Klein Constantia Wine Estate

Mar 202012
Klein Constantia

Klein Constantia

Klein Constantia lies on the narrow Cape Peninsula that juts into the South Atlantic ocean, some 20 kilometers from Cape Town. Set amid trees and lush greenery on the slopes of Constantia Mountain it has frequently been described as one of the world’s most beautiful vineyard locations. The estate’s history dates back to 1685 when Simon van der Stel established the first working vineyard in Southern Africa and named it Constantia. In 18th and 19th century Europe, Klein Constantia became legendary for its iconic sweet wine, Vin de Constance which was enjoyed by the likes of Napoleon Bonaparte, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Today the estate boasts an historical Cape Dutch homestead, a collection of award-winning wines and a tangible link to a time long passed.

FNB Whisky Live Festival 2010

Nov 012010

The world’s largest whiskey festival, the FNB Whisky Live Festival 2010, will be running in Cape Town at the CTICC from 3rd to the 5th November and Johannesburg at the Sandton Convention Centre from 10th to the 12th November.  Promising to be bigger and better with more to see, do, and taste than ever before, this year’s event is one not to be missed.

Indulge in whisky sampling at the Tasting Hall, where over 180 different whiskies will be on show.  The Macallan Maturation Zone and Glen Grant Distillation Zone will be offering in depth educational tours and workshops, where one can learn the finer details of what goes into the whiskey manufacture process.  Schweppes in collaboration with the Liquid Chefs will be offering the hands on Art of Whisky Cocktail Making workshops, where you can learn how to make a variety of stylish and sophisticated whisky cocktails. The Lexus Whisky Lifestyle Lounge provides the perfect forum for client entertainment in an exclusive lounge, offering dinner, whisky cocktails and exclusive tastings of ‘unusual whiskies’ conducted by a well-known whisky host.  And for those of you wishing to experience the ultimate in guided whiskey tours, there’s the Lexus Connoisseurs Experience, a personalised guided tour of the festival and ‘unique’ tastings followed by dinner in the Lexus Whisky Lifestyle Lounge.  Pick ‘n Pay will be hosting a dedicated zone pairing fine foods with whiskies and Picardi Rebel will have an onsite retail store offering a great variety of whisky promotions.  Whether you are a connoisseur or completely new to whisky this festival promises to entertain, enthrall and broaden your knowledge on the exiting world of whisky!

Visit the FNB Whisky Live Festival website for more information.

New Allabout Cape Town

Oct 262010

Cape TownSome exciting news from the Allabout team.  Out with the old and in with the new, Allabout Cape Town has a brand new, sleek and optimized look.  New features include a light box slideshow, full Google Map integration, and a more attractive and easy to navigate interface.  We are launching the Cape Town site now, with Johannesburg, Durban and Birmingham to follow in the coming weeks.  So please, have a look around and let us know what you think or additional features you would like to see?  We welcome all suggestions and criticism, and look forward to continuing to provide you with all the information to fully enjoy your stay in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban or Birmingham!

Writing’s on the Wall

Oct 132010

What does Cape Town have in common with New York, Sao Paulo, Berlin, London and Paris?  It may not appear as the obvious answer at first, but Cape Town joins these other cities as one of the world’s top destinations when it comes to graffiti, or street art, as is fast becoming the preferred term. Traversing simple acts of vandalism and maturing into a fully fledged art form, street art is conscious of itself and its strength to communicate with people.  For this reason street art, perhaps more than any other form of art, carries strong social and political messages.  This is incredibly evident on the streets of Cape Town, which abound with striking pieces that are not only beautiful but also insightful and loaded with meaning.  From political icons such as Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko, heroes of the struggle against apartheid, to works that highlight issues of social injustices such as the abuse of women and the gap between the poor and rich – very real issues that South Africa is struggling to come to terms with – Cape Town’s street art gives a voice to the voiceless and a forum for authentic expression in the urban wilderness. Continue reading »

Loerie Awards 2010

Oct 012010

This weekend sees the Loerie Awards, South Africa’s biggest event in the world of advertising and media, roll into Cape Town.  First held in 1978 and now in its 32nd year, the 2010 Loerie Awards, dubbing itself ‘The biggest event of the year’, is looking to be bigger and bolder than ever before.  No longer content with a single award show, the Loerie Awards has stretched itself into a weekend festival from the 1st to the 3rd of October, encompassing all manner of events and activities across Cape Town. Continue reading »

Things to do in Cape Town: 5 Essentials

Sep 012010

Cape Town

Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa’s most prominent tourist destination is littered with things to do.  From eating at world-class restaurants, partying the night away at top-notch clubs or simply sipping cocktails while watching the sun set over pristine beaches and sparkling oceans.  From vibrant Long Street and trendy Green Point to Camp’s Bay and the Cape Peninsula, cosmopolitan Cape Town will entertain and enthrall all day and night long.  With so much on offer it’s difficult to narrow a list of things to do in Cape Town to just five essentials.  But, after much deliberating we have done just that.  So without hesitation, here are the five things to do in Cape Town before you leave.  Enjoy!

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Nando’s Comedy Festival hits Cape Town

Aug 302010

The 31st of August sees the start of Africa’s foremost and largest comedy festival.  Now in its 14th year, the annual Nando’s Comedy Festival is bringing a star-studded line up of international and local comedy heroes to our shores in what promises to be a fun-filled and side-splitting event.  Considered to be one of the top 5 comedy festivals the world, the Cape Town leg has been watched by over 150 000 audiences in its previous thirteen years, and if the list of comedians this year is anything to go by we are in for a treat yet again.  So who are these masters of laughter who will have Cape Town rolling in the aisles this year?  Well for starters there’s Jonathan Arons from USA, famous for his ‘trombone dancing’.  Also from America, comedian Bobby Lee shot to fame after being discovered by Pauly Shore and asked to open for him in Vegas.  From Australia, famed comedian Dave Thornton is sure to astound with his razor sharp wit, while British comedian Ava Vidal has been making waves ever since becoming the first female finalist in the BBC 3 New Comedy Awards in the very first year of her career.  Added to this international mix of superstars is local favourite Trevor Noah, who after just two years performing has shot to the top of the South African comedy circuit, and looks to hold his position there for years to come.  All this and more awaits at the Nando’s Comedy Festival this year.  Visit http://www.comedyfestival.co.za for more information.  As a little teaser, here’s Jonathan Arons doing his thing with the trombone:

Devil’s Peak and Van Hunks

Aug 272010

Table Mountains famous table cloth is one of Cape Town's major attractions.

Table Mountain's famous 'table cloth'

Ever wondered how Devil’s Peak, the smaller mountain to the left of Table Mountain, received it’s ominous name? Well, legend would have it that once upon a time, in the golden age of exploration, there lived a fearless Dutch pirate named Jan Van Hunks who had retired from a life of plundering and pillaging the Seven Seas to settle in what was later to become the great city of Cape Town. To settle, more exactly, on the slopes of Table Mountain. Now Van Hunks, retired pirate that he was, enjoyed nothing more than heading out to his favourite spot on what we now know as Devil’s Peak and smoking his pipe while admiring the majestic view in front of him. As the legend goes, on this one particular day as Van Hunks got to his favourite spot he encountered another man dressed entirely in black with a large black hat concealing his face. Not to be rude or discouraged, Van Hunks sat next to the man, took out his pipe and began to smoke it. Seeing this, the stranger produced his own pipe.

“I see you enjoy smoking that pipe of yours,” the stranger said. “I’ll wager that I can smoke more than you.” Now Van Hunks was very proud of his smoking ability and in all his adventures he had never once met someone who could out-smoke him.
“Don’t be foolish,” replied Van Hunks, “nobody alive can smoke more than me. I will gladly accept your wager.”

A large pile of tobacco was placed before both men and the smoking contest began (The legend says tobacco, but this being Cape Town I have my doubts…). And they smoked and smoked, non stop for an entire day. Huge clouds of smoke bellowed up around the two men and stretched out covering the whole of Table Mountain. Van Hunks had never encountered anyone who could smoke like this, but he refused to give up. And just when Van Hunks thought he could not possibly smoke anymore, the stranger all of a sudden put down his pipe.
“No more. I concede, you have beaten me.” Van Hunks was elated with his victory but he was still intrigued as to who this stranger that almost out-smoked him was.
“Never have I met someone who can smoke like you. Please tell me your name stranger?”

With that the stranger removed his hat and Van Hunks saw that the man he had been competing against was none other than the Devil himself. Now, we all know the Devil is a sore loser and hates to be beaten at anything, least of all smoking. Should the Devil be beaten at smoking, there would be hell to pay. And so, when the clouds of smoke that had grown around the two finally drifted away, neither Van Hunks or the Devil were anywhere to be seen. Now, when the clouds come again and the famous ‘table cloth’ covers Table Mountain, people say that old Jan Van Hunks and the Devil are at it again.

Sushi in the Mother City

Aug 252010

Cape Town SushiIf ever there was a food that has gained a cult following in Cape Town in recent time then sushi is it.  Locals and visitors alike cannot seem to get enough of the raw fish sensation from Japan.  From nigiri to maki and sashimi to California rolls, this multicoloured delicacy is illuminating plates and pallets across the city.  And for devotee, finding the perfect sushi restaurant has become a crusade that can be likened to finding the perfect cup of coffee or the perfect steak.  And like the aforementioned task, this is no easy feat.  With dedicated sushi restaurants popping up everywhere and sushi bars opening up in restaurants sporting different cuisines, finding that perfect fashion sandwich or rainbow roll is becoming more and more difficult.  Luckily Allabout is here to point you in the direction of some of the best sushi the Mother City has to offer:

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Art of a Distinct Nature

Aug 242010

September signifies the approach of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere and with it sunshine, longer days, flowers blooming and a revival of the natural world.  Kirstenbosch, the most famous botanical garden in South Africa, is celebrating the coming Spring with it’s Botanical Art Biennale.  Now in its tenth year, the biennale offers the perfect opportunity to experience two of life’s most profound pleasures – art and nature – and the interrelationship between the two that has inspired man throughout the ages.  Vincent van Gogh stated, “Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and more”.  Perhaps in a reversal of this, the Botanical Art Biennale 2010 is using art to rekindle the love of nature, and highlight it’s plight in our current day and age.  The focus this year is particularly on rare and endangered plant species, the loss of biodiversity and the danger it presents to the ecosystem.  This theme challenges and encourages artists to build relationships with conservation organisations, scientists and horticulturists.  The event will run from 5th to the 24th of September and promises to be a highlight for art and nature lovers alike.  For more information click here.

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