Pigalle by Villamoura Reopens: Experience Halaal Fine Dining

Pigalle, a beloved dining institution in Sandton, is set to reopen its doors as Pigalle by Villamoura under new ownership on Friday, 1st November.  Now fully Halaal certified, Pigalle is ushering in a new era of dining with a focus on premium cuisine, offering a revitalized experience while maintaining the high standards of food and service it has long been known for.

To celebrate its grand reopening, Pigalle will be hosting an exclusive ‘Dining with the Stars’ weekend. Running from Friday, 1st November to Saturday, 2nd November, this event will feature special appearances by Dubai Bling personalities, Kris Fade and Ebraheem Alsamadi (aka The Blooming Man), both hailing from Dubai. Bookings are limited for this intimate dining experience and patrons can book by calling 011 889 8866.

Pigalle’s revamped offerings will now include a brand-new sushi bar, providing guests with a fresh and innovative take on the Japanese culinary tradition. Additionally, a stylish shisha & cigar lounge has been added, giving patrons a new way to relax and unwind while enjoying the restaurant’s renowned cuisine. The menu will continue to showcase Pigalle’s famous Mediterranean and seafood fusion dishes, ensuring that long-time patrons will find the quality they have always loved, now with an expanded offering and a more modern twist.

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Pilates for a Cause: Breast Cancer Awareness with COCO Pilates @Sandton Hotel

This November, COCO Pilates @Sandton Hotel invites you to stretch, strengthen, and support a cause that touches countless lives. Nestled in the heart of Sandton’s luxurious hotel setting, the studio transforms into a lively hub of movement and music, bringing people together for a dynamic day of fitness, fun, and philanthropy.

From sunrise yoga to spirited Pilates, live DJ beats, and hunger-busting food stalls, the annual event is designed not just to raise funds, but to raise hope for women across South Africa through the life-saving work of breast cancer screenings.

With ticket sales now open on Quicket, the event invites individuals of all backgrounds to take part… and the best part is that no prior Pilates experience necessary. Bring your friends, colleagues, and family to enjoy an active morning while contributing to a worthy cause. All proceeds will go directly to ILoveBoobies, an organisation dedicated to providing life-saving breast checks to women across South Africa.

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Emad Mostaque at SingularityU: The Future of Decentralised AI

Emad Mostaque, Founder of Stability AI and CEO of Schelling AI, delivered a compelling keynote at the SingularityU South Africa Summit 2024, advocating for a future where decentralised AI empowers individuals and nations alike to ensure equitable access to this transformative technology, ultimately increasing the collective intelligence of humanity.

“AI allows us to do more things, as everyone has access to an army of really intelligent graduates at their fingertips,” said Emad Mostaque, Founder of Stability AI and CEO of Schelling AI, as he addressed hundreds of delegates at the SingularityU South Africa Summit 2024, in collaboration with Old Mutual. He took to the stage on day 1 of the summit to talk about ‘the future of decentralised Al’, alongside a host of other local and global speakers at the Sandton Convention Centre.

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Embeth Davidtz’s Debut Film: Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight

In an exciting moment for South African film, it was announced that Embeth Davidtz has inked a deal with Sony Pictures Classics for worldwide distribution of her directorial debut, Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight, based on Alexandra Fuller’s memoir of the same name. Written, directed by and starring Davidtz (Schindler’s List, Matilda), the film features Lexi Venter, Zikhona Bali, Fumani N Shilubana, Rob Van Vuuren and Anina Hope Reed. The film was produced by Helena Spring, Paul Buys and Davidtz, in collaboration with Rose and Oaks Media and executive producers Anele Mdoda and Frankie Du Toit.

Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight received rave reviews at the recent Telluride and Toronto International Film Festivals, where Davidtz was praised for her extraordinary writing and directing debut and 8-year-old Venter was applauded for her incredible performance. The film was showcased at the Zurich Film Festival (3 – 13 October) in Switzerland.

Based on the memoir by Alexandra Fuller, Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight captures the childhood of 8-year-old Bobo on her family farm in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) at the end of the Zimbabwean War of Independence (1979/1980). Growing up in the midst of this long-running war, Bobo internalizes both sides of the struggle. Conflicted by her love for people on opposing sides, she tries to make sense of her life in a magical way. Through her eight-year-old eyes, the film takes audiences on a powerful journey through Rhodesia’s final days, exploring the family’s unbreakable bond with Africa, and the deep scars that the war left on survivors.

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Singularity Summit 2024: AI, Blockchain, and Future Innovations

The Singularity South Africa Summit that returns in physical form on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October 2024 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, in collaboration with Old Mutual, is a few days away. The bold plans for the summit were revealed, including over 50 prolific speakers, robotic displays, interactive experiences, many of which are a South African first, and a metaverse track, another global first for a local event of this magnitude.

Building on the stellar line up of global and local thought leaders that will address artificial intelligence (AI) in great detail, decentralized identity, disruptive innovation, longevity mindset, scaling AI in the workplace, web3, metaverse, leadership, blockchain and the future of ESG and sustainability, additional speakers have been added to complete the roster, bringing the total speakers to over 50.

The impressive lineup of additional speakers, each bringing unique expertise to the table includes Nchaupe Khaole, Chief Investment Officer at Mineworkers Investment Company, Jacob Hinson renowned-African Investor and Dr. Rutendo Hwindingwi, CEO and Founder of Tribe Africa Advisory, who will both delve into the evolving landscape of venture capital in Africa, exploring the opportunities and challenges for growth in the region. Gilan Gork, a mentalist and bestselling author, will share insights on leveraging a growth mindset in an exponentially evolving world, while Dr. Reshma Sheoraj, Vice President for Strategic Engagements at World Data Lab, will offer a glimpse into the data-driven future with her talk on “The World of Tomorrow in Data.”

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