Tag Archives: Mother City

J&B Met has millions riding on it for Cape Town!

The J&B Met has become one of the largest events to be held in Cape Town, probably second to the Argus Cycle Tour, in attracting 50 000 spectators and in generating income of R20 million for the fashion industry alone, with further income benefits to the Mother City of expenditure on accommodation, restaurants, car rental, and shopping. 

Taking place at Kenilworth Racecourse today, the J&B Met is THE society event of the year in Cape Town, and is all about style, glamour and fashion.   It showcases the best fashion design in the country.   The theme this year is “In Full Colour”, allowing fashionistas to express their creativity on a perfect Cape Town summer’s day.

The J&B Met is branded in 400 shops around the country, even in Durban and Gauteng, to gain marketing mileage for J&B.   Fashions than can be worn to the Met are on display in the shop windows. 

Sixteen horses will gallop to the finish line, competing for the R 2,5 million prize money.   The J&B Most Elegant couple will also be selected.

More information can be obtained from www.jbmet.co.za 

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Argus Cycle Tour adds a spin to Cape Town economy

The Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour generates a significant revenue for Cape Town and its surrounding towns and villages, whilst also raising funds for charity.   The Cycle Race this year is expected to generate R 400 million in accommodation, restaurant, petrol, car rental, shopping, and cycling accessory expenditure over the three day period of 12 – 15 March.

The recession has made itself felt with somewhat fewer entries from other provinces, say the Race organisers, reports the Cape Argus.   International entries are still open, and come in much closer to the time of the race.  

The 109 km race on 14 March will see 35 000 cyclists ride around the Cape Peninsula.  It is the largest individually timed cycle race in the world.  The Race is organised by the Rotary Club of Claremont and the Cycle Tour Trust.   Last year R 2,5 million of the proceeds went to charities, while a further R 2,5 million went to organisations supporting the development of cycling as a sport. 

The Race starts at 6h30 at Hertzog Boulevard, goes via Newlands, Wynberg, Lakeside, Simon’s Town, Noordhoek, via Chapman’s Peak to Hout Bay, Camps Bay, Sea Point, and finishes in Green Point outside the new Cape Town Stadium.   The cyclists drink 50 000 litres of Powerade, 160 000 litres of Coca Cola, 100 000 liters of water and 50 000 kg of ice during the race.

A week before the Cycle Tour, the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Mountain Bike Challenge will be held on 6 and 7 March at Boschendal.

Post-script 6 February

Lance Armstrong has announced via Twitter that he will be riding in the Argus Cycle Tour.  The organisers have welcomed his participation: “He is cycling’s superstar and has done more for the global growth of the sport than any rider in history”. 

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Cape Town going into Top Gear

The Top Gear team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and The Stig will be performing in Cape Town’s GrandWest Arena from 28 – 31 January, the first visit of this hugely popular BBC motoring programme team to the Mother City.   5FM presenter Sasha Martinengo will also participate in the Top Gear Live show.

Consisting of both an expo and stunts (outside the arena),  and “the best bits of Top Gear and will be attempting them live in the arena.  It’s ambitious, but I am sure it will work out well” Clarkson is quoted in the Cape Argus.  The report says that the world’s fastest cars will be pushed to the limit. “Fans on four continents can expect an edge-of-the-seat experience with flaming rally cars, extreme underground street racers, and cars that change colour.  Other sequences will feature The Stig leading  a troupe of international stunt drivers with a mix of hand gestures, sonic pulses and Morse code, showing audiences the ultimate in precision driving.”   Audience members will be able to interact with the Top Gear personalities.   Sound levels of up to 104db. and 30 000 sq meters of fireballs will be experienced.

The equipment required for the show will be transported in 135 trucks, 3 ships, and a freight plane, and the show entails the use of 94 cars and 150 sets of tyres.

Clarkson and his team have such a vast following that most of the tickets have been sold already.  The wine industry of South Africa has been up in arms about some of Clarkson’s views of South African wines.

Top Gear Live is at the GrandWest Arena, from 28 – 31 January, with shows twice or three times a day. Tickets cost R 250 – R 450, and can be booked at Computicket. www.mphshow.co.za

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Cape Town Stadium contractors Sweet and Vodacom Sour Service Awards

The Sweet Service Award goes to the contractors and staff responsible for the magnificent Cape Town Stadium, which was completed on schedule. It has become a modern landmark for the Mother City, and will give soccer fans a view onto Table Mountain or on to the Atlantic Ocean.   It is proudly supported by Capetonians, many of whom were resistant to it initially.   The area around the stadium is almost complete and the 9-hole Metropolitan Golf Club is likely to have a better course and clubhouse than ever before.  The road system near the Stadium is outstanding, and it is quick and easy to connect to the V&A Waterfront from Sea Point, Green Point and Fresnaye.  Some of the many contractors include consulting engineers Arcus GIBB, Henry Fagan & Partners GOBA, BKS, ILISO Consulting, Martin & East; quantity surveyors MLC, HP and Abakali;Architects gmp Architects, Munnik Visser, jakupa, Paragon Architects, Louis Karol; OvP Landscape Architects; and many more.  Mr Bev Mitchell was the Chairman of the management committee and Andre Lambrechts the chief project manager.  None of this would have been possible without monies from the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape government, and the national treasury.

The Sour Service Award goes to Vodacom once again, for receiving payment for the cellphone subscription via Pick ‘n Pay’s EasyPay.  Such payment is meant to register on the system the following day, but does not appear to, as the customer was once again cut-off, without warning, despite payment having been made on due date.  It appeared that Vodacom was cash-flow short, as it sent an SMS on 1 December to chase payment, when it usually did so around the 4th or 5th of the month!  The customer was cut off on 3 December.  Once one registers the cut-off at Vodacom, one is promised a one-hour reconnection time, but this is never accurate, the reconnection taking 6 hours, even though proof of payment was sent to Vodacom’s Johannesburg offices, and all ID and address verification procedures had been followed and checked.

The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog.  Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at info@whalecottage.com.   Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog, and in the WhaleTales newsletters on the www.whalecottage.com website.