moving to winter in St Croix!???

There is a arts and crafts / frame shop that may have what you need. They are just down the street from Plaza Extra and before Cost You Less. On the North side of the street, in a shopping mall.

There are quite a few paint stores on STX. Because of the tropical conditions everything has to be painted here more frequently. There are also stores that specialize in selling auto paint.

If you can't find what you need the internet also works.

Jim

Hi Lindsey,

I am sure you will enjoy St. Croix especially in the winter. The Christmas season is when there are lots of things going on . I was so surprised to hear that you have 4 Bostons. I have 5 myself and they are my children. I have taken my male to St. Croix on vacation once and it was just too hot for him even in the winter. As you know with the short faced little critters we have, their ability to breath in hot conditions is not as efficient has with other breeds. Be very careful and try to book as direct a flight as possible. Also , as it happened with me, sometimes flights do not occur as scheduled and my poor little guy ended up going thru Miami on our trip rather than a direct flight from STX to CLT due to bad weather. It was a horrible experience and he was in that crate for almost 9 hours!. Also, I do not want to sound negative and I am sure everyone on the board will go ballistic with this statement but in general there is a very poor appreciation for the welfare of animals in the VI. I personally would not move there with my dogs for fear of them being stolen and subsequently abused or used as pit bull bait. Because Bostons look like miniature bulldogs to the uneducated eye they will be a target to people wanting something "new" to breed with their dog. It is sad to say but I would fear for my animals in St. Croix. You must keep a very close eye on your dogs at all times. I cannot say this enough. Please know that I speak of this as a person who not only was raised in St. Croix but one who has experienced numerous incidents involving dogs and horses that would make your hair stand on end. The level of cruelty and neglect to animals is extreme. Many people have dogs for both protection and pets in the VI but many of them are of the "island" variety and I would be willing to bet your Bostons would be the only ones on the island. Best of luck and I too will be on the island in January and would love to meet your Bostons and you.

Many STX residents would LOVE it if a good owner/chef took over Tivoli Gardens. There are some good restaurants on the island, but we can always use more and especially some different varieties from what we do already have. I get asked often if there is good Italian food on STX. Tutto Bene is good at what they make, but there are so many more Italian specialties that are not part of their menu that would draw a big crowd at another restaurant. Tivoli's location right in downtown Christiansted isn't bad, either.

There is an active Artist community on St. Croix and they should be able to tell you how/where to get whatever supplies you need. Is it your plan to only be here half the year? Would the restaurant be open all year if you purchased it?

Would also love to see something new in the Tivoli Gardens spot. We really enjoyed the atmosphere-it is a great spot for a restaraunt and were sorry to hear it was closing.

Never heard about dogs being stolen. Have several friends who have moved here with dogs and cats-no one has ever had any problems since they are all indoor pets.

Where is Tivoli Gardens??

Downtown by Purple Papaya, second level. Great view for parades, by the way....

Thank you so much for all your responses! I guess Don & I just need to check things out when we visit! Where's a good spot to drink some wine and have a meal near Tivoli Gardens? There is a place here on Cape Cod called Lost Dog Pub, and they have one in St Croix also, anyone been there? I am reading all the books and maps, it sure isn't Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket but sounds so beautiful, I am excited to visit. If there are any special things I should do or see that you recommend PLEASE let us know, you are a great group to read, thanks again,!

Lost Dog is completely the other direction, in F'sted. It's a small hole in the wall with GREAT pizza (try the one with everything on it, I can't remember what they call it - Trash Can?) Every bite is different...it's very much a beer drinking atmosphere.

As for having a glass of wine, just go down on the boardwalk in C-sted and sit and look at the harbour - Rumrunners, Stixx, Brew Pub...anything down there is good, Rumrunners probably is the most "restaurant" place but very casual. The others kind of have bar fare, sandwiches and such, but are very good as well....but the view can't be beat! There's also a restaurant at Coakley Bay that I always get the name wrong on, Pelican something....Cane Bay has some great spots to watch sunsets and see if you can see the elusive Green Flash if you go west. There's Kendricks downtown, and Savant just east of town, and Tutto Bene...but none of them have the view, just great food. You won't get the view here either, but if you are in F'sted, try --- well, someone will have to help me, the great little French restaurant there, I've lost my mind and can't think of the name...St. Tropez?

Good luck to you on Tivoli - we enjoyed them while they were open...love to see something really great go in there!

Depending on when you come, many of the downtown restaurants will be closing for 2-4 weeks in the near future. During the peak of "hurricane season" many of the eateries shut down for annual cleaning/renovations and Tutto Bene also takes an extra week to go on a sailing charter with their staff as a paid vacation in appreciation for making the business so successful throughout the year.

Good wine in C'sted can most easily be found at Bacchus restaurant, just half a block up the street from Tivoli Gardens. There are other restaurants with decent wine available, but that is one of Bacchus' foci on their menu. Stop in on Wednesday for 2 for 1 bottle of wine night. It's always a treat.

Lost Dog on STX isn't probably quite the same as what you know on Cape Cod. It's a sports bar that serves pizza and sandwiches and salads. There isn't much pizza on St. Croix, so they do OK, but depending on where you come from the pizza is either touted as awesome or mediocre.

If you would like a general tour of the island, send me an email or PM with the dates you schedule and I can show you around.

What is the green flash? Alexandra, we are coming in on September 13 , and arrive around noon-ish, and stay until Monday. We will have our cell phones, so maybe Thursday or Friday we could get together!? We are meeting with the owner's Wednesday so I am not sure of times or plans yet., but 2 for 1 at Bacchus sounds like a plan! We would love a tour of the Island and get some directions- I dread driving on the left-Don will be driving!, so I will let you know ,soon,a day and time that we can set that will work for you ! Thank you! Krista , thanks for your advice, our Bostons are pretty cool, my worries "are" relocating with them, if it happens my guess folks will know us by the 4 black and white little pups always at my side, which they are anyway. We had four puppies last year and kept two of them but the our 2 females are fixed-NEVER AGAIN! The heat worries me but they hate the cold here and hate the snow! It all depends on our trip what happens! thanks again

Bacchus will be closed for 1 month, starting Sept 3.

My favorite spot on the west end is lunch at the Sunset Grill, north of F'sted. They have a lovely shaded beach setting. They serve lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. The food is good. Le St. Tropez restaurant in F'sted is nice too. Villa Morales near F'sted has good, inexpensive local and Puerto Rican food, and the best pina coladas.

You must go snorkeling at Buck Island while you're here. And take a drive out to Point Udall on the east end.

Check out this months Caribbean Living mag. It has a section on STX restaurants.

I add to the recommendation list the Beachside Cafe, just south of Frederiksted in the SandCastles on the Beach setting, which sometimes has live jazz or other music. You can combine an upscale outdoor patio meal beside the ocean, with a snorkling/swimming visit, or watching for the Green Flash during spectacular sunsets.

Under the Blue Moon in Frederiksted is another dinner/ live music/ sunset favorite, near the recently renovated harbor front and pier.

We have been winter visitors also for many years, with future plans for more STX living.
Enjoy your visit!
- Joanna