STT Today,comments

It was different but in many ways the same. The airport was one of those old metal buildings, probably from WWII (Ronnie would know more about that.) There was a barber there that everyone used & many were very upset when he had to move when the new airport was built. I think he relocated downtown someplace. What I really remember most about that airport were the potholes in the parking lot. You could lose a VW in some of them.

Morning Star Beach Club wasn't there, just a beach. I think the Reef was once the Flamboyant then Holiday Inn owned it. Anyway, later they had a harp player nightly in the lobby by this big fountain. I think he even wore a tuxedo. People then used to dress up more at night. The years sort of blur together but there was a place in Crown Bay near Nisky with a big lobster on the roof (can't remember the name but really good pizza.) I'm guessing it was the early 90's when Dave Mason played live there. His ex-wife lived on STT. He sounded just like his records. Lots of hotels changed their names over & over. Sugar Bay used to be Sugar Bay Plantation but they dropped the Plantation part due to an uproar that it was racist. More recently, Limetree changed to Bluebeard's Beach Club.
The 2 guys who owned Blackbeard's years ago used to put on a great Sunday brunch & Blackbeard's was a great spot to have lunch situated as it is overlooking the harbor. I really miss going there. The Ritz didn't exist & neither did Elysian.

We thought Hugo was bad on STT & knew it was much worse on STX but it was still bad enough. Lots left STT after Hugo but Hugo was a picnic compared to Marilyn in 1995 for STT but that time, STX missed the worst of the wrath. LOTS more left after Marilyn, especially those who had gone through Hugo too. Where Yacht Haven Grande is now is where the old Ramada Inn was. The place was ruined completely with Marilyn but before that there used to be a restaurant on a big boat anchored there. Gourmet Gallery had a market right by the water there, too. It was so nice when that Ramada building was finally razed as it was such an eyesore.

A now dead friend of mine was working at Riise's for Isidore & Charlotte Paiwonski at Riise's back in the 50's/60's & remembered when JFK & Jackie visited before he was ever president. They had dinner at the Paiwonski's & she said they were such a stunning couple that you immediately knew they were somebody, long before they were nationally known. I think they visited on a yacht. She also knew Herman Wouk when he lived here & said he was a really big jerk, arrogant, etc. He could write, though!

Lots of the restaurants, shops & hotels are gone that were here then. It's a lot tackier now downtown but St. Thomas was very much a high end place at that time so naturally the stores reflected that. There was more socializing then, too it seems to me. Now we're all more at home & find our entertainment there instead of out & about. Lots more parties in people's homes then. We weren't all hooked on cable & the internet & seemed to get together with friends more frequently. I'm guessing that's the way it is everywhere. I remember after Hugo, the only thing on TV seemed to be the Frugal Gourmet on WTJX which of course, was snowy as all get out with rabbit ears.

It also seemed easier to meet people when I first got here. There's been so much building compared to then but you were introduced around more. Now you sort of have to find your way around. A little of the small town feel has been lost but it's still there. Back then, often the wives were home & did more entertaining. I whine about having to hit 3 grocery stores to fix food for a party but it's soooo easy now compared to then.

Ronnie needs to add to this. I wish I could remember more of the names of places but the sun has fried my brain, at least the memory part for details.

TRW, sent you a PM on a local Spa in Red Hook. Don,t want to advertise to much, it's hard enough to get a appointment. Now is a good time to go as they are not as busy and you can be known which helps at high season. Good luck.

Hey STT people. What's up with the CEO of the Hospital making $750K+++ a year and he's a criminal and a black mailer. Did Turnbell hire him? Are you guys pissed or what? Did the BOD screw up or the exective search firm.

Don't feed the troll...

The lobster place was Barnacle Bill's. Stixx at the old Ramada??

Before my time, but I hear about these all the time: The Safari Club, Yesterday's, Barbary Coast, Horsefeathers, Lord Rumbottom's, Walter's, Wet Willie's, Creque's Alley, Piccola Marina(wood-fired pizza .)

Gone during my time here (but not forgotten!): "The" Bar & Grill (Alex's), The Old Mill, For the Birds, Three Virgins, the aforementioned Barnacle Bill's, the East Coast, one Fiddleleaf (the one at Watergate was before my time), Jimmy the Greek's places on Government Hill and Gregerie Channel, Bar Normandie, Lemongrass Cafe, The Oasis...

And Trade, I wasn't here for Hugo, but after Marilyn, I remember going to visit people because no one had phones. And the zillions of stars that are out there when there were no lights here. I don't think we will ever see that again. The light pollution has increased exponentially the past few years, and with so many more generators...

Barnacle Bill's & Stixx!!! Thank you. I've been going nuts over those 2 names. There were really some interesting shops downtown that are gone too like Lion in the Sun. Wet Willie's kept going & coming back. Wild times there back in the day then it got too wild. I went to a drag fashion show there once. I had forgotten about Piccola Marina. They did have good pizza. I never went to Fiddle Leaf except for the one by Hotel 1829 but it really was a fabulous restaurant. Cloth Horse was off Back Street in the building by the old straw market place. Another good restaurant was tucked back in that old building but it didn't make it. Was that Lemongrass Cafe? I think it left before Marilyn. Can't remember the name of that one either if it's not Lemongrass but it was great while it lasted. Another one that escapes me was run by 2 guys & it was named after them. God, my memory sucks lately. That one's on the tip of my tongue too. I hope Ronnie shows up. Two male names. They also opened a smaller lunch place across from Havensight later on in the Guardian building where the Buddha place is now.

You're right about the stars. I soooo hated people who had generators after Marilyn only because I was jealous. Roy Schneider had (still does) Christmas lights on his cyclone fence & that was about the extent of Christmas decorations that I saw after Marilyn. Lost a ton of weight then since there wasn't much to eat & even after the grocery stores reopened & were pretty well stocked, the ice cream was thawed & defrosted so a year after that I went on an ice cream binge that wouldn't quit.

Wait, was it Williams & Daniel???

Fat City, The Sandbox, Powderhorn, Drakes, Sparky's, Joes, Tinkers,Magic Lantern,Squirrel Cage, Trader Dan's, Alfredos, Entre Nous, Driftwood, The Gate, Flying Fish, the Fishmarket, Daddy's, Grass Shack, Cloud Room, Longtail, Indies House,Lobster Pot, Andy's, Harborview, Sebastians, Bali Hai, L'Escargot [both of them], au Bon Vivant, Jellys, Libra Bros., Crazy Cow, Sea Shanty, Papagayo, Sandy's, Gracies, Lauries, Kum Wah, Drunken Shrimp, Portofino, Famous, Quarterdeck, Villa Olga, ---- to name a few of the varied and gone restaurants and Bars that made STT a great dining and DRINKING town when many supplies were much harder to obtain.

Yes! L'Escargot & Entre Nous. Crazy Cow for the best burgers bar none! I don't remember Kum Wah too fondly though. Papagayo in Tillet was owned by a guy named Kevin, wasn't it? The iguanas would jump off the trees & land on the tin roof & wake up the drunks. :@)

I don't remember Bali Hai or Fat City but some of the others bring back some good memories.

Yes trade it was William's and Daniel's. And you forgot Yesterdays!!! 🙂

Well, not surprising since I can't even remember my cell phone number. 😉

Hey, are you guys getting any good rain over on STT? We have had a couple of beautiful rains here on STX however not my pool is full of the volcanic ash or African dust or something. At least it washed some of it out of the air.

Oh, yeah. The lake in my living room is alive & well with the water that came in under the door. The rain earlier in the week sure left a nasty mess on the cars. I'm just pretending the ash is adding texture to the cistern water or maybe fiber? Lots of rain last night.

right here david

Where do you want me to start? Charlie was the barber in the airport and he is still there in the new one as we speak!
Flamboyant Hotel was razed to build the new Frenchman's Reef that was completed in '72. It was first run by Holiday Inn. Actually it was the first luxury Holiday Inn ever built.
Remember the Lucy's Supermarkets? Normandy Bar. Alfredo's>Ralfredos>Barbary Coast. East Coast. Slip Away.
Carnival Take Out. Carnival Drive In. The Drive In Theater. Someplace Else, Eddie's Number One Backstreet, Sid's Delly, The Bee Hive, Sundowners. Oasis Restaurant(Main Street), Oasis Beach Club(Lindberg Bay), Carousel, El Casino, Crimson Parlor, 3 Virgins, Orange Julius, Le Club, Dancing Frog, Duffy's(the original), The Loft, Happy Mongoose.Red Rooster, Fallen Angel, 21 Club, Brown Derby, Shandou, Pier Two, Coffee Shop, Black Patch.
Starting to hurt my head!

Where in the airport is Charlie? Upstairs?

That little corner right where the phones are. You pass it when coming in the gate while heading to baggage claim. He sell souvenirs as well and his chair in in the souvenir shop!

Never noticed it before.

Anyone remember Cavanaughs? The store in St Croix was on King Street and just crammed with things. Unfortunately it burned in 1974 (I believe). I lived on the island then and flew over to St Thomas for a shopping/visit and noticed there was a Cavanaughs there,too. From what I remember it was a long building wedged among other shops on a side street. It may not have lasted long, but I know it was there in 1975!

And they had one in Old San Juan as well!

hey all you STT'rs reading this,i see kymani marley is going to be at paradisegate on sat night,i bought his newest cd a couple of months ago and it's really good,it sounds like it would be a good show and i'm sorry i have to work that night or i'd be there.

I believe he was here a short while ago?or maybe BVI?

he was at the BVI music fesitival in May

How was it? Trade, did you go?

No, I didn't go but I bet it was good.