Recent St Barts News

October 31, 2009

19th Edition of the Gustavialoppet

The 19th annual Gustavialoppett, which means “Race of Gustavia” in Swedish, will take place Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, November 15. Normally, the race starts and ends at the stadium in St Jean, and the runners have to contend with the hills leading into and out of Gustavia. This year’s course will be dramatically different—it will be a double loop around Gustavia and will be mostly flat. The race is open to anyone 18 years or older, with three categories for men and women: 50 years and older, 40-49 years and 18-39 years. The runners will depart at 8:30 am from the commercial quay in Public and head toward the pharmacy in Gustavia, past the boutique Popovitch where a right turn will take them past La Poste and onto La Pointe, past the hotel Presqu’île, toward the Hôtel de Collectivité where they will eventually loop back past the restaurant Vietnam and make their way back to the starting point on the quay in Public, just to do it all over again!

Hôtel Saint-Barth Isle de France Racks Up Yet Another Award

Located on a breathtaking beach in the small village of Flamands, The Hôtel Saint-Barth Isle de France may well be the prettiest hotel on the island. 93.93% of readers of Condé Nast Traveller magazine voted it one of the best hotels in the Americas and the Caribbean. The hotel also won 17th place on the list of the 100 best resorts in the world, coming in behind the likes of Rambagh Palce in Jaïpur, the Four Seasons of Florence and Blanket Bay Hôtel of Glenorchy in Zealand. Not bad considering there were 7000 nominations. The owners, M and Mme Nicoll, accepted the award at the annual ceremony, which was held l on September 2 in London.

Saint-Barth Cata Cup 2009

This year’s Cata Cup will take place November 20 through November 22. The race, which is organized by the Association Saint-Barth Multihulls and the Nautical Center of Saint-Barth, will have 35 crews from such diverse locations as France, Belgium, Holland, the U.S., Puerto Rico, St Martin, St Maarten, Guadeloupe, and, of course, St Barth. Saint-Barth Multihulls is assisting in transporting the boats of crews coming from afar and will provide lodging, with the assistance of the Collectivity. For more information, you can email inscription@stbarthcatacup.com or visit their site at www.stbarthcatacup.com.

Celebrate Pitea Day

Pitea Day celebrates the 31-year twinning of St Barth and Pitea, Sweden in recognition of the retrocession of St Barth by Sweden 131 years ago. For the second year, this celebration will occur the same weekend at the Gustavialoppet race, November 14-15.

Radio St-Barth Live

Would you like to listen to a little music Antillaise during these upcoming cold weather months? Go to www.radiostbarth.com, click on “Ecoutez Nous” and then click on the Play button. Happy listening—and dancing!

Bits and Pieces

The Bar de l’oubli in Gustavia has expanded its space into a small rum shop that was next door.

The Hôtel Carl Gustaf, in Gustavia, will be closed from May 1, 2010 until November 15, 2010.

La Rôtisserie, which has been operating in St Jean and Gustavia for 32 years, is closing its doors. The main establishment in St Jean offered a delightful combination of specialty foods, excellent prepared food for carry-out or to eat there, plus an outdoor snack bar. Speculation is that the closing is a fall-out from last year’s extremely unfortunate accident when an employer was electrocuted by a malfunctioning oven. Hopefully, a similar business will reopen the doors.

Six self-service, check-in kiosks are soon to be available at the Princess Juliana International Airport in St Maarten. Anybody remember the old airport? Despite all of our complaints about it, I still fondly remember collecting my luggage and heading to the little bar at the entrance to buy a cold beer for $1 and a ham and Gouda panini for $3.50 and listening to the locals talk about recent events.

October 15, 2009

Ferry Plans Special Trip

If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you know that Le Select is celebrating its 60th anniversary November 6-8 this fall. And that Jimmy Buffet and his Coral Reefer band will be giving a free concert on the quay on November 7. Word is that hotels and villas are already pretty well booked. But, the Great Bay Express ferry that runs between St Maarten and St Barth has scheduled a special round-trip voyage for that evening for 80 euros. The boat will leave Philipsburg at 6:30 pm and arrive in St Barth 45 minutes later. It will depart Gustavia at 11:30 pm and arrive in Philipsburg at 12:15 a.m. Also, on Monday, November 9, Marius Stakelborough, the founder and owner of Le Select and the real reason for the big celebration, is inviting everyone to visit a small museum that he started to record the history of his life on the island and how things have changed. And have they ever! From a time of no electricity, no running water, no cars, no TVs, no Hermes and Gucci to a highly developed oasis with a plethora of excellent hotels and restaurants, designer boutiques, mini-Coopers and a harbor full of yachts!

BAZ Reopened October 12

Le Bête à Z’ailes, commonly known as BAZ, is an open-air bar and restaurant on the harbor in Gustavia that serves up great sushi and live music. They reopened on October 12 and their music schedule for the next couple of months is sure to please.

2009-2010 Painting Contest

The Association Saint-B’Art is once again sponsoring their annual painting contest. As always, the theme is devoted to St Barth. Paintings can be figurative, abstract or conceptual and all techniques are encouraged: oils, acrylics, pastels, etc. Paintings must be submitted no later than November 10 and will be displayed during December with a jury deciding the winners. The first-prize winner will receive 1000 euros and will have his or her painting imprinted on 10,000 envelopes that will be sold at La Poste. The second-prize and third-prize winners will receive 500 euros and 300 euros, respectively. Normally, the paintings are put up for sale after the judging takes place. This can be a great opportunity to purchase local artwork at a good price.

Learn to Dance Flamenco

During Halloween vacation, ASCCO in Lorient is organizing beginning Flamenco lessons for adults, adolescents and children. The classes will take place from October 24 to October 29 with Elisabeth Ruiz, a professor of Flamenco at Toulouse. A dance performance is planned for Friday, October 30 on the quay in Gustavia. For more information or to sign up, call 590 690 61 14 03.

Bits and Pieces

Le Mandala restaurant in Gustavia has closed and will be reopened at Restaurant Bonito Saint Barth. We’ll have to wait a bit to hear what the cuisine will be, but the spectacular sunset view of the harbor will never change.

L’Entracte restaurant in Gustavia, also informally known as the Blue Coconut because of the blue neon, full-size palm tree out front, has been sold. The chef will stay on until March to ensure a smooth transition.

Just until Sunday, October 25, swimming and all other nautical activities are prohibited at a 100-foot length of the beach near the quay of the commercial port at Public due to work that is being done.

The Oasis grocery store in Lorient is now open seven days a week from 8:00 am until 9:00 pm, adding an extra hour to their services.

Les Falcos, a very good local St Barth band, will be playing at the restaurant Le Diamant in St Jean on Saturday, October 17.

September 30, 2009

St Barth Experiences Recession Effects

Not surprisingly, tourism during the first half of 2009 is down 17.7 % from the first half of 2008, which was down from 2007. As fewer people are traveling and the dollar falls against the euro, we could certainly expect this. However, the high season will be underway soon, and I expect St Barth will be as lively as ever. Especially with the upcoming 60th anniversary celebration of Le Select November 6-8 and a concert by Jimmy Buffet – not to mention live music by several other excellent local bands. Maybe that weekend alone will make up for the decline earlier this year!

Hospital for the Dependent Elderly Underway

It seems that St Barth is always improving the island’s infrastructure. One of the lastest projects is the construction of a hospital for the dependent elderly (EPHAD). The first phase of clearing the land has begun and will continue through December. The construction site is adjacent to the existing Hospital de Bruyn in Gustavia and will be directly connected to the building. Thirty beds will be available, including a few rooms for couples and three or four beds for patients with Alzheimer’s. The hospital will also include community services, such as a hairdresser, a kitchen where families can prepare food for holidays and other special occasions and a dining room with projection facilities. The projected cost of the hospital, which is expected to be completed in three years, is 5.5 million euros, 2.1 million which will come from France and the remaining 3.4 million from the Collectivity.

Fifth Edition of the Soualiga Challenge

The Soualiga Challenge is a kayak race between St Barth and St Martin that is organized by the Federation of Canoes of the Dutch West Indies. It is part of the Surfski.info World Series, the third event of the Caribbean Ocean Racing Cup 2009 and part of the Caribbean Mini Tour 2009. This year, the kayakers will depart from the port of Gustavia on Sunday, October 4 at 9:15 am. Thirty crews have already registered and represent world-class kayakers from Australia, the United States, Spain, Italy, France, South Africa, Guadeloupe, Antigua, St Maarten and St Martin. Benoit Leroux from France will be defending his title from 2008. The channel between St Barth and St Martin is 25 km and normally experiences winds of 15 knots and swells of 1.5 meters. For more information or to register, you can send an email to thebrowns@domaccess.com or call 590 590 87 74 68.

Anchors Aweigh!

When you’re in Gustavia, you can’t miss the huge anchor near the end of the harbor. Several months ago, hurricane Omar visited St Barth and the resulting high seas and winds destroyed the boardwalk along the harbor and weakened the stability of the anchor. Now that the replacement of the boardwalk is drawing to a close, the Collectivity will turn its attention to stabilizing this 10-ton anchor. You may well wonder about the origins and history of this anchor. In 1981, a tugboat was towing a barge from St Thomas to St Barth when the tugboat’s rope caught on something at the entry to the harbor. Mr. Romon Beal dived overboard, wearing goggles, and found a great length of rusted chain that was connected to this immense anchor. Apparently, the tugboat somehow latched onto the anchor in St Thomas and had towed it all the way to St Barth. Researching the inscription “Liverpool…Wood…London” with the British Ministry of the Navy, Mr. Beal learned that this model of anchor was used during the years 1700 to 1825 and may have belonged to a man-of-war. How interesting that its final resting place is on the small island of St Barth.

August 31, 2009

Jazz Dance Lessons Available

Chloée is offering modern jazz dance lessons every Wednesday from 7:30 pm until 8:45 pm for 12 euros at her studio Studio Atmosphère, Rue Jeanne d’Arc, Gustavia. For more information and to register, call 06 90 56 88 02.

More Roadwork Underway

As always during the summer months, St Barth takes advantage of fewer tourists and less activity on the island to make improvements for the upcoming high season. Roads have been improved almost everywhere on the island and lots of sidewalks have been added. The road leading from Lorient as you’re heading to Grand Fond that cuts over to Saline will be closed from September 1 until February 1, 2010. While that’s an inconvenience, the results are sure to be worth it.

A Small Boutique Hotel in Lorient

The Normandie Hotel in Lorient is one of the island’s oldest hotels and has been totally renovated. Guest rooms are in two separate buildings that are connected by a large deck of gorgeous Brazilian wood that surrounds the pool area. Amenities include WiFi, flat-screen plasma TVs with French and US channels, telephones, air-conditioning, refrigerators in all rooms and bathrobes. Room prices include a Continental breakfast and complimentary wine in the afternoon. Prices vary depending on the season but range from 90 euros to 165 euros. The hotel is a mere two-minute walk from tranquil and beautiful Lorient beach and is in walking distance of several restaurants, small grocery stores and a wonderful bakery. For more information and to make reservations, call Wimco at 1-800-932-3222.

Bits and Pieces

September is usually the calmest month on St Barth as many people don’t like to visit the island during the height of hurricane season. As such, many restaurants take advantage of this time to close their doors, take a bit of vacation or do improvements. Among those that will be closed for the month and possibly until mid-October are Maya’s, Do Brazil, Nikki Beach, La Marine and the Yacht Club.

La Mandala Update La Mandala, high on a hill in Gustavia with spectacular views of the harbor, closed on August 25 and, when it reopens for the season, will be under the new ownership of some Argentinians. It will be interesting to see what changes they make.

Rumor has it that Le Sapotillier, the restaurant in Gustavia in the charming stone “house”, will be managed by Patricia Deravin, who was the manager of Caviar Island in the Carré D’Or in Gustavia.

Sports Road is a new bike shop that has recently opened in St Jean in the little shopping area called Les Amandiers. The shop is open from 10:00 am until 7:30 pm and carries brands such as Nike, Newton, Under Armour and Zoot.

August 15, 2009

St Barth Catacup

St Barth Catacup is a catamaran race among some of the top catamaran racers in the world. First started in 1992, it was interrupted by hurricane Luis in 1995 and did not take place again until 2008. Hopefully, with its return this year, it will become an annual event. The race is open to 35 boats and, thus far, 24 teams have expressed interest in competing. The 2008 event was sponsored by the Nautical Center of Saint Barth, the Saint Barth Yacht Club, the Collectivity of St Barth, and the non-profit organization Saint Barth Multi-Hulls. They are hoping that this race will become the most important event for catamaran racing in the West Indies. All events will take place on the beautiful beach of St Jean. For additional information, visit www.stbarthcatacup.com. (Information gathered from an article by Ellen Lampert-Gréaux, a long-time St Barth resident and writer.)

60th Anniversary of Le Select!

Those of you who have already visited St Barth most likely know and love Le Select, the bar and grill in the heart of Gustavia. New visitors will surely discover it quickly. Le Select was first opened 60 years ago this November by the well-loved owner Marius Stakelborough, who was born on St Barth in 1923. The anniversary celebration will take place Friday, November 6 until Sunday, November 8. Among the many musical events that are planned is one that will draw crowds from all over: Jimmy Buffett, a long-time friend of M. Stakelborough, will be performing on the quay in Gustavia on Saturday, November 7 at 8:00 pm. See below for the weekend’s schedule of events. Let’s hope that Monday is declared a holiday!

Friday, November 6

11:00 am – Noon: Complementary appetizers and happy hour

11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Gunslingers Steel Band

5:00 pm: Choir performance by the Chorale du bon Coeur

6:00 pm: Speech by Marius Stakelborough, followed by a cocktail reception (This is sure to be a moving moment

8:00 pm: Music by Math’s Connection and The Tremendous Johnsons

Saturday, November 7

11:00 am – Noon: Complementary appetizers and happy hour

11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Gunslingers Steel Band

6:00 pm: Gunslingers Steel Band on the quay in Gustavia

8:00pm: Jimmy Buffett on the quay in Gustavia

10:00pm: Music by New Generation at Le Select

Sunday, November 8

11:00 am – Noon: Complementary appetizers and happy hour

11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Gunslingers Steel Band

4:00pm: Screening of the film “The Friends of Marius” at the Capitainerie (upstairs at the Harbour Office)

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Gunslingers Steel Band

8:00 pm: Fireworks, followed by a closing party with music by Les Romantiques at Le Select

Dive with Plongée Caraïbes

Dive with Plongée Caraïbes on the catamaran Blue Cat every day, including Sundays and holidays. They offer excursions to 15 sites leaving at 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm from the quay in Gustavia. Private excursions can be arranged for 1/2-day periods, morning or afternoon. A maximum of 10 people can be accommodated. Fees start at 40 euros. For more information, call 05 90 27 55 94 or 06 90 54 66 14.

Bits and Pieces

This fall Winair, the most popular airline between St Maarten and St Barth, will be replacing their smaller planes with larger 18-seat Twin Otters.

AirStMaarten is offering low charter fares to and from St Barth until November 15, 2009, with seats starting as low as $100. Booking a charter guarantees no delays, no lost luggage, no cancelled flights and no waiting. To reserve a seat, visit www. airsxm.com/request.php?o=48 or call 599-527-7966. If calling from the U.S., you must first dial 011.

The Carl Gustaf Hotel in Gustavia will be closed until November 20, 2009. This follows the recent death of the owner.

Condé Nast magazine has named the beach at Colombier as one of the best in the world. Colombier is only accessible by foot, via a 20-minute hike from Flamands, or boat. Many times, it’s like having your own private beach and is a great place for a picnic and a little fishing off the rocks toward the right.

July 31, 2009

New Ferry to Start Service August 1

Beginning August 1, the Great Bay Express ferry will begin twice daily crossings between Oyster Bay, St Maarten and St Barth. The ferry, a catamaran, has both air-conditioned and open-air seating for 45 passengers and takes a short 45 minutes. The round-trip fare for adults purchasing a ticket in advance is 55 euros; the cost is 60 euros if the ticket is purchased on the day of departure. A one-way crossing is 45 euros when purchased in advance and 50 euros if purchased on the day of departure. Tickets are for sale at the travel agency Saint Barth Tours and Travel, Gare Maritime on La Pointe in Gustavia. You can also call the Great Bay Express at 011 590 590 52 45 06, fax them at 590 590 52 41 38, or email them at sbh.ferry@orange.fr.

Works in Progress

As always, summer in St Barth is a busy time for the Collectivity as many projects are undertaken to maintain and improve the island’s infrastructure. This summer is no exception—their plate is full.

The Boardwalk in Gustavia:The boardwalk in Gustavia, which provided 40 “parking places” for small boats, was destroyed this past year by Hurricane Omar. It will be replaced with a boardwalk built on concrete pilings and a pontoon with riprap to break the swell. Work is expected to be completed by November before high season starts.

Ranch in Flamands Moves to Lurin:The horseback riding ranch high in the hills of Flamands is being moved to Lurin. Work is expected to be finished in September.

War Memorial Moves Close to the Hôtel de la Collectivité:The War Memorial, which is in the center of Gustavia, is being moved close to the Hôtel de la Collectivité. With its new location, the traditional commemoration services, speeches and receptions can be conducted without disrupting traffic.

Improvements in Grand Fond:Lots of work is being done in Grand Fond. In addition to redoing the road leading from Lorient to Grand Fond in concrete, the Collectivity is also replacing water pipes that transport the city water and putting in place underground sheaths to hold telephone and electric cables. The current stone retaining walls will be reinforced or replaced by low concrete walls with a stone façade. Plans also include adding a sidewalk the length of the road.

Work in Vitet:As you enter Vitet, there is a small bridge. The Collectivity is redoing the retaining wall and widening some portions of the road. As in Grand Fond, they are also replacing water pipes and adding underground sheaths to house telephone and electric cables.

And also in Gouverneur:In addition to the road improvements being made on the road down to Gouverneur (and one of the most popular beaches on St Barth), underground sheaths to house telephone and electric cables are being added as well as water pipes down to the beach.

He’s Back!

Papaguyo, the beloved American percussionist is bringing his music along with Tanya Michelle to several restaurants from August. 4 to August 22. Tanya attended Berklee College of Music in Boston on scholarships and performed as a lead vocalist in Vocal Jazz shows and Gospel choirs. Her singing style ranges from sultry, sensual vocal jazz to funky, spiritual and soulful packed R&B, Motown and funk. A night spent enjoying the music of Papaguyo and his guests is always guaranteed to be a good time.

Annual Painting Contest Is Underway

The annual painting contest, which is sponsored by Saint B’Art, is starting. The art is normally displayed at a local gallery at the end of the competition and many pieces are for sale. This is a great opportunity to bring home a unique souvenir from St Barth. If you wish to participate, request the registration form from Association Saint B’Art, BP 477-97097, St Barthélemy CEDEX or send an email to jp.ballagny@wanadoo.fr.

Bits and Pieces

Hôtel Guanahani & Spa has live music with Courtney Williams and his musicians every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until August 16 beginning at 8:00 pm at the outdoors Indigo Restaurant. Call 05 90 52 90 00 for reservations.

Le Tamarin restaurant in Saline is offering a new summer menu. For 20 euros, you can have a large composed salad, one drink and a coffee or the special of the day, one drink and one coffee. The restaurant is open daily for lunch except for Mondays.

Eight new parking places have been added across the road from the entrance to Marigot beach.

Dior in Gustavia has closed.

July 15, 2009

Ceramic Tile Beach Signs Now Posted

Several months ago, Véronique Vander Noot, an artist in St Barth, proposed making signs from ceramic tiles for each of the beaches on St Barth to reflect the natural beauty of each beach and to provide information for tourists. The Collectivity accepted the proposal and financed the project. A total of 16 signs are now in place. Each sign portrays the view seen from the beach and also encompasses an element that defines that particular beach.

Hôtel Christopher to Reopen

Located in Pointe Milou at the edge of the sea, the 4-star Hôtel Christopher will reopen in November 2009. The hotel was closed for a couple of years during which it refurbished its 41 rooms and two restaurants. The hotel offers luxury accommodations at an affordable price. The poolside Mango Bar is open from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm, and the restaurant is open from noon until 2:30 pm. The hotel offers 10 poolside rooms, 24 ocean view rooms, four deluxe ocean view rooms, one ocean view junior suite, one “Aloes” Suite, and one panoramic suite.

The Summer Festivals Are Beginning!

With at least five summer festivals on the agenda, the next two months will be full of music, competitions, dancing and plenty of food and drink. Below are the schedules for the first two festivals, which will take place the weekends of July 18 and July 25.

Fête de l’Anse des Cayes, Saturday, July 18

9:30 am: Belote and volleyball tournaments

1:30 pm: Pétanque tournament (doubles)

2:00pm: Scrabble tournament and kayak races

2:30pm: Skits and games throughout the afternoon

4:00pm: Jam String session (string band)

5:00pm: Awarding of prizes for the winners of the tournaments and kayak races

6:00pm: Food and beverages

8:30pm: Dance with music provided by The Jolly Boys, Prince and the Majestik Boys, and Party Crew DJ

Fête des Quartiers du Nord, Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26, Flamands Beach

Saturday, July 25

2:00pm: Domino tournament

3:30pm: Various games

5:00pm: Games, skits, dances

7:00pm: Food and beverages available (hot dogs, cheeseburgers, paninis and more

8:00pm: DJ Local

11:00pm: DJ Outkast

Sunday, July 26

7:00am: Mass at the chapel in Colombier

9:00am: Beach volleyball, beach soccer and bélote tournament

12:00pm: Music, prizes awarded, food and beverages available

5:30pm: Dances and skits with invited guests from St Thomas

8:00pm: Dance and music

Discover the Underwater World of St Barth

Beautiful coral reefs and colorful sparkling fish – the scenery underwater is as spectacular as the scenery on land. Discover this other paradise with St Barth Plongée, a diving operation that has 16 years of experience. They are open seven days a week and offer morning and afternoon departures. Dives offered are Level 1 Open Water, Level 2 Advanced PADI, and a night dive on Wednesday evenings. For more information, call Bertrand “Birdy” at 06 90 41 96 66.

Bits and Pieces

Texas Hold’em has arrived in St Barth! On July 19, a Texas Hold’em tournament is being organized by the Association Lézards des Cayes and the Propeller Club at the site of the Association Lézards des Cayes in Anses des Cayes. The cost to play is 20 euros and the fun starts at noon.

Harbour Saladerie on La Pointe in Gustavia has just recently opened. The owners, Thiery and Patrick, were the owners of the former, very popular, Saladerie just steps away. The menu consists mostly of salads and pizzas, which makes for a nice casual dinner on the harbor.

Word is that the restaurant Le Sapotillier in Gustavia has been sold and will reopen this fall with a new look and new name. The restaurant is in a very charming, old stone house with ambiance galore.

Next to Le Tamarin restaurant in Saline, which is only open for lunch, a new place – Medina -- offering drinks and tapas in the evening has recently opened.

Rumor for now, but it’s been said that Do Brazil on Shell Beach, L’Entracte in Gustavia, and La Route des Boucaniers on the harbor in Gustavia have all been sold. Just had dinner on July 13 at La Route des Boucaniers as they hosted a Soirée Antillaise with live music. As always, the food was excellent. Since the new owner of L’Entracte is new to the restaurant business, the chef and previous owner have agreed to stay on until March 2010. Hope the new owners of these restaurants maintain the high standards that each is known for.

June 15, 2009

New Travel Requirements by the TSA

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is implementing new travel requirements and is giving each airline its own set of dates to meet these requirements. The requirement is that by mid-summer the name of a traveler’s air reservation must exactly match the name as shown on the traveler’s passport or other government-issued photo identification. If you have a Frequent Flyer account, you should ensure that the name on the account matches the names on your passport to guarantee that the booking process is smooth and that you receive your proper mileage credit.

Strike Planned by Air Caraïbes Pilots

The National Syndicate of Pilots for Air Caraïbes has announced that the pilots are planning to be on strike every weekend from June 20 until September 7. They are striking in hopes of gaining more respect for time to relax between flights, paid vacation, improvement in working conditions, and new rules for calculating salaries. Air Caraïbes is one of the airlines that flies between St Maarten and St Barth. Others to contact are WinAir and St Barth Commuter.

The Wall House Ownership Has Changed

The Wall House, which is a very successful and popular restaurant on La Pointe in Gustavia across the street from the harbor, has undergone a change in ownership. The previous owner, Franck Mathevet, is moving to Montreal in November to spend some time with his son. He has sold his share of the restaurant to his colleague since 2006, Bernard Tatin. M. Tatin has hired a young chef from France, but several of the current chefs and waiters plan on staying also. M. Mathevet has graciously shared his recipes for some of the most popular dishes with M. Tatin. But, M. Mathevet’s departure from the island will be brief. He and his wife will be returning in April and plan to open a new business. No indication at the moment as to what that new business will be, but one might logically think that he’ll be opening a new restaurant.

Bits and Pieces

Entre-Deux recently opened in Gustavia in the location of the former La Gamelle, which after closing became the site of the restaurant Central Park, which recently closed. This latest restaurant is owned and run by Jackson and Sinclair Questel. Many of you might know Jackson as the former bartender at Le Bête à Z’ailes (or BAZ). You won’t see Entre-Deux from the street as it is located behind the store Totem.

Rebirth of La Saladerie? Rumor has it that Thiery and Patrick, of the former Saladerie, were working on the building that housed the now-closed Jao restaurant on La Pointe in Gustavia and are expected to open a new restaurant there the end of June: Harbour Saladerie. La Saladerie was their former restaurant, which was located just steps away.

The road to Grand Fond, via the road in Lorient, is being completely redone and is closed until the end of the summer or early fall. To get to that side of the island, you’ll need to take the road through Marigot and Grand Cul de Sac.

The St Barth Sprout Farm has recently opened. They will be supplying wheatgrass, sprouts and micro-greens. Although they are not listing their location, you can call them at 06 90 59 30 09.

May 31, 2009

Minor Earthquake Felt in St Barth

If you felt the earth move on Wednesday, May 20, around 9:00 pm, it wasn’t too many ti punches or a little too much wine with dinner. A mild earthquake, measuring around 4.3 on the Richter scale, was felt for about 2 to 3 seconds in St Barth and Saint Martin. The quake’s epicenter was recorded to be about 28 km north-north-east of Saint-Barth. A second tremor was also felt on Saturday.

Friday Tasting Menu at Le Gaïac

Le Toiny’s fine-dining restaurant Le Gaïac is offering a Tasting Menu every Friday evening. Le Toiny is an exclusive hotel located in Grand Fond. One night’s menu included pan-fried foie gras, crawfish ravioli and spinach and almond cream, pan-fried duckling with mango and lime, and a chocolate cannelloni with strawberries and basil mousse. You can be sure that each Friday’s dinner will be just as delicious. The cost is 60 euros/person. Don’t forget to take your bathing suit so you can enjoy their beautiful pool before or after dinner. Bon appétit!

Calendar of Summer Events

While the summer months may be low season on St Barth, they are months full of local festivities. Check the calendar below to find an event that coincides with your visit. The beach festivals held by each village provide a day or two of food and beverages; games; competitions of pétanque, dominoes, and bélote, a French card game, where a goat may be first prize!; and an evening of music and dancing. As you can see, the upcoming dog-days of summer are chock full of local (free) events.

Caribbean Football Stars Tour 2009 (June 9): Come to the stadium in St Jean to see a soccer match between some of the Caribbean’s best professional players and local St Barth’s teams. The games start at 6:00 pm and the entrance is free.

Fête de l’Anse des Cayes (July 18): First of the beach festivals with games, competitions, food, beverages and music in the evening.

Fête des Quartiers du Nord (July 25-26): Lottery, games, food, beverages, competitions and a public ball organized by ASCCO / Colombier

Fête des Quartiers du Vent (August 8-9): Fishing tournament, regattas, games, food, beverages, volleyball, lottery and public ball in Lorient

Pitea Day (August 14-15): Commemorates the twinning of St. Barths and Pitea, Sweden. Held on the beach in Public.

SBJAM Festival (August 15): Groups from around the Caribbean will be playing on the quay in Gustavia

Fête de St. Barthélemy (August 24): Festival to celebrate the island's patron saint, Saint Bartholomew. Political and social functions, regattas, public ball and fireworks on the quay in Gustavia.

Fête de St. Louis (August 25): The last beach festival of the summer is held in the tiny fishing village of Corossal. Games, competitions, regattas, food, beverages, lottery, and a public ball.

Upcoming Study Will Chart the Area’s Waters

In November, 2009, the Pourquoi-Pas? will be in the waters around St Barth to conduct a study of the marine access to St Martin, St Barth and the channel near Anguilla. The Pourquoi-Pas? is an oceanographic ship of Ifremer (the French Institute of Research for the Exploitation of the Sea) and SHOM (the hydrographic and oceanographic service of the French navy). The ship’s crew will conduct a campaign called “Zmag” that is intended to improve hydrographic knowledge of the region. Current recorded information of this type dates from the 19th century. The results will be used to increase knowledge and to understand the navigational needs, including those of cruise ships, in the area. It is also hoped that the results of this study can be used by organizations that monitor volcanoes and earthquakes in the area to understand the risk of tsunamis. The campaign is scheduled to begin on November 22 and to be completed in early 2010.

Language Café and Ciné Plage

Tuesday evenings at 8:00 pm, kick back with your feet in the sand and watch short French and American films under the stars. That’s right – the screen is right on the beach at the Tom Beach Hotel in St. Jean. This is a good opportunity to meet locals and tourists, practice your French or English and enjoy a good meal. The cost is 33 euros for food, wine and the films.

Bits and Pieces

T Saveur, which opened on May 21 in Les Amandiers shopping area in St Jean, is a tea salon and catering service. They are open every day from 9:00 am until 6:30 pm, serving breakfast for 9 euros, tartes, salads, soups, pastries and fruit cocktails.

WinAir’s summer special fares will save you 130 euros on a round-trip flight between St Maarten and St Barth.

Ky and Zy, a new boutique for children with clothing, toys, jewelry, and accessories for the bedroom, has recently opened in Gustavia on Rue Oscar II (across from the old Mairie building).

The Flamboyant Tennis Club in Grand Cul de Sac will sponsor a tennis tournament from May 29 through June 7. Four competitions are scheduled: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Doubles, and Young Singles (ages 11-16). To register and obtain more information, call 590 590 27 69 82, 590 690 85 05 55 or send an email to tc.flamboyant@wanadoo.fr.

May 15, 2009

Hôtel Le Toiny Has First Greenhouse on the Island

Le Toiny is a luxury hotel situated on 38 oceanfront acres on the southeastern side of the island. They have long been known for their private villa suites and fine dining at the restaurant Le Gaïac. They have now taken the cuisine up yet another notch by establishing their own 1000 square-foot greenhouse – the first on the island. After consulting with a horticulturist, they enriched the soil with bio-organic earth and organic fertilizer and then planted organic seeds supplied by a company in France. Currently, they are growing eight varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, carrots, peas, eggplants, peppers, melons and a host of herbs, all of which is incorporated into their daily menu. Future plans include adding bananas, papayas and mangos. Kudos to Le Toiny for their dedication to fresh and healthy food!

CFN to Co-Sponsor 6th Edition of the Chess Championship

Since 2004, Saint-Barth Echecs, the local chess club, has organized a chess championship play-off that has been co-sponsored by Sibarth and Saint-Barth Assurances. As Sibarth is ready to retire its partnership this year, it will be assumed by CFN, Caribbean Financial Network-American Express, which is located in St Jean next to the grocery store Match. The tournament, Chess Championship Trophy CFN/Amex, will take place May 29-May 31 at the Hotel Guanahani and Spa in Grand Cul de Sac. Players from age 16 and up are eligible and can sign up by calling 590 690 55 12 14. There will be a total of seven games, the first one taking place on Friday, May 29 at 8:00, then four games on Saturday, with the final two rounds occurring on Sunday. First prize if 150 euros, second prize is 100 euros, and third prize is 50 euros. Dal Tucker of CFN, is a skilled chess player and will taking on the challenge this year. Bonne chance à tous!

Whale Watching in St Barth

Even the humpback whales seem to prefer the waters of St Barth! The whales migrate here to give birth, and the marine park is getting calls three to four times a week reporting whale sightings. If you happen to be on a boat when you spot the whales, it is safest to travel alongside them maintaining a parallel course at least 100 meters away. Approaching them from the back or front is threatening, and they will do what is necessary to protect their young. Enjoy the opportunity if you are so lucky and respect their habitat and space.

Bits and Pieces

Aquagym and adult swimming lessons are being offered at the municipal pool in St Jean. The schedule for Aquagym includes a focus on arms and legs on Mondays from 12:20 to 1:05 and on abs and gluts on Thursdays from 12:20 to 1:05. The swimming lessons will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays from noon until 1:00 and Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:00. The lessons will focus on swimming techniques, endurance, resistance and breathing. Medical certificates are required for both classes. Both the pool and the facilities are top notch and the instructors are well qualified. I can vouch for the Aquagym – good exercise without getting hot and sweaty—for those of you who like to stay cool!

On June 1, an effort to clean up the beach of Petite Anse will be underway. They are looking for volunteers to clean up any garbage and other debris as well as trucks to cart the debris away. If you want to help, call 590 590 27 88 18 or pass by the office of the Marine Reserve on the quay in Gustavia.

The AirSoft SBH Iguana Association invites all AirSoft players to join them on Sunday, May 17. If you would like to participate or would like more information, call 590 690 39 04 94.

St Barth has undertaken yet another anti-pollution initiative. Now, before cars are crushed for disposal, they are drained of all fluids: oil, gas, antifreeze and brake fluid. The service has been effect since last March and takes only 15 minutes.

Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France on the beach in Flamands is offering a special summer rate of 95 euros for their spa services starting May 1.

April 30, 2009

Keep the Kids Busy with Art Lessons

If you stay at the hotel Eden Roc in St Jean, your kids can participate in an art lesson given by the artist in residence. Eden Rock will supply an easel, a paint brush and a palate of watercolors to get them started. This offer runs through August 2009. But, if you’re interested in this offer, check with the hotel when you make your reservations as the lessons are only available when an artist is actually in residence.

"Around the Island" at Sea

The “Around the Island” event, organized by the Nautical Center of Saint Barth along with Radio Saint Barth, is enjoying its sixth year. The first prize of 1000 euros will be awarded to whomever breaks the respective records for catamarans and wind surfers that were established during the first edition of the event in 2004. Presumably, first prize for the Lasers will be awarded to the sailboat that completes the course the fastest, thus setting a record for subsequent races. All activities will take place at beautiful St Jean Bay.

Rotary Club Hosts Its First Culinary Fair

On April 19, on the square in front of the restaurant The Wall House on La Pointe in Gustavia, the Rotary Club hosted a culinary fair to raise money for the many activities with which they are involved. One of their foremost endeavors is the worldwide eradication of polio. This first culinary fair offered dishes from Haiti, St Barth, Portugal, India, Sweden, Belgian and Luxembourg to go or to eat on site. Entertainment was provided by the radio station Tropic FM, and Rotary Club members took turns at the microphone to explain the characteristics of the different cuisines and to offer the recipes. The fair was such a success that it will return again in 2010.

Photo Exhibition of the St Barth of Yesteryear

Le Service des Actions de Solidarité of the Collectivity will be exhibiting photographs of the “old” St Barth on Sunday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m. in the great room at La Capitainerie, the harbor office in Gustavia. These photographs have been collected by Arlette Magras and Helene Bernier and show the traditional houses of St Barth, its disappeared landscapes and its most important characters. This is a chance to see St Barth as it used to be and reflect on all the changes that have since occurred.

Bits and Pieces

Trade Wind Aviation, which flies from San Juan, Puerto Rico directly to St Barth, has recently released their schedule for 2009-2010. They will depart St Barth at 10:00 am. Their special rate, which is good only through May1, is $350 for a one-way midweek flight and $450 for a one-way weekend flight. Normal fares are typically $100 more.

The store Laurent Effel in Gustavia will be closing.