St John (USVI) earns its nickname 'Love City' every day

Ann Marie Porter, the original 'Barefoot Minister' photo credit also to A. M. Porter

If you are looking for a romantic getaway or fabulous place for a destination wedding, look no further than St John in the United States Virgin Islands.  From 30+ beaches to choose from there is plenty of opportunity for you to pick the perfect beach setting for your wedding if getting married by the water is for you.  Or, on a boat.  Or, at one of our wonderful restaurants.  

Besides the absolute beauty of St John, these days our island is rich in resources to help ensure that a destination wedding can be pulled off from 1,000 miles away! You will find lots of good people ready, willing, and able to help you with all the details from securing your wedding license, wedding and reception locations, photographers, flowers (and, as you can imagine we have wonderful flowers), meal planning, activities for your group during the week, and, of course, finding the perfect St John villa(s) for your stay and honeymoon.  

Some of our favorite St John wedding planners are also officiants themselves.  The best of them have lived on the island for years and know the very best spots and time of day to capture the perfect lighting.  Because picking someone to help you plan your wedding is such an important decision we urge you to speak with at least a couple of wedding planners and most importantly, speak with some of their clients.  When doing so, find out from previous brides & grooms how much personalized service they received? Did the person planning the wedding really listen and respond to their needs?  Was the planner reliable? Were their expectations met, or better yet, exceeded? We have seen all types of weddings on St John from very formal to very, very casual.  What is important is that the day is perfect for you.

Were you married on St John?  Did it meet (or exceed) your expectations? High-lights? Low-lights? Recommendations?

2012 St John USVI Carnival Schedule is out - time to party!

St John Film Society Presents 'Bag it!' Tuesday, June 5

BAG IT!

Directed by Susan Beraza, 78 minutes, documentary

June 5, 2012 @ 7:30 pm / St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay

Bag It follows "everyman" Jeb Berrier as he tries to make sense of our dependence on plastic bags. When Jeb discovers that he and his partner are expecting a child, his plastic odyssey becomes a truly personal one. How can they protect their baby from the health dangers associated with plastics? Jeb looks beyond single-use disposable plastics and discovers that virtually everything in modern society – from baby bottles, to sports equipment, to dental sealants, to personal care products – is either made with plastic or contains potentially harmful chemical additives used in the plastic-making process.

The average American uses about 500 plastic bags each year, for about twelve minutes each. This single-use mentality has led to the formation of a floating island of plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean more than twice the size of Texas. The film explores these issues and identifies how our daily reliance on plastic threatens not only waterways and marine life, but human health, too.

Featuring interviews with scientists and experts from around the world, Bag It is a first-person documentary in the style of Michael Moore, asking how we can incorporate healthy, more environmentally friendly practices into our lives, our cultures, and our communities.

Find out more about BAG IT!, the movie here.

Editorial note from Great Expectations: This is a huge issue world-wide but on a little island such as St John this is gigantic! The importance of recycling and using our limited energy in responsible ways cannot be overstated. We encourage all of our guests to recycle and use our precious resources in a responsible way. Some of the ways we try to conserve resources and support St John's resources can be found on the 'green initiatives' page of our website. If you are going to be on St John on June 5, please set aside time to see this important film and at the same time support the St John Film Society and the St John School for the Arts.

Iggy found a home at our St John Villa

Iggy the Iguana looks ferocious but is actually a scary-cat.

Turns out that Iguanas are quite timid and not to worry they are vegans so won't go after your toes. Want to learn more about iguanas on St John? Check out this webpage about iguanas. This little guy loves the jasmine vein growing by our deck. See if you can find him as he has lunch (eats the leaves from our plant).

Iggy lunching on our plant

Another love affair with St John...and who can blame her

Loving St John

One our favorite forums about St John is USVI-on-Line which is often filled with great questions and info about St John. This morning when I took a peek at the titles I could not help but look at the thread that had the following title: Brief Love Affair with STJ.   Ah, young love! Well, we too still feel this way and we have been going to St John for decades! It never fades.... ------- "Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 7:26 pm    Post subject: Brief Love Affair with STJ (April 28 - May 4, 2012) Here are some of my initial thoughts about my new love affair with the magical place known as St. John. My husband and I just returned from our first (and certainly not our last) trip to paradise. I am already plotting our return.  Before we had “officially” met in real life, I already had quite a growing crush on sweet St. John. Fortunately, St. John did not disappoint when we recently met each other for the first time. Perhaps too easily, I fell into St. John’s warm embrace while spending one glorious week in paradise. And unlike some suitors who will mislead you with false advertising of their finest qualities, I discovered that St. John had sorely understated his actual beauty and charm. With his ruggedly handsome good looks, salty air scent, soothing voice, and laid-back and eccentric personality, I had no choice but to fall completely in love. The story of our six night romance soon come . . .  " ------ No wonder that St John's nickname is: Love City!

May happenings on St John

May News flashes & fun St John clips:

• Spring marks the start of Carnival season in the Virgin Islands which is always exciting. St Thomas celebrated the 60th anniversary and did it in style this April. The St Thomas Carnival Ritual Dancers (picture to the right) were spectacular as usual. This year's theme of 'A Celebration for the World to See' highlighted past and present cultural events, food, music and dancing. The young ones had their special day with the Children's Fair and, as usual, there were lots of activities for the adults. The month long celebration culminated with J'Ouvert, a mile long street party, which started at 4 AM. Flat bed trucks overflowing with equipment, speakers, bands, dancers belted out music and dance moves as though the month long festivities were just starting! St John was represented by Cool Sessions Brass Steel Band which led the large band procession. St John's s Carnival season begins early June and ends with with a great parade and fireworks on July 4.
   
• Wagapapalooza, St John Animal Care Center's wonderfully fun dog show and important fundraiser to support the Center's activities, will be held this year on May 19 from 5 - 9 PM at the ball park in Cruz Bay. If you cannot come, you candonate online and support the pooches of St John!      
   
• Restaurant happenings: Moonshine Steak & Seafood is to open this month in the same great location as Cactus on the Blue (right on the waterfront with fabulous views) with the same owners but a radically different look and menu. Moonshine aims to be an upscale venue.  Another wonderful new waterfront bar is Motu (picture to right) which is located on the porch in front of the brand new building housing Low Key Watersports. The owners are planning jazz and old time beach music and hope that they will be able to attract private parties. We think it looks like a great place to host your wedding reception or family celebration! When you find yourself in Coral Bay a new must experience restaurant is Ekaete Pink Corner featuring true Caribbean foods including roti, curry goat or curry chicken, BBQ ribs, local juices including mauby, plum, sorrel, tamarind, and golden apple, and of course, smoothies and homemade ice-cream. Yumm!
   
• New Cruz Bay store: Waterbase at Wharfside Village opens offering paddleboard lessons and rentals and island-centric clothing. The owner, Pretlow Majette, is a pro and seasoned St John retailer who also owns the popular Big Planet, Made in St John and Shade eyeware.
   
• Our reviews continue to be fabulous (we rank #1 on Trip Advisor out of more than 400 St John villas) and we thank our guests for taking the time to tell others of their trip and stay at Great Expectations. It continues to be a pleasure for us!

Come to St John - and Great Expectations - to find for yourself why St John becomes an obsession!

Best,

Chuck & Kristin

owners of Great Expectations

P.S. Check out our availability; we still have a few weeks available during this coming summer and fall. 

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news about Great Expectations specials & St John activities

What is special about St John??

Could it be the magnificent underwater beauty?

Photographer Steve Simonsen captures some of St John's underwater beauty

Or, the  fabulous vistas?

 

We never tire of this view of Trunk Bay 

Recently a forum participant on USVI-on-line blog told of the time that she and her husband 'got it' or first really understood just why they are obsessed with St John (their 'eureka' moment was while sitting on a beach with some cool refreshments and watching turtles poke their heads out of the water) and she asked fellow forum readers 'when did you get it and what makes you obsessed with St John'?  Well I guess, for us, one of the most intoxicating things about St John is the endless beauty, both above and below the sea. The friendly people, culture, slow pace, and, yes, the weather (averaging 85 degrees year round) also top the 'reasons I love St John' list.  What is yours?

This guy 'gets' the beauty of St John
(great laid back place to relax the day away)

Come to St John - and Great Expectations - to find for yourself why St John becomes an obsession!

Best,

Chuck & Kristin

owners of Great Expectations

P.S. Check out our availability; we still have a few weeks available during this coming summer & fall.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news about Great Expectations specials & St John activities

You can help keep St John forever green

What is not to like about this picture?

Maho Bay

With your help, and that of the federal government, we can ensure that Maho Bay stays 'forever green'.  A critical parcel surrounding Maho Bay is still unprotected and might be eligible to be developed.  For the last several years the National Park Service has been working with the Trust for Public Land and the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park to protect over 200 acres.  So far, they have been successful in carving out 131 acres to be protected; however they need additional resources to include the remaining land. 

Please take a moment to read about this important initiative and sign the petition to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and the National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis urging them to allocate the funds (from the Land and Water Conservation Fund) needed to complete this critical purchase:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/maho/

A Party not just for the Dogs (of St John) - Wagapalooza!

This is a great happening' not to be missed if you are on St John (USVI) this coming May 19th.  You will laugh, applaud, and generally have a great time!  Vote for best costume, best old timer, and lots more including my favorite - best look alike.  Funds raised support the wonderful efforts of the St John Animal Care Center (SJACC).  And, fret not if you cannot make it to St John on May 19th (which is sad for sure!) because you can support the efforts of the Animal Care Center by donating on-line!

New protected beach on St John - Haulover will be forever green

THIS POST IS DATED 5 YEARS PRE-HURRICANE IRMA The St John Tradewinds reports:

Haulover will be transferred to the V.I. National Park later this year

The beautiful, historical land at Haulover on the East End is a favorite of snorkelers, swimmers, kayakers and just about everyone else. Last August the property was put up for sale to, most likely, off-island condominium developers. Before a sale could happen, the St. John Land Conservancy (SJLC) purchased the land to conserve it and protect the public access to it for all residents and visitors. However, the seller had a few conditions. One was that SJLC must transfer ownership of the land to the V.I. National Park. This transfer should take place later this year. Until then, SJLC will continue to steward the property.

“People are very glad Haulover has been saved and are supportive of our preservation efforts,” said George Mercadante, SJLC secretary. “Our first step was to restore the visual purity of Haulover. So we asked that all commercial signs be removed.”

“All but one business promptly removed their advertisement,” said Mercadante. “Next we cleared brush and debris from one side of the road to expand parking. Then we protected the beach from being further eroded by cars.”

Now Haulover beach on the pristine East End of St. John will be forever protected, explained Mercadante.  “SJLC has created an umbrella of protection over the entire property,” he said. “Haulover is safeguarded, forever.”

Since falling in love with St. John during family vacations as a teenager, Lauren Mercadante introduced her own husband and children to the island.  The sight of condos will never mar the landscape of Haulover Bay thanks to one woman’s desire to give back to the island which has been a part of her life for decades.  The family purchased a home in the Coral Bay area and spend a large portion of the year on Love City. While Mercadante has long volunteered for Friends of V.I. National Park doing trail maintenance and as a docent at Annaberg Sugar Mill, this winter she made an impact on the island which will be appreciated for generations.

St. John Land Conservancy and purchased more than three acres of property on the isthmus, saving it forever from development. “I wasn’t planning on this, but we had talked about doing something of this sort for St. John,” said Mercadante. “I assumed wrongly that this niche was taken and I didn’t want to tread on anyone’s toes. But we had talked about doing something to give back to St. John, which we love so much and is such a huge part of my life and my kids’ lives.”  Although she didn’t plan on creating a conservation trust during her winter months on St. John, after reading about the possible fate of pristine Haulover Bay on the island’s East End — which was on the market with a motivated seller — in St. John Tradewinds, Mercadante formed the “When I read the article, I was surprised that Haulover was for sale,” she said. “I read the story and that is what started this. I called Raf Muilenburg and we got the ball rolling.”

Attorney Rafael Muilenburg, of Morrisette and Muilenburg, represented the owner of the property, Family Properties Caribbean (FPC) LLC, and its principal David Prevo. FPC was looking into a variety of options for the 3.6 acres of land spread over four parcels, one of which was applying for a Group Dwelling permit to realize the “highest and best use of the land,” Muilenburg previously told St. John Tradewinds.

Possible development for the undisturbed land included up to 28 condominium units on both sides of the narrow Haulover isthmus, which abuts V.I. National Park property. South Haulover beach on Round Bay and North Haulover on Dreekets Bay were both potential sites for condo units.

Thanks to Mercadante, that is exactly what happened. She contacted Muilenburg in February and the two immediately set to work creating the non-profit conservation trust St. John Land Conservancy. The developer was, however, open to selling the land to a conservation trust at a reduced price, Muilenburg previously explained.“David [Prevo] is a longtime fan of the Park, and  is intrigued about the benefits for FPC’s nearby development at Dreekets Bay of dedicating this piece as conservation property,” Muilenburg previously said. “As such, FPC would be willing to sell it for conservation at the amount they paid for it about 10 years ago, plus property taxes and other costs incurred, approximately $800,000 total, which is half or less of the likely market price.”

Amazingly beautiful Manta Ray greets St John swimmers

Manta Ray with 10' span greets swimmers at Francis Bay St John

The Friends of the US Virgin Islands National Park took this picture of a friendly Manta Ray greeting swimmers at Francis Bay on St John, USVI.  Graceful and beautiful.  The manta ray swims close to shore and did not seem to mind the two legged visitors to her water. This is actually a 'juvenile' since the fully grown might have a span up to 20'!  It is worth a visit to St John just to see her!

Whales spotted around St John -- there she blows!

This humpback whale was spotted just off Jost Van Dyke

The St John Tradewinds reports that lots of whales have been spotted around St John in recent days. The picture above was taken by Wayward Sailor passenger Tarn Hildreth on Tuesday, March 20th. What a sight to see a whale breach! This is the time of year that whales are often sighted in the Virgin Islands waters as they migrate north after spending the winter in the warm waters of the south.

This humpback whale photo was captured by Allison Smith (also while aboard the Wayward Sailor)

A family comes to roost at our St John Villa

This pair of American Kestrels seem quite at home on our deck.

We believe we have provided a new home for this pair of Kestrels (a type of hawk) and are quite happy to do so (at no cost I might add). They are neither aggressive and or timid (letting me take pictures quite up close and personal). Right now they are visiting us at Beau Geste, the Guest House of our St John villa, Great Expectations. They arrived right after sunrise this morning (which we watched from the comfort of our bed). In case you want to watch the sunrise yourself you might take a peek at our live webcam (looking out on the South Shore of St John - Rendezvous Bay, Ditleff Point, Bordeaux Mountain, and into Reef Bay.

St John has lots of interesting bird life

 

This little guy came to visit us this morning.

From our friends at Wikipedia:

The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), sometimes colloquially known as the Sparrow Hawk, is a small falcon, and the only kestrel found in the Americas. It is the most common falcon in North America, and is found in a wide variety of habitats. At 19–21 centimeters (7–8 in) long, it is also the smallest falcon in North America. It exhibits sexual dimorphism in size and plumage, although both sexes have a rufous back with noticeable barring. Juveniles are similar in plumage to adults.

The American Kestrel hunts by hovering in the air with rapid wing beats or perching and scanning the ground for prey. Its diet typically consists of grasshoppers, lizards, mice, and other small birds. It nests in cavities in trees, cliffs, buildings, and other structures. The female lays three to seven eggs, which both sexes help to incubate. It is a common bird to be used in falconry, especially by beginners.

Its breeding range extends from central and western Alaska across northern Canada to Nova Scotia, and south throughout North America, into central Mexico and the Caribbean. It is a local breeder in Central America and is widely distributed throughout South America. Most birds breeding in Canada and the northern United States migrate south in the winter. It is an occasional vagrant to western Europe.

He wasn't at all shy; probably waiting for lunch to be served.

Virgin Islands Rolex Sailboat Regatta - Spectacular winds and sailing

Pillsbury Sound

Our friend, Andy Arnold, was lucky enough to hop on board Bad Kitty to watch today's leg of the Rolex. Yesterday was quite raining and overcast and as you can see today was spectacular with sun and great winds. Check out the current results and enjoy more pictures (with photo credit to Andy!)...

Tough duty Andy. Job well done!

St John Film Society Presents 'Milking the Rhino' April 3, 2012

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

2011/2012 Films

MILKING THE RHINO*

Directed by David E. Simpson: 85 minutes, 2008, Documentary

7:30 pm / St. John School of the Arts, Cruz Bay

Milking the Rhino examines Africa’s deepening conflict between humans and animals in an ever-shrinking world. It is the first major documentary to explore wildlife conservation from the perspective of people who live with wild animals. Shot in some of the world’s most magnificent locales, the film offers complex, intimate portraits of rural Africans at the forefront of community-based conservation: a revolution that is turning poachers into preservationists and local people into the stewards of their land. With memorable characters and spectacular locations, this film tells intimate, hopeful and heartbreaking stories of people from Kenya and Namibia.

MEET DIRECTOR DAVID SIMPSON FOR DISCUSSION AFTER THE SCREENING!

David E. Simpson is a producer, director and editor who has crafted award-winning documentaries for over 25 years. His pioneering film about disability culture, When Billy Broke His Head, garnered dozens of major awards including a jury prize at Sundance and a duPont-Columbia Baton for journalistic excellence. David directed Refrigerator Mothers, about the mothers of autistic children, which won top honors at many festivals and aired on public television’s POV. Milking the Rhino aired on PBS’Independent Lens and screened at over five dozen film festivals on six continents.

*An On Screen/In Person program made possible by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Regional Touring Program.

Double rainbow on St John this morning brings St Johnian gold (e.g. the sun)!

Double rainbow over Great Expectations tennis court

Get training your pooch for the St John's WAGAPALOOZA is set for May 19th!

Lucky - 2011 Best in Show 

SAVE THE DATE - WAGAPALOOZA!!! Just announced; this years Wagapalooza will be Saturday, May 19. We are offering sponsorship opportunities which will not only show your support for these animals but will also offer great exposure for your business. Please contact Kelly at kellcc1@aol.com for more information on sponsorship and donation opportunities. This year is going to be great. Pictured here is ACC Alumni Lucky winning Best in Show last year; I'm sure we will see him again this year with an entirely new set of tricks!!

First day of spring on St John

First day of spring - Trunk Bay - sweet!

This is the way Trunk Bay beach looked this afternoon on the first day of spring.  How sweet! Wish you were here? Well, come on down!

St Patrick's Parade on St John (USVI) is like no other!

While our parade on St John might be the shortest of any in the US with its one block run, it is also one of the most fun, not to be missed events of the year!

The Quiet Mon Pub is the best place to view the parade (and enjoy some great corn beef and cabbage!