Cruz Bay Sunset

St. John News

Answer Desk: What’s Happening with the Westin Iguanas?
By Lynda Lohr — March 13, 2013

The Westin Resort and Villas on St. John continues to struggle with the abundance of iguanas that like to hang out at the hotel, but Source reader Barbara Murray wants to know exactly what they’re doing with them.

Westin manager Mike Ryan said he wants to do the right thing for both the iguanas and the resort guests.

Ryan said they’re trying to keep them out of public spaces. His crews are bagging them up in mesh bags and relocating them to “back of the house” places on the Westin grounds, he said. This means they’re letting them go in areas like the guts that cross the property.

The Westin previously relocated the iguanas to other areas of St. John like Fish Bay, but that didn’t sit well with residents who also struggle to keep them from devouring their gardens…. read more

BVI Announces Bubbly Pool Closure Following Accident
By Erik Ackerson — March 13, 2013

The British Virgin Islands government has announced that the “bubbly pool” on Jost Van Dyke has been closed until further notice, following a tragic accident at the location on Saturday.

Jonathan Wheeler, a 34-year-old resident of St. Thomas, died at the scene trying to rescue a friend who fell off the surrounding rocks. Another friend, Doug Stewart, received severe injuries trying to rescue Wheeler.

The men were part of a group of 10 friends visiting the popular attraction. Huge waves along the rugged northern coastline swept Wheeler away after he rescued the friend, they said…. read more

St. John Weather Forecast

High Surf Advisory
Partly cloudy
High of 79 degrees F
Winds from the ENE at 5 to 15 mph
Sunset: 6:28 PM AST
Water Temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor): 82.9 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule Thursday March 14

Banana Deck
Steel Pan by Lemuel Samuels
6:00 – 9:00
693-5055

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Erin Hart
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Beach Bar
Dave Gerrard
9:00
777-4220

Castaways
James
9:00
777-3316

High Tide
Inner Vision
8:30
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
Jazz with Rich and Greg
6:00 – 9:00

Morgan’s Mango
Mark Wallace
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
Erin Hart
7:00 – 10:00

Skinny Legs
Lauren Jones Magnie
6:00
779-4982

Spyglass
James Milne
5:00 – 8:00
776-1100

See Weekly Schedule

Photo by Jack Boucher 1960

2009

2011

2012

(1933 photo by Jack Boucher, 2009 photo by Gerald Singer, 2011 and 2012 photos by Shaun O’Boyle)

Reef Bay Great House
The Reef Bay Estate House, also known as the Par Force Great House was built in 1832 and reconstructed in 1844. In 1994, it was partially renovated by the National Park Service. After being cleared in 2009, the condition of the historic estate house has been left to deteriorate.

The great house can be accessed via a spur on the Lameshur Bay Trail

Love City Live Tonight
Love City Live – The Ultimate Power Boat Party – White Bay, Jost Van Dyke BVI 11:00 am – 6:00 pm. It’s a beach party only accessible by boat. As one writer put it “A late night of live music and quality rum deserves a proper cool down the next day.”

St. John Weather
High Surf Advisory
Partly cloudy with rain showers
High of 82 degrees F.
Winds from the North at 10 to 15 mph shifting to the ENE in the afternoon
Chance of rain 20%.
Full Moon
Sunrise: 6:53 AM AST Sunset: 6:10 PM AST
Water Temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor St. Thomas) 82.9 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule

Aqua Bistro
Lauren Jones
3:30 – 6:30
776-5336

Concordia
Bo
Sunday Brunch 10:00 am

Cruz Bay Prime
Mark Wallace
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

High Tide
Lemuel Callwood Steel Pan
4:00 – 6:00
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
Sambacombo
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
693-5254

Ocean Grill
David Laab
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
T-Bird
7:00 – 10:00

Shipwreck Landing
Hot Club
7:00 – 10:00

Sun Dog Cafe
David Laab
11:00 am- 2:00 pm
244-9713

See Weekly Schedule

St. John Sea Conditions: High Surf Advisory

“…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

See Weekly Schedule

St. John Weather

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

Virgin Islands Photo of the Day

View of Tortola From Little Harbour Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands - Photo by Ezius Ashly

Westin Hotel on St. John Makes Number 11 on RedWeek.com’s List of Top 25 Timeshare Rental Resorts.
For the fifth year running, leading timeshare marketplace RedWeek.com releases its list of Top 25 timeshare rental resorts. The Top 25 ranking is calculated using statistics from the site’s more than 1.5 million registered users. Read more…

Summer Opportunity for Virgin Islands Students
By Lynda Lohr — March 12, 2012
With a goal of developing the next generation of the territory’s leaders, the V.I. Scholars program will holds its second annual Summer Leadership Institute at Gifft Hill School on St. John. Read more…

St. John Live Music Schedule Wednesday March 14

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
Shipwreck Landing – Groove Thang  -7:00 – 10:00
Sun Dog Cafe – Wednesday Night Jam – 7:30-10:00 -244-9713

See Weekly Schedule

Virgin Islands Photo of the Day

Dock at Abe's by the Sea, Jost Van Dyke British Virgin Islands. That's Great Thatch and St. John seen across the channel.

The above photo was taken from one of my favorite restaurant in the world (and I’ve been to my share over the years), Abes By the Sea. It’s rather remote, located at Little Harbour on Jost Van Dyke in our neighboring British Virgin Islands. It was even more remote years ago. Now you can take a ferry to Jost Van Dyke and a taxi to Abe’s, but when he first opened, there was no ferry and no roads. You had to get there by boat.

Abe is a native Jost Van Dyke fisherman who decided to open a restaurant to serve the growing number of yachtsmen visiting the island. If you like big portions of fresh lobster, conch, or fish, deliciously prepared this is the place.

Abe's at Night

Chin & Boopy Enjoy Lobster & Conch

View from Window

St. John Weather

High Surf Advisory!

High Temperature: 85 degrees

Water Temperature: 80 degrees

Winds: From the east at 10 – 15 mph with gust of 25 mph or more

Sunset: 6:27

Moon Rise: Full Moon rises at 6:55

St. John Live Music Schedule for tonight, Thursday, March 8

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
Miss Lucy’s – David Reed – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5354
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
The Tap Room – Van Gordon Martin Band – 9:00 – 998-1333

See the weekly St. John live music schedule

Bubbly Pool Jost Van Dyke, BVI

Surf’s Up! Good time to visit the Bubbly Pool on Jost Van Dyke, natures own Jacuzzi.

St. John Live Music Schedule for tonight, Tuesday, February 7

Castaways – Karaoke Night – 9:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – James Cobb & Michael Beason -700 -10:00 – 777-4015
High Tide – Erin Hart – 4:00 – 7:00 – 714-6169
Miss Lucy’s – David Reed – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5354
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 – 6:00 – 9:30

See the weekly schedule

St. John School of the Arts Presents: Free Film Night

Concrete, Steel and Paint
7:30 pm at St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay

White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

White Bay Rainbow

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

Virgin Islands Photo of the Day

White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

The above photo was taken from the washed out road that leads west and up from White Bay. I remember driving the full length of this road shortly after it was created. The road washed out and became unusable just a short time later.

St. John Music Schedule, Sunday April 10

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

A word of caution: 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.

Weekly Music Schedule

Virgin Islands Photo’s From the Archives
Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands circa 1995
Hasn’t Changed Much

Live Music on St. John Monday, February 21

High Tide – Steven Sloan – 7:00 – 10:00 – 714-6169
La Tapa – Sambacombo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693-7755
Maho Bay – Cool Session – 8:00 – 10:00
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:30 – 693 3304
Rhumb Lines – David Laabs – 7:00 – 10:00

A word of caution to my visitors: 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.

Weekly Music Schedule