Creativity and community connect at St. Croix’s newest addition to the island’s burgeoning nightlife. LEVELS is a live music venue, bar and creative space in downtown Christiansted that has been newly renovated and modernized to create a safe and fun place where everyone is welcome.
Sibling owners Andrea and Kamal Russell acquired the building in July 2019 with an intent focus on creating a space where artistry can be created and fostered by music lovers, artists and creatives in tune with the culture. The Russell family is no stranger to sharing the love of music with the community. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Russell family band would perform at various events and fundraisers throughout the community. Eddie Russell is the man behind the well-known Jazz in the Park at Fort Christianvaern. Most recently, Kamal Russell held a host of musically charged events under his KDM Productions brand. When opportunity knocked, Andrea and Kamal decided to transform the former nightclub and live music venue into a modernized version centered on creativity and community.
LEVELS is laser-focused on their goal to create a platform for local and independent creatives to showcase their art, whether music, performance, film or mixed media. “Cultured creatives – and the community as a whole – are who we are trying to bring into the space. By building this community, we can expand our culture and create new ways of what it could look like, what it could be,” said Kamal. The only staged indoor/outdoor live performance event space in Christiansted, LEVELS is home to many events centered on shining a light on the extraordinary local talent that often goes unrecognized. “We host a regular open mic night with amateur poets and performing artists are welcome to share this art.” Additionally, their series called “Between Two Speakers” is where local business owners are invited to tell their story to inspire other entrepreneurs. “Hearing from other entrepreneurs, someone is more inclined to have the confidence to try new things, think outside the box and to recognize that sometimes, there is no box.”
As far as event spaces go, LEVELS has something for everyone. Its clean and modern decor combined with sweeping spaces and interwoven spaces makes this multi-level space perfect for private events and special occasions. Learn more about LEVELS, their upcoming events and hours of operations at www.levelsvi.com or follow them on Facebook (@levelsvi) and Instagram (@levels.vi).
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
It would be almost impossible for one to overlook the bounty of blooming flowers all around St. Croix. 2022 has gifted us with an array of flourishing foliage that the island hasn’t seen for a few years. The most notable of them all is the flamboyant tree. Known as the royal poinciana tree, the bursts of colors from the trees vibrant tropical flowers offer a welcomed sight for sore eyes. You can find these “flame trees” dotted all along the island’s hillsides and roadsides during the warmer summer months. In full bloom, the flamboyant’s stunning flower clusters cascade into a recognizable umbrella shape with hundreds of large, orange-red flowers made of six petals that measure about 4 inches in length.
Eleanor Gibney, an expert on Virgin Islands trees and history, believes that flamboyant trees were introduced into this area of the Caribbean around the mid-1800s, based on historical Caribbean plant lists. While these trees are native to Madagascar, an island off the coast of Africa, they were recorded as common in West Indian gardens by the 1880s. In addition to its flowering beauty, the flamboyant tree also provides musical instruments by way of the tree’s seed pods. Long, slender and brown in color, these pods measure up to two feet in length. The loose seeds inside the pods make a rattling sound when you shake them, resulting in a musical percussion instrument known as the shack-shack.
Botanical Garden of the Virgin Islands Executive Director, Dewey Hollister shows us the Flamboyants that grow in the Garden.
Summers on St. Croix offer unique experiences like picking mango in the rainforest, enjoying the warmer-than-normal water temperature at the beach and breathtaking sunsets often accompanied by the iconic “green flash.” Catching a glimpse of the magnificent foliage of the flamboyant tree is another reason why you should visit St. Croix when the weather is warm where you are. This is also the perfect time to explore what island living could be for you. Contact us if you are interested in finding a home or condo on St. Croix.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
Question: What are the top 5 hidden costs of Buying a Home or Condo?
Chris’s Answer: Here are the 5 hidden costs to keep in mind!
Closing costs, prepaid fees, and other fees. Getting a loan costs money. Plan on paying for your loan to be processed along with an appraisal fee. Closing costs and prepaid fees generally range between 3% – 5% of the purchase price.
Inspections. An inspection by a licensed home inspector is key to any home or condo purchase. This will inform you as to the condition of your home or condo so that you better understand what you are buying. The owner will disclose anything they are aware of, but an inspector will give you a full detailed report. For a home or land, you will want a survey done. Often an appraisal is needed.
Association fees. Condos have have HOA fees associated with them. Some homes do, too. These fees will be pro-rated for the year at closing.
Maintenance, repairs, and decorating. Your monthly budget responsibilities could include landscaping, pool maintenance, pest control, garbage pickup, cable TV, and internet. There might be a few minor things for you to repair after closing. Also, you will want to make your new home YOURS. So, budget for decor, paint, landscaping, furniture, or anything else you may want to change. Sometimes just adding new decorative pillows will change the look of your living room and make it more personal!
Utility bills. Don’t let budgeting for utilities get lost in your excitement. Think about the energy you will be using (water, electricity, AC, pool, washer/dryer, etc.), and add that to your monthly budget.
Are you looking to find the perfect property for you and your family on St. Croix? Please contact us and we will be happy to assist you in every stage of the home buying process!
Christie’s Answer: According to “Today’s Buyer’s Rep”, ABR’s (Accredited Buyer’s Representative) monthly magazine, inventory and affordability are the two top issues for Buyers. The third issue is that Buyers seem to have unrealistic expectations. Since we have addressed the first two, let’s look at the third.
Buyers need to be better informed. Discussing the buying process and answering questions assists Buyers to have more realistic expectations. This takes some time, and sometimes we refer the Buyer to experts like mortgage lenders, contractors, building engineers, architects, attorneys, electricians, insurance agents, or other professionals.
Despite all of the preparations, sometimes there are unforeseen challenges. For example, on one parcel of land we sold, an archeological site was found of a Pre-Columbian ball court. Discovering this did create a challenge, and slowed the process. Historical research was needed, and legal documents prepared by attorneys. This ultimately meant that of the 10 acres being bought, 2 acres were to be kept intact and undisturbed. Fortunately, the Buyers were delighted to have such a site on their land!
The U.S. Virgin Islands Head Start program funding provides preschool for low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet children’s emotional, social, health, nutrition, and educational needs. In August, VI Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett presented a federal check for $42.4 million to the Human Services Department’s Head Start Program. Plaskett said “this funding is for construction grants and will require zero local match to fund the construction and restoration of facilities territory-wide.”
Head Start Administrator Masikia Lewis said at the ceremony presentation that the funding awarded will help construct state-of-the-art, mega, multi-purpose Head Start centers around the territory. She emphasized that these proposed new facilities will provide a learning environment that is essential to the development of younger generations and vital to the growth of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
