Years ago, St. Croix Artist Maria Henle brought the idea of a joint art opening event to fruition when she decided to schedule the Art Thursdays with other local artists and shops. Maria said she wanted an event that would promote Christiansted galleries and give the community a chance to view, appreciate, and support local artist.  She recognized that the restaurants would benefit as well, with art lovers coming in to town to “make a night of it.”  Maria Henle was well known on St. Croix for her etchings and large oil paintings of scenic landscapes, realistically executed with wonderful detail and color.  Maria passed away in February 2007, but her gallery is still a landmark for the St. Croix art world, and her sister and brother, Tina and Martin Henle, keep the doors open, and show a variety of work, including Maria’s.

“It makes it a bit more appealing and convenient when the gallery down the street is open and featuring an art show you didn’t want to miss, along with the other art venues in town,” says Therese Trudeau, Maufe Gallery owner and artist.  “The galleries and jewelry studios all have the same objective, to get people into Christiansted town in the evening, to stroll and view a variety of artists’ work.  We are not some huge city that has major competition and large scale openings, we are artists, supporting and working within a small town, we all know each other, and if we can combine the opening event that means your audience comes though my space and mine through yours, they might even see something a little different and exciting.”

There are a surprising number of artists and jewelers on St. Croix, all with varying styles, and with the Art Thursday event many get to show work and gain interest from the community. The variety of art shown spans from paintings in oil, watercolor and acrylic, to jewelry, photography, sculpture, fine carpentry, fabric arts and furniture.

Stroll the charming streets of Christiansted and enjoy light refreshments provided by the gallery owners while enjoying the art on display and for sale. Bring home a slice of St. Croix with an original work, a token to remind you of the island. Stop into one of Christiansted’s fine restaurants for an elegant dinner, or enjoy the sunset on the boardwalk at one of the open-air bars and restaurants with gorgeous views of the harbor.

The Art Thursday venues involved are: Danica Art Gallery, The Goldworker, ib designs, Maria Henle Studio, Crucian Gold, D&D Studio, Maufe Gallery, Design Works, Watch Your Step Gallery and Yellow House Gallery. For dates and more information, please check our calendar or the Art Thursday page.

Our guide, Stephen O’Dea (also known as “The Cane Bay Cowboy”) met us at Off the Wall near Cane Bay Beach at 4 pm and set us up on our horses, Paddy for me and Blarney for Wendy. He gave us each a short lesson on how to sit and balance in the saddle, hold the reins, and put the brakes on. After we were both comfortable, the group set off on a lush green trail winding up the hill above Cane Bay. When we got to the top, we stopped to take photos and take in the gorgeous view of the North Shore coast. Stephen even showed me how to stand up in the saddle of the horse, and our fellow riders Julia, Shelby and Bonnie were a pretty good inspiration for horse standing too.

We headed back down the hill to Cane Bay, trotting down North Shore road, cars and pedestrians slowing down to say hi and check out our horses along the way. The diners and drinkers at the new restaurant Eat @ Cane Bay gave us a toast from the open air balcony. We rode onto the beach, into the sunset, the waves lapping at our horses’ hooves.

Then, Stephen gave us the opportunity to take the horses into the ocean and move from riding into actually swimming with the animals. What an amazing experience. Stephen was fully dressed and cowboy-hatted, leading us out into the water with Paddy and Blarney while the other horses rolled around in the sand. Swimming with the horses was a completely new thing for us, but Stephen was so confident and such a great guide, that everything was fun and relaxed. It was such a unique adventure, and Stephen was able to tailor the trip to everything we were capable of (even if we didn’t know it!) and give us a truly personalized experience.

If you’re looking for a great, fun activity to do with friends and family, for locals and visitors, definitely check out Equus Riding Tours. It was such cool way to experience the island, and riders of all ages and experience can enjoy the trip. The Cane Bay Cowboy is a wonderfully friendly and entertaining guide too. Take a sunset ride for the best views and photo ops and then stop off for a drink or dinner at one of the restaurants on the North Shore coast for a truly unforgettable and unique evening.

This party is legendary on St. Croix, an island that definitely throws down in the party category, so that’s got to mean it’s epic.  This is the first year in 8 years that I have been in St. Croix for Halloween, and it’s my first Halloween as an adult in St. Croix, so I’m really exited to check out the scene, the costumes, and maybe even get my hands on some candy corn. Even better, purchasing my ticket means I’m supporting a worthy organization that provides an invaluable resource to the Virgin Islands– HIV/AIDS education in the community and care for those affected by the virus. I picked up my ticket at Gone Tropical in Christiansted for $25, or you can buy a ticket at the door for $30.

The VICARE Halloween Party is held at The Palms at Pelican Cove, which is the perfect spot for events. I’ve been to proms, weddings. and charity fundraisers in this location, and the setting is gorgeous– the sound of crashing waves just beyond the dance floor, sea breezes flowing through the open dining room and gallery– the staff is amazing and the event is always effortless, fun and successful. Definitely one of the best spots on the island for special events.

And, if you’re feeling uninspired about your costume, you still have time!  Head over to RezemBlanz on Company Street in Christiansted to check out their selection of Halloween costumes, wigs, accessories and makeup.

I also hear there’s a costume contest and party on Friday night at Fort Christian Brew Pub, with music by Kurt Schindler, and a Sunday night Halloween jam at the Domino Club on Mahogany Road out west. Halloween done Crucian style– three days of parties!

Leave a comment and let us know what your Halloween plans are– what parties are you checking out and what’s your costume going to be?? Happy trick or treating, Halloweeners!

The screenings will be at 8 pm and will go for six consectutive nights, ending on October 2nd. “The National Parks” will be airing on PBS at the same time, but can you imagine a better setting to celebrate our parks than in the glow of Christiansted harbor?

Also, the new program “Rediscover St. Croix,” hosted by Neil Bruce, will be airing on PBS (Channel 12) right before “The National Parks” at 7 pm, so be sure to check out this new, locally produced program. Check out PBS.org for more information about “The National Parks” and watch the trailer at  http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

The Summer Outdoor concert series is a wonderful family friendly event and has become a favorite summertime activity for locals and visitors.

In July the bebe, hubby and I attended the first concert of the summer and had a great time. We met up with 6 friends, packed a few bottles of wine, appetizers and chairs and enjoyed an evening under the stars listening to Papa Susso  play Traditional West African Music. The concert was intimate enough so you could see the stage and performers, but families could still enjoy the show and kids were able to run around and dance to the music.

It was a great excuse to get out of the house on a Saturday night and listen to live music. The bebe loved the sound of the drums and we enjoyed hearing Papa Susso’s stories that accompanied his songs. Couples sat in lawn chairs sipping wine, groups gathered and shared the local food that was for sale and I even picked up a trinket from the museum store. If you attend the concert make sure you allow time to browse the museum store, which is full of locally made products, books and St. Croix souvenirs.  Stop in and support St. Croix’s local artists; it is never too early to start thinking about Christmas shopping.

The grounds at Whim open at 6:00 pm and music begins promptly at 7:30 pm. General admission tickets are $15, $5 for children under 12 and VIP tickets for under the tent are $30. The Landmarks Society will have Latin/African food available for purchase in the historic cookhouse and of course, there will be a cash bar serving Cruzan Rum and other cold drinks.

We are looking forward to hearing the smooth sounds of  Jon-Oliver Knight and Bobby Wilmore on the 12th. Hopefully the temperatures will stay cool and there will be a great turn out for the final concert. Hope to see you there!

So, when Gecko Island Adventures opened in Frederiksted I was beyond excited and wasn’t going to let anything stop me from exploring St. Croix – from the back of an ATV!

A few weeks ago the Media Mate team, including a friend and a husband, took the 10 am Saturday morning tour through the rain forest.  I’d had friends take this 2 hour tour already and they raved about the views, the history lesson, and the fun they had driving the ATV’s. 

Our tour guides Seth and Arlan were terrific and greeted us as we checked into Gecko’s shop in Frederiksted. The shop in itself is so cute built around existing tree trunks – stop in and check it out (and ask about their hot sauce). Seth gave us a safety briefing and went over the general guidelines for the tour then outfitted us in goggles and helmets. Sherese, being the fashionista of the group, made sure her helmet matched her shoes. Gecko provides the helmets and goggles and all of us wore pants and close toed shoes for the tour.

The tour and the ATV’s are designed for riders with no ATV experience, but  ATV pros won’t be disappointed– there is plenty of time and space to let loose and get dirty. The tour departed from Rainbow beach and we made our way up the Frederiksted coast, wind in our hair, taking in the view while on the look-out for cars. If you are familiar with St. Croix traffic, especially along the coast, you know to keep an eye out for other cars, horses and bikers (cyclists and Harley riders). Now  you can add ATV’s to that list.

Our first stop was the Butler Bay estate where Seth explained the history and importance of the sugar plantations on St. Croix. The ride was pretty smooth as we headed up into the hills of Frederiksted and the views of St. Croix’s west side were stunning. At one point I could see the lighthouse in front of me and to my back were the blue hues of the Caribbean Sea.

We made it to the top of Mt. Stewart, overlooking the Northshore and Carambola and stopped for a few photos. Then it was back on the machines as we headed to Bodkin Sugar Mill. Hidden in the hillside, sits one of the remaining sugar mills on St. Croix. The mill was built in 1808 and is still in pristine condition and the window looked out to the valley bellow.

We were running a little late and needed to make up a little time, which translated into getting to ride faster, which I was excited about. Unfortunately (for me at least), I still hadn’t gotten dirty. There were a few mud puddles on the way down the mountain and I took them on at full speed. 

We had a few more stops to make and a few more photo ops, which also included history lessons from Seth. We drove through the rain forest, along Creque Damn Road (again, drivers: watch for ATVers) and finished the tour back at Rainbow Beach.

The tour was so much more than I expected. I thought we’d drive around the rain forest, maybe stop for a photo op or two, but I didn’t expect the commentary and history lessons from Seth. From the information on St. Croix’s flora and fauna to the history of the plantations, Seth knows his St. Croix history and is proud of the island he calls home.

We made it a day in Frederiksted and had lunch along the waterfront and walked around a bit talking about our favorite parts of the tour. I was thrilled because I was finally got to go ATVing and because I was able to do it from St. Croix, on the island I call home.  I’ll definitely be back as this is my new “not-to-be-missed” St. Croix attraction.

One of the 

This Sunday, July 26^th, the Golden Hook Fishing Club is sponsoring the Kids Hand Line tournament from 9-11am off of the Christiansted boardwalk. This is a great event for kids and parents and it is FREE!

Registration is open to children age 3-11 and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Check in starts at 8am and fishin’ starts at 9 am. There are tons of cool prizes up for crabs, including bikes and fishing rods. 

I’m going to go check out the festivities and maybe I’ll learn a thing or two from the kids. If you are a big kid interested in St. Croix fishing, check out our sport fishing photo album for an idea of what you’ll catch! 

St. Croix is lucky enough to have three parks protected by the US National Park System: Christiansted National Historic Site, Buck Island Reef National Monument and Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve. If you’ve never explored the Christiansted National Historic Site, now is the time to it. The 7 acre historic site is made up five historical structures including Fort Christiansvaern, the Scale House, The Danish Custom House, the Steeple Building and the Danish West Indie & Guniea Co. Warehouse. The park’s mandate is twofold – to preserve the historic structure and grounds within its boundaries, and to interpret the Danish economy and way of life here between 1733 and 1917. Click here to see photos of some of St. Croix’s historic buildings.

Fort Christiansvaern is full of history and the views of the Christiansted harbor are stunning. Explore the dungeon, latrine, and officer’s quarters and check out the cannons that helped protect the harbor.

The Fort is open Monday – Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 10am-5pm. I suggest taking the tour no later than 4pm – you don’t want to get locked in the dungeon.  Make sure to stop by the gift shop in the old Scale House and say hello to Janet. She can answer all your questions and she has some wonderful books on St. Croix’s history. This weekend you can also get 15% off one item at the gift shop. Start your Christmas shopping a little early or brush up on your St. Croix knowledge.

So, pack a picnic and head to the park this weekend. Better yet, pack up the family, head to Christiansted and make a day of it. I bet you’ll be glad you did.

But that was only one small portion of the very high energy walk that was full of great ladies, encouraging supporters and perfect weather, despite the heat, that made it for the Women’s Coalition 25th Annual Women’s Race. Women from across the island and of all makes came out to push, run, stroll and hustle the 2 miles through Christiansted to recognize the issues facing women which the Coalition supports, including the struggle to end violence against women.

A pre-race warm up with DJ’d music gets the upwards of 500 women 
jumping and dancing and the race is a powerful visual of the community that supports the Women’s Coalition and their programs. The Women’s Coalition for the past few decades has supported countless women and families in many arenas. They offer crisis intervention, year-round advocacy, temporary housing, emergency aid and shelter, education and in-school workshops to name a few of their programs. Women wearing purple sashes represented those supporters who have walked in every of the 25 races held, and many were proudly in attendance.

The GoToStCroix Team was there too, continuing a smaller but still significant tradition, and the number of team members has grown along with our families. The race ended with welcome snacks, awards and music, as well as a cold beer at the Deck Bar for Team GoTo. For more information on any of the Women’s Coalition programs, check out their site or call them directly: www.wcstx.com or 340-773-9272.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending one of Chef Daniel’s cooking classes at the beautiful Island Inn. I expected to show up, watch him make an incredible meal and leave knowing that there was no way I’d ever be able to recreate his masterpiece. You know, the same feeling you have after you leave the hair dresser knowing your hair will never look as good.
 
We’ll, let me tell you, I was wrong. When I arrived Chef Daniel welcomed me with open arms, told me a little bit about himself, showed me his fresh herb garden and told me a little about the class and what he’d be making. Instantly, I loved him and I hadn’t tasted his food yet. This is a man who has cooked for countless celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and the King of Spain Juan Carlos I, owned his own restaurants, had a popular cooking show on television and was going to teach me about cooking. Yet, he was so personable and charming, I couldn’t wait for class to start.
 
Once the other students arrived we got down to businesses. We’d been given the recipes for the dishes Chef Daniel was going to prepare and when I saw ‘whole chicken’ which we used for Chicken Consume and ‘chocolate ganache,’ I became terrified. I’d never bought a whole chicken before, much less prepared my own consume. Well, have no fear! Chef Daniel makes the cooking and learning process fun and he instills confidence in his students so they can prepare the foods once they’ve left the class.

On this particular day Chef Daniel made, the consume, a fab pasta dish, and pouched pears with ganache and cream (which I could have eaten three serving of). Chef Daniel is a third generation chef from France and his grandfather and father were both chefs during wars who needed to make the most of their limited ingredients. The same concept is true in today’s economy and he used the vegetables from the broth to make a healthy soup. Throughout the afternoon, Chef Daniel gave us cooking tips and showed us tricks to save time in the kitchen. More than a cooking class, it is an investment into your health and the way you look at food and cooking.

Chef Daniel is available for individual and group cooking lessons and catering at your home or at Island Inn. His summer cooking series begins June 10th. Whether you are looking to improve your skills in the kitchen or want to liven up your next dinner party, Chef Daniel will wow you with his talents and prepare an unforgettable meal for you and your guests. If you are looking for a unique way to send a birthday or anniversary let Chef Daniel prepare an evening you’ll never forget.

I left the class with a new confidence that I could tackle any recipe, big or small and prepare a wonderful meal. Now, the proof is in the pudding or in my case the ganache. I’m having people over for dinner tonight and preparing the pasta and ganache. I’ll let you know about my fun in the kitchen and how things turn out. If all else fails, I’ll call Chef Daniel for a catering order. Cheers!