Greetings from St. John, USVI

2010 updates of the villa Altagracia in St. John, USVI

Over the years I have worked with the owner in making suggestions to updating the villa in St. John. This included recommendations on furniture, colors and structural improvements. I'm happy to say that many of my suggestions were acted on and the house is absolutely lovely. The final improvements for this season include sourcing rugs for the living room and dining room. What a difference a few suggestions make with creating an absolutely delghtful retreat in the Caribbean.

When in St. John, here are some of my favorite eating establishments. What's really nice is they remember me year after year. It's just like coming home to family.

Asolare – Located at the top of the mountain on Caneel Hill, it was originally a stone residence turned into a restaurant with breathtaking views of the bay and St. Thomas. The meals get better and better everytime I go there. The bartender Kim is an absolutle delightful person and she can give you lots of information about the island while we sip our martinis at the bar.

Ocean Grill – Located in Mongoose Junction. Excellent food and atmosphere. Again, a great accommodating staff.

ZoZo's – Located at Gallow's point. Their bar is on the 2nd floor and has a great view of the sunset. A definite plus is the free valet parking.

Drift Away – A NEW FIND!! A fabulous spa offering massages, facials, wraps, scrubs, manicures and pedicures.

The service level of the staff here could teach some other restauants a bit about customer service. Most recently, I've been trying to get a reservation at a local Minneapolis restuarant for months. Everytime I call, I'm met with a curt person who only has 5pm and 9pm available. End of story. I called in December for a March reservation and again, was somewhat snubbed as if she didn't care if we ate there or not. It's such a disappointment when people in the service industry don't recognize how to deliver good service and the fact that the bill pays their salary. Perhaps, this individual has never had good service herself and therefore doesn't recognize what it is or how to deliver.

Enjoy some of the sights of St. John, USVI