An unexpected oasis of divine and authentic Crucian treats awaits you at Eden South. A collection of t-shirts hanging on a line at the entrance is the undeniable landmark that indicates your arrival at the right location. This locally owned gift shop located in historic downtown Christiansted is committed to doing its part to preserve the culture of St. Croix.
Owner Mariel J. de Chabert-Percy opened the doors of Eden South in December 2016, but the origins of the business began almost a decade before from her home. Originally built in the 1800s, the building was formerly the historic home her husband’s grandfather built and where his mother and aunts grew up. Today, Eden South is dedicated to offering the best time-honored traditions of St. Croix. Their product lines – culturally authentic as described by de Chabert- Percy – are made only from in-season, locally sourced fruit and prepared in small batches for consistent quality. Jams and jellies, hot sauce and syrups, t-shirts, tote bags, books about island culture and history plus local artwork and photography can be found stacked on tables and lining the shelves of the store. De Chabert-Percy is the artist and designer of the store’s t-shirt line which features local recipes including the one-pot kallaloo stew and the ever-popular guavaberry liqueur. Additionally, the Crucian Spoken Word t-shirt provides the pronunciation of general terms and phrases in English, Scottish/Irish and Crucian. All items are conveniently packaged to help customers enjoy and express Crucian culture, wherever they may be.
Eden South is located at #3 Company Street next to Company House Hotel. It is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday from 10am – 3pm. For more information, call 340.713.1003.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
Get hooked on world-class offshore sport fishing on St. Croix with Captain Cook Charters! Since 2016, Captain Colt Cook and his seasoned crew has offered half-day and full-day fishing charters aboard their 33-foot long sportfisher boat, Hook n’ Cook. Made by Pursuit Boats, Hook n’ Cook is used exclusively for offshore fishing of mahi-mahi, wahoo, tuna and marlin. Inshore trips are also available as the company uses spinning or fly-fishing tackle to catch tarpon, snook, bonefish, snapper, mackerel and jacks. With accommodations for up to 6 people, offshore trips are available in 4-, 6-, 8- and 10-hour durations departing from Green Cay Marina on the island’s east end.
For as long as he could remember, Captain Cook has always considered fishing as a way of life. “I’ve always had a passion for salt water and marine life and knew I wanted to fish for a living,” said Cook. His love for the ocean steered him to the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Marine Biology. His vast marine world knowledge, many years of experience and countless hours logged on ships of all sizes is what sets Captain Cook apart. A scuba diving and free diving enthusiast, Captain Cook puts his heart and soul into making sure that each group has an unforgettable experience. He shared that there’s a high possibility that each charter will catch something. “We go out on each trip with a plan and use various methods to get some fish on the line.”
Beyond the catch, Captain Cook and his crew offer free, professional fish cleaning services. Once they’ve cleaned and bagged the charter’s catch, a hot grill or pan is all that stands between guests and their dinner. If an adventure trip is more your speed, Captain Cook Charters offers on-the-water outings that consist of snorkeling, sunset booze cruises and barhopping. Let them know what kind of trip you want, and they will make it happen!
What does freedom look like today? The Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums is hosting an exhibit at Fort Frederik Museum on St. Croix in honor of Emancipation Day under the theme titled “The Revolution is Not a One Time Act.” Emancipation Day, is celebrated annually on July 3, but the exhibit will be open from from July 1st through September 23rd. The Virgin Islands Daily News reports that the DPNR had extended an open call to said seeking artists territory-wide to submit work that touches on the ideas of freedom, liberation, self-determination, and what that looks like today.”
We are big fans of The Ten Sleepless Knights and we are excited to see them scheduled for the 2022 Folklife Festival celebration! They will be performing on July 2nd and 3rd. The festival celebrates the US Virgin Islands’ culture, history and traditions influenced by the flags of seven nations.
The Ten Sleepless Knights specializes in Quelbe, the official music style of the Virgin Islands. For the full schedule of the festival and musical guest lineup, go to St. Croix Source.
The Caribbean Journal speaks to Joseph Boschulte, the Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism about tourism in the US Virgin Islands. Here’s some good news from the article!
“According to Transportation Security Administration numbers, U.S. Virgin Islands airports in St. Croix and St. Thomas received 14 percent more passengers in February 2022 than in February 2019. Furthermore, the USVI was the fastest-growing territory for total capacity in all the Americas between 2019 and 2021, growing total departure seats by 35.8 percent.”
The cruise industry is in the process of recovery. Read more about the Department of Tourism’s strategy to increase port calls by 2023.
St. Croix Animal Welfare Center’s Paws from Paradise program has helped178 dogs from the Virgin Islands find permanent homes in America this year alone. According to the Program Coordinator Wayne Myers, small canines or puppies that can be confined safely in crates in Air Cargo Carriers’ and Amerijet’s aircraft are selected to fly. Firstly, dogs are chosen by AWC, and then the partner shelter approves them by photos and short biographies written by staff. Read the full St Croix Source article about the program and the adoption process here.
