Maho Bay Snorkel 04/29/2011

Green Turtle

Normally you’d think there’s not much to see snorkeling around a seagrass bed and algal plain in the middle of a St. John bay. But if you linger around for a while, you might be surprised. Yesterday in the course of less than a half hour I encountered two big turtles, one with a remora on its back, a fairly large barracuda, conchs, starfish, sea urchins, and a variety of little fish.

Barracuda	Starfish
Turtle with Remora	Spiny Sea Urchin

St. John Music Schedule

Beach Bar – Laura Reed with SGR Band – 9:00 – 777-4220
Castaways – Kenny Floyd – 8:00 – 11:00 – 777-3316
Morgan’s Mango – Luba – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Rhumb Lines – Lauren & Bo – 7:00 – 10:00 – 776-0303

See Weekly Music Schedule

Note: I’m doing the best I can to present an accurate music schedule, but to be sure, it would be a great idea to call the restaurant or bar beforehand to confirm.

Virgin Islands Photo of the Day

Fisherman casts net to catch sprat for bait

The first step in catching fish is to get bait. In this photo a fisherman is casting a sprat net for that purpose. He holds on of the lead weights in his teeth and cast the net wide open using his two hands. As the net opens in a circular pattern, he release the last weight held in his mouth – important to remember! Today he’ll be trolling for kingfish…

St. John Music Schedule, Thursday April 28

Banana Deck – Steel Pan by Lemuel Callwood – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5055
Castaways – Mikey P Rocks the House – 8:00 – 777-3316
High Tide – Steven Sloan – 7:00 – 10:00 – 714-6169
Island Blues - T-Bird – 7:00 – 10:00 – 776-6800
Miss Lucy’s – Rich & Greg – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5244
Ocean Grill – Rascio Steel Pan – 7:00 – 9:00 – 693 3304
Skinnylegs - Lauren – Guitar & Vocal – 6:00 – 779-4982

See Weekly Music Schedule

Note: I’m doing the best I can to present an accurate music schedule, but to be sure, it would be a great idea to call the restaurant or bar beforehand to confirm.

I came across these two hermit crabs seemingly doing it. It was actually quite a show. I took some photos and made a video check it out.

St. John Virgin Islands Photo of the Day

Nurse Shark, Ginglymostoma cirrat

About the Nurse Shark
The nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, can reach a length of 14 ft (4.3 m) and a weight of 330 lbs (150 kg).

Unlike most sharks, the nurse is able to breathe while remaining in one place and can often be found lying under ledges or resting motionless on the sea floor.

Slow and sluggish, this species of sharks rarely attacks humans.

Nurse sharks mostly eat marine invertebrates such as lobsters, shrimp and sea urchins. They capture their prey by their ability to create a strong suction through their small mouths and large throat cavities, which has led to their name, “nurse sharks.”

This nurse shark, about five feet long was photographed Easter Sunday just off of the western coast of Whistling Cay.

St. John Music Schedule Monday April 25

High Tide – Steven Sloan – 7:00 – 10:00 – 714-6169
La Tapa – Sambacombo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-7755
Maho Bay Camps – Bo & Lauren – 8:00 – 10:00 – 715-0501
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693 3304

See Weekly Music Schedule

Note: I’m doing the best I can to present an accurate music schedule, but to be sure, it would be a great idea to call the restaurant or bar beforehand to confirm.

Rounding the east end of Great Thatch en route to White Bay

White Bay Jost Van Dyke BVI
White Bay was jumping yesterday, and will be probably even more so today. It certainly has become one of the biggest party places in the Virgin Islands. Big  power boats from Puerto Rico joined those from the US and British Virgin Islands, music blasting, people dancing, a real happening spot…

St. John Music Schedule Sunday April 24

Aqua Bistro – Lauren Jones – 3:30 – 6:30 – 776-5336
Concordia – Bo – 4:00 – 8:00 – 693 5855
Miss Lucy’s – Sambacombo – 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – 693-5244
Ocean Grill – David Laabs – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693 3304
Rhumb Lines – T-Bird – 7:00 – 10:00
Shipwreck – Hot Club of Coral Bay – 7:00 – 10:00 – 693-5640

See Weekly Music Schedule

St. John Photo of the Day

Century Plant (Agave missionum)

Century Plants used to one of the most commonly found and easily identifiable plants on St. John. Even though they bloomed only once after about 20 years, around Easter time, the full bloom Century Plant could be seen in bloom just about anywhere there was dry forest or scrub land. Now due to the ravages of the Mexican Snout Beetle, the century plant has become a rare and endangered species.

Press Release
St. John Film Society

Free Movie Night
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 7:30 pm
St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay

SUGAR – A feature length film by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (120 min) 2008

SUGAR follows the story of Miguel Santos, a.k.a. Sugar, a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro De Macoris, struggling to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Playing professionally at a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, Miguel finally gets his break at age 19 when he advances to the United States’ minor league system, but when his play falters, he begins to question the single mindedness of his life’s ambition.

St. John Music Schedule Saturday April 23

Castaways – Kenny Floyd – 8:00 – 11:00 – 777-3316
Fatty Crab – Sambacombo- 11:00 am – 4:00 pm – 693-5244
Morgan’s Mango – Luba – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Rhumb Lines – Lauren & Bo – 7:00 – 10:00 – 776-0303
Skinny Legs – Hot Club of Coral Bay – 6:30 – 9:30 – 779-4982
Westin, Cruz Bay Prime – James Cobb – 6:30 – 10:00 – 693-8802

See Weekly Music Schedule

Note: I’m doing the best I can to present an accurate music schedule, but to be sure, it would be a great idea to call the restaurant or bar beforehand to confirm.

Beautiful Frank Bay Sunset

Frank Bay drew a contingent of photographers and sight-seers yesterday afternoon for another spectacular sunset. At first it was disappointing as the sun sunk behind a bank of clouds. Some people left, but those that stayed were treated to a colorful panorama as the western horizon exploded in reds and yellows.

St. John Music Schedule Friday April 22

Beach Bar – Soul Grass Rebellion – 9:00 – 777-4220
Castaways – Dusty Spoon – 8:00 – 11:00 – 777-3316
High Tide – John Lee – 7:00 – 10:00 – 714-6169
Island Blues – Big Heavy – 7:00 – 10:00 – 776-6800
Morgan’s Mango – Lauren – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Luba – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693 3304
Westin, Cruz Bay Prime – James Cobb – 6:30 – 10:00 – 693-8802

See Weekly Music Schedule

Note: I’m doing the best I can to present an accurate music schedule, but to be sure, it would be a great idea to call the restaurant or bar beforehand to confirm.

Invest 91

Can you believe it? We already have a tropical disturbance in the Atlantic. It’s got a name, Invest 91. If it develops into a tropical storm, which is unlikely, it will be named TS Arlene.

Hurricane expert, Dr. Jeff Masters, writes: “A tropical disturbance (91L) near 24N, 63W, midway between the Virgin Islands and Bermuda, is moving north-northwest at about 8 mph. The system’s heavy thunderstorm activity has increased since yesterday, but 91L has …” read more

St. John enjoyed a sort of mini farmers market this morning, beautiful fresh local produce for sale set up outside of Connections in downtown Cruz Bay. Those responsible for this phenomenon Anthony and friends, farmers and farmers helpers from Dorothia  on St. Thomas’ north side (Nordside). Anthony will be bringing his fruits and vegetable to St. John every other Friday (This week was on a Thursday because tomorrow is a holiday.

St. John Music Schedule Thursday April 21

Banana Deck - Steel Pan by Lemuel Callwood – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5055
Castaways - Mikey P Rocks the House – 8:00 – 777-3316
High Tide - Steven Sloan – 7:00 – 10:00 – 714-6169
Island Blues – T-Bird – 7:00 – 10:00 – 776-6800
Miss Lucy’s -Rich & Greg – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5244
Ocean Grill - Rascio Steel Pan – 7:00 – 9:00 – 693 3304
Skinnylegs – Lauren – 6:00 – 779-4982
Westin, Cruz Bay Prime – James Cobb – 6:30 – 10:00 – 693-8802

See Weekly Music Schedule

Note: I’m doing the best I can to present an accurate music schedule, but to be sure, it would be a great idea to call the restaurant or bar beforehand to confirm.

St. John Does Something Right

There’s no gas on Vieques. They ran out the day before yesterday and word is that a shipment might arrive today. When word gets here that the gasoline has left Puerto Rico on the barge, the gas lines will form.

Asking friends on the island about this, I would hear, “well you know how it is living on an island. We only have two gas stations and all our gas has to come in by barge from Puerto Rico”

But no, I don’t know. We pretty much always have gas on St. John. We only have one gas station and not only does our gas have to come by barge from St. Thomas, St. Thomas needs to get gas from somewhere.

I imagine it’s a matter of efficiency, and contrary to popular opinion, we must be fairly efficient here on St. John, at least when it comes to gasoline availability.

St. John Music Schedule Wednesday April 20

Castaways – Steven Sloan – 7:00 – 777-3316
Coconut Coast Studios – St. John Flutes – 5:30 -7:00 – 776-6944
High Tide – Chris Carsel – 7:00 – 10:00 – 714-6169
Island Blues – Soulgrass Rebellion – 7:00 – 10:00 – 776-6800
Larry’s Landing – James Jams – 10:00- 693-8802
Sun Dog Cafe – Open Mic – 7:00 – 10:00 – 693 8340
Westin, Cruz Bay Prime – David Laabs – 6:30 – 10:00 – 693-8802

See Weekly Music Schedule

Note: I’m doing the best I can to present an accurate music schedule, but to be sure, it would be a great idea to call the restaurant or bar beforehand to confirm.