Pizza Pi is located in Christmas Cove, which is behind Great St. James.
Who is looking to own a business in paradise? Well one of you may be in luck, because an extremely popular business just listed for sale.
Pizza Pi, the floating pizza boat located in Christmas Cove behind Great St. James, listed for sale last week. The asking price is $425,000.
According to its listing, Pizza Pi is a top-rated business on TripAdvisor with annual sales between $500,000 and $1 million. The sale includes the sailboat and other furniture/fixtures valued at $325,000, as well as $6,000 in inventory. The sale comes with a possibility to take over the lease of a three-bedroom ocean view home that’s located just three minutes from the Compass Point Marina and Pizza Pi’s office.
Has anyone driven past Easter Rock today? Was it wet?!!
For those of you who are not familiar with Easter Rock, it’s a large boulder that’s perched on the side of North Shore Road above Hawksnest Bay. Legend has it that every year on the night before Easter, Easter Rock makes its way down to Hawksnest Bay where it takes a drink of water and then rolls back up to its perch on North Shore Road. This all happens before the sun rises over the hill, according to the legend, so no one is around to actually witness it. So even during the driest of droughts, Easter Rock will still be wet on Easter morning. (Last week’s rains definitely helped with our current drought situation.)
I’m not able to check it out for myself today, but if any of you are, I’d love to see some pics!
Legend aside, here is the geological backstory straight of Easter Rock. The following is courtesy of SeeStJohn.com:
Although geologists have not yet succeeded in explaining Easter Rock’s propensity to go down to the sea on Easter Sunday for a drink of water, they can tell us about the origin of this massive boulder, which is the only one of its kind in the valley.
The outer crust of the Earth consists of large masses of slowly moving rock called tectonic plates. About 100 million years ago, one of these plates, called the North American plate, which was moving towards the west, encountered another tectonic plate called the Caribbean plate, which was moving in the same direction.
Life in the Caribbean has long been classified as slower moving than in the fast-paced world of continental America. This phenomenon apparently has a historical and geological foundation because a significant factor in the creation of many of the Caribbean islands, including St. John, is the fact that the Caribbean plate happened to be moving at a slower pace than its continental counterpart.
Consequently, when the North American plate overtook the slower moving Caribbean plate, the American plate, being denser and heavier, slid under the Caribbean plate and pushed it up. The friction from the two giant masses of solid rock grinding against one another produced a heat so intense that it melted some of the rock between the two plates. The fiery, liquefied rock, called magma, built up in enclosed pockets, called magma chambers, and exerted an ever-increasing pressure on the surrounding rock. When that pressure became so great that it could not be contained any longer, the magma broke through its rocky chamber and spewed forth violently into the ocean. This event is called a volcano.
Normally, when super-hot magma comes in contact with cold ocean water, the magma explodes and is dispersed over a great area. In this case, however, the eruption occurred at a depth of 15,000 feet, or nearly three miles, below the surface of the ocean. At this great depth the water pressure is nearly 7,000 pounds per square inch, a pressure that was sufficient to keep the magma from exploding on contact with water and instead causing it to be deposited on the ocean floor in giant solid sheets.
Coinciding with this volcanic activity and the laying down of rock, the action of the American plate sliding under the Caribbean plate caused the latter to bulge at the edges. The combination of these events resulted in the beginnings of a mountain range that was to become the islands of the Greater Antilles. This process of volcanic activity and uplifting continued for millions of years and caused the newly formed mountains to move closer to the surface.
It was during the next period of St. John’s development that Easter Rock was born. A series of volcanoes erupted in the area of what is today called Pillsbury Sound. This time the water was relatively shallow and the volcanoes erupted explosively. The shower of rocks, solidified volcanic ash, and molten lava added substance and height to the older solid sheets of rock and, in conjunction with the continued uplifting of the area, eventually brought parts of the rocky underwater mass above sea level to form islands.
The awesome power of these violent eruptions also served to break off huge chunks of the older rock, heaving them into the air. One of these massive fragments ended up just above what was to become Hawksnest Bay. That majestic boulder, now known as Easter Rock, not only goes down to the sea every Easter for a drink of water, but also serves as an enduring reminder of the fiery beginnings of the island of St. John.
Pretty interesting stuff, right?!
Want to see Easter Rock for yourselves? You can check it out just past the two minute marker in the video below. In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.
Tap Room pizza + Trunk Bay = Yes, please! … Thank you to The Tap Room for taking this fantastic pic!
I love pizza, and I’m sure most of you do too. Today’s post is for all of you pizza lovers out there.
We’re fortunate in that we have some pretty good pizza here on St. John. We even have a floating pizza boat for those of you who want to mix your love of pizza with your love of the water. Technically that spot is located behind an island near St. Thomas, but it’s close enough that you can easily visit it from Cruz Bay. Here is a complete rundown of where exactly you can find pizza on St. John.
Cruz Bay
The Tap Room:This is one of my family’s favorite lunch and dinner spots. The fact that they have a photo booth and two arcade games makes my son love it that much more! The Tap Room has great pizzas in addition to a full menu. Their pizzas are one size only – fyi. The Tap Room has ample indoor seating, so it’s a great spot on hot days thanks to the air conditioning, and it is also a good place to hang out on rainy days like today. Pizzas are $5 off during happy hour, which is 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. That discount is for dining in orders only. One other nice thing about The Tap Room is that they have online ordering. The Tap Room is open seven days a week starting at 11 a.m.
Ronnie’s Pizza: For those of you who have been reading this blog from the start (a big thank you to all of you!!), you are probably aware that Ronnie’s left Cruz Bay last summer and reopened in Palm Plaza in December, which is located beside the Westin. (Click here to read an article we wrote about his new spot.) Ronnie’s serves more than just pies. He has a full menu of sandwiches, calzones and some of the best brownies I have ever had! Ronnie’s is open Monday through Saturday, and he offers delivery too.
Lovango Rum Bar: I always describe Lovango’s pizza to my island tour guests as pizza you would find in Italy, as opposed to New York City. They only sell one size, and if I am super hungry, I can eat almost the whole thing. So you will need to order more than one to feed your family. But that being said, it is unbelievably tasty! The atmosphere is great too, especially if you sit outside on their second floor deck. And starting this week, Lovango is now open for lunch Mondays through Fridays starting at 11:30 a.m. Lovango offers online ordering too.
Cafe Roma: Cafe Roma consistently received the title of “Best Italian Cuisine” with good reason. They, of course, have pizza, in addition to a full Italian menu. Cafe Roma is one of only a handful of restaurants in Cruz Bay that has air conditioning too. So this is a great spot to grab a bite, perhaps enjoy a glass of wine or two, and cool off while enjoying a nice meal. Cafe Roma even offers pizza to-go. Cafe Roma opens at 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday.
Starfish Market: Did you know that Starfish Market sells pizzas? Well if you didn’t, you do now! They’re a good size, and they are tasty! You can order them in advance too. Just reach out to Starfish at 340-779-4949 to order.
Sam & Jack’s: Ok, so Sam & Jack’s doesn’t sell pizza, but it sells the next best thing – pizza dough! Perhaps you want to make your own or toss one on the grill. Just stop by Sam & Jack’s and pick up some pizza dough. Sam & Jacks is open Monday through Saturday.
Shambles: I apologize to the folks over at Shambles for omitting you when this was originally published. Shambles is a super fun spot on Centerline Road right around mile two, and it even has a couple of swings at the bar! They have a full menu, including pizza. (They have a great rueben too!) Shambles opens at noon seven days a week.
Coral Bay
Pizzabar in Paradise: Pizzabar is a little bit of a drive, but it is definitely worth it! It is located on Route 107, about a mile past the Aqua Bistro complex. Pizzabar is a cute little spot that serves Boston/New York-style pizzas. It offers live music every Friday night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There is even a nice little Friday night happy hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Slices are offered during happy hour, as well as $3 off all specialty cocktails, $3 Coors Lights and $4 Heineken, Stella and Corona. Pizzabar is open Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Salty Mongoose: Salty Mongoose has a fun little vibe in my opinion. It’s located across from the water in Coral Bay, so there is always a nice breeze to cool you off. They have bar seating, plus numerous tables in the courtyard. They are a pretty simple spot that just serves pizzas and salads, in addition to a full bar of course. Salty Mongoose is open for lunch and dinner Thursday through Tuesday.
On the Water
Pizza Pi: How does a delicious pizza on the water sound? Pretty amazing, I know! I absolutely love Pizza Pi. It’s an old sailboat that now serves pizza that’s located in Christmas Cove, a quiet little spot behind Great St. James. The pizza is great, and the view is one of the best. Be sure to add to this your list of spots to visit if you happen to be spending a day or even an afternoon on the water during your next St. John vacation.
Yes, they really do serve delicious pizzas from this tiny little sailboat.
Want to know where Starfish Market and the other grocery stores are located? Visit www.explorestj.com/logisticsmap to to view our searchable map that includes grocery stores, gas stations, public restrooms and more practical things that will make your St. John vacation planning a little easier.
Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday. There are a few things happening this week that you maybe interested in.
Good Friday
Just a reminder that there are no distilled alcohol sales from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 7th. Beer, wine and seltzer sales are not affected by this restriction.
Saturday, April 8th
Cruz Bay Clean Up: Get Trashed is holding a clean up in and around Cruz Bay on Saturday, April 8th from 10 a.m. until noon. Please meet at High Tide at 10 a.m. All participants will receive a free drink courtesy of High Tide.
Maho Crossroads is having an Easter egg hunt on Sunday, April 8th at 12:30 p.m. This is a free event.
Easter Sunday
The Caneel Bay Beach Club in partnership with Society 340 is having an Easter egg hunt at Honeymoon Beach on Sunday, April 8th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There is a free shuttle for parents that leaves the entrance of Caneel Bay at 1 p.m. The egg hunt starts at 2 p.m. This is a free event.
Well folks, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that is looks like the island is about to receive some much-needed rain. The bad news is that some of you may have a few soggy vacation days later this week if the current forecast holds true.
This week’s forecast per Wunderground.com
For those of you who have visited St. John in recent weeks, you have seen how dry the island is. What should be beautiful green rolling hills is actually brown and quite crunchy looking in numerous spots across the island. Driving has been a tad trickier than normal too, as the water trucks have been quite busy keeping up with the demand.
So you may be wondering, “what the heck do I do in a place where nearly everything is outdoors?” Well here are my suggestions. 🙂
The Cruz Bay 500
This one is for all of the adults out there. Act like a resident and try your luck with the infamous Cruz Bay 500. Start at one bar and restaurant, and see how far you make it during the day… drinking responsibly along the way, of course. The Beach Bar and High Tide are two great spots to spend a rainy day at if you’re looking for a waterfront spot in Cruz Bay, and The Tap Room is another great spot over in Mongoose Junction. A bonus is that it is mostly indoors, so you can stay nice and dry over there. Remember, most of our restaurants are open air, so you will definitely want to bring a rain jacket, an umbrella and perhaps even a hat. It can get a tad chilly too on rainy days (the dreaded 70s… ha!), so you may want to pack a hoodie too.
The Upstairs, Cruz Bay’s newest bar, is bringing back “Rain Shots” made popular during that location’s Crazy Crackers days. They’re offering $3 shots of Jamo, Jager, Milagro and Bombs whenever it’s raining out.
Not feeling the Cruz Bay 500? Then check out our fantastic shops that are located around Cruz Bay. Mongoose Junction is always a beautiful spot in the rain, and if it rains hard enough, a small river will form in the gut that flows underneath it.
Coral Bay
Skinny Legs will definitely be a great spot to spend a few hours on a rainy day. It has a large covered dining area and Mumbo Jumbo, the retail shop beside Skinny’s is one of my favorites. You can also check out my friend Leah’s new shop, The Pirate’s Cove, which is right across the street. Jolly Dog, which is located beside Salty Mongoose, is another great place to visit for some rainy day retail therapy.
Hike to a Waterfall
If it really does rain as forecasted, a waterfall will form at Reef Bay. This is definitely a sneaker or sandals with straps kind of hike, as it will definitely be slippery. The trailhead for the Reef Bay trail is about five miles outside of Cruz Bay and about three miles outside of Coral Bay on Route 10, also known as Centerline Road. The trail is 2.1 miles in each direction if you are going from the road to the ocean, and it is quite steep. There is a spur trail on the right that will lead you to the petroglyphs where the waterfall will form. Pack a bag, bring snacks and plenty of water for this hike.
This is a pretty old pic, but how beautiful is this??! Image credit: Steve Simonsen Photography
Explore St. John’s History
There are so many interesting historical sites to check out around the island. Spend some time over at Catherineberg, the site of a very interesting and unusual windmill. Catherineberg is located three miles outside of Cruz Bay, just off of Centerline Road. Click here to read a recent article I wrote about Catherineberg.
The windmill at Catherineberg
You can also check out the Cinnamon Bay Sugar Factory on Route 20 or North Shore Road. There is even a little nature trail behind the sugar factory that is a pretty cool thing to check out. You will definitely want to bring a rain jacket, hat and umbrella for this excursion.
The boiling house at Cinnamon Bay.
And if none of these activities sound fun to you, curl up at home with a good book. There is a bookstore at The Marketplace in Cruz Bay, just outside of Starfish Market.
Not on St. John, but you want to see what’s happening this week or at anytime? Check out my webcam page at www.explorestj.com/webcams. I have more than 20 live streaming webcams to watch.
That’s all for today, folks. Have a great one!
Looking to take a St. John island tour?
Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tourFull & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.
I don’t know about you, but nothing sounds more amazing than waking up in White Bay. Not familiar with this little slice of heaven? White Bay is a picturesque bay with the most turquoise blue waters and gleaming white sand over on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. It’s home of the wildly popular Soggy Dollar Bar and other fun watering holes.
I am excited to tell you today that reservations are now available at Soggy Dollar’s new hotel – the Sandcastle.
There are four cottages – two beachfront and two garden view – as well as two garden view rooms available for rent. All rooms have a two-person maximum, and there is a minimum three-night stay for all reservations. On the flip side, there is a 10-night maximum, so I guess we can’t try to leave at the Soggy Dollar forever. Darn!
I did a quick check for you, and it looks like the garden view rooms start at $390, the garden view cottages are $425 and the beachfront cottages are $455 a night. Check out a few pics:
A beachfront cottage at Soggy Dollar BarInside a beachfront cottage at Soggy Dollar BarA second view inside a beachfront cottage at Soggy Dollar BarA garden view room at Soggy Dollar BarInside a garden view room at Soggy Dollar Bar
I truly think the place looks great! The hotel officially opens on Monday, May 15th. Visit www.soggydollar.com/hotel to make reservations.
(All images are credited to Soggy Dollar Bar.)
Looking to take a St. John island tour?
Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tourFull & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.
