SA-venues (one of the leading South African accommodation and general tourist websites)  has started a new initiative getting locals ‘in the know’ to write what they call ‘visitorials’  about the area  where they live and its surrounds.  I was privileged to be asked to write about Craighall Park.  See http://blog.sa-venues.com/provinces/gauteng/love-craighall-park/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sa-venues%2FCbjt+%28South+Africa+Travel+News%29&utm_content=FaceBook 

Thank you to all the guests who have filled in rating forms after your stay at Liz at Lancaster. Thanks to your votes and ratings, Liz at Lancaster Guesthouse has been nominated a regional Finalist in the AA Quality Assured Accommodation Awards in the category Guest House with Breakfast. Regional winners will be announced in [...]

What’s new in the art scene in March? 
Along with Gerard Batha’s Paintings from the Karoo, Hermann Niebuhr’s exhibition City Chromatic, Views of Johannesburg opened at Everard Read on 8th March.  For a review see http://todoinjoburg.co.za/2012/03/hermann-niebuhrs-city-chromatic-views-of-johannesburg-opens-at-everard-read/. RosenClaire’s  Immaterial Matters  is on at the Goodman and runs till 24th March. This is the first exhibition in South [...]

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 [...]

The AA’s assessor visits anually to monitor and check on the standards of the Guesthouse. Nothing escapes Bev Balusik’s eagle eye! Here are some comments from her report submitted to the  board of the AA Quality Assurance:
Such seamless but thoughtful touches in all areas:

a splendid, attractive notice board in main core public area
guest internet station [...]

Where to stay after recuperating from surgical procedure?  Hotel or guesthouse?
We at Liz at Lancaster Guesthouse are fortunate to have hosted many patients who have been recovering after surgery at various Clinics within easy reach of Liz at Lancaster: the Rosebank Clinic, http://www.netcare.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=171 Wits Donald Gordon Medical Institute http://www.dgmc.co.za/   in nearby Parktown, Morningside Clinic http://www.mediclinic.co.za/hospitals/Pages/about.aspx?h=16 [...]

Southern Sun recently bought The Grace hotel  in Rosebank  for R85m.  They are planning to do major refurbishments to the 73 room hotel and turning it into a boutique hotel targeting corporates, but with an intimate feel.  Southern Sun managing director Graham Wood said it will be Southern Sun’s first “boutique deluxe” in Johannesburg. This will be [...]

Another excellent review for Liz at Lancaster on Tripadvisor the influential international travel site. See http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g312578-d574068-Reviews-Liz_at_Lancaster_Guesthouse-Johannesburg_Johannesburg_Gauteng.html

Michael MacGarry was the Standard Bank Young Artist 2010. His exhibition End Game is showing from 26th October at the Standard BAnk Gallery in downtown Jozi .  He is an incredibly talented artist and this will surely be an exhibition not to be missed. Exhibiting alongside him in the downstairs gallery with be Andries Gouws with his [...]

Sunday 20 November 94.7 Cycle Challenge. For info go to www.cyclechallenge.co.za or Call Centre: 0862 947 947. For an interactive map which allows you to find alternative routes when needing to commute around the affected roads – http://947.mapservice.co.za/