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Posted on March 25, 2009 7:02 PM| Permanent Link: Trying something new...| Comments (0)

The exclusive and luxurious Le Toiny Hotel sits on 38 acres in Grand Fond, on the southeast coast of St Barth and was voted as one of the best hotels in the Caribbean in Conde Nast's 2008 Readers Awards. Each of its 15 Villa Suites has a spectacular view of the ocean; a large terrace; a private, heated swimming pool; and a kitchenette. In 2008, they added a fitness center with an ocean view and a Serenity Spa Cottage.

Through April 15, 2009, they are offering a daily stimulus worth $400 per couple that may be used toward dining and spa services. In addition, they are offering a "Smart St Barts" package that includes a 10% to 40% discount per night, depending on the season, and a Smart car for the duration of your stay. For more information or to book a package, contact Le Toiny Hotel at 011-590-590-27-88-88 or send an email to reservations@letoiny.com.

Posted on March 22, 2009 7:39 AM| Permanent Link: Le Toiny Offers $400 Stimulus Package| Comments (0)

Spectacular, majestic, breathtaking, elegant.....words don't do justice to the sight of the world's largest and most beautiful sailing yachts as they depart Gustavia harbor and raise their sails to race around the island. The 13th Annual St Barth Bucket starts on Thursday, March 26 and concludes on Sunday, March 29 with an awards ceremony and cocktail reception on the quay in Gustavia. The grand trophy is, of course, a bucket on which the winner's name is engraved. The gag prize, awarded to the slowest boat, is a can of snails. As of March 5, 35 yachts were registered to compete. The smallest, Wild Horses, is76', while the largest, Maltese Falcon, is a whopping 289'. Good spots to view the races are at the lighthouse in Gustavia, the heights of Lurin and Pointe Milou and the end of the road at Colombier. The schedule for this year's competition is below.

Thursday, March 26
Fleet Welcome Party on the quai in Gustavia - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Friday, March 27
"Around the Island" race - 11:00 am

Saturday, March 28
"The Wiggley Course" race - 11:00 am
Bucket Bash - Cocktails, music and dancing on the quai in Gustavia - 8:00 pm

Sunday, March 29
"Around the Island Clockwise" race - 11:00 am
Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Party on the quai in Gustavia - 7:00 pm

Posted on March 22, 2009 7:22 AM| Permanent Link: St Barth Bucket Sets Sail March 26| Comments (0)

March 26-29, 2009
St Barth Bucket

April 25-30, 2009
14th Annual St Barth Film Festival

May 29-31, 2009
Chess Championship, Guanahani & Spa (more details to come)

November 5-8, 2009
Blues Festival

November 6-8, 2009
60th Anniversary Party at Le Select in Gustavia

Posted on March 16, 2009 8:39 AM| Permanent Link: On the Horizon| Comments (0)

Le Bete a Z'ailes (BAZ) presents the Darian Cunning Quartet until March 21.

Posted on March 16, 2009 7:44 AM| Permanent Link: Bits and Pieces...| Comments (0)

Rebuilding the Boardwalk in Gustavia
One casualty of hurricane Omar late last year was the destruction of the wooden boardwalk along the harbor in Gustavia. Besides providing a pleasant place to walk along the water, the boardwalk also provided mooring for around 40 small boats. The Territorial Council has allocated 2,215,000 euros to rebuild the 550'-long boardwalk. However, it will not be another wooden boardwalk. Instead, it will consist of a concrete pontoon on pylons and rocks or riprap to break the swells. Work is expected to begin in June and be finished before the fall tourist season. While the wooden boardwalk was pretty, the concrete version will be easier to walk on if you're wearing heels!

Land Purchases
A little over three-quarters of an acre behind the cemetery in St Jean, has been purchased. This land is next to about one-half of an acre that the Collectivity already owns. Plans for its use have not yet been finalized. In addition, three parcels of land in Terre Neuve were purchased with the plan to trade them for some property in Flamands where the Collectivity plans to build a parking lot for 20 to 25 cars.

Housing Subsidies
The Collectivity would like to provide 400-euros-per-month housing subsidy for a two-year period to professional firemen who are transferred to St Barth. Currently, this subsidy would affect four or five firemen.

The new budget will be voted on by March 31. However, the Collectivity has already allocated 6 million euros for road work, 8 million euros for land acquisition, 5.3 million euros to construct a retirement home next to the hospital, and 1 million to lay fiber optic cable.

Posted on March 16, 2009 7:35 AM| Permanent Link: First Territorial Council Meeting of 2009 Sets Forth a Few Projects| Comments (0)

Work has been going on for several years to put all electric and telephone lines underground. The goal for 2009 is to continue putting cables underground and installing the necessary cable trays while other road work is being done. This will protect the lines from hurricanes and also allow the removal of unsightly telephone poles and electric lines. The Collectivity has also been putting water connections in the manholes so that repairs will not necessitate digging up the roads.

Many projects that were started in 2008 to improve the roads and public places in St Barth are nearing completion.

Flamands
The road in Flamands has been widened and repaved and a sidewalk was added on one side. A new sidewalk is now being added from the road leading to the horse ranch toward the leeward neighborhood. This will make that morning walk or jog a bit safer.

Flamands-Colombier
By mid-April the road from Flamands to Colombier should be open in both directions. While the roadwork is being done, the electric company is putting electric lines underground and the Collectivity is improving the water pipes and installing housing for telephone cables.

St Jean
A clubhouse is being built at the new tennis courts by the Stadium. Panels are being built around the archery area to keep stray arrows from flying onto the tennis court (good idea!). In addition, a wall is being constructed behind the targets to stop arrows. Future plans include adding a walking path behind the archery area and the tennis courts. Repaving of the road by the municipal pool has been completed. The road is currently being repaved between the tennis courts and the intersection near the pond. Next up is the repaving of the road from the Suzuki garage to Le Diamant restaurant. While repaving the road, the Collectivity is also replacing the water pipes and installing facilities for future underground networks. All work is expected to be complete by March.

Posted on March 15, 2009 8:43 AM| Permanent Link: Public Projects Undertaken in 2008 and Those to Come in 2009| Comments (0)

Le Select is an island institution that is loved by locals and tourists alike. Many returning tourists affectionately call it "the office." Marius Stakelborough, born on St Barth in 1923 and still going strong, opened Le Select sixty years ago, and its longevity attests to its popularity. It is a "bare-bones" bar and grill in the heart of Gustavia and a wonderful place to have a hamburger with fries, a cold beer or other libation, meet friends and people-watch--the street activity never stops. Le Select will celebrate its sixtieth anniversary this November. Festivities will begin on Friday, November 6 around 11:00 a.m. and continue through Sunday, November 8. Local bands will be playing throughout the day and night, and you can be sure that a lot of dancing will take place! In addition, the Blues Festival begins on November 5 and runs through the weekend. Be sure to make your reservations early as this is sure to be a "sold-out" event as friends of Marius worldwide come to celebrate with him!

Posted on March 10, 2009 8:42 AM| Permanent Link: Le Select to Celebrate 60th Anniversary!| Comments (3)

Le Diamant restaurant in St Jean is closed until October 2009.

La Bodega del Tam is a new tapas bar on the Route de Salines, Jardin du Tamarind. It is closed on Sunday evenings and Mondays.

Jet Blue has just added a direct flight from Boston to St Maarten on Saturdays.

Posted on March 6, 2009 8:38 AM| Permanent Link: Bits and Pieces| Comments (0)

As many of you may have heard, the residents on the island of Guadeloupe have been on
strike since January 19 to protest the high cost of living. The State Department has issued a Travel Alert warning tourists about the current conditions and instability of the island. President Magras of St Barth has issued a statement confirming that no strikes or protests are taking place on St Barth. In fact, it's very difficult to imagine that they ever would.

Posted on March 6, 2009 8:35 AM| Permanent Link: Strike in Guadeloupe Not Affecting St Barth| Comments (0)

BAZ, located on the harbor in Gustavia, is an open-air bar and restaurant known for their excellent sushi and live music. Each year, BAZ hosts outstanding bands from the U.S. who play anywhere from two weeks to one month. This is also the place where you just might be lucky enough to stumble upon Jimmy Buffet playing one evening. As with most places in St Barth, there is no cover charge. For good food, drinks, ambiance and music, check them out!

March 2-28
Darian Cunning Band
Nuevo blues, rock, jazz, folk

March 23-29
Evan Goodrow Band
Blues

March 30-April 18
Worm and the Mezcal Playas
Soul, R&B

April 20-May 9
Sam Barsh Trio
Funky jazz and R&B

May 11-30
Work of Art
Melodic rock from Sweden

Posted on March 3, 2009 5:13 AM| Permanent Link: Music at Le Bete a Z'ailes (BAZ)| Comments (0)

French law dictates when shops can hold sales, and, normally, there are two periods during the year that are so designated. For 2009, the first period will be from May 2 until June 5; the second period will take place from October 10 until November 13. These are excellent times to find real bargains on quality items. So, if you're headed to St Barth during one of these times, be sure to leave plenty of space in your suitcase. Or, better yet, take an extra!

Posted on March 3, 2009 5:11 AM| Permanent Link: The Season of the Sales| Comments (0)

St Barth's initiatives in environment-friendly endeavors always surprise and please me. The new glass crusher has been in operation for the last two weeks and crushes an average of 2.5 tons of glass each day! The crushed glass will be used by the Collectivity in roadbeds and construction. Previously, all the glass collected weekly by the Collectivity was sent by boat to Bordeaux, France and later to St Martin. Having a glass crusher on the island reduces the amount of carbon dioxide released in the atmosphere that was caused by shipping the glass off island. Kudos to the Collectivity!

Posted on March 2, 2009 5:15 AM| Permanent Link: New Glass Crusher Is Environment Friendly| Comments (0)