Eloquent Eleanor

Who knew former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt had such a sharp wit...

She once said:
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." But then again, you wouldn't really expect less from a woman who knew that: "Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product."

Nora's Choice

These are Nora Ephron's top 11 romantic films:
It Happened One Night
The Lady Vanishes
His Girl Friday
The Palm Beach Story
The Thin Man
Charade
The Apartment
Splash
Hannah and Her Sisters
Casablanca
Sense & Sensibility

Read the full story, including her explanation for her choices and clips of each film at
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-02-11/nora-ephrons-top-11-romantic-comedies/

Then add them all to your Netflix list.

Into Woodstock

If you go down to Woodstock today, you're in for a big surprise (sorry, couldn't resist):

On Albert Street, don't miss Saturdays and Sundays at the Old Biscuit Mill, an organic food market cum flea market filled with delicious nibbles and great finds. Lunch, every week day, at Superette. We recommend the mushrooms on toast and the berry, seed and Belgian chocolate muffins. Pop into What If The World Gallery for an art fix and to David West for a fashion fix.
On Darling Street don't miss the Goodman Gallery and Michael Stevenson Gallery.

PS: That's Woodstock in Cape Town, not you know....

Vintage Fintz

Cape Town ceramic artist, Shirley Fintz is finally sharing her excellent taste. Fintz, a long time lover of vintage dresses, is now buying frocks in bus loads and selling them to friends and clients from the ceramic studio that shares a building with her sister Ilana's yoga studio. They retail for around R500 and are seriously addictive. You've been warned. For more info: +27 82 424 5927.

Main Attraction

Downtown Johannesburg has been very slowly gentrifying. Now, the art community has gotten behind inner city development. At Arts on Main, on Main Street, you'll find the brand new studios of William Kentridge and Mikhael Subotzky, as well as a project space for the Goodman Gallery and for David Krut Projects, the publishers of Taxi Art Books.

Steenberg Wine Estate

Steenberg's new Bistro 1682, named after the year the wine estate was first established, is a fantastic brunch and lunch venue. And the best part is the complimentary wine tasting in the Wine Tasting Bar (notice the glass chandelier mimicking red and green grapes) and Tasting Lounge before the meal, just so you can be sure of what bottle you'll order. I had the rose which was very dry and very good R34/ carafe (about $5).
I ordered the very good smoked trout sandwich and my lunch mate tried the more complicated steak, grilled to perfection. The only complaint: If you're offered a dessert wine by the owner, ask the price before accepting. Ours was R125/ glass (about $17).

After your meal, step outside to marvel at the foothills of the Steenberg Mountain (Stone Mountain) and the spectacular views across the vineyards.

+27 21 713-2211
www.steenberg-vineyards.co.za

Soccer for Poster-ity

David Krut, owner of David Krut Projects and Bookstores, is betting that there is such a thing as a football-hooligan-cum-art-lover. He's convinced some of South Africa's top artists living inside and outside of the country -- William Kentridge, Marlene Dumas, Kendell Geers, and more -- to design posters for the FIFA World Cup 2010, to be hosted in South Africa from 11th June to 11th July 2010. Each poster comes in an edition of 2010 and is priced under R5000 (about $714). If you're interested, find more details at www.davidkrut.com