New Generation Events at 2011 FLF

The 5th annual Franschhoek Literary Festival is on from 13 to 15 May this year, and there are various events designed for younger book fans.

In A Real Tweet on Friday 13 May at 11:30, Sam Wilson (Editor-in-Chief of Women's Lifestyle at 24.com) will chair a wide-ranging discussion about cellphone fiction and other new ways to reach out to new and would-be readers. With Steve Vosloo, founder of the Shuttleworth Foundation's m4Lit project, Kontax scriptwriter Sam Wilson and education specialist Michael Rice.

Also at 11:30, two serious women and two very funny men discuss contemporary comic art in Serious vs Hilarious, facilitated by Andy Mason (What’s so Funny?). Starring Marguerite Abouet, author of the award-winning Aya graphic novels set in Côte d’Ivoire; Colin Cotterill, bestselling crime writer and comics blogger based in South East Asia; Jeremy Nell, maverick South African cartoonist; and Leonora van Staden, an Afrikaans graphic novelist with a feminist axe to grind.

At 13:00 Sarah Lotz (Tooth & Nailed), Lauren Beukes (Zoo Story) and science fiction artist Mer Roberts explore dystopian narratives and technological upheavals in Speculative Fiction, chaired by Delphi Carstens who is writing a PhD on the subject.

Also at 13:00, the Stellenbosch rapping professor Leon de Kock will have some of the poets and rappers in the Umuzi book Letters to South Africa performing their SA versions of Allan Ginsberg’s famous Letter to America.

On Saturday 14 May at 10:00 in Blood, Guts, Sweat & Tears, three doctors who also write – Rosamund Kendal (The Angina Monolgues), Dawn Garisch (Trespass) and James Clelland (Deeper Than Colour) – put aside their stethoscopes to talk about their books with crime writer Jassy Mackenzie.

Also at 10:00, SAFM’s Karabo Kgoleng knocks some myths about young reading on the head in Young, Black and Reading as she talks to literary magazine editor Phakama Mbonambi, Marguerite Abouet and romance imprint Nollybooks publisher Moky Makura.

For anyone who is part of – or trying to understand – the subspecies “teenager’, Sally Partridge (Fuse), Edyth Bulbring (Melly, Mrs Ho and Me) and Sarah Lotz (Tooth & Nailed), share their secrets about reaching the plugged-in generation with Fiona Snyckers in What’s Different About Writing for Teens? on Saturday at 11:30.

Colleen Higgs of Modjaji Press talks romance with Fiona Snyckers (Trinity on Air), Nani Mhlanga (Her Forever After), Sapphire Press editor Lindsay van Rensburg and Nollybooks publisher Moky Makura in Love Stories at 14:30.

Other events of special interest include Off the Wall Poetry at BICCCS Café on Friday, an open mic evening with Hugh Hodge, Karin Schimke, local and Cape Town poets and Youth Affair’s Voices From Our Valley poetry-in-motion theatre production at 18:30 on Friday and Saturday evenings.

There are a number of accommodation options available for students who want to spend the weekend in Franschhoek. See www.flf.co.za, join the Franschhoek Literary Festival on Facebook, or follow the FLF on Twitter @FranLitFest.

The FLF is presented in association with Porcupine Ridge Wines and the Sunday Times, and is further made possible through the generosity of Franschhoek guest house owners and voluntary workers who give their time and energy to make it an event to remember. Ticket proceeds and other donations go towards the FLF Library Fund. The full FLF programme is available on www.flf.co.za. Bookings are open and tickets can be booked on www.webtickets.co.za. Ticket prices remain unchanged at R60 per event, unless otherwise indicated.

WWF urges Franschhoek Tatler readers to go beyond the hour

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) today called on the people  of Western Cape to pledge their support for Earth Hour 2011 and to go beyond the hour.

While Earth Hour is the largest mass participation environmental event in the world, it starts with ordinary people. Every year WWF encourages people across the planet to turn off their lights for one hour in a symbolic gesture to pledge their commitment to combating climate change. This year Earth Hour takes place from 8.30 – 9.30pm on Saturday 26 March.

“WWF encourages everyone in South Africa to take a stand against climate change as it affects all of us, our country and our planet. This year, we are calling on everyone in South Africa to turn off their lights on 26 March and then to ‘go beyond the hour’ and commit to environmentally sustainable action on an on-going basis,” says Zubair Sayed, Executive Manager of Communication and Marketing at WWF South Africa.

Such sustainable actions may include anything from carpooling and recycling to installing solar water heaters and planting veggie gardens.

An online platform that captures and allows individuals, organisations, businesses and governments to share their actions, will act as the tool to showcase and inspire commitments to protect the one thing we all have in common – the planet. South Africans can sign up, share their actions, tell everyone about events they are planning and learn more at www.earthhour.org.za. 

Leopard’s Leap sponsors Dorp Van Die Jaar

Rapport officially announced on Sunday the launch of the 2011 Kwêla Rapport Dorp van die Jaar competition. Leopard’s Leap Wines, KykNET and World Luxury Hotel Awards are again the proud sponsors of this popular, truly South African initiative. Rapport readers and KykNET viewers can nominate the town of their choice within the South African and Namibian borders. The first phase of nominations closes on Tuesday, March 22 at 12h00.

It is widely acknowledged that there is a rise in the dynamic role of small town tourism as a strategy for development. As a result of economic, financial and cultural trends, the importance of small towns have now become increasingly critical. Small town tourism is progressively regarded as a visible path for local and national economic development.

“The importance of small towns plays a role not only in our heritage, traditions and culture but contributes greatly to the economic development and sustainability of our country. This competition provides an opportunity for small towns to showcase not only their wares, landscape and lifestyle but also what they add to the national economic development.” says Hein Koegelenberg, CEO of Leopard’s Leap Wines.

As part of the Leopard’s Leap sponsorship, seven Rapport readers will win an 18 litre bottle of Leopards Leap Shiraz Grenaché 2009. Only to be released later this year, this special collector’s bottle will make a great addition to any home cellar. One lucky winner stands a chance of winning an unforgettable all-inclusive week-long trip to the majestic Cape Winelands, including dinner at three of the 2010’s Eat Out Top 10 restaurants. A further R49,750.00 worth of wine training will be awarded to 50 waiters in the winning town. The ‘Introduction to Wine’ course from the Cape Wine Academy will greatly benefit the level of hospitality of the winning town.

“Leopard’s Leap is proud to be a sponsor in an initiative such as this that promotes the development of small towns such as Franschhoek which is where our hearts lie,” adds Koegelenberg.

Kwêla and Rapport will make weekly announcements with up to date nominations. For more information on Dorp van die Jaar visit www.kwela.co.za or www.rapport.co.za

Crewe-Brown and Taylor exhibit at IS Art, Franschhoek

IS Art at le Quartier Français is opening a two person exhibition by Franschhoek painter Jacqueline Crewe-Brown and Pretoria based sculptor Angus Taylor. 

 ‘The beast of burden’ or the donkey is Taylor’s subject matter for this exhibition.  He uses the donkey, a simple domesticated animal, as a symbol for the anti-monument, anti-elitism – not a thoroughbred horse.  Written words, in Latin, appear on the surfaces of most of his donkeys, evoking the impression of intellectualism.  In Taylor’s eyes, creating a fallacy.  The donkey, the anti elitist animal, decorated with Latin text giving it superficial ‘content’ – much of what we see happening in contemporary art today, where meaningless work is given significance through intellectualisation, by means of clever wording.  Angus Taylor works in granite and bronze.

Jacqueline Crewe Brown’s body of work is a socio-political commentary, dealing with the issues by which we are all surrounded: those of human injustice, loss, war, detention. The trademark, large scale of her canvasses, meets these issues head on.  Her broken and damaged surfaces,  scratching , stitching and diarising and emotional use of colour, revealing the fragility of society  .  Human rights and womanhood is at the core of her work for this exhibition.

 As in Taylors work, text and the written words are integral. The text on Taylor’s work is raised relief, in Crewe-Brown’s work ,it is mainly stitched with thread, also creating a tactile raised three dimensional  effect.

This exhibition opens at IS Art on Sunday the 20^th of February 2011 at 11h00. The exhibition will run until the 22^nd of March.  Please contact Ilse or Alisha for a preview or more information on 021 876 8334 or isart@lqf.co.za. 

Harvest Festival at Mont Rochelle

The 5-star Mont Rochelle Hotel & Mountain Vineyards in Franschhoek is gearing up to host its third annual Harvest Festival on Saturday 12 March. This popular event offers a day of light hearted fun, and an intimate, hands-on harvesting experience for a limited number of wine lovers and vintners, at R490 per person.

Upon arrival at 8am guests will each be welcomed with a gift of their own Mont Rochelle T-shirt, before being served a hearty early morning breakfast. This will be followed by grape-picking among the lush vineyards, with the excitement of the new vintage in the air and the sounds of master accordionist Eric Cloete providing the vibe. Then it’s time for fun and laughter with a stint of traditional grape stomping, followed by tastings of the delicious juice-of-the-vine. Thereafter guests will be taken on a fascinating tour of the wine cellar by winemaker Dustin Osborne, with preview tastings of Mont Rochelle’s wines ‘in the making’.  With appetites piqued, guests will then sit down to a delicious, traditional South African Braai (Barbeque), in the magical garden setting of the Country Kitchen terrace.

Rounding off a perfect day, those up for the challenge may then don their competitive spirit and enter into a round of boules, with teams bravely competing for the winners’ title.

Advance booking is essential. Reservations Tel (021) 876 2770, or email sales@montrochelle.co.za.

SA to take on India in BMW International Polo Series

South Africa’s passionate and glamorous polo community will be able to witness one of the world’s most iconic polo nations in action when India tours here in February as part of the BMW International Polo Series.

On Saturday, 26 February, the lush polo fields of the Val de Vie Estate in the magnificent Paarl Franschhoek Valley will host a classic encounter between India and South Africa.

A day of elegance between man and beast will be matched by a host of celebrities and VIPs reveling in the finest Val de Vie wines, gourmet food, and a display of the latest BMW vehicles.

“Polo is an exciting sport, and we are proud to be associated with a sport that so epitomises excellence and with which we have a long and successful relationship with. People marvel at the ability of man and horse to achieve such perfect unity, and BMW shares this drive for creating perfect partnerships in the pursuit of a passion,” said Guy Kilfoil, General Manager: Communications and Public Affairs at BMW South Africa.

India will bring with them a rich legacy in the sport dating back to medieval times, and which has earned the country the status of being the cradle of modern polo.

“The prestige of this particular contest is highlighted by the fact that India rarely tours South Africa, having done so on only a handful of occasions in the past 20 years,” said Clive Peddle, the Executive Director of the South African Polo Association.

“But equally important will be overall enjoyment of a wonderful event. India are a very hospitable nation and the South Africans were treated with five star luxury on their recent trip. We aim to reciprocate by providing the Indian team with a wonderful time matched by exciting polo.”

Now in its third year, the BMW International Polo at Val de Vie has become one of the most keenly anticipated events on the Cape Town social calendar. It is arguably one of the most sleek, glamorous and sought-after tickets in town.

Chile was the first to tour South Africa as part of this series. Last year the series was highlighted by a 14 to 5 goal victory over Italy, watched by the likes of Ryk Neethling, Ard Matthews, Leanne Liebenberg, Vanessa Haywood and a host of other celebrities.

“The BMW International Polo at Val de Vie is an elegant affair where Cape Town’s elite will enjoy an exclusive, elegant and relaxing day of Polo,” said Michelle van Eyden of SAIL, the Executive Promoter of the BMW International Polo at Val de Vie as well as the highly successful L’Ormarins Queens Plate held recently.

“The gates open at 2pm and tickets are on sale at Web Ticket and at Val de Vie Estate on the day. The cost is only R50 per ticket, excluding food and drink, and we offer a variety of hospitality packages.”

The hospitality packages available from SAIL include the Chukka Club package (www.webticket.co.za) and the Champions Pavilion package (www.sail.co.za).

At R360 per person, guests of the Chukka Club will be granted access to a private area next to the Val de Vie Pavilion, where they can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine , and a limited cocktail style menu. The venue makes for an exclusive environment providing a superb view of the match.

For those seeking an even greater level of elegance and sophistication combined with unrivalled networking and socializing, the Champions Pavilion offers all of this at a cost of R1 400 per person, excluding VAT. Here guests will be able to enjoy an Indian style cocktail menu and a complimentary local bar.

From its ancient roots as the chosen sport of the Sultans of India to the polo fields of Val de Vie Estate, this will be a memorable encounter between two great polo nations.

Boules, bonbons and bring-your-own picnic to GlenWood for Valentine’s Day

Fall in love with sweet summer lazy days again at GlenWood Vineyards in Franschhoek on Sunday 13 February in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Games, old-fashioned candies, grass under the oaks to romp on and a welcome invitation to bring your own perfect picnic are yours to enjoy while sipping award-winning wines in the midst of the Robertsvlei mountains.

Humbugs, sweethearts, liquorice drops and bonbons, or platters of camembert, gorgonzola, gruyere and gouda if you’re sweet enough already; treat your tastebuds while you play at boules – prizes will be up for grabs!

Venture into the valley from 11 am onwards.
Wine tasting – R30
Wine & sweets – R50
Cheese platters – R60
Boules – free, R100 deposit
Contact GlenWood winery: 021 876 2044, info@glenwoodvineyards.co.za