Who could resist the Johnny cakes, pates, & other finger-licking good foods of St John Festival's Food Fair?

St John Tradewinds reports...

Written by Jaime Elliott

Most people tried a bit of many fabulous dishes (photos courtesy of St John Tradewinds)

Heart pumping good food

Gwendolyn Harley, the 2012 Food Fair honoree, appears with her award winning dolls

Hundreds of people, including Lieutenant Governor Greg Francis and his wife Cheryl, braved the summer heat and packed the Cruz Bay waterfront on Sunday afternoon, June 24, for annual the St. John Festival Food Fair and Coronation. Tents loaded with local delicacies including everything from conch in butter sauce and dove pork to stew mutton and seafood kalallo lined the waterfront street which was closed to traffic for the day.

People of all ages stood in line angling for homemade ginger beer, passionfruit juice and mauby to keep cool while waiting for their meals from the island’s very best cooks who had prepared their best dishes for the annual event. The crowd gathered under sunny skies in Frank Powell Park for the festivities which included musical selections by Love City Pan Dragons and Wrection Band as well as the St. John Festival Royalty Coronation and recognition of this year’s Food Fair honoree Gwendolyn Harley....Today Gwen’s Dolls, as well as a series of island animals like iguanas and donkeys she created, are highly collectible pieces which have won awards across the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.    read complete story and see more photos...

Also, check out the News of St John blog posting and more pictures about the Food Fair.  Fun photo collage. 

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If you missed this year's St John Festival Food Fair, promise yourself to be there next year. Start planning your St John trip now!  The entire month of June is a treat but the last week is especially packed with activities with the not-to-be-missed parade (and fireworks) on July 4.

St John Festival goes glam with Queen Selection Show

St John Tradewinds reports:

Created on Friday, 22 June 2012 Written by Jaime Elliott

St John Tradewinds photo of 2012 St John Festival Queen Contestants

Five of these lovely young ladies, above, will take to the stage on Saturday night, June 23, at Winston Wells ball field for the St. John Festival Queen Selection Show, starting at 8 p.m. Contestant #6, at far left, dropped out of the competition due to personal reasons. (L to R, excluding far left) Contestant #5 – Shanell Thomas, Contestants #2 – Clarissa Doyling, Contestant #4 – Khadijah Athanase, Contestant #3 – Shelsea Jean and Contestant  #1 – Sheniqua Davis

Get ready to for a night full of glamour and glitz when the St. John Festival Queen contestants take to the stage for the Queen Selection Show on Saturday night, June 23, at Winston Wells ball field starting at 8 p.m.  The night will feature music by Cool Session Brass Band, dancers and more as five beautiful young ladies will strut their stuff in swimwear, active wear, ball gowns and show off their model walks and talent.

Eighteen-year-old Sheniqua Davis, Contestant Number 1, graduated from GHS in 2011 and just completed her first year at the University of the Virgin Islands where she is pursuing a degree in accounting.  “I’ve loved math ever since the second grade,” she said.  Davis was inspired to join the competition in order to push herself, she explained.  “I wanted to get out of my comfort zone,” said Davis. “I am an athlete and played a lot of basketball, so I wanted to try something different.”  The best part of the experience for Davis has been getting to know her fellow contestants, she added.  “It’s been a lot of fun,” Davis said. “The best part is learning new stuff and being around the other contestants.”  Davis has been working hard and practicing every day with her chaperones Ywardia Wesselhoff and Tasheda Kelch, she explained.  “I’m really excited for the show,” said contestant number one. “I’m trying not to get nervous.”

St. John Queen Contestant Number Two is Clarissa Doyling, a 17-year-old who just graduated from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. Doyling plans to attend Florida State University in the fall where she will work towards a degree in meteorology.  “I have always been fascinated with weather ever since I was a little girl,” said Doyling. “I have always wanted to be a meteorologist and I’m excited to follow my dream.”  Doyling threw her hat in the St. John Festival Queen ring in order to inspire others, she explained.  “I joined the competition because I wanted to be a role model for other girls in my school and my community,” said Doyling.  Contestant number two had some advice for future Festival Queens dreaming of running for the title.  “Keep your head up and stay in school,” she said. “Respect yourself, because if you don’t, no one else will. And always be yourself.”  Working daily with chaperones Tamika Santos, Kevin Swanston and Christopher Rivera, Doyling is excited to take to the stage on June 23.  “I’m a little nervous, but more excited,” she said. “The best part of this whole experience has been learning the dances and getting to know the other girls.”

Recent Charlotte Amalie High School graduate Shelsea Jean is Contestant Number Three. The 18-year-old is looking forward to heading off to Clark Atlanta University where she plans to study early childhood education with a goal of opening a day care center one day.

Jean grew up watching Festival Princess and Festival Queen selection shows and dreamed of being on stage herself one day, she explained.  “I’ve been watching the shows for years and I’ve watched all the contestants and seen how confident they are,” said Jean. “I loved the gowns and the dances and thought, ‘I want to do that someday.’”  Jean is most looking forward to two segments of the Festival Queen Selection Show, she added.  “I’m excited for the International Wear segment and the Talent segment,” Jean said.  The best part about the experience of running for Festival Queen for Jean has been practicing with her chaperones Loren Abramson, Shatik Stevens and LeeAnn Oquendo, according to contestant number three.  “Through all of the hard work and all of the practice, you really learn a lot about yourself,” she said.

Khadijah Athanase, who just graduated from Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, is Contestant Number Four in the St. John Festival Queen Selection Show.  Athanase is looking forward to attending Savannah State University in Georgia in the fall where she plans to study psychology.  “I want to be a social worker one day and come home here to help my community,” said Athanase. Contestant number four has been enjoying dance practice, she added. “The best part is the great exercise you get,” said Athanase. “It’s a lot of work running for queen, but it’s a lot of fun too. It all pays off in the end.”  Athanase had a few words of wisdom for future queen contestants. “Go for it,” she said. “This experience will help you in the future.” Athanase has been working hard with her chaperone Nya Edward Marsh, who is also her aunt.  Read more...

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Tomorrow (Sunday, June 24) is the very popular Food Fair!  Save up your appetite it will be worth it!

Did you make a Father's Day promise to vacation on St John this coming year?

Memories for a lifetime are made on St John beaches

St John is a wonderful place to spend Father's Day.  Why not make a promise to yourself (or your Dad) to vacation together on St John this coming year.  It is a wonderful island vacation spot for 'kids of all ages'.  

If you have small kids St John can be magical with its silky, sandy (rock free) beaches with pristine waters (and virtually no rip tides).  Gentle entries at the beaches make learning to swim a piece of cake.  Donkeys, goats, and chickens roaming freely make St John a different experience that going to the 'shore' near home!

If your 'kids' are the grown up types, St John is still magical.  Stars that can be seen clearly and more shooting stars than you will see any other place in the world make it memorable.  Enjoy local music at one of our many restaurants while watching the boats or enjoying the sunsetting into the Caribbean.

St John is a wonderful family vacation destination. What's not to like?

St John Carnival Schedule cries music, music, music!

Flamingos reintroduced to the Virgin Islands - the BVI's

Photo Credit: Charlie Smith

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Now the Virgin mogul has announced he is reintroducing three species of tropical birds to the chain of islands.  Since he set up home in the British Virgin Islands in the 1970s, Richard Branson has worked tirelessly to restore his idyllic corner of the Caribbean.

Residents of the British Overseas Territory will soon be able to see the flamingo, the scarlet Ibis and the roseate spoonbill for the first time in over 100 years.

Returning: Two birds Richard Branson has reintroduced to the Virgin Islands. The roseate spoonbill, left, and the scarlet ibis, right

Mr Branson made the announcement yesterday on his blog.

Revealing 70 flamingos have already been born in the BVIs in 2012, the tycoon hailed the programme 'a fantastic success'.

Richard Branson announced a breeding programme is well under way in the Virgin Islands and 70 flamingos have been born there so far this year

The spectacular birds were once commonly found in the islands but modern development and hunting rendered them extinct.

He added: 'We hope in time to have the same success with the Scarlet Ibis as we have had with the Flamingos, so the British Virgin Islands as a whole can enjoy the beauty of these birds.

'(The) Ibis, one of the most beautiful birds in the world, is also doing fantastically - we had our first baby born recently.

'They are completely different colour to their parents, which I suspect is so they are not so noticeable to predators when they are young. They turn the incredible scarlet colour after a couple of years.'

The third species, the roseate rpoonbill, is a wading bird, common in South America and other parts of the Caribbean.

He spent more than £6 million turning it into a luxury resort, charging guests up to £33,00 day to stay there. In August 2011, the Island - which sits just 13 miles off the coast of Tortola - was struck by Tropical Storm Irene. A fire broke out burning the Great House to the ground. Mr Branson bought Necker in 1979, paying just  £150,000 for the 74-acre island.

EDITOR'S NOTE: We, on nearby St John USVI sure hope that they venture over to our island! They will be welcome with open arms and space!

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:

Where better to celebrate 'Go Barefoot Day' than on St John?

St John where it is 'Go Barefoot Day' every day of the year!

Truly, there is a 'Go Barefoot Day' and it is today, June 1! And, why not celebrate it on St John since our temperature averages 85 degrees year round.  The water temperature is just about as toasty warm (and always pristine) 12 months a year.

There really isn't a need for shoes.  We even have a famed' Barefoot minister, who of course, is without shoes during her services.  

Even our fabulous webmaster, Vickery Hill, has gotten hooked on St John's magic where he takes off his shoes (sandals below) to chill and regroup:

 Where do you go to let it all go -- and go barefoot?

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.

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

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.”

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.

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

Double rainbow over Great Expectations tennis court