Down South

A new restaurant has opened up on Long Street called Down South Food Bar. This new establishment has really made its mark offering amazing southern ribs and prawns. Its a casual and friendly place with a small menu offering great food and drinks at really good prices. They have a variety of weekly specials and deals. The menu is divided into starters, ribs, sandwiches and prawns. It brings homestyle American classics to the mother city inexpensively and is the perfect spot to go grab a beer after work or uni. They have also recently opened the Pie Bar - perfect for an on the go meal. Down South really has got it down.. a good vibe with good food and drinks - definitely worth checking out!!

Down South Food Bar
267 Long Street, Cape Town
021-422 1155
www.downsouthfoodbar.co.za

Lomography

Im a big fan of Lomography and would do anything for Cape Town to get our own concept store. At the moment Exposure Gallery in Woodstock is stocking all things Lomography.

Found some cool stuff on the Exposure website, here some rules to follow:

The Ten Golden Rules of Lomography 

1. Take your camera everywhere you go 

In bed, in Gorki park, in a propeller driven airplane or in the launderette: You grab your camera and everything around you starts to vibrate with life, be prepared, keep your camera close at hand and ready for action everywhere and all the time. 

2. Use it anytime: Day or Night 

Every single second has its own unique, light, grey, colourful, woolly, profound, or flat mood. Your life is not going to wait for your camera, its rules and the floating around involved in it. Either - click - and you have captured the situation as it is, or you haven't. 

3. Lomography is not interference in your life but part of it 

Lomography doesn't interrupt the direction in which your life is going; rather it's a significant and integral part of it. Just like talking, walking, sleeping, eating, thinking, drinking, laughing and loving, Lomography is a colourful sign that you are alive.  

4. Shoot from the hip 

It is as simple as it is unusual: You don't have to look through the viewfinder to take a good picture, no, on the contrary! Give yourself more freedom in your choice of perspectives. Hang it up in the air, out in front or behind your back. No limits - just your experience mixed with some luck. 

5. Approach the object of your Lomographic desire as close as possible 

Get close - click - from the wrist looking deep into the eyes, full frontal, close up and precisely what ever it is that interests you. Laughing as you go, feeling good so that everyone can see that Lomography is the most obvious and natural thing in the world. 

  

6. Don't Think (William Firebrace) 

Put your head in the ice cold bathtub, hold your breath, count to 100 and let your troubles dissolve. Then jerk your head out again and with it firmly on your shoulders, grab your camera and hit the streets. Start snapping away, live it and have fun. 

7. Be Fast 

A mere tenth of a second makes the difference between Lomography and not Lomography. Don't waste time with (Just don't wait any time) settings or adjustments, thinking about it, faffing around and procrastinating. First impressions have a quality of their own, trust yourself.  

8. You don't have to know beforehand what is captured on the film 

Give the randomness of Lomography a chance. Enjoy your new way of living with random occurrence. You're not here for Lomography! Lomography is here for you! Lomography only works if the only thing you concentrate on is celebrating your life. 

9. Afterwards neither 

Wow, that looks great, what is that, where was I there? Your brain is running at top speed, your memory is spinning, your history is tumbling. No, you don't even have to know afterwards exactly what's on the film. Just read between the Lomographs. 

 10. Don't worry about the rules 

Forget the 10 Golden Rules - discover your very own Lomography, immerse yourself in what's  going on, do it and do what you want but do it now.  


(www.exposuregallery.co.za/lomo.php)

KOZYNDAN

KOZYNDAN is another one of my favourite artist duo's. They are combined husband and wife couple Kouze & Dan Kitchens. They work together creating all images Kouze drawing the outlines and Dan colouring them in. They are known for there detailed images of everyday life with a combintaion of unusual elements and characters.

www.kozyndan.com

Marika's

Marika's restaurant has moved. Yes ladies and Gents Marika's can now be found in the hustle and bustle of Vredehoek, just outside the city centre. It's a traditionally greek restaurant  and Marika and her son master the kitchen. The menu has all you traditional greek favourites and also offers greek meals with a Marika twist. The food is excellent and will keep you coming back for more. It decorated with a grecian feel and is perfectly positioned with 360 degree view looking over the Cape Town City bowl and Table Mountain. Marika's is definately worth a try and if you leave in the Vredehoek / Oranjezicht it might just become your local hang out.

Jim Jefferies - ALCOHOLOCAST

Jim Jefferies internationally Australian comedian is on tour in South Africa. His show is called ALCOHOLOCAST and he is only doing two shows, one which he did tonight in Cape Town and another tomorrow in Johannesburg. Jefferies is one of the biggest names in comedy known for his opinionated and controversial topics set in real life scenarios. He is totally frank and honest but if you don't like the word FUCK or are easily offended as a woman then I don't think this show is for you. He was absolutely hilarious and had the entire audience crying with laughter from beginning to end. This is a show not to be missed and if you haven't already, then go get yourself some tickets for tomorrow nights show in JHB.

ALL CHOPPED UP

One of the brothers from Prince Street just got his sleeve finished - compliments of Dave Chaston from Sins of Style in Cape Town - www.sinsofstyle.com/artist/dave.

BLU BLU

BLU is an Italian artist who has been in the street art scene since 1999. Little is known about this infamous street artist who has produced work all around the world. He creates large scale murals and drawings and uses his art to reinvent public space. BLU is also skillful when its comes to the use of digital media, creating animations and wall painted animations. This is his latest animation BIG BANG BIG BOOM, it was filmed in Argentina and Uruguay.

Mike Giant

I discovered Mike Giant a few years back and he has been one of my favourite artists ever since. Mike Giant hails from New York City and is an illustrator, tattooist and graffiti artist. He creates a wide variety of pieces, traveling the world and collaborating with other artists (Shepard Fairey, Dave Kinsey, Dalek etc). He is inspired by his favourite cities, loves riding bicycles, skateboarding, photography, is fully chopped up and does not try to hide his undeniable love for smoking pot. He has also started his own clothing range called REBEL8 (www.rebel8.com). Giant currently still lives and works in New York City.

http://www.mikegiant.com/

Ecco il Caffe

Many people don't know about this hidden gem, Ecco il Caffe, its hidden in The Waterkant, just off Prestwich Street in Victoria Junction. It offers a wide variety of mouth watering sandwiches, salads, wraps, smoothies, juices and coffee. It has a great atmosphere with friendly and fun staff, they have weekly specials and daily meals too. Ecco il Cafe has great food at affordable prices.... if your in the area, go give them a try!

Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil is currently on there first ever tour of South Africa, and as a long time fan I have had my tickets booked for months! The performance they are currently doing is Saltimbanco and it was out of this world. A creative execution of dance, acrobatics, and colourful characters that allow the imagination to run wild. Saltimbanco come from the Italian, "saltare in blanco" which literally means "to jump on a bench", it explores the urban experience and all that goes with it. It captures a dream like state of an imaginary world where the differences in everybody are celebrated. It was an unforgettable experience that had the entire audience staring in awe. If you have an opportunity to see Cirque du Soleil don't miss it - you will be sorry.

Oh and if ya didn't know, im proud to say we have our very own South African in the cast Daniel Buckland, who plays The Dreamer!!

Brian M. Viveros

Found these awesome images from artist Brian M. Viveros. Viveros is a fetish artists and is internationally recognised for his paintings of seductive beauties with a dark and provocative twist.

Life is Beautiful!

Another tropical day in Cape Town. Woke up to this tagged in my parking spot next to my car. Mmmmm... think theirs been a pirate lurking around!!