Kloof Street Blog

Califonia

2010-11-20T10:20:00.000+02:00

It is uncanny how much the Stanford campus reminds me of the University of the Western Cape. It is the blue gum trees.

Today, I realized that it is time to move ahead and to leave broken dreams to melt and to be recast. New adventures beckon.

A sanctuary. a monastery, a moment's heart beat.

The one where I am almost back on Kloof Street

2010-09-24T09:07:00.000+02:00

As the aircraft prepares for landing, I can feel the anticipation rising. Although I am sure that Kloof Street will still be there (duh!), I am excited to see what has changed. I am not a Kloof Street resident any longer, but I will notice EVERYTHING! The sad news is that my beloved cell phone camera died during my embarrassing bicycle crash two weeks ago. The camera on the smart camera, inherited from The Abraham, is permanently set to add a sepia-esque hue to everything.

Estimated date of arrival: 4 Ocotber 2010. (But first London, back to Uppsala, a ride on the Gautrain... )

[Attached please find a recent photo]

Not quite Kloof Street (Part I)

2010-01-09T15:00:00.000+02:00

I love Uppsala. There I said it!

In the mornings I have an inspirational walk past the majestic cathedral, University buildings, castle and botanical gardens to work (all covered in sparkling snow). My one complaint: I cannot seem to adapt to the coffee... Is it me? Probably. Is it possible for me to adapt? Unlikely.

My approach to the problem was two-fold:

1. Find good prepared coffee (i.e. I do not make it myself)

2. Find good beans (i.e. I prepare the coffee myself)

How fortunate that I am at the moment living one block from Ofvandahls, an Uppsala institution. The espresso had adequate crema and with a surprisingly acceptable aftertaste. And at SEK23 for a double espresso, this could be come my new morning coffee :-)

Beans, well, I asked/pleaded with Braamie to bring some from Origin Coffee Roasting in Cape Town (perhaps even Africa's Cup of Gold!). The attendant at the local Böner & Blad recommended I try El Salvador Bourbon Estate. My first pot resulted in mixed feelings - but to be honest I prepared it too weak...

More coffee hunting will follow...

The one with almost last post...

2009-11-30T13:21:00.000+02:00

Today is the last day that we occupy the apartment on Kloof Street. I asked Braamie to take a last photo. Four years were way too short. I could do with a lifetime on Kloof Street. Although I felt protected from the woes of the world in my little patch of paradise, I have witnesses the ripples of the current economic downturn on Kloof Street. If you ever go to Cape Town, be sure to visit some of the places that I have written about, gaze up in wonder at Table Mountain as you drive/walk up the street and experience the energy that is uniquely Cape Town. I cried while I was writing this... not of sorrow, but just because I am letting go.

The one with the second last post

2009-11-05T17:25:00.000+02:00

So, with five days left on Kloof Street, I managed to create a Facebook group (yeah, you can guess the group's name) and will transfer the blog contents over the weekend.

The one with all the closures

2009-07-18T17:13:00.000+02:00

The bad news first:

Naked... gone

Seattle Coffee... gone

Rozenhof... GONE!!

Iron Fist... gone?

Some potential good news:

Hudsons - The Burger Joint

(Braamie and I had burgers there on Monday - good meat and the double-fried fries were unexpected, but they do sell a 'local' beer. When asked for comments, we did mention that the music was way too loud, but the waitress cleverly remarked that it was to drown out the noise from the table with the birthday party (with children). Score?)

Sumo

(Closed on a Saturday afternoon at 15:30)

The Opal Lounge... Manolo's renamed?
(Will never forget how scary that place was. I felt so intimidated by its sheer trendiness.)

Some really, really good news:

The Java Lounge is serving Origin Coffee :-)

The one with the Amazing Amazi pancakes

2009-07-12T10:39:00.000+02:00

Received an email from my dad last Sunday:

Hello Janssoon,

Terwyl jy en die groote Bengel /Pieter-Louis sit en skaak speel tik ek gou die A(mazing) A(mazi) resep in. Onthou die Amazi is 'n geheime ingredient,want dis eintlik 'n v d Merwe suurmelk pannekoek resep wat Mimzy by haar Tant Johanna van oom Fanie Crouse gekry het.Hulle oorkant ons in Van Zylstraat in Universitas gebly voordat ons na Whitesweg 27 getrek het.Hulle dahlias was iets om te sien en oom Fanie had baie voeltjies in groot hokke in hulle agterplaas.Nadat hulle 2 maal getrek het het hulle in Aandrus in Haldonweg gaan bly.

2 koppies meelblom

1 teelepel bakpoeier

1/2 teelepel sout

2 eetlepels suiker

2 koppies suurmelk/amazi

1 teelepel koeksoda

2 geklitste eiers

1 teelepel gesmelte botter

Blus die koeksoda in die melk/amazi,meng met eiers en gesmelte botter

Voeg droe bestandele by en meng goed

Bak met olie of botter in klein bakpannetjie of in n groot pan deur die deeg in die rondte te gooi van die middel af tot teen die rand van die pan

Die pannekoeke is redelik dik en neem n tydjie om gaar te word. Bedien met enige bolaag bv konfyt of stroop met gerasperde kaas,of roomys of maaskaas of oxo of geurige maalvleis of hoender of...of...

Kan vooraf berei word en in yskas/vrieskas gehou word tot verorbering.

So, checking gmail on my cell phone, Deon made the batter and the pancakes :-)

Hello Kloof Street

2009-07-12T10:20:00.000+02:00

And I am back...

As soon as the rain stops, I will investigate Sumo and that new hamburger restaurant..

Was Jimmy killed by a bad prawn?

The one where Africa Nova impresses

2009-03-21T16:24:00.008+02:00

Abraham's ex-SASOL-colleague and friend, Lolan, has been living with us for a few days. He took us to Andiamo's, in the Cape Quarter, for dinner last night (I ordered the ossobuco and Abe wanted the lobster but had to settle for a pizza). On our way out, I was mesmirezed by the window displays of one of the stores, Africa Nova. The colours are, well, just magic.

The one where Wall Street hit Kloof Street

2009-03-21T15:37:00.008+02:00

Has Wall Street hit Kloof Street?

The Abraham (that ersatz economic gift to mankind/lover of mine) says that this has always been a tough street for businesses, and especially restaurants.

The most noticeable changes are the closures of street cafés Naked (for some months now), Seattle Coffee and Limnos. Caramellos has also scaled down on their floor space.

Exciting news, however, is that Exclusive Books are opening a childrens book store next door to their exisiting shop in the Lifestyles Centre on Kloof Street. Which makes sense, given that a primary school is right next door...

As mentioned earlier, the recycling facilities have relocated to Jan van Riebeeck Primêre Skool and are not open on Sundays, which is a nuisance (but it did result in me winning a HUGE argument with The Abraham).

The one where Cape Town is burning

2009-03-18T13:55:00.004+02:00

Deon van Zyl took this photograph just after midnight. A terrible inferno.

The one about parking on Kloof Street

2009-02-22T06:56:00.003+02:00

My pet hate: illegal parking :-(

The one with a photo taken at sunrise

2009-01-11T21:35:00.003+02:00

Tamboerskloof seen beyond our kitchen window and reflected on the window facing Kloof Street. Taken at sun rise by Mimsi.

The one with Table Mountain at night

2009-01-11T21:10:00.004+02:00

Braamie took this photograph in December using my mother's small Olympus digital camera. The mountain is being lit up during 'the season' - which makes this time of year even more special.

The one with a mojito at the Mount Nelson

2009-01-10T18:10:00.003+02:00

The Abraham and I joined his colleague from NEF for a wee drinking at the Mount Nelson after work. The Planet Bar makes the best mojitos in town!

The one where to recycle on Kloof Street

2009-01-10T17:55:00.005+02:00

The Abraham and I are now recycling at Laerskool Jan Van Riebeeck. They offer more options compared to the recycling bins at the Wellness Warehouse (including tin cans). Sadly, there are no facilities for recycling cardboard... I would hope that cardboard could be recycled?

The one with a cheap lunch at Sinns

2009-01-10T17:35:00.003+02:00

Visiting our second office, TKZ and I enjoyed the lunch special at Sinns Restaurant and Bar in Wembley Square. Well, actually, TKZ had the special and I had a chicken and potato salad. The lunch special (R50) included a glas of wine. The service was terribly slow, though...

The one with a memorable Danish

2008-12-28T14:56:00.002+02:00

Looks like Caramello's is downsizing a bit, but there doesn't seem to be any problem in quality. Their apple pastry is a winner at R10 and I dare anyone to finish a whole one :-)

The one with a photo on Christmas day

2008-12-26T22:12:00.004+02:00

Braamie and I traveled up the West Coast with my parents. After a picnic at the Langebaan Yacht Club, we had coffee at Paternoster. What a great way to escape that Christmas Feeling.

The one about the migmatite

2008-12-26T21:04:00.004+02:00

My grandfather, Jan Sarel van der Merwe (geographer/geomorphologist), would have celebrated his 100th birthday today. To bring him to memory, we went to Bantry Bay to capture the unique migmatite rocks on the shore on camera. On his visit to Cape Town, Darwin inspected this unique phenomenon which clearly shows how the earth's crust was formed millions of years ago.

My mother and I visited this historic site in clear sunshine and with an azure sea in the background. We duly celebrated this occasion with champagne at dinner!

[text courtesy of my father, Dux, and heavily edited by me]

The one about Shelley's Gourmet Kitchen and the great scrambled eggs

2008-11-15T13:44:00.004+02:00

Shelley's Gourmet Kitchen opened on Kloof Street in October. The Bramer and I bravely investigated. We ordered scrambled eggs with smoked salmon served on a croissant (R40) and a cuppuccino each (R14). We decided to sit in the small back garden and read the weekend newspapers. Hearing cheerful noises in the kitchen is always a good sign.

The scrambled eggs were devine and breakfast scored a solid 7 on the Braamie-o-meter. A good start to any day!

The one about a cheap breakfast at Café Sophia

2008-11-15T10:37:00.004+02:00

For R25 you cannot expect too much these days. At Café Sophia this bought a Village Omelet (filled with roasted peppers, spicy sausage and melted cheese) served with toast and coffee. The service was quick and the setting comfortable. The manager told us the other Cafés are located in Seapoint, Rosebank, and Greenside (Gauteng). A fifth store is opening in Green Point soon.

PS: no free internet was available - apparently, they are still waiting for the vouchers...

The one about my first lazy morning on Kloof Street

2008-11-08T12:06:00.004+02:00

At SEK480 for a haircut, Sweden must have the best paid hairdressers in the world. For this reason, I now look like Hägar The Horrible. The perfect summer weather urged me to walk down to the Gardens Centre for a hair cut. I have decided to grow my hair and to wear it "Stockholm" style which basically means lots of hair product to slick down your hair when combed back. Let's see if it lasts...

What caught my I as I walked down Kloof Street?

1. Free internet at Café Sophia.

2. Studio 91 looks set to open soon. Check out the little lights built into the pavement.

3. Finger (walked past their opening ceremony last night).

4. The Orangerie is progressing well. What is 'The CPOA"? Any ideas?

5. The Smurf collection at the German toy store in the Gardens Centre...

The one with I am back on Kloof Street

2008-10-26T14:34:00.008+02:00

As we passed the Mount Nelson Hotel on Orange Street, my pulse started to race and I battled to control the excitment of returning to Kloof Street after an absence of 71 days, 2 hours and a few odd seconds. Home is where the heart is... But what is this? Naked looks closed, and (horror of all horrors) someone is building a facebrick house. [Fade out. End scene]

Keen to get back into 'The Routine', Braamie and I rushed to Origin on Saturday morning. Sleeping late can result in loosing out on the salmon bagels! There was a new reason to visit Origin: tea. My new tea requires equal volumes of Darjeeling Puttabong and Keemun Luxus Congou, and just a pinch of Lapsan Souchong. Infuse for 6 minutes and taste heaven. Luckily, Origin Tea Merchants provided ample volumes of all three.

It is good to be back. So, what is new with you?

The one where I am not on Kloof Street

2008-09-17T13:01:00.004+02:00

Does this even make sense? A country with horses in drag, lots of water, one big cathedral (Lutheran) and pretty gardens. Obviously not Kloof Street material.

The one with my other office

2008-08-11T18:12:00.002+02:00

Wembley Square has free wireless internet. Just be persistent.

The one with two favorite spots

2008-08-09T17:39:00.006+02:00

What does the Wolfson Pavillion and Origin have in common?

The one where I'm back

2008-08-07T20:21:00.006+02:00

The reasons why I stopped blogging (for a while):

1. My cellphone was stolen. Without its handy camera I felt like James Bond without the licence to kill, Batman without Bruce Wayne, Calvin without Hobbs, or Frankenfurter without Rocky! My blogs would become sandwiches without substance - I just couldn't bear the bare text.

2. Abraham seriously considered a job in South Korea. We planned to give up The Apartment, put everything in storage until the Ballet School became available and, after my 10 weeks in Uppsala, I would complete my PhD from George with only occasional visits to Kloof Street.

A new Sony Ericsson K850i 5 megapixel cybershot phone arrived yesterday and Abraham is happily employed as research analyst (http://www.newenergyfinance.com/). Uppsala is 7 days away and life is trendy again, Kloof Street trendy.

The one about Gauteng

2008-06-14T12:59:00.004+02:00

Gauteng is not for sissys. If hectic traffic, smog-induced keroconjunctivitis sicca, or electric-fenced-burglar-barred-Tuscan-styled housing estates turn you on, then this is the place to be.

The warm afternoon sun, the Butcher Shop and Grill at Mandela Square, and finding the perfect cabin luggage almost compensated for the constant feeling of impending doom.

Other highlights included Anel's wedding, the reason for our visit, and a personal tour of the Johannesburg Art Gallery by Abraham's aunt (the JAG librarian) .

The one with the jedi warriors

2008-06-14T12:45:00.004+02:00

To celebrate 10 years of diplomatic relations, China sent two terracotta warriors and other ancient artifacts to the National Museum of Natural History in Pretoria. The exhibition also featured videos with sweeping soundtracks to show how happy Chinese babies, infants, children, teenagers, students, adults and elderly are to live in such a beautiful country of lakes, forests, desserts, snowy mountains, rice paddies, ancient cities, modern cities, temples, walls and olympic stadia. For an authenitic experience, the exhibition was protected by guards with semi-automatic rifles.

The one with a swan in my decaf latté

2008-06-04T20:35:00.005+02:00

Another dear diary moment: Barrista extraordinaire, "Beans", at Origin prepared my decaf latté (been off caffeine for two weeks now) with a swan motif.

The one with photos of Table Mountain

2008-06-04T20:15:00.003+02:00

The wonderful weekend weather was captured by a friend. Great photos!

The one with a lazy morning on Kloof Street

2008-06-01T12:41:00.003+02:00

Time to relax before the storm...

The one where we go beyond Camp Street

2008-06-01T12:06:00.002+02:00

Nobody likes walking uphill but having 'fika' at Melissa's makes the effort worthwhile. It is expensive, but we deserve a treat every now and then...

The one with a little tart

2008-05-18T08:29:00.003+02:00

What to do? Origin only opens at 09:00 and we needed breakfast pronto. We discovered La Petite Tarte in De Waterkant whilst hunting croissants for Jorge's breakfast last weekend. Not only were they open, but we had one of the best breakfast in a long time. After ordering croissants for breakfast the enigmatic waitress suggested adding scrabbled eggs, and bacon, and avocado.. and some cherry tomatoes. Delicious.

Cape Quarter, 72 Waterkant Street, De Waterkant.
+27 21 425 9077

The one without Table Mountain

2008-05-10T09:01:00.003+02:00

Winter: my preferred Cape Town season.

The one about the long weekend (Part 2)

2008-05-09T21:40:00.002+02:00

We fell in love [an unprecedented 8.5/10 on the Braamie'ometer!] and vow to return to Franschhoek time and time again to marvel at the Salmon Bar.

SALMON BAR at THE YARD
38 Huguenot Street +27 (0)21 876 4591

The one about the long weekend (Part 1)

2008-05-09T21:03:00.004+02:00

When last did you drive the Rooi Els road? Josua and Azelle invited us to spend Labour Day with them in Hermanus. Dinner at Cubana started out a bit shaky, but the food was so delicious I had to forgive them for their "service" and the absence of a no-smoking section.
Hermanus people are very friendly. They greet as they run past you on the coastal road. They also have grand architecture [really!] We spotted a sign about whales and sat on a bench. Lovely.

The one about new restaurants on Kloof Street

2008-04-12T10:07:00.004+02:00

Having closed down almost a year ago, the first floor space in the Kloof Street Junction is reopening as the Royal Kitchen Asian Restaurant. I almost choked on my morning coffee (origin: freshly ground) when I spotted them hammering wooden/bamboo slats to the balcony railing. Watching the developments were not unlike an emotional roller coaster ride: from fearing the worst (a store importing Indonesian knockoff furniture?) to seer exaltation (a book store?).
Café Sophia is open a opening another meze and tapas bar next to Arnolds on Kloof Street. I used some of their discarded bricks to fumigate our apartment [removed long detail about Fumitabs, fogging and multipoison resistant critters].

The one about the smart car

2008-04-12T10:00:00.002+02:00

Maybe not so smart?
[about legal: if the owner complains, then I will remove the registration number]

The one with orhestral mayhem

2008-03-30T09:53:00.002+02:00

The last night at the Proms.

The one where I rediscover my Alexander

2008-03-30T09:29:00.003+02:00

1983: started playing the French horn at the Green Hill Music School in Bloemfontein
1989: my mother bought an instrument made by the Alexander Brothers from a horn player in Bloemfontein (Mr Roohde? - I remember his daughter was an excellent violinist)
1989: Horn damaged during Free State Youth Orchestra tour to KZN.
1989: After several local failed attempts to repair the instrument, I took the horn to Mainz to be repaired.
1991: I stopped playing.
1998: Karen Brink bought the horn for one of her students at Durbanville High School in Cape Town
2008/03/28: Found! The Alexander now belongs to Jane. The irony is that we have been playing together in various orchestras for almost two years! She bought the horn from someone in Johannesburg!

The one under the tree

2008-03-30T09:04:00.002+02:00

Teaching the bass African style: two new pupils and and lots of free air conditioning.

The one where Dirk crosses the line

2008-03-22T18:04:00.002+02:00

Dirk completed his second Two Oceans marathon (56K) today. Who-hoo!

The one about a new place to explore on Kloof Street

2008-03-19T20:49:00.001+02:00

Any ideas?

The one with more sushi on Kloof Street

2008-03-19T20:13:00.003+02:00

Feeling peckish, Braamie and I walked down to Long Street to find dinner. As we passed Tong Lok we reminisced about the good old days when Tokio Sushi's 'eat as much sushi as you can' was more than just rice. Tamara has been raving about Tong Lok's sushi and we investigated. I opted for the udon noodles with chicken and some sweet and sour pork. Braamie ate as much sushi as he could. It turned out to be a case of 'eat while you can' as the sushi disappeared as soon as it was set out. The Braamie'ometer: 6/10.

The one about new and old favorites

2008-03-16T19:32:00.005+02:00

There is no alternative: Origin Coffee Roasting (28 Hudson Street, De Waterkant) remains our first choice for coffee and breakfast. According to Abraham's friend, Cuth (fourth in the 2008 SA barista competition) their bagels (served with with or with smoked salmon) are baked on site.

TK recently introduced me to Jardine (185 Bree Street, CBD). The coffee and pastries are served on the go or on the curb. Time and quality is of the essence here.

The one about a fun night out

2008-03-16T15:29:00.003+02:00

My only resolution for 2008 was to walk into the new Louis Vuitton store at the V&A Waterfront with a melting chocolate ice cream. As of last Thursday, the deed is done: no more anxiety, no more failure. And yet, I feel strangely empty. Sure, I achieved a goal and, yes, the chocolaty smooth creaminess was dripping all over my hand. Then why I am feeling no afterglow?

Prior to the main event I met up with Jannie at the sushi bar in the Cape Town Fish Market and ordered the standard pre-event meal: a steak sandwich (rare) and a chocolate milkshake. Jannie was on a mission to find a birthday gift for Boerseun. Unfortunately all of my suggestions were ignored. Jannie remains an elusive shopper.

The one about the new double bass

2008-03-16T14:45:00.005+02:00

The first glimpse of my new full-sized double bass, AKA "The Beast", was in a garage in Goodwood. The bass was advertised on Gumtree Cape Town and after some email negotiations I traveled north, with Abraham at my side, to inspected the goods-for-sale. The bass belonged to a member of the new band, aKing, but he never played.
I took the bass to Hout Bay last week. It has a longer neck and Odwa had to perform gymnastics to play his scales. The bass needs to be refitted for orchestral playing (new bridge, better strings, ebony finger board, etc) but has a big, warm sound.

The one with a photo of Tolkien's father's grave

2008-03-09T12:43:00.004+02:00

My family maintained Arthur Reuel Tolkien's grave in Bloemfontein from 1992 to 2007. My mother photographed my youngest brother, Alexander, with his two sons. My father had discover the location of the grave and assisted the Tolkien family to celebrate JRR Tolkien's 100th birthday in Bloemfontein, his place of birth. The tombstone was erected in 1994.

The one about the Mission Bay Jazz&Blues Streetfest

2008-03-08T23:47:00.003+02:00

On my first evening in Auckland, we strolled down Tamaki Drive where jazz and blues bands, spaced about 20 meters apart on opposite sides of the street, competed for an audience. The mussel pot at De Fontein bested even my capacity for NZ seafood. The nearest band was just 2 meters below our seats.

The one with exciting possibilities on Kloof Street

2008-03-08T00:28:00.004+02:00

Spot the difference:
1. 'Kunst House' where Chef Pon's used to be (with white floors et al)
2. New restaurant next to Arnold's (you can see the smoking section?)
3. Studio 91 (not a work of art as yet)

The one about New Zealand

2008-03-08T00:07:00.002+02:00

Long time, no blog. I wish I could, but I just didn't want to blog for a while.

January flew past as I prepared to explore New Zealand (including preparing an abstract, poster and presentation for the meeting in Dunedin). On February 5th, I entered the autumn shades of 30 (i.e. I am now closer to 40 then 30), and promptly left the country two days later.

As you can see, New Zealand is completely different from South Africa.

The one about a quick visit to George

2008-01-07T10:36:00.000+02:00

I pictured Christmas in George would basically involve huge meals and naps between beach visits. Well, we ate and we slept but the rain prevent us from enjoying the beach even after it stop raining. The amount of drift wood and gunk in the sea was not compatible with swimming. The surf at Victoria Bay basically looked like a 'brown cow', or coke float (remember when you were younger and enjoyed mixing milk or ice cream with your soda?!). We stayed with Azélle and Josua on Kings Wood Golf Estate and visited Denise in Wilderness. Braamie pulled a face reminiscent of Grendel during Azélle's birthday dinner. Sies!

The one about the Book Lounge

2008-01-07T10:23:00.000+02:00

Braamie almost had to make an emergency U-turn on Buitenkant Street when I spotted the Book Lounge, a new independent bookstore with a comfortable reading room cum coffee shop in the basement. Check it out!

The one about an early morning on Kloof Street

2007-12-19T07:55:00.000+02:00

Today was one of those perfect summer's days when you wake up feeling on top of the world. After an early bird breakfast at Arnold's (before 07:00), we had a swim at Kamps Bay with TK before heading for the office. What an eerie feeling to be the first to arrive at work?!

The one about the cats in Montagu

2007-12-19T07:35:00.000+02:00

Montagu is a two-hour leisurely drive away from Cape Town. After spring cleaning, we made a lot of food (Deon and Susan), picked plums (Abraham), installed shelves (Deon and Abraham), bought groceries at the OK Bazaars (!) and slept. I also re-read Garth Nix' novel, "Abhorsen". According to the town's official website, Montagu is known for its 'spiring rock formations, orchards, vineyards, local herbs and healing hot mineral springs'. However, they forget to mention the feline security guards. Go visit, you'll see.

The one about lunch with Andrée

2007-12-09T09:03:00.000+02:00

Andrée and I did lunch at Rafiki's (since 2000AD) on Kloof Nek last Saturday: cold draft beer, pizza, fush & chips and the sweet smell of...

The one about not much

2007-12-09T03:59:00.000+02:00

Summer is/was here! We've been spending more time on the beach, especially after work - it stays light until after 20:00 now. Abraham is challenging his body's thermeostasis by swimming at Clifton without a wet suit. He can now resist the freezing water for almost 45 minutes. There is no denying his German/Danish ancestry.

The village is vibing up to the holiday. I am planning a post on the art galleries on Kloof Street (soon). The Park Street Gallery (99A Kloof Street) is one of our favorites. Studio 91, a new gallery next to the Mount Nelson Hotel's entrance on Kloof Street, will probably open soon.

The one with more cheap food on Kloof Street

2007-12-04T05:28:00.000+02:00

The affordable breakfast options on Kloof Street are increasing and hopefully this is not just a seasonal trend. I discovered that Limos is now offering breakfast for R16-50. They are open in the evenings now. I wonder if they still sell that dark chocolate baklava which effectively ruined my 2006 pre-Christmas diet.

And now for a totally unrelated story:

It is sad, but true, that I have an overtly curious nature. My uncertainty about Ocean Basket's 2nd story has been resolved. We can relax now: it is a bar with a lounge opening on 7 December. Now I am unsure if it will be a bar lounge or a lounge bar?

The one with disturbing news

2007-11-25T10:25:00.001+02:00

Is it true that the Rheede Street Centre will be demolished to make way for another development?!

The one about eating cheaply on Kloof Street

2007-11-25T10:17:00.000+02:00

If you are, like me, a student on a limited and already overstretched budget, or you just don't want to pay R56 for breakfast, there are a few options. For early risers who can get to Arnolds before 07:00 (!) breakfast will cost R8 - still the best deal on Kloof Street. Deli55 is now advertising an 'All day' brekkie for R15 and Naked is offering student discount of which I was oblivious until Saturday. Let me know if you discover any other deals for under R15.

The one where things sure change on Kloof Street

2007-11-25T08:55:00.000+02:00

Feels like ages since my last post. Things sure have changed here on Kloof Street. The tourist season opened and summer abruptly disappeared for a few days.

The 'Chef Pon's' building (corner of Kloof and Upper Union Streets) is being renovated - another restaurant? Unfortunately our new neighbour's lean-to was destroyed. I spotted them shooting some heroine in Pon's back yard next to their destroyed abode. At least they are not totally devastated.

The tree next to Chef Pon's is missing. It was probably severely damaged by the South Easter or appropriated for fire wood during the sudden cold spell. (Hey! It has happened before.)
Even before the storm, the 'family' coffee shop next to Checkers closed down. It now sells eye apparel. The storm also assisted Jimmy (aka Killer Prawns) to take down their amoeba-like tent. Perhaps their business will pick up now. Which brings me to a question I have been wrestling with for a while: am I blogging or gossiping?

The one about reopenings on Kloof Street

2007-11-06T08:39:00.000+02:00

Joyous news! Ocean Basket ('Your sole provide') reopened their doors on Friday. Exclusive books also reopened in the Kloof Lifestyles Centre yesterday. Both were sorely missed.

The 'scamming' season must have reopened recently. I was acosted by no less then five 'performers' walking home from Lifestyles tonight. The winner received R10! I felt so betrayed falling for yet another sob story. Anyway, at least I care...

The one where the chickens crossed Brownlow Road

2007-11-03T11:36:00.000+02:00

According to Deon, Andrée's father, the chickens crossed the road to end up on his Webber. I am not exactly sure where or how the chickens did this, but there are options; but most likely, the chickens were carried all the way from Woolworths in a plastic bag.
Andrée will turn one next month and has developed a personality all of her own. Although Abraham and I are not her official godparents (and why not, one may ask?), we have some definite plans for Miss van Zyl. My contribution will be to buffer her from her father's scathing remarks about Mozart symphonies (almost bordering on blasphemy) and Abraham would like to teach her some of his special dance moves (which basically includes a lot of finger flicking). Good luck, Andrée!

The one where all is well at the Wellness Warehouse

2007-11-03T00:44:00.000+02:00

My post about the Wellness Warehouse in September solicited a lot of comments. I m happy to report that I had a great morning at the WW. The buzzer buzzed on time, the sandwich was great (crispy ciabatta filled with fresh greens, roasted butternut, feta and sautéed beef), the latté hot and, best of all, NO irritating music.
Also, their recycling boxes are now outside the store which makes it so much easier to access.

The one with Hannah's wedding

2007-10-27T10:32:00.000+02:00

Long-time best friend Hannah got married last weekend at the Plantation in Port Elizabeth. In true Hannah-style, everything was so tastefully done; including a chocolate wedding cake covered with white chocolate and roses. I sat next to Almarie (from Meel fame) at the 'fun' table. We rocked!

The one about Caramello's

2007-10-27T10:06:00.000+02:00

The brothers Ioannides have opened a new coffee shop on Kloof Street. During my last visit to Bloemfontein, André Conradie introduced me to Caramello's - a place where "friends with different cultures from all walks of life could meet and celebrate life with food as the dough that binds them together". And it turned out to be very expensive dough. We selected three cookies (really non-fancy types) from the bakery to enjoy with our coffee. I never imagined that each would cost R17! They were billed as 'gateaux'... perhaps a little exageration? Except for the price of the cookies, the service was excellent and the coffee not too bad. The staff are attentive and friendly. As you can see it scored better than the Wellness Warehouse on the Braamiometer. Caramello's is well worth a visit in Bloemfontein and on Kloof Street.

The one about our new neighbours

2007-10-27T10:02:00.000+02:00

I spotted our new neighbours last week. Not much flair for decorating, but they do know how to pick a good spot. Can you spot them?

The one with Mfundo's Good Taste

2007-10-06T02:56:00.000+02:00

The May 2007 edition of Good Taste Magazine featured an article about the Hout Bay Music Project, titled "Township Notes", and included a photo of Mfundo playing the bass. Last month, after only two months of preparation, he passed his Grade III double bass exam and is progressing rapidly.

The one with a list of Kloof Street Restaurants (2)

2007-09-29T01:42:00.000+02:00

More restaurants. This time, those between Eaton Road and Camp Street.

1. Mixas (Pizza, Falafel and Burger). Beer is R5 between 17:00 and 18:00 :-)

2. Jimmy's Killer Prawns (Not sure. Well, hmm, perhaps seafood...)

3. Tokyo Sushi (Japanese). Eat-as-much-sushi-as-you-can for R90 on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

4. Cafe Gainsbourg (Fine dining).

5. Asoka Son of Dharma (Contemporary). Great jazz on Tuesdays.

6. Da Vinci's (Pizza/Pasta). Try the 'Van der Merwe' (biltong, feta and peppadews).

7. Saigon (Vietnamese). A Kloof Street classic.

8.Yindee's (Authentic Thai Cuisine). THE Kloof Street restaurant.

The one about Origin Coffee Roasting

2007-09-29T01:33:00.000+02:00

Need to perk up? Then search for the origin. You'll find it at Origin Coffee Roasting, situated in De Waterkant. You will not be disappointed. Promise.

The one with Mfundo's Fairy Dance

2007-09-24T08:25:00.000+02:00

Braamie captured Mfundo playing the 'Fairy Dance' al fresco. He played the The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Double Bass Grade III practical examination the next day.

The one about (S)andy Bay

2007-09-24T03:00:00.000+02:00

Braamie's favorite surf spots are Llandudno and Sandy Bay. After photo cataloging the Kloof Street restaurant, we continued our heritage celebrations by visiting Sandy Bay. Armed with cultural fervour and fig leaves, we completed the hike in no time. Braamie actually body surfed in the freezing water while I, uhm, looked around. Heritage Day is grand.

The one with a list of Kloof Street restaurants (1)

2007-09-24T02:25:00.000+02:00

Braamie and I celebrate Heritage Day by walking down Kloof Street. This is a list of the restaurants on Kloof Street below Eaton Road.

1. Delpasco (Café)

2. Tong Lok (Chinese)

3. Rozenhof (Cuisine)

4. Vida e cafe (Café)

5. Seatlle Coffee (Café)

6. Naked (Wraps)

7. Deli55 (Café/Deli)

8. Kauai (Health food)

9. Wellness Cafe (Health food)

10. Limnos Bakery (Café/Bakery)

11. St Elmos (Pizzeria)

12. Ocean Basket (Seafood)

13. Arnolds (Meat - game)

14. Mount Nelson Hotel (Cuisine)

The one with photos of Cape Town at night

2007-09-18T08:21:00.000+02:00

Abraham took these two photographs on Sunday night.

The one where all is not well at the warehouse

2007-09-09T08:20:00.000+02:00

The Wellness Warehouse in Kloof Lifestyles open this week. Luckily you don't have spend a lot of time wading through the wellness gadets/spas/organic produce to reach the Wellness Café. A selection of freshly made sandwiches and various health drinks (including caffeine) are on offer. In an attempt to embrace wellness, I opted for the ostrich bobotie and red onion marmalade on ciabata and Braamie tried the roasted butternut and goats cheese sandwich. Sounds good? Don't be fooled: the service was appauling. Two days in a row. After paying for your food, your are given the Wellness Buzzer that is supposed to flash when your drinks are ready. This means you eat your food and then wait, wait and wait some more for the magical flash to indicated that your lattes are ready. My advice: rather just stand at the counter and tap your feet - your drinks will appear in a flash. As you can see, the Wellness Café did not score high on the Braamiometer.

The one without Die 'skiet winkel'

2007-09-03T08:13:00.000+02:00

After reading Deon Maas' article in the Volksblad about Die Skietwinkel in Bloemfontein, Jannie suggested I investigate. In all honesty, I didn't really make it that far: visiting Kloppers (the legendary store in Bloemfontein) to ogle SONY Bravia LCDs and Miele S5210 vacuum cleaner, we could also stock up on guns and ammo. Ratatatatatatata.

The one where the baby doesn't cry (almost)

2007-09-03T07:41:00.000+02:00

Blogging is great. Really. But when you meet up with 'long-time-no-see' friends can reply to every tale with 'oh yes, its on your blog', my life feels like just another "the one about...' episode. Séla.
Annamarié en André recently produced Kara, the most delightful little girl, who really enjoys it when I whistle tunes from Mozart's horn concertos (nothing you can't hum there). We lunched at Meel in Westdene (across the street from The Mystic Boer). The company was excellent, the wine great and the food good (except for the kiwi cheese cake - André's verdict: too much butter, not baked long enough). Meel might just be Bloemfontein's answer to Melissas.

The one where Florence Nightningale

2007-09-03T07:25:00.000+02:00

The Old Main Building of Groote Schuur Hospital is getting a face lift. Not everybody approves. If you look carefully, you can see that Florence Nightingale is now covering her had in shame.

The one about the unplanned feeshing trip

2007-08-23T11:46:00.000+02:00

As you can see, there is a huge hole in the side the Ocean Basket on Kloof Street. The photo of the notice on the door is a bit blurred, but the heading gives you the idea that it was a bit sudden.

The one about the pit partners

2007-08-23T11:15:00.000+02:00

Four down and two to go.

I have this ritual of checking off opera performances on my schedule just before crashing into the last act. It gives me hope. Alex Fokkens and I met about 15 years ago at the SA National Youth Orchestra course in a cold, cold July in Bloemfontein. Hadri conducted Sibelius' 2nd symphony. What I remember most of that SANYO course was that, prior to the last performance, Alex and I played the slow movement from the second Dittersdorff concerto together and perfectly in tune while waiting to go on stage. An unsurpassed feat in double bass performance.

We reunited in 1994 to tour Scotland with SANYO. What joy and what frustration! My bass case weighed about 20kg and looked like Hagrid's coffin. We referred to it as 'Grandma' and, when transporting it, occasionally used to knocked on the case and asked "Grandma, you still OK in there?". Besides our own cases, we had to schlepp their royals highnesses basses around as well. Alex then left for the US to study double bass and conducting and I, well, I didn't.

Many adventures later, the intrepid bass players reunited in Cape Town and to pay for our sins we were thrown into the orchestra pit-of-hell. Alex, of course, is a super bass player and I am basically there for light comic relief and to turn the page. I suggested that we wear red ties and then promptly forgot to wear one. I overcompensated by wearing two red ties tonight.

PS: There are chillies on Alex's tie. Why?

The one about Wellness on Kloof Street

2007-08-18T01:49:00.000+02:00

Another first for Kloof Street? Wellness Warehouse is scheduled to open this month at Lifestyles on Kloof. According to their website, "Wellness Warehouse is the very first retailer to provide the widest range of wellness products and services in a single destination. Our store experience is truly unique and designed to be comfortable and inspirational. In essence, Wellness shoppers are treated to a retail concept different to anything currently available. Our specialised product development team source products from both local and international suppliers. This means that we stock familiar brands, as well as new and unique product ranges currently not available locally. The Wellness Warehouse is a privately owned business opening its first stores in Cape Town and soon expanding nationally."

The one about Jean Daneel Wines

2007-08-18T01:16:00.000+02:00

Meandering down Kloof Street, I noticed that the building materials to renovate Lifestyles on Kloof was less obstructive, and decided to celebrate this by getting drunk for free at Wine Concepts. Before tasting some wine, I questioned the store about the Tamboerskloof Voignier 2006, to me an unexplore cultivar . Luckily, the wine maker of Katbakkies was at hand to enlighten me. Jean-Pierré Daneel was in store to promote the Jean Daneel wines. Four wines were available for tasting and all were excellent. This cellar is known for its superb Chenin Blanc, but at the end I invested (wine is now too expensive to just buy... rather, you invest) in JD Initial White, a Chenin, Semillon/Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc blend. As you can see, JPD, offers quite an attractive label.

The one about (being) Naked on Kloof

2007-08-18T00:56:00.000+02:00

The importance of (being) Naked on Kloof lies in the fact that it has been serving wraps to Cape Townians for 10 years now. According to the owner it introduced wraps (as a 'fast food' concept) to South Africa. Why does Naked survive, when other restaurants and cafés are closing down at an alarming rate?
In my opinion:
1. It has transcended from 'trendy' to being quintessential.
2. It is not expensive: the price rangs is R12 to R37.
3. The owner is on site all the time. I have never seen Naked without its owner.
4. It has a sense of humour. Naked is clothed on Sundays.
If there is one thing that I believe in (except dinosaurs and that one day all music will sound like Mozart), is to support local interprise. Especially, if clothing is optional.

The one with a video of a rehearsal for 'La Rondine'

2007-08-12T10:53:00.000+02:00

Braamie captured Saturday's rehearsal of Acts I & III of Pucinni's opera, 'La Rondine' on his Nokia E70. The premiére is next Saturday in the Baxter Theater.

The one about inconsiderate builders

2007-08-11T05:59:00.000+02:00

This one is for the community. The renovators of the Life Style Centre on Kloof Street store their building materials very unceremoniously and unmarked over the whole width of the pavement. You have to step right off the curb into a big puddle to be able to navigate pass the obstruction. This would probably never happen in Sweden!

The one about 55 Kloof Street

2007-08-11T05:38:00.000+02:00

Taking a break from cooking, Braamie and I had lunch at the new diner on the block, Deli55, situated in the Groote Kerk's complex of buildings at 55 Kloof Street. The menu covers both breakfast and lunch dishes/light meals. Braamie order the beef burger and I munched away at the beef wrap. They also sell deli items which included huge croissants (not sampled). Their red espresso was pretty good (served with honey). The service was efficient, friendly and in Afrikaans!

The one about the Queen of Tarts

2007-08-07T10:28:00.000+02:00

I cheated: when Ushma asked for a venue for lunch today, I boldly suggested Queen of Tarts in Observatory as THE venue. As if I have ever been there! QoT was actually where Anna suggested we meet for lunch tomorrow. This sunny diner, decorated with QEII memorabilia and a small menu written on a black board, carries a warning to customers not to order dishes that are not on the menu!? Phumla and I chose the crispy bacon, chicken and brie which was served on a bed of extremely well-dressed lettuce (a sweet balsamic reduction) and low GI bread. Ushma and TK opted for the roasted aubergine and pesto-esque sandwich. I tasted TK's sandwich and it was GOOD.

The one about an old tradition

2007-08-06T09:27:00.000+02:00

Alas, Braamie has secret photos of me on the bass! I discovered these on his computer. They were taken during the performance of the Messiah in the Cape Town City Hall last week. Although I look very serious, I had fun. As tradition demands, the audience stood up for the 'Halleluja' chorus. Is it also tradition to repeat the chorus as a the end of the performance?

The one with closures on Kloof

2007-08-06T09:05:00.000+02:00

Two restaurants closed down on our block last week. Chef Pons' Street Bar closed down on 29 July. I am not sure how long this establishment has been running, but there was always a crowd and in summer we could hear their guest laughing in their back garden. The Gr(ill) Steakhouse opened in April 2006 and never really took off. Often Braamie and I would play 'spot the diner'. We were impressed that they actaully lasted so long without any customers...

The one about lunch on Long Street

2007-08-05T09:01:00.000+02:00

DeliZiosos, a small deli, trattoria, restaurant and espresso bar at 150 Long Street, is run by Giuliana Biasotto. Susan and I enjoyed a 'legal' lunch there on Friday. The restaurant is situated a few blocks from the courts and advocate Chambers and, as was evident during the number of times Susan did the colleagial head bob, a favorite among the legal fraternity.

The lunch buffët features a variety of Italianate dishes which are sold by weight. I'll check with Susan, but I thought all the dishes were really tasty. The cuppucino is perfect with home made biscuits which melt in your mouth.

The one about Cats on Kloof

2007-08-05T08:12:00.000+02:00

BIG (Burmese Interest Group) had a show at Jan van Riebeeck High School on Kloof Street. I was invited to the show by the van Zyls whose neighbour's cats were on display. It was my first cat show. One tip: never mention that you are more of a 'dog person' at these events...

Dave and Adrii Helgren (my Amercian parents) invited Abraham and me to dinner at Café Paradiso. We were joinged by Deon, Gordon and Mischief, the owners of the restaurant. Braamie is seen holding Mischief .

The one with photos of the Messiah rehearsal

2007-08-01T10:21:00.000+02:00

Rondebosch High School, Rustenburg Girls High and SACS choirs have combined forces to perform Handel's Messiah in the Cape Town City Hall this week. This is my first concert with Barry Smith and I really enjoy playing with him. These photos were taken during the rehearsal on Monday evening.

The one with shameless selfpromotion

2007-08-01T10:06:00.001+02:00

My father's book, Die Rooi Rok (The Red Dress), published in 1997 has been listed as one of the 100 Representative South African Books for Children and Young People 2007 by the International Board of Books for Young People in South Africa. Go, Dad!

The one with a South African first for Kloof Street

2007-07-28T11:39:00.000+02:00

Ever heard of a Woolies Pharmacy? The revamped Woolworths in the Kloof Street Lifestyle Centre now features a pharmacy which is open during store hours (even Sundays 9 to 5). This is the pilot store, with another pharmacy planned for Johannesburg.

The one with a photo of a painting on Kloof Street

2007-07-28T01:38:00.000+02:00

As I was walking back to the apartment, I spotted two people trying to carry a painting across the Kloof Street/Kloofnek Street junction.

The one about the market in Soutrivier

2007-07-28T00:40:00.000+02:00

Tamara and Ingrid picked me up to go to the market at the Biscuit Mill in Soutrivier. Ingrid demonstrated her impressive parking skills (almost like a stunt from Fear Factor). New experiences at the market included: Glühwein made form white wine (1), fluorescent fynbos (2), that the almond croissants were sold out (3), and chatting to Tom (4).

The about the Hout Bay String Project's new double bass

2007-07-21T11:56:00.000+02:00

Joyously met up with Mfundo and Odwa at the Hout Bay Cultural Centre this morning. The big news: we have received another double bass! I don't know who was so kind to donate the bass, it came all the way from the Netherlands, but thank you! Thank you!

Mfundo is preparing for the Royal Schools Grade III double bass exam and Odwa and I successfully negotiated the G-major scale this morning. Another dear blog moment.

The one with Braamie's photo of Table Mountain

2007-07-21T08:04:00.000+02:00