Sunset & moonrise, Table Mountain.

Capetonians: do you all know that there's a sunset special on tickets up the berg? Half price after 6pm = R90.00. We went up with the idea of watching the sun set over the sea and the moon rise over the mountains.

A big fog rolled in and obscured the city. 

Alas, also the wolf moon. 

We howled none the less.

Young Sania. Her hair was like ink in water.

Hanging in the hood.

Below Rafiki's, corner of Kloofnek and New Church Street. It used to be Robert's Bar years ago. I loved that bar and I loved Robert. He was the coolest publican ever. He'd ask:"the usual?" and he always got it right. And he wore his sunglasses at night.

Then it became an internet café. A scooter shop. A disappointment really. BUT. Now it's:

We did some epic shopping for salmon yesterday morning. Then stopped here for a coffee. Really good stuff.

Up a few stairs is their bar - The Black Ram. We went back there for pre-dinner drinks and ended up having many a Darling Slow Ale. It became full, full, full. Friends arrived. The people at the table next to us played miniature pool, with tiny little cues.
And then the salmon.

The salmon deserves it's own post it was so good.
But I'm tired.

Beleza across the road has a small shop selling vintage clothing.Why do I love old stuff so much?

Keepsake #5.

A few years ago, someone I don't know very well sent me this origami water lily. It travelled on the dashboard of a friend's car and arrived on my birthday. I'm still touched by the gesture - this is such a fragile thing for a man to make.

Bijou Bisous.❤

My friend The Blacksmith bought the old Bijou theatre in Observatory many years ago to house his forge. Since then, he's also let out parts of the building as artists' studios. I've been to some great events here - the blowing of the anvil, a secret performance by the Violent Femmes, The Odd Engineers - glowing balls of metal whizzing through the dark (!) and of course, the annual open studios combined with live music.

Much to look at on our wanderings, faces old and new, interesting conversation. This is my winning photo of the day: The Spaniard shaved his beard as a birthday surprise for the Young Scorpio. I can't look at it without smiling.

 

The Blacksmith had these highly desirable knives on display. The Forge was at it's moody best.

 The Lovely Girlfriend and I rushed home to feed the hungry and exhausted Production Designer. We stopped off for sushi at Saigon (always the same, always good) and washed it down with a very old bottle of wine. This doesn't happen every day.

I like his t-shirt. It means: "To the kitchen with you!"

The two of them have been cosseting a monstrously large artichoke plant for many months now. It has finally delivered (one) fruit. Ultimate fate uncertain . . .

Hands Off She's Mine!

... they had us from the first note.

The Beat. Seeing them last night was significant in so many ways.

Roger Charlery - "Ranking Roger", remains one of my favourite vocalists. That's his son, Ranking Junior, right there next to him. He's a master toaster. Horace the Gentleman from The Specials on bass. I am in the front row, beside myself. My oldest friend is with me, we've known each other since we were ten. This is 2 tone ska and rocksteady. It's punk rock and reggae. We danced to these songs in our teens, at parties in our parents' garages. We wrote the lyrics in ballpoint pen on our satchels and school desks.

Their rendition of Rock the Casbah was like having Joe Strummer in the house.

Mirror in the Bathroom lifted the roof. It ended all dub-ified, with the audience singing the last verse. Mingling with us rowdy folk were some of South Africa's music elite - Freshly Ground, The Springbok Nude Girls... all of us together - smiling, laughing, shouting, jumping up and down.

These fantastic people gave us a five song encore.

Afterwards we danced until two, with Angel spinning the oldies.

I don't do this enough.

❤

 Twist and Crawl.

Red Roman and what it is about Catnip.

That Production Designer, he grilled it over the coals with garlic butter. Delicious. The taste and texture is reminiscent of crayfish, with a delectable crisp skin. The Lovely Girlfriend made a big salad of sliced ginger, carrot, beetroot, avocado and greens. Oven roasted Mediterranean potatoes. One could want for nothing more.
 

I took along a punnet of Catnip for the furry ones. What entertainment!

Whilst reading up about it this morning, I came across these amusing facts:

Nepeta cataria is mostly used as a recreational substance for feline enjoyment.

Catnip is not harmful to your cat. They won't overdose on it.  Most cats know when they've had enough & will refuse any further offers. 

( I like that: "most cats"... )
We wondered last night if the big cats are also susceptible to Catnip and I am happy to report:

Tigers, cougars, bobcats, lions and lynx also respond to nepetalactone, the active ingredient in catnip. 
 

 It's difficult to photograph a cat when he's spending time with the herb, what with all that rolling around and puffy tail-swishing. The Morning Visitor did what was to be expected...

Dokter and Misses and Mister Minato.

I take my hat off to David West. I have some friends in the rag trade and from what I gather it's a scary place littered with many sharp scissors. Yet the intrepid Mr.West has just opened another outlet in Cape Town. Dokter and Misses is at 113 Long Street. His other shop is Weekend Special, near the Biscuit Mill.
 

 Cute dresses.
 

 And a changing room lined with high-density foam for when you need a moment...
 

 It was so comfy in there, I didn't particularly want to leave.
 

 But for a cold glass of wine. And sushi...

My Lovely Friend and The Production Designer picked me up for supper at Minato. Beautifully cut fish - for example: the nigiri - the fish doesn't end bluntly, it tapers into an almost translucent point and is draped over the rice.
 

 The pieces are big. Apparently this puts The Tall Drink of Water off so much that he doesn't want to eat here. I rather like it. I struggled valiantly with the sticks for a long time, but The Lip taught me some years ago that sometimes it's okay to use your hands. Very liberating.
 

 The Healthy Roll: no rice. Delicious. As was the one with the crispy tempura coat. We refrained from the Crying Roll and the Sweet Kiss Hot Roll. None of that thank you very much.
 

 Oh. oh. I would love to have a tattoo. But I'm a scaredy cat. So now and then I draw one with a felt tip pen. This one is à la Derek from Las Vegas. (God made me draw it, says Derek.)
 

What do you think?

~ The Imperial Tiger Orchestra is the coolest thing since electricity ~

Or: The lead actress is in my car...

Or: Brice Wassy ~ you're the man! 

Or: Bye Bye Albert.

I spent an evening and a very late night with some of my favourite people on Friday. :-)

The Production Designer made a mean broccoli and coconut curry. We had it with champagne. Then off we whizzed to the Albert Hall, which sadly is closing down. I've been invited by Nursery Rhymes for Adults Inc. to collaborate on their next project. The lead actress was handed over for a wardrobe fitting and she came along for the ride.
 

 Brice Wassy, you are the man. You with your leather hat and your beaded vest and your animal tooth necklace and your killer smile. 

Mr.Wassey's drumming was superlative and he was accompanied by an equally nimble-fingered bass guitarist and keyboard player. Their hands were a blur.
 

these photos from E.'s i-Phone

And then: The Imperial Tiger Orchestra. They're a six-man outfit from Geneva playing tunes inspired by the Golden Age of Ethiopian music in the 70's. With trumpet, saxophone, drums and an assortment of strange Ethiopian instruments, this bunch of snake charmers had us mesmerized and very, very happy. Dark and jolly. The epitome of rhythm.

Fantastic people, I want you on my i-Pod.

And so long Albert, I miss you already.
❤

Trendy/Not So/Lebanese

 Two picky Virgoans and a Sagittarian went for a leisurely ramble on the pier yesterday afternoon. We're thinking: where shall we have a party? Drank a caiperinha at The Grand Café & Beach. 

(Haul Rd off Beach Rd, Granger Bay, 021 425 0551)
 

 Then went slumming on the other side of the fence at the Oceana Power Boat Club. They've been under threat of eviction by the V&A Waterfront since 2002! They have the only slipway for private boats in the precinct of Cape Town. Cocktails, maybe not, but a brandy and coke costs a laughable fraction of the prices next door. Atmosphere charming in that old-school clubby way.
 

 As we were about to leave, this Ford Zephyr Zodiac II pulled up. 1963. Mint.
 

 It had seats of the most brilliant red I've ever seen. The owner was suitably proud.

We uhmmed and ahhed about cooking and then, on a whim, went for an early supper at The Cedar. Still the same after all these years: family run, fantastic service, splendid food. We had Foul m'Dammas, Hoummous with fried lamb and cinnamon, freshly baked pitas and the best fried cauliflower in the world. Once I've figured out the secret sauce, I'll share the recipe. I could taste sumac, browned garlic...  

76a Main Rd, Sea Point. (across from Laughtons) 
021 433 2546