No sooner had St Barth finished mopping up from the heavy rains of hurricane Jose than it was flooded with people, an unusual combination of Swedes, sailors and Jimmy Buffett fans who had come from far and near for the weekend of November 6 & 7 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Le Select, the island's oldest (and still best) bar. Located in the heart of Gustavia, just steps from the port, Le Select has long been a haven for old salts and landlubbers alike. 
It's owner, the 77-year-old Marius Stakelborough, a bearded patriarch of the island, often holds court in the garden restaurant which is called "Cheeseburger In Paradise," thanks to a special deal with Marius's good buddy Jimmy Buffett who lent the name of one of his most famous songs to Le Select in exchange for free beer and burgers for life. A frequent visitor to St Barth since 1976, Jimmy has been known to give free impromptu concerts at Le Select over the years.
As soon as he heard that Marius was planning the silver jubilee celebration of the bar, Jimmy promised to bring his band and play a free concert on the dock in Gustavia. Once word of the concert got out (a website listing or two was all it took), any Parrothead (as Buffett's fans are called) that could find St Barth on the map starting making plans to come to the island for the weekend. Most of the locals either never heard of Jimmy Buffett or couldn't understand the excitement since the "Jeemmy" they know plays for free all the time (they don't know that he sells out Madison Square Garden in five minutes flat). But pretty soon every hotel room, guest bed and rental car on the island was reserved, and loads of people sailed in from neighboring islands with plans to sleep on their boats, on the beach, or simply party on the dock all night. It was quite a scene, with more Jimmy Buffett t-shirts, parrot hats, cheeseburger heads, and beer coolers than had ever hit the island before. Anyone who didn't bring a Buffett t-shirt with them could buy Le Select t-shirts for the occasion, or head over to the Black Swan boutique which had turned into a Jimmy Buffett shrine with his music playing non-stop all weekend and special t-shirts, beach towels, and a wide variety of Parrothead paraphernalia on tap. There must have been 2000 people crowded onto the dock and nearby boats for the two-and-a-half hour concert complete with fireworks (one of which strayed off course and set fire to the island's weather station). Some of the Parrotheads camped out from noon on, drinking beer in the hot sun, to get a front row spot at show time. Marius and his extended family got a big round of applause when they stood on stage and Jimmy and Marius congratulated each other on the success of the event. "For 25 years I dreamt about playing on this quay," said Buffett, who added a little calypso and reggae for the occasion.
The weekend included a roster of other events as well, from Swedish candle lighting ceremonies to a photographic history of the island and Le Select, sailing races, and performances by local bands from St Barth and St Martin. Once the party was over and Jimmy's Cesna seaplane (with his signature parrot painted on the tail) was gone and the beer bottles swept up from the dock, would anyone really believe that Jimmy Buffett and a six-piece band had been in St Barth for a free concert. Only those of us who where there will ever really know for sure.
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
Eugénie Blanchard: The Oldest Person In The World
Born in Saint Barth on February 16, 1896, Eugénie Blanchard became the doyenne of humanity on Tuesday, May 4. Since May 25, 2008, she has been the oldest person in France, and at the age of 114, she is also now the oldest person in the world, fo...
2010 St Barth Book Festival
Organized by the association Saint BArt, the fifth edition of the St Barth Book Festival took place April 12 to 20, 2010. Four authors were the invited guests this year, including Alex Godard, writer and illustrator from Marie Galante, known primarily for his wonderf...
2010 St Barth Film Festival
The St Barth Film Festival Cinéma Caraïbes celebrated its 15th anniversary on April 24-30, 2010. This year, organizers Ellen Lampert-Gréaux, Joshua Harrison, Rosemond Gréaux, and Sophie Maupoil paid tribute to Haiti, with the projection of Moloch Tropical, the...
FILMS ON THE BEACH We survived! The 15th annual St Barth Film Festival, which took place April 24-30, 2010, was a very interesting event this year, with a wide range of films and filmmakers from the Caribbean basin. Getting them all to the island was quite an accomplishment, with the clouds of volc...
