The Reichhold Center will be ending 2009

Those that want to admire the beach at Magens Bay and the Caribbean Sea from above should visit the adjacent attraction known as Drake's Seat. Perched atop the majestic seaside cliff beside Magens Bay, Drake's Seat is rumored to have been a lookout for Sir Francis Drake, the famous 16th century colonial captain and explorer. Having seized command of St. Thomas, Drake is thought to have watched his own ships and encroaching vessels from this now popular scenic destination. Visitors to the site will find a bench perched on the highest point of the cliff and a view overlooking Magens Bay and the Caribbean Sea beyond. As a result, Drake's Seat has become one of the most popular photographic destinations on the island, especially during the late afternoon and early evening hours when the setting sun highlights the exotic scenery. This popular sightseeing destination is visited by most of St. Thomas' guided tours, but travelers with rental cars or recreational vehicles will also be able to reach the site with ease. Drake's Seat is located just off Route 40, the main road running along St. Thomas' northern shore.
Justin Burch

Though known as one of the Caribbean's top shopping destinations, St. Thomas is also home to an incredibly active arts and culture scene. For over three decades, local music aficionados, as well as tourists in search of internationally renowned performers and stage productions, have flocked to St. Thomas' Reichhold Center. This elegant performance space, located just west of Charlotte Amalie along Brewers Bay, regularly stages concerts in genres ranging from classical and jazz to reggae and hip hop. Having already welcomed the likes of Ray Charles and the Moscow Ballet, the Reichhold Center is preparing for another exiting season full of diverse musical surprises.

Built in the late 1970s with the generous support of Henry H. Reichhold – an American entrepreneur who spent the latter years of his life supporting the arts in St. Thomas and its sister U.S. Virgin Islands – the Reichhold Center still represents a remarkable architectural and acoustic achievement. The Reichhold Center is capable of seating 1,196 ticket holders within an intimate, two-tiered space – including 356 upholstered chairs in the lower level that emulate the best seats found at top opera houses. Though the lower-level seats offer an unparalleled concert experience, many return visitors actually prefer the unique, open-air seating of the upper level. Capable of seating 840 viewers, the upper level at the Reichhold Center features elegant wooden benches separated by natural stones and planter boxes filled with native vegetation. In rare periods of inclement weather, overhead shelters protect all of the theater's open-air seats.

The Reichhold Center will be ending 2009 with a series of exciting cultural events before transitioning into an action-packed 2010 schedule full of top-notch touring artists. On October 3, the venue will showcase an intriguing performance by COBU, an offshoot of the immensely popular and influential show, STOMP. Created by Yako Miyamoto, a longstanding member of the STOMP stage show, COBU features a funky, modern take on traditional Japanese Taiko drumming. The COBU performance is part of the Reichhold Center's ongoing “Family Series,” events designed to capture the imagination of adults and kids alike. Two weeks later, the Reichhold Center hosts Michael McDonald, a former member of the Doobie Brothers and top-selling solo artist. The month of November features performances by the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra (November 14) – an adventurous orchestra known throughout the Caribbean region for its rousing renditions of lesser-known works – and the Ballet Hispanico (November 21) – a traveling dance company that blends traditional Latin dance and contemporary forms.