Maboneng Precinct_Acoustic Roof Top Music

The beautiful Joburg and Amigos.



  On the east side of Joburg, where a couple of years ago it was literally an industrial wasteland, and most people wouldn't have dared to venture in, has completely transformed into something more positive. Thanks to a young hipster who overtime turned it into a place of trendy artist studios, galleries and retail spaces. It has became an underground(not so much anymore) hangout spot for those in the know.
It has become the new ‘it’ place in Joburg. It’s not that hard to see why.

Another glorious Sunday in The Precinct with my Joburg amigos- told you I’d be a regular: ). The day began at Arts on Main for a good dosage of Gin and Tonic, food and feel good vibes. Before the sun travelled west, we moved to the opposite side of the road, still on Main, to enjoy acoustic roof top live music, compliments of Castle Milk Stout. The view was a marvel, the crowd was beautiful and the vibe was insatiable. Whilst we waited for the performances to start we were treated to complimentary Castle Milk Stout. The bonus was definitely the photo session with your amigos at The Castle Milk Stout Banner, which came with a printed copy for each person in the photo and a mini photo to fit inside a nifty little leather key ring, all compliments of the host! Yes, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t like freebies!

The first artist was Nothende, a female vocalist that I wasn't very familiar with. She got things started on a great note, singing some of her songs as well as those of legends of yesterday. Next performance was my main man Khuli Chana (can anyone tell this man to marry me already!) and finally Kabomo. The lineup was meant to be much longer, but no bother! The artists’ that performed really held their own and owned the night, and it has became increasingly clear that the talent in South Africa is alive and thriving! With artist like Khuli Chana, we all need to embrace it all and support them.

The performances ended. The evening progressed swiftly on. The DJ was great and kept us on our feet. It was a great day in the Precinct which has by far become one of my favourite Sunday hang out spot.

I'm hoping in the summer they'll be many more sessions like these. Its almost an injustice to the beauty of it to arrive wearing scarves and jerseys! It deserves summer dresses, hats and sunglasses.

If you need to know when and where these sessions happen, you'll need to look out or listen. It came to me by word of mouth.

I'm really looking forward to many more places, things, art, retail, food and people. Word around the ether is that Thesis Social Jam sessions and Kitchener’s are fast becoming the ‘it’ places to be in Joburg.

Can't wait! Perhaps I'll see you there.


*The lack of photos is due to my laptop crashingL. The techno gizmos are working on it. Photos will be released soon.

Arts on Main

Trust me to venture out on the coldest day of ‘spring’. But the trip had been delayed long enough. So I put on my jacket and big girl panties on and got on with business.  But in the colds defence, it was still JulyJ

Food Market

After making 3 u-turns thanks to the recalculating GPS, I finally arrived. Nestled under a bridge on Cnr Berea and Main Street, there it was, the most sung about place since the birth of the blog. I held my breath in anticipation of what I’ll find. Will it live up to the song?

Walking in, I’m greeted by what resembles a food market, with all kinds of decadent food and trendy people for good measure. I went around to each and every one of them and I left having the taste of the world in my mouth. Olives, Olive pastes, chilli, pastries, chocolate, breads etc. And I’ m not talking about the ordinary. This was food I’ve never had the pleasure of exploring. I was in a fondies heaven!

Thereafter I viewed  retail, art, book stores and galleries spaces. It was there, that I feel in love! I came across the most simple yet moving picture. Taken by the artist Marcus Neustetter, called The Study of the Vertical Gaze.  The picture was taken at The Maropeng caves, at an-obvious-vertical gaze. I was completely taken aback. I must have stood for while just reading that picture. I had to peeled off from that picture! For obvious reasons, I cant put it up.

On the other side, above the restaurant is an open bar with benches, stairs and enough stoep to make everyone act like lizards! Then sun was out, trying to beat away the blues of the stinging weather. Be mindful that it gets filled up pretty quickly, so best pick a spot and stick to it for the duration of the afternoon.

By the caribean inspired bar, there was music, trendy people, lots of samba, Steph Weiss and Gin and Tonic to wrap up the afternoon in a nice little bow.

Arts on Main proved to be everything and more. The song should have been sung with a beat! The people, the atmosphere, the food and the art!

 Yes, believe the hype! Soon enough, all you’ll want to do on a Sunday Morning is Arts on Main.

The Study of the Vertical Gaze, where love was born!

The other side-SAMBA!!!!

More Art!

Ahh Steph Weiss!

Being Lizards in the sun!

The Centre



Beauty of Maboneng Precinct

Wolves, Illovo

Yesterday on Workers Day, I headed out to do something I haven’t done in a while… Joburg! The day was rather sombre and I needed something relaxed to suite the mood of the day. A friend had recommended going to a place the sells thee most delicious red velvet cakes in the city. Not being so enthused about going to a bakery type of place, I was convinced to go after all. The motivation was cheap beer!

We arrived in Illovo a couple of traffic lights off Corllete drive by Illovo Corner. There’s a stretch of quirky shops just off the corner. If you don’t remember to look up, you’ll miss it.

So no, it’s not a bakery, though has a very corner coffee house feel to it.  As you walk in, you’re greeted by a mixed crowd of people, some with mac books going on about their business, some relaxing outside, or by the window and some just hanging out or having lunch. It’s a relaxed, no fuss atmosphere. By no fuss, I’m in no way saying grungy.

The comforting outside area

The best part is, one need not wait for a waiter to order a drink, instead, you walk straight to their old school type of refrigerator and take out whatever cold beverage you fancy. Like you just got home after a long day, and there’s a cold one with your name written all over it! Though the cheap beer part is a myth! It’s evident that people feel at home here. They even take away their own plates after eating as one would do at home after a meal. Of course this is optional. If not, you may order your coffee or/and one of their renown cakes at the counter, which the famous being red velvet cake or cupcake for about R25. Personally for that much I’d rather order another Steph Weiss Beer, which seems to be trending around Joburg. If you fancy a bite, their light meals range from R45.



That, that makes the room

Visually it’s a charming little house, with all types of paintings around and a shelf occupying the majority of the right wall with an array of ornaments (all for sale).  We grabbed table inside and a game of scrabble off the shelf. The combination of cold Steph Weiss Beer, good company and the easy atmosphere made for good simple fun.

Though being right bam in the middle of the week, they do lock shop early, around 4pm. They don’t chase you away or make you feel unwelcome by packing up whilst you’re still busy. They actually encourage you to relax and complete whatever it is you were doing, games not included. If you fancy an evening do, Thursday to Sunday they close shop around 7pm.

I’ll definitely visit again for an easy-like-Sunday morning or a home-away-from-home type of atmosphere. This time, I’ll have the cup cake and not feel so stingy about it!

The View

The atmosphere

This is really charming

The quirkiness

The Neighbourgoods Market-Braamfontein

Wow its been a long time coming...
The virginity has been broken! So before I become a lover of all Joburg things, I must share my experience with the most charming place yet. The one that has deflowered me: )
The Neighbourgood Market in Braamfontein.
I've heard of the emerging trendiness of Braamfontein and wasn't disappointed at the progress. I can guarantee that in the next year or so it will the trendiest place in Joburg.
Braamfontein has turned Joburg into a mellow, confident, clean Joburg that I want to be a part of.

Accompanied by my trustee Joburger, Lefase, we ventured down to the market.
As we arrived, we realised that we may have waited a bit too long to go...the market people were already clearing up : (
But not all was lost. There is the rooftop that still has stalls and two bars, with a wide area to relax under umbrellas. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and the sun rays were beaming on the rooftop. The atmosphere was alive with people, and colour and everyone was mellow and ready to mingle
The energy was absolutely contagious. The mixed crowd made all the difference. It almost felt like a London rooftop party in the summer, so rare and so so good.

The market is open on Saturdays, and its advised you go around 12-1 pm to avoid dissapointment; )

So even though I missed out on the market part of the Neighbourgoods market . I didn't feel robbed of the experience...It was absolutely delightful and charming enough to bring me back.
Check out the link below to view exactly what I speak of when I say trendy!

http://www.mabonengprecinct.com/




The rooftop



One of the bars



The beautiful people

A piece of your Joburg...

We all have a place in a town, city or village that almost feels like home. It might even be a spot in the garden, a roof top or a leafy street. The atmosphere of that certain place brings comfort and joy to you. That is why, most of us have a favourite place. It doesn't matter what time of day or season we visit it. That place is always with you.

Its a place we may sit and talk or just be with it in silence. Not the intrusive or noisy silence. Like the silence in the earth.

I'm still to begin this journey, though ultimately, I will find a piece of my Joburg.

If you have a special place you'd like to share, please pop me a mail, with an accompanying picture, and let us know of your piece of Joburg...



The Virgin Joburger

Since I decided to write this blog, Ive been so excited about the prospects that I can't wait to break this Joburg virginity!

I was born in Pretoria, Hammaskraal to be exact. I've lived majority of my life in between Settlers (a boarding school in the middle of nowhere) and Polokwane. Hence the move to Pretoria for University was a more a natural one than moving to Joburg.
You see we Pretorians have this idea that when you're in Joburg you'll either get robbed or get hijacked!
When I was in university going to Joburg was a marvel, the people, the vibe! I remember driving around thinking how do these people remember any of these streets?!

Then I got an opportunity to move to London for 2 years, and after the Europe stint the last thing I wanted was to pick up where I left off in Pretoria. So I took what I had and moved into a cosy studio apartment in Auckland Park.

So I'm not an entirely a virgin to the city of lights. I did get to go to your mediocre Joburg spots, your Capital, The Bank and Latinova, and really none of these places brought me any joy.
Then I discovered the trendy 44 Stanley, right in my backyard and then of course Melville and fell right in love.

I've since moved back to Pretoria and all that withdrawal has turned my clock around, and hence the the start of My Joburg, discovering the great city without the pretentious bull dust!

This is really old pic, not sure I added it..