Sometimes it’s difficult to find a lovely picnic spot, if one lives in Johannesburg. So when I heard about the newly launched Mystery Picnics, I was keen to find out more.
Mystery Picnics, hosted in Johannesburg, should be an entertaining night out, and its theme is “A Vintage Affair.” I’m already creating a mental look book/mood board for what I can wear, and I guess I will be taking out my 1920’s paraphernalia from previous Madame Zingara events and themed birthday parties.
Image credit: Neon Run
If you are into running, fun and being lit up like a Christmas tree, then the Neon Run is right up your alley, and this year, it takes place in Pretoria on Saturday the 15th of November 2014, powered by 5FM. This neon-extravaganza takes place at Supersport Park and will see participants run, walk, cycle or skate a 5km route at night, covered in neon accessories and body paint.
I first heard of Kenny G back in 1992 when his album called “Breathless” was released, and my favourite track from that album was “Silhouette.” Now for all those Kenny G fans out there, the good news is that he is coming to South Africa next month, but the bad news, is that at this point, it is literally for “one night only” which is at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg, on Thursday, 20 November 2014 at 8pm.
I was recently invited to review “The Redneck Pizza” at the Col’Cacchio in Nicolway, which forms part of this year’s Celebrity Chef Series. Now, I have to admit that I am a huge Col’Cacchio fan, and have been since I was introduced to the brand back in 1999 / 2000, when I lived in Cape Town. The fact that they use fresh ingredients for their pizzas and not the “melted cheese” variety is what makes this brand stand out from the rest of the pizza crowd. Talking about standing out, the atmosphere at most, if not all Col’Cacchio branches that I’ve been to, is one of good service with a smile and that personal touch. This was the case when my husband and I were welcomed to the Nicolway branch of Col’Cacchio by Manager Victor Rottcher, whom we spoke to at length about the service industry in South Africa as well as restaurant and hotel experiences – the good, the bad and the ugly.
If you’ve been to the USA, or even watched enough American movies, you will have inevitably heard of the retailer Forever 21. Not to be confused with the Australian brand, Forever New, this is the American equivalent of Mr Price, I’d say.
Well, Forever 21 will be opening its first store on the African continent on the 13th of September 2014. The 1,400-square metre store will open in retail developer Hyprop Investments’ Canal Walk shopping centre in Cape Town.
“We are pleased to welcome another leading international brand to our portfolio, which will further underpin Canal Walk as the premier, quality fashion destination in the Western Cape,” says Hyprop CEO Pieter Prinsloo.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, privately-held Forever 21 is primarily a youth brand known for offering the latest international runway trends at the greatest value, boasting stores across the US with an international footprint in ten Latin American countries, 19 Asian countries and five European countries.
“We are excited to enter the South African market and have plans for some exceptional stores for this market,” says Jatin Malhotra, Forever 21’s Director of Real Estate and Business Development. “Canal Walk ticks all the right boxes for us in terms of the kind of mall that we feel would be the best venue for our brand. We are happy to commence this relationship with a key landlord.”
Prinsloo adds: “Establishing a relationship with leading international fashion brands such as Forever 21 aligns with our strategy of driving a vibrant tenant mix and offering shoppers access to popular leading labels.”
Canal Walk (affectionately known as “Kanala Walk” to the Muslim locals – Kanala means please in Malay) is also home to UK-based chic brand Top Shop. Inditex’s fast fashion brand Zara has a store in Johannesburg. Swedish fashion giant H&M is also slated to open a Johannesburg store sometime in 2015.
Forever 21, with estimate sales of about $4 billion, operates over 480 stores under the Forever 21, XXI Forever, For Love 21, Heritage 1981, and Reference brands.
Mzansi Life & Style by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem 