Love is in the Air on St John & Now So is Homemade Ice Cream

Aimed at 'opening' on Valentine's Day -

Friday, February 14

(yes, this year) - the popular St John 'I Scream!' is moving down the road (to Mongoose Junction), opening a whole new concept and changing its name to

St John Scoops

 (you might want to like their new Facebook page to keep up with the latest offerings).They will be making their own ice creams

every day

!  And, not just one or two flavors but - they say - 12 to 16 flavors. And, these are not your old Friendly's flavors since they will include 'adult' flavors such as champagne sorbet and burgundy wine sorbet. It would not be St John without a rum version so they are also planning to offer 'real rum raisin' and 'painkiller'.  For those traditionalists amongst the crowd, do not worry they promise to have some of the old time favorites such as cookies & cream, pistachio, and chocolate peanut butter cup. They will also be offering their super-healthy, raw, gluten-free, superfood smoothies. Also in keeping with the Caribbean atmosphere they will offer island flavors such as mango, pineapple, passion fruit, coconut, and tropical punch.

Ice Cream is super expensive on St John (think $9+ for a 'container' and the flavors are pretty limited) so why not splurge and get the real thing when you are next on St John where it is summer year round so ice cream is always a 'must have'!

PS...Update March 7 ..well, it is 'island times 'mon, nearly a month late, St John Scoops is now opened, go enjoy!

USA Today's 10Best Puts St John in 'Top 10 Favorite Caribbean Destinations' List

St John once again is named to the 'Top 10 Caribbean Islands' List, this time by USA Today's 10Best which says St John is:

Window to the wonderful world of St John

@ Little Lameshur Bay

'dominated by national parks, the island of St John -- coming in eighth -- in the US Virgin Islands is the Caribbean of days gone by -- a quieter, more intimate slice of paradise'

While we agree whole heartedly that our island is a quieter, more intimate slice of paradise, we sure disagree with being in the #8 position since St John is TOPS in our mind!

Happy Thanksgiving Hurricane Style

The third Monday in October marks the 'Hurricane Thanksgiving Day'. This year that is today, October 21 so Happy Thanksgiving! No turkey but equally important NO hurricane and no storms of any sort! Sweet! Take a look at this National Weather Service map of the Atlantic waters captured just last evening: 

According to the National Geographic: Residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands know that if they haven't been hit by a hurricane by mid-October, there's a good chance they're safe for the rest of the Atlantic hurricane season. Since 1726 Virgin Islanders have devoted a day to  give thanks as the summer storms pass them by. While this has not been 'full proof' why not embrace the tradition? Lets hope that the worst of the storms are behind us and all we have to look forward to is sunshine! Enjoy the day by getting to a beach (or, at least, planning your next vacation to St John!):

Your hammock awaits

Caribbean Rum Wars Continue and and Bring in Vice President Biden to 'Brutal' Discussion

Rum produced in the Virgin Islands has been at the center of a debate

Rum was also on the agenda for frequent Virgin Islands visitor, Vice-President Biden, when he attended a meeting this week with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders to highlight concerns about the impact of US rum subsidies to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. “The most contentious issue is rum subsidies to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.  The main rum producers in question are Puerto Rico's Bacardi and Captain Morgan and the Virgin Islands Cruzan Rum. 

We don’t expect (Biden) to make a decision today but we expect to let him know the whole position and the full ramifications of continuing those subsidies and that it will clearly affect rum production,” Trade Minister Vasant Bharath said earlier this week. The talks have been described by some as 'brutal' (maybe the Vice President should head back to the Virgin Islands for some needed R&R - and rum?). 

It has been claimed by several several members of the Caricom that the US has been running a “Rum Cover-Over Programme” since 1917, which consists of a tax levied on sales of spirits in the US market. 

The “contentious issue” has to do with subsidies extended to rum producers in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. In January, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill averting a threatened fiscal cliff of higher taxes and spending cuts. That legislation included special gifts to several US corporations such as a provision extending a 1917 law that imposes  a $13.50 tax on  each gallon of rum produced in or imported into the United States. 

Most of this revenue is transferred to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico—US dependencies—to aid these territories’ economic development.  Many of the rum producing islands feel that Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands use much of these funds to encourage their local rum industries, at the expense of other Caribbean rum-producing countries.  The view from the Virgin Islands point of view is that the funds derived by rum products is essential fuel for the VI economy. So, know that wherever you are, when you enjoy your rum and tonic or dark n' stormy rum cocktail - which, hopefully, is made from Virgin Islands Cruzan rum - know that you are doing good things for the Virgin Islands economy!

Hurricane Season 2012 is only 1 day old & we are already up to 'Chris'

This is the map of the Atlantic for the first day (June 1) of Hurricane Season 2012 Let us hope it stays this clear!

While we have already bid goodbye to Alberto and Beryl, the first two names on the list of names for the 2012 hurricane season on the first official day of the season, the experts say that is no indication that we are in for a particularly nasty hurricane season.  Phew.  That is not to say we are out of the woods for we have until November 30th to sweat out this season.  Colorado State University's William Gray today just updated his forecast for the 2012 hurricane season.  While he has upgraded his forecast slightly, the good news is that he is still predicting 'a below-average probability of US and Caribbean major hurricane landfall' this season.  However, as we know, it only takes one good blow to ruin your vacation or your day!

Here are the names for this year's tropical storms.  Let us hope we never see most of the folks listed below, at least nowhere close to landfall: 

2012
Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Kirk Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sandy Tony Valerie William This is NOT a picture you want to see anywhere close to you or land:

Which one of these pictures is different?

Remember those child picture 'problems' of 'which one of the following does not belong in the group?' (e.g. with pictures such as of hummingbirds, parrots, eagles, and a parrot fish)....Well, if you go to the www.Weather.com, put in your city, any other USA mainland city, and that of St John (USVI, of course...not St John, Nova Scotia, Canada!), I bet it is St John that pops out at you! 83 degrees and sunny just about any day of the week, just about any month of the year! Doesn't that sound refreshing!

Here is a chart showing the Virgin Islands temperature (high, low, and average) over a 30 year period. Doesn't that yellow line (average temperature) look sweet and pretty stuck about 85 degrees.

Come on down, we on St John are always ready to warm your soul!

Great Eats on St John

Flavors of St John Winners All!Chef Mat Vacharat, center, and his staff are all smiles after winning the night’s best entreé and best dessert categories during the annual Rotary Club’s Flavors fundraising event October 28 (Courtesy of the St John Tradewinds)

What a night - on St John with great friends, great food, fun dancing and music and an opportunity to give back to St John. Life is good! After lots of tasting, the overwhelming verdict of judges declared Mathayom Private Chefs and St John Catering the winner of 'Best Entree' and 'Best Dessert'. More than a dozen caterers, mixologists, and restaurants joined in to support the Rotary's Annual fundraiser supporting college scholarships for local students. Other winners (besides the students getting the scholarships, of course!) were High Tide for 'Best Drinks' and Starfish Gourmet and Wines winning 'Best Appetizers'. Judges had the hard duty of tasting such tasty items as braised short ribs, Cuban sandwiches, leak soup and, of course had to wash it all down with some of the best drinks (beers, wines, and of course lots of rum!) available in the Caribbean. Again, tough duty, all for a great cause.