Happy New Year! The season started out so quietly this holiday that we all wondered if we would ever work hard again. Well we found out between Christmas and New Years, we were jamming here on the island. Most businesses reported a good start to the season and were happy to be helping travelers again. There was music in the Plaza New Years Eve, last minute notice of course, and a few of the restaurants had music, fireworks here in the Plaza as well as seeing some from the main island. I worked NYE which in some ways was good, could not overindulge in alcohol, and had fun spending time with old and new friends but boy it takes a lot more time to recover from late nights. We closed the Mar Azul around 4 AM but I could still hear music in the Plaza so I know many were up all night! Things usually get a little bit quieter now after New Years and then pick up again towards the end of the month and then are hopping again the month of February.
I have lots of news and information for you again this month so hope you make it to the last paragraph! I will start with the restaurant news first. Jazz returns to the island January 12th at Café Media Luna. Trumpet player Umberto Ramirez will be here with his "Jazz Project." Media Luna recently opened the upstairs to the public so if you are not interested in the music you can enjoy a quieter night upstairs. The music nights are very popular with the locals as well as the travelers so I suggest that you make reservations soon so that you can enjoy the festivities. Usually Monica offered a more limited menu on music nights so I am unsure if that still will be the case downstairs. When you make your reservations you can check about the menu. La Sirena, in Esperanza, opened Christmas night for cocktails so of course I had to stop by. The place looked absolutely fabulous, soft lights, great views and of course good people there for the opening. The kitchen opened Friday so many people got to try it out and from what I understand it was a little shaky that night but am glad to report that since then all the comments I have heard to date say that the food and service have been excellent. We did go in Sunday for brunch, which was very good. Francois and Charlotte have been able to make the place look casual and fun during the day but lovely and romantic at night, not an easy task but they achieved it! This is sure to be one of the most popular spots on the island. Richard, owner of Casa de Amistad in Isabel, has his kitchen open from Wed. through Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner too. He is working like a maniac but says he prefers to be busy. Stop by to check it out and to see if he is still doing dinners, don't know how long he can keep up that pace! Thursday nights he is offering a 2 for 1 dinner with several selections (in both price ranges) for about $16 and $25 I believe. The Oasis is trying something new. Imagine that! Thursdays they are starting an "open mike" night with their friend Mike, from the band "Rootsticks", hosting when available. During this time on Thursdays, from 5 PM on they will be offering some light snacks (free) and Medalia beer (the local light beer favored by many of the ex-pats) for $1 and well drinks for $2. So if any of you are traveling with a guitar, harmonica or whatever, be sure to stop in and see what is happening. The Oasis continues through the winter with the always-popular theme nights. Theme nights seem to have been moved to Fridays for the winter, the first will be Jan. 11th and will be "Arabian Knights." My guess is that might include Middle Eastern foods, although that is the spelling they gave me so not quite sure! "Mafia Night" will be held on January 25th and the theme sounds like Italian food to me. Please make sure that with the increase of security during traveling that you leave all weapons at home! This will be a tough one to dress for as I can only think of a few people on the island that still own suits! In case I am late with the Feb, edition I will mention now that "Kung Fu Theater" will be the theme for February 8th. I imagine that the TV/VCR will be showing some old Bruce Lee movies in the bar. I know the staff can dress for this night, they all seem to have something Asian in their closets! That about wraps up this months' culinary news.
As the season has begun the art galleries are opening once again. Beach Doggies in Bravos to Boston is open Fri., Sat., and Sundays from 9 to 1 PM. I have not made it up there yet but have heard great things. They are handling original artwork done by friends, antiques, pre-Colombian artifacts, recycled furniture, masks and of course John's clocks. Sounds like there is something for every taste there and maybe you will be tempted to take home a new treasure! Siddhia Hutchinson has a large selection of new pottery and dinnerware that she has designed as well as her watercolor prints, note cards, pillows, rugs, etc. She also has some great tumbled glass jewelry that is wonderful. This is also a must stop when traveling for art or gifts. Speaking of glass jewelry check out the work done by Myrna. She has some great pieces and now is also making beach glass napkin rings, which I think are great looking. Her work can be found at Kim's Cabin, the gift shop at The Crow's Nest, Casa Cielo and also in the office at The Inn on the Blue Horizon. Just about everyone owns something done by Myrna! Jennifer who operates the Beading Bikini has her display at Duffy's Chez Shack, Monday during Grill Night. On Thurs., Fri. and Sundays you can find her at the Oasis. She has a great selection of casual jewelry, great island styles. Also if you are into Yoga you want to get together with Jennifer at Hix Island House on Tues., Fridays and Sundays from 10:30 until about noon. Classes cost $15 per person and everyone loves working with her. For more information about yoga classes call Hix Island House at (787) 741-2302. Jennifer is also available for private classes however she is in transit moving this week so again call Hix to leave a message for her or visit her website
www.beadingbikinijewelry.com, I think she told me she has an email account on there! The main art event this month will be the Opening Party of Casa Vieja Gallery on January 12th from 5 - 8 PM. These openings are always a treat, many of us stop by to add to our collections and see friends that we miss during the busy season. This showing will include new work done by Eve Aspinwall, Vieques landscapes done by RA Moseley, hand painted tiles by Jill Demeri and some beautiful silk scarves painted by a women's art collective in Haiti. Sounds like a great season opening! Regular hours for Casa Vieja are Tues. - Sunday 2 - 6 PM or by appointment by calling (787) 741-1898. Remember they are located at the entrance to the Inn on the Blue Horizon.
January 31st there will be a house and garden tour to benefit the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust in Esperanza. The tour is still in the planning stages however participants will meet at the Trust at 9 AM where transportation will be provided to a few different houses on the island. The donation will be about $35 per person and this is a nice way to get to see some of the lovely homes on the island. While at the Trust be sure to check out the Marine Life Exhibit and the gift shop. For more information and reservations for the tour call the Trust at (787) 741-8850.
We are seeing many new businesses and renovations to existing business thanks to grants that have recently been provided to residents of Vieques. Beachcombers Hair Salon, located in Isabel II will be offering some new services this winter, including facials and waxing. Lynn has imported a skin care specialist for the winter who will offer about 3 different types of facials using Repechage products. She will also be offering facial and body waxing and seaweed wraps! For more information and appointments call Lynn at (787) 741- 0625. Orchideas Rosy has opened for business in Isabel also. The owner is not fully stocked yet but does have several orchids for sale as well as some artificial flowers and gardening supplies. Adjacent to that building will be a nail salon opening soon also. Michelle Music Center has moved to Isabel and is located in the old laundry mat located just off the Plaza. They have some car stereos and a limited number of CDs and cassettes of new salsa and merengue music. The also carry some computer supplies but again have just opened so are not fully stocked yet. Right next door to them is Bordados, this is a great addition to our community as the owner is doing logo and name embroidery on a nice selection of articles including shirts, baseball caps, fabric briefcases, towels, etc. He will have some "Vieques" things available for tourists as well as supplying local business with classy shirts! He said that he can design and embroider a logo on just about any fabric available. I saw some of the work he is doing and also the clients that he is doing it for and was very impressed! Also if you just need a plain polo type shirt this is the place to shop here on the island!
Other changes on the island include the new location of Amigo Motor Scooters. They are now conveniently located in Esperanza on the strip and are doing a booming business here next to 18 Degrees North. Many people just walking by that had not rented a car are touring the island by day on scooters now! This is a great way to experience Vieques. Make sure you try it!
For those of you who will be here for Valentines Day and would like to surprise your wife, girlfriend or whoever, with ROSES; call my friend Tom Venters who is starting a new business called Vieques Flowers. Tom is now supplying the Morales grocery stores with fresh bouquets of flowers and is taking advanced orders for roses, which he will deliver around the island on Valentines Day. He still did not have all the details of cost and what colors he will have available but said he should have that ironed out by early January. He should have a few different options available for Valentines Day! He is hoping to eventually be doing a real florist business with FTD services available right here in Vieques and hopes to be doing arrangements for weddings and parties. He does not have a shop location just yet but does have access to a walk in fridge to keep the flowers fresh. His phone number is (787) 741- 2679 and email address is
tvghjjl@cs.com . This will be a great addition to the island, FTD services, who would have ever thought that could be available here! Well we hope it will be in the future!
Wondering what to do with older children and teens to keep them entertained? Stop by Scoops Ice Cream Parlor located in Isabel and visit the video arcade. It might be a bit loud for parents but the kids seem to like it. Jorge, the owner, has over a dozen machines in there right now and is expecting about 6 more very soon. They have great ice cream (16 flavors) as well as burgers, hot dogs, wings and other "fast food" type selections. The arcade and restaurant are air-conditioned however there is a lovely patio where you can enjoy snacking and this is available for birthday parties too! Game room is open from about 1 in the afternoon until 9 or 10 PM; restaurant opens earlier in the day.
Just heard about something very exciting that occurred recently on Sun Bay. A friend of mine was enjoying a day at the beach when she looked over and saw at least a hundred baby turtles making there way to the water. They contacted DNR and told them about it at which point she learned that if they know of a nest they watch it and keep the babies until dark as they have a better survival rate when released at night. Glad to hear that the turtles are alive and well and like Sun Bay.
Michelle Phillips, remember her from the Mamas and Papas, Knots Landing perhaps? Well Michelle was here with her sons Aron and Austin and her friend Robin Aiello. They had a great 2 week vacation hanging out at the beach, dining with Duffy at Chez Shack (she even sang Xmas carols there), and with those of us who make the Mar Azul our living room! She and Duffy have a long history as he gave the group a place to live and perform years ago in St. Thomas. VHS did a documentary on the Mamas and Papas about 2 or 3 years ago and that is how Michelle found Duffy after all these years. She said her goal is to get Duffy out to LA for a visit next, good luck Michelle. They all told us they would be back as they had a great time here and they were certainly fun to get to know. Robin has given Richard (Casa de Amistad) the nickname of Mr. Blackwell as he designated himself the sole "fashion policeman!" He told her she was overdressed for Vieques, maybe he meant the Mar Azul! Every now and then you have to dress up just a little! Folks shorts and tee shirts are acceptable almost everywhere on the island!
Just some important reminders: The beaches on Camp Garcia which include Red Beach, Blue Beach, etc. are still closed to the public however Green Beach is open as is all the land on the western side of the island. Great for exploring! There is no public laundry mat on the island any longer so if renting a house check to see if it has laundry facilities if that is a must have for you and family. Some of the guest houses/inns will provide laundry service. Remember to travel light, leave valuables at home and keep your rooms and houses locked when you are not around.
Thanks for getting through the news once again. Sorry these just keep getting longer and longer but then the well-informed traveler is a happier traveler! Hope to see you all this winter or anytime during the year. I checked out airfares and know there are some great deals to PR right now, so get busy and book your trip!
Judy
P.S.
A huge thank you to Steve of Steve's Car Rental for keeping me in wheels while my car was sick! I really appreciate it as it was going right into Christmas! Muchas Gracias Steve!
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