked up a notch. The menu right now is short, but hits so far include the shrimp stuffed with cheese and wrapped with bacon and jalapeño, and the flank steak torreados.

“We’re anxious for all the feedback we can get and have been asking just about every diner for a critique, but we haven’t had a bad comment yet,” Courtney says.

The kitchen’s open for dinner from 6 to 11-ish. The bar stays open a little later. (Click menu for larger view.)

Freebird Creations completed its move to the Dockside building a few weeks ago, and Friday night held an official Grand Opening. Hor’s d’oeurvres, drinks and an excellent turnout.

Stop by and check out Freebird’s eclectic mix of jewelry. And guys, if you’re looking for a new watch, this is a great place to find one at a good price. Visit Freebird’s new store, or visit them online, here.

Sometimes folks who’ve lived on St. John for awhile decide it’s time to leave.

And sometimes they end up coming back.

Meet James and Tiffany Milne. James, from Massachusetts, discovered St. John 20 years ago and ended up moving to the island permanently in 1991. Tiffany, from Maine, moved to the island in the late-90’s, and the two met about eight years ago.

After many happy years, the death of good island friend David Geiger and the pending birth of their son made them rethink things. And so they headed back to Massachusetts in 2005.

“We sold our boat in Cruz Bay and everything else and moved our lives back to the states,” says James. “Tiffany decided to go to massage school and I got my first 9 to 5 job in 20 years.”

And after a couple of years they got homesick.

“The states are nice. Your family is there, but St. John is definitely home,” James says.

So now James and Tiffany are back, this time with adorable son Tenzin. They returned two weeks ago and are living on a boat again, this time in Coral Bay. Tiffany is working at Noah’s Little Arks and James and his guitar can be heard Mondays at High Tide and Wednesdays at Larry’s Landing.

“I play folk and reggae-type music. James Taylor, Bob Marley, and my own work. It’s good to be home.”

St. John Brewers owners Kevin and Cheech are expanding the Tap Room, and emotions are running high. (Kidding, but these hams love a good photo op.)

The expansion includes a more beer on tap, more outside space, a new brew space, and a kitchen…and that means FOOD.

The Mongoose Junction bar is taking over space next door, formerly occupied by Portico, which has moved downstairs, and the new space will include more outdoor seating with a deck that runs over the courtyard above Deli Grotto.

“We’re most excited about expanding our draft system, but that’s because we’re beer guys,” says co-owner Cheech Vyas. “We’re going from 8 draft lines to 16, the largest draft line in the Caribbean, and it will include our own beers and more guest beers too.”

But man can’t live on beer alone. He’s gotta eat too. The new food menu will include a half dozen or so items that will compliment the beer.

“The idea is to have things like beer pretzels with dipping sauces, personal pizzas, cheeses and hummus, things like that,” he says.

Renovations will be done in a month or so, island time and all.

St. John Brewers has also added a live Webcam from its secret office, above Cruz Bay. It updates every five seconds. Check it out, here.

St. John has been without a florist since Today’s Flowers closed earlier this year, but not for much longer. Sally Varlack, who has owned Tropical Couture, next to Lime Inn, since 2004, will open Bou-Quet across the courtyard and next to Pink Papaya.

“Flowers have always been a passion of mine, even before I got into clothing,” Sally tells us. “There is a real need on the island for a florist. Flowers are an easy gift for saying I love you, let’s be friends, or I’m sorry,” she says.

She also hopes to work with wedding planners, churches and caterers.

So where do fresh flowers come from? She’ll buy them from a wholesaler on St. Thomas two or three times a week.

“I’ll do the arrangements myself until I can find the right, artistic person. My goal is to be able to create out-of-the-ordinary arrangements.”

Bou-Quet hopes to open by November 15, which is also Tropical Couture’s 5 year anniversary.