TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Returning after 9 years - Mont Vernon Question (and more)

Good afternoon all,
Its been over 9 years since I last visited St Martin. Thanks to this forum, I became very familiar with what to do when I'd travel there solo for multiple trips between 2008-15. I'm ready to return with my wife and daughter and am excited to check out things again. I'm well aware that Irma changed many things I used to enjoy and things are back on the up and up since she hit back in 2017. I'm super happy to return and bring back some business to my favorite spot.

Thanks to the forum, so many of my questions about what I used to do or hear about now have been answered. I'm glad some places are still around (Kontiki Beach, Driftwood Bar) and sad to see others no longer in business (Hilma's, Gus's).

I did have a few questions I'm having issues finding the answer for...
1. I plan to stay in a condo rental in the Hotel Mont Vernon building. Is Rue du Mont Vernon paved well these days? I know the Mont Vernon Hotel buildings are in even better shape since Irma, but I always remember that main road coming from Rue de Cul de Sac to the MV Hotel building being super filled with pot holes. Is it in decent shape now?
2. Can I still visit the Ma Doudou store in Cul de Sac on Belvedere, or is there a better/suggested option I should use instead to peruse, sample and buy their rums?
3. How is the Grand Case Street Faire on Tuesdays? Still hoppin'?
4. I see that the Guavaberry Emporium in Philipsburg is permanently closed. Do they still sell the Old man brand elsewhere on the island? I see there's a new Guavaberry distiller with shops in Colombier & Marigot, how are they?
5. Are the prescription medications really worth getting there? We get alot of brand medications for allergies & vertigo and our insurance seems to do okay with copays. I never looked for medications seriously when I'd go there before and I'm not someone looking for recreational stuff. Are there alternate medications available there that we can't get here for things like allergies or chronic pain?
6. How is the Scoobi catamaran since they got taken over and its no longer called "ScoobiToo" anymore?
7. Is there any spot for food/drink at Baie Rouge since Gus's sadly got the Irma smackdown?
8. This may be a longshot, but do any record/music shops exist anywhere or any vintage camera shops?

I think this pretty much covers it. Thanks for everyone's patience in answering these un case they've been answered many times before. March 2025 can't come soon enough.
Scott