Wallpaper* City Guide to Cape Town out!
On our recent trip to Tokyo I was delighted to pick up a copy of the Wallpaper* guide to Tokyo “the fast-track guide for the smart traveller” (published by Phaidon). I don’t know how smart we were but we only had 5 days to check out this supacity so we needed a lot of help. It worked. We managed to see some mind-blowing spots which we would never have found without it… the Wallpaper* City Guide suggestions are so well selected that walking into one of the recommendations is like walking through the pages of the magazine, they just ooze Wallpaper* finesse and style. While we’re delighted for Cape Town to have been included in the second bunch of cities (after the first 30 cities published) to be graced with the guide, our noses are a little out of joint as to why Jozi hasn’t got one yet. Africa’s megacity! We love Slaapstad’s tasteful essence and incredible pizazz but we certainly have a number of hidden gems that would make the cut. Apparently Johannesburg’s version will be out in the next batch of books published, we wait with bated breathe and hope like hell it’s not the same writers who put together the Timeout guide – it smacked of outsider writers who clearly knew very little about Jozi. We’ve contacted the publishers and will let you know if there’s any more info. Cape Townians – any comments on the content?? For now, you can buy your CT guide from Exclusives at R97. Hang out in the Wallpaper* high...
Representah! A Day in the Life… Jozi 2010
We’re really excited about our new crew of citizen journalists writing for Represent and giving us even more juicy content for you darling readers – here’s our debut submission from a very loyal Representah Linda Soga who took time out to attend the Inner City Summit last weekend – for anyone that’s interested in the plans for the city from now to the big bang in 2010, read all about it! Some very exciting moves – by the way, anyone know what’s happening with ConHill – seems to be moving a little slower than planned? i.e. Where is that Hyatt hotel? Sharpile Linda – uyarocka. A Day in the Life… Jozi 2010 I roll out of bed…growling at my alarm clock as I rub the sleep out of my eyes… I look at the time; “Yikes! Late again”. I take a quick shower, dress, grab my bag and set off at a trot down to the bus stop at the corner, pausing only to say hello to the doorman at the front of my apartment building. I’m just in time to catch the bus; one minute later and I would have had to walk the five blocks to the train station (in these heels, girlfriend? I don’t think so!) I get on the bus, sit down and start to breathe normally. In fifteen minutes, I’m at the office, and as the day goes by, I start planning what to do later on… it’s Friday. A few phone calls tell me that it’s all happening in Newtown tonight… Oh yes, I live in downtown Jozi, and the year is 2010, although you’d be forgiven for associating the scene I’ve just described with Manhattan, London or some other metropolis. Or picture this… I haven’t driven my car in over two weeks. Oh, there’s nothing wrong with it; I just have not needed to. I live downtown, a walking distance to work. There’s a shopping arcade across the road from me, for those quick after-work purchases. And for entertainment, I’m spoilt for choice – there’s the gallery around the corner, the movie house two blocks away and Joburg City Hall, always good for live music. This is the Joburg of the (not too distant) future. This urban landscape was painted by the City of Johannesburg at the Inner City Summit which I attended last weekend – of a city in which one will be able to live, work, and play. The Summit was held at the Braamfontein Recreation Centre, next door to the recently refurbished Parktonian Hotel. There was a large turnout, of people from all walks of life – property developers, business people, investors, and...
Vottle hell is it?
They’re certainly putting streetpole advertising to good use, we couldn’t help but notice the name VOTTLE shouting out at us again and again… so we checked it out. At first glance it seems to be an SA version of CraigsList or Gumtree, which we believe there is definitely a need for. According to Ronnie Apteker in the Business Report (read here), “Vottle is a free online classifieds service with a strong community orientation….The Vottle project is about our community. It is about bringing people together. And it is about empowering the consumer at large – that’s you and me! The Vottle project allows you to network online, to buy and sell goods, and it enables you seek out other like-minded people. The Vottle project is also about taking responsibility for our community – the CRIME WATCH component has a lot of potential and could be a valuable tool that may allow us all to gain valuable insight as to our community’s well being.” We put it to test by looking for our dream car – a sexy black Jeep, a flat to rent and a job in advertising! We found all three with ease and through this test found one little weakness – regions. Items are not categorised in regions, so you sign up for the cute garden cottage in Observatory, pay your deposit ‘cos it’s so cheap and you’re desperate (ok I’m pushing this example if you really rent a place without visiting it you’re an idiot) then find out that it’s actually on the Yeoville side of Obs in Jozi way way away from the hippy restaurant vibes of Obs in CT. For example. Otherwise it seemed quick to use and nice and simple. Good luck to the Vottle Project...
Top Ten things to do for (almost) Free in Jozi
Can be found under Editor’s Top 10. Just Click Here. Please add your suggestions to the list.
Get to Male Ego @ Kyalami
A friend of mine has launched the first of their Male Ego exhibitions at Kyalami and I promised to help spread the news – it’s all about boys and toys and ego’s and testosterone… Tell everyone that fits the profile! More info here. The Male Ego Showcase promises to whet the appetites of many of those aspiring gentlemen out there. As you may have heard from our advertising and press coverage, we are launching South Africa’s first ever premier showcase of the luxuries goods market. We will have everything from designer Italian shirts, bespoke fly fishing destinations, Swiss watches, through to super-cars on display. We will afford the aspiring gentlemen the opportunity to interact with these fine products and services, and to procure where they want. We will also have Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz on the track with qualified racing drivers taking visitors for ‘hot-laps’, or you can test drive the latest 4×4’s on the specially designed 4×4 course. You will also be afforded the opportunity to taste and learn all about South Africa’s award winning brandy Van Ryn, or sit and relax in the Peroni bar and discuss all these fantastic products and services on...
The Hoff gets a PhuzaFace
While looking for a Friday laugh for you we stumbled across this YouTube clip of David Hasselhoff lying prostrate with what appears to be serious booze-driven munchies. It sounds like his daughter talking to him and asking him to not drink or else he will be fired from his show… It’s not actually funny but rather sad. Kitt would be devastated. We sometimes forget that celebs are not superhumans but instead flawed humans who all have their demons and their weaknesses just like you and I the ordinary people. Makes you think. Doesn’t it. Will continue to look for something Friday funny....
We will be back!
