Billy Talent in Cape Town

The final whistle’s blown and a lot of us are feeling the post-holiday nostalgia. Those that complained about the vuvus and the relentless approaches of South American men (or more amusingly, the South African suitors who upped the anti by adopting horrid imitations of foreign accents) are suddenly yearning for Fifa fever’s shortened work days and palpable hype.

But just for you, us at 17 on Loader send a lil’ ol’ reminder that “In a crooked little town, they were lost and never found… Fallen leaves, fallen leaves, fallen leaves… on the ground…”!
If that doesn’t spell a crooked little Cape Town Winter, we don’t know what does.

Vocal talent, that the Sunday Magazine likens to a pterodactyl on cocaine, Billy Talent is set to warm up our Winter. With a little extra smug in their swagger, thanks to the latest Juno award for Best Rock Album (Billy Talent III) , Billy Talent rolls in to rock at the 3 Arts Theater, Plumstead, on Saturday 7th August 2010.

Tickets are available from ticketbreak and , for those in attendance, this promises to be a show to show-off about.

Bastille 10.0

Franschhoek is a bit of an “all or nothing” little town, and those of you who follow the blog will know my opinion of this French corner of the Cape – this slice of heaven town has a crème de la crème reputation for fine wine, dine… and apparently, swingers (an interesting little fact I picked up at last year’s Bastille bash). 

Celebrating French Huguenot heritage with admirable abandon this 17th – 18th of July, every shop front and five year-old painted face screams the red, blue and white colour scheme. 

Being a valley of award-winning restaurants, Bastille day boasts first and foremost the marquee – housing the aromas and jollity of lavish cuisines and cellar-sellers.

In addition, Franschhoek runs a French fims festival, an exhibition of vintage motors and (simply as a result of Franschhoek’s small-townnness) events the likes of the Chefs and Waiter’s race and Barrel Rolling.

Entrance to the marquee is R100.00, inclusive of a tasting glass and a booklet of 10 tasting coupons (… enough for round 1, really) and tickets can be bought online.

The event is a splendiferous testament to our varied Western Cape wonders and we suggest you head on out:)

And for those faring back into the city slickness from the mayhem of Bastille, best bed and breakfast it at 17 on Loader. 021 418 3417.

Au Revoir!

Mexican Shebeen!

Weeks of searching and I believe that I’ve discovered where the real, riotous, palpable World Cup fever is AT!!! Cape Town’s football-crazed chaos has largely been a pub and fan park affair. With other great places to perch onesself for a viewing, including the actual stadium, and Mzoli’s.

But in search of something more – something different – last night we wandered down toward the muffled crowd sounds of the Shebeen (which is at the Strand Tower Hotel on the corner or Strand and Loop Streets) and found our way up into, what looked like, an entrance parkade… and low and behold, discovered the Me-heee-carn shebeen!

Think hot dog stands, big screens, foosball tables, a mechanical bull, a live DJ blaring the Bump 205’s biggest hits, hilariously out-of-time cheerleaders remixing Shakira‘s “Waka-waka” and last but not least, the sweet mother’s milk that is Coronas!!! It’s wonderfully, successfully, comfortably trashy.

And manic as it was, what amused me further was the DJ’s public apology for their “quiet Sunday night”, in a room so full that beer acquisition required covert navigation.

Mexican Shebeen is a real, rowdy, ass-out World Cup experience and I’d recommend it a thousand times over.

For those of you that are rolling stones to our Cape Town rowdiness, reach on over for the phone and call 17 on Loader bed and breakfast (021 418 3417)  to ensure a safe landing strip post-party.

The Stellenbosch Slow Food Fair

The city is frantic. Even the traffic is flying flagged allegiances. And although The World Cup hype is deliciously palpable, sometimes we need to step out of the red-robot-green-robot regiment that’s currently on show and remember the slow, sultry offerings that lie outside of our mini metropolis.

Take some time to slow down. This weekend the Stellenbosch Slow Food Fair exhibits South Africa’s eclectic food culture. Over forty food stands will feature Indian, German, British, European and Chinese cuisines in a heated marquee – what better resistance to Winter than warm bellies inside and out. 

For hot Gossip Girl XOXO - type convo and a good dose of estrogen in the air (which has been admittedly difficult to find over the last month), The Ladies Lounge will sing the gospel of antique jewelry, fashion, ceramics and mosaics. Meantime, the old forged fantasy of vintage books will be boasted in the reader’s corner.

The Wine Bar and Sports Lounge will combine the rough and tough stumble-into screenings, with a showing of the best balanced cultivars from within the region, as well potter-snitch-like sought-after liqeurs and bubbles.

The Cappaccino and Sweets lounge is where 17 on loader’s lot will likely be at – And for those that are haphazardly meandering the aisles after (Saltare winemaker), Carla Pauw’s food and wine pairings, stumble into rows of African design and Oude Libertas-curated art. 

This weekend, The Stellenbosch Slow Food affair happens the 1st – 4th July, 11h00 – 21h00 at Oudbe Libertas, Stellenbosch. Time to get away a while

Long Street- the Litmus test

So its reached the midpoint of the 2010 World Cup with the last game of the first round having been wrapped up yesterday. To say the least the tournament has yielded more than its fair share of excitement and above all good times. If ever their was a tangible measure of the success of the event, the atmosphere in Long Street would be it. Historically the Mother City’s oldest and arguably still its most relevant clubbing district, its performance undoubtedly is the true test of ‘off the pitch’ success. That being said, thus far things have been phenomenal.

The exemplary safety blanket provided by the ever so present S.A.P.S who have quite hilariously, adopted the time old ’school field trip’ buddy system, and unprecedented goodwill from all sides, has been awe-inspiring and at times jaw dropping.

Some have even gone as far as Mardi Gras’ esque, with the exception of a few poorly timed blows on the vuvuzela (i.e vuvu-ing in the ten to fifteen minutes post the host nation losing 3-0, which I would liken to discussing politics and religion at parties on the “poor taste” scale).

With no shortage of screens to view games, Long Street has become the obvious alternative to actually attending the match, and even the fan parks.

All in all if you happen to find yourself in the countries fairest city in the coming weeks and in search of excitement, look no further. Long Street has the potential to provide an experience not soon forgotten.

Fatboy Slim in Cape Town

“Push the Tempo! Push the Tempo! Push the Tempo…”

The master of mix and remix has hit the Western Cape walkways, and the 2010 Cool Britannia concert series brings him to the CTICC stage this Friday 18th June. The official disc jockey for Englad, and the man that brough wonderworks the likes of   The Rockafeller Skank, Right Here, Right Now, Praise You and Ya Mamma, Fatboy Slim!

With tomorrow’s matches lined up:

Neighbourgoods Night Market

Winter’s swept in and our couches have become adorned with bum-shaped wear and tear,  while the soup bowls pile up in the sink and our energy levels seem to lag a little along with the weather. In the spirit of getting up and out, The Old Biscuit Mill opens up for warm Winter’s night market, this Tuesday the 15th of June from 18h30 ’til 23h30.

For us that know the Saturday Morning Market, The Old Biscuit Mill is a foodie’s dappled-light haven of smoked olives, charcuterie and the smell of roasting, imported coffee. This Tuesday eve, the Biscuit Mill’s boasting Cape Malay curries, Von Geusau gourmet hot chocolate and creative “sarmies” courtesy of the Kitchen Cowboys. And while we warm our bellies, local micro-breweries and boutique wine merchants have us succumb to a little late-night merriment. 

Fan Parks and Fan Fare

Day two of the incessant vuvuzelas ringing in the air and it still gets me all tingly:)

For those of you without tickets as we spin into the 2010 Soccer World Cup, cruise into (although it’s more liikely a bob and weave procedure) Cape Town’s  fan fare!

Fan parks are found at: Bellville Velodrome, Phillipi Stadium and Athlone Stadium, while the four smaller, community viewing sites are at Atlantis, Khayelitsha, Nomzamo and Maynardville.

For the festivities of the fan mile and the near-stadium electricity, hit Cape Town’s official Fifa fan park - Grand Parade. At a capacity of 25, 000, Grand Parade is going to be bursting with “Ayoooooobaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” every match day from 11h00 ’til 23h00. This weekend, while the boys in boots dance the big screen, Grand Parade will be boasting SA’ top local acts:

Sushi and Chinese please!

It’s Friday! And given that we’re on the precipice of a weekend, this post should come as divine enlightenment…

Late-night-Chinese-food

On a very merry excursion to all sorts of central city venues for debauchery, jollity and merriment, we found ourselves quite under the weather/influence on the taxi trip home. Doing the route back to le loov-leh 17 on Loader (Cape Town’s chic bed and breakfast in De Waterkant), the heavens opened and revealed a luminous red sign, on Seapoint Main Road, reading - “Xiang Yuan”. With the excitement of teenage girls at the mall, we begged the cab driver to pull over and poured in to Xiang Yuan.

Now my love of  the place may seem ridiculously evangelical but, given that the time was almost 3AM, finding somewhere OPEN was a feat unto itself.

Xiang Yuan is simple, almost a little dingy – but definitely clean. The fresh sushi and authentic, hot Chinese food went down like glassful of YES PLEASE! – despite our bellies not being in the most alkaline of states.

The miso soup was well-balanced, warm and more-ish. Crispy duck – an enormous portion, great value for money and obscenely delicious. Lastly the sushi – fresh, unusual and beautifully presented. All in all, we left Xiang Yuan high-fives and smiles and spent the next day better for it.

So for all of you nocturnal and post-midnight movers, wanting out-ness, warm Chinese food or some sushi, be sure to add Xiang Yuan to your list of late-night hang-outs.

Cape Town party plans for June 10th announced.

Roy Barford, writing on Cape Town Tourism’s blog this morning, has described the events for June 10 as follows: -

“Several top South African musicians and performers, including Hip Hop Pantsula, JR, Kurt Darren, Soli Philander and Vicky Sampson, will perform at the Cape Town’s Welcome the World Party on June 10, the eve of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. This party is guaranteed to set the tone for the tournament.

Entertainment and activities of all sorts will take place, free of charge, at the FIFA Fan Fest area in Grand Parade from 14h00 until midnight. It is expected that around 17 000 people will gather there on the day, another 50 000 people in the streets of Cape Town’s inner city.

Last night, several performers gathered outside City Hall to give the media a taste of what is in store for next Thursday. Fire dancers, minstrels, a Nelson Mandela effigy and a stilt giraffe with four-metre long legs, caused passers by to stop, stare and enquire.

These performers and more will entertain partygoers throughout the day. Upcoming stars such as Locnville, Flip a Coin, Joey Rasdien, DJ Reddy, Emo Adams and Fancy Galada will also take the stage during the 10-hour concert.

Pieter Cronjé, 2010 communication director for the City of Cape Town, said: “This party is a culmination of the city’s many hospitality initiatives, welcoming the world to South Africa’s oldest city at the most southerly tip of the African continent.”

Be there on June 10 – and be sure to bring your dancing shoes and help Cape Town “make the circle bigger!” End