Want to stay updated to Life on St. John - subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Carval Rockmaninoff
The story goes like this:
Once upon a time, back in the early days of Caribbean colonialism, the captain of a British warship, patrolling at night mistook what is now known as Carval Rock for an actual Spanish caravelle. The captain ordered his men to fire upon the ship, which in the light of dawn proved to be, not the sailing ship with two or three masts and lateen sails used by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 15th and 16th centuries, but a big unsinkable rock. It is also part of the story that cannonballs can be found in the vicinity of the rock testifying to the night long battle.
Life is tenacious. This turpentine tree has taken root in what appears to be solid rock, its roots reaching down into crevices and cracks searching for what little soil and even less moisture is available.
Perched high atop Whistling Cay it has undoubtedly been buffeted by high winds and strong squalls. Nonetheless it survives and grows into a mature tree.
Another turpentine on the island with its trunk twisted reflecting the results of it’s harsh environment.
St. John Live Music – Monday April 9
High Tide – Mikey P – 8:00 – 11:00 – 714-6169 La Tapa – Samba Combo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-8141 Maho Bay Camp – Open Mic with Lauren – 6:30 Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304
See Weekly Schedule
St. John Weather
Scattered showers, mainly before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. East wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Water temperature 83 degrees. Sunset 6:34 pm
St. John Weather
Isolated showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. East northeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Water temperature 83 degrees. Sunset 6:34 pm
St. John Live Music Schedule Sunday April 8
Aqua Bistro – Lauren – 3:30 – 6:30 – 776-5336 Beach Bar – I.R.E – 5:00 – 777-4220 Concordia – Bo – Sunday Brunch 10:00 am Driftwood Dave’s – Live Music – 1:00 – 4:00 – 777-4015 Miss Lucy’s – Samba Combo – 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – 693-5354 Ocean Grill – David Laab – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304 Rhumblines – T-Bird – 7:00 – 10:00 Shipwreck Landing – Hot Club of Coral Bay – 7:00 – 10:00 Sun Dog Cafe – David Laab – 11:00 am- 2:00 pm – 244-9713 Westin Beach Bar – Rich Greengold – 6:30 – 9:30 – 244-9713
No More discount for St. John Residents at St. John Gourmet and Dolphin Markets
St. John Gourmet and Dolphin markets have eliminated their 10% local’s discount on sales more that $50. They now offer, however, a 15% discount for Westin Guests. I feel dissed! Meanwhile Starfish Market prices are through the roof, way more than Dolphin and St. John Gourmet, no local’s discount notwithstanding. I guess it’s, plan your week’s shopping needs, and shop on St. Thomas. Normally I would prefer to support St. John businesses, but what’s a local to do?
No Blues Fest Blues Fest
Today – Coral Bay, St. John
The St. John Blues Festival will not be happening this year, but there will be the “No Blues Fest Blues Fest” instead, with local bands preforming at the Tall Ship and Shipwreck Landing parking lot today between 1:00 and 5:00 pm. A shuttle service will be available from the Coral Bay triangle.
St. John Live Music Schedule Saturday April 7
Beach Bar – I.R.E – 9:00 – 777-4220 Castaways – Dance Party – 11:00 – 777-3316 Driftwood Dave’s – Guitarist James Milne – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015 Morgan’s Mango – Luba – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141 Ocean Grill – Rascio on Steel Pan – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-3304 Rhumblines – Lauren – 7:00 – 10:00 Shipwreck Landing – Mike Miknut – 6:00 – 9:30 Skinny Legs – Hot Club of Coral Bay – 6:30 – 9:30 – 779-4982 Spyglass – James Cobb – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100
St. John Weather Today: Isolated showers. Sunny, with a high near 84. East wind between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%. Water Temperature 83 degrees. Sunset 6:34 pm
“…HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM AST THIS EVENING…” NOAA
Surf Breaks Over Johnson Reef
Waves breaking on the beach at Trunk Bay
The surf has been up on St. John’s north coast since Wednesday afternoon and is predicted to continue until this evening. On St. John the old timers call this condition “ground sea.”
The breaking surf comes from ocean swells in the North Atlantic generated by storms or low pressure systems. The waves arrive from the northeast and effect the northern coasts of the Virgin Islands as well as Puerto Rico and the rest of the Greater Antilles.
Because the Island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin islands is situated to the north of St. John, most of our island’s northern shoreline John is not in the direct path of the northerly swell. Consequently the waves breaking on St. John are not as strong as the ones that arrive on Tortola and St. Thomas, which explains why surfers head over to these islands when the surf’s up. The two places on St. John that are relatively in the direct path of the swells are Johnson’s Reef and Cinnamon Bay.
Full Moon Tonight
The full moon will rise at 6:38 pm just four minutes after the sunsets. Should be a good one!
Bomba Shack
Stuff to do on the full moon: For the physically active – Ram’s Head moonlight hike
For a wild and crazy party – Full Moon Party at Bomba Shack – Capoon Bay, Tortola – famous for psychedelic mushroom tea
For a more normal good time – Fireball Full Moon Party – Trellis Bay, Tortola – famous for fire sculptures and good music.
V.I. Good Friday Alcohol Ban in Effect
By Source Staff — April 5, 2012
Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Wayne L. Biggs Jr. reminds all bars, restaurants and establishments that serve alcohol of their obligation to comply with the V.I. Code, which prohibits liquor from being served on Good Friday.
“Full compliance and cooperation of all establishments that serve alcohol is mandatory,” Biggs said.
Distilled liquor and “drinks prepared therewith shall not be served in public places of refreshments” between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Good Friday” read article
No Blues Fest Blues Fest
Tomorrow Night – Coral Bay, St. John
The St. John Blues Festival will not be happening this year, but there will be the “No Blues Fest Blues Fest” instead, with local bands preforming at the Tall Ship and Shipwreck Landing parking lot on Saturday between 1:00 and 5:00 pm. A shuttle service will be available from the Coral Bay triangle.
St. John Live Music Schedule Friday April 6
Aqua Bistro – Steve Sloan – 5:30 – 8:30 – 776-5336 Castaways – Mikey P – 9:00 – 777-3316 Cinnamon Bay – Eddie Bruce Drum Circle – 6:30 – 8:00 Cruz Bay Prime – James Cobb – 7:00 – 10:00 – 693 -8000 Driftwood Dave’s – John W Lee – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015 Island Blues – Slammin – 776 6800 Morgan’s Mango – Lauren – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141 Ocean Grill – T-Bird – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304 Rhumblines – Erin Hart – 7:00 – 10:00 Spyglass – James – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100
Today:Isolated showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East southeast wind between 9 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Water Temperature: 83 degrees, Sunset: 6:34 pm
Stevie Wonder and Dave Mason showed up at Iggies on St. Thomas and jammed with Hot Tunes. That’s Dan Silber, Morgan Riel, Becca Darling with Stevie Wonder and Dave Mason in the above photo.
High Surf Advisory
ROUGH SURF CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY…
NORTH SWELLS WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD AT THE ATLANTIC COASTLINE OVERNIGHT AND INCREASE IN HEIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT BREAKING WAVE ACTION ON ATLANTIC BEACHES.
St. John Weather
Isolated showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind between 10 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Water Temperature: 82 degrees
Sunset: 6:33 pm
Full Moon tomorrow night
St. John Live Music Schedule Thursday April 5
Banana Deck – Steel Pan by Lemuel Samuels – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5055 Castaways – Dance Party – 11:00 – 777-3316 Driftwood Dave’s – Just Mike – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015 High Tide – Inner Vision – 8:00-11:00 – 714-6169 Island Blues – Ike – 7:00 – 10:00 – 776-6800 Morgan’s Mango – Mark Wallace – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141 Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304 Shipwreck Landing – Slammin – 7:00 – 10:00 Skinny Legs – Lauren – 6:00 – 9:00 – 779-4982
Yesterday was an exceptionally beautiful day on St. John. The seas were flat calm and the underwater visibility was crisp and clear. The highlights of the snorkel were the eel, the shark, a pretty angelfish, two colorful file fish, a small hawksbill turtle and a big barracuda. The video was taken at Salt Pond Bay just to the east of the rocks that rise above the surface at the mouth of the bay.
moray eel
St. John Weather
High Temperature: 86 degrees
Water Temperature: 82 degrees
Sunset: 6:33 pm
Winds: ENE 10-15 mph
Forecast: Partly Cloudy
St. John Live Music Schedule Wednesday April 4
Aqua Bistro – Rascio on Steel Pan – 5:30 – 8:30 776-5336 Castaways – Kenny Floyd – 8:00 – 777-3316 Coconut Coast Studios – St. John Flutes – 776-6944 Cruz Bay Prime – Samba Combo – 7:00 – 10:00 – 693 -8000 Driftwood Dave’s – Paradise People – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015 High Tide – Chris Carsel – 6:00 – 9:00 – 714-6169 Sun Dog Cafe – Wednesday Night Jam – 7:30-10:00 – 244-9713
The partially-completed Pond Bay Club, located on 13.5 acres at Chocolate Hole on St. John, will go up for auction at St. Thomas Superior Court on May 2, according to an attorney involved in the various court cases surrounding the property. Read article
St. John Weather
High Temperature: 86 degrees
Water Temperature: 83 degrees
Sunset: 6:33 pm
Winds: SE 5-10 mph
Forecast: Partly Cloudy
St. John Live Music Schedule Tuesday April 3
Castaways – Karaoke Night – 9:00 – 777-3316 Driftwood Dave’s – Michael Beason – 8:00 – 777-4015 High Tide – Erin Hart – 6:00 – 9:00 – 714-6169 Island Blues – Karaoke & Open Mic – 8:00 – 11:00 – 776-6800 Morgan’s Mango – Greg Kinslow – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141 Ocean Grill – Rascio on Steel Pan – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-3304 Shipwreck Landing – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:30 Spyglass – T-Bird – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100
The $5,000 Water Bill
A little incident yesterday had me thinking about water, something we in the Virgin Islands probably think about more than most. I had left the water running while topping off my hot tub for way longer than I should have. It wasn’t so bad, though. I caught it before the cistern was empty, and it certainly wasn’t as bad as what happened to my friend, Danny. He rents out part of his condo on St. Thomas and the lady who’s renting it left the toilet running for more than a month, leaving Danny stuck with a $5,000 plus water bill.
Water in the Good Old Days
None of this would have happened in what we ex pats think of as the good old days. Water was way more precious back then, and we were way more careful. In those days, you had your cistern water and that was it. Not only that, but most cisterns, and most houses for that matter, were considerably smaller than they are today. If you ran out, it was a big problem. No washing, no showers and no flushing and getting more water wasn’t so easy.
There was no WAPA water back then and no desal plants. Caneel Bay had a water catchment and Cinnamon had a series of wells in the gut that ran above the camp. Any water not provided by nature, that is, from rain or wells came to St. John on a big barge from Puerto Rico. As you might imagine, this was an extremely limited supply to be shared by all those in need. Not only was the supply limited, but so was the delivery system. The only water truck that I can remember, available to bring water to your house, came from Pimpy H2O and Pimpy only had one truck. So if you ran out of water, which would most likely happen when there was a prolonged dry spell, and everyone else was out of water also, you had a considerable wait to look forward to or, more than likely, you just sat back and prayed for rain.
If It’s Yellow, Let it Mellow
Besides prayer, another option was water conservation, a serious matter back then. Toilets had notices posted above them to alert newcomers that old stateside habits didn’t go over here on St. John. Cutout cardboard signs with hand-drawn illustrations with messages like:
“On this Island in the sun,
We never flush for number one”
or
If it’s yellow, let it mellow,
If it’s brown, flush it down”
When you showered, brushed your teeth or washed dishes, you gave a little squirt of water and turned off the faucet. Only then did you do your scribbling, brushing, cleaning or soaping. That accomplished, you turned on the water, briefly, just enough for a good rinse and turned the water off once again. Consequently, your supply water lasted a long time.
One other thing I remember from the good old days, was that everyone drank cistern water, unlike today when it’s almost unheard of. Notwithstanding the many evil pathogens now presumed to flourish in our cisterns, I never knew of anyone who got even an upset stomach from drinking water that wasn’t store-bought and factory-produced.
Today
Today we use a lot more water. It’s expensive, but fairly easy to come by. A big desalination plant operated by WAPA produces thousands of gallons a day and is stored in giant tanks and there are numerous choices for water delivery trucks. Unlike in decades past, houses, villas and McMansions have swimming pools and Jacuzzis. Visitors to the island as well as many residents shower to there heart’s content. They leave the water running full blast while they brush their and flush the toilet as often as they put it to use. And people don’t think about water as much as they used to, except when they get a $5,000 water bill, I guess.
St. John Weather
High Temperature: 88 degrees
Water Temperature: 81 degrees
Sunset: 6:32 pm
Winds: ESE 10-15 mph Forecast: Overcast with chance of rain
St. John Live Music Schedule Saturday March 31
Castaways – Dance Party – 11:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – James Milne – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015 Morgan’s Mango – Luba – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141 Ocean Grill – Rascio on Steel Pan – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-3304 Rhumblines – Lauren – 7:00 – 10:00 Shipwreck Landing – Mike Miknut – 6:00 – 9:30 Skinny Legs -Hot Club of Coral Bay – 6:30 – 9:30 -779-4982 Spyglass – James Cobb – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100
“…Provost was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands on a 12-square mile strip of land called St. John. His retired parents are still there, and that Provost’s brother owns the island’s only barber shop gives you an idea of what life on St. John might be like. Like so many kids, Provost’s introduction to music came in the form of piano lessons, which he began at age 10. Just two years later, Provost won the Virgin Islands Classical Music Competition. He began playing steel pan in an after school program that same year at the St. John School of the Arts…. read entire article
St. John Weather
High Surf Advisory until 10:00 am
High Temperature: 88 degrees
Water Temperature: 81 degrees
Sunset: 6:32 pm
Winds: ESE 10-15 mph Forecast: Periods of Rain
St. John Live Music Schedule Friday March 29
Aqua Bistro – Steve Sloan – 5:30 – 8:30 – 776-5336 Castaways – Mikey P – 9:00 – 777-3316 Cinnamon Bay – Eddie Bruce Drum Circle – 6:30 – 8:00 Cruz Bay Prime – James Cobb – 7:00 – 10:00 – 693 -8000 Driftwood Dave’s – John W Lee – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015 Morgan’s Mango – Lauren – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141 Ocean Grill – T-Bird – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304 Rhumblines – Erin Hart – 7:00 – 10:00 Spyglass – James – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100
Entries (RSS)