Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Best Shopping Day
The most fun shopping on the island
takes place on
St. John Saturday
, a
colorful, drum-beating, spicy feast for
the senses, held on the last Saturday of
every month. This daylong event begins
early in the morning in the center of
town and spills across the park. Vendors
hawk handmade items, ranging from
jewelry to handicrafts and clothing, and
food made from local ingredients. One
vendor concocts soothing salves from
recipes passed on by her ancestors;
another designs and makes porcelain
earrings; another flavors chicken and
burgers with her own wonderful secret
hickory barbecue sauce; yet another
hollows out and carves gourds from
local calabash trees.
Bajo El Sol,
Mongoose Junction (
&
340/693-7070;
www.bajoelsolgallery.com),
is a cooperative and award-winning gallery displaying the work of many island artists.
For sale are paintings, sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry.
Bamboula,
Mongoose Junction (
&
340/693-8699;
www.bamboulastjohn.com),
has an exotic and very appealing collection of gifts from St. John, the Caribbean,
India, Indonesia, and Central Africa. The store also has men's and women's clothing
under its own label—hand-batiked soft cottons and rayons made for comfort in a hot
climate.
Here's your chance to pick up a unique item. A total of 100 artists, artisans, and
designers have their work showcased at the
Best of Both Worlds
(
&
340/639-
8520;
www.thebestofstjohn.com), in Mongoose Junction. The shop is a great place
for one-of-a-kind gifts and local art. Many award-winning designers display their
work, ranging from jewelry to art glass, lamps, dishware, and clocks. You will find
especially good buys in artistic glasswork.
If you're planning to hike the trails of lush St. John, and you've arrived unprepared,
Big Planet Adventure Outfitters,
Mongoose Junction (
&
340/776-6638
), is the
best place to go to stock up on outdoor clothing. Reef footwear and Naot sandals are
sold, along with a selection of other durable items, including backpacks, luggage,
sunglasses, and the like.
Coconut Coast Studios,
Frank Bay (
&
800/887-3798
or 340/776-6944; www.
coconutcoaststudios.com), is the studio of Elaine Estern, best known for her Carib-
bean landscapes. It's 5 minutes from Cruz Bay; walk along the waterfront, bypassing
Gallows Point. The outlet also sells calendars, gifts, limited edition prints, and litho-
graphs. From November to April, the studio hosts a free sunset cocktail party
Wednesday 5:30 to 7pm.
Donald Schnell Studio
, next to the Texaco gas station, Cruz Bay (
&
340/
776-6420;
www.donaldschnell.com), is a working studio and gallery where Mr.
Schnell and his assistants have created one of the finest collections of handmade
pottery, sculpture, and blown glass in the Caribbean. The staff can be seen working
daily. They're known for their rough-textured coral work. Water fountains are a spe-
cialty item, as are house signs and coral-pottery dinnerware. The studio will ship all
over the world, so no need to worry about carrying it all back on the plane. Go in and
discuss any particular design you may have in mind.
Every Ting,
Bay Street, Cruz Bay (
&
340/693-7730
), is the best of the all-
purpose stores, and it's also a gathering point for locals and visitors alike. It's like a
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