findingthemojo no 92

 

The weekend is here!

Lots of great sport to watch, including Wimbledon (Nadal's defeat has certainly made it interesting) if the weather is miserable where you are.  Also, do get out there and support your community's cultural projects

• We're heading into the last week of the Vodacom Funny Festival @ The Baxter Theatre which has had great reviews.  Check out www.baxter.co.za for all the details and go and have a laugh!

• Small Works Art Exhibition, featuring "a plethora of small paintings and sculpture" opened last night at The Everard Read Gallery on Portswood Rd at the Waterfront and is on until 12 July - more info @ www.everard-read-capetown.co.za

Louise Mason - Selective Memory II

• If it's fun sing-along music you're after? What a Feeling is on at the Roxy Revue Bar, Grand West, featuring songs from the 70's and 80's and the show starts @ 8pm.  Go to www.computicket.com for R78 tickets.

What a Feeling cast:  Roxy Revue Bar

Cheers and enjoy!
jp

findingthemojo no 91

Nora Ephron

Morning

• “Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.”  So sad to hear that the witty Nora Ephron lost her battle with leukemia on Wednesday.  The scriptwriter behind When Harry met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and Julie and Julia was also known for her thought-provoking, often sad & poignant writings: www.listsofnote.com/2012/06/what-i-wont-and-will-miss.html 

• Some more cheerful news - can't quite believe it but Le Tour starts again on Sunday and the 99th staging of the race will continue to 22 July, this year.  There are a few things to look forward to on DSTV

Cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 90

Hello

Festive foolishness or not?

• So, what to do about our beautiful but useless Cape Town Stadium???  Well, clearly something needs to be done - not just talking and arguing.  Not everyone will be happy (but what's new?)..... just someone please do something!

Cape Town Stadium and Table Mountain

• Apparently plans for the 27 million pound Olympic Games Opening Ceremony were recently unveiled which will take place @ the London Olympic Stadium on Friday 27 July 2012 @ 9pm (UK time).  The theme will be Isles of Wonder and artistic director, Danny Boyle says ‘Our Isles of Wonder salutes and celebrates the exuberant creativity of the British genius in an Opening Ceremony that we hope will be as unpredictable and inventive as the British people.’  Spectacles to look forward to include 'a flock of sheep grazing in a meadow, a pond full of ducks', a 'village cricket game' and a 'troupe of NHS nurses'.  What fun!  Trust the inventive genius Brits have a plan for their stadium after the games........

London Olympic Stadium

Cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 89

 

Hello

• See Marks and Sparks is moving into banking, turning it's financial services business into M&S Bank, to be run in conjunction with HSBC.

• Won't be too long for before SA's Woolworths does the same, no doubt

Petrified Collection/The Image Bank/Getty Images

When last did you go into a bank...........?  just asking
cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 88

Greetings

Have a good week:

• "An artist should always bite the hand that feeds him - but not too hard", a quote by US/Korean artist Nam June Paik in the Guardian.  Nam June Paik is considered to be the world's first 'video artist'

Electronic Superhighway 1995 - made up of 336 TVs, 50 DVDs & 170M neon lighting

and,

Eric Hoffer

• "People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them" -  Eric Hoffer quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle.  Hoffer was an American social author of 10 books and is the man behind the annual Eric Hoffer Award for short prose and independent books.

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 87

Courtesy of TMAC

Hello

• Rugby frenzy: so everyone will be @ Newlands tonight, showing their support for the 'baby boks' against our arch rivals, the enemy in black - NZ and in PE tomorrow when the Springboks play the English. Not surprised we're such a rugby-mad nation............

• Rugby not your thing? then go along to the free Thailand Trade Show @ the CTICC, today and tomorrow from 9:30 onwards for all those good things celebrating Thai culture.

• On Saturday brace yourself for the 15th Annual Polar Bear Swim @ Clifton 4th beach.  Starts @ 10:00 and for more info email polarbearprez@uniforms.co.za

• Take a walk up our gorgeous Table Mountain on Sunday and remind yourself of the beautiful City we live in.

cheers and enjoy your weekend
jp

findingthemojo no 86

Hey!

• "Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but many of the things they make it easier to do, don't need to be done" - Andy Rooney, quoted in the Flushing Observer

• "In this age, which believes that there is a shortcut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest" - Henry Miller, quoted in Forbes

Easier said than done
Cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 85

A morning of good realisations

• Incredible to believe that tonight is the change-over of the Winter/Summer Solstice, depending on your hemisphere. Roll on the sunny days, slip-slops and sand between the toes.

Sunrise at Stonehenge on the Winter Solstice

• And, earlier this month, the rare phenomenon known as the transit of Venus occurred, where Venus appeared to "dance across the sun" - dance as only a woman in love, can dance.  A reminder that Venus is the planet of love:  feminine guidance, creative solutions and healing. Venus eclipsing the Sun represents an awakening of the Divine Feminine energies in our World.  Oh happy day!

 Venus transit marks the last such event until 2117

All good, as I said
cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 84

Hello

• Recently read about Conrad Rudolph , professor of Medieval Art History @ the University of California, Riverside who has started using similar facial recognition software technology (as seen on CSI) to identify the real-life sitters/unknown subjects in many previously 'anonymous' portraits like Vermeer's Girl with the Pearl Earring.  Fascinating! 

Vermeer's Girl with the Pearl Earring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• So Facebook has just bought face.com, "a facial photo recognition technology company".  This will assist users in tagging and identifying others.  No doubt, there will be interesting times ahead when slightly 'older' pics are posted and FB tries to identify those amongst  us who have had work done........

"the many faces of Megan Fox"

"funny lookalikes"

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 83

Monday morning matters

• Discussions over the weekend highlighted the fact that in this fab City of ours, not one of us knew where to go for a decent 'home-cooked-style' plate of food - other than our own homes, of course.  We all know where to go for our favorite pizza, hamburger, sushi meal but when you're really craving a small serving of protein (some perfectly grilled fish or delish, tender roast meat), a small portion of carbs (or not) and then some heavenly fresh veg and an interesting salad - where do you go when there's no time to cook???  There just does not seem to be anywhere in Town.  Here's hoping to be enlightened otherwise......

•  Three doccies on the Encounters circuit at the moment, come highly recommended:  Pina and African Cypher - heavenly dancing and totally uplifting! and Eames - so much much more than just the chair, quite fascinating!  See www.encounters.co.za for all the details.

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 82

Hello again

The weekend is here with plenty to see and do, amoungst others

• On @ the Artscapes Theatre until 23 June is the political thriller Green Man Flashing a play by Mike van Graan who wrote the excellent Brothers in Blood which we saw earlier in the year.  Starts @ 8pm and R65 per ticket, go to www.artscape.co.za for more.

Adapt or Fly

•  Pieter Dirk Uys's Adapt or Fly also started this week and is on @ The Baxter Theatre until 30 June.  Has had really good revues - "deliciously politically incorrect".  Tickets are R140 and www.baxter.co.za has all the info

Cape Town Book Fair

• Also, the Cape Town Book Fair is on @ the CTICC today and this weekend,  www.capetownbookfair.co.za has all the info

Geniet die Kaapse kultuur!
Lovely weekend
cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 81

Hi there

• Today we all need to do our bit for a really good cause:  it's the WHO's  World Blood Donor Day today.  Visit one of your local blood donor venues (eg 142 Long St, Cape Town) and  "be a hero!"  Contact the SANBS on 0800 11 9031 or visit www.sanbs.org.za for more info.

National Institute of Haematology, Viet Nam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Then restore yourself (especially if you're feeling a little woozy) - take a short walk down Long St, to Mozart Cafe in Church St and enjoy a bite to eat, a cuppa in the sun and do some CT people-watching before heading back to the office, feeling good!

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 80

Hello

• "A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world" - John Le Carre, quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle

• With that in mind, took myself off on a walkabout and visited five galleries in the CT CBD.  Pretty much not much, I'm afraid.  Know it's Winter but why does everything still look the same as six months ago?  Did see one interesting body of work @ the AVA Gallery in Church St  - MY BEST SHOT  by Stefan Carstens, loved it!  Go and have a look

My Best Shot - Stefan Carstens

 

 

Cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 79

Hello

• Came across a delightful little book, Quiet the Mind - An Illustrated Guide on How to Meditate by Matthew Johnstone.  Beautiful simple illustrations and not too many words. Wish someone had introduced me to this indispensable tool years ago.

• While on the subject of really useful life skills, so sorry no one made it clear to me how important it is to be able to play a decent hand of bridge, never mind a good game of tennis - I now realise these are essential social activities and yes, I know,  it's never too late...... I'm making a start with the meditation,  as the book says: "You can't stop the wave, but you can learn to surf" - Jon Kabat-Zinn

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 78

Morning

• Lovely restaurant find:  visited Don Pedro in Roodebloem Road, Woodstock on Friday night with friends.  What a delightful evening! The Madame Zingara crowd have taken this old establishment in hand and redecorated (courtesy Milnerton Market, no doubt!) and revamped - it's all dark red walls, velvet drapes,  moody lamps and a costume party!  An added plus was the delightful Tar(r)yn who entertained the full house with her excellent voice (and decollete).  Do order a starter and see what Barbi's legs can do to a avo ritz! Delicious food, fun and fabulousness

• There are some excellent (and some not so excellent, I'm afraid) doccies showing @ the Encounters Film Festival at the moment.  If you haven't attended as yet, do go and see iThemba, it's an excellent piece of film-making and very moving (do not bother going to see Connected ugh!) - www.encounters.co.za

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 77

 

Hi there

A hugely busy sporting weekend ahead, starting today - UEFA Euro 2012, the French Open, International rugby match in Durban tomorrow etc etc - much couch surfing ahead.  Do get out there though

• Robertson's Wacky Wine Weekend started yesterday and plenty of wine farms to visit and activities taking place, including a MTB Challenge and the Langeberg Miles of Smiles running races on Saturday - take your pick.  Get the events program on www.wackywineweekend.com

• The Annual Winter Solstice Exhibition is on @ the Cape Gallery in Church Street until 14 July and more info is available on www.capegallery.co.za

If none of the above takes your fancy, sure there will be lots of repeats of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations to watch on TV.
Enjoy and keep warm!
cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 76

An icy greeting from this part of the world

• Here's a good idea from Richard Bregman, one which I thoroughly endorse and suggest you try too: http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2012/06/06/whats-on-your-to-dont-list/?blog

• With that said and without further ado I'm off to the dentist and hygienist (one of my worst 'to do's') - wish me luck!

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 74

Morning

• Last week a 76-year-old crooner representing the UK in the 2012 Eurovision song contest in Azerbaijan came 25th - second to last.  His name is Engelbert Humperdinck and he will be singing @ Grand West here in CT on 20 June.  This is a sad reflection of the calibre of artist we are being presented with at the moment and worse! it seems to be par for the course these days, in the name of overseas entertainment.  Thank goodness for local music, arts and culture.

• Opening tonight @ Michaelis and on until 22 June is The Michaelis Masters Graduates of 2011 exhibition.  "Curated by Cara van der Westhuizen this show seeks to address notions of the passing of time: between the present and the past as mirrored in the space where these recent graduates now find themselves".  Always interesting.

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 75

Hello

• Question:  why do they allow overweight people to work in a gym? ??  Just asking......

• Loved this one today -

cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 73

Hi there


It's full moon at the moment and here's a fun activity to take part in tonight

Photobucket

• Moonlight Mass Ride - be @ Green Point Circle @ 9pm to join in the casual (free) ride.  Here's more: "The brain child of Daniel Graham (@Cpt.Grimmy) and Elad Kirshenbaum (@onekcollection) the #moonlightmass is a casual night bicycle ride starting at the Green Point Circle on a full moon once a month. Started as a social experiment on twitter the ride has been gaining popularity and on our last ride we had over 200 riders raising awareness for cycling in the city and the safety of cyclists in the urban environment."  See www.moonlightmass.co.za for more info and the dates for the rest of 2012.

• and plan ahead for the exciting and always interesting 2012  SA Encounters International Documentary Show coming up @ the V & A and Numetro cinemas, from 9 - 26 June.  Go to www.encounters.co.za for all the details.

Enjoy your week
cheers
jp

findingthemojo no 72

Happy June

Great theatre and live music on this weekend, here are two of the best

• The Brothers Size on at The Baxter Theatre, has had excellent revues.  Starts @ 19:00, go to www.baxter.co.za for all the details

• On @ The Fugard Theatre on Saturday @ 20:00 is D-Seven, a very popular all male a capella group.  More info at www.thefugard.com

Enjoy your weekend
jp