What's Happening in Paradise?
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sam Fusco

From the September 2009 Newsletter

Join us this September for Owner Appreciation Weeks at Oyster Bay Beach Resort. This first-come, first-served event is only offered to owners for one month - so book now and don't let this chance pass you by! Call 1-888-784-6688 or visit www.obbr.com today! Choose any week in September. Accommodations are filling up fast so book now before you miss the excitement!

For the sixth year in a row, Oyster Bay Beach Resort will be showing our appreciation to our owners by hosting Owners Appreciation Weeks for four full weeks in the month of September. It is important to us that we share our gratitude and say thank you for making us one of the most celebrated and flourishing resorts in the Caribbean. If you have participated in Owner Appreciation Weeks in the past, you know how fun and exciting they are. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? This year will truly be a September to remember. In addition to our highly reduced rates,
we'll be offering...

BelMar Grill - Seafood - Wine Bar is open 7 days a week for dinner and lunch; and, beginning in October, it will be open for breakfast. If you haven't been to BelMar, stop by for a delicious dinner of grilled lobster, prime rib or other signature dishes complemented by a selection of reasonably priced fine wines. By the way, did I mention the fabulous view of the yachts in Simpson Bay? For reservations, call 011.599.544.2614 or Email: belmarsxm@gmail.com.

Enjoy a tropical holiday season "island style" from Radisson Resort St Martin and give your winter boots a break! For a limited time, book your *St Martin Holiday Vacation by October 31st, 2009 and receive:

-------- 25% OFF room accommodations
-------- Daily complimentary breakfast buffet at Le Marché
-------- No Resort fees
-------- Complimentary in room high-speed internet
-------- Complimentary Wi-Fi access
-------- Kids stay & eat free! (restrictions apply)

*Travel Dates: December 19, 2009 through January 2, 2010
For information and reservations, visit www.radisson.com/stmartinHoliday2009?s_cid=rdstmartin142

Roland Richardson Gallery at #6 rue de la Republique, in Marigot, will be closed for the month of September on holiday. Roland & Laura Richardson welcome emails requests to their e-address of roland.laura@wanadoo.fr or calls to French side: 011.590.590.87.32.24 to make plans to see the artist's collection at convenient times during the month of September. The gallery reopens October 1, 2009 to their normal schedule of six days open M-Sat, 10am to 6pm.

Villalady.com is offering several pay for 5 nights and stay for 7 nights Specials on the following properties for the months of September and October. Click the links below to view the villa details.
---------- Jubelibra - Jubelibra by Roberta Valins;
---------- Grand Case Cottage - Grand Case Cottage on the beach in St Martin - Villalady
---------- Casa Boco - Casa Boco Villa, St. Maarten, Caribbean Villa Rentals - Villalady
We also offer insurance for trip cancellation due to hurricane or illness through our affiliate, Access America.
To view all our listings, visit our websites: www.villalady.com and www.stmaartenvillavacations.com.
Roberta Valins, Vacation Rentals in St. Maarten. Telephone: 800.338.4552 EST or 718.464.0769 EST.

Lee's Roadside Grill is closing September 7th for vacations and will reopen on September 21st. It's quite an experience to watch Lee's boats come in at 5:30pm with the catch-of-the-day, usually Mahi-Mahi, which will be on the next days menu. Hey, even Lee and his crews need a vacation sometime.

Marquis Boutique Hotel & Spa located in Anse Marcel has several Promotional Packages available until September 30th, 2009. Most of them include a car rental. The Delightful Package includes two dinners in two of their best partner restaurants. The Stress-Free Package includes massages, and the ECONOMIC CRISIS RATE includes only the room, although breakfast can be added. Please click here to view the PDF Brochure.

Ric's Place, an American Café and Sport Bar, which usually shows every sports event on its TVs, has closed for vacations, painting, and maintenance and will reopen October 1st.

Pizza Galley, which serves the best pizza on the Dutch side of the island, closed July 22 for the summer holiday and reopens October 15th. By the way, they also serve a wicked Caesar's Salad which is just incredible!

La Samanna Resort & Spa, which continually ranks among the top 10 hotels for service in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas by Travel & Leisure Magazine, will close September 1st for its annual maintenance and vacations. The resort will reopen on November 1st.

Radisson Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Elizabeth Dexter as regional sales manager for Radisson Resorts Aruba and St Martin. Dexter will promote both properties and lead group sales efforts in the West and Midwest regions of the United States and Canada.
------"Liz Dexter is an exciting addition to our team, bringing strong luxury market relationships," said the resorts' director of Sales and Marketing Francis Purvey. "Our presence in the Caribbean will benefit from her expertise and contributions."
------Dexter comes to Radisson with over 15 years of hospitality sales and marketing experience, representing premier properties in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean. She is a member of the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE), Meeting Planners International (MPI) and the American Society for Training and Development, among several other key travel associations. Dexter holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management from Florida International University.
------For information and reservations, please call Radisson Hotels & Resorts (800) 333-3333, visit www.radissoncaribbean.com or contact a travel professional.

Aqua Mania Adventures has started trips to St Eustatius (Statia) with the high-speed ferry Edge. Regular tourist day trips are on Tuesdays and Friday and Sunday will be trips via Saba, so Sabans can visit Statia and vice versa. St Eustatius has a very rich history, being dubbed the Golden Rock for it’s integral part in free trade in the Caribbean during the 1600 and 1700’s.

Most noteworthy activities will be the Historical walking tours of Oranjestad which includes: Gallows Bay Warehouse Ruins; The Old Gin House - Warehouse Turned Guesthouse; a Museum; Fort Oranje built 1629; Roman Catholic Church 1910; Jewish Synagogue built 1739; The Rum Shop; Tour of Historical Foundation Museum built 1750; Government's Guesthouse Building built 1840; and, the Dutch Reformed Church built 1755 followed by an Island Bus tour and lunch at The Old Gin House. It also includes a Walking Tour Book Souvenir (one per single or per couple).

In addition, there are Island taxi tours, a visit to the Botanical Gardens, First class scuba diving and snorkeling, and,
amazing hiking up the Quill, not only to the top, but also down into the crater which is a rain forest Garden of Eden. Visit the tourist website at www.statiatourism.com for great information on this beautiful and undiscovered island; and, visit Aqua Mania Adventures at www.stmaarten-activities.com or email us at aquamaniaadventures@yahoo.com.

Elisa Cohen wants everyone to know that Bikini Beach Tapas Bar & Grill on Orient Beach will be open in September and October with low season hours; but, the same high energy staff and ambiance that everyone loves at Bikini!!! We are open 9am-5pm serving lunch only from the Noodlekini side of the restaurant. We have a special menu which combines the main restaurant with the snack bar. Open 7 days a week. Plus, this year we have added a Happy hour and stay open till 9pm or so 3 nights a week and on the weekends with snacks available.

The Lucozade Challenge - Consumers of the Lucozade Energy drink will have the chance to win a place on what the brand describes as a "once in a lifetime physical challenge." Lucozade is offering five challenges in all covering locations such as the Caribbean, the Alps and Zambia.

One of these challenges is to race a world class yacht in the Caribbean. The St. Maarten 12 Metre Challenge will be hosting this event on September 12th until September 16th. The expert crew of the 12 Metre Challenge will train the Lucozade team as real America's Cup sailors in only 2 days, with time in the class room and 2 training sessions on the water. On September 16th the Lucozade team will be competing against local sailors from St. Maarten in an exiting match race. All of this is backed up with snorkeling and Jet Ski riding. Check www.lucozadechallenge.com for more information about the challenge. For information about St. Maarten 12 Metre Challenge: www.12metre.com or call 542 0046 or email info@12metre.com

September is International Coastal Cleanup Month.
During the month of September there will be several beach cleanups at various beaches on the island coordinated by the local coordinator Sint Maarten PRIDE foundation. The ICC is organized worldwide by the Ocean Conservancy with over 90 countries world wide participating. The large event will be held on Saturday, September 19th, at the Mullet Bay Beach. Time is from 7am-10am. Last year this event attracted over 640 volunteers with many hotels sending employees to help. The Oyster Bay Resort featured the International Coastal Cleanup at their activities desk and several hotel guests were in attendance as well. For more information on the International Coastal Cleanup, please visit www.oceanconservancy.org. For local participation, please email bernveen@yahoo.com or sxmpride@yahoo.com. Telephone: 011.599.523.1188 or 011.599.524.1516.

Mary's Boon is offering Summer Specials for September 2009. Their specials include Pay for 5 Nights and get 2 Free and Pay for 3 Nights and get 1 Free. They are also offering discounts on activities and at the restaurant among other things. For information or reservations, visit www.marysboon.com or email reservations@marysboon.com.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE
After 3.5 years of promoting international and cultural movies to the island of St. Maarten, Philipsburg Theatres will be closing its doors this Saturday August 1st. The management and staff would like to thank all of our patrons for visiting the theatre. We hope that we have been able to make a difference in your movie experience. To remember the comfortable times that you have had with us we would like to give you the opportunity to buy one or more of our lounge seats. If you are interested, please send us an email at info@philipsburgtheatres.com.
Best regards, Jasper, Giselle, Shaun & Elliot.

St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association: St. Maarten's Summer Sale!
Discounts at over 50 resorts, restaurants, casinos, car rentals, shops, spas and activities. Book your St. Maarten vacation. For every night you book at a participating resort, you will receive $50 in on island spending credit plus additional discount on nightly room rates starting at 20% off. This offer is valid for bookings and travel between May 1 and October 31, 2009. For more information go to www.visitstmaarten.com. 

What's Happening in Paradise?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sam Fusco

From the July 2009 Newsletter

Holland House Beach Hotel located on Frontstreet in Philipsburg is offering a 20% discount on all their room rates including their Summer Special Packages. This offer is valid for all travel until September 30th, 2009. While you are there make sure you have dinner at the Ocean Lounge Restaurant and Bar which features a beautiful hardwood deck overlooking the ocean and the boardwalk. It could be the delight of your holiday! Click here to view the Summer Special Packages.

Pizza Galley, which serves the best pizza on the Dutch side of the island, will close July 22 for the summer holiday and re-open October 15th. By the way, they also serve a wicked Caesar's Salad which is just incredible!

Marquis Boutique Hotel & Spa located in Anse Marcel has several Promotional Packages available until September 30th, 2009. Most of them include a car rental. The Delightful Package includes two dinners in two of their best partner restaurants. The Stress-Free Package includes massages, and the ECONOMIC CRISIS RATE includes only the room, although breakfast can be added. Please click here to view the PDF Brochure.

BelMar Grill - Seafood - Wine Bar will reopen in early July. The restaurant has been closed the last couple months due to renovations. If you haven't yet been to BelMar, plan on stopping by one evening for a delicious dinner of grilled lobster, prime rib or other signature dishes complemented by a selection of reasonably priced fine wines. By the way, did I mention the fabulous view of the yachts in Simpson Bay? For reservations, call 011.599.544.2614 or Email: belmarsxm@gmail.com.

When you arrive at Princess Juliana International Airport and approach the Immigration Booths with your passport in hand, you will notice magnificent paintings on the walls... scenes of StMaarten/StMartin's countryside, flamboyant trees, flowers and fruits - all the works of famed artist and native son, Roland Richardson. To view more of these wonderful creations, visit The Roland Richardson Gallery online or in Marigot. Telephone 011.590.590.87.84.08.

Aqua Mania Adventures is starting trips to St Eustatius with High Speed ferry Edge. Regular trips will start with the advent of the Summer Fest in Statia at the end of July. Tuesdays are the tourist day trips and Friday and Sunday will be trips via Saba, so Sabans can visit Statia and vice versa. St Eustatius has a very rich history, being dubbed the Golden Rock for it’s integral part in free trade in the Caribbean during the 16 and 1700’s. Most noteworthy activities will be:

Visit the tourist website at www.statiatourism.com for great information on this beautiful and undiscovered island; and, visit Aqua Mania Adventures at www.stmaarten-activities.com or email us at aquamaniaadventures@yahoo.com.

Bruno & Françoise, who opened La Petite Auberge des Iles 17 years ago on the Marina in Marigot, have sold the restaurant. The new owner, Frantz, was formerly the chef at La Plantation Resort in Orient Bay. We wish Frantz well. And we wish our dear friends, Bruno & Françoise who we will greatly miss, Bonne Chance pour le Futur.

Le Chanteclair also located on the Marina in Marigot has been sold. I've been told that Cecile Briaud and her husband are moving back to France. They would like to have their child, who is getting close to school age, educated in France. Over the years, Cecile has won many awards for her creative and innovative cooking. The island will miss her!

Sushiitto, a new restaurant, has opened in the Princess Casino complex of Princess Port de Plaisance Resort. Barbara and I had dinner there in May and the sushi was excellent. The preparation and presentation of their sushi dishes are rather creative and interesting. They call it, "Japanese with a twist."

Hollywood Casino located at the Pelican Resort Complex has built and opened a new restaurant near the casino entrance. It is called Hollywood Café and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is completily open-walled.

Yanick & Vesna at The Bagel House & Beyond (Tel: 524.5283) have expanded their breakfast, brunch & lunch menu. It now includes magnificent "homemade yogurts", bagels and bagel sandwiches, fresh fruit, salads, omelettes, pannini, fruit drinks, great coffee and more. Located in Simpson Bay next to McDonald's. Outdoor seating & WiFi.

For those of you who keep up with these things, construction of the Round-A-Bout (British term) or Traffic Circle (as we say in New Jersey, USA) at the intersection of Union Road and Bush Road (known as the hill road to Philipsburg) was well underway when Barbara and I left the island on June 4th. Upon completion, sometime in the Fall, this should make a big difference to the traffic in the area and eliminate the accidents. Stay tuned!

St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association: St. Maarten's Summer Sale!
Discounts at over 50 resorts, restaurants, casinos, car rentals, shops, spas and activities. Book your St. Maarten vacation. For every night you book at a participating resort, you will receive $50 in on island spending credit plus additional discount on nightly room rates starting at 20% off. This offer is valid for bookings and travel between May 1 and October 31, 2009. For more information go to www.visitstmaarten.com. 

What's Happening in Paradise?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sam Fusco

From the May 2009 Newsletter

Bobby Valins, the "Villa Lady," is offering a special "Pay for 5 Nights & Stay 7 Nights" for open dates in May and June for the following villas: (Click the villa name to visit the website)
--------------------------- Jubelibra by Roberta Valins. Open June 6-28
--------------------------- Casa Boco villa studios or main house ore entire villa May 10-June 14
--------------------------- Grand Case Cottage by Roberta Valins. May 1-15 and May 26 -June 30

For additional information, contact Roberta Valins at 718.464.0769 or 800.338.4552 Email: thevillalady@aol.com or visit: www.villalady.com. The Villa Lady offers select properties on the island of St. Maarten.

Tamara from Ric's Place writes: We have been running Karaoke with "Bob" every Saturday night, he had quite a following at The Ocean Club, so we would like to get the word out that he is at Ric's with a new sound system. Also, we are hosting two fundraisers in May:

Saturday May 16th is "SMART" Doggie Mixer 5pm-8pm, proceeds go towards St. Maarten Animal Rescue
Team to help the islands homeless animals.

Friday May 23rd is "The I Can Foundation" BINGO night, starting at 7pm-10pm. Proceeds go towards helping the foundation finish building the home/orphanage that burnt down two years ago. The people operating the orphanage are struggling to finish the rebuilding. Government operating funds have been scarce and donations are appreciated. For details email Tamara at ricsplace@caribserve.net or tel: 011.599.542.6050.

Jewels by Love is proud to announce the arrival of Breguet timepieces as the newest addition to our family! The legendary house of Breguet has once more invited us to be their Official Agent on the Island of St. Martin. We were the original Breguet Agent on the Island before both our companies went through some changes during restructuring.

Our first shipment from Breguet has just arrived and we cordially invite you to visit our Marigot store and discover these marvelous timepieces. We look forward to educating you about this grand house and its extraordinary creations.

For starters, just know that the venerable house of Breguet was founded in the year 1775 - 234 years ago! Its founder, Abraham Louis Breguet, is widely considered the greatest watchmaker of all time! Among their illustrious clients are some of the most distinguished names of the last 3 centuries:

Queen Marie-Antoinette (1783), General Bonaparte (1798), Emperor Napoleon (1806), Empress Josephine (1806), King of Spain (1808), Queen of Spain (1808), King of Holland (1808), Queen Victoria (1838), Arthur Rubinstein (1930), Ettore Bugatti (1931), Sir Winston Chuchill (1946), King Farouk of Egypt (1950), Duke of Wellington, Alexander Dumas, George Washington, The list is endless!

5th Anniversary Boardwalk Mas 2009
St. Maarten Tourist Bureau cordially invites the people of St. Maarten/St. Martin and our visitors to the 5th annual Boardwalk Mas. An original celebration of our traditional festive culture. Venue: The Boardwalk, and the Wathey Square on Frontstreet. Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009. Time: 5pm – 10pm. Masqueraders, marching bands, moko jumbies, pan players, folkloric personalities, carnival royals on the Boardwalk. Dance, theater, comedy, rapping and music bands on the Square. For more information about the 5th anniversary Boardwalk Mas, please contact the
St. Maarten Tourist Bureau at 542-2337, apriest@e-stmaarten.com.


------------------------------------------------Calling Dol-Fans!
-------------------------Join The 2009 Miami Dolphin Cheerleading Squad at
------------------------------The New Radisson St Martin Resort, Marina & Spa

------------------------------------------Site of Swimsuit Calendar Shoot

The new Radisson St Martin Resort, Marina & Spa, located on the chic French side of St Martin, is hosting the 2009 Dolphin Cheerleading Squad’s annual swimsuit calendar photo shoot and inviting Dol-fans to join the fun. Nestled in the picturesque cove of Anse Marcel, one of the island’s best areas to spot turtles and other marine life, the resort’s beach, signature zero-entry pool and full-service marina provides the perfect backdrop for a stunning shoot and playground for fans of the defending AFC East champions.

“We are so thrilled to bring our cheerleaders to Radisson St Martin Resort, Marina & spa,” states Dorie Grogan, senior director of events & entertainment for Miami Dolphins, Ltd. “This is the hippest new resort in the Caribbean and we look forward to having our beloved Dol-fans enjoy the property’s amazing C Le Restaurant, watersports activities and Guest Enrichment program.”

From Friday, May 15 through Friday, May 22, Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders will host a series of events which include:

· Welcome cocktail reception on the beach
· Beach volleyball and flag football games
· Cardio-dance classes
· Autograph signing sessions and dance performances

Rates begin at €169 (approximately USD $220*), are valid from Saturday, May 9 through Sunday, May 24, 2009 and can be booked through Radisson Hotels & Resorts (800) 333-3333 referencing “Dolphins’ Fans Rate”, www.radisson.com/stmartin (promotional code: MIAMI) or through any travel professional. American Airlines offers non-stop routes from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Philipsburg, St. Maarten (SXM).
* Dependent on daily exchange rate.

St. Maarten House Establishment Close
THE HAGUE--St. Maarten will have its first symbol of country-hood in the Netherlands as soon as Monday with the signing of the lease for the St. Maarten House in The Hague. While this will not be an embassy like independent countries have, this house will be the epicentre for all things St. Maarten – lobbying its causes in the Netherlands, providing a strong link to the island for St. Maarteners living abroad, and a place for island students to soak up a bit of home. Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams announced Thursday on returning from The Hague that a suitable building had been found in a prime location in the Dutch city with the help of the Agency for Government Buildings. The St. Maarten House, in which a still-to-be named “special envoy” will be stationed, will be rented for a low fee. (This article is courtesy of The Daily Herald)

We Love Summer Sale - Enjoy: Great Savings + Fun + Sun
We invite you to come and play at the Radisson St Martin at a price that's just right. Rates range from 141.75 € for a Superior room to 426.75 € for a Deluxe Grand Suite. Lots of extra added values included. Book today! The We Love Summer Sale can be booked through the Radisson Hotels & Resorts at (800) 333.3333 or on the resort's web site www.Radisson.com/StmartinSummer or any travel professionals.

St. Maarten's Carnival 2009 kicked off on Thursday, April 16th and is in full swing. Lots of bands, lots of music, lots of eating, lots of drinking and lots of fun. Carnival is celebrating its 40th Anniversary; so, this is an especially well organized and managed event with some of the best entertainers from the Caribbean as well as from other countries. If you're going to be on island and have never been to Carnival, correct that error and join in the fun. The event ends Monday, May 4th with the Closing Jump Up. Click here to view the Schedule of Events.

Although the hospitality industry is having a mediocre year, government officials are predicting potentially robust years ahead for cruise ship visits to the island. Currently, more than 30 cruise ships are under construction and will come on line between 2009 and 2012. For the first quarter (Jan.-Mar.) 2009, 541,023 cruise ship passengers visited the island compared with 517,978 for the first quarter of 2008. It's heartening to think that the numbers will greatly increase once the economy begins an upturn.

St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association: St. Maarten's Summer Sale!
Discounts at over 50 resorts, restaurants, casinos, car rentals, shops, spas and activities. Book your St. Maarten vacation. For every night you book at a participating resort, you will receive $50 in on island spending credit plus additional discount on nightly room rates starting at 20% off. This offer is valid for bookings and travel between May 1 and October 31, 2009. For more information go to www.visitstmaarten.com.

KLM, the Royal Dutch Airlines, is increasing its flights from Amsterdam to St. Maarten beginning June 11th, 2009. The airline will add a Saturday flight to its weekly schedule which now includes Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For you book lovers out there, The 7th Annual St. Martin Book Fair is scheduled for June 4th to 6th, 2009. Authors from many countries have already confirmed their attendance and will be reading passages from their books. The book fair will be held at the University of St. Martin. Email the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau info@st-maarten.com for additional information.

They've done it again! Hotel L'Esplanade in Grand Case was selected #7 of the Best Hidden Gems of the Caribbean and Mexico in Trip Advisor's Traveller's Choice Awards 2009. Last year, Philipsburg was selected as the 3rd Best Vacation Destination in the World and #1 in the Caribbean.

Princess Juliana International Airport has kicked off a campaign titled "So Much More" to promote the retail shops, restaurants, beauty shops, banks and other businesses and services provided at the mall inside the airport terminal. WiFi is also available within the airport. By the way, the busy airport had more than 1.7 million passengers pass through its doors during 2008. This was an increase of 3.8% in passenger traffic over 2007.

The St. Maarten – St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow - SMART is presented by the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, L'Office du Tourisme de St. Martin, St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) and L'Association des Hoteliers de St. Martin. The event is managed by the Caribbean Hotel Association.

SMART is a professional way to bring together the movers and shakers in the tourist industry for St. Maarten/St. Martin and the surrounding islands within an hour’s flight range. SMART will showcase the alluring islands of the North Eastern Caribbean Region including Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saba, St. Barthelemy, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts & Nevis, Barbados, St. Maarten - St. Martin.

SMART is a conference which provides the venue for International Buyers to network and negotiate future business opportunities with suppliers in the tourism industry during one day of pre-scheduled Appointments and one half day of Educational Seminars. The most important Travel Industry Partners and Wholesale Travel Agents have been invited to the conference, where they can meet our Hotel and Excursions operators on a “ONE on ONE" basis in order to conduct business in preparation for winter and beyond. The event takes place on May 20-22, 2009 at the Radisson St. Martin Resort, Marina & Spa. Go to www.SHTA.com for additional information. 

What's Happening in Paradise?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sam Fusco

From the March 2009 Newsletter

Pierres Caraibes, located in Marigot, is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this month! Pierres Caraibes specializes in villa rental vacations on St. Martin and St. Maarten. All of their villas are of the highest quality with a management service that is second to none. There is an excellent choice of properties with over 50 St. Martin villas for rent in either beachfront or hillside locations – the temptation is hard to resist. Visit: www.pierrescaraibes.com.

Things are hotting up for the 29th St.Maarten Heineken Regatta which is on from March 6th - 8th. This year was threatening to be a quiet Regatta with fewer boats registered, but now as we inch closer to the big event, this has proven to be no such thing.... already over 220 boats are registered, and regatta fever is building. The regatta merchandise is the hottest clothing collection on the island. Gear for guys and girls, sailors and non-sailors is available at all Shipwreck Shops on the island but more fun than that, drop by the GEAR tent at all the parties. Dont miss St.Maarten's most exciting event, www.heinekenregattagear.com.

The Cliff at Cupecoy Beach Vacation Rentals is offering the 7th night free while only paying for 6 (Stay 7 pay for 6). In addition, their low season rates start March 1st instead of the usual April 15th. To top it off, they are also offering a free rental car with a week stay as well. Looks like a pretty good deal for renters. For reservations, call Toll Free 1.866.978.5839 or 011.599.546.6655. Email: info@cliffsxm.com or visit: www.cliffsxm.com.

Jewels by Love is unique in the following ways:
1. All our jewelry is designed in-house
2. All our jewelry is hand-crafted as opposed to manufactured on an assembly line giving each piece a one-of-a-kind ---personality
3. All our jewelry is made in Europe by the finest craftsmen as opposed to being mass produced cheaply in the Far East
4. All our jewelry proudly bears our signature
5. All our diamonds are cut and polished in Belgium by master cutters for maximum brilliance as opposed to being cut ---and polished for maximum weight in sweat shops in the Far East
6. All our certified diamonds are GIA Certified to guarantee unbiased and indisputable grades
7. We are Authorized dealers for the World's Finest Watches
8. The Euro/Dollar exchange rate does not affect our pricing because ALL our prices are in US$ on BOTH sides of the ---island.
Questions? Tel: 011.590.590.87.25.50 or 011.599.542.6808 - Email: jewelsbylove@aol.com or jblsxm@aol.com

Garfield One and Too:
Are proudly once again the Official Chase Boat and Spectator boats of TEAM GOLDENDOG! Join us as we watch the start and finish of exciting classes of the 2009 Heineken Regatta on March 6-8th and in doing so, support Team Goldendog in their effort to help abused homeless animals on St. Maarten and Golden Retrievers in the States find their "Forever Homes" and raise awareness of the plight of homeless, needy and abused animals. Our net proceeds go to Team Goldendog to support their fine efforts. Read more about the charity at: www.teamgoldendog.org.

Last year, Team Goldendog raised several thousand dollars for St. Maarten Animal Welfare. Garfield One and Too are 27ft and 31ft powerboats, fast and comfortable with plenty of shade. Bring bathing suits, towels, suntan lotion and cameras. For more information e-mail: reservations@garfieldfuncat.com or call Bruce at: 011.599.554.1162. Click here to view the brochure. Space is limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Peg Leg Pub will again be hosting the Islands best and biggest St. Patrick's Day Party. Corned beef and cabbage "all you can eat" dinner. Live broadcast from the pub by Island 92... Green beer, live Irish Music etc., etc. Come one, Come All! Tuesday, March 17th starting at 11:30 AM til... For reservations, telephone: 011.599.544.5859 or email: peglegpubsxm@aol.com or visit us at www.peglegpub.com.

Words Need Love Too by Kamau Brathwaite, one of the fathers of Caribbean literature, and The Salt Reaper - Poems from the flats by the St. Martin author Lasana M. Sekou will be taught at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) this semester, said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).

"The University of St. Martin has also included House of Nehesi books in its current semester," said Sample.
According to USM lecturer Rhoda Arrindell, her literature class has two HNP titles among the required reading texts.
Sekou's Brotherhood of the Spurs, a collection of short stories spanning over 200 years of St. Martin people's experiences, is one of the books. The other is the essential monographs by noted Caribbean novelist and scholar George Lamming, Conversations II - Western Education and the Caribbean Intellectual, said Arrindell.

"This is a good start for 2009," said Sample. "We ended 2008 with a review for Debbie Jack's Skin in The Jamaica Gleaner; and Brathwaite's Words Need Love Too received an extensive review essay in the Harvard University journal Transition." For additional information, please visit: www.houseofnehesipublish.com.

February 22, 2009 LOS ANGELES, CA – Dev Patel wore the Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX 1 timepiece to the Oscars on Sunday Night. Patel stars in Slumdog Millionaire, the Oscar winning Best Picture. Slumdog Millionaire became the biggest winner grabbing eight Oscars. This exquisite timepiece is available at: Jewels By Love..No. 3 Front Street, Philipsburg. Tel: 011.599.542.6808 or Email: jblsxm@aol.com.

On Tuesday 3rd March, the first Budget Marine Match Racing Cup will take place on the Simpson Bay Lagoon . This event is part of the Heineken Regatta but is a totally different form of sailing competition. Match Racing relates to Fleet Racing (normal races ) like boxing relates to marathon running. The races are very short involve penalties and dramatic action and are very spectator friendly. (The most famous match racing event is the Americas Cup) The winner gets a $5,000 cash prize and the second place $3,000 and third place $1,000. The majority of sailors will be professionals and all experienced in the various match racing tours. The favorite is likely to be Peter Holmberg, the Virgin Islander and Olympic medalist, who was a skipper on the winning Alinghi team in the last Americas Cup.

The event will take place throughout the day but the finals are likely to be around 4 pm. The racing will be off the Juliana Airport runway inside the lagoon and spectators are invited to come with dinghies to watch. Some spectator boat accommodation will be available and ferries will go from the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. This is the first time a match racing event has been connected to a major Caribbean Regatta and is typical of the Heineken Regatta's drive to continue innovating. For additional information, please visit www.heinekenregatta.com.

Pizza Galley has won the #1 Best Pizza and #1 Best Dessert in The Daily Hérald, Best Of 2008, Issue January 28, 2009. This is a double Whammy for this great little restaurant. Visit them at: www.pizzagalley.com.

YachtBlast, Island 92’s popular Sailing/Maritime show is now on Twitter. Search for OceanMedia and keep up with the sailing scene in the Caribbean and around the world. Join Gary 'Gaz' Brown every week for a candid look at the local and international yachting scene. You can hear YachtBlast live on the North East Caribbean's most popular Rock and Blues station. Visit: www.yachtblast.com.

Legendary Reggae Band The Wailers to Headline The 29th Annual St. Maarten Heineken Regatta March 5-8, 2009 The legendary Wailers, who are the greatest exponents of reggae music in the world, are now confirmed to headline the 29th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta on Sunday, March 8, 2009 as part of the Serious Fun celebrations. The band, recognized worldwide as the only group still capable of delivering Bob Marley’s message of peace, love and equality, will be performing on Kim Sha Beach to close out the Caribbean’s largest regatta. For additional information, please visit www.heinekenregatta.com.

AVIS St Maarten is proud to announce that we now offer brand new BMW X5's, (Cat. L) in our fleet. BMW, the ultimate driving machine, is rated one of the best sport utility vehicles on the road today and now you can reserve one of these fine automobiles for your vacation. Automobile magazine (January 2007) wrote, "What makes the X5 stand out in the cross-over community is the way it performs, handles and holds the road.

Of course, renting a BMW from AVIS Rent A Car comes with the fine service that we are known for on the island. AVIS has been in business for close to thirty five years on St. Maarten / St. Martin and you can trust that we will do everything in our power to take good care of clients. The BMW X5 joins our fleet which ranges from small compacts to fun Jeep Wrangler to the spacious Ford Explorer. We have the vehicle that clients want and island wide locations for the best service you will find. Visit www.avis.com for additional information.

Divi Resorts has slashed rates by up to 60-percent for travel starting March 1, 2009 through December 23, 2009, making one’s dream vacation an attainable reality. It’s the same fabulous beaches, great facilities, numerous amenities and friendly service at prices too good to pass up. Here is what travelers to some of the Divi properties can expect to spend: Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, St. Maarten – hotel rooms from $148 per night. For more information or to book a reservation, please visit www.diviresorts.com or call 1.800.367.3484. 

What's Happening in Paradise?
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From the January 2009 Newsletter

In November, Tijon, billed as St Martin’s only laboratory, parfumerie and boutique opened in Grand Case. This unique experience offers original scents inspired by the island’s beauty which are included in lotions, soaps and fragrances handmade on site for both sexes, as well as Caribe Baie sun care products and L’Esperance skin care products. “Bringing a world-class parfumerie and tourist activity to St. Martin has been in the works for the past 10 years,” said John Berglund, who along with wife, Cyndi, owns and operates the new tourist destination. “The fragrances had to be true to the French parfum tradition while capturing the essence of the island,” said Berglund, who acts as the parfumer and chemist. Tourist activities include classes in the art of parfum making, allowing visitors the opportunity to create their own personal scents. The new attraction hosts other tourist activities, including special events for groups. Tijon is located at the corner of L'Esperance and Grand Case Boulevard, across from Spiga Restaurant. For more information, please visit www.tijon.com.

The fourth Invitational St.Maarten-St.Martin Classic Yacht Regatta is scheduled for January 22 to 25th and, this year they are doing something different. They have invited Tall Ships to participate and a special course has been added to the regatta for these ships. In fact, several tall ships have already expressed an interest in joining the fun including the 245 ft "Caledonia," which has 32 guest cabins and 22 crew cabins. We'll keep you posted.

La Samanna which experienced some damage to its beach and watersports area from the hurricane has built a new watersports pavillon on the beach along with four bamboo structured luxury cabanas. The cabanas offer the opportunity to relax all day on the beach while being shaded from the direct sun's rays. Of course, you will have to put up with the beach attendant periodically bringing you cold, wet, refreshing face towels, lunch and drinks on the beach, and ice cream in three flavors during the afternoon. Oh, how difficult life can be!

Here are some observations from our recent Nov. 5th to Dec. 10th trip to St. Maarten: Since Hurricane Omar visited the island in October, Sunset Beach Bar which was practically destroyed had the bar open within a couple days and was doing a brisk business. Workmen labored everyday to rebuild the decks for the tables and benches for dining and by the time we left, it was almost complete. Also, the usual entertainers were in residence and the crowds of happy tourists were back in force.

Bliss, a very popular night spot, which is located next to the Sunset Beach Bar, also took a big hit from Omar and was in pretty bad shape; but, while we were on island, workmen were hard at work rebuilding and remodeling the premises. I understand that it will reopen as a club without the restaurant.

The Mullett Bay Golf Course had more sand on the greens and course than in the sand traps. Crews of workers worked daily at removing the sand, broken tree limbs and rocks and boulders that had washed up from the sea. By the time we left the island, the course was looking pretty good.

The Royal Islander Club is temporarily closed. Omar damaged parts of the hotel and water from the wave surges flooded most of the ground floor level. I believe they may be waiting for an insurance settlement before beginning the renovations and clean-up of the property. I heard that tourists with reservations were being hosted by La Terrasse and the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort which is a good thing.

The Cajun Queen boat/restaurant which sits in Simpson Bay Lagoon between Lee's Roadside Grill and Skipjacks has sunk. Its lower deck is now submerged in about five feet of water.Since then, I have not heard anything about the owners lifting her out of the water.

Picante Mexican Restaurant is closed. It is located next to the Atrium Resort and the Buccaneer Beach Bar. The sign says for "renovations," but, I understand that the restaurant was flooded by Omar and that the closing may be permanent.

Arawak Restaurant which had been located on the waterfront in Marigot for many years is closed. I believe it may be due to the economy and the Euro vs. Dollar. David's Bar & Club located on the Marina Royale in Marigot has been sold. The new owner took over at the end of November; so, I wasn't able to see if he has made any changes. Terra Restaurant which was located on the Maho Plaza at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort has closed. I believe it actually closed prior to May '08 but it then looked like it was closed for vacation.

Have you been to the Lolos in Grand Case lately? Well, my favorite of the four restaurants, Talk of the Town has gone upscale. No longer do they serve meals on paper plates with plastic utensils. They now serve your meal on dinnerware accompanied by silverware. Here's more good news! They didn't raise prices! You can still enjoy very reasonable pricing.

Tropical sunsets. Aquamarine waters. Balmly Caribbean breezes. Any one of these alone would describe an ideal setting for a romantic getaway. The new Radisson St Martin Resort, Marina & Spa offers a Romantic Escape package for stays of five, six and seven nights that lets vacationers combine all of them. From the moment couples step into an awaiting speed boat for their water transfer until their farewell moonlit beach stroll, the resort's new package is ideal for couples celebrating honeymoons, special milestones or just creating memories in a tropical paradise. The resort's Romantic Escape package includes elegantly appointed accommodations, a bottle of champagne upon arrival, breakfast daily at the resort's French market-style eatery Le Marché and dinner including a bottle of wine in C Le Restaurant, the resort's signature culinary experience. The package also includes a 50-minute poolside cabana couples massage and a romantic sunset sail with views of Anguilla and the surrounding islands. From January 5 - April 18, 2009, package rates per couple begin at € 2,049 (approximately $3,019 USD*) for five nights in a Deluxe Room and € 2,839 (approximately $4,149 USD*) in a spacious Marina Suite, overlooking the fleet of resident sailboats. The Romantic Escape package can be booked through (800) 333-3333, the resort's Web site www.radisson.com/stmartin or through a travel professional.

The Caravanserai Beach Resort is making pretty good progress in the construction of their new rooms and suites. Last month, one of the new four story buildings was up and the workers were putting on the roof. When completed, Caravanserai will have 252 units with ocean views, four restaurants, four bars, a casino and loads of amenities.

Topper's Restaurant & Bar has taken over the beach bar at Flamingo Beach Resort. It is now Topper's by the Sea. They have expanded the deck area, added more tables and chairs, flat screen TVs for your financial and world news, put up a white picket fence surrounding the dining area and extended the awnings. All in all, the transformation looks fabulous.

Have you ever walked down Front Street on a day when several cruise ships were docked in the bay? Did you have the feeling that you were walking shoulder to shoulder with loads of tourists? Well, on New Year's Day, four cruise ships were docked in the bay; and,within a few hours, they collectively deposited more than 10,000 passengers on Philipsburg. This daily/weekly event makes shopkeepers and other island businesses very happy as cruise passengers spend a good amount of money shopping during their one-day visit. So for the good of the local economy, let's put up with the people traffic.

Here's a reminder for you. The 29th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta 2009 is quickly approaching. It is scheduled for March 5 to 8, 2009. This is reason enough to plan your trip and purchase those airline tickets for St. Maarten. But if you can't make it, you can view the action at: www.heinekenregatta.com.

The Heineken Regatta will, for the first time in the history of Caribbean Regattas, run a Match Racing Event just before the actual 2009 St.Maarten Heineken Regatta and offer prize money to the winners. This event will be sponsored by Budget Marine who has been supporting the Regatta since its inception in a host of different forms, including pioneering the Commodore's Cup. According to Budget Marine founder, Robbie Ferron, "Sponsoring Match Racing is a great opportunity for Budget Marine to promote new and exciting forms of racing to the Caribbean." Click here for more details...

In November, hotels on the island will begin posting Environmental Awareness Cards in their rooms which will urge tourists to practice Environmental Conservation. The cards will encourage you to reuse your towels and to turn off electrical appliances - especially the air conditioning - when leaving your room. And, if I may include one of my own, don't leave garbage on the beach. Take your bottles and papers with you and place them in a trash can. The Awareness Cards program is sponsored by the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, the Nature Foundation, St. Maarten Pride Foundation and the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA). The environment is our responsibility! Do your part to protect it! 

What's Happening in Paradise?
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From the September 2008 Newsletter

La Vista Resort, an enchanting small resort, nestled at the foot of the Pelican Key Estates area of St. Maarten, is styled in a tasteful combination of traditional Antillean charm and European flavor. Today, La Vista is offering a 50% Off Clearance Sale On Timeshare Weeks, April to Mid December (weeks 14-50), starting at $1,950. "Timesharing Done Right!" Contact Piet, Nanda or "Caribbean Al" at 011.599.544.3005 or email: vacation@lavistaresort.com.

Temptation Bar and Restaurant will be closed for vacation from Sept. 6th to Sept. 21st. Rare Bar & Restaurant will be closed Sept. 22nd to Oct. 6th. Dino Jagtiani, the chef/owner of both Temptation & Rare has been chosen to cook a dinner at the James Beard House in New York City on Oct. 17th. If you would like a reservation at the James Beard dinner, which is open to members as well as the public, go to the web site, www.jamesbeard.org, click on Events and click Oct. 17th on the calendar for details. For those of you who may not be familiar with him, James Beard was a celebrated chef, cookbook author, restaurateur, and culinary educator.

On September 30th, Temptation is sponsoring a fund raising dinner which will be a preview of what will be prepared in New York City. Chef Scott Popovich (Corporate chef of Certified Angus Beef) will be a guest chef at Temptation that night cooking with Dino Jagtiani. Both Commisioners Roy Marlin and Sarah Wescott should be in attendance for this special event. Proceeds will benefit the University of St. Maarten's Bachelor of Hospitality program.

Labor Day at La Samanna - August 29th to September 1st 2008. This year, take advantage of this unique opportunity and spend your Labor Day holiday weekend at La Samanna. While traditionally closed for this period, this year our hotel will remain open over Labor Day weekend and is offering a unique Labor Day package for those who don't want to work at all! Work instead on your suntan and finish off your summer with class and style at La Samanna.

A three night Labor Day weekend package starts at $995.00 (subject to 5% government tax) in an Ocean View room, including breakfast buffet, welcome bottle of champagne and a car rental for one day (tax, gas and insurance not included). Enjoy spacious One Bedroom Suite accommodations for just $100.00 more per night. This unique opportunity will not repeat itself in many years. Please call 800.854.2252 for reservations and offer information. La Samanna will be closed from September 2nd through October 31st for annual vacations and maintenance.

Delta Airlines has announced that it is adding one more weekly 737 flight to St. Maarten beginning on December 20th, 2008 for the Winter season. The 737 aircraft will carry 124 passengers non-stop from Atlanta International Airport to Princess Juliana International Airport.

SUNNY SALE FOR WINTER 2009: The landmark Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa and the brand new Radisson
St Martin Resort, Marina & Spa (slated to open in October) are enticing vacationers to plan their 2009 getaway well in advance by launching an Early Winter Sale. The sale, offering up to 25 percent off high-season rates on select room categories, is valid on bookings made by September 30, 2008, for stays between January 4 and April 18, 2009. Both Caribbean beach resorts are serviced by direct flights from major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Charlotte. Planning early can help secure a coveted direct flight at the best rate available. For information and reservations, see a travel agent or call Radisson Hotels & Resorts toll-free at (800) 333-33333 or visit www.radissoncaribbean.com.

American Airlines is adding two new direct flights from Miami and New York for the beginning of the Winter season. The New York flight out of JFK International Airport will be twice-weekly starting in December and will increase to five times weekly in January. The new Miami flight, which will fly from Miami International Airport at 5:15PM arriving at Princess Juliana International Airport at 9:10PM, begins service in November.

For those of you who said that Caravanserai Beach Resort would never do it, it looks like you may be wrong. Their reconstruction and expansion project is moving along at a fast pace. There are now four buildings in various stages of construction which will include 40 top of the line units offering panoramic ocean views. In fact, the originally planned project of 212 rooms will grow to 252 by the completion date of December 2009. Could the Dunes Casino be far behind?

As we all know, the airline industry as well as others are going through difficult economic times. But, thanks to Commissioner Roy Marlin and an island delegation, United Air Lines has agreed to continue its three weekly flights from Chicago and Washington, DC which fly to St. Maarten on weekends. The island government has agreed to embark on a sales and marketing campaign in support of the airlines' hub in Washington, DC.

Club Orient Resort is now celebrating its 30th Anniversary and September is "turn back the clock" month. During the entire month, Club "O" will be honoring its old 3 for 2 Special. This is on all bookings except the Villa, subject to availability for bookings of any length, September 1 through September 30th. By the way, September 15th will be their first "full moon party" including a beach cookout, and steel band. The Party will have a 70's theme to honor the original founding of the club.

The Simpson Bay Market officially opened July 25th next to the Coast Guard headquarters and Simpson Bay Bridge. It's been many years from the planning stage to the completion of this beautiful building which will be home to several fish stalls, six restaurants, four office spaces, a bar and other amenities. This new facility will be a benefit to the area and replaces an old eye-sore wood structure that outlived its usefulness years ago. The govenment officials, dignitaries and local people responsible for this wonderful accomplishment can be proud of their work. I congratulate you all for a deed well done.

Divi Resorts today announced the hiring of Kyle Dudley as general manager for its Little Bay, St. Maarten property. Dudley comes from Ontario, Canada where he most recently served as general manager of the Walper Terrace hotel in Kitchener. Dudley’s previous experience includes managing sales, reservations, conference services and revenue for Delta Whistler Resort in British Columbia, and as director of sales and marketing for Delta and Marriott hotels in Ontario and British Columbia. He has nearly 15 years in the hospitality industry. For more information on Divi Resorts call 1.800.367.3484 or visit www.diviresorts.com.

If you feel like seeing a movie while you are on island, visit the Philipsburg Theatres on Walter Nisbeth Road #33 (next to GEBE) directly across the street from the Salt Pond. Here, you can see the most recent Hollywood movies in the comfort of relaxing lounge seats while enjoying an extensive selection of snacks and beverages including wine and alcoholic drinks. To view movie schedule, visit: www.philipsburgtheatres.com, Tel: 011.599.543.0001 or email: info@philipsburgtheatres.com.

The fourth Invitational St.Maarten-St.Martin Classic Yacht Regatta will begin on Thursday, January 22; and, this year, they are doing something different. They have invited Tall Ships to participate and a special course has been added to the regatta for these ships. In fact, several tall ships have already expressed an interest in joining the fun including the 245 ft "Caledonia," which has 32 guest cabins and 22 crew cabins. We'll keep you posted.

It looks like the island may get a Hilton Hotel. Tourism Affairs Commissioner Roy Marlin announced that Indigo Bay Estates has signed a letter of intent with Hilton to develop a $500 million resort on a nine-acre plot of land to be called "The Hilton at Indigo Bay."

What's Happening in Paradise?
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From the July 2008 Newsletter

Quick Tidbits!
Okay, let's start with the bad news. In Marigot, three luxury jewelry stores, Carat, Ebel and Chopard have closed their Marigot locations. The Fish Bar in Orient Bay has closed. I loved this French restaurant/bistro for years when it was located in Nettle Bay. It was a tiny little place with atmosphere and breakfast or lunch was always an enjoyable experience. At its Orient Bay location, it was a much bigger place with a theme motif and apparently, it couldn't compete with the restaurants on the beach. Fish Top at the Atlantis Casino complex opened in December 2007 and closed in April 2008. Fathoms Tavern on Airport Road in Simpson Bay Lagoon has closed. I thought it had an interesting theme: good food with reasonable prices, a pool table, a dart board with tables inside and outside in the sand. Ate there twice, liked the food and the people. Sorry to see it go. It was a sad day last November to find that Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant in Marigot, which we enjoyed for years, had closed. The good news is that Mai, Jean-Pierre and Candice have opened a new restaurant/pastry shop in Pelican Resort. It is called Au Pain Du Sucre and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in an outdoor café setting.

The SMART Conference - St. Maarten/St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow was held May 20 - 22, 2008, at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino. From everything that I heard while we were on island, this event was very successful and had its largest gathering of participants to date. The St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association, in conjunction with The Association des Hoteliers de Saint Martin, and with the sponsorship of St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and the St. Martin Tourist Board, are the sponsors of SMART. The event provided 2 days of pre-scheduled appointment sessions and activities where Wholesalers and Tour Operators were able to meet and conduct business with Suppliers in the tourism industry.

SMART 2008 also featured Suppliers from the other Islands of the North Eastern Caribbean Tourism Alliance (NECTA). These included Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barthelemy, St. Kitts & Nevis and St. Maarten - St. Martin. If you are in the tourism industry and would like to expand your business in the Caribbean, you should contact SHTA and inquire about participating in SMART 2009.

On May 20th, Radisson St. Martin Resort, Marina & Spa invited Barbara and me along with Mr. Yann Claeysen, the new Directeur Général of the Office de Tourisme de Saint-Martin plus members of his staff and 15-20 tour operators from travel companies from around the world to a one-hour tour of the property followed by lunch under a open walled tent. The construction and redefining of the buildings and property are moving along on schedule for the opening on September 15th. The tour included a model room which was beautifully decorated and loaded with amenities. I especially enjoyed hearing the reason why one wing of rooms are painted light yellow and the other wing of rooms are painted light blue. The reason has to do with the rising and setting sun. Upon completion, this new Radisson Resort with its breathtaking pool and marina will be a luxurious and impressibe asset for the island.

After the tour, Radisson's Executive Chef Bruno Brazier presented a fantastic three course meal which was prepared in a tent without a kitchen. We started with an appetizer which included Mushroom - pecan cappuccino; Goat cheese and sundried tomato cake; Parma ham and Guadeloupe melon; and, Flame seared red tuna seasoned with fresh mint. This was followed by an entree of Caribbean Rock Lobster which was presented with the lobster shell head and the shell tail separated on a wide dish. In the middle was the lobster meat (body) cut into half-inch slices dripping in a flavorful sauce sitting on top of a bed of tomato, mango, melon and avocado meli-melo. It all ended with a superb passion filled warm chocolate sufflé. Of course, the meal was complimented by the appropriate selection of wines. I volunteered to do the tour and lunch again the next day; but, alas, they sent me home.

La California Restaurant in Grand Case is now a WiFi Zone; so, bring your laptop computers, come for lunch, come for dinner or come for a drink and check your email. By the way, La California is now open 7 days a week and is offering 1Euro = 1Dollar (an even exchange) for payment in cash for lunch or dinner. They also have a new collection of very interesting articles in their shop, "Zen Attitude," which is located at the entrance to the restaurant. By the way, ask to see the surprises on the beach.

During our May trip, we visited Benjamin Laurent's new 20,000 sq ft wine shop and warehouse, La Table De Bacchus, which is located in Hope Estates across from the Grand Case Airport. We were there at 12 noon and the shop was crowded with people sitting at tables enjoying lunch with the finest cold cuts, french cheese, Caviar, Smoked Salmon & Foie gras accompanied by an excellent selection of wine by the glass in an authentic wine cellar atmosphere of stone floors, ceiling and archways. With 80,000 cases of wine, there's sure to be many wines you're familiar with as well as a selection of pleasant surprises. Email: lacavedemarigot@wanadoo.fr. Open Mon/Sat 9am-7pm.

Antonio Pomata, who was for many years a sales agent with Re/Max Island Properties, has started his own real estate investment firm, St. Maarten Investments. We wish him well.

Kids Stay and Eat Free!
Hey Moms and Dads, save $, have fun and bring the kids! Kids 12 and younger get to stay and eat FREE! Just select this special option when reserving your Divi Little Bay Beach Resort vacation! Click the link to book online: http://www.diviresorts.com/DiviLittleBay/little-bay-reservations.html

Peg Leg Pub has moved to a great location on the terrace at Princess Casino in the Port de Plaisance Resort. Jack Parker's new place is a big improvement with lots and lots of parking (something you couldn't find in Simpson Bay) and lots of table space. Excellent food, reasonable prices and the T-bone steak is bigger and better than ever. Entertainment nightly with a good crowd of tourists and island folks enjoying themselves. Peg Leg Pub occupies the former space of Surf and Turf which has closed. In addition, La Dolce Vita, a new Italian restaurant has also opened at the Princess Casino located adjacent to the casino floor. Besides offering tasty and delicious food, wines and excellent service which we enjoyed during our May trip, it has a commanding view of the casino action and the stage with the evening's entertainment.

It has been said that there has been a proposal to ban smoking in all restaurants, casinos and bars on the Dutch side of the island. Since I am a betting man, I will wager $1 that the proposed law is not passed and will not even see the time of day. Please keep me posted.

July 5th on the beach @ Mary's Boon, Marty Balin from Jefferson Starship, Terry Sylvester from The Hollies and Ambrosia, will be performing. It will be a Live concert and an all day Beach Bash. The main concert starts at 6:30 and you must contact a sponsor for tickets. Click here to email Mary's Boon for additional information.

Backstreet looks fantastic! The government's beautification program has been a major success. The street and alley ways are paved with blocks. The polls and electrical lines are gone. There are sidewalks with benches and palm trees everywhere. When you add this to the new boardwalk, the beautification of Frontstreet and the new pier, you can probably say that Philipsburg in the last few years has been going through a transformation pushing itself into the 21st century.

Our old friend Patrick Aveenal has opened a new restaurant called Banana Café, subtitled "Patrick's Place;" and, of course, he already has a good following of local friends. It's a quaint little place on the corner across from the Post Office in Marigot with two sides of open walls surrounded by a white picket fence. Only open for breakfast and lunch with a limited menu, we very much enjoyed a lunch of duck salad and a macaroni dish with wine. To jog your memory, Patrick was the manager of Le Saint Germain for the last few years. Tel: 011.590.590.29.43.11 or email: bananacafesxm@orange.fr.

Construction of the new buildings at the Caravanserai Beach Resort is forging ahead. The two new buildings are now four stories high which is their maximum height. One of the buildings is located in the space formerly occupied by Bamboo Bernies Restaurant (and several shops) which has moved to the Sonesta Maho Resort. The hotel needs to add 100 - 125 rooms to reach the level of 200 rooms for the legal requirement to have a casino. Caravanserai was formerly the home of the Dolphin Harmony Casino which is now located at the Sunset Building in Simpson Bay.

There is a new restaurant, The French Touch, located at the Caravanserai Resort. It has a lovely decor, piano, tables on the promenade overlooking the Caribbean Sea and outdoor dining. The menu is International food with a French flavor and reasonable prices. The setting which is lovely is sure to provide unforgettable sunsets.

Traffic! Traffic! Traffic! The question is would anyone like to discuss the island's traffic situation? Is it better than last year or worse? How about three years ago? Is anything being done about it? Is the government using band-aids to solve the problem when a tourniquet is needed? What's your opinion? Please email Sam at: info@stmaarten.org.

What's Happening in Paradise?
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sam Fusco

From the January 2008 Newsletter

Jean-Marc Debroise, the owner of Fish Pot Restaurant in Grand Case, is opening a new restaurant named "Fish Top" in the Atlantis Casino Plaza complex. The restaurant should be open next month and hopefully will present the same wonderful food and service that made the Fish Pot famous for so many years.

Yannick Debroise, Jean-Marc's brother, who was the restaurant manager and bartender at Fish Pot, and his wife have bought The Bagel House on Airport Road which is located across from Marci's Gym. Besides bagels, the menu includes fresh fruit salads, breakfast and lunch dishes and offers outside dining under umbrellas and an awning.

In November, Gault Millau Guides officially presented recognitions for the Best Hotel on the Dutch side to Oyster Bay Beach Resort and Best Hotel on the French side and Hotel of the Year to La Samanna. Thibaut Asso, the Assistant Food & Beverage Director, of La Samanna received recognition as the Sommelier of the Year.

Some owners at Mary's Boon are asking us to help them gather names and email contact info of all Mary's Boon timeshare owners. If you'd like to get involved in this please email Jeff Berger at jmbweb@jmbcommunications.com. Thank you.

Le Saint Germain Restaurant has a new management, a new name and will soon has a new menu and decor. The new name is Le Pink Pot. What remains the same is the great location on the Marina Royale in Marigot with its fabulous views with outdoor and indoor seating. Rene Cruz whom many of you may remember from the Paris Bistro is the new restaurant Manager. Le Pink Pot's menu will focus on USDA steaks and fresh seafood. By the way, they offer an "Early Bird Special"
of a 25% reduction on all food orders made between 5.30pm and 7.00pm. For reservations/tel: 011.590.590.87.92.87.

The Cliff at Cupecoy held its inaugural opening to invited guests and government officials from both sides of the island on the evening of December 6th with over 500 persons attending. During this opening The Home Owners Association and the developer contributed a total of $22,500 US dollars to 5 worthwhile groups on the island, assisting the young, the old, the orphaned and sportsman.

The Cliff Vacation Rental program is moving full speed ahead for its first season, with 85% occupancy for Christmas holidays. To get the international traveler more acquainted with The Cliff they will be offering some specials starting the New Year. For further information, please call 1.866.978.5839 (toll free).

Jewels by Love, a leading jeweler, with stores in both Marigot and Philipsburg wants you to know the following:
The Euro and Dollar exchange rate does not affect pricing at Jewels by Love because of these facts:
- - - - - - * ALL our prices are in US$ on BOTH sides of the Island;
- - - - - - * Our cost on ALL our watches, diamonds and jewelry is the same on BOTH French and Dutch sides; and,
- - - - - - * We therefore sell everything at the SAME PRICE Duty Free and Tax Free on both sides of the island.
- - - - - - In MARIGOT, Telephone: 011.590.590.87.25.50 Email: jewelsbylove@aol.com
- - - - - - In PHILIPSBURG, Telephone: 011.599.542.6808 Email: jblsxm@aol.com

Heineken Regatta Fever is about to start building and Shipwreck Shops have the full TEAM GEAR collection in all their stores now. This year the Heineken Regatta is going to be bigger and better than ever, with the bareboats already booked out and the registrations for participants at an all time high. The 28th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta collection is code named HR-08 and we have high quality apparel for sailors and would-be sailors alike. From Strappy tops for the ladies to wear ON THE RAIL to quick-dry mens sail shorts, and full coverage BOATIE hats. Visit www.heinekenregattagear.com for a preview or drop into any Shipwreck Shop, the stores are located island wide.

JetBlue Airways has announced that it will begin daily non-stop service to St. Maarten on January 17, 2008. Fares are as low as $318 Round Trip. To search for availability for your dates of travel visit the web site.

For a long time, Barbara and I had heard rumors that The Pizza Galley (011.599.557.7416) located across the road from the Royal Palm Resort may have the best pizza on the island. So, we decided to investigate. We went there one night without letting JP know that we were coming (I was concerned that he might bring in some special ingredients.) and ordered one of his well-done, thin crusted Vegetarian pizzas with the clove of roasted gallic in the middle. We prepared ourselves first with a small order of his Caesar Salad, which was more than enough for two people and washed it all down with a glass of white wine and a beer. When we finished, we were too full to make any decisions. So, we came back a few nights later to repeat this event. Our decision: Pizza Galley pizza is most probably the best on the island and so is the Caesar's Salad!!!

Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino offers the recipe for love this season with its new Romance at Great Bay Package. The three nights in an Ocean View accommodation Romance Package is available from January 5 through April 14, 2008 at $930 for double occupancy. For details, call 1.800.223.0757 or visit www.sonesta.com/greatbay.

On December 17th, La Cave de Marigot opened a new 6,000 sq ft location in Hope Estates across from the Grand Case Airport. Come and enjoy an excellent selection of wine by the glass with the finest cold cuts, french cheese, Caviar, Smoked Salmon & Foie gras, in an authentic wine cellar atmosphere. Open Mon/Sat 9am-7pm.

Sorry to say that the strength of the Euro, the weakness of the Dollar and lack of customers have closed Chopard, Carat and Little Switzerland (jewelry stores) in Marigot as well as Largo Restaurant on the waterfront. Little Switzerland still maintains a store on Front Street in Philipsburg. A new restaurant, O Solo Mio, has opened in the square in Marigot next to La Vie en Rose which has been there for 25 years.

For the month of November through December 5th, Rue de Hollande in Marigot, which is the main road going from St. Maarten to Grand Case was under construction. A new drainage system under the street with sewers at intervals has been added to carry off rain water during the infrequent rainstorms. The street will be totally new going through the business district of Marigot. New sidewalks, street and palm trees were scheduled to be added to dress up the beautification of this main thoroughfare similar to Front Street in Philipsburg. I would appreciate if someone on island or a recent visitor would email me and let me know if this project has been completed or is it still under construction?

By the way, speaking of Front Street. The beautification of Back Street in Philipsburg was just about completed when we left the island on December 9th. New sidewalks and street of paver blocks with lamp posts, benches and beautiful palm trees lining both sides of the street. The only thing missing is the view of Great Bay which is two blocks away.

Casino Royale at the Maho Resort Complex has done some remodeling. The floor was raised 4 inches to allow room for electrical cables which has added a computerized tracking system for the table games. Don't ask me how it works. I have absolutely no idea; but, that was the explanation that was told to me. By the way, the rug on the casino floor is brand new, bright with interlocking colors, and really has given the place a fresh look.