Author: USVI

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Attractions Restaurants St John

Mongoose Junction

This is a page from 1998, where appropriate we have provided links to the stores sill existing. 

Welcome to Mongoose Junction, a truly unique shopping  complex  located near the National Park Visitor’s Center in Cruz Bay, St. John.

Within the beautiful Caribbean architecture of finely crafted stone  walls and exotic woodworking you will find an extraordinary selection of  items from around the world.

Take your time to explore all the shops, watch artists create, relax in  one of the many shaded courtyards, enjoy a tropical afternoon drink, or  join us for an evening of live music and good food.

We’re always glad to see you!

Artisans at work

BATIK KITAB – St. John artist, Juliana Aradi, creates batiks which  capture the colors and images of the islands. Works on silk, cotton,  linens and paper.  

THE CANVAS FACTORY – Since 1980, manufacturing practical and durable canvas bags for personal use, recreation, and business.  Extensive line of quality cotton bags.  

THE CLOTHING STUDIO – At the Caribbean’s oldest hand painted clothing studio (in operation since 1978), you can watch talented artists create original designs on fine tropical clothing. 

DONALD SCHNELL STUDIO – Artist at work creating handcrafted pottery reflecting the feel of the islands.  Hand blown and stained glass from St. John and the world.  

BAJO EL SOL GALLERY & STUDIO – Representing works by Les Anderson, Kat Sowa and Aimee Tryser, featuring and variety of Caribbean inspired fine art originals, prints and crafts. 
 340  693-7070,  FAX  340  693-7765

WORLD VIEW GRAPHICS – Variety of bold graphic designs combines with  unique hand-painting to create this colorful, fun-to-wear sportswear. Artisans at work.

 Clothing & Accessories

BAMBOULA – A beautifully arranged collection of primitive art, clothing, beads, baskets and textiles displayed on old-style Caribbean furniture, also for sale. Open until 9:30 Monday – Saturday.            340  693-8699

BIG PLANET ADVENTURE OUTFITTERS – Specializing in top name men’s, women’s and children’s clothing beachwear, footwear and accessories from Teva, Patagonia, Timberland, Birkenstock, Revo and Jams World.  340  776-6638

BOUGAINVILLEA – Island resort wear for men & ladies … featuring tropical clothing & accessories, shoes & hats, and a special gift collection for the island lifestyle. – 340  693-7190

 Gifts & Galleries

FABRIC MILL – A must for people who love color… a multitude of bright colorful fabrics, rugs and sarongs; whimsical soft sculpture.  All located in an elegant two story building.   340  776-6194 – FAX 340-693-8876

ISLAND FANCY – A colorful Caribbean shop with something for everyone! Tropical gifts and art, books and music, Virgin Island spices and St. John specialties. Open everyday!  809-776-6940

MAPes MONDe Ltd. – Fine reproductions of historic Caribbean maps, etchings and paintings in quality prints and note cards. Books about island history and gifts.  

WICKER WOOD & SHELLS – Gifts Inspired by Nature. Handcrafted items from around the world. Original art, prints, crafts, local books, cards, calendar.  

ART GALLERY at WICKER WOOD & SHELL – Original Art and Fine Crafts.  Representing painters well known for St. John scenes.  Bavano sculptures, decorative accents, picture frames, glass, designer jewelry, objects d’art. 

 Jewelry

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS – Fine jewelry and fine craft gallery, representing a diversity of talented craft artists from on-island and off-island. Exclusive Designs, home accents, island inspired gifts.  340  693-7005

CARAVAN GALLERY – A rich display of handmade silver and gold jewelry, artifacts and unique gifts from St. John and around the world, in a beautiful museum-like setting. 340  779-4566

COLOMBIAN EMERALDS INTERNATIONAL – The  world’s leading Emerald jeweler offers a dazzling selection of precious gemstones and 14kt and 18kt gold jewelry. Authorized dealers for the best known names in watches.

R&I PATTON GOLDSMITHING – Owners Rudy and Irene Patton design and, with their expert staff create the majority of the gemstones 14 and 18 karat gold, and sterling silver jewelry found in their beautiful island-stone and mahogany building.  Treasure coins, ancient coins and petroglyphs are Rudy’s specialty.  top Grade Tahitian pearls and gemstones are hand selected by Irene.  Also featured are a large unusual selection of loose earl opal inlay, and wedding bands.  This knowledgeable, friendly group welcomes you.  Catalog available. –   800  626-3445, 340  776-6548 – FAX 809-779-4816

 Professionals Services

CATERED TO, INC. – Vacation Rentals:  Over 25 Rental villas for 2 to 10 persons, simple to sophisticated, beautifully furnished and landscaped, with spacious decks, outstanding views, most with pools. 

HOLIDAY HOMES OF ST. JOHN, INC. – St. John’s oldest and largest Real Estate Firm offering residential commercial, and land properties. A professional sales staff striving to make your dreams reality.

TOWN & COUNTRY REAL ESTATE, INC. – From Seashore to Mountain Top,  from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay; professional and personalized service,  exclusively On St. John. 

 Personal Services

THE GRAPEVINE SALON – Complete beautification for the whole you.  Fill hair, nail, and skin care services available,  Appointments recommended.  

 Restaurants & Cafes

GECKO GAZEBO – Sit, relax and enjoy a cool tropical drink at our open-air bar overlooking beautiful Mongoose Junction. – 340  693-8340

MONGOOSE RESTAURANT, DELI & BISTRO – Garden Restaurant, serving  breakfast, lunch and dinner. Deli features a full line of delicious takeouts, fresh baked goodies and picnic supplies. Open 7 days. Entertainment weekly. 

PARADISE RESTAURANT – Open 7 days a week. 4:30 p.m. until. Casually elegant dining of ltalian-American cuisine. Air conditioned or sunset second floor dining. 

SUN DOG CAFE – Be seated at one of our shaded tables and let us serve you lunch in the courtyard.  We feature a menu of homemade salads, overstuffed sandwiches and ice cream. – 340  693-8340

 Water sports

PROPER YACHTS – Crewed or barefoot yachts from a fleet of 42 ft. to  59 ft. Hinckley Yachts. Yacht sales, service and management. 

HURRICANE ALLEY. – Active clothes for he whole family.  T-shirts, casual clothes, bathing suits, sunglasses, film and more… Snorkel gear or rent.  Daily day sails, dives and snorkel strips 

 

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The American Red Cross

American Red Cross of the Virgin Islands Nisky Center Suite 222 St Thomas, VI 00802

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Pistarkle Cottage

Available

 on the Island of

St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Pistarkle Cottage  
(a West Indian home rental) is meant for those seeking quiet and seclusion.

 Situated on the eastern tip of St. John its view is sprinkled with the British Virgin Islands of Norman, Peter, Cooper, Salt, Fallen Jerusalem, Virgin Gorda and Tortola. The day begins watching a sunrise directly in front of your balcony over Privateer Bay and Flanagan Island; it ends watching a sunset over Bordeaux Mountain from the cottage’s front terrace.

 Tradewinds keep you cool 12 months a year.

Enjoy total privacy on its1.4 acres fenced to protect landscaping against goats & donkeys. Atop the hill the site has a 300 degree view of St. Croix, Coral Harbor & the British Virgins. Blossoming Privateer Bay Estates offers paved roads and underground utilities. As part of the East End community it is 40 minutes from Cruz Bay, the hub of St. John life where the ferries from St. Thomas (20 minutes) and Tortola (30 minutes) arrive daily, and 15 minutes from historic Coral Bay, the second of the island’s towns.

Upstairs the gray shingled cottage, completed in 1994, offers 1 bedroom (king-sized bed), 1 bath, kitchen, 15’x20′ living/diningroom with 12′ sliding louvred mahogany doors opening onto a 12’x30′ easterly deck for sunbathing. Deck furniture allows for dining out of doors.

Downstairs houses 1 bedroom (queen-sized bed), lavatory, outdoor shower, & laundry room with washer/dryer. Pistarkle Cottage has both a white (drinking water caught on the roof) and gray (gardening water caught on the driveway) water cistern. A 12-volt solar power system supplies hot water, & when power outages occur, a light in each room & a water pump.

 

 

The island of St. John comprises 10,600 acres of land and bays 2/3 of which was donated to the U.S. as a National Park in 1956 by Laurance Rockefeller. The U.S. National Park Service has a strong presence on the island offering 22 self-guided trails and a conducted hike to Reef Bay. The result is a get-away island of sparkling beaches, quiet lagoons, underwater coral gardens, scenic roads, walking trails, tropical foliage, 18th & 19th century plantation ruins. Fahrenheit temperatures from Christmas to Easter are in the 80s (26.5-32 Celsius) daytime, 70s (21-26) at night; April through November are about 10% higher. U.S. duty-free shopping in Cruz Bay offers both charming merchandise and venues. You will find some of the finest Caribbean & international cuisine.

 

Categories
Sailing St Thomas

Amantha Yacht Sales

Whether you are planning on a yacht purchase or would simply like to have your Yacht  managed in our beautiful Sapphire Beach Marina of St Thomas US Virgin Islands,  Amantha Yacht Sales & Management  will endeavor to take the time to help you find the right boat and best service in the Caribbean. Our yacht sales & management company will guide you through the entire purchasing process from making an offer, to sea trial and survey.

 

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Sinbad’s Soul Music Festival Here Come Da Bands!

Sinbad’s Soul Music Festival
Here Come Da Bands!

March 7, 1999 – Studio City, California — This evening, Sinbad has confirmed the first three bands to be appearing at this year’s Kmart Presents… Sinbad’s Soul Music Festival Part 5 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Chaka Khan, Roy Ayers, and the Stylistics will be among the many legendary 70’s Funk Groups to appear at the Main Stage Concerts, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, May 28, 29 and 30, 1999.

Stay tuned to the ShoutOut Board for constant updates, and watch for new pages built by Sinbad himself so he can give direct replies to your questions and concerns. He’s also asked us to dust off the ole’ RoomMate Board so those of you traveling single… don’t have to unless you want to!

Be sure to Catch Sinbad Live! on the Tom Joyner Morning Show… Monday morning!

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Water Island: Features

Water Island is the fourth largest in size of the U. S. Virgin Islands, being about 2 ½ miles long and from ½ to 1 mile wide with an area of 500 acres.  It is situated at the entrance to the harbor of St. Thomas and at the nearest point is about 3/8 miles off shore. The Island is very irregular in shape with many bays and peninsulas.

The highest point is 300 feet above sea level and there are fresh water ponds at the low point. There are several beaches, coves  and rocky headlands.  The large beach is one of the finest in the region. The soil is rocky and dry with acres of scrub brush, that live on the modest rainfall.  There are approximately 100 private homes and families on the island. There are several bays.  One has a town dock in a calm harbor, another has a magnificent beach and others have been left in their wild condition.

The island was a military site between the World Wars and there are buildings that date from that era.  These have all been converted into homes or villas for the hotel. The island has power and telephone service from St. Thomas and the road base is fully developed. There is a 100 room hotel structure with tennis courts, recreation complex and marina that is currently out of use.  The majority of the homes have been built during the period of the lease and are relatively new.

Location

Water Island is separated from St. Thomas by a ½ mile wide stretch of water.  It is close enough to draw on all of St. Thomas’ life support. 

Easy Access

There is a regular water taxi to a mainland marina and mall. The route continues into the city downtown waterfront.  The marina/mall ride takes ten minutes. There is a major food store and gourmet shop in the mall as well as other typical mall shops.  This proximity to St. Thomas also means easy access to all resources.  The trip from the airport to the island takes less than 30 minutes.

Accessible from all major air hubs

Every major air hub in north America provides service to St. Thomas, which is a short trip from all major American locations. The trip from the airport to the island is also a breeze.

Stable Climate – All Year Round

The St. Thomas climate is legendary. Never cooler than 70 degrees  Never hotter than 95 degrees. There is sunshine and blowing trade winds. It typically rains for a few minutes each day, but seldom for more then a few minutes.

The island has pristine clear water.  The fish life is legendary and draws divers to explore the waters.  There are no noxious bugs, no scorpions or poisonous snakes nor any unpleasant wildlife.

Honeymoon Beach

One of the principal attractions of Water Island is Honeymoon Beach. When Walter Phillips came to Water island, this beach extended for about 50 feet along the shore and about 10 feet back from the shoreline. The trees and brush were removed, 200 truck loads of rocks and gravel were hauled off. The sand was sifted to remove debris, a dredge removed the seaweed and deposited sand on the shore. Today, Honeymoon Beach, is a most beautiful beach. It is frequented by international boat traffic.

Power and phone

The island is served by a series of underwater cables from the St. Thomas telephone and power companies. These systems are maintained by the public authorities.

Shopping

There is no commerce on the island.  In the past the hotel maintained a store with basics, but now there is no business at all. St. Thomas has it all from McDonalds at the mall, to Ralph Lauren.

Botanical garden

Another important feature of the Island is the Water Island Botanical Garden. This is a brainchild and hobby of Walter Phillips. Plants from all over the world have been brought in and established. It is a member of the International Association of Botanical Gardens and of the Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta.

Status

The island is part of the US Territory of the Virgin Islands. It has its own US post office and zip code (00802).  US law governs and the public administration is in the US chain of command.

Population

The home owners range from retired couples to wind surfers and boat denizens to normal All-American families. They tend to be well educated and quiet.  There is no poverty pocket or depressed area. There is no congestion.

Layout of a typical home

There are a dozen buildings that are based on the Army structures.  These are long houses with 18″ thick cement walls.  They are spacious and cool.  A typical floor plan looks like several apartments have been made from one building.  Other Army buildings are single family dwellings

 

Categories
Shopping St Croix

Baci Duty Free St. Croix

Take advantage of St. Croix’s duty-free status and stop in for one of the island’s largest selections of fine cigars and spirits. A walk-in humidor protects the extensive array of cigars, which includes Arturo Fuente, Partagas, and Macanudo brands. A wide variety of liquors is also available – you’ll also find rare ports and single malt scotches. In addition, Baci stocks Danish watches, designer sunglasses, and collectible figurines by Lladro.

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St Croix Weddings

The Palms Wedding Packages St. Croix

We offer a wedding package and thousands of suggestions, but ultimately you may plan the wedding of your dreams. Your wedding team is none other than Julie (General Manager) and her Assistant Manager. If anyone can make the magic happen, these two can. For just the two of you or 200 of your loved ones, at The Palms your wedding is about you.

Categories
Diving St Thomas

Blue Island Divers

We are the premier dive center for St. Thomas. We cater for all SCUBA divers and their families, from Cruise Ship SCUBA Divers to St. Thomas SCUBA Diving Stay-Dive Packages, Rendezvous Diving and Mega-Yacht SCUBA Divers. We are the leading dive center for Nitrox on St. Thomas, both Nitrox Training, and provision of Nitrox diving to those already certified.

 

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Restaurants St Croix

Beach Side Cafe St. Croix

Enjoy lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch in an open-air restaurant overlooking a magnificent stretch of white, sandy beach on the West End of St. Croix! Taste the delicious flavors of our Le Cordon Bleu cuisine team featuring daily specials and new spring menus. Choose affordable wines from the 2009 Spectator Award of Excellence Wine List plus custom tropical cocktails.