St. Barts News & Events
Le Weekly - St Barths News The official English language newspaper of St Barts, covering activities, special offers and news from the island of St Barts. Published each Friday is now available from the
Wimco St Barts website.
SBH Forum News
Recent Topics
The Annual Eden Rock New Year's Eve Party,
The best place to be on December 31!
Dancing on the beach at Eden Rock's annual New Year's Eve party has become an absolute 'must' in Saint Barths, and a highpoint of the holiday season.
The idea for this soiree was born at the request of Eden Rock's clients who wanted the hotel to organize an"AfterParty," so they could dance the night away under the stars after a fabulous meal at On The Rocks, the hotel's gourmet restaurant. Add this great 'AfterParty' to a delicious dinner in one of the best restaurants on the island, and you have a New Year's Eve experience that can't be beat.
November 2011 St Barts Events
La Semaine du Gout....Restaurant Week!
Participating restaurants will prepare exciting prix fixe menus that feature classic French dishes using fresh local ingredients. French wines will be paired with each dish to create a harmony of taste sensations. Several restaurants will also have live music at night, or cooking demonstration during the day. Nov 14-21 2011.
All Saints Day
Religious holiday. In St. Barth the cemeteries, which are normally kept in impeccable condition, are spiffed to a higher degree of beauty and cleanliness. Island residents begin gathering in the five cemeteries at dusk to light candles and socialize in celebration of the lives of loved ones buried there.
Gastronomic Festival of the Guanahani
Annual culinary festival at Le Bartolomeo restaurant. Each year, an amazing French chef is invited to prepare their own menu in collaboration with the Executive Chef of Le Bartolomeo.
Armistice Day
Commemorating the end of WWI
Swedish Week
Week long event to celebrate the anniversary of the retrocession of St Barts to Sweden.
Swedish Marathon/Gustavialoppet
Annual 10K run and 8K walk.
Doctors' Conference
Capitainerie, Quai G??al de Gaulle, November 2-3, 2011.
PITEA Day
Commemoration of the twin cities of St Barth and Pitea in Sweden. Various activities organized by l'ASBAS at the Public Beach. November 12-14, 2011.
St Barth Cata Cup
Regatta on St Jean Beach, November 19-21, 2011.
December 2011 St Barts Events
Christmas
Religious and public holiday, December 25, 2011.
New Years Eve Regatta
Race organized for fun around St Barts, December 31, 2011.
New Years Eve
Live music and celebrations across the island. Fireworks at midnight. Entertainment in some restaurants. December 31, 2011.
January 2012 St Barts Events
New Year's Day St Barts
St Barts Island Public holiday. January 1
St Barts Three Kings Day
"Galette des Rois" Epiphany cake served at all fetes. January 6
Classical Music Festival
Jazz and Chamber music festival with internationally known artists. January 6-21, 2012.
St. Barth Music Festival Caribbean
A two-week musical celebration featuring performances by prominent artists in jazz, opera, classical Music and ballet. Don't miss the VIP cocktail fundraiser benefiting the Music Festival Endowment Campaign. St Barts Gustavia and Lorient churches. Runs January 10-29, 2012.
St Barth Dental Association Conference
An accredited continuing education program featuring world-renowned doctors in dentistry. January 16-20, 2012.
St Barth Fun Cup
3 days of Regattas in Cul de Sac lagoon and St Jean Bay. January 27-29, 2012.
February 2012 St Barts Events
Carnival St Barts
In the streets of Gustavia - February 17-22
Carnival School Parade
Marking the last day of school before vacation, children parade in the streets of Gustavia, St Barts. March 17
Mardi Gras
Costume parade through the streets of Gustavia and parties in restaurants. February 21
Ash Wednesday
End of Carnival and burning of Vaval - King of Carnival at Shell Beach. February 22
March 2012 St Barts Events
International Women's Day
Commemorate by the Lyceum Club - City Hall. March 8
St Barths Bucket
A three day St Barts invitational mega-yacht race. March 22-25.
April 2012 St Barts Events
Les Voiles de St Barth
A new stop on the Caribbean winter racing circuit, the "Les Voiles de St. Barth" regatta will include six classes of sailboats, from classic sloops to mega yachts. The event will be held on the island of St. Barthelemy from April 2-7
St. Barth Film Festival
This annual festival features Caribbean Films and Filmmakers. April 25-30, 2012.
Easter weekend
Public and religious holiday. April 9
West Indies Regatta
Three day event held annually over the Mayday weekend in St Barth, celebrating traditional West Indian sails. More of a wooden boat festival than a competitive regatta, the purpose of the event is to promote and encourage traditional boatbuilding in the Caribbean. April 28-May 1
May 2012 St Barts Events
Labor Day
St Barts Island Public holiday
West Indies Regatta
Traditional Caribbean event. May 5-6, 2012.
Annual Archery Competition
Proposed by les France Archers
Armistice Day
St Barts Public holiday.
Theatre Festival of St Barthelemy
Organized by St Barts artists in conjunction with artists from neighboring islands and France. May 7-16, 2012.
Ascension
St Barts Religious and Public Holiday.
Pentecost
St Barts Religious holiday
Mother's Day
Family celebration
Tour of St Barth
Around the island event for windsurfers and catamarans, St Jean Beach. May 5-6, 2012.
June 2012 St Barts Events
Father's Day
Family celebration
Mode in St Barts
Fashion Week Caribbean Fashions
July 2012 St Barts Events
Fete de l'Anse des Cayes et Anse des Lézards
Games, music, sports, shows and a ball all featured during this celebration in the village of Anse des Cayes.
Bastille Day
Fireworks and dancing during this St Barts Public Holiday.
Fete des quartiers du Nord
Flamands - Contests, Regattas, animations, and fireworks.
August 2012 St Barts Events
Fete des Quartiers du Vent
Regatta, music, and fireworks in Lorient.
Assumption Day St. Barts
Religious holiday
St. Barth Summer Sessions
Back for its 4th year, this event brings a talented mix of musicians together for 11 nights of performances across the island.
SBJAM Music Festival
Concerts of Caribbean music.
Festival of Gustavia
Regattas, dance and fireworks at Quai du General de Gaulle.
Festival of St. Barthelemy
Patron Saint Feast Day. Church and official ceremonies, regattas, public ball, fireworks in Gustavia.
St-Louis Festival
Village of Corossol - Fishing contests, Regattas, public ball, and fireworks.
WimcoSBH
Wimco's New On-Island Real Estate Partner
The exclusive representative for Sibarth in the United States since 1983, Wimco has announced a new partnership with the company SAS WSBH. Run by Fabienne Le Gall, this new real estate agency will now represent Wimco in Saint Barthelemy under the banner of WimcoSBH. This new agency will manage Wimco's local, seasonal villa rentals in Saint Barth, and provide concierge services to their clients. For this first season, WimcoSBH has a staff of 10 people to take care of arrivals, concierge services, and interface with villa owners. For now, the WimcoSBH office is at L'Agence, run by Fabienne Le Gall who will maintain her primary activity of real estate sales. WimcoSBH will shortly move into new offices, also in Saint Jean. Interviewed the day after this announcement, Le Gall says she is "pleased to share this new adventure with Wimco. We are anxious to tell villa owners who we are and that we are hear for them. To help with this goal, we have established a special area on our website, www.wsbh.fr, which allows them real-time access to villa rentals and the possibility to chat with us via an internal messaging system." WimcoSBH also promises to pay special attention to their client's needs via a high-quality concierge service designed to help make every visit to the island an unforgettable experience. All clients will also be invited to a weekly cocktail party during their stay in Saint Barthelemy. "This is an exceptional time of transition for Wimco and its clients," explains Tim Warburton, president and general director of Wimco, based in Newport RI. "The launching of this new company run by Fabienne Le Gall has the promise of a stronger collaboration with our clients, under the same "Wimco" brand. In fact, this direct partnership without an intermediary between Wimco and WimcoSBH, services for clients and owners will be simplified," added Warburton, via email last week. Concerning the relationship with Sibarth, Walburton explained: "Wimco is pleased to have collaborated with Sibarth for the past 27 years. Together these two companies contributed to the development of the villa rental and tourism industry in Saint Barthelemy. At the beginning of this year, Sibarth expressed its desire to modify the terms of our long-term partnership. Unfortunately we found the new conditions and business outlook to be unacceptable. That's the reason we have adopted a new strategy and decided to launch WimcoSBH, making Wimco independent from here on in. We wish Sibarth all the best for the future continuation of its activities,"concludes the president of Wimco, indicating his desire to personally invest in the success of WimcoSBH during this inaugural season.
THE BUCKET GETS EVEN BIGGER
15th Annual St Barth Bucket Expects 39 Boats
March 26-28, 2010 - "st barth weekly"
"The level of interest was phenomenal once again," says Hank Halsted, managing director, Bucket Regattas, LLC, about the 2010 St Barth Bucket, taking place March 26-28, 2010. "We had 55 applications this year, but preferring to grow the event organically and not too much at one time, we decided to accept up to 40 yachts. We actually have 39, but in the end it's about the quality of the event, not just the number of boats. Even with that number, we feel it's time to be as good as we possibly can at managing the onwater racing and particularly the safety between the super-yachts."
With that in mind, Peter Craig of Premiere Racing Inc. will be the Bucket's first PRO (professional race officer), in what Halsted calls "a very exciting move forward for the Bucket. Peter will be responsible for all on-water activities of the Bucket; courses, buoys, start/finish, all chase and safety boats." Craig will work with Ernest Brin, director of the Port Gustavia, and the organizing race committee, so that the racing is done to the best, professional standard.
In order to keep the sense of fun in the event, Halsted notes: "We need to balance the rules, and make sure we keep it wholesome sportsmanship and not just blood and guts racing." Yet some news rules have been established, including new safety protocol, that most of the fleet is happy to hear about. "The traditional rules of sailing assume that sailboats can turn or stop quickly, but these rules were written for smaller boats. Some of these are "ships" of 500+ tons, and we need to make allowances for them to participate safely. It is a delicate balance to keep the racing spirit alive," Halsted notes.
One of the new rules requires a distance of 40 meters between the boats at all times: "That's a boat length," points out Halsted. "These boats when being raced, can keel over and the mast length is an issue, adding an extra 15 meters of width. Also if one of these boats loses control, the 40 meters disappears very quickly." Another new rule: faster boats must pass outside the slower boats at turning marks. "We are not trying to encourage arguments," Halsted adds. "We have organized 24 years of Buckets without a single official protest hearing. We don't want to go there, but we will if we get reports of unsportsmanlike behavior. Boats could be excused from future Buckets for bad behavior. We like to settle our arguments over competitive advantage with a case of chilled champagne and if the champagne is good enough you might win your complaint," he says with a chuckle. "But a serious complaint will be treated seriously. Once the rules are understood, we are still here to have fun. But one major collision and the race would end." The Bucket is also employing lots of new safety tools, including communication between boats via VHF to share their intentions, and so that competing boats can make safe crossings. Another improvement is the AIS radar tool, which identifies the position of all the boats and their course and speed, so each boat knows what the others are doing and can avoid collisions. In addition each boat has to have not only a professional tactician, but also a safety tactician, to monitor the safe course the boat is sailing on, and interact with the captain and tactician to keep the boats sailing safely.
Highlights of the 2010 Bucket
Not only an incredible fleet of 39 extraordinary sailboats, but also the kinetic ballet of two J-Boat replicas, newcomer Hanuman (winner of the 2009 New Year's Eve Regatta in St Barth) and Ranger, a frequent Bucket participant, racing against each other. Halsted says the Bucket organizers are trying to come up with a life-pack- or first aid tool for saving lives-for the De Bruyn hospital. "That's our donation this year. We want to find the right equipment and bring it with us," explains Halsted. Prior donations have included small sailboats for the St Barth Sailing School and funds to purchase computers to the local junior high school. "It's nice for us to leave something behind that's meaningful every year," Halsted concludes.
What's on the horizon for the Bucket Regattas: After the great 15th anniversary expected here this year, 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the very first Nantucket Bucket, the original Bucket Regatta. Could a reprise of the Nantucket Bucket be on the drawing boards?
Biodynamic Wine Week, February 9th - 14th
Jean-Baptiste Barre, founder and owner of Absolutely Wine in Grand Fond, came up with the idea of a week's activities designed to introduce the concept of biodynamic viticulture in Saint Barth. Taking place from February 9-14, this oenological event will host four wine growers from France who have adopted biodynamic methods to produce organic vintages.
Founded in 1924, this agricultural production system stems from the ideas and philosophy of anthroposophist Rudolf Steiner, and is a holistic approach to growing grapes. Biodynamic growers use a series of special preparations to enhance the life of the soil, which are applied at appropriate times in keeping with lunar and cosmic rhythms in nature to help fight against parasites, while at same time helping to regenerate the soil. The goal is to obtain healthy plants that do not exhaust the soil by over extensive exploitation.
"Biodynamic vineyards are also characterized by their proximity to prairies, ruches, and hedges... an association of cultures that helps protect the soil from erosion by favoring the infiltration of water, and by decomposition, increasing the fertility and quality of the earth that surrounds the vines," explains Jean-Baptiste Barre. In addition to the quality of their wines, he also admires the perseverance of these viticulturists: "If something goes wrong, an entire harvest can be lost. You really have to believe in this," adds the sommelier who decided to organize this event to help promote these wines that he thinks are very interesting (see inset): "Here, a lot of different kinds of wine are consumed... Bordeaux, Burgundy, Pinot Noir... My challenge as a sommelier is to introduce these vineyards that are doing something exceptional. This is the case for the four wine growers who will be featured during this event. In addition, since many people are buying and consuming an increasing number of organic products, it seems appropriate to introduce Saint Barth to the concept of biodynamic wine, which has become popular elsewhere but is still pretty much unknown here."
The schedule for the biodynamic wine week includes a session open to the public, during which the wine growers will explain the basics of biodynamic viticulture, and talk about the specific wines they will offer during the tastings that follow the conference.
On Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, February 11 at 6:00pm, Absolutely Wine will host an open house during which wine lovers can taste biodynamic bottles and meet the wine growers, who, according to Jean-Baptiste Barre "will be happy to share their passion for their wine with as large an audience as possible." In addition, on five evenings from Tuesday through Saturday, a dinner with wine tastings will be organized in a different restaurant on the island.
Each menu will be crafted in consultation with the chefs in order to perfectly pair the cuisine with these subtle, surprising, and unusual wines. Each evening is the perfect occasion to discover three to six different wines made by the four viticulturists.
Wine tastings are also on the program at 5:00pm on Friday, February 12 at Do Brazil on Shell Beach. (From St Barth Weekly)
2010 St. Barts Music Festival
A Musical Odyssey
January 12 through January 20, 2010
2010 St Barts Music Festival Events Schedule.
The 60th Anniversary of Le Select Weekend
Special thanks Jimmy Buffet, Wimco Villas, The members of SBHonline, and a very special thanks to Marius and Le Select, the true reason behind this weekend's celebration. Plenty of pictures and stories inside the SBHonline forums.
Whale season has reached its peak
The marine park has been getting calls three or four times a week to report the presence of humpback whales close to the island. If you see them, a few simple rules must be followed: approaching them in the ocean must be done respectfully-the females, having given birth, will do anything to protect their sole babies. The best way to approach and observe both whales and dolphins is to follow along in parallel to the animals. It is also recommended to never approach them directly from the front or back.
And of they decide to approach you, put your motor in neutral and enjoy looking at them, and then back away slowly. And most importantly, never jump into the water!
The best distances for approaching:
100 meters for whales and 50 meters for dolphins
The appropriate length of time to watch a group of whales is one hour, but just 30 minutes if the group contains a baby.
Each group of whales should not be observed for more than a total time of three hours per day (90 minutes in the case of a mother with baby).
Motors should remain running during the observation of the whales.
Full Story from Le Weekly
14th Annual St Barth Film Festival
Marking the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution, the 2009 edition of the Saint Barth Film Festival, which takes place this Saturday through April 30, examines this historic event spearheaded by Ernesto Che Guevara, and Raul, and Fidel Castro, as they created a Pro-Soviet regime just miles from the United States in the late 1950s.
Over the years, the festival has projected many wonderful films made in Cuba, the largest island of the Greater Antilles. This year, the focus is from a different angle: that of international filmmakers who turned their lenses toward Cuba. This was a decision made by the festival organizers who wanted to present this unusual island in a different manner. The highpoint of the program: without a doubt the projection of both parts of Che, the Spanish-American film made by Steven Soderbergh (Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 at AJOE). Che was presented at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008, where lead actor Benecio Del Toro won the prize for Best Actor for his interpretation of Che Guevara. Part bio-pic, this diptych focuses on two major moments in the life of the iconic revolutionary, Ernesto Guevara: The first film, The Argentine, covers his fight in Cuba's Sierra Maestra, from 1956-1959, before taking power in Havana; The second film, Che Guerilla, explores his final defeat in the jungles of Bolivia in 1966-67.
But if there were a masterpiece not to be missed-at least in the opinion of Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola-it would be "Soy Cuba," which will be projected at AJOE on Tuesday, March 28. Made by Soviet director Mikhail Kalatozov in 1964, just five years after the Cuban revolution, the film was initially intended to serve as propaganda for the new Cuban state run by Fidel Castro. But it was "shelved" after its first projection in Moscow, as it did not meet the approval of the Soviet authorities or that of the Cuban leader. Ironically, it also fell under the American blockade of Cuba, and was not shown in the US until 1992 at the Telluride Film Festival. Yet another year would go by before Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola discovered it at the San Francisco Film Festival, and moved by the beauty of the images and the fervor of its tone, added their signatures to the poster to help ensure wider distribution in the United States.
Two other festival events also focus on Cuba: the projection "Almendron mi Corazon," a film by directors Steve and Stephanie James, which is dedicated to the "American beauties," those vintage automobiles from before the revolution, which paradoxically have become a piece of the island's revolutionary history. There will also be a round-table discussion in collaboration with the Lyceum Club at the Capitainerie on Wednesday, April 29 at 6pm. Based on the theme "The Impact Of Cuba On Caribbean Cinema," the discussion will be moderated by professor Dr. Francoise Pfaff an expert in literature and cinema from Howard University (born in Guadeloupe and raised in France where she earned her PhD at the University of Paris), and feature Joshua Harrison,
St Barths Bucket Awards 2009
Overall
1st METEOR
2nd WINDCREST
3rd ADELA
Les Gazelles
Racing Class
1st GANESHA
2nd P2
3rd DESTINATION FOX HARB'R
Les Grand Dames
Cruising Class
1st METEOR
2nd MALTESE FLACON
3rd WINDCREST
Alloy Cup
Best Performance by an Alloy Yacht
DESTINATION FOX HARB'R
Holland Jachtbouw & Yacht Report: All Star Crew Award
MALTESE FALCON
Wolter Huisman Memorial Cup
METEOR
Perini Navi Cup
Best performance by a Perini Navi Yacht
MALTESE FALCON
Vitter's Shipyard Seamanship Trophy
VIRAGO
Skullduggery Cravat
AXIA
Escargot Cup
BARACUDA & VARSOVIE
L'Hotel Carl Gustaf Offers Spa and Fitness Center Memberships
Need a little motivation to exercise? L'Hotel Carl Gustaf recently added a new Spa and Fitness center and is now offering monthly memberships for one to three months from 175 euros/month. Membership includes unlimited access to the fitness center and their Espace Hydro (Jacuzzi, pool and showers with essential oils), skin-care products by Carita and Decleor, exclusive offers at the Carl Gustaf Lounge and the Victoria's restaurant, and a welcome gift. For details, send an email to spa@hotelcarlgustaf.com or call 05 90 29 70 00.Creole Nights at Toiny's restaurant Le Gaiac
Starting February 13, the Toiny's restaurant Le Gaiac in Grand Fond is offering a Creole dinner every Friday night for 45 euros/person. The dinner includes an appetizer buffet featuring such Creole favorites as codfish salad with avocado, stuffed crab, Creole (boudin) sausages, stuffed christophone, a ceviche of mahi-mahi and several other goodies. The main course is a choice among a fricassee of conch and Creole rice, tuna in tomato sauce with a sweet potato gratin, a papllote with codfish and mango, pork Colombo (similar to a curry) or Creole chicken. To finish your meal, head for the dessert buffet with choices such as a coconut, banana or mango tart, a gratin of papaya and creme caramel. Then top it all of with a choice of dessert rums and a nice relaxing soak in the pool next to the restaurant.The Season of the Sales
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!First Boats in the Transat Classique Lagasse to Arrive December 16 or 17
This year is the premier of the Classic Transat Lagasse, which is reserved for traditional yachts and classic sailboats. The race started in Douarnenez, a fishing port in Brittany, and will finish in St Barth, after a stop in Agadir, Morocco. The boats departed Douarnenez for Agadir, where the first boats arrived on August 27. They set sail from Agadir on November 28, and the first boats are expected to arrive in St Barth on December 16 or 17. As always with these transatlantic races, a large welcoming party of tourists and locals will be waiting in Gustavia to welcome the crews. Tents are being put up on the square in front of the museum on La Pointe for the welcoming party. The festivities will continue on December 20 with a regatta of local sailors and sailing school students at Public followed by cocktails and a barbecue on the beach, sponsored by St Barth Properties. On December 21, the sailing vessels will sail around the island with cocktails afterwards at Le Bistro on the harbor in Gustavia. The principal sponsor of the race, the Canadian telecommunications company Lagasse, will host a gathering at La Plage in St Jean on December 22, and the awards ceremony will take place the evening of December 23.Porta 34 Hosts Contemporary Art Exhibit
Porta 34 in Gustavia is hosting an exhibit of modern and contemporary art featuring the works of Georges Braques, Fernando Botero and Arman through December 25. This exhibit of 150 works also includes the work of 15 other contemporary artists. Braques (1882-1963) was influenced by Matisse and Cezanne and began working closely with Picasso in 1909. Botero (1932- ) is a Colombian neo-figurative artist best known for his robust, inflated forms and exaggerated human figures. Arman (1928-2005) is an assemblage artist - one who composes three-dimensional compositions from found objects. The exhibit is the initiative of international art dealer Francois Chabanian, who has galleries in Geneva and St Tropez. Porta 34 is open every day from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm.Enjoy Christmas Music on Radio St Barth
Wish you were in St Barth this Christmas season? On Sunday, December 21, make your favorite tropical cocktail, put on your sunglasses and tune in to Radio St Barth (98.7 or 103.7 on St Barth or 100.7 on St Maarten) at www.radiostbarth.com. Starting at 4:30 pm, they'll be playing La Creche Vivante, followed by traditional Portuguese Christmas music at 5:45 pm and then the main event: Le Grand Chante No‘l Traditionnel (traditional Christmas music from St Barth) with the very popular local band New Creation, the group Salines Combo and local musicians. This is something you may want to record to enjoy throughout the holiday season and to share a little of the island magic with your friends and family!Renovations Complete at Hotel Le Toiny
The five-star "Relais & Chateaux" Hotel Le Toiny, located in Grand Fond, has completed major renovations for this year's high season. This exclusive hotel offers 15 villa suites with French Colonial decor including four-poster mahogany beds made in Martinique, teak furniture, private pools and breathtaking ocean views. The hotel has added a new gym, open from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm, that is fully equipped with the latest high-tech exercise equipment, a plasma screen TV and ocean views. Beginning on January 1, 2009, they will provide a free laundry service for guests and will begin growing their own vegetables in a new 2000-square-foot organic greenhouse. The hotel's restaurant, Le Gaiac, also has some new offerings. Every Tuesday they present The Fish Market, where your choice of fresh fish is grilled in front of you at lunch or dinner. The Executive Chef has also created two new fixed-price menus that are available every evening except Tuesday. For 100 euros, you can "Discover the Antilles" or for 130 euros, you can choose the "Land and Sea" menu. Don't forget to bring your bathing suit so you can enjoy the pool before or after dining. For more information, visit their web site at www.letoiny.com.11th Annual Gourmet Festival at the Guanahani Hotel & Spa
Once again, the Bar'to restaurant at the Guanahani Hotel & Spa in Grand Cul de Sac is hosting its Gourmet Festival from December 1 to December 21. This year's guest chef is Sylvain Humbert, who has overseen the restaurant La Palmeraie at the Ch‰teau de Valmer on the Cote d'Azur for the last three years. He and Philippe Masseglia, director of the Bar'to, have created a menu of Mediterranean flavors inspired by specialties that are served at La Palmeraie during the summer. Perhaps a risotto with aged Parmesan and tiny octopus? Or a dish with turbot or lobster, ratatouille, fresh sardines, truffles, poached pears? Whatever you order from this special menu created and executed by two superb chefs is sure to be a gastronomic treat!The re opening of the Yellow Submarine excursions
One hour guided tour to see a wide variety of tropical fishes and an amazing shipwreck . In an air conditioned comfortable cabin 5 ft below the surface the semi submersible accommodates up to 22 passengers Ideal experience for the entire family
Contact 011-590-590 524051 and www.yellow-submarine.fr
Ferry dock Gustavia
Plongee caraibes - 48ft catamaran BLUE CAT'
Re-opening for diving and snorkeling activities
Beginners, certified divers are welcome for a colorfull discovery of the marine park spots and around. "A PADI Gold Palm center "where all certification are available Group trips or private charter.
Contact 011-590-690 546614 and www.plonge-caraibes.com
Ferry dock Gustavia
Carl Gustaf Hotel Offers Christmas Special
The Carl Gustaf, perched on a hill overlooking Gustavia and the beautiful harbor, is reopening in mid-December after having been closed for six months or more for major renovations. They are offering one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites with a pool at 50% off from December 20 to December 27, 2008. This special rate includes daily Continental breakfast, welcome champagne upon arrival, round-trip airport transfers, complementary WiFi and free use of the sauna and fitness center. In addition, they are waiving the 5% accommodation tax. A one-bedroom suite is going for 890 euros per night and the two-bedroom suites, for 1210 euros per night. The renovations include a new restaurant, a redesign of the Carl Gustaf Lounge, a new boutique spa and the addition of a new 2600-square-foot Royal Suite with four bedrooms, a spacious walled garden terrace, infinity pool and Jacuzzi.
Hotel Christopher Reopens in November
The Hotel Christopher in Point Milou is scheduled to open on November 10, under the management of David Henderson, the former general manager at Le Toiny in Grand Fond. The hotel was sold to a private French group last year and has remained closed since the sale. The new owners are obtaining a building permit for 2009, but have agreed to reopen the hotel for the winter. The hotel, which has 41 rooms, each with a private terrace and views of tropical gardens and the Caribbean, will offer rates starting at 99 euros per night that will include a Continental buffet breakfast. The hotel has a poolside restaurant that will be open for lunch, but not for dinner.
Fiber-Optic Cable and New Internet Service to Be in Place by End of Year
Initiated last Wednesday in Saint Martin, the Box Mediaserv should be available in St Barth by the end of the year, according to its operator, which has been a subsidiary of the Loret group since 1999. A competitor of Livebox, the Box Mediaserv proposed in Saint Martin offers a package including the removal of the standard telephone service contract, a high-speed connection to the Internet, remote downloads and unlimited telephony, depending on which plan is chosen. On November 29, 2004, the Regional Council of Guadeloupe awarded to Global Caribbean Network (GCN) a contract to build and operate a fiber-optic submarine cable system, linking Guadeloupe, St Martin and St Barth to the Internet backbone in Puerto Rico. Seventy-five percent of the funding comes from the European Regional Development Fund and the Guadeloupe Regional Council, with the remaining 25% coming from GCN main shareholder, the Loret Group.
Fifth Edition of Chess Championship Coming Up
The fifth edition of the Chess Championship of Saint-Barth-Sibarth Trophy will take place at the Guanahani Hotel and Spa October 17-19. The competition is open to all players 15 years old or more. The first round begins Friday, October 17, at 8:00 pm. Prizes will be awarded on Sunday morning. Thanks to the partners of Saint-Barth Chess - Sibarth, Saint-Barth Assurances, Match and the Collectivite, the first prize is a plane ticket to France to participate in the Chess Championship of France 2009. The French championship will take place August 10-22, 2009, in a city yet to be identified. To register for this event, call Jef Follner at 06 90 55 12 14. Bon chance a tous!
Saint B'Art Announces Poster Competition for the Upcoming Music Festival
In preparation for the 25th edition of the St Barth Festival of Music, which will be held January 8-22, 2009, the association Saint B'art is organizing a poster competition. All painting and drawing techniques are allowed and everyone can participate. The only constraints are the format and theme. The posters can be vertical 10F (55 cm X 46 cm maximum) or vertical F25 (100 cm X 68 cm maximum). The theme, of course, must be music. The winning poster will become the poster for next year's Music Festival, and the winner will be given a pass for the duration of the event. To register, send an email to Veronique VanderNoot at veronique.vandermoot@orange.fr. All posters must be submitted by November 15, 2008, to the Blue Gecko Studio in St Jean, on the road to the Tropical Hotel. For more information, please call 06 90 39 92 74.
Toms Beach Hotel, Free Night
The Tom Beach Hotel in St Jean sits right on gorgeous St Jean Bay, recently voted the 8th sexiest beach by the Travel Channel. Until December 19, 2008, you can enjoy a free night with any reservation of six nights or more. The hotel's open-air, beachside restaurant, La Plage, is open year-round, serves excellent food in a relaxed atmosphere and usually has either live music or a DJ during the evenings. For more information or to make reservations, call 590 590 27 53 13, web site - www.tombeach.com.
Feasting on Waves
Alton Brown's latest TV show, Feasting on Waves, premiered last Sunday on the Food Network. Those of us who were lucky enough to be watching it were rewarded with an unexpected stop in St Barth due to bad weather conditions. The show is a four-part series in which Alton and his crew sail around 15 different Caribbean islands on a 50-foot catamaran. The goal is to seek out quality local cuisine. Fortunately for Alton, the captain of the catamaran, Randy West, has lived in St Barth for over 25 years and was able to take him to several popular local venues. The first stop was Le Select for the famous Cheeseburger in Paradise and a local ti punch, made of cane syrup, rum and a slice of lime. Next on the agenda was a visit to Chez Ginette in Anse des Cayes. Ginette is known on the island for making and selling bottles of rum punch made from dozens of different fruits and flowers found on the island. The expression on Alton Brown's face when he smelled the passionfruit rum punch testifies to its strength! The final destination was The Wishing Well, locally known as Chez Rolande, in Flamands. Rolande's grandmother had a restaurant in Guadeloupe for 25 years, and Rolande learned how to cook authentic Creole food at her side. Today, her daughter helps her create the same dishes. Alton, and Randy, were lucky enough to have her prepare a fricassee of langouste, the Caribbean spiny lobster. Alton's comment upon tasting it? "She's a witch!"
Hotel Carl Gustaf
to Reopen for High SeasonThe luxurious Hotel Carl Gustaf in Gustavia has been closed and undergoing major renovations for several months. They plan to reopen for the high season with a completely new restaurant, Victoria's, and a redesigned lounge. This is one of the best places to enjoy a cocktail while viewing a spectacular sunset over the harbor. The renovations also include a top-scale Boutique Spa and a 4-bedroom Royale Suite with its own infinity pool and Jacuzzi.St Barth Continues to Go Green
St Barth may be a small island, but it's a giant in environment-friendly initiatives.
Recycling of plastic, glass, aluminum cans and steel/tin cans has been in effect for many years. Recently, electric cars and electric motorcycles have begun to arrive. Last year, Michel Magras championed an idea to use wind turbines to generate electricity. As a result, a feasibility study was planned. Phase One of the project will involve installing four to six turbines along the water in Toiny. It is projected that these turbines would continually produce 4.5 to 6 megawatts of power that could be sold to EDF, the electric company on the island. A wind turbine has already been installed at a private residence in Lurin Energies Saint-Barth is offering solar garages to produce electricity to recharge the battery in the electric cars or to use in the house or garden. Several marine reserves exist around the island where it is forbidden to fish or to remove any type of sea life. Biodegrable and other reusable "grocery bags" have been for sale at the local grocery stores for several years. Many grocery stores on the island no longer provide plastic bags for use by customers. Conservation of water has always been a priority. Although most homes today have access to city water, they also have cisterns, and that is the preferred source of water. Since St Barth is a dry island, water conservation has always been in effect. Several beaches provide ashtrays in the form of soda cans at the entrance to the beach to prevent littering the beach with cigarette butts, whose filters contain many ingredients that are toxic to sea life.
One of the most recent undertakings was to provide composting kits to residents to reduce the amount of household waste. Starting on June 11, the Collectivity began distributing these kits, along with an instruction manual. After 10 days, 150 of the 300 kits available had been given away. With the heat and humidity on St Barth, compostable household waste becomes rich, usable compost in a matter of weeks.
Summer Rates on Sailboat Rental
Fun Sea'Stem is offering a summer special on a half-day rental for up to six passengers on its Sun Odyssey 42 DS Sea Flower. This rate includes skipper, fuel and an open bar and is good from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The French captain grew up in St Barth and was manager of the Saint Barth Yacht Club for three years. He has sailed all around the Caribbean and taught windsurfing and sailing. For more details and contact information, visit www.funseastem.com.Swedish Week in St Barth
Normally, Pitea Day, held in mid-August, was the celebration to commemorate the twinning of St Barth and Pieta, Sweden. However, starting this year, St Barth will dedicate a full week in November to celebrate the ongoing friendship between St Barth and Sweden and the island's Swedish past and to introduce the populace of St Barth to today's Sweden. The event will take place November 16-23 and is being organized by the non-profit associations ASBAS and SkŠllskapet (The Friends of Saint Barth Association of Stockholm). A.S.B.A.S, in partnership with ITEC Services, is sponsoring a photography contest with the theme "the family and the history". This is an opportunity for photographers to show the Swedish history of St Barth and the friendly relations that exist between the two countries. The contest is free and is open to anyone residing or originating on the island, other than professional photographers. First prize will be a CANON EOS Rebel XSL digital camera valued at 799 euros. The photographs will be displayed in the library in Gustavia throughout Swedish WeekUpdate on the Niilaaia Hotel Resort & Spa
About one year ago, the St Barth Beach Hotel in Grand Cul de Sac was sold and razed to make room for the Niilaaia Hotel Resort & Spa. Recent news is that construction will start soon. Niilaaia is a Sanskrit word that means "bearing the color of blue." The hotel will include 46 beachfront rooms, six fully furnished "townhouse style" duplex suites that can be purchased and three villas that can also be purchased. For more information, visit www.niilaaia.com.Fourth Edition of the Soualiga Challenge
The Soualiga Challenge between St Barth and St Martin is scheduled for September 28. The kayaks will depart from the beach in Public, with Captain Oliver's Marina in Oyster Bay, St Martin as their destination - a distance of 25 kilometers. The Soualiga Challenge is the first competition of the Caribbean Mini Turn 2008. The second, and final, contest will be the Guadeloupe Challenge held on October 4. The winner of the Soualiga Challenge will receive 4000 euros, with the winner of the Guadeloupe Challenge receiving 8000 euros. For more information, contact Stuart Knaggs at thebrowns@domaccess.com or Oliver Tanton at otanton@gmail.com.SB JAM Festival Coming Soon
The SB Jam Festival, a four-day event held on the quay in Gustavia, presents different bands from St Barth and other islands in the Caribbean. This year's music festival will be from August 14 until August 17. So, go out for an evening (or four) of good music and dancing under the stars.Flowers of Saint BarthelemyThursday, August 14
6:00 pm Local DJ
8:30 pm Sambla Gil with guests Kali and Rapha‘lle Eva
11:00 pm La Perfecta, a famous group from Martinique
Friday, August 15
6:00 pm Local DJ
7:30 pm Dance with group VIP from St Maarten
8:30 pm Marce and Toum Pack from Martinique
11:00 pm Group Panik with Jeff Joseph, Dominique Panol and Thierry Cham
Saturday, August 16
6:00 pm Local DJ
7:30 pm Zouk Flam with special guests Paola, Luc Leandry, Franky Vincent, Anthony Gussie, Chiktay, KRAVAN
11:00 pm Tabou Combo
Sunday, August 17
9:00 am Belote tournament
12:30 pm Punch and music with a steel band from St Martin
Michel Magras, who teaches science and biology at the Mireille Choisy junior high school in Gustavia, has recently published Flowers of Saint Barthelemy. His book, which is in French and English, classifies 280 species of the 400 different flowers that are found on St Barth and contains 1000 photos. The book is presented as a practical guidebook, but also contains the Latin names and carefully documented scientific characteristics of the plants. Along with the scientific information, you'll find interesting anecdotes. For example, M. Magras tells us that the acacia tree, locally called "bois lolo" has been banned from gardens around houses "and systematically destroyed, while, in fact, their horizontal roots actively fight against the erosion of the soil." Two thousand copies of the book have been published and are available in the bookstores for 25 euros.Airline Updates
With gas prices rising every week, the airlines are in the news more and more. American Airlines has announced that they are adding two new direct flights out of Miami and New York for the upcoming tourism season. The new twice-weekly New York flight starts in December and will go increase to five flights per week in January. The second direct flight from Miami is scheduled to start in November. It will leave Miami at 5:15 pm and arrive in St. Maarten at 9:10 pm. The aircraft will stay overnight there and leave the next morning at 9:10 am, arriving in Miami at 11:30 am. Air Caraibes has announced that it will again offer flights between St Barth and St Maarten starting on July 15 in partnership with Tropical Airlines.Noise Level to be Measured and Controlled
One of the most frequent complaints registered with the police in St Barth is the level of the noise from construction, bars and discotheques. However, many complaints go unanswered due to the inability to measure the noise level. Recently, the territorial police and the gendarmes (the French police) have received three sonometers and will be able to quantify the noise level and take appropriate action. Depending on the time of day, the frequency and the level of noise, those responsible can be charged between 68 to 450 euros. If the offense is described as "sound aggression," the perpetrator could go to prison for up to one year and be charged with a fine of 15,000 euros. St Barth already has several restrictions in place. For example, the use of tools or apparatuses that make too much noise cannot be used between 6:00 pm and 7:00 am Monday through Saturday, between noon and 2:00 pm Monday through Friday, and between noon and 6:00 pm on Saturdays and all day on Sundays.
Preliminary Results from the 2007 Census
Complete results from the 2007 census will be published at the beginning of 2009, but some preliminary data has become available. The population of St Barth has increased from 6854 residents in January 1999 to 8450 in January 2007. As in 1999, there are still more men than women on the island, 53.2% and 46.8%, respectively. Most people are in the 40-59 year-old age bracket; a change from the 20-39 year-old age bracket in 1999. Like the U.S., the baby boomers are aging, but less than 10% of the population is older than 60 and nearly 50% of the residents are single. As might be expected with all the construction underway, the unemployment rate is a relatively low 3.2%.
St Barths 1st Wind Turbine
The first wind turbine on St Barth is high in the hills of Lurin. It is hoped that these silent and pollution-free devices will replace noisy generators. This wind turbine can capture the wind from all directions without having to turn on its axis, which is often a source of breakdowns requiring repairs. It starts producing energy with only 5-6 km/hour of wind. For more informaction, visit www.energies-sb.com.
Festival of Mini-Videos of St Barth
This is for all of you "video bugs." St Barth is planning on having a festival of mini-videos that were made in St Barth. If you have an interesting or funny video that you took in St Barth and would like to participate, you can call 590 690 53 26 24 or send an email to sbhvkollektiv@gmail.com.
Defibrillators to be Installed in Public Places
As the result of a partnership between the Rotary Club, the Collectivity of St Barth and the Red Cross, semi-automatic defibrillators will be installed at the stadium in St Jean the Capitanerie in Gustavia, the airport and the surfer's cabin in Lorient. Volunteers of the Red Cross will train the public in their use.
Bits and Pieces
Le Ti Barth reopened July 10 after a short vacation.St Barth Chosen for Pre-Release Preview of Dom Perignon 2000 Vintage
Blue Coast, a boutique in St Jean at Pelican Beach, will close on July 31.
La Plage restaurant at the Tom Beach Hotel in St Jean is offering a summer special that includes a drink, a salad and a chaise lounge for the beach for 20 euros between noon and 4:00 pm.
The restaurant O'Corner in Gustavia has announced that it is closing.
Segeco, the exclusive distributor for Dom Perignon in the Caribbean, organized an event on June 3 at the Manapany Hotel in Anse des Cayes to present the vintage Dom Perignon Millesime 2000, marking the first time that a vintage Dom Perignon has been presented in the Caribbean. This vintage was made from grapes picked at the end of the 20th century and aged for seven years in the champagne cellar. Chief champagne maker Richard Geoffroy describes the aroma as having "notes of poached pears and gardenia" and that "on the palate, notes of anise and dry ginger mix with a hint of ripe fruit (pear and mango)."
Wimco Offers 7th Night Free in St Barts Villas
Wimco and Sibarth have banded together with St Barts villa owners to create a "Stay 7 Nights/Pay for 6 Nights" offering for nearly 70 villas on the island of St Barthelemy. The villa rental pioneers are optimistic that by offering a free 7th night, travelers will be more inclined to come experience the beauty of St Barts during the more affordable low season.
The "Stay 7 Nights/Pay for 6 Nights" special applies for travel during the entire month of July 2008 and October 1-November 15, 2008. Participating villas include the new stunner, SIB DOL in Pointe Milou, fabulous SIB JAY in Mont Jean and crowd favorites SIB SAS in St Jean, SIB OUI in Petit Cul de Sac and SIB TOR in Lorient.
For more information, please contact one of Wimco's St Barts destination specialists at 1-800-932-3222 or visit www.wimco.com.
New St Barth License Plates Start to Appear
As a result of St Barth becoming an Overseas Collectivity, all newly registered cars will have the new St Barth license plates, which will include the letters SBH. The standard plate will consist of one to three digits, followed by a space, followed by one to three letters and the letters SBH. Personalized plates are also now allowed and can consist of up to ten letters with no spaces. The standard registration costs 25 euros and personalized plates will cost 50 euros. It will be fun to see the personalized plates that appear on the island!
St Barth Properties Offers Great Savings on Car Rentals
St Barth Properties is offering a "Deals on Wheels" special from June 16 to October 31. If you make a reservation during that time at one of the villas or hotels that they represent, you can rent a car for $175 per week, with a $25 rate for each additional day. A normally good rate for this time of year is 25 euros per day, which at current exchange rates is $39.50 per day! These rates are good for a Suzuki Ignis hardtop sedan or a Jimny soft-top convertible Jeep, both with automatic transmission. For further details and to book your reservation, visit their website at www.stbarth.com.
Has the Francois Plantation Closed Its Doors for Good?
Word has it that the 4-star Hotel Francois Plantation, located on the northwestern tip of the island, high in the hills of Colombier, has decided to close its doors. Whether this is truly a permanent closing or not remains to be seen. They were closed for renovations when this news arrived. Several sources say they will not re-open. However, their website says "closed until further notice." We'll just have to wait and see what happens. Not only would this be a loss of a lovely hotel, but also of an excellent restaurant.
Specials at Le Toiny Hotel
The Hotel Le Toiny, located on the southeastern coast of St Barth, is a member of the Relais & Chateaux chain. The hotel's restaurant, Le Gaiac, overlooks the Caribbean and has a beautiful pool that restaurant guests are welcome to use. The restaurant is now offering a special "Discover St Barth" menu poolside every Friday evening for 58 euros. And, clients of St Barth Properties can enjoy complimentary cocktails. Among other items, the menu includes such temptations as crawfish wrapped in crispy spaghetti with a guacamole of mango and passion fruit, crab raviolis, and rack of lamb coated with crusty coconut and served with an eggplant chutney and spring vegetables.
More Airline News
Air Caraibes Last week, it was reported that Air Caraibes, who provides commercial flights and charters between St. Maarten and St. Barth has ceased all operations of flights and the handling of flights and charters until further notice due to financial losses. Those with confirmed tickets are being accommodated by other airlines, notably Winair. It is expected that in early July the airline will resume operations in conjunction with a third-party, most likely Tropical Airlines, which is also known as Air Antilles Express.
Spirit Airlines Spirit Airlines recently announced it would close its San Juan hub.
Jet Blue JetBlue Airways Corp. plans to add daily flights to Puerto Rico from New York, Orlando and Boston starting this fall. However, in September, they will cease their daily flights to St Maarten and offer flights only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In early October, daily flights will resume except for Tuesday and Wednesday. They expect to resume daily flights again on October 30.
Specials Abound During Low Season
Le Sereno Seven-Night Special
The beachfront Le Sereno in Grand Cul de Sac is offering a seven-night special from April 14 until December 15. The package includes rental of a Suzuki Jimny or similar, daily Continental breakfast, one dinner for two at the hotel's gourmet Le Restaurant des Pecheurs. Two lunches for two at Le Restaurant des Pecheurs or a deluxe picnic with club sandwiches and a bottle of champagne, one Bouillabaisse cooking class and one Bouillabaisse dinner for two, choice of a sunset cruise with hors d'oeuvres and champagne on a Vietnamese junk or scuba diving on a guided trip with instructor, a bottle of champagne, one welcome beach bag, complimentary use of gym, tennis courts, snorkeling equipment, kayak or pedal boats. Visit www.lesereno.com for more information.
Le Toiny Five Nights Pay For Four
Le Toiny in Grand Fond is offering two special packages from June 1 until November 16. Stay five nights and pay for four or stay 10 nights and pay for eight. The package includes accommodation in a one-bedroom villa suite with private pool, daily Continental breakfast for two, private round-trip transfers to and from the airport, flower welcome and amenity, and a Smart car for four or eight days (excluding gas and insurance). Visit www.letoiny.com for more information.
Hotel Guanahani & Spa five-night special Sponsored by WIMCO
Wimco is sponsoring a five-night special at the Hotel Guanahani & Spa in Grand Cul de Sac from April 15 through October 31. The package includes daily Continental breakfast in room or American breakfast in the hotel's Indigo restaurant, a choice of either lunch or dinner for two daily, car rental, round-trip transfers from the airport or harbor, a welcome gift and your choice of two of the following activities: one hour of jet-skiing for two, two one-hour windsurfing lessons, two one-hour tennis lessons, two Clarins Spa treatments (excluding massage) or a beginning scuba diving lesson. Visit www.wimco.com for all details.
St Barth Phone Directory Now On-Line
Wish you'd written down the phone number for a restaurant, hotel, doctor or a favorite boutique before you left? Now, the St Barth phone book is on-line at www.directory-saintbarth.com. It's easy to use and you can search by profession or name. There's even a tab for an inverse search - you enter the phone number and the business or person's name is returned. This is a real help if you want to make reservations at your favorite restaurants before leaving for the island.
La Palace in Gustavia will be closed from June 7 through the end of July.
La Poste in Gustavia is operating under summer hours until September. They are open from 7:30 am until 12:45 pm every day except for Wednesdays and Saturdays, when they close at noon.
The Strand Supper Club in Gustavia is offering free champagne to ladies every Thursday from 11:00 pm until 1:00 am.
La Pomme ("apple" in French), an authorized reseller of Macintosh computers, has opened on Rue Courbet in Gustavia.
Le Piment Now Serving Tapas
Le Piment in St Jean is now serving tapas starting at 7:00 pm, often accompanied by live music. A few samplings from their menu are:
Calamari with tartar sauce
Escargot with Sherry vinegar and parsley
Quesadillas with peppers, chorizo, guacamole
Cajun chicken
Toasted baguette with herbed goat cheese
Sausage plate
Winair Cuts Schedules Due to Pilot Shortage
As reported in the St Maarten newspaper the Daily Herald on June 4, Winair is facing a shortage of pilots and has been forced to reduce the number of its flights to all destinations. The airline needs five more pilots to supplement its pool of 25 pilots in order to maintain its previous schedules. Because of a shortage of pilots from the Antilles, Winair has been trying to attract foreign pilots. However, the process to acquire the mandatory employment documents is lengthy. Documents from the pilot must be submitted to the Island Labour Office. Once they are verified, Winair must pay the processing fee to the Island Receiver.
This initial process takes about three days if all goes well. Normally, once Winair has provided proof of payment to the Labour Department, it takes a week to process the paperwork and send it to the Executive Council for approval. At the same time, all documents are sent to Police Affairs for a residence permit. After these steps are completed, an appointment must be made to process "the declaration act of guarantee" and the paperwork is sent to the Lt. Governor and the Immigration Department for approval. Winair reports an incident when paperwork for a pilot was begun in January and by the end of April was still not completed. The airline is appealing to the Central and Island Governments to streamline the process so that it takes only two weeks from when the documents are submitted to obtaining the permit. Winair's management requested a meeting in April to discuss these issues. As of today, no meeting has been set.
As quoted by the Daily Herald, "Until the required number of pilots is employed, the airline will be operating on a limited schedule." Be sure to allow extra time to make your connection, even if it requires staying overnight in St Maarten. If you arrive and find your flight to St Barth has been cancelled, you can take a taxi to Marigot for $20 and hop on the Voyager, a ferry that takes 75 minutes but can be rough. If you arrive early enough, you can take a taxi to Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg and catch the 5:00 pm Rapid Explorer. This is a comfortable, air-conditioned high-speed catamaran that will get you to St Barth in 45 minutes.
Swedish Week in St Barth
Normally, Pitea Day, held in mid-August, was the celebration to commemorate the twinning of St Barth and Pieta, Sweden. However, starting this year, St Barth will dedicate a full week in November to celebrate the ongoing friendship between St Barth and Sweden and the island's Swedish past and to introduce the populace of St Barth to today's Sweden. The events will start on the Sunday before the annual running of the Gustavialoppet marathon, which will close the week's activities. According to Yves Greaux, who is vice-president of the territorial council and is responsible for cultural affairs, "2008 marks a triple date: the first Swedish Week in Saint Barth; the 30 years of twin cities Pitea and Saint Barth, and the 130th anniversary of the retrocession of the island to France. It is important to give this first edition a real visibility, to give it a solid base to become an annual event." As such, the vice-president has asked for projects to be submitted to the Tourist Office before August 15. The event will take place November 16-23 and is being organized by the non-profit associations ASBAS and SkŠllskapet (The Friends of Saint Barth Association of Stockholm).
2008 Tour of Caribbean Soccer Stars
Get ready for a big night of soccer! On Wednesday, June 4, the Caribbean Soccer Stars will be in St Barth on their second annual tour to take on some local St Barth soccer players at the Stadium in St Jean. The competition starts at 6:00 pm and admission is free. Among the all-stars is Mamadou Niang, the highest scorer for Marseilles during the 2007/2008 championship season; Souleymane Diawara, a defender for the Bordeaux Girondins; Jeremie Janot, goalie for the "Greens" of Saint-Etienne; and Anthony Le Tallec, attacking midfielder for Le Mans. The all-stars will play in St Martin on Sunday, June 1 and then make their way to St Barth. The tour is organized by Marty Toure of Wavecom. Information on all the players can be found at www.caraibesfoot.com.
La Gloriette Rhum Is Still Available
Although the restaurant La Gloriette in Grand Cul de Sac closed its doors sometime last year, their popular rhum is still available at the boutique behind the original restaurant. The boutique is typically open for several hours in the morning and again later in the afternoon.
Tis the Season of the Sales
If you'll be on St Barth before June 28, be sure to take an empty suitcase with you! Unlike the U.S. where there seems to be a sale every weekend, the French government controls when the shops on St Barth can hold sales. Sales can occur twice a year, and this year's dates are May 17 through June 28 and September 27 through October 25. Savings can be substantial. For example, La Maison des Plantes in Lurin has slashed prices on plants by 50% and on pots by 20%. The Swedish Design Center is selling items 35% to 50% below their original prices. You'll see ads for most of the boutiques advertising a range of discounts from 20% to 75%.
Cheap Eats Despite the Low Dollar
Those of us who love St Barth will always return despite the less-than-favorable current exchange rate with the euro. But be assured, you will always be able to eat well at a reasonable price - especially for lunch. Most of the island's restaurants have a "plat du jour" (special of the day) at very affordable prices. One favorite is La Marine, which is located right on the harbor in Gustavia (on La Pointe - across the harbor from the main part of town). They offer three daily specials for 12€, and you won't leave hungry! Each day at lunchtime, they have a salad of the day (often loaded with shrimp and smoked salmon or prosciutto), a fish of the day, and a meat entree. Others to keep in mind are The Hideaway in St Jean for 10€, The Wall House on La Pointe in Gustavia for 9.50€, Le Repaire in Gustavia for 12€, La Creperie in Gustavia for 10€, Ti Zouk K'fe on La Pointe in Gustavia for 10€, and Le Wok in Lorient for 12.50€. Recent offerings at Ti Zouk K'fe were a ballottine of salmon or the chef's rabbit, whereas Le Wok offered mahi-mahi in a green curry sauce. Not bad eats!
Charter the Lone Fox for a Day of Sailing
The Lone Fox is a beautiful 65-foot classic wooden sailing yacht that was built in 1957 in Scotland for Colonel Whitbread, of Whitbread Breweries, the original sponsor of the Whitbread Round The World Race, as his personal yacht. Set sail in this spectacular yacht with the very capable and amiable Captain Ira Epstein, who has won several regattas and races. He is offering a special summer rate of 900€ for a day of sailing, swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing and exploring the coastline. Maximum number of passengers is 12. For more information, call 06 90 33 27 91 or 06 90 33 26 85.
New Radiology Suites Opens On April 30, the new radiology suite at the De Bruyn Hospital was inaugurated. The new radiology equipment was purchased with a donation of 154,000 euros from FEMUR (Foundation for Emergency Medical Equipment in St Barth) and 50,000 euros from the Kovner Foundation in the U.S. According to Pierre Nuty, the director of the hospital, plans are in place to have a full radiology center by 2010. Additional equipment will include a scanner that costs 400,000 euros. FEMUR will try to raise as much money as possible to help achieve that goal.
Transat Ag2r Sailing Race
Every other year, it's time for the Transat Ag2r! And Saint Barth is already looking forward to the arrival of the identical Figaro Beneteau boats in the fleet of the 9th edition of this transatlantic race. The boats set sail last Sunday at 10am from Con- carneau, a French fishing port in Finisterre known for its medieval walled town.
- Full Article
- Live Race Report
Win Five Nights at Le Sereno Hotel
JCrew is sponsoring a Honeymoon-at-the-Beach contest and the grand prize is a five-night stay at a luxurious hotel in either Hawaii, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas or the French West Indies. You guessed it; that means St Barth! The hotel chosen for St Barth is the newly renovated beachfront hotel Le Sereno in Grand Cul de Sac. The hotel is located on a cove with turquoise waters that are protected from the ocean waves by a coral reef. The hotel has 37 suites and villas and a gourmet restaurant that claims to serve an authentic bouillabaisse. To enter this contest, go to
jcrew.eprize.net
New Radiology Suites Opens
On April 30, the new radiology suite at the De Bruyn Hospital was inaugurated. The new radiology equipment was purchased with a donation of 154,000 euros from FEMUR (Foundation for Emergency Medical Equipment in St Barth) and 50,000 euros from the Kovner Foundation in the U.S. According to Pierre Nuty, the director of the hospital, plans are in place to have a full radiology center by 2010. Additional equipment will include a scanner that costs 400,000 euros. FEMUR will try to raise as much money as possible to help achieve that goal.
Andrew Racliffe Exhibition at Eden Rock's Art Gallery
Andrew Radcliffe, an American artist who has been living on St Barth with his wife and young son for the past two years, is exhibiting his art at Jane's Gallery at the Eden Rock Hotel in St Jean until May 24. Radcliffe studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, received a Master of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1987 and has exhibited his work throughout the U.S. In addition to hundreds of small pen-and-ink drawings, Radcliffe is also exhibiting several oil paintings that reflect his love of the tropics.
Secondhand Store in Corossol to Close
For several years now, the quaint village of Corossol has been home to a large store (Les Puces, which can be loosely translated to "flea market") that sells a broad variety of used goods - everything from furniture to artwork, dishes, glassware, fans, clothing, you name it. Sadly, they have announced that they will be closing as of April 30.
Bits and Pieces
Winair Announces Fuel Surcharge According to the Daily Herald of St Maarten, Winair will begin adding a fuel surcharge of $12.50 on one-way tickets and $25 on round-trip tickets to all fares beginning May 1. As Winair is the most popular airlines for flights between St Maarten and St Barth, this will affect most people traveling to this little piece of paradise.
Lesser Antilles Iguana in Danger
Lesser Antilles Iguana has disappeared on many other islands and is an endangered species in St Barth. Part of the problem on St Barth is that they are breeding with the more dominant green iguana, and several hybrid iguanas have been spotted. The green iguana is not native to St Barth and was brought there via St Maarten. They are larger and more territorial than the Lesser Antilles iguana. The problem with the hybrids is that they are thought to be sterile. In addition, the iguana faces many other menaces. The island has many cats and dogs who love to chase and kill the iguanas, although they don't eat them. Rats eat the iguana eggs, and the goats eat everything in sight, leaving nothing for the iguanas to feed on. Mankind is also contributing to their declining numbers. The increase in construction results in fewer and fewer isolated places for the females to lay their eggs. They have also been killed by cars when crossing the road or resting in the road to enjoy the sun. So, be on the outlook for an iguana in the road and give it time enough to move.
Francois Plantation
Is closing for renovations. Located on the northwestern tip of the island, high in the hills of Colombier, the four-star Hotel Francois Plantation is housed in typical St. Barth architecture with a wrap-around terrace and a pool surrounded by teak decks overlooking a beautiful bay. The restaurant, one of the most highly regarded on the island, closed on April 1 and the hotel will close on May 7. The renovations here will be to bring the hotel's sanitation system and kitchen up to date. The hotel will re-open in mid-November and has plans for additional improvements in the summer of 2009.
Two Luxury Hotels Close for Renovations
Carl Gustaf, located on a hillside in Gustavia overlooking the picturesque harbor, is a four-star luxury hotel (www.hotelcarlgustaf.com) close to gorgeous Shell Beach, restaurants and shops. Two weeks ago, they closed for major renovations. According to general manager Pierre-Alexander Maillard, "We are going to be enlarging the hotel as well as completely renovating the restaurant, bar, and lounge." The hotel will add a new four-bedroom suite over the restaurant as well as a small spa and boutique. The spa will have three treatment rooms for massage and other services along with a Jacuzzi. The hotel is scheduled to re-open on December 15, 2008.
Jimmy Buffet Sponsors Local Windsurfer
Antoine Questel, who will be 24 in September, has made waves in international windsurfing competitions over the last couple of years. Now, Jimmy Buffet has decided to sponsor him. Questel ranks among the top French windsurfers and has been part of the Funboard team at Pole France for the past three years. During the first round of the French Funboard championships, held April 5-10 in southern France, he came in third. There are two more rounds to go. He is currently competing in the Euro-Cup Mondial du Vent, which attracts the top windsurfers and kite surfers in the world. Questel is also sponsored by the Collectivity of St Barth, Eden Rock Hotel and Sooruz, a surf and skate apparel company. For more information on this talented young man, visit www.centrehautniveaufunboard.com or www.sailingnews.tv.
The Collectivity Collects Almost 3.5 Million Euros in Taxes
Since January 1, 2008, St Barth has collected almost 3.5 million euros between the new business tax, the vehicle tax and the accommodations tax. The business tax has earned the Collectivity 925,120 euros. Each business on the island must pay 300 euros plus 100 euros per employee up to a maximum of 5000 euros. The vehicle tax, called a vignette for the sticker that must be placed on the windshield, varies depending on the size of the vehicle. A total of 7154 owners have already paid, bringing in almost 1 million euros. The newly instituted accommodation tax of 5% per daily rental fee of villas and hotels has brought in almost 1.5 million euros. The Collectivity projected 2.5 million euros for the year for the accommodation tax, so this sounds like a good start, but they are afraid that it may fall short by the end of the year.
Voulez-vous danser?
Looking for something a little different to do on Sunday evenings? Every Sunday, the Association des Retraites de St.Barth (the Association of Retirees) holds an "Afternoon Dancing" at the Hot Spot Cafe in Lurin from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Go spend a few hours dancing the tango, waltzes, the cha cha and the Madison. Admission is free and open to all. For more information, call 05 90 27 52 80.
Big Sale at Le Tamarin
Every year, Le Tamarin restaurant in Salines hosts a large "yard sale" on their grounds. This year's will take place on Sunday, April 27. Go early because everyone else does!
Casino Rumors
There has been some local rumor of the possibility of a casino opening on St Barth. Here's the latest, but remember, this is just hearsay at the moment. It was proposed that St Barth open a "Cercle de Jeux." This would allow people to play poker in a controlled environment. The "house" would take a percentage of each pot and split the profits with the Collectivity. Apparently, these are not uncommon in France and are strictly controlled by the Federation Francais de Jeux. It's rumored that the organizers want to buy an old building between the restaurant Le Repaire and the shop Bulgari in Gustavia for 6 million euros! This would house the facility plus a restaurant. Stay tuned for updates.
New Restaurant Opens in Grand Cul de Sac
The O'Corail Restaurant, a beach snack bar, opened April 14 in Grand Cul de Sac between Le Sereno and the previous La Gloriette in front of Ouanalao Dive. The restaurant is open seven days a week and serves breakfast from 9:00 am to 11:30 am and lunch from noon to 5:00 pm.
An Evening of Opera
On Friday, April 18, Le Tamarin restaurant in Salines is hosting an evening of opera with South African tenor Etienne van der Nest, who trained at the conservatory of Pretoria. Dinner, for 75€, will be accompanied by his powerful voice with selections from his opera repertoire and Neapolitan songs. The dinner includes a cocktail, hors d'oeuvres, an appetizer, the main dish, dessert and petits fours. For reservations, call 05 90 27 72 12.
The Bucket Donates $175,000 to FEMUR
The organizers of this year's annual Bucket Regatta raised $175,000, which they donated to FEMUR, St Barth's Foundation for Emergency Medical Equipment. The money will be used to help pay for recently purchased equipment for the new Radiation Center. Jimmy Buffet surprised everyone Saturday night, March 29, with an unannounced appearance with some members of his Coral Reefer band on the quay in Gustavia. He donated his T-shirt to the more generous donator.
The Littoral Conservancy Acquires Fort Karl
The Littoral Conservancy is a French public institution that was created in 1975 with a mission is to protect natural areas and landscapes along the coasts of French oceans and lakes. The Littoral Conservancy actually acquired Fort Karl in Gustavia five months ago. But, this past week, Bernard Gerard, the associate director, and Magali Cerles, the associate overseas director, visited St Barth to determine the future of Fort Karl. They plan to renovate the fort, which was built during the Swedish era, so that it can be appreciated as an historic monument. To start with, the access to the fort will be improved and the underbrush will be removed. This work will be done in collaboration with a botanist to ensure that no important plants are removed. Clearing the underbrush will reveal the small walls and granite that add to the fort's allure. Once the fort is renovated, the Littoral Conservancy will work with the Academy of Sweden and the Historic Service of the Defense of Vincennes to trace the history of Fort Karl. The history will be made available at the site although they have not yet decided how that will be done. When all of the work is finished, the management of the fort will be under the jurisdiction of the Collectivity of St Barth. As far as future plans on St Barth, the Littoral Conservancy can only acquire areas that the Collectivity asks them to acquire. Under consideration are the salt flats in Saline. It is possible that one day these salt flats may be rehabilitated.
First Edition of the Transact Classique Lagasse
St Barth will be hosting yet another major sailing event this December. The Bucket Regatta has just finished, and the bi-annual Transatlantic Ag2r race will take place in May. At the end of the year will be the first edition of the Transat Classique Lagasse, with the boats arriving in Saint Barth a few days before Christmas. This transatlantic race is open to classic sailing vessels built as one-of-a-kind or limited sailboats. They will set sail on August 17 from the port of Douarnenez in Finistere, France. After a stopover in Agadir, Morocco, they will set sail for St Barth on November 28. This is the only transatlantic race for classic sailboats. As of now, 31 boats are registered and another 64 have expressed interest. (Where, oh, where will all of these boats dock during the already full port of Gustavia around Christmas time?!) The race will have three winners, one in each of the following categories: Vintage, for boats built before 1975; Modern Classics for boats built with more modern materials such as welded steel, molded wood and polyester; and Neo-Classics for boats built after 1975 as replicas of traditional vessels. The largest boat is over 100', the smallest is a mere 32', and the oldest was built in 1913. Most of these boats have an interesting story behind them. For example, the Mistral, an 82' schooner, first set sail in 1938 and served in the German navy as part of submarine surveillance operations during WWII. If you want to be present for this first-time exciting event, be sure to make your reservations early as Christmas and New Year's is always a popular time on St Barth. For additional information: www.transatclassique.com. Below is the schedule of events. In traditional St Barth style, there is sure to be music and dancing on the quay, probably on December 23.December 15-20, 2008 Boats begin to arrive in Gustavia
December 21, 2008 Official cocktail reception
December 22, 2008 Promotional race around the island
December 23, 2008 Official dinner reception and awarding of the prizes
Pre-Stamped Envelopes with the Winning Painting
If you weren't able to buy the winning painting at the auction held at the end of the painting competition sponsored by Saint B'Art, you can now buy a pre-stamped envelope with an image of the painting. The painter, Marie-Laure Pichon, is known for her maritime scenes and painted a picture composed like a postcard of a typical beach scene with palm trees, seagulls and traditional fishing boats. A total of 10,000 of the envelopes are for sale at the three post offices on the island: Gustavia, St Jean and Lorient.
Electric Cars Start to Arrive
Electric cars manufactured by Miles are starting to arrive! In 2007, Miles, a company based in Santa Monica, California, was recognized as "the electric car company of the year." Three small models are currently being imported, ranging in price from $19,500 to $24,500: the ZX40, the ZX40S and the ZX40AD. These cars can go about 50 miles at their top speed of 40 mph before it's necessary to recharge the battery, which takes from four to six hours. The six batteries have an expected life span of four years or 30,000 miles and can be replaced for $350. (With the current exchange rate between the euro and the US dollar, this is a bargain!) Currently, because of the lack of an engine rating, these cars are not subject to the tax on vehicles instituted in St Barth at the start of 2008. That will most likely occur, but perhaps the COM will encourage these environmentally friendly cars by charging a lower annual tax.
Hostellerie des 3 Forces - A "Mystic" Spa & Hotel in Vitet
Looking for a beautiful place to stay, yet a little different from the typical hotel? Check out the Hostellerie des 3 Forces in Vitet. The owner and chef, as well as an astrologer who has been practicing for over 20 years, is the very charming Hubert Delamotte. M. Delamotte, a renowned chef, arrived from France in 1979 for a vacation, met his wife and never left. Isn't that so often the story you hear when on St Barth?! The Hostellerie has seven quiet and charming cottages. All rooms face the sea, have air-conditioning and many have kitchenettes. In the morning, you can have breakfast by the pool or in the restaurant's harbored veranda. For more information, go to www.3forces.net or call at 590-590-276-125
Accommodation Tax Brings In 580,000 Euros in January
The year 2008 has already brought many changes to St Barth as it assumes its new political status of an Overseas Collectivity (COM). One of these changes has been the institution of an accommodation tax of 5% on all seasonal rentals: hotels, villas, apartments, etc. The goal of this tax is to raise money to meet the budget of the COM since funding from France has greatly decreased. For the month of January, the COM has collected 580,000€. However, President Bruno Magras is concerned that individuals who rent their villas directly to clients without the assistance of a villa rental agency may not be reporting these rentals, and, hence, not paying the required tax. Members of the COM are currently doing research in an attempt to identify any such cases. As President Magras states, "We need these taxes in order to meet the budget for the COM. It is in the interest of everybody on the island, since the more we can collect, the less risk there is of creating new taxes."
La Chorale de Bon Choeurs Heads to New York
About a month ago, La Chorale de Bon Choeurs performed two evenings at the Anglican Church in Gustavia to help raise money for a trip to New York City to sing with a choir at one of the local churches. Now, that trip has become a reality. On May 4 at 2:00 pm, they will join the Choir of Saint Marks-in-the-Bowery for an afternoon concert of classics, pop and gospel. This program will premiere The Hymne of St. Barthelemy (music by Michael Valenti; poem by Isabelle Deravin). If you're in the NYC area, don't miss this event, which will take place in the Parish Hall of St. Marks Church, 2nd Avenue at 10th Street. Congratulations to La Chorale!
What's Happening at Grand Cul de Sac?
The St Barth Beach Hotel in Grand Cul de Sac has been leveled for some time now, and there has been much speculation about what would be built on that beautiful oceanfront site. There is now a sign on the property that says Niilaais Hotel Resort & Spa Coming Soon! They are offering exclusive 5-bedroom villas and luxurious full-service duplex suites for purchase within the resort. See their web site www.niilaaia.com for more information.
Fundraiser for Barack Obama Held at Eddy's
Eddy's Restaurant in Gustavia hosted a "Barack Obama for President" fundraising event on Wednesday evening, February 27, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. The event was organized by Richard Branson and Lucy Salenger along with other Members of St Barts for Barack Obama. Marvin Zonis, professor of International Political Economy and Leadership at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business spoke on "Leadership and Barack Obama." American citizens and Green Card holders were invited to make contributions of $100, $250 or $500.
St Barth Bucket Sets Sail March 27
Mark your calendar for March 27-31 for the 13th Annual St Barth Bucket Regatta! This non- commercial event involves three days of racing around the island and attracts the most spectacular and majestic sailing yachts in the world -- all of which must be over 100 feet. The Bucket is an invitation-only event, and they already have a full fleet of 30 yachts, with many more on the waiting list. This year, five of the world's most prestigious super-yacht builders have come together to provide over 60% of the Bucket's annual budget on an ongoing basis: Alloy Yachts, Holland Jachtbouw, Perini Navi, Royal Huisman Shipyard, and Vitter's Shipyard. 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. And, don't forget the parties and music on the quay in Gustavia in the evenings!
Bicycling on St Barth
A few weeks ago, Alexandra HŠrmŠlŠ, a St Barth native, and her husband Markku opened Sun Velo, a bicycle rental company, in collaboration with tour guide Helene Berneir of Easy Time. Although the hills on the island are daunting, bicycles provide an easy way to discover Gustavia. The current fleet consists of a dozen Trek lightweight hybrid bicycles that are suitable for off-road riding as well as in town exploration. They are offering very flexible rental agreements, from hourly to monthly. Alexandra and Markku have also designed several itineraries at all levels - from easy to difficult - if you'd like to follow one of their trips. While waiting to find a site for their business, you can contact them by phone at 06 90 63 46 09 or 05 90 87 18 56 or by email at alexaber@wanadoo.fr or easytime971@yahoo.fr. They will deliver the bikes to your hotel or villa. Best of all? When you're exploring Gustavia, you don't have to worry about finding a parking place!
An Innovative Idea for the 13th Annual St Barth Film Festival
"If you do not go to the cinema, the cinema will come to you". For the 13th edition of the Festival of Caribbean Cinema (the St Barth Film Festival), the organizers have decided to present certain films and videos in the different quarters of the island. Last Thursday, Jean-Marc Cesaire, the founder of the association Cine Woule, visited the island and met with organizers Ellen Lampert-Greaux, Rosemond Greaux and Joshua Harrison. Since 1995, Cine Woule has gone to different districts in Guadeloupe and shown movies on inflatable screens. Cesaire will be in St Barth at the time of the festival, April 25-30, to orchestrate the itinerant projections. A future goal is to establish a place exclusively dedicated to showing movies. To achieve that goal, they would like to have a distribution network in order to share the costs across the islands of the French West Indies. Meanwhile, using the projectors and inflatable, transportable screens of Cine Woule will allow movies to be shown to people who otherwise would never go to the cinema. Great idea!
New License Plates Soon to Come
All new vehicles registered on St Barth as of March 3, 2008 will have newly designed license plates. These license plates are a result of St Barth's evolution to a French Overseas Collectivity and will be specific to St Barth with the letters SBH, rather than the FR on the existing French plates. The Territorial Council also discussed the possibility of allowing personalized license plates, but this is yet to be decided. That would be another way to raise money for the Collectivity, assuming one would have to pay extra. Additional information is available in French on the COM's website: www.comstbarth.fr and a special email has been set up for questions: immatriculation@comstbarth.fr.
First Electric Cars, Now Solar Garages
As reported in the previous issue of News Bytes, electric cars are for sale at Garage Nid'AS et Auto Store in St Jean Carenage. 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.
Hotel Carl Gustaf Offers Special $US Rates
As reported by Michelle Higgins in The New York Times on February 3, the Hotel Carl Gustaf in Gustavia is guaranteeing rates in US dollars. The hotel's listed rates begin at 1100€, which is $1672 at an exchange rate of $1.52 to the euro. However, now through April 19, the hotel is offering rates beginning at $1300 with a minimum stay of three nights. The Hotel Carl Gustaf is a 14-room, 4-star luxury hotel overlooking the harbor of Gustavia. Room amenities include a plunge pool, sun deck, air-conditioning, satellite TV, DVD player, in-room safe, a computer and printer with Internet connection plus a mini-bar and kitchenette. If you book a room, remember to ask for the special US-dollar rate.
The Rapid Explorer Is Back in Operation!
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.
Rapid Explorer New Schedules
Sticker for New Tax on Vehicles
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 Hotel de la Collectivite, the territorial treasury or the municipal police station in Gustavia. Have not yet heard what the fine will be for violators.
Preliminary Census Results Are In
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.
Electric Cars Now Available
Garage Nid'AS et Auto Store in St Jean Carenage 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.
Classic Transat to Arrive in Gustavia December 2008
The Transat Classique Lagasse 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 Greaux 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 Wahoo Fishing Cup
The Wahoo Fishing Cup is scheduled for November 30, December 1 and December 2. This new fishing tournament of wahoo was created to raise money for the stations of rescue at sea of the SNSM of St Martin and St Barth and the Sea Rescue Foundation of St Maarten. These stations operate only with volunteers and gifts. The Cross Antilles Guyana, which answers distress calls of boats in difficulty and organizes help with the various stations of rescue, will also be present for this fishing contest. More than 25 boats are registered for this contest, which was, organized jointly by the Marina at Fort Louis, the SNSM of St Martin and Francois Anton, the underwriter. The price of entry is 500 dollars per boat with a maximum of five fishing rods on board.
New Tennis Courts in St Jean to Open in Mid-December
The stadium complex in St Jean already has facilities for soccer, rugby, archery, judo, tae kwon do and volleyball. Soon, you can add tennis to that already impressive list of activities. The Collectivity has been hard at work building four tennis courts with latticework to stop those stray balls and lighting. In addition, they have provided another court to be used for training purposes. The courts are scheduled to open in mid-December and will be open to everyone. On Friday, the Collectivity signed a five-year renewable contract with the Saint-Barth Tennis Club, an association that was created especially for this event and is chaired by Dany Brin, a founder of A.J.O.E., the tennis association in Lorient. The contract includes the provision of free equipment and maintenance of the courts. Future plans include a club house.
97133 Postal Code to Change
On January 1, 2008, the postal code of Saint Barth will change. The new postal code will start with "977", but the remaining two numbers are still unknown. This change is a result of the recent vote for Saint Barth to become an Overseas Collectivity, autonomous from the administration of Guadeloupe. Now's the time to buy those T-shirts and other momentos with the original 97133 postal code.
St Barth Music Festival to Present Concerts throughout the Year
As a result of public demand, the St Barth Music Festival has undertaken to offer concerts of classical music throughout the year. The inaugural concert was held on November 21 at the Anglican church in Gustavia where the Festival organizers presented the Enso String Quartet. This quartet was formed in 1999 at Yale University and consists of two violins, a viola and a violoncello. The next concerts will begin in May 2008. On May 2, the jazz group The Monty Alexander Trio will perform, and on May 3, classical music will be performed by a trio on violin, French horn and piano. The pianist, Phillip Bush, will also perform at the 24th annual St Barth Music Festival to be held January 11-23, 2008. Kudos to the St Barth Music Festival in responding to the island's wishes!
Never Been to the Outdoor Theater? Check It Out!
By day, A.J.O.E., in Lorient, offers tennis courts. But several evenings, it turns into an outdoor cinema (this is also the locale of the St Barth Film Festival). A.J.O.E. has been working to improve its capabilities for showing movies. Over the last three years, they have increased the projection area (the back wall) to 75 m2. Last year they added a new Dolby stereo sound system as well as new speakers and have decided to ban smoking as of December 1. For the past two years, they have presented a film every 15 days. The largest remaining obstacle is the selection of films, which the association does not completely control. For the most part, they are subject to the choices of Cinesogar, which is the single distributor of films in the French West Indies. Often, they do not know which film they are getting in advance - sometimes not until the reels actually arrive. Despite their lack of control, many popular films have been presented. So, for a change of pace, how about an outdoor, fresh-air movie on a Friday night?
New Golf Simulator in Grand Cul de Sac
The golf simulator GOLFOTRON has been installed at Grand Cul de Sac. The simulator offers more than 40 different courses, including St. Andrews in Scotland, the oldest golf course in the world. In addition to the 40 courses, the simulator also has five putting greens and several driving ranges. You can play any course yourself or organize golf tournaments and putting and driving competitions. If you want to try it out but don't know how to play golf, they will teach you. The simulator is open every day except Monday from 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm and from 9:00 pm to midnight. For reservations, call 06 90 37 46 45.
New Charter from San Juan
Options for getting to St Barth seem to be increasing daily. Linear Air is offering flights from San Juan to St Barth until April 8, 2008. Their 8-passenger Cessna Grand Caravan holds the highest safety record in its class and their operation maintains an ARG/US Gold safety rating. While on board, you'll enjoy air-conditioning, oversized leather seating, complimentary drinks and snacks and unparalleled luggage capacity. For additional information, contact them at 877-2-LINEAR (outside the U.S., call 1-781-860-9696), visit their web site at www.linearair.com or email them at info@linearair.com. The one-way fare is $475, which includes all fees and taxes. They seem to be offering this service only during the high season, but perhaps it will prove profitable enough to continue longer.
5% Accommodation Tax Begins January 1, 2008
Beginning on January 1, 2008, all visitors to the island will be charged an accommodation tax of 5% of the net price of the hotel room, villa or other rental property. Beginning on December 3, a form will be available that must be completed by all hotel managers and landlords. This form will be available at the Office of Tourism in Gustavia and at the Hotel de la Collectivite or may be downloaded from www.comstbarth.fr . Hotel managers and landlords are required to levy the tax on their guests and to pay the Collectivity monthly. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of 0.4% of the amount due. The Concierge Now Provides Delivery of Over 500 Newspapers Eric, of The Concierge, is offering a new service. You can now order from over 500 newspapers in 36 languages. The Concierge will deliver the newspaper(s) to your villa, with or without a croissant. To find out more information and to see a list of the available newspapers, please visit www.theconcierge.fr or contact Eric at eric@theconcierge.fr.
The 10th Annual Gourmet Festival is Underway
The Guanahani Hotel & Spa in Grand Cul de Sac is hosting its annual culinary festival at the restaurant Bar'to (Le Bartolomeo) until December 21. Each year an outstanding French chef is invited to prepare his own menu in collaboration with Executive Chef Philippe Masseglia of the Guanahani's Bar'to restaurant. This year's guest chef is Philippe Guerin from the Relais & Ch‰teaux establishment Ch‰teau du domaine Saint Martin, located between Cannes and Monaco. M. Guerin is a disciple of Escoffier and has been the Executive Chef at the Ch‰teau du domaine Saint Martin for six years, overseeing the restaurant Commanderie and the grill L'Oliveraie. For this year's festival, M. Guerin has designed a menu representing the Mediterranean kitchen of the French Riviera. The menu includes four fish dishes, four meat dishes and four desserts. For an evening of unsurpassed culinary delights, be sure to make reservations at the Bar'to, 05 90 27 66 60.
La Course de l'Alliance
Organized by the St Martin Yacht Club Fort Louis in partnership with the St Maarten Yacht Club, the fourth edition of La Course de l'Alliance will be held from November 23 to November 25 in the waters of Saint Martin, St Barth and Anguilla. This sailing event is open to sailboats in the following categories: Spinnaker, non-Spinnaker, Multihull and Open Class. Last year, 23 boats participated in the three-day regatta. Prizes will be awarded in Marigot, St Martin on Sunday, November 25 at 4:00 pm.Friday, November 23 Regatta leaves Simpson Bay, St Maarten and sails to Gustavia
Saturday, November 24 Regatta sails from St Barth to Anguilla
Sunday, November 25 Regatta sails from Anguilla to Marigot, St Martin
Not Just for Goats Anymore
If you've ever walked the goat path from Flamands to Colombier beach, you know that it can be a bit challenging at times. Improvements have begun. Thus far, they have carved steps into the rock at the cave-like area as well as steps in another rocky area. The path is also quite overgrown at the moment, and men are out there with chain saws to clear the passage.
Monitored Parking in Gustavia Soon to be a Reality
For better or for worse, the long-rumored restricted parking in Gustavia is scheduled to become a reality at the beginning of 2008. The objective is to prevent people from leaving their cars in the same spot all day. In certain restricted zones, the maximum amount of time that you will be able to park is 1 1/2 hours. This time limit will apply to parking along the harbor from the pharmacy to the restaurant La Route des Boucaniers. While parking will initially be free, parking meters may be installed in the future; the necessary equipment was ordered on October 29. The Collectivity will conduct an information campaign before initiating the restricted parking to educate the local residents of the change. One hope is that people will start car-pooling and that some system of public transportation will emerge. The 1 1/2-hour limit will be in effect during peak hours during weekdays. The restriction will not be enforced from noon to 2:00 pm, after 5:00 pm or on weekends. Exceeding the 1 1/2-hour limit will cost you 11 euros. Initially, a parking disk will be given to all residents and will be present in all rental cars. This disk will note the arrival and departure time of all cars that are parked in the restricted areas during the restricted time periods. We'll have to wait a bit to see how this is actually implemented.
A Few St Barts Video Clips
At the web site www.mmvideo.fr/video/video, you can take a look at clips from four videos of St Barth. Les cotes de St Barth is particularly good for a view of the scenery around the island.
Le Toiny Update
A well-known magazine on travel and life in the Caribbean published that Le Toiny would be adding a spa and a beach restaurant as part of the new owner's renovations. However, the word straight from Le Toiny is that this is not quite true. They will be adding a massage room rather than a spa, and they will not be adding a beach restaurant.
St Barth Music Festival
The 24th Annual Music Festival will take place from January 11 through January 23, 2008. The schedule is below, but it's early, so to keep up to date with any changes, please visit http://www.stbartsmusicfestival.org as the date approaches. Advance tickets may be purchased, but are not necessary as they are also sold at the door.
Friday, January 11 Chamber music Miro Quartet
Saturday, January 12 Rock n' Roll NYCO with Ted Atkatz
Tuesday, January 15 Chamber music
Wednesday, January 16 Girl of the Golden West Opera Puccini - Maestro Steven Mercurio
Thursday, January 17 Mostly Mozart
Friday, January 18 Orchestra concert Maestro Alexander Klein
Sunday, January 20 Benefit dinner
Monday, January 21 Piano Plus
Wednesday, January 23 Jazz The John Ellis Quartet
New Internet Country Code for St Barth
As a result of the autonomy recently awarded to St Martin and St Barth, the ISO has added two new country codes for Internet extensions: .bl for St Barth and .mf for St Martin. Up until the addition of these two country codes, all web sites originating from St Barth used the .fr extension. It is not mandatory that the new country codes be used, but are available if one so desires.
Taxes on the Agenda
The Territorial Council was scheduled to meet on October 30 to vote on the contents of a 42-page document containing 100 articles of proposed law, which if approved, would become effective January 1, 2008. At the forefront of everyone's concerns is, of course, the future of taxation on St Barth.
Taxes for Businesses It is proposed that businesses be taxed according to the number of employees as follows: 500 euros for businesses with up to four employees, 1000 euros for four to nine employees, 1500 euros for ten to 20 employees and 3000 euros for over 20 employees.
Visitors' Tax A tax of 5% is proposed to be added to all hotel and villa bills. A 5-euro airport and ferry tax is also being proposed.
Taxes on Vehicles Three taxes are being proposed regarding the owning and driving of vehicles. The first will affect everyone who has a driver's license for a vehicle to 125 Cm3 and is yet to be determined. The second is a 25-euro "tax on the certificates of registration" and applies to all registered vehicles, including scooters. The third is a renewal fee whose rate will vary according to the cubic capacity of the vehicle: 50 euros for two-wheeled vehicles lower or equal to 50 CM3, with 3000 euros for large trucks whose capacity exceeds 14 tons. A vehicle with an engine ranging between 7 and 10 horsepower will be taxed 150 euros.
Other Miscellaneous Taxes Also proposed is a tax on the bars, whose rate will be fixed according to the type of their license, and will not exceed 500 euros per year. The fuel tax will remain at 0.23 euros per liter. The tax on electricity would be increased by 2%.
Conde Nast's 2007 Readers' Awards
Conde Nast has just published its Reader's Awards for 2007 in the November issue. With over 28,000 votes cast, Eden Rock (92.7%) was awarded the number one hotel in the Caribbean. Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France came in at a close second place (91.0%), and the Hotel Carl Gustaf was number five (83.8%). The Hotel Guanahauni & Spa was voted number 11 (87.3%) of Best Resorts in the Caribbean. As for the Best Island in the Caribbean, St Barth (77.0%) was voted number three. Number one was Bermuda (80.2%) and number two was St John (78.9%). The criteria for Best Hotel was food/dining, location, overall design, rooms, and service. The criteria for the Best Resort was activities/facilities, food/dining, location, overall design, rooms and service. The criteria for the Best Island was activities, atmosphere/ambience, beaches, friendliness, lodging, restaurants and scenery. Not bad for such a tiny island!
House Numbers Coming to St Barth
Have you ever wondered how the postal workers can possibly remember where everyone lives in order to deliver their mail?! Letters are addressed with the name of the person and the town where they live. Giving and following directions can be just as confusing. Turn right by the yellow mailbox at the top of the hill just over the little bridge and right past the goats on the left. The Collectivity has adopted a plan to assign numbers to the houses and buildings on St Barth and will begin with the buildings in Gustavia. 1140 numbers have been allocated for all of the houses and commercial buildings in town. To maintain a sense of uniformity, the Collectivity has budgeted between 30,000 and 40,000 euros to fabricate stainless steel signs for the street numbers. The hope is that the numbers will be in place in Gustavia by the end of the year. After having gone through the process to assign house numbers in Gustavia, assigning house numbers throughout the island should go faster. Colombier and Flamands will be the next two areas to be assigned house numbers.
Sixth Annual Painting Contest Gets Underway
The Saint B'Art Association is organizing its sixth annual painting competition. The theme, as always, remains St Barthelemy: landscapes, scenery or people and all media is allowable. The paintings must be available at the beginning of December in order to be exhibited on December 8. Prizes will be announced the end of October. However, as with last year, the winning painting will be used as a stamp on 10,000 pre-stamped envelopes. For more information, please call Veronique Vander Noot at 06 90 39 92 74 or Jean-Pierre Ballagny at 06 90 83 84 00.
What to Do About Disappearing St Jean Beach?
The sand on the beach at St Jean has almost disappeared between the hotel Eden Roc and the restaurant La Plage. A project to add sand to the beach is currently before the Collectivity. The Executive Council was solicited by Eden Roc at the end of July and by the Association of Hotels the beginning of September to determine what could be done to recover the sand. The Council has been working with experts to determine the current state of St Jean Bay, the causes for the disappearance of the sand and the chronic erosion of the beach, and possible solutions. Several beaches on the island are subject to great movement of the sand from September to April due to sea swells that are common during this period. The sand tends to be pushed to the east end of the beaches. From April until September, the opposite occurs, and the sand is redistributed to the west end of the beaches. However, since hurricane Luis in 1995 and those that came in the following years, none of the beaches on the northern side of the island have had the same quantity of sand as before, and St Jean was the only beach where sand was added after hurricanes Luis and Lenny.
The coral barrier in St Jean Bay is covered with sand, and 80% of the coral is dead. Living coral is three to five times more effective than dead coral on wave action. As a result, the waves clear this barrier with all their force. The sea grasses that existed between the coral barrier and the beach have disappeared, thus there is nothing to reduce the force of the waves crashing onto the beach. The waves strike cement walls that have been built to protect property, producing a strong turbulence. The consequence is that the sea is more agitated than in the past, even in calm periods. Also, each time the canal between the lagoon in St Jean and St Jean Bay is opened because the lagoon is too full, a considerable amount of sediment flows into the sea, which is fatal for the coral. St Jean Beach is supported by an ecosystem that includes the coral, sea grasses, beach vegetation, and the current. Today, this ecosystem is destroyed and must be returned to its equilibrium.
After consulting with experts, the following actions have been identified.
Sand will be added to part of the beach. The volume of missing sand has been estimated to be around 60,000 to 80,000 m3. It has been proposed to add a volume approaching 30,000 m3 to start with. This work has been entrusted to the Zappo Society and will be finished before the tourist season begins. The effects of adding sand will be assessed in a period of at least one year with a final report giving a scientific interpretation of the results. One of the goals of President Magras and the Executive Council is to understand this phenomenon in its entirety. The Collectivity has taken charge of this part of the plan and will contract the work to experts. Two estimates have been submitted, but no decision has yet been made. Obviously, a long-term solution is sought. Plans are to re-implant the coral and the sea grasses and follow their evolution. This approach well-known and has already been realized under the direction of Deborah Brosans in Montserrat with positive results. The beach must be returned to its initial state. If these steps are not effective, the Collectivity will study the possibility of creating an artificial protective barrier. Many examples exist that are well adapted to respect the environment.
Jet Blue Starts Flights to St Maarten
Jet Blue just started accepting ticket reservations from JFK (New York) to SXM (St Maarten) for flights starting on Thursday, January 17, 2008. You can make reservations well into April of next year. As of now, flight 787 leaves JFK at 9:35 am and arrives at SXM at 2:40 pm.. Flight 788, the return flight, leaves SXM at 3:35 pm and arrives at JFK at 7:05 pm. The round-trip airfare on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, traditionally the cheapest days to fly, is only $318, plus taxes and fees. Round-trip airfare on Thursdays is $498; $568, on Fridays; and $638 on Saturdays.
BAZ Reopens
This bar and restaurant on the harbor in Gustavia has been closed since the end of May. However, the music starts again on October 16 with Nicole Nelson and Dwight Ritcher just until November 4. Nicole Nelson delivers blues, R&B, rock and classic soul. She has been compared to Eva Cassidy, Donny Hathaway, Gladys Knight and Jill Scott. In 2001 she entered and won the Boston Blues Challenge and went on to place third in the International Blues Competition. Nelson has recently teamed up with acclaimed singer/songwriter Dwight Ritcher to form the powerful duo group Dwight & Nicole. They have been playing at some of the nation's top venues, sharing the stage with Dr. John, Melvin Sparks and Maceo Parker. This duo will be followed by the Darian Cunning Trio: Nuevo Blues Rock from November 6 to December 9. Check it out!
Le Toiny
A group of Texans led by Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, have bought Le Toiny hotel in Grand Fond. Rooms are being renovated, and a spa and beach restaurant are being added. Executive chef Maxime Deschamps has left and is now the chef at Le Tamarin in Saline.
La Vela
It's been heard that La Vela has closed and that the original manager of Nikki Beach will be opening a French bistro in that location. This is all hearsay, so time will tell.
Santa Fe
This restaurant in Lurin, high above beautiful Gouverneur Beach, has been leased to Manu, the sommelier from the elegant restaurant La Sapotilier. He has been busy remodeling, using some furniture from the hotel Manapany in Anse des Cayes and tables, flatware and other items from La Gloriette. He has also put a large lobster/langouste tank in the middle of the floor.
Cocoloba and La Gloriette
We already knew that La Gloriette wouldn't be reopening. Now, it also seems that the Cocoloba will be under new ownership (rumor is that it's been leased to a "familiar island celebrity - not Boubou. Although I'm hardly familiar with the island celebrities, my guess is that it could be Papagayo.). Current plans are that it will be a bar that offers "finger food" at Happy Hour and live music.
Changes are in the Air
Bacardi Cafe Reopens as Le Tantra Like many shops and restaurants, the Bacardi Cafe in Villa Creole in St Jean was closed during September for renovations. This spot has reopened as a new bar, lounge and restaurant called Le Tantra. It is open seven days a week from 10:00 am to midnight Monday through Friday and from 5:00 pm to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy hour is 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm, with all cocktails priced at 5Ű.
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