The tropical interpretation of a winter wonderland makes its annual appearance on St. John Friday night when Mongoose Junction comes all a-twinkle with holiday lights and sights, to say nothing of sounds and even tastes and smells.
What has traditionally been called the Holiday Evening in the Courtyard gets a little extra added cachet this year as the island's "millennium kick-off celebration." But the focus is still on Christmas — and, of course, Christmas shopping.
"Evening" is defined as 5 to 9 p.m. for this event. All of the shops, galleries and food emporiums of the shopping complex will be open, and there will be live music, fashion shows, an art show opening and refreshments. But the main attraction is Mongoose Junction itself. A striking architectural achievement unadorned, it evolves into a Tivoli of the tropics got up for the holidays, decked with boughs of holly, artistically trimmed trees, garlands of sparkling lights and maybe even a sprig of mistletoe or two.
At Wicker Wood and Shells on the upstairs level, artists Carolyn Caldwell and Shari Erickson will be on hand for a reception opening an exhibition of their recent works.
Caldwell, a St. John architect, is known for her ambitious pastels that often appear until up very close to be impressionist oil paintings, but she is also an accomplished watercolorist. She took up painting eight years ago and has won numerous awards in local competitions, notably the annual Caribbean Colour show.
She attributes her impeccable sense of form and balance, imbued with an innate understanding of the quality of light, to her architectural background. "Subject matter is secondary to light in my painting," she says. "It almost doesn't matter what the subject is. If the light describes it beautifully, you have a successful painting."
The show opening Friday will feature her recent pastels, watercolors and limited-edition prints.
Erickson does not reside in the Virgin Islands but visits often and interprets island scenes extensively in her chosen medium, alkyd-oil. The people and flora of her figurative land- and seascapes convey such motion and color that for off-island viewers, it's the next best thing to being there.
"My artist's eye returns again and again to the Virgins, especially St. John," Erickson says. "To the color on brilliant color, sky to sea to shore, and always to the vibrant people." At Wicker Wood and Shells, she'll be showing original oils and new limited-edition prints.
The gallery/shop will also be featuring work by St. Thomas glass-and-bead jewelry maker Lynn Paccassi-Berry and mixed-media jewelry and hand-painted gourds by Water Island resident Carol Richardson. Both of these artists will be at the opening reception, too.
Those who haven't been to Mongoose Junction recently may need some direction to find favorite shopping sites. Bougainvillea has moved into larger quarters on the entry courtyard level where Big Planet used to be. Big Planet has found even more space a few steps up, on the mezzanine level. Relatively new to the complex are the shops of Kariba Designer Jewelry, on the entry courtyard, and Ocean Leather, where Bougainvillea used to be.
Mongoose Restaurant has a new menu. Paradiso offers air-conditioned indoor or patio dining. The Sun Dog Cafe and Gecko Gazebo offer light fare and creative bar concoctions.
The shopping complex is an easy 5-minute stroll from the Cruz Bay ferry dock, making for easy access by those traveling from St. Thomas.
If you've got questions that can't wait ‘til Friday night, call 776-6909 about the art show and 693-8090 about the whole holiday happening.
