C’sted Boardwalk: The Crowds are Back!

M.A. Dworkin

St. Croix - It was a night of remembrance. It was a night to remember. The Jed JohnHope - Janeisha John collaboration: “Heart of the Block” and “Sunset for the Silenced” back-to-back events that celebrated the life of Jordan “Dutty Heart” Jones, and called out, no cried out, for an end to gun violence in the USVI, lit up the Christiansted Boardwalk, perhaps in ways it has never been lit up before, bringing back the glory days of peace. love and community co-existence, to the grand old, historic town. 

It was the Best of the Best in Entertainment, Food, and those sweet, sweet, VI Nice Vibes. Ah, yes, so nice, so nice. Worldwide artists graced the Boardwalk stage that cut off Queen Cross street, as 5,000 strong came out to hear performances by Gyptian, Leon & the Peoples, De Apostle, Pressure, Mr. Easy, and a host of other great musicians that turned the Boardwalk into an outpost for some of the most exciting acts of the day. 

Gastronomical delights came in the form of fresh Coops Island Oysters that Mr. JohnHope brought in for the King Christian Hotel event, along with AMA’s Chris Booth serving up tasty poached chicken salad with tarragon, flank steak crostini, and fried shrimp with Mango chutney. Erica from Bleu Chocolat, hit the tastebuds out of sight with her wildly popular, locally made, rum-laced (Boozy) cupcakes and gourmet ice cream sandwiches. While over at Shupe’s, the undisputed King of STX Burgers, there were piles of dyn-o-mite jerk chicken wings, veggie fried rice and johnny cakes. The vendors on Queen Cross dished out some great homemade local food, accompanied by smiling faces and great big helpings of Crucian good will.

At the center of it all was the brainchild of Jed JohnHope and his Yellow Cedar Media Group. Shaken by the death of his friend Dutty Heart, fed up with the continual gun violence that has shocked Virgin Islanders in recent months, Mr. JohnHope knew something had to be done to show a force of peaceful unity amongst the good people of St. Croix. From such humble thoughts Mr. JohnHope put on one of the most unique events in the history of the Boardwalk.  

There were three VIP sections that spanned the sweep of the Boardwalk, starting with the scenic rooftop deck at the King Christian Hotel, continuing on to the way-kool VIP Party Deck above Shupe’s and then over to the hush, hush, secret VIP Viewing Deck at the Caravelle Hotel. The combination of these three personalized VIP venues framed out the Caravelle Hotel’s grand stage on Queen Cross Street, and helped to enhance the message of peace and love that seemed to float everywhere in the cool night air. 

Let’s face it, when C’sted hits on all cylinders, it’s one of the great places to be in the Caribbean islands. Its history, its culture, its charm, takes you away to a place you’ve never been before. And as the sun sets down, the sky turns a pastel pink, the boats bob peacefully in the harbor, you feel no pain as you sip one of those frozen concoctions, walk slowly along the great sweep of the Christiansted Boardwalk, past the dive shops, the beautiful hotels, the outdoor restaurants, the smiles that greet you from the friendly locals, you know this is truly a place of magic! 

And when you add in the shoutout by one and all to end gun violence, the  thousands who came out to show their support; the dignitaries who came out to support the call for gun violence prevention, including Governor Albert Bryan Jr., Senator Hubert L. Frederick, Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, and the Executive Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Tony Emanuel; when you listen to Leon and the Peoples singing to you that “Love is a Beautiful Thing” and Mr. JohnHope is telling the audience: “Gun violence is killing forty of our people a year and it has got to stop!” 

When you know this is the exact right time for such a message to be beamed out to the rest of the world from the Boardwalk in Christiansted; to be shouted from the rooftops, from the windows of every city across the globe: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” 

When you know such a movement has to start somewhere. Where else in the world would you rather be?

The tribute to Dutty Heart carried on throughout the night. It ended as peacefully as it had started. No incidents. No arrests. Just peace, love and great music.