Night Life in Vieques
Is
life really complete if you haven't fallen in love under the soft night-time
Caribbean sky? It happened to us and it could happen
to you. Welcome to a brief overview of night life in Vieques.
Night life on Isla Vieques (as on most islands) revolves around the bars.
Be wise and designate a driver if you go cross-island.
Al's Mar Azul, a few steps up from the ferry dock in Isabel II, is the
jumping-off point for many an island vacation. The sunsets are
incomparable here and the ambiance is, well....very laid back. Al hails
from Rhode Island and hasn't lost a bit of the accent. His Karaoke night
on Saturdays around 8 is an institution.
Reggae Grill Night at Duffy's Chez Shack in Pilón draws a crowd every
Monday. Dinner and dancing under the stars. If you haven't met Hugh
Duffy, he's the guy who hired Mama Cass to work as a waitress at his place in
St. Thomas when The Mamas & The Papas were getting their act together. He put up
a bar and guest house in an old colmado in Esperanza in 1976 and never looked
back. His succession of bars in Vieques include Duffy's Esperanza,
Bananas, La Campesina, El Gringo Loco, Chez Shack and, soon to open, the Tin
Box.
Duffy's son Mike carries on the family tradition at Duffy's on the strip
in Esperanza. Great food and people-watching at the open-air bar.
Tuesday would not be Tuesday without Happy Hour at the Crow's Nest,
mid-island in Barrio Florida. This happy hour kept us going through many lean
years when there was virtually no night life in Vieques....a chance to catch up
with friends, eat a bunch of yummy hors d'oeuvres and watch the sun go down over
the hills. Thanks, Liz!!!
Lazy Jack's in Esperanza has something going almost every night of the week,
including DJs, open jam sessions and live music. Ditto for Cantina La Reina
on the other side in Isabel II.
The Inn On The Blue Horizon, a comfortable walk heading west from Esperanza,
has Salsa Dance Classes on Monday nights.
Club Tumby is the newest attraction in Vieques. They are located on the
Western end of the island in one of the old ammo bunkers. It's really quite
incredible what the owners have done with it. I has big screen TVs, a sound
platform in the center from which to direct laser light shows and sound for the
bands they bring in. Stay tuned for the new bands as they are announced. It's
10,000 sq.ft, has 9 "Sports" TVs, 3 pool tables, and domino tables. They are
open Wednesday through Sunday. Join them at Happy Hour.
Watch
www.vieques-island.blogspot.com for any news on bands coming to play
anywhere in Vieques.
Phone numbers for all these establishments can be found on the FYI page
here or in
the latest copy of Vieques Events, available online
here.
As
stated above, this is only an overview. Your own explorations will turn up
lots more to do on any given night. Ask your host for recommendations.
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