Villa Life - Our Blog

Grenada Sailing Festival 2011 - Pure Sail, Pure Spice

All hands on deck for the 2011 Port Louis Grenada Sailing Festival & Digicel Work Boat Regatta, set for January 28-February 1, 2011, and continuing February 4-6, 2011.  This 18th annual series of races combines traditional work boat events (Digicel Work Boat Regatta), youth participation and international regatta activities over the course of two weeks.  In between, are opportunities for spectators, yachtsmen and visitors to mingle and enjoy the beauty and culture of the island of Grenada.

The Festival's home base continues at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, which is located in the Lagoon, St. George's.  Alongside the Grenada Board of Tourism, a plethora of sponsors from the hospitality, retail, beverage, banking, communications, marine and other industries will take part in creating fun diversions for visitors and residents alike. 

The official web site contains much in the way of information, but some key pages to visit include:

• Customs and Immigration
• Port Louis Marina (special pricing for participants)
• Entry Forms
• Official Contacts

 Related links:

• Grenada Sailing Festival's official web site 
• Grenada villas and information at McLaughlinAnderson.com

Annual Paradise Jam bring college hoops to VI

Paradise Jam is coming to town! 

Top men's and women's basketball teams will give their all for  2010 as they participate in the annual Paradise Jam tournaments, hosted on the island of St. Thomas by the Basketball Travelers, Inc. organization.  Each Thanksgiving week, the entire community and the world tuck into a bounty of court wizardry at the University of the Virgin Islands' Sports and Fitness Center.  While local residents polish off their holiday meals in happy anticipation of the yearly contests, we can count on viewing at least 4 games on Fox College Sports and Fox Sports Net.  The official web site of the Paradise Jam is www.ParadiseJam.com.

College basketball players who make it to the Paradise Jam enjoy the excitement of the competition alongside the natural beauty of the islands, local cuisine, and a cultural experience that is unique to the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Since its beginnings as a women's basketball showcase (held at the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School), the Paradise Jam has continued to grow by engaging residents and enticing team fans and families (and sports press!)  to the territory.

This year's men's teams will be on the court from Friday, November 19 to Monday November 22, 2010.  Scheduled to participate are Alabama, Clemson, Iowa, Long Beach State, Old Dominion, Seton Hall, Saint Peters, and Xavier.

In women's action, Iowa State, TCU, Virginia, and West Virginia will cover the "Island Division", while the "Reef Division" will feature Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Missouri, and Tennessee.  Women's basketball dates are Tuesday November 23 through Sunday November 28.

• Women's tournaments and brackets
• Men's tournament and brackets

Moonswept Villa's Dave D'Alberto featured in Caribbean Travel & Life

Life in the islands is definitely for the easy-going!  Our island managers not only see to the happiness and comfort of our guests, but they lead the lives they choose, far from the hectic stresses of urban life.  Take Dave D'Alberto.  He manages lovely Moonswept villa on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, while also maintaining his place as a leading snorkel guide and outfitter.  His company, One Horn Buttfish, provides gear, lessons and exciting tours of the natural blue wonder that surrounds tranquil St. John.  The unusual business name stems from the appearance of a snorker from above:  airhose, posterior, and not much more...!

Caribbean Travel & Life has spotlighted D'Alberto, St. John, and a number of other ideal spots throughout the Caribbean for their feature, "Shore Things" in this month's issue.  Of course, we are more than pleased to see the rest of the world take note of all of our treasures - both undersea and distinctly human!  Guests marvel at Dave's skill at easing them into the comforts of their temporary island home... Moonswept!