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Author: Jenn Manes

The Island is So Busy, No Booze Friday & More!

Jenn Manes
Cinnamon Bay, April 14, 2025

Hello everyone, and happy Tuesday! It’s been a bit since I posted a quick island update, so here we go!

Let’s start with the crowds… The island is so busy! Like unbelievably busy! It’s Spring Break in many towns up in New England on the East Coast, and those families are currently visiting us in droves! It’s great seeing so many children enjoying our beaches and everything the island has to offer. Thank you for coming!

But with the crowds comes crazy parking problems, and the past few days have been no exception. The biggest piece of advice I can give you when visiting the island is that no parking truly means no parking. If you parking in front of a no parking sign, you will likely return to a $150 ticket from the National Park. If you park in front of a tow away sign like we have at Trunk Bay, you will likely get towed. And if a tow truck isn’t available to tow you, the park rangers will simply take your license plates off of your vehicle. I am absolutely serious about this. I saw what appeared to be a St. Thomas rental vehicle parked in the tow away zone at Trunk Bay last week, and the ranger removed the plates and dropped them off at the motor vehicle department. Now that will easily ruin a vacation. During weeks like this, it’s always best to take a taxi.

Please do not block the road when parking anywhere in St. John.

For those of you on island this week, certain types of alcohol are prohibited from being sold until 4 p.m. on Good Friday. Beer and wine can be sold, but no spirits. That means no Painkillers until 4 p.m., so please plan accordingly. The British Virgin Islands has a similar law on the books, so there won’t be any Painkillers at the Soggy Dollar Bar on Friday until 6 p.m.

Speaking of holidays, all government offices will be closed on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. This likely will not affect you if you are here on vacation, but it does affect those of us who live here. Ferries, barges and businesses will be operating as normal.

Most retail shops will stay open on Easter, however some restaurants will close. Check your favorite to be certain.

And while we are talking about restaurants, we have our first seasonal closing in. ZoZo’s will close even earlier this year. They will close for season at the end of May this year, so make those reservations now.

That’s it for now. Have a fantastic day everyone!

Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour

See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Click Here to Book Now. 

 

I Saw So Many Flamingos Today!

Jenn Manes
Steve Simonsen captured this picture a few days ago.

I have such great news to share with you all today. The flamingos are still here on island! Woohoo! I saw at least 20 of them today hanging out over at the salt pond near Grootpan Bay while I was out and about on an Explore STJ island tour. 

For those of you who are new to reading Explore STJ (welcome & thank you for reading!), we hadn’t seen flamingos on St. John in years. One would show up here or there, but it would quickly disappear, and we would, once again, become a flamingo-less island. Well, that was until February 2023 when a flamboyance of flamingos (that’s what a group of them are called) was spotted near Salt Pond, sending the island into a bird frenzy!

Flamingos are actually native to the Virgin Islands, but all were eaten or lost to development until the reintroduction on Anegada in 1992 and then another flock later on Necker Island. Anegada and Necker Island – which is a private island owned by Sir Richard Branson – are located over in the British Virgin Islands. According to Gail Karlsson – a St. John resident who is an environmental lawyer, author, photographer and avid bird watcher – there is currently a “smallish” flock on Beef Island (near the airport on Tortola), the Necker Island flock and about 300 on Anegada, according to a bird count a few years back.

A lot of time has been since this first sighting, so I wasn’t sure if they were still hanging around the island. I’ve heard of a spotting or two here or there, but never en masse like I witnessed today.

Steve Simonsen must have received a tip too, because he told some incredible photos of this flamboyance yesterday. Check them out:

And here is a quick video I took Sunday morning:

Incredible, aren’t they??!!

So the point of today’s story is, yes, the flamingos are still here! If you would like to see the island and possibly spot one of these beautiful birds, please consider taking an island tour with me! You can learn more about Explore STJ’s island tours at www.explorestj.com/tour.

Have a fantastic day everyone, and happy birdwatching!

 

 

New Bar & Restaurant Opens in Cruz Bay

Jenn Manes
St. John Back Bar has opened in the former 420 to Center space in Cruz Bay.

A brand new bar and restaurant recently opened in Cruz Bay! And from what I have heard, the food is amazing!

We told you last month that 420 to Center had closed, and that a new establishment was opening up in its place. Well St. John Back Bar has officially opened, and the reviews are all great!

St. John Back Bar is owned by Laura Valente, her husband Chef Nathan Bohning and Michael Beeman, a longtime 420 to Center bartender. Laura and Nathan are no strangers to the food business here on island, as they ran Joe’s Rum Hut for the past few years before it sold. (Joe’s Rum Hut is now home to a restaurant called Karma.)

Chef Nathan has created a pretty impressive menu that includes everything from sushi and poke bowls to soups and wagyu smash burgers. Check it out:

They have a nice cocktail menu too and really good wines! Sancerre is my absolute favorite, so I was ecstatic to see that they serve it here!

Thank you for offering good wines St. John Back Bar!

Looking for another happy hour option? They have that too! Happy hour is daily from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. During that time, you can get a Coors Light for $4 and a house rum cocktail for $6.

St. John Back Bar opens at 2 p.nm. daily. The kitchen is open until midnight. The bar closes at 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. It stays open until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

St. John Back Bar is located across from Wharfside Village in Cruz Bay. It is nestled between Slim’s parking lot and the Catholic Church.

Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour

See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Click Here to Book Now. 

STJ Brewers Launch New Drink to Support the Donkeys

Jenn Manes

You know we love our donkeys here on St. John. Well today, I am happy to tell you that our friends over at St. John Brewers love them too, so much that they just launched a new drink that will help support the rehabilitation of our island’s most popular residents.

St. John Brewers just launched its newest ready-to-drink canned cocktail – the Moscow Mule. Crafted with St. John Brewers’ popular Ginger Beer, premium vodka and natural lime, this locally-canned cocktail brings a refreshing twist to one of America’s favorite drinks. The island’s new Moscow Mule is perfect for any island adventure.

This drink is more than just a delicious cocktail – it’s handcrafted with a purpose. A portion go the proceeds from every can will support St. John’s iconic donkeys. Our donkeys are an important part of our community, as they are cherished symbol’s of the island’s history and culture. I’m overjoyed that St. John Brewers is committed to ensuring they remain healthy and safe.

“The wild donkeys are an essential part of St. John’s character,” said Kevin Chapman, co-founder of St. John Brewers. “We wanted to create a product that not only tests great, but also makes a difference. The Moscow Mule does just that. It’s crafted with love and gives back to our home.”

Chirag Vyas, co-founded of St. John Brewers, added, “Our Ginger Beer has always been favorite, so creating a Moscow Mule felt like a natural step. It’s also been a popular cocktail at The Tap Room for years, so we’re excited to share that same great taste in a can while supporting a cause that’s close to our hearts.”

Where to Buy the Moscow Mule 

The new Moscow Mule canned cocktail is available at a variety of local bars, restaurants and retail stores throughout the US Virgin Islands. You can obviously find it at The Tap Room at Mongoose Junction, too. 🙂

About St. John Brewers
Founded by island residents Kevin Chipman and Chirag Vyas, St. John Brewers has been a cornerstone of the Virgin Islands’ craft beverage scene for over 20 years. With a passion for quality and a commitment to community, the island brewery produces drinks that reflect the vibrant, laid-back spirit of St. John. The Moscow Mule has long been a favorite cocktail at The Tap Room, St John Brewers’ iconic brewpub, known for its laid-back atmosphere and island- inspired drinks. Now, customers can enjoy this beloved cocktail on the go, while also giving back to the community. Cheers to that!

Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with me!

Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour

See the island of St. John with a resident. See the nooks and crannies that many visitors miss. Explore the beaches, historical sites, perhaps a tiki bar or two, and much more. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.

Click Here to Book Now. 

And The Winner Is…

Jenn Manes
Dalton picked the winner of the Monarch Cottage raffle!

On March 18th, I received an email from a reader asking if my raffle was real. The reader, Jack Warner, wanted to make sure it wasn’t a scam. “Can’t be too careful with all those Princes out there!” he joked. I assured Jack that it was in fact very real, and that I was holding it because the Animal Care Center and St. John Rescue could use some extra funding. Jack subsequently purchased one ticket. 

Over about months span, we sold roughly 1,400 tickets and raised over $33,000 (after the credit card processor took its cut) which will be split between the Animal Care Center and St. John Rescue. I am so humbled, and I cannot thank all of you enough for your support.

We printed out all of the entries and drove over to Monarch Cottage in Fish Bay just before sunset tonight to pull a winner. I let Dalton do the honors. I filmed it for all of you to see. Check it out:

Congratulations Jack Warner! You are the winner! How’s that for a little irony??!!

Jack has won a week-long stay at Monarch Cottage, a sunset sail with Island Roots Boat Charters & much more!

Again, I thank all of you for your support. The world may be divided, but, together we can make a difference.

Coral Bay’s Annual Flotilla Happening Soon!

Jenn Manes
A prior year’s flotilla at Hansen Bay

Coral Bay is holding a party, and you’re all invited to attend!

The Coral Bay Yacht Club is holding its annual flotilla fundraiser on Saturday, April 12th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hansen Bay, which is located on St. John’s East End. The event will feature a chili cook-off in addition to a cash bar, live music by Lauren and Friends, and a 50/50 raffle. All proceeds will benefit youth competitive sailing scholarships.

These vessels are used for St. John’s Kids and the Sea (KATS) youth sailing program.

Coral Bay has been holding flotillas for decades. According to the Coral Bay Community Council, these “parties with a purpose” echo traditional East End beach parties that date as far back as 1909. One such party is depicted in the postcard image below.

Postcard by Johannes Lightbourn c1900; Courtesy Mike & Jane Sheen Collection via Coral Bay Community Council

The flotilla is a free event, and you can arrive by boat or by car. If you would like to drive out to Hansen Bay, simply take Route 10 to the East End. The parking area at Hansen Bay is roughly 12 minutes past Skinny Leg’s. Parking is free for the event. Hansen Bay has a beautiful, white sandy beach and great snorkeling nearby. If you would like to arrive by boat, you can hop on a charter for $40 per person. Text Jaime at 340-227-3260 to reserve your spot.

Here is where Hansen Bay is located:

The Coral Bay Yacht Club was founded in 1976 with the mission of supporting the Coral Bay boating community while being a community-minded organization. It assists visiting boaters in understanding how best to safely enjoy Coral Bay boating while supporting its camaraderie local of boaters in the pursuit of fun, safe, ethical, environmentally-responsible boating. It is also committed to community-minded projects like fundraising for Coral Bay youth education projects and Coral Bay shoreline and water cleanups.

You can learn more about the Coral Bay Yacht Club at www.cbycstj.org.