Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Foxy (born 'Philiciano') Callwood started life as one of seven children on Jost Van
Dyke in 1938. Since then, this barefoot man with the dreadlocks and guitar has be-
come probably the most famous person in the BVI. The keys to Foxy's celebrity are
his irreverent, deep and infectious laughter, the persistent twinkle in his eye and the
ability to offer up a melody or piece of philosophy to make each person he meets feel
worthy. Best of all, the man exudes a disarming euphoria owing more to his guitar
than to the bottle of beer he has forgotten on your table. 'I always happy,' you can
hear him telling himself and anyone who will listen, as the troubadour wanders
around Foxy's Tamarind Bar in a T-shirt and ragged jeans. 'I am so happy my cup is
full and running over.'
The public first met Foxy in 1968, when his mother set up a booth on the beach for
a festival at Jost and proclaimed it 'Mama's Booth & Foxy's Bar'. 'Somebody told
us to put a little kitchen on da booth, so we did,' says Foxy. 'Den Mama left, and I
was stuck with it.' Soon word spread among sailors about this jolly fellow on Jost
Van Dyke who could make up a calypso melody in the time it took you to crack a
cold beer from his cooler.
Over the last few decades, Foxy has prospered. And, as he's done so, he has
passed the hat around and made large donations to build a high school on the island
and to build an island sloop to teach local kids about their heritage. He will tell any-
one who will listen, 'Don't put all these hillsides in condos; educate our young
people to grow mangos up dere or build and sail boats.' In 2008 he was honored as a
Member of the Order of the British Empire for his commitment to conservation and
philanthropy on Jost. That's right: he's 'Sir Foxy' now!
And how did he get his crafty nickname? He isn't saying. But one island woman
has this to say: 'What would you call a fella dat done gone out with two sisters at da
same time, and dem not even carin'?'
Foxy's Tamarind Bar
BURGERS, SEAFOOD $$
( 284-495-9258;
www.foxysbar.com
;
mains $22-42; lunch & dinner)
Foxy's is
the place of legends. The yachting crowd has been partying here for almost five decades
and raising hell on the beach. Local bands play several nights a week (usually Thursday
through Saturday) in season and draw a mix of islanders and party animals off the boats.
The light fare is a mix of rotis and darn good burgers, while the dinner mains are mostly
meat and seafood. On Friday and Saturday night staff fire up the barbecue. What's more,
Foxy has his own microbrewery on site, so fresh tap beers accompany the food. The best
