The grand opening of the Cape Quarter’s Square

Cape Quarter

This is one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets because it has something for everyone, health, beauty, fashion, lifestyle and food all in one unique venue with typical Cape Malay architecture. This is a place that epitomises cool and if you want to be with the who’s who then you should make your way to the Cape Quarter …

This is such a fantastic space that is brought together with the central piazza which in itself is a meeting place for friends and family before they explore the Cape Quarter’s wonderful opportunities and hidden treasures. The Cape Quarter Piazza can be found at 72 Waterkant Street, Green Point … Continued

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

There’s a secret little world of fantasy and fairy tale, which unfolds every Saturday morning in Constantia, Cape Town. And if you have not treated your children to a visit to the Rainbow Puppet Theatre, at the Michael Oak Waldorf school, then you are missing out! Continued

Groot Constantia Christmas Gift and Garden Fair

I hadn’t managed to get to the Christmas Gift and Garden Fair during the evening this week so popped in during lunch time on its last day.  Held at Groot Constantia, the setting itself would have been good enough if the fair had not lived up to expectation.  But it did not fail to deliver!

For a small R20 entry fee (all proceeds go to The Red Cross Children’s Hospital, and in particular will be used to buy lifesaving equipment for the new Operating Theatre Complex) I gained access to the ‘hall’ and strolled along the rows of exhibitors.  On sale were all sorts of lovely things, perfect for Christmas shopping … Continued

Open Gardens at The Cellars-Hohenort

Cellars-Hohenort

I took myself off to the Open Gardens at The Cellars-Hohenort yesterday afternoon.  I must admit the weather was already a bit windy so I was in two minds about going but I’m very pleased I did.  The gardens are spectacular and are acknowledged as some of the finest hotel gardens in the world and voted by Garden Design, a top American magazine, as one of the top 30 hotel gardens in the world.

On arrival at the hotel I was met by five ducks and it looked as if they were out for an afternoon waddle, just to keep tabs on their estate!  Close behind them was their ‘minder’ who needed to round them up and take them ‘home’ but clearly this was not part of the equation for the ducks at they scattered to hide in the thick foliage! Continued

V&A Waterfront Photos

One of Cape Town’s biggest tourist attractions, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront evokes images of the early activities of the harbour. Much of its charm lies in the fact that this busy commercial harbour is set in the midst of a huge entertainment venue with pubs, restaurants, specialty shops, craft markets, theatres and movies … Continued

Bird’s Boutique Café – on its way to becoming iconic in the city bowl

Bird’s Boutique Café

A meal at Bird’s Boutique is something of an experience, and if you haven’t already stopped off to taste Mathilde Stegmann and her daughter’s delectable dishes, then I would advise that you do.

Set on the corner of Bree and Church Street in a building that is most un-restaurant-like, there isn’t anything quite like this café in Cape Town. The concept defies categorisation, and yet the food is simple, home-cooking. Described as a ‘unique, artistic refuge’ the café, despite sounding such, is not pretentious and doesn’t work hard at just being what it is – a kitchen that feeds its patrons seriously yummy and distinctive food, with none of the gloss, glamour and self-indulgent ostentation that some other restaurants manage. Continued

Green Point Stadium in all her lit up glory

Isn’t she beautiful? The new Green Point Stadium was lit up for the first time last week Thursday (22nd October 2009) and Capetonians are proud! The FIFA World Cup™ is the biggest sporting event in the world and all eyes will be on the Green Point Stadium and Cape Town when it hosts five first round matches, one second round, one quarter-final and one semi-final next year … Continued

Lunching at Parks Café in Wynberg

Parks Café in Wynberg

We don’t get out much. No seriously, doing lunch is tantamount to a social occasion we manage it so seldom. When one works from home, lunch hour is something you snatch on the run whilst picking up the wee one and sprinting into the local bakery  double time for fresh bread!

But yesterday we managed to have what definitely qualifies as a civilised lunch time interlude at Parks Café, Wynberg. The address is a little misleading, as Parks Café actually rests on Constantia Main Road, more-or-less across the road from Norman Henshilwood High School, in a simply beautiful restored Victorian villa (you probably drive past here on numerous occasions, but next time, swing inside – you’ll not be disappointed) … Continued

Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts

It is that time again Cape Town – The Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts are right on our doorstep so it is time to phone your friends, dust off that picnic blanket and take the basket off the top shelf and make sure you have tickets for the Sunday concerts …

The Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concerts have been taking place for as long as I can remember, they are such a highlight on the Cape Town calendar and it is a fantastic opportunity to wind down the weekend, sitting on the beautiful grassy banks in front of the stage at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, while listening to some of the best South African musicians and bands we have to offer. Continued

History or horticulture? How about a whole lot of both at Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden?

The Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden is one of the Cape’s most well-known tourism draw cards, as well as being a favourite with locals as a picnic spot. Any Cape Town guide book worth its salt will tell you about the Garden’s 528 hectares of indigenous flora and natural forest (36 of which are cultivated), its restaurants, its hiking trails and its line-up of summer concerts. What they might not tell you about is Kirstenbosch’s very long and interesting history … Continued

La Boheme Restaurant in Sea Point

La Boheme

A friend resides in Sea Point and has been raving about a restaurant that has opened up on Main Road so we gave it a try on Tuesday evening.  I’m so glad we did!  At R85 for a 2 course meal we were off to a good start, and the delicious food cemented La Boheme on one of my new favourite eateries … Continued

Bloubergstrand …

Bloubergstrand

It is a humbling experience watching a child have their first experience of the beach, something that I as a Capetonian often take for granted. My cousin and her 13 month old son came down to Cape Town from Johannesburg for a visit.

The day they arrived was quite a typical summer’s day, hot with a bit of wind and we decided that it would be a great opportunity to go down to the beach, after all the little guy could have his first taste (literally) of the beach sand and see the sea … Continued

Eggman by Greg Lumley

Todays photograph by Cape Town photographer, Greg Lumley, is of “Eggman” – he’s the guy with all the Eggs on his head that you see at all the best festivals in Cape Town. His name is Gregory da Silva – Greg is a storyteller, dancer and live street perfomer from Benin West Africa. “Eggman” performs every day in Market Square, Cape Town and adds an air of Rio-style festivity wherever he performs … Continued

The Earth Fair food market deserves a look see

The Biscuit Mill’s Neighbourgoods Market has set a benchmark for just how good food markets can be in Cape Town. When it began, some three years ago now, we were blown away by Justin Rhodes’ and Cameron Munro’s initiative, and the award-winning market now features over 100 specialty traders, with a waiting list of something close on 100 as well. It’s an excellent market, one you’d be hardpressed to beat … Continued

Style in the city

Trinny & Susannah

You either have it or you don’t, style that is, but lucky enough for those of us to whom style doesn’t come easily, we can be helped. And the MasterCard Style in the City is here to help. Taking place from Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November in the ever popular V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, this event will showcase the crème de la crème of fashion and beauty and is hosted by top fashion guru’s Trinny and Susannah.

If you don’t yet know who these two straight talking ladies are then let me enlighten you. I have been a fan of theirs ever since I first saw their show while visiting my sister in the UK. What not to wear is a programme that takes ordinary people, yes that means you, your wife, mother, grandmother, father, husband or friend and Continued