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Monthly Archives: May 2013
The Wall: Between a rock and a hard place
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The Wall: Contemplation
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A wall of interesting things
Take a close look – it’s a wall. A rather interesting wall filled with an eclectic mix of items. Isn’t it awesome? I spotted this outside of Tribe Coffee at The Woodstock Foundry while visiting on Saturday.
If you belong to a photo-walk group then I guarantee that your photographer-friends will hugely appreciate you insisting on a stop-over. There’s great coffee (at a great price) and a plethora of interesting photos to be taken.
Keep an eye out over the next day or two – I’ll share a few close-up photos of items in the wall, as well as an assortment other pieces of art that I found at The Woodstock Foundry.
A small tribe of coffee cups
Now in retrospect, I really think I should have bought a bag or two of coffee while visiting Tribe. My work-mates would have appreciated that. Darn.
Tribe Coffee – I recommend you visit
I wouldn't have thought I were a coffee snob - given that I drink plentiful amounts of cheap instant coffee, which (to be fair) I admit isn't coffee at all. But, it is true, I'm somewhat picky when it comes to coffee. In fact, I keep a mental journal of restaurants and coffee shops that serve up the vilest brews, and often end up avoiding them entirely, or (at the very least) make sure that I remember not to order their coffee.
I heard about Tribe Coffee at The Foundry in Woodstock. At the time I remember thinking it couldn't possibly be better than Truth, and for sure wouldn't top Origin, but, I have to say, it's close - and I think I may actually prefer their coffee to that served at both Truth and Origin. Sure, you don't believe me - and perhaps it's just personal taste at play, but you really should visit Tribe. Pay your R10 for their cup of brown gold, and then let's compare notes. Okay? :)
You'll find Tribe at 160 Albert Road in Woodstock, just a little down the road (and within walking distance) from The Old Biscuit Mill.
Encouraging sustainability
Because The Sun Belongs To You…
Care for the lands
Wall art at The Woodstock Foundry
Telecommunications – a crow’s nest of wires
"Wow" - is what I thought as I passed this technician on the street. Imagine the patience needed to wire, test, and debug *that*!
A distant Table Bay Harbour
An unusual view of Table Mountain
Maynardville Park
Where the streets have no name
No, really, while I know this is in Green Point, I have no idea what the name of the street is. I could probably find out, so yell if you need to know, but truth be told, I'm feeling a little ill so I'm just not in the mood to whip up Google Maps. How's that for honesty, heh? ;)
Flowers at The Piano Bar
I found this pot of flowers outside The Piano Bar in De Waterkant. I'd actually never heard of The Piano Bar, so I poked my head inside. They weren't open yet (they open at about 4pm only) but it looked like it would be a cosy winter hangout. I think we shall pay them a visit.
An array of purple flowers
A purple part of town
Mr Ant and Ms Gazania
Nope, I wasn't spying on their little love affair - I only spotted Mr Ant after opening the photo on my computer. Nice heh? :)
Just another Gazania
So I kinda forgot that I was posting photos of the lovely yellow-orange Gazanias that I found in Green Point. Aren't they lovely?
Dinner and a stylish Green Point restaurant
Don't you love discovering stylish restaurants that really make you feel at home? Kerry-Anne and I visited Bistro 1800° at the 5-star Cape Royale hotel for their new menu launch last week - and my, what a treat it was...
After relaxing with drinks at Sky Bar, on the hotel's roof-top, we returned to the ground level for dinner - an arrangement of bite-sized versions of the restaurant's new menu. (Click on the pictures below to see a sampling of what we were treated to - yum, right?) I won't go into the delicious details, but on the menu for the evening was an assortment of specialty breads, cheese soufflé, loin of lamb, beef fillet, kingklip, berry pavlova and an incredible, and I do mean incredible, chocolate mousse!
Something that I found really interesting about the restaurant is the origin of its name. I believe it's derived from the New York-style grill that they use to sear their steak at precisely 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a whopping 982 degrees Celsius! Now that's pretty warm heh? Chef Jonathan Gargan believes that it's their special super-hot grill that's responsible for the juicy goodness - and while I can certainly agree that the steak is juicy and good, I do think he's being just a little modest - it probably also has a little to do with years of culinary magic he's rehearsed in the kitchen. ;)
Visit Bistro 1800° at 47 Main Road in Green Point - you won't regret it. Also, when you arrive, stop your car right in front of the building, make use of the valet parking, and step out like royalty leaving the smiling staff to find a safe spot for your car in the building's basement - it's way more fun that way.
A view from Sky Bar at Cape Royale Hotel
On this beautiful clear-sky wind-free evening Kerry-Anne and I were fortunate to be treated for drinks while watching the sun set from the open-air Sky Bar on top of Green Point's 5-star Cape Royale Hotel.
Besides for the stylish-yet-unpretentious vibe, what's especially great about Sky Bar is the view. The Cape Royale Hotel is the tallest building in the area, which means that while sipping drinks you're treated to a 360° view of the mountains, ocean, and city. :)
We spent about an hour on the roof-top, enjoying the view, drinking cocktails, and eating oysters. We even managed to squeeze in an impromptu neck and shoulder massage, at Sky Bar, courtesy of the hotel's Equinox Spa (which was, for the record, pretty darn fantastic!).
In a follow-up post I'll share a little more about our dinner at the hotel's in-house Bistro 1800° restaurant, but for now click on the photos below and take a look at the transfixing view of Table Bay and the city from Sky Bar. Pretty awesome, heh?
And there we saw Bon Jovi
So it's true - I'm somewhat of a Bon Jovi fan. There, I've said it, you may now lay on the ridicule.
Anyway, so yes, Kerry-Anne and I went along to the concert at the Cape Town Stadium, clutching our precious golden circle tickets; and my oh my - it really was a spectacular show. If you enjoy their music at all, even just a little bit, an never made it to the concert, I believe you should now be kicking yourself. :)
Tip: Our experience in the golden circle caused us to renew our resolve that we'll never again buy concert tickets for a performance at the Cape Town Stadium unless they're golden circle tickets. The sound really was incomparable to the mushy sound that we've too many times experienced in the seated area!
Gazania Gazania, beautiful Gazania
Zabad in De Waterkant
Kerry-Anne and I were out in De Waterkant, looking for a new restaurant to try for breakfast. We found Zabad, just down the road from the Cape Quarter.
It looked stylish and inviting inside. It wasn't too busy (to make it noisy), yet not too empty to be uncomfortable. The menu selection looked pretty good, and both the coffee and breakfasts were super satisfactory.
As perhaps you know, I prize good service (and by that I mean chirpy and friendly, not surly and posh) over the quality of the meal. Sure, there's a point where great service just doesn't cut it anymore, but for me a visit to a restaurant is more about the experience than the food. A restaurant with great staff and atmosphere easily get away with merely average food.
As I said, the food at Zabad was great, but I can't think I'll return for a second visit. Sadly.
A killer speed boat
I don't have sea-legs. While this scene looks like an idyllic way to spend a late afternoon, for me bobbing up and down on the water any kind of vessel is a terrible idea. However, I guess this is why some smart folks out there invented little white tablets that counteract motion-sickness. I don't go out on water without taking one of those tablets, ever. :)
Let’s play ball
I spent some time at Clifton 4th with friends recently. All Riaan's son wanted to do was play beach cricket, as one does. :)
A row of birds
Yep, those are birds silhouetted against orange skyline. Click on the picture to see the large version - can you imagine them all enjoying sun-downers? Non-alcoholic, of course. Hey have to fly you know.
A long conversation
While out taking photos on the beach I was aware of this young woman having an extremely long and serious-seeming conversation on her phone. She ambled around, away from everyone else, poking at beach artifacts with her feet, and pausing for long periods of silence. I have no idea what they were talking about, but from her demeanor it seemed a lot like a break-up call. I wanted to walk over and give her a hug - but that would have been awkward, and weird. :)
Coming in from the waves
Surfers and clingy wetsuits
I haven't tried my wetsuit on for about a year, but the last memory that I have of it is struggling like an angry crab trying to shed a particularly clingy exoskeleton.
I'm not sure if it's that the suit shrunk and is thus now tighter than it was before (I mean, it's impossible that I've grown), or if wetsuits are generally meant to be really difficult to exit from. Don't you just hate that?