CAPE TOWN DIVA: April 2015

Monday 20 April 2015

City Walk, Cape Town...bring out your inner tourist...

Be a tourist in your own town and start with walking your city. Walking (and bicycle tours) are something I do in every new city I visit, always guided, but this particular Walk gives tourists and locals the opportunity to do an organised tour or go it on their own, at their own pace. I'm not a visitor mind you but lately I'm becoming more of a tourist in my town ~ it's amazing to discover what surrounds me in my hood and beyond.

The newly introduced City Walk, made possible by the City of Cape Town, the CCID and the Cape Town Partnership, is a fine way to explore Cape Town and to get people walking instead of driving everywhere. The route runs from the top of Government Avenue where it meets Orange Street (opposite the Mount Nelson), then all the way down to lower Wale Street, down St George's Mall, over Strand Street, into Waterkant Street, onto the Fan walk and over the bridge and as far as St Andrew's Square.

The oak tree lined Government Avenue and Company's Gardens are star attractions in the CBD. Aside from the wide open spaces of the Garden, there's no shortage of things to do and see. First up it's something of a tradition to feed the squirrels, pigeons and a more recent addition to the local wildlife, Egyptian Geese, with peanuts (vendors sell small bags for R5 each). For culture vultures there's the South African National Art Gallery, the National Museum and many historical statues all around the gardens. This past Saturday the theme was 'play' and throughout the route there were amazing things going on- giant scrabble, jumping castles, DIY chalking, frisbee games, book readings, face painting...and that was just for the little people.

The monthly City Walk adds to the Big 6 list - Cape Point, Robben Island, Groot Constantia, Table Mountain Cableway, Kirstenbosch and the V&A Waterfront- making it the Big 7, the attractions you really shouldn't miss on a visit to our fine city.

As the press release says, the City Walk "...is a spine....that connects significant places in the urban heart of Cape Town through storytelling, public art, walking tours and retail offerings... "

I had so much fun doing this walk- bumped into so many familiar faces like Jitsvinger and got caught up by innovative installation art, puppetry, dance and more. The vibe was festive and the atmosphere celebrated the cultural diversity that surrounds us. The next themed Walk and related activities is scheduled to take place 16 May.

The next City Walk Saturdays events take place on 16 May and 20 June – and every third Saturday of the month thereafter. Keep track of upcoming themes and events via http://www.capetown.travel/blog/entry/city-walk-to-fuel-cape-town-big-7.

Follow @capetownsoul on Instagram and use the hashtag #walkcapetown to see what you missed out on Saturday- it'll inspire you to participate in the next City Walk.

@allisonfoat (CapeTownDiva)

Readings all over the Company's Gardens...

Looking down Government Avenue...

The famous Art Deco building in Queen Victoria Street, next to the Company's Gardens

giant chess set...

giant scrabble

In St George's Mall

fire girls...St Georges Mall

the loveliest face of all...

A little fire display video here >
https://instagram.com/p/1oPSW-DyLY/

Labels: Beautiful Cape Town, Creativity, Creativity Travel, Lifestyle, Monuments, South Africa

Friday 3 April 2015

Street Art in Woodstock - an outdoor urban gallery in Cape Town

Since my trip to Portugal last December, I'll admit that I've become a bit obsessed by street art. What I saw in Lisbon - mostly vast wall paintings by the brilliant Os Gemeos and Blu - took my breath away and little did I know that right under my nose in Cape Town was a beautiful collection of some of the finest large and small scale murals waiting for me, my camera and my Instagram feed. Nicole Biondi from Cape Town Tourism arranged for myself and Bianca Lee Coleman to do a walking tour in Woodstock, led by Juma Mkwela of Juma Art Tours. We met at Superette at the Woodstock Exchange - next time remind me to have their amazing vegetarian omelette with my excellent cup of Deluxe coffee before going anywhere.

The first stop is at the Side Street Studios, an art and design hub where owner Elad - if he is around that is - will talk you through this and that to do with street art and how and where it gets to be, or not, around the City. The route thereafter crisscrosses several blocks in the area and takes about 2.5 hours. Juma knows all about the various artists and explains the difference between murals, graffiti and gang tagging - it's fascinating and the art is world-class, a vast outdoor gallery of masterpieces created by big local and international names. From New Yorker Gia to Makatron from Australia, Masai Lou from London, Eliscer from Toronto, Ubanski from Germany and our own Cape Town based Freddy Sam, Faith 47 and her son, 16 year old Jack Fox. Included in the tour price is a stencil art workshop with Paul Senyol at his cool studio-come-apartment. As novices, our end products were quite impressive I might add. Even Paul was impressed.

Street art, be it sculptures, wheatpaste, graffiti, murals, posters or stickers, is an incredible form of expression and social commentary, uplifting urban precincts, turning dead concrete walls into a vibrant visuals and making art accessible to people who may never get to see the inside of a gallery.

So remember to keep your eyes open. Don't forget to look up.

Juma Art Tours: 073 400 4064.

* For excellent info re various types of street art: http://listdose.com/top-10-types-of-street-arts/

But first, coffee...