The island business community flocked to the unveiling of the 2007 St. John Guide Book and St. John Map during cocktail hour at Paradiso in Mongoose Junction on Tuesday, November 28.
This year’s guide book has been “revised and upgraded” with new cartoons by Linda Smith Palmer, which illustrate a story of a grandmother and grandson touring St. John by taxi.
A lot of effort was put into getting cartoonist Linda Smith Palmer to create new cartoons, according to Arne and Barbara Jakobsen, publishers of St. John Guide Book and St. John Map.
“The cartoons make it more interesting to read,” said Arne. “It grabs people’s attention and it gets them to learn about the island.”
The cartoons are a creative and fun way to illustrate activities available on St. John, added Arne.
“People are attracted to the cartoons,” said Barbara, who added the advertisements sell themselves. “We have no text telling people where to go or what to do.”
The “laid back” St. John style is expressed in the cartoon-filled guide book, explained Arne.
The Jackobsens have been publishing the free St. John Guide Book, along with the St. John Map for 18 years. It is distributed on St. Thomas at the Cyril E. King Airport as well as at the Seaborne Airlines terminal, all major hotels and particularly on the East End. On St. John the guide and map are available at Loredon L. Boynes Sr. ferry dock, in the hotel, every rental villa and “literally all the shops.”
“We publish 250,000 guide books and 350,000 maps,” Barbara said.
“Last year we upgraded the paper to semi-gloss,” said Barbara. “It made a big difference in the quality.”
2007 Map Includes Enighed Pond
The rapid development on St. John has the publishers continually updating the St. John Map each year to depict the location of new buildings and businesses or developments.
Although the St. John Map is not true to architectural scale, artist Kat Sowa has revised the 2007 map to include the Enighed Pond Marine Facility and barge traffic as well as The Marketplace and the new Dockside building, which is home to Colombian Emeralds.
