Author Archives: Charl Norman

Landmarks in Cape Town

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Famous Cape Town Landmarks: What’s in a name?

Alongside a brand new 2010 World Cup stadium and the development of the new IRTBus service, the City of Cape Town holds a vast history in its many famous landmarks and most popular tourist destinations. The name given to each is significant and provides insight into their origins and transformations.

Table Mountain:
Table Mountain, the iconic symbol of the city and an attraction for many international visitors as well as locals, is one of the oldest mountains on Earth. It was in 1503 that the Portuguese explorer António de Saldanha ascended the mountain and aptly named it Montanha da Mesa (Table Mountain). The earliest Cableway, launched in 1929 wasthe first and most efficient way to the mountain’s peak. The Cableway has undergone multiple upgrades, the latest of which occurred in 1997 and is the one that is inoperation today. Table Mountain offers visitors a number of hiking trails, magnificent views and the Table Mountain Cafe at its peak.

Rhodes Memorial
Rhodes memorial built in 1912 is located on the slopes of Devil’s Peak and provides a magnificent view stretching out to the Hottentots Holland Mountains. It derives its name from Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902) who became a prominent and successful figure in the South African diamond industry and formed De Beers ConsolidatedMines in 1888. The site on which his memorial is built is where Rhodes spent a significant amount of time in quiet contemplation. The Statue of Energy placed at the foot of 49 steps (one for each year of his life) represents Rhodes’ relentless determination. Its inscription was composed by the famous poet, novelist and close friend Rudyard Kipling. The popular Rhodes Memorial Restaurant was recently revamped for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The V&A Watefront
Jan Van Riebeek was the first to build a small jetty in 1654 where the large leisure centre and fully functioning harbour stand today as part of his task to establishment a refreshment station for sailors of the Dutch East India Company. In 1860,Midshipman HRH Prince Alfred, the Second Son of Queen Victoria began the construction of the breakwater for the Table Bay Harbour to protect ships from stormruin. The basin became known as the Alfred Basin and was followed by the addition of the Victoria Basin as visitors to the Cape increased due to the gold and diamond rush in South Africa. The two basins were completed in 1920. It is from these historic figures that the V&A Waterfront derived its name. The V&A Waterfront is an unforgettable shopping, dining and entertainment experience and is accompanied by exquisite views and a vibrant Cape Town energy.

Cape Point:
Cape Point, declared an international heritage site, lies 60km from Cape Town and is the richest of the world’s six floral kingdoms. It is where the Indian and AtlanticOceans meet. Cape Point has a rich maritime history and the ‘Point’ of the African continent was well respected by sailors for centuries. In daylight it was a navigational landmark and in the darkness it became a burial ground for many shipwrecks from the dangerous Cape storms. The first lighthouse was built in 1859 and stood 249
metres above sea level. This was not an ideal location and so the second and current lighthouse was built in 1914 at 286 metres. It is the most powerful on the South African coast. Visitors can reach these heights with the Flying Dutchman Fanicular,the only commercial railway funicular in Africa. The Two Oceans restaurant is famous for its scrumptious seafood cuisine and has one of the best oceans views in South Africa.

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Cape Town luxury hotels booked the preferred choice

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Five-star luxury hotels close in up-market urban areas are proving to be the preferred choice for international guests visiting for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, with many of these establishments either fully booked or rapidly approaching capacity for the duration of the four-week soccer tournament.

The latest example of this accommodation preference is Pepper Club – the yet-to-be-opened R400 million five star luxury hotel and spa located in the heart of Cape Town – which has recorded pre-bookings for the tournament period of almost 95%.

These figures stand in stark contrast to reports from owners of local guest houses, private homes and backpacker hostels, who say the expected rush for 2010 World Cup accommodation had not materialised, with some fearing rooms will stand empty during the tournament.

However, David Solomon, Chairman of Solomon Brothers Property Holdings, the developers of the Pepper Club hotel, says that owners of these establishments should not be overly-concerned with the current status of their bookings, as they stand to benefit from the significant overflow once hotels reach their booking capacities for the tournament. “As long as rates are competitively priced, smaller players will benefit increasingly as the tournament draws nearer.”

(Left to right: Graham Smith, David Solomon, Mark Boucher – Pepper Club on the beach launch)

Solomon says that hotels located in South Africa’s urban areas close to amenities such as shopping centres, tourist attractions and nightlife are best placed to attract the majority of international visitors. “The feedback we have received from customers is that one of their main priorities is to be as near as possible to the action. It seems proximity to host cities and stadiums is a significant, and in many cases crucial requirement, among international guests.” He says that although the overall aim for the local tourism sector is to offer visitors a truly African experience, providers should not lose sight of the fact that many visitors still expect first-world amenities. “When compared with other accommodation offerings, South Africa’s luxury hotels are still best placed to offer a combination of a secure environment, proximity and direct access to top attractions, as well as top-class facilities that many well-travelled visitors have come to expect.”

Inside the new Cape Town Soccer World Cup Stadium

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Below are two videos of the new Cape Town stadium. Greenpoint stadium has been demolished and rebuilt into a world class soccer stadium! We were fortunate enough to attend two events last week at the stadium. The first was a live taping of the popular rugby magazine show – Boots n All. The second event was a Super 14 warm up match between the Stormers and Boland. The Cape Town Stadium has great atmosphere and the facilities are also top notch. Press play below

DJ Dean FUEL Fans the Flames of SA’s Club Scene

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It might seem easy to mix a few tracks together but it takes more than just turning tables to build up a track record like local deckmaster DJ Dean FUEL. What sets – and keeps – DEAN FUEL above the dime a dozen DJ’s popping up every other week is his distinctive knack for connecting with the crowd. A skill that helped get him noticed at his first unofficial gig in 2001 after he “nagged and convinced” his way onto the decks at a party, then kept the crowd going until long after closing. Almost hard to believe when you consider that the only hands-on experience he had up until then was practising on his pair of turntables at home with second-hand vinyls.

Born into a musical family – his father was a guitarist in the infamous S.A band, The Delians – FUEL grew up exposed to lots of different music and learnt to play the guitar and piano very young. But it was only after he attended his first underground raves that he discovered his passion – DJing. His biggest influence, he says, were DJ’s Carl Cox, Jeff Mills, Sasha and Digweed spinning the decks at these events. ‘Watching those wizards truly influenced what I wanted to do,’ he says.

FUEL’s come a long way since then and is now the only local spinner in SA to have played alongside 8 out of the top 10 DJs in the world. Some of his biggest events to date have been heating up the 7000-strong crowd for Jamiroquai a few years ago, performing alongside world-renowned SASHA in March 2009 and opening for the World’s number 1 ranking DJ for the last three years, Armin van Buuren, during the Godskitchen Boombox Tour in June 2009.

When he’s not mixing with the bigger fish at huge ‘raves’ and festivals, he’s keeping his local fans entranced with solo sets or alongside some of SA’s finest such as DJ Fresh, Ryan Dent, Erica Elle and Roger Goode. Between his main residencies at two of Cape Town’s ultimate haunts, Fridays at Karma Lounge in Camps Bay and Chevelle on Saturdays, he has also rocked the decks at bars and clubs around the country such as Club91 and The Bang Bang Club in Cape Town, Natural Groove and Truth in Johannesburg, 330 in Durban, Numbers in East London and 52 in Port Elizabeth.

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And his music hasn’t stopped on our shores either. Dean FUEL’s mixes have travelled around the globe via various album releases such as his first international single, Sexy Hippie, a collaboration with Adam Metcalfe which was signed to Danish record label IBOGA Records in 2007. Since then, he’s joined forces with studio partner Sentrafuge to release Trippin’ Out on the House Anthems 4 album in 2007, This One’s For You on House Anthems 7 in 2008 and Wild Ride on Reloaded Vol.3 – Plastik Park in 2009. Currently he’s booked solid at clubs and parties around the country – including the Olmeca Tequila tour parties – and mixing and compiling the next Anthems album due for release in early 2010.

For more information on Dean FUEL and his fully-loaded schedule, visit www.deanfuel.com.

Black is the new black

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From fashion and cars to design and décor, there is nothing as stylish and classy as black. Its simple sophistication sets the aesthetic tone for good taste, and never as emphatically as with the introduction of Jose Cuervo Black to the discerning palates of South Africans in August 2009.

We are all familiar with Jose Cuervo’s siblings Especial (Gold) and Clasico (Silver) and no doubt have spent many nights in their company in our younger days. But although sooner or later we all grow up, we certainly don’t grow old. As we mature into successful and confident adults we naturally gravitate towards a drink that matches our maturing palates but without compromising our inherent sense of adventure. We still want that deliciously familiar taste of Tequila, but as our palates become more refined, we seek out something smoother, richer and more flavourful.

“We are extremely proud and excited to welcome the new member of the Jose Cuervo family to South Africa, Don Jose Cuervo Black” said Vonne Lombard, Jose Cuervo Brand Manager, brandhouse. “Drawing on centuries of experience, Jose Cuervo has blended this signature Tequila specifically to appeal to the person who has forged a relationship with Tequila and is ready to take it to the next level. Jose Cuervo Black has an edge that comes with age, with a twist of untamed youth that will never be lost.”

Jose Cuervo Black is aged in charred white American oak barrels for 18 months which softens the agave notes and introduces consumers to a more full bodied Tequila reminiscent of an aged bourbon. Its time in the barrels imparts a deep amber hue to the liquid and aromas of toasted oak, cinnamon, red apple, cocoa and coffee. The taste is thus slightly sweeter than you’d expect but without distracting from the subtle agave notes associated with Tequila. The finish is warm and smooth.

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Jose Cuervo Black can still be enjoyed as a shot, of course, but it’s infinitely better suited to slow sipping over rocks, or even with a mixer.

The bottle retains the Jose Cuervo familiarity so it will be easy to spot on the shelves of the bottle store, or behind the bar, but it is slightly shorter and wider to indicate its position in Tequila hierarchy. Quality and family heritage dating back to 1795 is emphasised with the embossed family crest, Fundada en 1795, and Hecho en Mexico.

As our drinking tastes have evolved, so too has our approach to having fun; it hasn’t diminished in any way but we demand certain levels of comfort. This is why Jose Cuervo chose to introduce this prestigious member of his Mexican Familia in the luxurious setting of a private VIP party at South Africa’s premiere rock festival. Oppikoppi is legendary in music circles, and for most people it means a weekend of paying the price with dusty camping while enjoying the best local musicians on multiple stages. Not so for the guests of Jose Cuervo, who enjoyed a VIP experience including four-star hotel accommodation and an exclusive party on the specially designed Jose Cuervo deck overlooking the main stage. Besides Jose Cuervo Especial and Clasico, gourmet food, special musical performances by well known artists and gift bags, guests were the first to be introduced to Jose Cuervo Black.

Jose Cuervo, the world’s number one selling Tequila, is committed to responsible drinking.

Not For Sale To Persons Under The Age Of 18. Drink Responsibly.

Dogs take on the catwalk at Craig Port Show

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wxw_1566THE fashion world is one of glitz and glamour, sleek bodies, glossy hair and gorgeous garments, and it reaches its peak during Cape Town Fashion Week with a whirlwind of catwalk shows and sophisticated after parties as designers, models, celebrities and fashionistas celebrate their beauty and style.

With every new collection, designers strive to deliver something fresh, exciting and innovative to wow their fans and trend-watchers, and to present a show which will have the audience gasping with joy. For this Fashion Week, Craig Port chose the theme Faith Hope Love to showcase his designs and linked an unusual yet entirely appropriate element with his Craig Port and Miss Port couture – canine couture.

The relationship we have with our dogs – our most faithful and loving companions – is in keeping with the theme, and as such Cesar® gourmet cuisine was thrilled to come on board and collaborate with Craig Port at his show at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday, 21 August 2009.

Models sashayed 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 stepped out in designer gear like collars, coats and accessories to complement the human couture and the theme of the show.

Later, at the exclusive VIP after party held at the Table Bay Hotel in the V&A Waterfront, the models and dogs greeted guests and posed for photographs under the glitter of flashbulbs. Celebrity guests included the likes of Errol Arendz, Jen Su, Nicky Greenwall, Michelle McLean, Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis, Lindiwe Suttle, Sam Pegg and Lee-anne Summers.

Dogs are as comfortable in this privileged environment as their fashionable owners; Port himself shares his life with three pooches – Reggie the weimeraner, Lulu the wirehaired fox terrier and Rocco the pug – and approached the concept of designing for dogs for the first time with enthusiasm.

“Dogs are so beautiful it is very difficult to interfere with that natural look without looking cheesy so the challenge was to be functional and stylish at the same time,” says Port. “I’m delighted with the results, which were inspired by my theme of Faith Hope Love and tie in perfectly with the 2010 collection.”

Dressing our dogs in the same high quality designer clothes as ourselves is just one of the ways we can show them how much they mean to us. Another is to feed them only the most superior meals. We wouldn’t want to eat the same thing every day, so why should we expect our best friends to do so? And as much as we enjoy indulging ourselves with luxurious treats, so do our dogs.

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Our dogs favour us with their love, affection and loyalty and what better way to show them we love them back than by serving Cesar® gourmet pet food at meal times? Made with human grade ingredients yet perfectly nutritiously balanced for canine digestive systems, by choosing Cesar® you are ensuring not only the tastiest but the healthiest treat for your animal.

Port says he spoils Reggie, Lulu and Rocco with Cesar® treats daily. “They are definitely indulged with walks every day…they are on the sofa when I’m not looking, and are allowed on the bed for morning cuddles,” he smiles. This is what they mean when they say “it’s a dog’s life…”

Available in three delicious flavours – Chicken Supreme, Lamb Classic and Gourmet Beef – Cesar® pet food is intended as a special treat for your pampered pooch, to be served in conjunction with his normal diet. It will make any Fifi or Rover feel like the Very Important Pup in your life that they are.

Cesar® is available at all major supermarket chains including Checkers, Pick ‘n Pay, Spar, Woolworths as well as leading pet shops. Visit www.cesar.com for more information.

New Restaurant to open on Kloof Street

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Hudson’s Burger Bar, set to launch 20 April 2009, has always been in the pipeline for Ross Collins since his acquisition of Limnos Bakery on Kloof Street early last year. Initial renovation plans were implemented in November 2008 and construction commenced in March 2009.

Collins studied at Zevenvaght Chef School, and went on to gain experience at the Lord Charles Hotel, Constantia Uitsig Restaurant, and Poplars in D’Aira Wine Estate; as well as cheffing for the Four Diamonds hotel, Lodge at Vail, Colorado.

Following this Collins took up a three year vocation as restaurant manager at Camps Bay’s internationally renowned Café Caprice. Caprice’s joint owner, David Raad, will be partnering with Collins in the opening of trendy Kloof Street’s new Hudson’s Burger Bar. The bar is targeted at hip burger loving socialites, a crowd known to enjoy the renowned Caprice niche.

Says Collins: “Our concept is to introduce a completely unique, simple, more direct burger bar, offering the highest quality burgers you can get in Cape Town. Our burgers will comprise of freshly ground beef, made in-house, every morning. No soya proteins, limited fat (from the regular 20% down to Hudson’s 5%), and no offal, just whole grain meat! What else makes Hudson’s so unique from the rest? Double crunch fries, sour dough buns, a chickpea and lentil veggie burger, vanilla lemonade, and other innovative toppings to top off the menu. We’re keeping it simple, but interesting.”

The décor and design elements of the burger bar comprise of sustainable products like natural woods and re-cycled; their goal being to create an organic feel, emulating the simplicity of the product.

Hudson’s will cater breakfasts, salads, and desserts, with their main focus on gourmet burgers at an affordable price. It’s been conceptualised as an extension of Caprice’s clientèle and bar-like atmosphere; a place for customers to grab a coffee in the morning and a beer in the eve, with the added convenience of its positioning on cosmopolitan Kloof Street.

Originally found here – reproduced with permission

Cape Royale Hotel

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The City Improvement District of Green Point would like to commend the Cape Royale for their eco friendly and social responsibilities efforts.

As a new establishment in the Green Point vicinity, the Cape Royale has played a role in enriching the aesthetic appeal of the area – with its opulent style and grandeur – and setting an example with its exemplary green efforts.

The Cape Royale was designed around the concept of natural light and free flowing air. The building was constructed with suspended walkways allowing natural light and air to move freely through all eleven floors of the hotel. Motion sensors have also been fitted to each floor of the hotel, in so doing minimising the unnecessary use of lights.

Concentrating on conserving water as well as electricity, guests are urged – by means of cards featuring water saving tips – to pay attention to Africa’s ongoing water shortage problem.

From a social responsibility perspective, the Cape Royale Hotel is part of the Housing Trust’s Brick Foundation which helps build simple, affordable houses in poverty stricken areas like Mfuleni township outside of Cape Town. Cardboard “bricks” placed in the hotel’s rooms enable guests to donate money to the Brick Foundation charity, and in doing so affords guests the opportunity to do their bit for the social upliftment of South Africa.

The Cape Royal has also opted to support businesses in the local community by purchasing bath and body products from Charlotte Rhys, as well as buying Khayelitsha Rusks made by the previously unemployed women of this informal settlement.

Originally found on CID – posted with permission

Balkanology

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The Balkanology parties in South Africa were first launched in June 2006 by Event Director Ma’or Harris and a distinctive, highly talented group of collaborators.

After five hit parties with numbers growing from 500 at the first to 3,000 at the fifth, Balkanology has created a cult following and a powerful brand synonymous with zest, energy and a theatrical music experience.

The parties are styled in the way of traditional Eastern European gypsy camps with caravans, bales of hay, tents with tarot and palm-readers, goats, chickens and pigs with DJ’s and musicians performing a remixed fusion of Gypsy, Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Romanian melodies

DJ Toby2shoes, a pioneer of alternative music in general in South Africa, has drawn inspiration from the Balkanology vision and with Ma’or Harris’ directing, is now seen as the ambassador for Balkan-gypsy-folk.

The Kolo Novo Movie Band, founded by musical director, Grada Djeri specifically for Balkanology has brought together some of the biggest names in South African music to produce a fusion of cultures and musical styles ranging from the Middle Eastern to the Mediterranean and Balkan.

Each party also features an international DJ: Boom Pam (Israel), Dunkelbunt (Austria), Robert Soko (Berlin).