First Thursdays | WhaleTales Blog by Chris von Ulmenstein

Tonight it’s the first Thursday of November, and Capetonians and the city’s visitors can look forward to visiting 31 art galleries (some with coffee shops too) in the centre of Cape Town, including Bo-Kaap, until as late as 21h00 this evening on ‘First Thursdays’.

A unique concept which has been successful in other cities such as London, Ontario and Seattle, First Thursdays is designed to attract locals back into the city centre at a time of day in which parking is freely available and the city is free of its aggressive parking marshalls. Most of the galleries offer a free glass of wine, and even some snacks, many galleries using the occasion to launch new art exhibitions. Many art enthusiasts walk from gallery to gallery, and pop in at pop-up restaurants such as food trucks which were introduced in October, as well as a City All Sessions free concert on Greenmarket Square at 17h30. The use of the MyCiTi Bus is encouraged.

The First Thursday website is disappointing in explaining little, and Continue reading →

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* Babylonstoren is expanding its offering of fruit and vegetables, by now growing various varieties of mushrooms in its Mushroom Cellar.

* Eurostar is to introduce a London – Amsterdam route from 2016, a four hour journey.

* Xolani Mancotywa, Sommelier at the Saxon Hotel, has reached the Finals of the international 2013 Best Young Sommelier, having won the South African title. He is competing against eleven other such country winners in Washington on 18 October. The competition is sponsored by the Chaîne de Rôtisseurs, a global gastronomic society.

* An innovative way of attracting business into the city in the evening is First Thursdays, the 20 or so city centre art galleries staying open until 21h00 (some even later) on the first Thursday of each month, Continue reading →