I’m not one to drool over shoes, but these leopard print pumps from Sissy Boy give me sweaty eyeballs they’re so hot!
Check them out at: http://36boutiques.tumblr.com/post/17704052272/printed-pumps-sofia-vergara-michelle-williams-and-zoe
HAWWWT!
As I sat wrapped in a blanket by a fire pit at the outdoor Wynvlieg Cellar Theatre and watched one of South Africa’s most treasured artists perform under the stars, it occurred to me that, despite the wind whistling around us, this would be a Friday night well spent.
Set in the stunning Paarl valley amongst the vineyards, the concert began with romantic guitarist and vocalist Lize Beekman crooning her sweet melodies to a friendly crowd. Most sipped on Boland wine or hot coffee, while kids frolicked in the open spaces. Food and snacks were on sale, and those who had ordered picnic baskets were richly awarded.
As the last golden rays of the sunset faded, the lanterns were lit and the ambience of the outdoor theatre was nothing short of magical. Friends clinked glasses, dates cuddled closer, and those hoping to impress overseas visitors revelled in their effortless success. A night like this is perfect regardless of who you share it with.
It’s unnecessary to say that the brightest highlight of the evening was Chris Chameleon himself. The multiple-award-winning artist has become a household name in the last 15 years, synonymous with South African musical heritage. As he reminisced about his childhood days on the farm, Chris won over any sceptics by making us belly-laugh at his antics. Sometimes he’s deep and melancholy, other times he’s charming and funny, and then all of a sudden there’s a high pitched scream and you’re convinced you’re at the opera. With lyrics about the klein klein jakkalsies of the mind, the irony of loving someone who hurts you and his zany vocal acrobatics, there’s no doubt he has a posse of new fans, and an arsenal of old ones.
The hook with Chameleon is that his particular flavour and style of music can’t be found anywhere else. He is distinctly South African, and his music is critically acclaimed overseas. He often jokes that he was poor for the first 15 years of his career because he refused to conform to the demands of what was popular at the time. Now he’s a global favourite, with nine successful original albums surprising and delighting listeners new and old.
Chris was once posed the question, “what’s it like to be a chameleon?” His answer: “Priceless!”
There’s no doubt in my mind.
Kate West
Chris Chameleon performed at a ‘Picnic under the Stars’ at Wynvlieg Cellar Theatre on 25 November 2011.
It was not the first Ocean Race legover. What of course I meant was the first stopover after the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Anyway… with a line-up of top SA bands - Holiday Murray, Them Tornados, Jack Parow and The Wedding DJs - it’s no surprise that the Puma/Volvo Ocean race party was a huge success.
Puma’s boat, Mar Mostro, unfortunately dismasted en route to Cape Town when its 31-metre tall rig broke into three pieces, but through the great seamanship of the team it managed to stay in the race and get repairs. Not to be deterred by such a setback, Puma is currently third in the race. Their next stop: Abu Dhabi.
When I arrived at the party, hosted at Quay 4 at the V&A Waterfront, Holiday Murray was getting the crowd into the swing of things with their distinctly South African folk rock. I was amazed at how the venue managed to hold so many people. The soundstage was placed outside, with the audience facing the water. With a graciously full moon and no wind to speak of, everyone enjoyed grooving on the outdoor dance floor. The bar was a problem, because the place was packed and it took about an hour to get a drink. I got the impression that the bar staff were unprepared for the onslaught, because they were muddled and bordering on rude. A warm beer gets no points in my little black book, no matter how busy you are.
Them Tornados were a great addition to the line-up, because their old school rockabilly/punk sound is so unique and their musicianship is unadulterated. Each band was different from the last, so there was a bit of something for everyone, which is quite refreshing for a change.
Of course, Jack Parow brought everyone outside with his original Afrikaans rap. I’m sure he offended about 100 people, but love him or hate him, there’s one thing Jack Parow does better than any other Afrikaaner – entertain with gusto. He has a great knack for capturing the spirit of the Afrikaans language and SA culture, which is probably why he calls himself “the international rap superstar.”
The party could well have peaked at Jack Parow’s hip-hop beats, but the organisers had the brilliant idea of placing The Wedding DJs last on the line up. This took the party to a completely different level. Playing only 80s and 90s hits (a trend I’m finding Capetonians are digging more and more), they had everyone doing the Sprinkler, the Robot, the Running Man…you name it, we did it. At one stage I had to stop and take it all in as a group of young guys embraced each other and sang Celine Dion’s “All Coming Back to Me Now” into each other’s eyes. This was Puma’s stroke of genius. Mine was to ignore the increasing pain of my high heels (bad choice!) and party on regardless. No-one left before the end, and we’re still talking about it as the party of the year.
Kate West
The Puma party for the Volvo Ocean Race took place on 9 December 2011.
Okay…I’ll admit that I’d never heard of Jonathan Butler before his performance at the Grand Arena on Friday night, but my dad’s a fan and I was quite excited to broaden my musical landscapes. The arena was packed with folk dressed in their evening best, and the anticipation in the air was electric.
The Cape Music Institute opened the show with the school’s confident young-guns showcasing their exceptional talent. It’s great to see young people honing in on a craft they are so clearly passionate about, and the respect they harbour for Butler was touchingly evident.
When the man himself walked onto the stage and greeted us with “Hoe’s it, julle?” the crowd went wild. I had no idea that the man (who recently blew out 50 candles on his birthday cake) had such a massive fan base. But anyone who’s heard of the jazz veteran and Grammy nominee is aware of the fact that he is a critically acclaimed guitarist, pianist and vocalist, and the crowd was in his thrall from the moment he started plucking at his acoustic guitar.
Although the auditorium was packed, Butler succeeded in creating an intimacy that is rare at similar-sized turn outs. It could be because he calls the crowd, ‘his people’. Or because he jokingly refers to his earliest tracks as ‘bubble-gum music’… that put his kids through college so he wasn’t complaining. Easy laughs echoed off the walls throughout the evening and for an audience revelling in the fact that this LA-based star had grown up on their home turf it felt like a family reunion.
A pianist, a drummer, a percussionist, a double-bassist and a small group of vocalists accompanied Butler; and song after song the crowd swayed, clapped and shuffled their feet, grins plastered across their faces. I was taken in by Butler’s throaty, soulful voice – kinda like that first sip of whisky after a long day at the office. It hits you, and then it’s all good.
The Q&A session was an original idea, and it actually did work. I enjoyed hearing Butler talk about his experiences overseas, about his 29 years of marriage, his faith and journey with God, and his kids. The risk of doing a Q&A session of course is that you always get a few nuts in the fruit basket. And sure enough someone asked if ol’ Jonny remembered his great-granny who used to live on 6th Street forty years ago. No jokes. Everyone was having such a good time that it’s hard to find fault with the fact that the show went way past bed-time, but had it been kept a little shorter it might have packed more punch.
If you did miss it, buy an album. You’ll love the way songs like Take Good Care of Me and Falling in Love with Jesus break your heart. Having lived abroad for a time myself, I know the feeling of gratitude and awe that fills a person on seeing Table Mountain for the first time after a long absence, and Butler’s new song Cape Town touched us all deeply. I think I may have even spotted a few tears here and there.
What’s so special about Jonathan Butler is that he captures the South African spirit so distinctively in his sound and he has a canny knack for putting the depths of human experience into words we can all relate to. In retrospect, I can’t believe I had never heard of him. This is a man whose music should be found in every South African household.
Kate West
Jonathan Butler performed at Grand West’s Grand Arena 4 November 2011.
Click here for other hot events happening in Cape Town www.whatsonincapetown.com or follow me on Twitter @HelloKatieWest to find out where I’m heading next!
Set in four different locations throughout the seventies, Yann Martel’s Man Booker Prize winning adventure is an extraordinary tale of loss, survival, and the spirit’s profound ability to stand up and fight when all hope seems lost. The thread that binds this sea-faring tale together is the heart and soul of a sixteen-year old Indian boy named Pi.
Born into a family of Zookeepers, Pi has a deep understanding of animals and feels no need to fear them – that is until he gets marooned on a life boat with a four-hundred-and-fifty pound Bengal Tiger!
Pi’s physical journey across the vast Pacific is also an echo of the spiritual tumult and triumph that parallels within him. Rich in its tapestry of the principles of faith, the story explores what it means to choose to believe, in a world that wants to make that choice for you.
A juicy, soulful piece of work, studded with gems that linger long after you’ve read the last line.
Sneak Peak: “Doubt is useful for a while. We must all pass through the garden of Gethsemane. If Christ played with doubt, so must we…But we must move on. To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.”
Oh dear *drools*
(via delectablefoods)
bahahaha
“I’m not calling you a liar, just don’t lie to me”
I’ve recently heard a lot of nit-picking and criticizing within the Christian community, about various ecclesiastical elements, and a lot of it has substantial cause; but I’ve also noticed that these complaints and accusations actually cause division and ultimately destruction within the body of Christ and to the individual believer. Like hook-worms that rip and drain every ounce of vitality away, there is just no place for it in a body that wants to stay healthy and strong. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion, and to disagree with certain elements or actions of those in (or outside of) leadership, but let’s keep it God-honouring and edifying, yes? It’s the only way to a better, brighter future together as God’s Salt and Light.
