Respek...en eiers

I love the wordplay of this tiny coffee shop in the Moot. They opened on 1 December this year. The interior is strikingly simple and I don't think this shop is much bigger than 40 square metres. It is part of a mixed-use centre (Moulton Centre) with small shops below and apartments on the top floors. We had very good cuppachinos and a delicious, moist carrot cake slice.

Please go out, explore and pay your respects - the world needs more sweet little spaces such as this one.

Market on Main Pretoria

Snor City got sexy in June this year when the new Market on Main Pretoria was launched. We went last week to check it out...what an amazing initiative and a great space! The market area is filled with light and the quality of vendors is the same that you would expect at the Jozi version. There is a well-designed outdoor courtyard space with sculptures. This market is also family-friendly with plenty of space for the kids to play and to Finn's enjoyment they also provided scooters (the plastic type for kids).

012central, a City Property initiative, is proud to be involved with the market.  City Property is the driving force behind our Capital's urban renewal programme and has invested in bringing people back to the city. By changing the perception of the CBD with partnerships like Market On Main, they want to facilitate reasons to be in the city and to love the city centre again.

DATE: Every Saturday

TIME: 10:00-15:00

VENUE: 012central, 385 Helen Joseph Street, Pretoria Central

PARKING: State Theatre or 216 Sisulu St (cnr Sisulu & Helen Joseph - take the first parking entrance and go up to the second parking level)

ENTRANCE: R 20 per person

ENQUIRIES: pta@marketonmain.co.za

Boeremark. Revisited.

Previous post and introduction to the Boeremark here.

A few thoughts to add:

- Go early. Be there before the hipsters even think of waking up, that is between 05:30 and 06:00.

- Ladies, you do not need to wear make-up or do your hair. If you happen to meet Mr Perfect at the market he will love you for the hardcore woman you are and not for what you look like...

- Go after it rained. Wear good old-fashioned gum-boots. Your Hunters will definitely be a muddy mess and they will actually be very uncool in this environment.

- Bring your poochies. They will love it and you will get lots of attention.

- Strap the baby in a carrier - the terrain is quite rough and a pram will not suffice.

- Be friendly. Greet the people. Laugh at their jokes. Taste their produce.

- For more information and directions, click here.

Trip the light fantastic

Make sure you head over to this local exhibition.

Visit Platform on 18th for more information.

This will run until 12 December 2013.

Florem Forum

I've always had a love for plants. I feel peaceful when I work with them and their resilience never stops to amaze me. I would not say I'm the best gardener and this winter was an exceptionally dry season - literally and figuratively.

But young Marissa Engelbrecht truly inspires me with her work. She does what one would call...string gardening. Go have a look at her blog and visit her stand at the Capital Urban Market, 8 September 2013.

Munitoria and her last moments

Brought to you by the original urban explorers...

With an incredible stroke of luck we managed to get into the Absa building and sort of gate-crash a very high-profile party on the 35th floor. It was not intentional and I'm not a gate crasher. But we were there and it was all exciting, scary and sad at the same time. The old lady was dressed in her funeral garments as if she knew it was the end. The skyline has changed forever and I really hope that the new building will represent all that is good in architecture.

The Husband made this cool video. Enjoy!

Snor City does beer

We went to the Capital Craft Beer Festival at the Voortrekker Monument yesterday. It was a cold day but the Pretorian beer lovers didn't let that put them of. The husband loves beer A LOT and he even brews his own "Sunnyside brew" so he dragged the pregnant wife along for a great afternoon out. It was really enjoyable - even for the non-drinking ones. The vibes were chilled (literally), the bands were good and the food was delicious. Hoping for another one of these in the near future.

The Good Mood and Food market

I'm always in support of authenticity, of small scale and of home-grown. This is why I love markets so much. The smaller, the better. The Good Mood and Food Market is the brain-child of Peter Savage, the bread maker whom I blogged about here. It is a tiny street market in Melville street that sells anything home-made: from fresh pasta to coffee to sweet treats to exquisite breads.

When you are in the 'hood next time, pop in, have a coffee and chat to Pete and his friends about good food.

Every Saturday 09:00 - 11:00

131 Melville street

If you're interested in having a table there, please email Peter: petersavage@mweb.co.za