The storm of the century hasn’t just kept vacationers from getting to St. John. At least one business owner was trapped too.

Ronnie’s Pizza hasn’t been open all week because Ronnie has been snowbound in Burlington, Vermont.

Not being able to come down and spend money is one thing. Not being able to make money is another.  Ronnie’s Pizza promises to be open today.

It’s not a below-zero windchill, but 75 degrees at 5 o’clock in the afternoon is chilly by St. John standards. And it was dark and rainy all day long.

Serious, steady rain.

A good day to invent a cocktail.

After an entire day of trial and error, we present “The Tropical Windchill.”

Equal parts coconut rum and banana rum, orange juice and a just a splash of cranberry juice.

Rainy days aren’t bad!

A day on the water is a must, and you know we heartily endorse both Lion in da Sun and Palm Tree Charters for taking you there.

There is a certain formula to your day. A five part formula. Find an incredible snorkeling hole, make that first pit-stop for a drink, find lunch, make another drink pit-stop and then, reluctantly, take your sunset ride home.

Before you go, consult the map or your captain.  There are lots of ways to shake up the five part routine! Here’s our most recent, and lucky agenda. A day on the water in two minutes, below!

You’ll see new beach chairs on your next visit to Jost van Dyke. Turquoise beach chairs.  And there is a very good reason.

We cornered Soggy Dollar Bar owner Jerry O’Connell about this change, and after much prodding he finally gave us the in-depth scoop on the change in beach decor.   It was a very enlightening conversation.

“The store was out of white chairs.”

So we’re sitting there at the Beach Bar, and I say “Leo, a Basketball Diaries sequel? I don’t see it.”

The ultimate “I’m Here and You’re Not” photo opportunity can be sent live to your snowbound friends from the Pusser’s Red Box on beautiful Marina Cay in the British Virgin Islands.

A genuine, antique English phone booth sits on the fuel dock with a high-resolution Webcam that takes a picture every 15 seconds and lets you call your friends and wave (or thumb your nose.)

Or you can just do a group pose and retrieve it from  Marina Cay’s Website later.  Just be sure to pose BEFORE you do the Pusser’s “Pain Killer Shots.”

The 60’s-themed holiday fundraiser for the St. John Animal Care Center raised a whopping $15,000 for the shelter, topping last year’s event by close to 3 grand.

“Thanks to everyone who came out to support us, and to the Nelsons for opening up their wonderful house for the fundraiser,” says ACC president Diana Ripley. “The donations are greatly appreciated, and it will keep the doors open.”

Note the tie-died fabric wrapped around the columns. Groovy.

The ACC’s government subsidy was reduced from $15,000 to $12,000 this year, making it even tighter to balance its $160,000 annual operating budget.

Looking for a best friend? The shelter has 12 puppies up for adoption right now. Just want to help the shelter?  Donate here!

Photos, courtesy Bob Schlesinger, Tropical Focus.

I Scream in Wharfside Village is offering up a little holiday cheer.  Eggnog lattes or iced coffees, with eggnog straight from St. Thomas Dairies.

“We’ve gone through five gallons of it just in the last two weeks,” Barista Missy Bergene tells us. “They are awesome. We dust the top with a little nutmeg too.”

I Scream is also making peppermint mocha for the holiday season.

Eggnog’s good stuff. But don’t order a second one!

The sun has set as far south as it will in 2009, dipping below Great St. James Island as seen from Frank Bay Monday night. It begins its journey back to a more westerly horizon now.

Two of the best villa sunsets we’ve ever seen were from La Papaya in Chocolate Hole North and C’est Bleu in Virgin Grande Estates. Got 30 seconds? Take a look.

Captain Brandi does have a cruel side.  Especially when he’s there and you’re not. Go ahead. Click on the picture. It will warm you up.

Infinity is Virgin Grand Estates’ newest high-end villa, and we think this place rocks. The DC-area owner took a traditional four bedroom villa layout and ratcheted it up a few notches with a chic, contemporary flare. All boutique hotel-like.

Infinity faces southwest over Great Cruz Bay and has broad views from St. Croix to St. Thomas and all that eye candy in between. Four master bedrooms, everybody gets a great room and everybody gets a fantastic view.

Check out Infinity…below!