Recent St Barts News
December 31, 2008
Bonne Anneé à Tous!
Another year has sneaked past us, and it's time to celebrate the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. New Year's Eve is known as St Sylvestre on St Barth, and, as always, the island is ready to welcome in the new year. The festivities in Gustavia, organized by the association Rhum et Gingembre, will take place on the Quai Général de Gaulle starting at 8:00 pm with skits, music, dancing and drinks. Fireworks will be set off at midnight over the water, and if previous years are an indication, they will be spectacular. Throughout the day on December 31, Le Goût de Vin on Rue Oscar II in Gustavia will be offering a free wine and champagne tasting. La Plage restaurant, on the beach at the Tom Beach Hotel in St Jean, is also hosting a New Year's Eve party with music by "Addicted 2 Paradise" (who can't identify with that?!) and fireworks at midnight. And, don't forget the 13th Edition of the New Year's Eve Regatta. The sailing yachts will depart at 10:00 am and sail around the island, which usually takes about two hours. The Awards Ceremony will take place on the quay in Gustavia late in the afternoon, usually around 5:00 pm.
25th Edition of the St Barth Music Festival
The St Barth Music Festival will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! This special event will take place from January 8 to January 19, 2009 with concerts around the island. One of the two scheduled jazz concerts will take place at A.J.O.E., the tennis courts in Lorient. What could be better than good jazz, tropical breezes and a starry sky? Tickets can be purchased for all concerts at the St Barth Tourist Office near the quay in Gustavia beginning January 2. If you buy your tickets between January 2 and January 7, you can save 10%. Or, you can also buy a Season Pass for a savings of 10%. After January 7, tickets will be available at the door for each concert.
Parking Meters Soon to Be in Service
The two parking meters that were recently installed at the lot along the Quai de la République in Gustavia are expected to be operational in early 2009. On December 11, the Territorial Council agreed on the rates and the hours of operation. Paid parking will be in effect from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm every day except Sundays and holidays and will be limited to four hours. The first hour is free. After that, it will cost you 2 € for two hours, 4 € for three hours and 8 € for four hours. But, can you park and pay for two hours at 2 € and then pay for another two hours at 2 € rather than paying 8 € for four hours?
Bits and Pieces
The butcher shop, La Boucherie de St Jean, and the associated organic market, Marché Bio, have moved from their location on the side road just before Eden Roc (coming from the direction of Gustavia) to across the street from Villa Creole and Le Centre Vaval.
A new club, Le Onze 12 Club, has opened in the former location of the club Bubbles, located downstairs on the side of T'Zouk Kafé on La Pointe in Gustavia.
If you need to ship merchandise by boat between St Martin and St Barth, check out the new shipping service provided by A.T.C. Agence Transport Caraïbe in Marigot, St Martin. You can contact them by phone at 590 590 29 688 or by email at atcsxm@orange.fr.