Feb 15, 2022 | Island News
On February 1st, 2022, Midre Cummings Park & Playground in Frederiksted officially opened to the public. The soft opening welcomed members of the St. Croix community to experience the renovated outdoor space. Named for former Major League Baseball player Midre Cummings, this native son played for several major league baseball teams during the 1990s, ultimately winning the 2001 World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an outfielder and pinch hitter against the New York Yankees.
Children First St. Croix is the organization that spearheaded the project. Created under the non-profit organization, St. Croix Educational Initiative, the committee members consist of community leaders who were dedicated to designing, fundraising and building a state of- the-art community playground. The park was built by Play by Design, a New York based manufacturer of community playground equipment. They regularly partner with community volunteers across the United States to produce custom-designed play structures for toddlers, preschool and school-aged children.
A huge undertaking, the park was 100% funded by donations and built 100% by volunteers from local organizations, businesses and private citizens, including a few Coldwell Banker St. Croix Realty agents. Even the park’s namesake, Midre Cummings himself, volunteered his time to get the park ready for inspection without anyone initially knowing he was present. Midre Cummings Park & Playground is open daily from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. The official grand opening is scheduled to take place in late February; official date and time to be announced. For up-to-date information about the project, please visit the Children First Project Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ChildrenFirstStCroix.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
#stcroix #stcroixusvi #usvi #playground #community #development #baseball #coldwellbanker #volunteer
Feb 15, 2022 | Island News
Flip-flops meet fine dining at Goat, Soup and Whiskey on St. Croix! Opened December 10th, 2019, GOAT STX became the newest addition to the Goat, Soup & Whiskey restaurant family spearheaded by owner Scotty Jackson. Each year, Jackson would vacation on St. Croix with his family once their Keystone, Colorado location slowed down and before the Put-in-Bay, Ohio location reopened in the summer. After enough visits to the island, Jackson realized he had discovered the perfect location for the third Goat, Soup & Whiskey restaurant. Between St. Croix’s tranquility and beauty coupled with the warm, welcoming local culture, the only thing left to do was to find the right spot for the restaurant. After a lengthy search, Jackson settled on the restaurant space right above the pool located in Coakley Bay Condominiums.
With a made-to-order menu and friendly service, it’s no wonder this seasonal restaurant has become a beloved favorite for visitors and locals. Open from December to April, the restaurant’s open air seating restaurant boasts breathtaking views of Buck Island and the illuminating waters surrounding St. Croix’s East End. Enjoy daily lunch and dinner specials, hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, pasta, a variety of salads and sandwiches for lunch plus three house made soups to choose from. The Goat Curry Soup and the Oxtail Stew are two crowd pleasing favorites that never last too long when on the menu. The drink menu features handcrafted cocktails from their Ohio location along with new ones made with locally sourced ingredients. For example, the ever-popular Banana Bliss blender cocktail is made with fresh local organic bananas from Ridge to Reef Farm.
The GOAT STX is open for lunch, dinner and takeout every day except Wednesday. Sunday Brunch takes place from 10am to 2pm with lunch and dinner following. Daily happy hour from 3- 5pm offers $2 off all cocktails, $2.50 beers and $4 well drinks. Reservations are highly recommended for this popular East End eatery located in Coakley Bay Condominiums. Call 340.773.3333 and visit their Facebook page for daily specials at www.facebook.com/TheGoatSTX.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
#stcroix #stcroixusvi #usvi #foodie #flavor #local #caribbean #restaurant #brunch
Feb 2, 2022 | QA
Published on our January 2022 Newsletter
Question: How do you ship things to St. Croix?
Chris’s answer: Of course, we have the US Postal Service, and mail costs the same as in the states. There are FedX and DHL offices here. For larger shipments, there are several shipping companies: Paradise Freight, Fleming’s Transport, VI Cargo, Bob Lynch Trucking and Shipping, and Ferrell Trucking.
There are some companies in the states which either won’t ship to St. Croix, or incorrectly consider St. Croix an international shipping destination. This means a higher shipping rate. Purchases from these vendors can be shipped to friends or relatives in the states, who can then ship your items here. It can increase the cost of shipping, but it’s much less expensive, and you can get the items you want.
#onstcroix #stcroixusvi #caribbean #ship #freight #remodeling #diy #moving #realtor #realestate #coldwellbanker #islandliving
Feb 2, 2022 | QA
Published on our January 2022 Newsletter
Question: We asked some of the people who bought homes with us what was their biggest surprise involved in remodeling? They were consistent in their answer…
Christie’s answer: The biggest surprise was the time involved in getting items to the island. They had expected things to take longer than in the states, but it sometimes took much longer than they’d anticipated. One couple waited 6 months for the custom windows they ordered to reach here.
Not everything needs to be a special order. There are well-established local businesses where items can be purchased. There is a Home Depot on-island. There’s also Gallows Bay Hardware, Quality Electric, and smaller places which might have what you need, like LC Plumbing. And, there are several furniture stores and fun shops where you can pick up all kinds of decorative items. We like shopping locally. It supports our local economy.
#onstcroix #stcroixusvi #moving #remodeling #diy #caribbean #islandliving #realestate #realtor #coldwellbanker
Jan 25, 2022 | Island News
Armstrong Ice Cream is a family owned and operated business on St. Croix that has been around for 122 years and counting. The earliest record of Armstrong Ice Cream dates back to 1900 when the family matriarch, Minerva Petersen, would push a wooden cart down King Street in Frederiksted selling cool, creamy treats. Using an old homemade Danish recipe, it’s no surprise when Danish visitors to the island get an instant rush of nostalgia. With just one taste, they are immediately reminded of their childhood days in Denmark. This third-generation ice cream purveyor is currently operated by Cedric Armstrong who took over the business from his father, Ivan, in 1991. “I’m proud to carry on the family tradition,” said Cedric. “Ice cream is what we’re known for.”
What started in a wooden cart transferred to a bicycle until the early 1960s when Ivan bought his first car. A 1955 Chevrolet is where he sold ice cream from the trunk at events of all sizes. After meeting his wife Irenia at a dance, the Armstrong family bought a house in 1963 where they set up a makeshift shop selling their old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream from their home. In 1970, Ivan purchased an electric powered batch freezer to aid in producing more ice cream in less time to meet demand. They also purchased a truck and sold their ice cream every Saturday under the large mahogany tree at the curve in Queen Mary Highway where Sunny Isles Shopping Center is today. You can still find the truck in the same spot most Saturdays selling their famous ice cream flavors. In May 1996, they opened their storefront in Estate Whim and added a deli component that serves burgers, grilled sandwiches, wraps and breakfast items like pancakes, eggs, French toast, bacon and more.
Many wonder what makes Armstrong’s Ice Cream unique. “The special homemade custard base is what makes our ice cream creamy and flavorful,” said Cedric. Additionally, their natural flavors are made with ingredients found on St. Croix. If it grows on the island, you will most likely find it in ice cream form at Armstrong’s. While some flavors can be found almost anywhere else in the world, their seasonal flavors are what sets them apart from ice cream shops around the world. Gooseberry, their best-selling flavor, is made with a small tart fruit typically made into a sweet, decadent stew. Mango, guava, soursop, pumpkin, passion fruit and guavaberry are their seasonal flavors that customers patiently wait for each year. Other popular flavors such as almond, banana, peanut, ginger nut and coconut are more readily available year-round. Visit Armstrong Ice Cream at 78-B Whim in Frederiksted on Centerline Road. They are open from 7am to 7pm Tuesday to Friday, 8am to 7pm on Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sunday. On Saturdays, you can find them in the Sunny Isles Shopping Center from 1pm to 5pm, or until supplies last.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
Photo from Armstrong Ice Cream
#stcroix #stcroixusvi #usvi #icecream #foodie #dessert #flavor #gooseberry #guavaberry #homemade #artisanal
