If you’re going to Neighbourhoods Market in Braamfontien pop in to Post for a bite to eat bit.

Tourism figures – two very different reports. Figures for business tourism good  http://www.whalecottage.com/blog/cape-town/sa-business-tourism-is-booming/  but those for leisure tourism gloomy. http://www.fm.co.za/Article.aspx?id=166928

Had a wonderful dinner with friends last night outside on their terrace overloooking Saxonwold and Killarney with Rosebank on the opposite hill top where all the cranes attest to the major building activity around the new Standard Bank satellite campus. Was one of those glorious balmy Highveld summer nights under a cloudless clear starry night sky.  So what’s happening with the planets over the next few weeks?  
Venus and Jupiter have been in our early evening skies for the past few months – Venus is the very bright “evening star” in the west; Jupiter is almost as bright, in the north-west (higher and to the right of Venus).
Over the next few weeks, the two planets will appear to move closer to and then past each other.  Watch out especially for:
* Moon passing Venus & Jupiter -  25th to 27th Feb
* Venus passing Jupiter – 13th March
* Moon passing Jupiter & Venus – 25th – 27th March
* Venus near the young crescent Moon – 26th March

After 14 years of success in Cape Town, The South African College of Applied Psychology’ (SACAP) has expanded to accommodate Gauteng students.  Located in Lower Rosebank a mere 2 km from Liz at Lancaster Guesthouse, the College is located at 160 Jan Smuts Ave on the corner of Tyrhwitt Ave. See http://www.rosebank.co.za/view/index/psychology_college_opens/62/1/139

Emergent (detail) 2012 Pen & ink 567X516mm ; Taken from AOP's exhibition invitation

Richard Penn’s new solo exhibition  Horizon opens at AOP  44 Stanley Ave this Saturday. Penn’s painstakingly detailed work is always a treat. The obsessively meticulous pen and ink marks are awe-inspiring in their technical skill and meditative in their repetitive  patterned fields.
Opening is on Saturday 25 February at 14:00; Exhibition runs until 17th March and Richard Penn will do a walkabout on Saturday 3 March at 11:00. 

As the accompanying press release says: ‘One of only two Jewish boys to have been born in a stable, Nik Rabinowitz always wanted to be an accountant.’   I always love hi sweekly slot on 702 – The week that was, which is achingly funny with nobody being spared Nik’s biting satire. So am really looking forward to Stand and Deliver where ’Nik, a Xhosa-speaking Jew, explores the reasons that have led coloured people to believe that he is coloured, why Afrikaners have settled in Israel, and how a grown man can end up saying things like, ‘daddy make hot for sossy’. ’  Showing at Monte Casino.

Dates: From 29 Feb to 11 March ONLY!   Times: Wed to Fri @ 8pm, Sat @ 5pm & 8pm, Sun @ 3pm
Price: R150 & R100 BOOK BY PHONE:  Computicket (011) 340 8000 OR  Theatre Box Office: (011) 511 181 OR book on-line at Computicket

An interesting and worthwhile initiative in the neglected township of Alex: http://www.jhblive.com/reviews/art/art_on_alex_streets/97393

This is an interesting review of Candice Breitz’ exhibition Extra - it’s both critically informed and informative http://www.mahala.co.za/art/extra/ . On at the Standard Bank Gallery in Joburg Central until 5th April.

See http://todoinjoburg.co.za/2012/02/troyevilles-never-ending-bedtime-story-perfect-for-valentines-day/ 

Shwele Bawo  14 February – 18 March 2012 Barney Simon Theatre

Shwele Bawo looks at the juxtaposition of old traditions fighting for survival against modern ways in South Africa and the effect this has on society. Through the story of the protagonist, Dikeledi Nkabinde, told retrospectively from Dikeledi’s place of imprisonment, many themes create multiple layers for thought: identity crises among men and women; the disintegration of family structures; women and child abuse; relationships; incest; the power of the media and the inequalities in our justice system. The play reveals how these issues, ignored for far too long, have created a social time bomb of secrets and lies that threaten to destroy our society.
Tues – Sat @ 20h15, Sun @ 15h15
Ticket prices: Tues – R66, Wed & Thurs – R90, Fri & Sat – R140, Sun – R100