Luxury and relaxation await you at St. Croix’s newest spa, UZURI Hand & Foot Spa, established in February 2020 by longtime resident and business owner Dr. Regina Flippin. The main focus was to provide a sanitary, sterilized environment for clients to feel safe when receiving a manicure or pedicure. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Flippin moved to the island and opened Urban Foot Care Center in 2012 treating anything to do with the foot and ankle.
Upon entry into UZURI, one can’t help but feel they’ve been whisked away to a relaxing oasis. On one end of the spa, the wall is fully adorned with delicate white flowers in various shapes and sizes. The pedicure stations are fit for royalty with the cream and gold cushioned seating surrounded by attractive artwork on the walls. Each manicure station is equipped with the necessary tools to provide guests with top-notch nail service. The spa caters to women as well as men. Their gentleman’s room offers a rustic, industrial feel where they serve complimentary beer, wine, alcoholic beverages, water, soda and juices.
All instruments are disinfected to hospital standards.Each client receives their own sterilized pack of disposable instruments that is opened in front of them. At the end of their treatment, a goodie bag with these same instruments is provided to each client, assuring them that these tools will not be reused on someone else. All products, including the nail polish, are vegan or organic.
The UZURI Wellness Spa Manicure & Pedicure are the most requested services followed by their state-of-the-art bead massage system for the feet and ankles, the AquaRoll. For those wanting to enhance their spa services, the AquaRoll is the perfect way to inject a little extra relaxation into your appointment. With 30,000 glass beads, water and a natural wave technology, this system combines hydrotherapy, thermotherapy, pressotherapy, kneading, peeling, friction and percussion to provide a dynamic massage that reinvigorates your feet. The spa also offers foot reflexology and a polish refresh for those days when time won’t allow for their wellness signature service.
UZURI’s open space allows for guests to safely socially distance while receiving their manicures and pedicures. Flippin shared that very little had to be done to adhere to the latest safety guidelines. Clients are screened by an infection control person the moment they walk in the door. The spa also uses UVC lights for 15 minutes at the end of each workday. These lights can disinfect air, water and nonporous surfaces, killing any and all germs in the room that may have been missed.
Services are for natural nails only and appointment are required. Call 340-715-7778 for details or visit their website at https://uzurinailspa.com.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
#StCroix #USVI #Caribbean #spa
Mar 22, 2021 | Island News
A dedicated brunch and breakfast spot recently opened on St. Croix and it is all the buzz among locals and visitors on the island! Caroline’s Breakfast is the newest restaurant located in the historic King Christian Hotel on the Christiansted boardwalk offering a consistent, well done breakfast experience seven days a week. With its dainty design of banana leaf wallpaper and custom-made pink tiles, Caroline’s warm, aesthetic décor welcomes each guest with open arms.
Chris Prado is the man behind the concept and vision of Caroline’s Breakfast. As acting Food & Beverage Director and managing hotel partner of King Christian Hotel, Prado always wanted to live out the best years of his life in a place with a warm, tropical climate. After working in hotel management for several years and returning to school to become an architect, his childhood dream of owning historic King Christian Hotel became a reality after purchasing it with three partners in December 2018.
“While the hotel renovations continue,” said Prado, “opening Caroline’s Breakfast during this phase helps in adding a much-needed space to the downtown area, bringing it back to its former glory.” Caroline’s main focus is the food and their full coffee program. The menu includes breakfast and brunch classics like the standard egg benedict and unique egg benedicts such as the crab and steak options. Other dishes available are omelets, egg scrambles and an array of Americanstyle waffles, buttermilk pancakes and brioche French toast. Another one of the highlights on the menu is the crepes. Prado shared that his mom was the inspiration behind these sweet and savory delights on the menu. “As a high school French teacher, my mom had spent several years in France and would make crepes three times a week when I was a kid.” The restaurant also features a full bar with specialty brunch cocktails like mimosas, gin fizzes and Bloody Marys.
Open from 7am to 2pm seven days a week, Caroline’s Breakfast has something for everyone that yearns for an original brunch experience with a twist. For more information, visit their website at www.carolinesbreakfast.com.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
#StCroix #USVI #Caribbean #brunch #breakfast #restaurants
Mar 16, 2021 | Island News
Keeping Traditions Alive With Art Thursday in Downtown Christiansted
St. Croix strives to adapt to a “new normal” while keeping its long standing traditions alive. For almost 25 years, Art Thursday has been one of the island’s most cherished events. Local and visiting artists, store owners, restaurateurs and the general public would come together to celebrate the arts from 5pm to 8pm every third Thursday of each month between November and May. For the 2020-2021 season, downtown Christiansted merchants were challenged to discover new ways to offer the community a memorable Art Thursday experience safely. The answer was to expand the three-hour event to a FULL DAY affair, allowing attendees to appreciate the beauty of Art Thursday’s offerings while practicing social distancing.
Art Thursday remains true to its original goal – providing a fun meeting place where friends and family can get together safely for an enjoyable time. This adjusted timeframe helps to limit the numbers of patrons that can enter the various establishments, making it a safe experience for all. One of the ways that store owners are attracting increased foot traffic during Art Thursday is by showcasing the work of local and visiting artists in their stores.
Rosa Morales of Wildflower Boutique in Caravelle Arcade regularly hosts popup shops at her boutique with local vendors and artisans. “With Art Thursday, the idea is the same – to do my part to support local or even visiting artists however I can.” As a lover of art herself, Morales appreciates the energy and community aspect of Art Thursday. “I am happy to see people out and about again, looking at the art and shopping in all the stores.” Three more Art Thursdays remain for the 2020-2021 season – March 18th, April 15th and May 20th. Be sure to stop by and visit the multitude of art galleries, jewelry stores, boutiques and restaurants while exploring the streets of downtown Christiansted from 10am to 8pm. For more information, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ArtThursday.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
#StCroix #USVI #Caribbean #art #shopping
Mar 1, 2021 | Island News
From our February 2021 St Croix Newsletter
Question: “Where should I buy on island to have a great vacation rental?”
Christie’s Answer:
For real estate, the old saying is, “Location, location, location!” When thinking of a vacation rental, it’s “View, view, view!” The number one thing guests want in a vacation rental is a VIEW!
Buy a property in the area of the island which pleases you the most, or is close to the kind of activities you prefer. For example, do you love to dive the pier and ship wrecks on the west end? Do you enjoy hiking to Jack and Issac’s Bays on the east end? Would being in the middle of the island be more convenient for getting around? Do you like being right on a beach, or do you like having the wider view from up on a hill?
By buying what appeals to you, it will help you to market your vacation rental to potential guests who have the same preferences.
Contact us and we will be happy help you!
Photo: 76A Seven Hills, St Croix
#StCroix #Realtor #Buying #Selling #IslandLiving #Caribbean #Investment
Mar 1, 2021 | Island News
From our February 2021 St Croix Newsletter
Question: “I want to buy a property and rent it part of the year as a vacation rental. Should I buy a house or a condo?”
Chris’s Answer:
Houses provide indoor and outdoor space and privacy for you and your guests. They will generally be more expensive to buy than condos. To maintain and care for a house, and possibly a pool, you need to factor in the on-going costs of hiring professionals, or the costs of services like cable TV, internet, etc.
With a condo, exterior maintenance, landscaping, and pool maintenance are usually built into the HOA fees. The HOA fees may also include windstorm insurance or other amenities. Condos are a smaller space, and can have restrictions on the number of guests.
Both houses and condos make great vacation rentals. An important question to ask yourself is, “Would I want to stay there as a guest?” Look at the property with being a guest in mind. Go on different vacation rental web sites, and see how listings are presented. What attracts you to those listings? Where would you want to stay – in a house or a condo?
Contact us and we will be happy help you!
Photo: 103 B Golden Rock Condo
#StCroix #Realtor #Buying #Selling #IslandLiving #Caribbean #Investment
