Little Bay

Pavilion Hotel

Weather in Anguilla

Madeariman Beach Club

Anguilla Diary: November 3 to December 10, 2000

Sunday, December 10, 2000

New Chinese Restaurant. There is a new place for Chinese food in East End Village: Golden Dragon Restaurant. They have a wide selection of Chinese dishes - we tried Chicken Fried Rice, Chinese Soup and Shrimp Hot Pepper. They were good. To find them, take the road out of The Valley through The Quarter and Sandy Hill. As you enter East End village you will see them on the right. If you get to the Cable and Wireless out-station you went too far. You can eat in, but the ambience is somewhat lacking. Call 264.497.4381 to pre-order your meal for pickup.

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Book Review: A Trip to the Beach: Living on Island Time in the Caribbean. The Blanchards have written a book that comes close to representing the reality of moving to Anguilla. Here is a short extract that I liked because the same thing happened to us:

Christmas Eve was our busiest night yet. We served almost a hundred dinners and finished work just before midnight...

"Bob, I hear a noise," I said, shaking him from sleep only minutes after we had crawled into bed. "There's someone outside." ...

"We've been so stupid. It never even occurred to me that someone would break in here. I've always felt so safe and --"

"Shhh," Bob said, "What's that?" he asked, straining to hear more.

"It sounds like music. Do you think thieves here come with radios."

"Shhh," he repeated. Clutchig his lamp club, he left me alone in the bedroom while he sneaked out to investigate.

Without warning, he yelled, "Mel, quick, get out here and wake Jesse!" My heart pounded in my throat.

I dragged Jeese out of bed and we tiptoed into the living room, where Bob was unlocking the sliding glass door. I quickly counted twelve people--men, women and children--lined up on our porch, all shuffling around and instructing each other to switch positions. Bob did open the door, and at that moment the room filled with sounds of music like I had never heard before. There was an entire band out there, complete with keyboard and guitars. Children backed up the musicians with a rhythm section, tapping out the beat on Coke cans and scraping washboards with forks and spoons.

"We wish you a merry Christmas...we wish you a merry Christmas... we wish you a merry Christmas... and a happy New Year."

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Saturday, December 09, 2000

Eudoxie's Birthday Party. Photo.ai has posted nine pages of candid photos from Eudoxie Wallace's 60th birthday party on Scilly Cay: Click Here.

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New Laws in Anguilla. The Daily Herald reports that a new fireworks law and five other pieces of legislation were passed recently in the House of Assembly: Click Here.

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Friday, December 08, 2000

Drifters. Drifters Sports Bar and Nightclub announces its Christmas and New Year's Special Booking Offer. The venue will be available throughout the month of December and the first week in January for parties, dinners and other social events in celebration of Christmas and the New Year. To make bookings, contact Mr. Franklyn Rogers at tel no 497 0202. Special prices available through negotiation.

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Internet Yellow Pages: All known Anguilla sites.

Arts and Craft Show. Ruthwill Auditorium in The Valley, Dec 12-14, 2000, 10am to 6pm. Lots of fun things to see and do.

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Christmas Tree Lighting. The lighting of the many Christmas trees in The Valley will occur on Opening Night, Sunday December 17, 2000, at 7PM. Center of activities is the "trough" near the Agriculture Department and Ashley's Grocery. To read more about what is planned, Click Here.

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Anguilla Questions? Email the Tourist Board at [email protected] or the Hotel Association at [email protected]

Loblolly Gallery - New Location. The Loblolly Gallery is opening Saturday, December 9, 2000 (reception 5-8pm) at their new location on Crocus Hill, in historic Rose Cottage. 264.497.6006

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Boathouse Available Again! The Boathouse Villa is a unique small villa that is the closest to the water in Anguilla. The new owners have refurbished it and are now making it available for rental again. To visit their web site, Click Here.

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Win a Deluxe Trip to Anguilla.

Raffle To Benefit Wallblake House Trust:

• Complimentary Holiday Week for Two At Anguilla's newest luxury resort CuisinArt Resort and Spa on Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla, BWI
• Roundtrip Air fare on American Airlines
• One Week Car Rental: courtesy Wendell Connor's Car Rental
• Five Evenings of dining at local restaurants including:
  • Palm Court Lobster and Steak House (Cinnamon Reef Hotel)
  • Top of The Palms (La Sirena Hotel)
  • La Veranda
  • Sapphire
  • Ferry Boat Inn
• Value of Prize: In Excess of US $6,000.00
• Cost of Ticket: US $50.00
• Drawing Date: Easter Monday, April 16, 2001

Interested persons should contact Jackie Cestero ([email protected]) Tickets also available at The Cotton Gin Ice Cream Parlor across from Wallblake House and the Ferry Boat Inn (497-6613)

Wallblake Historical Tours. Wallblake House, built in 1787, is the oldest and only surviving plantation house on Anguilla. It is one of the few plantation houses in the Caribbean where the entire complex of buildings including the kitchen, stable and workers quarters have survived virtually intact. The Wallblake House Trust is restoring the complex so that it may thrive as a center for cultural, social and educational events for the entire island community.

Tour Hours: Tuesday and Friday, 10:00 am - Noon. Tour Fee $5.00 US. All fees are used to support the renovation of Wallblake Hou

To visit the Wallblake House web site, Click Here.

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English Rose. Went to this new restaurant in The Valley for dinner and had an excellent meal. Simple sauted filet of Snapper with my choice of a baked potato for $10, plus half of a Jerk Chicken Caesar Salad. Both delicious. For a picture and more information, Click Here.

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Thursday, December 07, 2000

Private Villa in the West End. Ava Richardson (email: [email protected]), who takes care of guests at a hotel on Shoal Bay, wants to announce the availability of Shermel's Ville in the West End. This holiday rental belongs to her father, Clifton Richardson, and she is managing it for him:

Are you two couples or a family planning an Anguilla vacation? For 4 people you could spend $4200 or more for a week at a resort and never leave the property. Or you could rent this new, modern, clean villa right in the middle of the resort area of Anguilla for $1500 per week plus a car for $240 per week.

Now you have your choice of any of anguilla's 30 beautiful beaches (Cove Bay, Mead's Bay, Rendezvous Bay and Maunday's Bay are only a five-minute drive away). All beaches in Anguilla are open to the public, even the elegant one at Cap Juluca. And from Shermel's Ville is easy to dine at a different restaurant every night (Blanchards, Mangos, Sapphire, Cuisinart, Oliver's Seaside Grill, and Malliouhana are very close). Or just relax and eat at home - you have a full kitchen, privacy, quiet, your own home. Experience Anguilla to the full.

For the Shermel's Ville web site, Click Here.

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Wednesday, December 06, 2000

Hotels.ai: All the resorts/hotels/inns.

News from Paradise Cove. This 14 unit resort near Cove Bay is expanding shortly to 29 units. And, they have installed a computer with high-speed internet access in the lobby with Internet Cafe software and Microsoft Word to allow guests to stay connected with their businesses and homes while on vacation. For the Paradise Cove web site, Click Here.

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Tuesday, December 05, 2000

Menus.ai: Restaurants and menus.

Blanchard's Restaurant. For the season 2000-2001 menu, click here. And here is the special Blanchard's dinner for New Years Eve, December 31, 2000:

Crusty Grilled Shrimp Drizzled with a Toasted Sesame Sauce
Corn Chowder with Melted Leeks and Fresh Dill
Caesar Salad with Homemade Parmesan Croutons
Tropical Fruit Sorbet
Free-Range Breast of Chicken Roasted with Honey, and Asian Spices
Grilled Local Crayfish with Potato and Goat Cheese Gratin
Tropical Coconut Layer Cake with Kahlua and Raspberry Sauces

125.00 per person

Live music by Happy Hits String Band

Please note that a 15% service charge will be added We gladly accept Visa, Master Card and American Express

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Canadian TV in Anguilla. All-Island Cable has added Anguilla's first Canadian channel to their lineup: CityTV from Toronto, on Channel 53. And they have added an Italian channel, RAI on channel 54.

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Arlo's Become BistroPhil. After almost 17 years as Arlo's Italian restaurant in South Hill, this eatery is reopening as a French Bistro called BistroPhil. Owner and manager Philippe Kim's new menu includes Tuna Tartar, Conch Fritters, Goat Cheese Terrine, Traditional French Onion Soup au Gratin, Duck Breast with Honey Lavender, Beef Tenderloin "Aux Cepes" and much more. 264-497-6810.

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Steak and Lobster House. Cinnamon Reef Resort's restaurant has reopened this year with a new menu and a new name: the Palm Court Steak and Lobster House. They will serve a variety of choice cuts of Sirloin, T-bone, Filet Mignon and Porterhouse steaks, plus a large number of Lobster entrees.

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Saturday, December 02, 2000

Mitchell House, a two home complex for sale near Old Ta, with a swimming pool and extensive gardens and views in all four directions, now has a web site: Click Here.
If you are interested, email to: [email protected]

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Wednesday, November 29, 2000

Ripples Tomorrow's Wednesday night happy hour menu:

Authentic Indian meal, three choices:

• Chicken Biryani, with Naan bread.
• Rogan Ghosh, flavoured to perfection.
• Cauliflower and Potato Aloo.

All accompanied by Poppadoms, Naan and Pickles. $10 US for one dish, $12 for two, $14 for three.

For those who do not eat curry, there is of course Fish and Chips. 264.497.3380

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Leduc's Open This Season. As you may have heard, Chef Leduc is in charge of food at the new Altamer Resort. However, his existing Leduc's restaurant in West End will be opening in early December while he awaits the completion of the Altamer Restaurant, opening later in the season. Executive Chef Leduc will oversea Leduc's Restaurant and Altamer Villa Cuisine. Reservations 264.497.6393 or 264.498.4040

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Villas.ai: Private villas for rent.

Ananke Villa. This waterfront villa in Cul de Sac has Chef and Internet service available: Click Here.

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Submit a News Story.

Christmas Music Question. Thomas McGarry (email [email protected]) writes:

Just got back home from the Caribbean. On the way to lunch on Anguilla, our taxi driver was playing a tape... the song lyrics contained the line "How will Santa get in?"... the song was about Santa and how he would get to Anguilla. This may be an obscure question, but we are trying to find out who sang that song, and how we could get our hands on a copy of the song. Our driver said the person who was singing the song was a local Anguillian. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

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Beaches.ai: Over 30 Anguilla beaches.

The Dune Preserve. Anguilla's musician Bankie Banx writes that The Dune Preserve (email: [email protected]) now has live music on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night, plus Sunday afternoon. They are also open for lunch and dinner daily. If anyone in Michigan is travelling to Anguilla soon and would be willing to bring down Bankie's guitar, contact him at bankiebanx@ hotmail.com

P.S. The next full moon party will be held Saturday December 9th.

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Sunday, November 26, 2000

Anguilla in the News. The November 2000 issue of Conde Nast Travel lists Cap Juluca as the 4th best resort in the Caribbean, with Mallihouhana as 6th. This is based on reader feedback. It seems like being closed for a year did not hurt Cap Juluca's rating very much. Cap Juluca was also rated as 80th out of the top 100 hotels in the entire world.

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Tuesday, November 14, 2000

Jump Out Your Bed Into the Ocean. Rendezvous Bay Hotel has recently been refurbished and announced their reopening:

At Anguilla�s recently renovated Rendezvous Bay Hotel and Villas, your bed is actually only 25 feet from the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, separated only, by a strip of powder white sand.. Reopening the 1st of November, after a two month renovation,, the locally owned resort is looking better than ever. So does their highly acclaimed restaurant �Cedar Grove Caf�: with a fabulous new a la carte menu, an extended wine list and their friendly service, it will remain one of the hot spots this coming season. The emphasis of this year�s renovation, lay on their spacious seaside beach villas, located on both sides of the Main- Building. The more private Hybiscus and Tamarind villas, situated on Rendezvous Bay�s snorkeling beach , have gotten a new look with fresh Caribbean- inspired colors, new furniture, and more privacy in between the rooms.

Located on the main beach of Rendezvous Bay, the 5 remaining villa buildings underwent a remarkable change over as well. It is here, where a true beach vacation starts: wake-up with the view of the Caribbean Sea , order home made French Pastries from room service, trot down the beach and take a swim when the sun comes up. Beachcombing, snorkeling, watersports, Internet: all is available, it is all up to you: but do you really want to leave your private porch only 20 feet from the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, separated only, by a strip of powder white sand.

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Koal Keel Opens November 18th. This popular restaurant in The Valley will reopen with Smoke returning as the chef.

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Splash! Villa Honeymoon Package. Consider spending your honeymoon in a private villa with swimming pool.

Seven night stay in beautiful, private surroundings Chilled champagne. Cold towels dipped in fresh lemon presented upon arrival. A red rose for the lady. Fruit basket. Master bed dotted with tropical flowers. Gourmet chocolates. � hour massage for two at nearby Spa. Jacuzzi for two. Private Pool. First Day�s Breakfast Stocked. Maid service.

US$2,000 plus 8% government tax April 15 � December 14, 2001.

Contact Janine or Ian at Tel. 264-497-3666 (Evenings) 264-235-7667 (Cellular) Fax. 264-497-2262 Email: [email protected] Web page: http://splash.ai

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Flyfishing in Anguila? Sandra Eyster writes:

I'm planning on bringing some flyfishing gear down this winter and need to purchase flies here in the US. Do you know what type of fish can be caught when fishing from shore? This will help determine what sort of tackle I bring down. Any information would be appreciated.

Anyone who has fished from the shore in Anguilla is invited to email Sandy Eyster at [email protected]

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Monday, November 6, 2000

People's Market.

This open air market has had been completely refurbished and repainted. Looks much better.

And it was a rope diagonally across the parking area to the tree on the street corner, making it impossible for cars to use it as a shortcut.

The market is located in The Valley, across the street from the Anglican church.

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L.A. Cafe Web Site. This elegant restaurant and night club now has a web site at lacafe.ai: Click Here.

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Sunday, November 5, 2000

Exporting Anguilla Training. Melinda Blanchard (email: [email protected]) writes:

In October, Blanchard�s Restaurant proudly accepted the challenge of upgrading the food & beverage department at the exclusive Peter Island Resort in Tortola. Miguel Leverett, Lowell Hodge, and Clinton Davis joined Bob and Melinda Blanchard for an intensive training program. They developed and implemented completely new menus for both of the resort�s restaurants, significantly expanded the wine list, and trained a staff of almost 70 people. Lowell and Miguel worked with Bob to improve service in the dining rooms while Clinton and Melinda brought creative new ideas to the kitchens.

One of the reasons Blanchard�s was asked to do this project was because of their entire staff�s ability to work as a team. They operate like a closely-knit family and therefore to a great job pleasing the guests. Much of the emphasis on Peter Island was centered around team-building exercises in order to pull the staff together and develop a sense of community and group spirit.

The project was a tremendous success and the Blanchard�s staff was proud and honored to show the BVI�s how we do things in Anguilla.

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Saturday, November 4, 2000

Cedar Grove Cafe Reopens. Bart Van Deventer (email: [email protected]), the manager at Rendezvous Bay Hotel, announces news of their restaurant for this season:

After two months of waiting, Anguilla�s Cedar Grove Caf� is eager to re open its doors for, what promises to be , an excellent season. Opened in December 1999, Cedar Grove Caf�, located on the premises of recently renovated Rendezvous Bay Hotel and Villas, quickly established itself as one of the hot new eateries on the island. Indeed, in May this year, Cond� Nast Traveler Magazine named Cedar Grove Caf� in their yearly 60 Hot tables of the World (!) article, not only a big compliment, but a big boost in business as well.

This season will feature a fabulous new a la carte menu, designed as always, by Senior Executive Chef Leonard �Smoke� Sharplis, widely known on the island as one of the flagbearers of innovative cuisine. Highlights this year are the deviled lobstercakes, Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Rack of lamb and of course do not overlook their 4 course degustation menu: it changes everyday and includes three different wines by the glass. Together with executive chef Desmond Patrick running the kitchen, Cedar Grove Caf� will certainly live up to its name, deservedly obtained last season. You can find Cedar Grove Caf� on Rendezvous Bay, by taking the road to the ferry, then taking a right at the Cedar Grove sign and follow it until the end. Reservations are recommended, certainly during the next four months. You can call them at (264) 497-6549 or E-Mail at [email protected].

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Art Festival Stamps. The Anguilla Postal Service has released an issue of 6 stamps and a souvenir sheet containing art works from the Anguilla International Arts Festival for Year 2000: Click Here.

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E's Oven.

Vince Cate (email: [email protected]) writes:

For your Menus.ai page, Samantha and I like E's Oven in South Hill. It is good food at low prices. Not just "local". The phone number is 498-8258.

And the building is hard to miss, a great shade of yellow on the main road, after the 90 degree turn and before the road for Blowing Point if you are going West.

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Le Bon Pain. This delightful French bakery in Island Harbour now has email [email protected] - to read about them, Click Here.

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Anguilla Publicity.. Sally Baumwell writes:

The cover of the current issue of Caribbean Travel and Life features a view from Sonesta's Oleander Villa. There's an article called "Best Room in the House", which includes the villa. Nice publicity for Anguilla!

On a different note, I went into the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Campbell, California and there on the featured book table right inside the door was a display of the Blanchards' new book about moving to Anguilla and starting a restaurant business ("A Trip to the Beach"). It was great to see it there!

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True Caribbean Night. Miss B, the sparkling manager of L.A. Cafe, announces a new kind of event at this nightclub near Blowing Point:

Starting this month, L. A. Cafe' Club will be featuring a "True Caribbean Night" each and every Saturday night starting at 6 PM until ??? Kicking off Nov. 11, will be The Mussington Brothers, Crossfire from Barbardos, and High Tension. Nov. 18 will feature Lashing Dogs from Tortola, and Tanny & the Boys from St. Martin. It's sure to be a lot of fun and we cordially invite one and all to join us where Caribbeans and tourists alike interact their cultures for a fabulous night of Caribbean music....It's the "Real Deal"....

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Bay View Studios.

Are you looking for a spotless, convenient studio apartment for your next visit to Anguilla, close to a beach, restaurants, and nightlife? Try Kathy Sotiaux's Bay View studio apartments with kitchenettes in Sandy Ground, up the side of North Hill. $85 per night. To view the web site, Click Here.

About Anguilla

And ten minutes away, our villa in St Barths.