We’re off to the races – crab races, that is! One of St. Croix’s beloved pastimes is an exhilarating sporting event featuring a few friendly, multi-legged crustaceans. Weekly crab races have returned to St. Croix since its hiatus due to the global pandemic. Husband and wife duo Tito and Sue “and their nifty kazoo” have been organizing crab races all around St. Croix for over 20 years. The tradition of Soldier Crab Racing has been a form of entertainment enjoyed by many for centuries; the same remains true here in present-day St. Croix.
For a small fee, racers choose their beloved crab and name them before the main event. Armed with their “name tags” – usually a piece of tape on their shells – the hermit crabs are placed into a bucket as they await their debut on the racecourse. After a series of bull’s-eye circles are drawn on the ground in chalk, the buckets of competing crabs are placed upside down in the innermost circle of the course starting point. At the animated sound of Sue’s kazoo, the race is on! The buckets are lifted off the crabs and they take off! The first crab that makes it outside the course circle is declared the ultimate winner. Thanks to local businesses and organizations, the prizes include a variety of items such as gift certificates for shopping or dining, trips to Buck Island, scuba diving lessons, local handmade jewelry, bottles of rum and more.
There are two important rules to follow during crab racing. Don’t point your fingers and don’t stomp your feet as these gestures can scare the crabs. For those rule breakers, Tito is always prepared with a roll of tape to bind anyone’s hands if they start pointing. Fun Fact: the culprits are almost always adults! Join in on the fun each week at Crab Races with Tito & Sue for a delightful outing that is fun for the entire family. Head to Brew STX on Christiansted Boardwalk each Wednesday starting at 5pm* and choose your winning crab for a chance to win awesome prizes. Win or lose, you’re guaranteed to have a great time and leave with more laughs and memories than you came with. *Times and locations are subject to change. Call ahead to confirm.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com)
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
The newest restaurant on St. Croix located in the heart of downtown Christiansted is slowly becoming a hidden gem on island! Coco Loco Tapas Bar & Grill is a vibrant Spanish tapas inspired restaurant offering a unique blend of Latin cuisines under one roof. Unlike other restaurants, Coco Loco is focused on highlighting the foods from multiple Latin countries instead of focusing on just one.
Spanish, Mexican, Cuban, Peruvian and Puerto Rican cuisines are peppered with a Caribbean twist thanks to Chef Josh Zona. A self-taught culinary artist, Zona has been working tirelessly in the kitchen for the past 7 years. He started as a bus boy in a South Florida Latin restaurant, working his way through multiple positions in the establishment. It was there he found his calling. “I am passionate about creating unique culinary experiences and LOVE being in the kitchen,” said Zona. It was natural that he took a liking to Spanish cuisine; his family is of Puerto Rican descent. However, Zona said his desire was to have more than just another Latin restaurant. “Universal Spanish cuisine is what I thought about when I envisioned Coco Loco.”
Opened in February 2022, Coco Loco Tapas Bar & Grill prepares specialty dishes such as Spanish paella and a host of “tapas” – also known as small plates – that customers can mix and match to make a one-of-a-kind meal. Try dishes like maduros (sweet plantains) wrapped in bacon, fresh ceviche, fried pork belly and crispy tostones with a citrus- based dipping sauce. Their nightly specials feature locally caught fish like mahi, wahoo and tuna and uses seasonal ingredients to create mouthwatering appetizers and entrees.
One of the unique things to note about Coco Loco are their specialty cocktails. Each one is served in a coconut shell glass and topped off with the universal paper umbrella that signifies you are officially on island time! The popular Cocobana cocktail is described as “St. Croix in a glass and features Cruzan Rum, banana liquor, amaretto and pineapple juice. Their house made sangrias are also made fresh daily and pairs perfectly with several menu items. Coco Loco Tapas Bar & Grill is open for dinner five nights a week starting at 5pm. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, they close at 10pm; Friday through Sunday, they close at 11pm. For more information, visit their website at www.cocolocostx.com and head to their social media pages on Facebook & Instagram (@cocolocostx) for their nightly specials.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
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
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.
According to an article in the VI Consortium, Virgin Island Tourism has seen a rebound after “Covid-related decimation of the industry” and that reports “show that from June 2021 to May 2022, the USVI had the highest hotel occupancy in the region.” Here are some highlights:
Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte said over 450,000 people traveled to the USVI in the first three months of 2022, and the visitor arrivals were up 153 percent compared to the same period in 2021.
Reports show the territory had the highest average daily rate in the region at $637 during that same time period.
USVI tourism also led in revenue per available room at $461.61.
The VI Tourism officials has a rosy outlook for 2023. Transportation Security Administration data showed that the USVI was the fastest-growing location for total airlift capacity in the Americas from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, the USVI cruise industry is expected to see triple the numbers of passengers in St Croix’s cruise port in Frederiksted in 2023.
More visitors mean more people will have the opportunity to fall in love with our island paradise, experiencing our friendly people, delicious foods and picture perfect beaches! If you plan on visiting us soon and is interested in buying a second home or a forever home on St. Croix, we are here to help you find the perfect home! With exceptional properties in the territory to choose from, your dream of owning a slice of paradise can soon become a reality. Contact us with any questions.
