Jenn Manes, Author at ExploreSTJ.com

I Saw So Many Flamingos Today!

Jenn Manes April 13, 2025

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 April 11, 2025

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 April 8, 2025

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

Click Here to Book Now.

And The Winner Is…

Jenn Manes April 7, 2025

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 April 1, 2025

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.

Island Changes This Past Week

Jenn Manes April 1, 2025

Happy April 1st everyone! Dalton and I spent his Spring Break up in Connecticut last week, and when I returned home, I noticed several small changes here on the island. It’s amazing how much can happen on such a small week in just seven days! Check it out!

Dolphin Market near the Westin now has an actual door! If you thought it was cold in there before, just wait until your next visit! It’s basically Alaska in there, which makes me wonder… Now that the air conditioning isn’t literally going out the door anymore, I wonder if they will lower their prices??? If I were a betting woman, I’d say no. But a girl can dream!

Next up: Parking!

Maho Crossroads, the tiki bar at Maho Bay, now has a big “Private Parking” sign at the parking lot that’s located on their property and adjacent to the business. I’m not sure what’s happening there, but there were not any vehicles parked there other than what appeared to be employee vehicles the past two days. I’ll let you know what I hear about this one.

There appears to be a few new off-road parking spots beyond the main parking lot at Maho Bay. Road crews cleared the sides of the road last month, and there is now a few spaces where it appears you can legally park on the side of the road (no “No Parking” signs posted as of today), provided that all of your tires and mirrors are off of the roadway completely. There is a bit of a hill in one of the areas, so park carefully if you choose one of those spots. It’s a bit of a walk, too. Something to keep in mind.

Speaking of clearing, there has been a decent amount of clearing beside the parking lot at Skinny Legs. I am not sure what’s going on here either, but it looks like a great spot to add a few more parking spots. Skinny’s is always packed, and I know many of you would enjoy a few extra places to park out there.

Now let’s talk about the weather. It is absolutely down pouring as I type this. Like monsoon-like rain. We’ve been getting a few good downpours here and there over the past week, but it’s nothing to ruin a vacation over. It’s also been quite windy. The wind at the Windmill Bar (oxymoron, I know) was out of control when I popped in earlier today, which made it an idea spot for a windmill back in the day!

And lastly, our raffle ends this Friday, so please purchase a ticket and support the Animal Care Center and St. John Rescue. Here are all of the details:

Win a Week at Monarch Cottage, A Brand-New Waterfront Rental – Proceeds to support the Animal Care Center & St. John Rescue

Explore STJ is holding a raffle! The cost is only $25 a ticket! Proceeds will be split between the Animal Care Center and St. John Rescue. Here is what you can win:

A seven-night stay at Monarch Cottage – A brand-new, waterfront home with a pool & hot tub near Cruz Bay.
A $500 VISA gift card courtesy of Explore STJ
A sunset sail for up to six people with Island Roots Boat Charters
A $100 gift certificate to Cruz Bay Landing
A $100 gift certificate to The Tap Room
A $100 gift certificate to The Windmill Bar
A Trunk Bay puzzle courtesy of Explore STJ

This raffle has an estimated value of $8495! The raffle period will end on Friday, April 4, 2025 at 9 p.m. AST. The winner will be announced on or about April 8, 2025.

You will receive one entry for every $25 donation you make.

(Click here to read more about Monarch Cottage.)

Author: Jenn Manes