email notifications
Enter your email address to recieve the "St. Barth News Bytes" e-mail newsletter by Candee Duensing and alerts when this site is updated:
As reported in the previous issue of News Bytes, electric cars are for sale at Garage Nid’AS et Auto Store in St Jean Carénage. The latest news is the availability of solar garages from Energies Saint-Barth to produce electricity to recharge that car or to use in the house or garden. The company offers one-car, two-car and three-car garages ranging in price from 22,000 € to 36,900 €. Energies Saint-Barth specializes in energy assessments, energy-saving recommendations, feasibility studies, specialized applications for tropical climates, and the sale of solar energy products and wind turbines. St Barth certainly seems an ideal location for the construction of solar-energy homes! You can visit their web site at www.energies-sb.com.
The Rapid Explorer, a high-speed catamaran with airline-type seats and air-conditioning, resumed service between St Maarten and St Barth on February 11 after a hiatus of 18 months. It will depart from and arrive at Captain Oliver’s Marina at Oyster Pond, which is about 25 minutes from the airport. The marina is home to Captain Oliver’s restaurant as well as a bar and grill, which makes waiting for departure a relaxing experience and a chance to grab a bite. Tickets are for sale at the travel agency Saint Barth Tours and Travel in Gustavia. You can also contact them by phone at 590 590 52 45 06, by fax at 590 590 52 41 38 or by email at sbh.ferry@orange.fr.
The St. Bart's Cocktail Fundraiser for Barack Obama
Looks like they are raising money for Senator Obama on St. Barts:
The St. Bart's Cocktail Fundraiser (Fundraising)
Pleas join Richard Branson and Lucy Salenger and the Members of St. Barts for Barack Obama for The St. Bart's Cocktail Fundraiser,Wednesday, February 27 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Eddy's Restaurant, Rue du Centaire, Gustavia, St. Barthelemy, French West Indies.
Marvin Zonis, Professor, International Political Economy and Leadership, University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business, will speak on "Leadership and Barack Obama"
American Citizens and Green Card Holders may contribute by check or internet. Suggested Donation Payable to Obama for America: $100, $250, $500
All are Welcome
Martine Lainé Shows Her “Patchwork” at Météo France
Martine Lainé has exhibited her paintings several times in St Barth. However, her current exhibit features patchwork quilts, which she has been creating for the past 27 years. She organized the first exhibit of patchwork in Guadeloupe and began teaching her craft there. She has participated in many competitions: the finals of the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas in 1996; the International Patchwork Competition Chartres; the International Quilt Festival of Tokyo in 2003; and a competition at the lace museum in Retournac, France. Martine will be exhibiting her quilts, as well as some paintings never before exhibited, from February 22 through March 2 at the Météo France, near the lighthouse above Gustavia.
The dollar's demise is affecting travel all over the globe in different ways according to this article, which includes a mention of how the Hotel Carl Gustaf is dealing with it:
"The high-end Hotel Carl Gustaf on St. Barts, for example, is guaranteeing winter rates for travel through April 19 in dollars. While the listed rates begin at 1,100 euros, or $1,672 at $1.52 to the euro, the hotel is offering rates beginning at $1,300 a room a night with a three-night minimum to travelers who ask for the U.S. dollar rate."
France's telecoms regulator, ARCEP has announced plans to award 3G licenses in the French Overseas départements and collectivities. The affected areas are: Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana, the cities of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, Réunion, Mayotte and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Because of their new status as territorial units since 9th July 2007, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy are considered separately from Guadeloupe.
Since the intrepid Candee is on island we have some more on The Swedish Design Center (and a photo):
Nils and Susanna Passburg, the delightful and knowledgeable owners of The Swedish Design Center of St. Barthélemy, are proud to present a unique showing of JB Bags and a pre-launch of a book on Gustavia by Jenny Stening on February 23 between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Ms. Stening will be on the island with an exclusive pre-print version of her first book about the Swedish buildings in Gustavia. Her book is based on a sign-posted walk of significant buildings and places in Gustavia. She created and presented this project to the municipality of St Barth in 2004. It is an architectural and historic guide to Gustavia that focuses on the years 1785-1878 when the island was under Swedish rule. In addition, an extensive collection of her JB design bags will be on display. The bags combine modern design with the use of high-tech sail cloths that make the most of the strong, light, durable and water-resistant characteristics of this material.
The Swedish Design Center is the island’s first retail establishment offering an innovative, unique collection of contemporary and modern classic objects and accessories of Swedish design, heritage and origin. It serves as the island’s exclusive distributor for established and up-and-coming designers of Swedish jewelry, silver, glassware, furniture, home accessories, and other items. As quoted by Susanna, "It must stand the wear of the eye.”"
The Swedish Design Center is located in the little shopping mall Les Amandiers, Route de Saline, St. Jean across the street from Le Glacier.
Premium IV Recommended By Conde Nast Traveler As The Concierge Company Of St Barts
John Day, President of Premium IV is proud to announce that Concierge.com the online home of Conde Nast Traveler, featuring hundreds of destinations around the world has recognized and recommends Premium IV as the concierge company for St Barts.
Premium IV of St Barts was created to provide the visitor to St Barts with all their VIP activity reservations, wedding, corporate or special event planning and VIP airport assistance thru St Maarten and St Barts. Under one umbrella Premium IV has contracted over 120 professional partners dedicated in providing only the best products and services that St Barts has to offer.
Concierge.com the online destination for inspired travel incorporates original, interactive features on every aspect of travel and is the online home of Condé Nast Traveler. The site includes almost 200 original, in-depth, insider guides to top destinations around the world; a "destination finder" that lets readers narrow down the perfect place for any trip, as well as almost 10,000 photographs of hotels, destinations, landmarks, and more. In addition, a suite of interactive tools, including a range of travel deals targeted to specific destinations and a powerful search function to aid navigation, helps readers make smart travel plans.
Sir Harold Matthew Evans is a British-born journalist and writer who, in 1986, became the founding editor of Conde Nast Traveler, the magazine dedicated to truth in travel. In 2005 Conde Nast Traveler had an average paid circulation of 783,762. Its total readership was estimated at 3,235,000.
Conde Nast Traveler's founding principle of "Truth in Travel" dictates that its writers travel anonymously and pay their own way, thus assuring their credibility and independence from the travel industry. The writers experience travel the way everyone else does, both the good and bad, and record their impressions honestly and fairly. Although the magazine is mainly targeted at recreation travel, it also targets business travelers. In addition to writing about various exotic locales to help readers decide on their destinations, Traveler also offers informative features that explore regional culture, transportation, and cuisine, highlighting amusing diversions unique to each place. The focus is almost always on destinations that are quite opulent.
It is a high-quality travel and lifestyles magazine aimed at upscale experienced travelers. The magazine calls itself 'An insider's guide to the outside world'. The covers of Conde Nast Traveler lure readers with gorgeous photographs of exotic locales, sunny beaches, and European cities and byways. Inside, readers find stunning photography, maps, tips and well-written articles on exotic first-class vacation destinations. Conde Nast Traveler aims to keep readers abreast on the latest news, bargain travel deals, and the most interesting tourist destinations available. In addition to serving up plenty of practical advice, the magazine also scours the globe to present locales that are lesser-known yet possess something unique to offer.
St Barthelemy (St Barts) is such a place. Located in the middle of the turquoise ocean, situated near the northern end of the Lesser Antilles group in the French West Indies. At a distance of 200 km from the island of Guadeloupe and 25 km from Saint-Martin. It is a mountainous island of 25 sq km, whose only flat area is occupied by the airport's runway. As the climate is rather dry, agriculture has never been developed, thus throughout history few slaves had ever been employed. For the most part, St. Bartians are descendants of Breton and Norman fisherfolk. Many are of French and Swedish ancestry, the latter evident in their fair skin, blond hair, and blue eyes. The inland is dry and mountainous, the highest peak is at 300 m above sea level. Stonewalls separating the parcels of land reflect the origins of the inhabitants.
Rent a small off road vehicle, lift off the top and discover the island - on the narrow, winding roads you hardly ever exceed 50 km/h. Folklore claims that the entire road system on the island is paved-over goat paths. The landscape is characterized by green rolling hills (highest top: 938 ft, Morne du Vitet), and 22 white sandy beaches, all public, most sheltered by a coral reef and some only accessible by foot. These beautiful beaches lend themselves to water sports, from windsurfing, scuba and snorkeling to jet skiing, sailing and deep-sea fishing.
The island's other claim to fame is its fine dining, considered among the best in the Caribbean. Lunch or dinner at one of the island's top restaurants can be a major splurge. Not long ago, St. Barts was a clandestine hideaway of Rockefellers, Rothschilds, and their lucky confidants: the celebrated, the wealthy, the globally glamorous. When Mariah Carey wants to throw a birthday bash or Leonardo di Caprio decides to host a New Year's Eve party on his chartered yacht, St. Bart's is the island of choice. The favorite of celebrity jet-setters, now, though this snug, delectably French island hosts a more democratic crowd, it retains an elite yet casual aura and continues to lure travelers who seek a vacation as classy as it is restful and scenic.
You come to St. Barts for the relaxation, the French cuisine, the white-sand beaches, and the ultimate in comfort.
Unique Showing of JB Bags And Pre-Launch of Book "Gustavia" By Jenny Stening
EXCLUSIVE TO SAINT BARTHELEMY, SATURDAY 23RD OF FEBRUARY 2008 UNIQUE SHOWING OF JB BAGS AND PRE-LAUNCH OF BOOK GUSTAVIA BY JENNY STENING
Swedish Design Centre of Saint Barthelemy is pleased to announce this special vernissage on the 23rd of February between 4-8pm.
G U S T A V I A
S a i n t B a r t h e l e m y
Promenade architectural historique • Architectural historic walk • Arkitekturhistorisk promenad
Jenny Stening will personally come to the island with an exclusive pre-print
version of her firstbook about the Swedish buildings in Gustavia. In addition you will be able to enjoy an extended show of her current collection of JB design bags featured exclusively at Swedish Design Center.
Jenny has a special connection with St. Barths, setting footon the island for the first time 1994 when sailing here as a teenager. She has continued to visit over the years and has now written a book based on a sign posted walk of significant buildings and places in Gustavia, a project created and presented by her to the municipality of Saint BarthAelemy in 2004. It is anarchitectural and historic guide to Gustavia with focus on the period 1785-1878, a time when the island was under Swedish rule, and a period in which Gustavia was founded and formed into what it still looks like today. Taking a stroll in this compact town, with its one way streets and urban character, is a good way to discover its identity. The book begins with an introduction that aims to put the island in wider perspective and introduce the reader to the fascinating town of Gustavia.
"The fact that it is one of few colonial towns built by Swedes has made it interesting for me as a Swedish architect."
Jenny has designed a unique collection using high-tech sail cloths, making the most of the strong, light, durable andwater resistant characteristics of the material. This combined with modern design makes a great collection of smart and sportive products.
We started a new section of the site for St. Barts videos. If you have any video to share, on YouTube or any other video sharing site that would let us embed the clips here, let us know.
Didn't the NY Times do one of these last winter too? I guess you can always find a writer willing to spend some time on St. Barts:
"GETTING to St. Barts isn’t easy, not even with your own Gulfstream. On the final leg, trade your million-dollar jet for a tiny puddle jumper, before threading between two jagged peaks and touching down on a teensy runway that, islanders like to joke, is as short as an aircraft carrier’s. That might explain the island’s exclusivity. Although Jay-Z, Beyoncé and a rotating cast of celebrities have kept St. Barts in the tabloids, this tiny French island still exudes a chic, laid-back vibe unspoiled by gawkers and day-trippers. And despite a new wave of wine bars, chichi boutiques and designer restaurants, the island’s main attraction remains its luscious white sand beaches, fringed by the pool-blue waters of the Caribbean."
Lots of good stuff mentioned in the article along with many phone numbers, websites, etc.
"Jess Sea" in St. Barts for the Bucket Regatta and to charter
"Accommodations include 3 staterooms for up to 7 guests, with grand outdoor dining space covered by hard top bimini, and enclosed eisenglass. In pristine condition and with remarkable international crew, Jess Sea is sure to please charter clients looking for hospitality hand in hand with pleasurable sailing. This impressive yacht will be attending the St. Barth’s Bucket Regatta in March 2008."
Garage Nid'AS et Auto Store in St Jean Carénage is now selling electric cars. The cars come with aluminum rims, a security alarm, and the capability to program your speed between 40 km and 70 km (a little fast for the roads here!). Options include air-conditioning and an audio system with AM/FM radio and a CD player. The cars contribute nothing to pollution and you can save thousands of euros over the years with the gas going for about 5 €/gallon.
According to the INSEE (the French Institute for Economic Statistics), the population of St Barth as of January 1, 2007 was 8450 residents. This figure represents a 23.28% increase, or 1596 new residents, since the last census of 1999. This is an average increase of 2.7% per year. The official results of the census, which was taken in January and February, will be released by the end of the year. With the new Collectivity status of the island in effect, the census will now be taken every five years; thus, the next census will take place in 2012.
Anik Karadjian will be exhibiting her collection of “Landscapes and Horizons” at the Galerie Porta 34 in Gustavia from February 8 to February 14. This collections features a series of large oils on fabric and about sixty works on paper. D. Gavach, a writer for Soualig’ Art magazine, describes her work as a “sensual vision of the minimalist and sensual landscape with colors of a cosmic world between ideality and mystical aspirations. Karadjian was born in Armenia, which she left at age 9. Since 2004, she shares her time between Nice and St. Martin. You can view the exhibition every day from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
As part of the new tax structure put in place by the new Collectivity, everyone must pay an annual tax on their vehicles. Proof of payment is the "vignette", or sticker shown in the photo, which must be purchased by March 31 and must be displayed on the windshield. As of January 17, 1077 vignettes had been sold, only 10% of the 10,000 vehicles estimated to be on the island. The vignettes are for sale at the Hôtel de la Collectivité, the territorial treasury or the municipal police station in Gustavia. Have not yet heard what the fine will be for violators.
Classic Transat to Arrive in Gustavia December 2008
The Transat Classique Lagassé sets sail from Brittany on August 17, 2007 and is expected to arrive in Gustavia between December 14 and 18, after a stop in Agadir, Morocco. An around-the-island parade is planned for December 22, the day before the awards ceremony. Twenty-nine classic or traditional sailboats are already enrolled and up to 35 may participate in this transatlantic race. The oldest boat is the 46' gaff-rigged Mismosa III, which was christened in 1903. The newest boat is Faiaoahe, a 65' neo-classic sloop that was launched in 2006. The Transat boats will arrive at one of the busiest times of year for the Port of Gustavia, which is always full of mega-yachts that come for Christmas and New Year's. Bruno Gréaux says that a few berths at the dock will be reserved for the Classic Transat, but most of them will have to anchor out in the harbor.
The Rapid Explorer, a high-speed catamaran with airline-type seats and air-conditioning, resumed service between St Maarten and St Barth on February 11 after a hiatus of 18 months. It will depart from and arrive at Captain Oliver’s Marina at Oyster Pond, which is about 25 minutes from the airport. The marina is home to Captain Oliver’s restaurant as well as a bar and grill, which makes waiting for departure a relaxing experience and a chance to grab a bite. Tickets are for sale at the travel agency Saint Barth Tours and Travel in Gustavia. You can also contact them by phone at 590 590 52 45 06, by fax at 590 590 52 41 38 or by email at 
Anik Karadjian will be exhibiting her collection of “Landscapes and Horizons” at the Galerie Porta 34 in Gustavia from February 8 to February 14. This collections features a series of large oils on fabric and about sixty works on paper. D. Gavach, a writer for Soualig’ Art magazine, describes her work as a “sensual vision of the minimalist and sensual landscape with colors of a cosmic world between ideality and mystical aspirations. Karadjian was born in Armenia, which she left at age 9. Since 2004, she shares her time between Nice and St. Martin. You can view the exhibition every day from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm. 
As part of the new tax structure put in place by the new Collectivity, everyone must pay an annual tax on their vehicles. Proof of payment is the "vignette", or sticker shown in the photo, which must be purchased by March 31 and must be displayed on the windshield. As of January 17, 1077 vignettes had been sold, only 10% of the 10,000 vehicles estimated to be on the island. The vignettes are for sale at the Hôtel de la Collectivité, the territorial treasury or the municipal police station in Gustavia. Have not yet heard what the fine will be for violators.
