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Author: Jenn Manes

Pizza is Returning to Coral Bay!

Jenn Manes

I have such great news to share with you all today! Pizza is returning to Coral Bay! It’s the little things in life sometimes. 🙂

Like many of you, I was bummed when I learned that Pizzabar in Paradise was forced to close earlier this year due to lease renewal issues. Pizzabar was the last spot to serve pizza in Coral Bay after Salty Mongoose closed a few years back. Well today. I am excited to tell you that Johnny Lime is now offering pizza in addition to their regular Caribbean BBQ menu. How exciting!

Johnny Lime is a great little Caribbean BBQ spot located across the street from Coral Bay harbor. It’s in the former Oasis location and right beside Surf Club Cantina and Sharky’s (the old Salty Mongoose location). It’s an open-air spot with great views, breezes, and, of course, great food.

Johnny Lime holds lots of fun weekly events, including open mic nights every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. They also host trivia every Wednesday, although I do not believe that has started yet this season. But when it does, it is definitely the place to be every Wednesday night.

For those of you who plan to be on island this Halloween, Johnny Lime is having a Haunted House on Saturday, November 1st. There will be a kids costume contest at 7 p.m. in addition to live music and drink specials. A portion of the proceeds raised at this event will supports Kats, St. John’s Kids and the Sea sailing program.

Johnny Lime is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is closed on Thursdays.

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. 

A Closer Look: Blind Donkey

Jenn Manes
Blind Donkey is a new bar that is located in the former Quiet Mon Pub space.

Over the summer, we told you how a new bar – Blind Donkey – opened in the former Quiet Mon Pub location. I finally had a chance to check it out for myself, and I really liked it! Here are the details…

Blind Donkey is the newest endeavor of Todd Beaty. Todd is the owner of Cruz Bay Landing, a great little sit-down restaurant with gazebo bar that’s located in the park across from the ferry dock in Cruz Bay. He and his twin brother Chad also owned Woody’s back in the day. (They sold that back in 2013.) Well Todd recently decided to get back into the bar scene, and opened Blind Donkey with his friend Patrick Rooney last summer.

Blind Donkey is located in the former Quiet Mon Pub spot, and it has been completely transformed. There is a new large bar, and plenty of seating throughout. There are televisions scattered around the bar, so it’s a great place to watch a sporting event while indulging in a cold cocktail or two. Check it out:

Sounds good to me!
I absolutely love sitting outside on the rail. People watching is great up here!
Spacious & comfortable seating inside
Comfy bar stools too!
Darts on the side porch
Alternate front porch view
Be sure to check out Blind Donkey during your next visit!

Blind Donkey is just a bar, so only drinks are served. They have an extensive wine list, which always makes me happy! They also have a variety of cocktails, frozen drinks, beers and seltzers. They have draft beer too!

I’ve been on a Surfside kick lately!

Blind Donkey opens at noon daily. They are open until midnight unless people are having too much fun to close. In that case, they will close when they close. 🙂

Blind Donkey has happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. During that time, they have draft beer specials and two-for-one Moscow Mules.

And lastly, Blind Donkey is holding a Mutt Mixer to raise funds for the Animal Care Center on Tuesday, November 11th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. I will be there, and I hope many of you will be too!

Want to see what’s happening over at Blind Donkey? Be sure to check out their new webcam! You can see this, plus more than 20 other St. John-based webcams on Explore STJ’s webcam page at www.explorestj.com/webcams.

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. 

Where to Stay in St. John: Cruz Views

Jenn Manes

If you are looking for a vacation rental that has gorgeous daytime views, spectacular sunsets and a convenient location close to Cruz Bay, yet far enough away from the hecticness of town, you’ve come to the right place! Today, I’d like to tell you all about Cruz Views.

Cruz Views is a charming condominium complex that is centered around a shared sundeck and pool. It’s located just a half mile from Cruz Bay, providing easy access to the ferry dock, taxis, shops, restaurants, and more. The complex includes four one-bedroom condos and five two-bedroom condos. While the layout of each condo is similar, they each incorporate unique personality and design elements. It’s time to start dreaming and planning your next St. John vacation…

Click to open Google Maps

Fast Facts

  • Each condo has a fully-equipped kitchen.
  • Each condo features high-speed internet.
  • Each condo provides beach gear, including towels, coolers and chairs.
  • Each condo has a safe to lock away your passports and valuables.
  • There is a shared BBQ grill for you to use during your stay.
  • There is a trash removal onsite, so no need to drag your trash to a dumpster in town.

Cruz View Vacation Rentals Available through Caribbean Villas 

Cruz Views #1 – Bliss

Bliss

This is a two bedroom, one bathroom unit that sleeps four. Click here to learn more.

Cruz Views #2 – El Capricho 

El Capricho

This is a one bedroom, one bathroom unit that sleeps four. Click here to learn more. 

Cruz Views #3 – Mosaic Sunsets

Mosaic Sunsets

This is a two bedroom, one bathroom unit that sleeps six. Click here to learn more. 

Cruz Views #4 – Destiny

Destiny

This is a two bedroom, one bathroom unit that sleeps four. Click here to learn more.

Cruz Views #5 – Tranquility

Tranquility

This is a two bedroom, one bathroom unit that sleeps six. Click here to learn more.

Cruz Views #6 – Pina Coladas

Pina Coladas

This is a one bedroom, one bathroom unit that sleeps four. Click here to learn more. 

Cruz Views #7 – Happy Hour

Happy Hour

This is a one bedroom, one bathroom unit that sleeps four. Click here to learn more.

Cruz Views #9 – Sunset Cruz 

Sunset Cruz

This is a one bedroom, one bathroom unit that sleeps four. Click here to learn more. 

Cruz Views #10 – Serenita

Serenita

This is a two bedroom, one bathroom unit that sleeps five. Click here to learn more. 

Rates at Cruz Views start at $275 a night a vary based on season. You can book an extended stay to save even more! You can save 10 percent on stays between 14 and 27 days, and 20 percent on stays of 28 days or longer.

Click here for more information on Cruz Views at www.caribbeanvilla.com.

Animal Care Center Fundraiser Tonight at Shambles!

Jenn Manes
Shambles is located on Centerline Road (Route 10) around mile 2.

If you are lucky enough to be on island today, please stop by Shambles tonight between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Animal Care Center is holding its first Mutt Mixer of the season, and I hope to see many of you there!

Mutt Mixers are fun, monthly events that raise money for the Animal Care Center. For every Tito’s drink that is purchased during these Mutt Mixers, $2 will be donated to the Animal Care Center. It’s that simple.

There will also be a 50/50 raffle, and Animal Care Center merchandise will be available for sale.

Shambles is located on Centerline Road, which is Route 10 on the map. It is located two miles from Cruz Bay. It is located across the street from The Windmill Bar.

Not on island today? No problem! There are Mutt Mixers scheduled for every month over the next year. Here is the schedule:

  • October 14th: Shambles
  • November 11th: Blind Donkey
  • December 9th: Drink
  • January 13th: The Beach Bar
  • February 10th: St. John Back Bar
  • March 10th: The Tap Room
  • April 14th: Shambles
  • May 12th: The Blind Donkey
  • June 9th: Drink
  • July 14th: The Beach Bar
  • August 11th: St. John Back Bar
  • September 8th; The Tap Room

The Animal Care Center is currently raising funds for its November spay and neuter event, which is happening in partnership with Visiting Vets International. During this event, the Animal Care Center is hoping to trap, spay/neuter 300 to 400 free-roaming cats here in St. John.

If you would like to donate to the Animal Care Center’s spay and neuter event, you can do so securely online at www.stjohnanimalcarecenter.com/donate.

 

 

Fun Things To Do When Visiting St John

Jenn Manes

Looking for something fun to do when visiting St John? Here are several weekly events for you to check out!

  • Sunday afternoon Bingo at The Windmill Bar – Bingo with a view? Yes, please! Check it out every Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday night Karaoke Club at The Upstairs – Let’s hear what you got! Check out The Upstairs’ karaoke night every Tuesday from 9 p.m. to midnight.
  • Wednesday Bingo at The Upstairs – There’s never too much Bingo in my world! It’s happening every Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday Night Jam at Sun Dog Cafe – The weekly jam session returns October 27th! Check it out every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday Trivia at Johnny Lime – They just reopened for season, so we are waiting to hear when their extremely popular trivia nights will return. Hopefully soon!
  • Thursday night trivia at The Tap Room – Bring your crew, grab a pint, and take on St. John’s favorite trivia night with prizes, great food, and cold local brews! Trivia starts at 7 p.m. every Thursday night.

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. 

Where to Stay in St John: Sunset Dream

Jenn Manes
Picture yourself lounging poolside at Sunset Dream this winter…

It looks like the fall chill has arrived in many placed across the United States this week, so many of you have probably started to dream about your winter vacations. When you are looking for a place to stay in St. John, I would love for you to consider Sunset Dream, a newer, one-bedroom vacation rental located right above Cruz Bay.

Sunset Dream is a spacious, one-bedroom with southerly views of the Caribbean Sea. Sunset Dream has a king-sized bed, brand new furnishings, appliances and decor. It even has a washer and dryer, so there is less packing for you to do! It has a great balcony area too, where you can enjoy beautiful views and sunsets, and perhaps even a late afternoon cocktail while sitting at the brand new hightop bar. Check it out!

Doesn’t it look great??!!

There is also a large, shared patio outside of Sunset Dream where you have even more space to enjoy the view. Sunset Dream comes with everything you need for the perfect beach day, including chairs and coolers. It also has its own parking spot.

Rates for Sunset Dream start at $225 a night and vary based on season.

Want to know more? Ready to book? Check out Sunset Dream’s website at www.dreamstj.com.

Side note: I represented the owners, Pam and Greg Ellis, when they purchased Sunset Dream in November 2024! They are such a sweet couple, and they have done an amazing job transforming this condo into a perfect vacation rental! 

If you would like to purchase a property on St. John, I would absolutely love to help you. Please contact me at jenn@explorestj.com to learn more. I am also happy to help you list a property you currently own. I am a licensed realtor with 340 Real Estate Co.