Cape Town South Africa

The 2010 Cape Town International Jazz Festival might still be way off in the distant, faintly glimmering future (the date is set for Saturday 03 and Sunday 04 April – coinciding with Easter), but the organisers have already whet our appetites by releasing the line-up of impressive artists who will be performing at the 11^th annual festival.

Although every single performer on the list is exceptionally talented and of a world class calibre, let’s drop the superstar names first and introduce veteran jazz pianist and winner of multiple Grammy Awards, McCoy Tyner. Renowned in the 1960s for playing piano for saxophonist John Coltrane and featuring on many of Coltrane’s recordings, 71-year old Tyner is a prolific recording artist in his own right – having released three CDs in the last two years. He has also been credited for being one of the first jazz musos to reintroduce African rhythms into jazz.

Also gracing the stage at next year’s jazz fest will be jazz violinist Regina Carter and jazz songbird Rachelle Ferrell. But not all the acts will be imported. Part of what has made the festival so successful thus far is its nice blend of international and local acts. Therefore some of our own greats will also hit the stage to represent the homeland and at what has been touted to be the continent’s Grandest Gathering.

South Africans that will be performing include pianist Tete Mbambisa, guitarist and crooner Jonathan Butler, Amanda Tiffan, The Glenn Robertson Jazz Band, Iridium Project, Musa Manzini, Sammy Hartman Project with Robbie Jansen & Ezra Ngcukana, Selaelo Selota, Stix Hojeng and the man otherwise known as “The Voice”, Vusi Mahlasela.

Internationals include US trumpeter Rick Braun, Scottish saxophonist Richard Elliott – both of whom will perform with our own Butler. Toots Thielemans will come out from his native Belgium, Mezzoforte from Iceland will melt our hearts and Michaela Rabitz & Robert Pawlik Quartet will be here from Austria.

The rest of the line-up will be announced at the beginning of 2010. Ticket prices will be R330 for a single day pass and R485 for a weekend pass. Patrons who wish to attend concerts on the Rosies stage will have to pay an additional R25 for every act they wish to see on that stage.

The Grand Daddy Hotel in Long Street has just introduced another unique venue to give the establishment even more of a twist: The Pink Flamingo Rooftop Cinema.

Set among seven vintage Airstream trailers (which have been turned into hotel rooms by seven local artists), cinema-goers will be able to experience the stars of contemporary classic films under the stars of Cape Town’s night sky.

Twice weekly, on Thursday and Sunday nights at 19:30, the Flamingo will screen films. Good news is that this 35 seat open-air cinema won’t shut down during the winter months. It is heated and cooled, making it a year-round experience.

Ticket prices are R50 or R200. Included in the R50 ticket is the admission, a cone containing sweets, a welcome drink and a choice between an Eskimo Pie, pop corn or candy floss. The R200 ticket will secure attendees all the aforementioned plus a comfortable, front row couch and a private cooler box with a selection of drinks.

Drinks will be served at the Airstream Penthouse Trailer Park’s Sky Bar before and after the show.

For more information on current and upcoming movie screenings and about how to book tickets, visit the Pink Flamingo’s website or phone +27 (0)21 424 7247. 

Okay, we know that it’s common knowledge that the residents of the Mother City is by far the sexiest of all South Africa’s metropolitan citizens. However, surely you must’ve noticed that our quota of Beautiful, Skinny People With Chiseled Bone Structure has almost doubled over recent days?

That’s right folks. We’re being graced by those most ethereal of species known as "the model". This sudden surge of gorgeous creatures loose on the town is all thanks to the ongoing Arise Cape Town Fashion Week - which kicked off at the Cape Town International Convention Centre yesterday and will last until this coming Sunday (the 23rd of August).

In case you don’t have plans for the weekend yet, you can always go down and brush shoulders with the human clothing hangers, as well as with the rich, the famous, the infamous, the wannabe’s and - last but not least - the designers who wish to wow us with their outrageous and or sublime creations. We’ve heard that almost every designer and his dog will be there… But no is going to be more literal about that than designer Craig Port, who will be employing some furry, four-legged models to strut their stuff on his runway tonight.

Port has teamed up with Cesar gourmet cuisine to design some doggie duds under his label Craig Port and Miss Port couture. According to an iAfrica article: "Models will be sashaying down the catwalk accompanied by four highly pedigreed and meticulously groomed and coiffed Westies, which are the same breed famously featured on the Cesar packaging. The dogs will be stepping out in designer gear like scarves, collars, coats and accessories to complement the human couture and the theme of the show."

Dogs taking over the catwalk! It seems so poetic, doesn’t it?

Later, at the exclusive VIP after party to take place at the Table Bay hotel in the V&A Waterfront, the models and the dogs will be on the red carpet to meet and greet guests and pose for photographs.

But despair not. If canine couture isn’t your thing, the line-up includes plenty of stuff that will appeal to human-folk too. To see the complete line-up for the rest of the weekend, visit the official website.

If you’re still looking for something to do tonight, rush on over to The Vineyard Hotel and Spa on Colinton Road in Newlands where Wine Concepts is hosting its seventh exclusive Seductive Sauvignon Festival.

Festival goers will be able to taste and compare over 60 of the 2009 vintage Sauvignon Blancs. Cabernet Sauvignon lovers will also be able to sample new vintage releases. If you’re seduced by what you sample, you’ll be able to purchase the showcased wines at discount prices.

It is tonight only, so hurry up! Tickets, available at the door, are R80 per person. Each ticket also includes a glass and light snacks. 

As an unseasonably warm July in the Western Cape Province wraps up, the Mecca of South African wine-making is preparing to host its annual wine festival - and aren’t we lucky to be living so close by!

The charming, historic (established in 1679) town of Stellenbosch, situated less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, is the hub of the country’s wine industry. Every year, the picturesque hamlet uncorks its renowned hospitality as an influx of both international and local visitors descend upon it to explore the area’s five distinct wine routes, visit over 100 wineries, and to drink in the area’s spectacular sights, sounds, and of course, its wines. This year, the festival is extra special since it coincides with South Africa’s 350^th wine-making anniversary.

During the event, festival goers will be able to experience some diverse activities. These include sampling more than 500 different wines; stocking up on their wine collections; taking part in comparative varietal tastings; meeting their favourite winemakers; witnessing some of the area’s top chefs in action – and better yet, tasting their creations - learning more about wine by attending courses; hearing live music and attending fashion shows and art exhibitions.

One of the more unconventional activities at the festival will be the the event where attendees will learn how to blend their own wines. Afterwards, they will even be able to take home their personally created blends to share with family and friends!

Those who are a bit more adventurous, active and fit can explore the winelands by bicycle; view the spectacular works of world-renowned landscape artist Strijdom van der Merwe; and have a “vertical” tasting – which means that you are treated to a tasting of various vintages of a label’s Merlot (to name but one example).

The festival lasts until Sunday, 2 August. In order to encourage responsible drinking and road safety, several shuttle services will operate to transport festival goers to and from Cape Town (departing from the VA Waterfront), Somerset West, etc.

The complete festival programme is available online at www.wineroute.co.za/festival.asp

Poets have always been inspired by the oceans and the creatures lurking within its unfathomable depths, so perhaps it is only apt that some of poets are going to come face-to-face with some of those creatures of the deep. 

An aquarium is therefore also not such an unusual place to have a poetry slam. The Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront is indeed going to be the location of the event DEEP: A Night of Creative Currents featuring Sharks, Poets and other Endangered Species tonight. The event will see the launch of Hyphen, a debut collection of poems by Tania van Schalkwyk and also feature works and appearances by Gus Ferguson, Justin Fox, Sarah Lotz, Helen Moffett, Malika Lueen Ndlovu, Henrietta Rose-Innes, Rebecca Townsend, Colwyn Thomas and others. Books and art will be on sale.

Tickets cost R40 and includes entrance to the aquarium and a free glass of wine upon arrival. It starts at 7pm.

Our beloved former President, Nelson Mandela, turns 91 years old tomorrow!!

The day has officially been declared Mandela Day around the world with a host of performances planned around the world in honour of Madiba. South Africans lucky enough to be in New York City tomorrow will be able to attend a special concert at Radio City Music Hall where artists the likes of legendary Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban and Alicia Keys will perform. Even heart throb actor Matt Damon is apparently going to make an appearance! But since the most iconic South African of all time is being honoured, the concert will definitely have a local flavour as well with Freshly Ground and the Soweto Gospel Choir representing and showing the world how awesome our homegrown talent is. 

Those of us NOT in the Big Apple needn’t despair. The Mother City will also celebrate Madiba Day in style at Mandela Rhodes Place where we will get to rock out to some of the finest South African artists at the Ubuntu Festival from 18 – 19 July. The line-up includes Coda, Claire Philips, the Pop Idols (including the very first one, Heinz Winkler) and Natalia da Rocha, to name but a few. 

For more information, call 021 422 1418

Happy birthday, Madiba!

According to a BBC news report, Cape Town could soon become home to the luxury cruise liner the QE2.

Plans are in the works to refurbish the ship and to turn her into a floating hotel. 

The ship is currently owned by real estate developer Nakheel in the United Arab Emirates. They bought it from Cunard for £50 million and plans to eventually turn it into a floating hotel off Dubai. 

The BBC quoted a spokesperson as saying: "In addition to alternative locations in Dubai, other ports in the Middle East and Africa have also expressed an interest in hosting this impressive maritime icon. Nakheel is currently evaluating these alternatives in order to ensure opportunities to experience QE2 in her current condition are maximised whilst ensuring her important heritage is at all times protected."

A former captain of the QE2, Commodore Ron Warwick, told the BBC that it is very likely that the ship could be moved to South Africa. 

Wherever she ends up, the cabins are said to be replaced with new, larger bedrooms and the engine space filled with a theatre, ahead of a planned opening in 2010.

One thing’s for sure, if she does end up here, it will definitely float our boat. Or… we will float her?