Johannesburg

FATHER/SON TEAM LEAD THE WAY ON LMC MEGA CENTRE BARBERSPAN 500 Delareyville, Friday – The Benoni-based father and son team of Tony and Michael Gouveia led the way in today’s qualifying race for the LMC Mega Centre Barberspan 500, round two of the Northern Regions Cross Country Championship, here tomorrow. The Gouveias, in a BAT, led home a quartet of Class P cars as Special Vehicle entries dominated the 100 kilometre event to determine grid positions for tomorrow’s race. Youngster Dylan Venter and Vince van Allemann, in the 4x4 Mega World Toyota Hilux, were the first of the Production Vehicle brigade in fifth place overall and also took the Class D honours. The Gouveias were hit by mechanical problems in the opening round of the championship, the Vredefort 250, but turned in a commanding performance today. It saw them come home two minutes and 34 seconds ahead of the Aceco of Werner Kennedy and Thinus Venter, who followed up a win on the season opener with another g...

FREE UBER WITH UP! AND CELEBRITY DRIVERS To celebrate the launch of the new Volkswagen up!, South Africans will be able to get free Uber rides in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban from 2 – 8 March 2015. Some may even be chauffeured by celebrities like Sureshnie Rider or Jonathan Boynton-Lee who will be making surprise appearances as Uber up! drivers during the campaign period. How it works: 1. Sign up for Uber and download the free application here. 2. Enter the promo code: UBERUP to unlock the unique UberUp view. 3. Toggle over to the VW icon, and request a ride as per normal. 4. A Volkswagen up! will arrive at the user’s destination within minutes. Terms and conditions: 1. Available only in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban. 2. The service is available for request between 13h00 - 21h00 on weekdays and from 15h00 – 23h00 on weekends from Monday 2 – Sunday 8 March. 3. Trips can be maximum of 20 minutes in duration or 20km in distance...

Auberge Daniella, a Boutique Haven of Comfort in the Franschhoek Valley, offers Special Mid- and Low-Season Rates Located a short walk away from the heart of the charming village of Franschhoek and set against a backdrop of the picturesque Middagkrans Mountains, Auberge Daniella is a boutique self catering bed and breakfast comprising three luxurious suites. SPECIAL MID- AND LOW-SEASON OFFERS •             Special Mid-Season Offer: From 13th April until 30th April 2015 – R1299 per suite - including continental breakfast basket and VAT •             Special Low-Season Offer: From 1st May until 6th June 2015 – R899 per suite - including continental breakfast basket and VAT Please note Auberge Daniella will be closed for annual maintenance from Sunday 6th June until Sunday 28th June 2015. This elegant Victorian homestead has been lo...

It’s like night and day at Evolve, Southern Sun Maputo Evolve, the new themed restaurant in The Southern Sun Maputo – now the largest hotel in the Mozambican capital – has undergone a complete transformation and now offers an unmatchable combination of exquisite international cuisine, stunning tropical views of Maputo Bay and a contemporary show kitchen that allows diners to interact with the chefs and be involved in the preparation of their meals. The aptly-named restaurant is designed to provide a completely different look and feel from day-time to night-time. Clever lighting, table cloths, staff uniforms, and a dedicated team to provide tailored service to each meal period transforms the atmosphere of the restaurant from a cool, fresh feel with a touch of ocean blue in the daytime, to a warm, romantic and intimate venue with a touch of red, at night. There are two separate menus for the restaurant, with the daytime menu featuring breakfast as well as light and tasty...

Heritage Resorts Mauritius becomes a preferred destination for Chinese travelers...... Famous Chinese actor You Yong staying at ‪#‎ HeritageResorts‬ Chinese actor You Yon could become a great ambassador for the 5-star brand Heritage Resorts as he is currently enjoying his stay at Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort on the Domaine de Bel Ombre. You Yong was born in 1963 in Xi’an, Shaanxi in China. He enrolled in the Xi'an Drama School in 1979 and joined the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 1984. Upon graduation in 1988, he acted in his first film, Obsession, marking the start of his career. He is best known for his roles as policemen or military officers in many films and television series he acted in. Film and TV Awards: 2001 Golden Phoenix Awards Winner - Male Actor - You Yong 2000 Hundred Flowers Awards Winner - Best Supporting Actor - You Yong - Crash Landing 1997 Golden Eagle Awards Winner - Best Actor - You Yong - Great Family Useful links: h...

Le Chateau de Bel Ombre Chef Ravi Kanhye to participate in French culinary campaign, Good France. Chef Ravi Kanhye, from Le Chateau de Bel Ombre, has been selected by a committee presided by renowned Chef Alain Ducasse to participate in French culinary campaign, Good France. “Good France” will gather on March 19 th more than 1,000 chefs across 5 continents to celebrate French gastronomy. This event, which will be held as a dinner, will be a tribute to the excellence of French cuisine, its capacity to innovate and its values: sharing, pleasure, and respect of health, people and the planet. From gastronomic restaurants to high standards bistros, chefs from around the world have been nominated to participate in this great festive event. This dinner will benefit from a world-class communication plan for all Chefs to showcase their cuisine and know-how, all over the world. On March 19 th , Chef Ravi Kanhye will present his special menu at Le Chateau de Bel Ombre and guests will...

A truly happy ‘Happily Ever After’ with The Wedding Expo® 14th and 15th March 2015...... Your wedding day should be one of the most romantic, exciting and unforgettable days of your life and the  ‪#‎ WeddingExpo‬ ® taking place on the 14th and 15th March 2015 at the dome in  ‪#‎ Northgate‬ , is the place to visit to transform your  ‪#‎ wedding‬  into that extraordinary experience. Date: 14th and 15th March 2015 Venue: Coca-Cola dome, Northgate, Johannesburg Cost: R120.00 per person Fashion shows: 11h30, 12h30 and 14h30 daily Competition draws: 11h30, 12h30 and 14h30 daily Planning a wedding is more than just a dress, a cake and a fabulous reception. What you’re planning needs to be as special as you wish the rest of your life to be. Your wedding is about love, romance, commitment; it’s about having the people close to you witness your union and your dedication to one another. Witness your ‘Happily Ever After’! The Wedding Expo® und...

Winter Toast: Bourbon Fried Pears with Vanilla Ricotta, Hazelnuts, and Maple Syrup This is as cozy as a blanket! Makes 1 Ingredients: - 1 slice of challah or brioche - 1/3 cup ricotta cheese - 1/2 vanilla pod - 1/3 cup roasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter - 1 teaspoon bourbon - 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar - 1 D’anjou pear, not ripe - Real maple syrup to drizzle Instructions: 1.  Using a knife or mandoline, slice the pear thinly. Place the butter and brown sugar on a frying pan over medium-low heat, once the butter starts to melt, place the pear slices and leave them there to fry for about 5 min. Don’t touch them! Let them caramelize. When you see the edges turn golden brown, add the bourbon and let it simmer for a couple minutes. Remove from heat, set aside. 2.  Scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod and add them to the ricotta (save the pod to flavour creme or other pastries). Mix well set aside. Assemble: - Toast the slice of...

K aya FM, home of the Afropolitan, broadcast from its new satellite studio at one of Joburg’s favourite family entertainment destinations, Tsogo Sun’s Gold Reef City, for the first time on Thursday evening, February 19. To celebrate the big occasion Gold Reef and Kaya FM hosted a launch party which was attended by nearly 200 VIP guests at the recently refurbished Back O’ the Moon restaurant. The opening of the satellite studio forms part of the multi-million Rand redevelopment which is currently underway at Gold Reef City that will also see the opening of a Tsogo Sun movie franchise, Movies@ featuring a six cinema complex, a twelve lane bowling alley, a medley of six new restaurants and a fast food court at the casino and resort later this year. For further information and high res pics please contact annie@angelfishpr.co.za

The first golf course on the island of Zanzibar has officially opened at Sea Cliff Spa and Resort It is official, the first ever golf course designed by Peter Matkovich at Sea Cliff Spa and Resort on the majestic island of Zanzibar is now formally open to the public.  After undergoing some finishing touches and minor setbacks due to unexpected heavy rainfall, the course is now in full swing and is set to provide a world-class golfing experience to tourists and Zanzibar residents. The course was declared open at the launch which took place on the 8 th of February 2014 by the Minister of the State President’s Office of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Dr. Mwinyi Haji Makame. The launch was a tremendous success and was attended by 100 guests, 60 of which participated in a round of golf.  “All the guests and players were pleasantly surprised and astonished with the quality of the golf course and the club house,” explains Diana Howell Mar...

Don’t miss uplifting performances by The Soil during Pride Weekend at Carnival City Delivering on its promise to bring superlative entertainers and bands to its stage in 2015, Carnival City is proud to host popular a-capella, ‘Kasi Soul’ ensemble, The Soil, during the much-anticipated Pride Weekend – a comedy, music and gospel festival taking place from 6 to 8 March 2015. Also collaborating for the Pride Musical Fest on the first day of the Pride Weekend (Friday, 6 March) are Black Motion, Moneoa, RamZ the DJ, and DJ Levis. “We are pleased to welcome back The Soil to our stage. What a coup to have them performing at the Pride Musical Fest. As comfortable at big musicfestivals and concerts as it is on theatre stages, The Soil has promised to deliver a soul-uplifting performance during the upcoming Pride Weekend,” says Michelle Smith, the Marketing Manager at Carnival City. The Soil performs an eclectic mix of musical genres such as jazz, hip hop, Afro-pop and Afr...

  NEDERBURG TREATS HUSSAR GRILL WINNERS TO CELEBRITY COOK-OFF Nederburg teamed up with The Hussar Grill to stage a special cook-off with celebrity chef, Pete Goffe-Wood at his Kitchen Cowboys studio in Cape Town recently. The Hussar Grill patrons who'd opted for a bottle of Nederburg's Heritage Heroes wine when dining at the grill room, were entered into a lucky draw for a chance be a part of the action. The brief to those whose names were chosen, was to create a dish from scratch from the special pantry set up in Pete's studio and make sure it matched the wine they'd been assigned from the Nederburg Heritage Heroes collection. Working in teams of four including one of The Hussar Grill’s chefs and a food blogger to help, they had to come up with a dish to impress the judging panel of Pete, Nederburg's cellarmaster Razvan Macici and Stuart Bailey from The Hussar Grill. The judges loved everything they tried but what ...

Palazzo still best in Africa - World Luxury Hotel Awards 2014 Tsogo Sun’s Palazzo hotel has once again been voted Best Luxury Casino Hotel on the African continent in the coveted World Luxury Hotel Awards. This is the fifth consecutive win for the Palazzo, which was first recognised in 2010. Five years later, the Palazzo remains a force to be reckoned with in the luxury hotel sector in South Africa and across Africa. Held annually, the World Luxury Hotel Awards is an exclusive tribute given to exceptional luxury hotels worldwide. Founded in 2007, the World Luxury Hotel Awards is recognised as the pinnacle of achievement for luxury hotels worldwide – a celebration of ultimate achievement in service excellence that recognises and rewards hotels that have excelled beyond the normal standards of quality and service. The winners are selected from votes cast by guests, tour operators and independent travel consultants globally. For the winners, these awards signify excellence,...

STRONG RESULTS AND CONTINUED EXPANSION FOR LUX* RESORTS & HOTELS LUX* Resorts & Hotels continues its international expansion. The group whose turnover reached Rs 2.2 bn for the six months ending 31st December 2014, recently signed its second hotel management and technical services agreement for the operation of a five star luxury resort on the Dianshan Lake, located close to Shanghai in The People’s Republic of China. This resort will comprise 60 keys and the opening date is expected by end of 2016. LUX* Resorts & Hotels has also entered into an exclusive management and advisory agreement with Sanghvi Hospitality Ltd, a company incorporated in India, for the purpose of managing and operating five star hotels in India and Sri Lanka and any other country in the region to be agreed upon between both parties. Regarding its expansion in China, the group announced that the second property which will be operated under the banner of the LUX* Tea Horse Road is ...

STER-KINEKOR REPORTS BIGGEST SINGLE DAY’S BOX OFFICE IN RECORDED HISTORY Beats previous box office record by a massive 47% Ster-Kinekor has announced this morning (15 Feb) that it achieved its biggest box office for a single day in the company’s recorded history (since 1995). The recorded sales yesterday smashed the company’s previous best box office day by a massive 47% on an inflation adjusted basis. The reason: the Valentine’s Day screenings of the much-hyped Fifty Shades of Grey. “In fact,” says Doug Place, Marketing Executive of Ster-Kinekor Theatres, “it was a day of breaking records for the company. In addition to it being the biggest box office for one day, it was also the biggest Valentine’s Day and the busiest Saturday in terms of attendances at our sites countrywide, beating the previous record by 14%.” The majority of bookings for yesterday’s screenings were made by users of the SK App, one of South Africa’s most downloaded apps, which also resulted in ...

James Blunt concert time has changed The wait is almost over for local James Blunt fans. The international star takes to the stage at Carnival City’s Big Top Arena this weekend (Saturday, 14 February and Sunday, 15 February 2015). Fans are urged however to take note that the concert times have changed. Blunt’s performances will start at 21h00 instead of 20h00. According to Carnival City’s Events and Entertainment Manager, Matthew Cook, communication will be sent directly to ticket holders notifying them of this change. There will be no supporting act but doors to the Big Top Arena will open at 19:30. The shows at the Big TopArena are two of only three shows Blunt will do while in South Africa. The first show takes place at GrandWest’s Grand Arena on the 12 th of February 2015. Blunt’s Moon Landing tour in South Africa is presented by KFM and M-Net. Moon Landing is the fourth album by Blunt. The album is the follow up to 2010’s Some Kind of Trouble and is his first...