St. John, USVI (US Virgin Islands) Blog

In memory of Sidney

Jeff — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:05:55 +0000

Sidney, the jovial owner of Sidney’s Peace & Love on Jost van Dyke, passed away this week after a battle with cancer.

Sidney ran the bar and restaurant on Little Harbor for nearly 40 years.

“I have had a lot of fun and enjoy meeting all the people,” Sidney told us last summer. “It makes you happy and you feel good. You make a lot of friends.”

Sidney’s Peace and Love, famous for its lobsters and pig roasts, will continue under Sidney’s daughters.

They plan a memorial service at Sidney’s Peace and Love on Friday, March. 19.

Expansion at the Mail Center

Jeff — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:05:44 +0000

Almost a year after ADM Wireless bought the Mail Center and saved it from going under, there is renovation and expansion in the works.

We’re told it’s about two weeks from being done.

Mail still coming and going in the meantime.

Dressing up the roundabout

Jeff — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:05:17 +0000

The center of the roundabout is getting a nice finishing touch.

The road crew is installing stamped concrete that will make up the decorative center of the circle.

Disney video for Friends

Jeff — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:05:23 +0000

Here is a cool video, produced by St. John videographer Bill Stelzer, that was commissioned through the Friends of the National Park by Disney. It will be shown to cruise ship passengers and, while it’s pretty basic information, we’re thrilled they will see it.

“The whole idea was to give an easy-to-understand presentation of why the coral reefs are so important,” Bill tells us. “It is meant to be nonspecific, so it applies to the entire Caribbean.”

Bill did the animation himself, using Adobe Illustrator (very nice work, as you will notice if you’re into such things), some of it based on photos, some of it created.

The narration is by Melissa Haizlap, a St. John/St. Thomas native who now does voice work in L.A. (Her husband is the host of Cities of the Underworld on The History Channel.) And the music is by St. John artist Mark Wallace.

It’s an all-star cast!

The video is also being shown to Virgin Islands school kids.

Bill says he based the beautiful cartoon girl on Kristen Maize, the former program manager for friends. (A cute cartoon woman, but not nearly as cute as the real Kristen.)

Jeep Cam: Lameshur

Jeff — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:05:34 +0000

Today we head up and down the partially paved path to Lameshur Bay. It’s a bit of a bumpy ride, so buckle up.

Off to Lameshur Bay, below!

[See post to watch Flash video]

Whale spotting in Chocolate Hole

Jeff — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:05:37 +0000

Very lucky people spot whales this time of year. Jim Murphy at Villa Serendipity was one of the lucky ones this week, spotting a whale just outside of Chocolate Hole.

“The whale came up and breached, but by the time I got my camera and turned it on, the breaching was over,” Jim says. “I’ll be up with my coffee early every morning the rest of this week, with my camera ready.”

Click on the picture for a larger view. You’ll spot it.

Buddy, the Mojo iguana

Jeff — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:05:52 +0000

Mojo Cafe has a mascot of sorts. He is Buddy, a mild-mannered iguana that hangs out in a nearby tree.

He loves to be hand fed, and his favorites are tomatoes and bougainvillea. Meet Buddy, below!

[See post to watch Flash video]

Too cute not to post

Jeff — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:05:03 +0000

This photo sent to us anonymously, from Granby, Connecticut. We look forward to seeing these pasty white children tanned and running on a beach. Them too we bet.

No more Texaco

Jeff — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:05:17 +0000

No trouble finding the Donald Schnell Studio now!

The last of the demolition of the old Texaco station reveals the very good looking backside of the stone Amore Center, where the Schnell Studio moved to a few years ago. It’s really a fine looking 3-story building. But until now, you’ve probably just driven by without much noticing.

There’s talk of some kind of mini park or sculpture or something in the triangle that used to be Texaco. Got any ideas?

Spyglass menu: A bit of everything

Jeff — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:05:26 +0000

The new Spyglass restaurant is taking its first menu (click above/below to see bigger) for a test drive with a soft open. There is Mexican (lots of Mexican in Cruz Bay these days), burgers, salads, sandwiches and wraps.

It’s an introductory menu, meaning it is a work in progress. Let them know what you’d like to see.

New record at 8 Tuff Miles

Jeff — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:18:39 +0000

There is a new record holder in the 8 Tuff Miles race. Thomas Chorny, from Bloomington, Indiana, ran a smokin’ 46:27, beating the previous record set last year by Jeremy Zuber by more than three minutes. (Zuber did not run this year.)

Second place men: Christopher Reis, Cincinnati, Ohio: 46:56

First place women: Ruth Ann David, St. Thomas: 58:03

Second place women: Emily Egelhoff-Whalen, Raleigh, NC: 63:21

There were 1,000 runners signed up for this year’s race.

Somebody needs a warm hug

Jeff — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:05:55 +0000

So the Northeast is digging out from under a major snowfall yet again.

For those of you who haven’t seen white snow for awhile, here’s On-StJohn.com reader Quenton’s backyard video from Freehold, New Jersey.

For those of you who haven’t seen white sand for awhile, here’s some St. John backyard video from us.

[See post to watch Flash video]