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From Maurice Levin: Oscars, Razzies and a Roach at Chai-Yo (27-Feb-07)

After begging Mr Berkman to give me a blogging berth on his site for many months, it turns out that my contributions have numbered only one or two since coming on board. So sorry readers, and Brian.

I’m a movie and music freak so February is a great month what with the Oscars and the Grammys. It has always been a dream of mine to attend Graydon Carter’s (Vanity Fair editor) annual post-Oscar party at Morton’s restaurant in LA, but once again the best I could so was read the reports from the Telegraph and the New York Times. Martin Scorsese’s win was great news, as was Helen Mirren’s and Forest Whitaker’s. The health of the British acting brigade was notable, with Kate Winslet, Dame Judy Dench and Mirren all being nominated for best actress in a leading role.

The worst movie awards are called the ‘Razzies’, Sharon Stone’s performance in Basic Instinct 2, getting the honours this year. In terms of Razzies for suppliers to my home renovation job, I have to let you know (again) that Kiek Lifestyle Furniture out of Canal Walk and Wunders out of Observatory delivered the worst service and product I’ve ever encountered. I have got exactly eight mails from similarly disgruntled clients, six from the former and two from the latter. Bright House on Bree Street were fantastic, R5 000 getting me a nice work station, dining room table and two funky chairs. I must make mention of 3^rd I Gallery in Waterkant Street for good service too.

Ate at Chai Yo in Mowbray last night. A massive cockroach scurried across the floor during mains but the food was decent. The spinach cones filled with lemongrass, peanuts, chili, etc is a great starter. Not as cheap and cheerful as in past years.

Chat soon

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Long John Berks in Gaza and meals on the hour. (22-Feb-07)

Was proud to see Primedia's foray into Gaza with John Berks as peacekeeper on CNN this morning. I wonder how long it will take for South African media to report on it. Isn't it exciting that media can finally do something constructive.

I'm busy with reviewing restaurants for Fodor's and have been steamrolling through tastings almost on the hour. While I've been to all these places before, never in such quick succession and interesting trends are emerging.

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Spier's art rooms and Beezy Bailey's Fallen Angels (16-Feb-07)

Attended Beezy Bailey’s opening last night at Everad Reed in Cape Town. The work – Fallen Angels and other dreams is on show together with Bailey’s black alter ego – Joyce Ntobe.

I was involved in promoting his driftwood show – landscapes on found materials, many years ago which (probably because we had a serious blowout at the time) I found immature and shoddy. He has incorporated a piece of driftwood for an angel’s face in this current show (see below) which I think is luminous, so luminous that a blue bird at the centre of one of the pieces lights the whole painting. http://www.everard-read-capetown.co.za/site/artist.asp?picnumber=21&name=Fallen+Angels+and+Other+Dreams&folder=Images/beezybailey/. This work is worth seeing even if, like me, you’re not in the market for a R50K piece of art.

I was chatting to artist Henk Serfontein there and saw another artist Theo Kleynhans and, I guess prompted by being a natural net-worker, introduced them to each other. Of course they knew each other (and of course they would) and it occurred to me that it was arrogant of me even to assume they may need me to introduce them. Henk was good natured about it but his response got me thinking. Life imitating art.

I also loved Nicholas Hlobo’s Room 505 at the Spier Hotel. He has created an installation with coloured ribbons and tyre rubber that is both beautiful and challenging.

Together with Jo O’Connor room 506 (an essay on public/private spaces) and suite 604’s Afro Deco by the Cape Craft & Design Institute, the Hotel is offering resident guests an opportunity to commune with art. Exciting stuff.

I missed Norman O’Flynn’s Never Late To Be A Man (open at Bell Roberts until March 3) but liked the beefy super hero invite so much I’ve displayed it at the office.

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Bad mojo (13-Feb-07)

Friday's was only the second rugby game I attended. Stormers scored three points on both occasions. Maybe I bring them bad mojo?

Brian at Newlands

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Brian Berkman is Maid of Honour in a dress (08-Feb-07)

I'm not kidding - if you'd like to see for yourself - book a ticket below:

You are cordially invited to the CJSA

Purim Wedding

Shpiel

on Sunday 4 March 2007

at 6.00pm for 6.30 pm sharp, sharp

14 Hope Street, Cape Town

There will kein anhorra be

a thousand stars

a million mitzvahs and

at least, a zillion laughs

We look forward to you joining us for the Chuppah, which will be followed by a Dinner Dance

The young couple has decided that there will be no gifts, as they are asking you, very kindly to pay R350.00 a head

to cover the cost of their wonderful, never to be forgotten wedding.

In fact, please don’t tell, they don’t want any farribels, but they will be auctioning off some presents received from family in Australia. They’ll never know, and to be honest, the couple needs the money. There’s even a holiday for two Business Class British Air tickets to Johannesburg and a stay at the 6 Star Melrose Hotel, because the bride decided she wants they should rather have their honeymoon in Muizenberg.

DRESS To the hilt PARKING Supervised by the CSO RSVP CJSA T 021 434 9691 E cjsa@icon.co.za (PBO 18/11/13/3112)

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Sigh no more ladies, sigh no more, men are deceivers ever. (07-Feb-07)

Mr Justin Justice

The Manager

Point Virgin Active

Via fax: 021-439-5406.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Dear Justin,

I’ve delayed writing to you as I was conflicted by my own responsibility in the theft of my things from the gym.

It is not the first time, you see. Nor is it the second. This is now the third time that I have left things in the Point’s changing room and they have been stolen before I returned to get them.

I suppose that I felt complicit – there was an internal voice that said it was my fault for not looking after my things carefully. Yes, it was. But it was not my fault that people who use the bathroom facilities alongside me are thieves.

I am writing to you to ask for your support. I have today laid a charge of theft with the police, (case number 207/02/2007 and will begin a campaign to hear from other members who have also suffered theft at The Point.

I may have been careless by not checking that I had all my belongings before leaving, but I care too much to ignore it.

May I ask you to detail what measures The Point takes in this regard?

Brian Berkman

021-447-6398

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The meek shall inherit the earth and dim sum (05-Feb-07)

I don't usually quote scripture but I'm so excited at the prospect of a Meek Dinner (where geeks are nice to each other) that I'm campaigning.

Now, about that dinner: I suggested we do it this Thursday but I've decided to attend an art class on Thursdays instead. Can I get some feedback about who's interested and when would best suit?

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Meek is the new Geek (02-Feb-07)

I'm having a Meek Dinner on Thursday, Feb 8th at He Sheng Chinese Restaurant, AKA JingJing in Main Road, Sea Point opposite the Adelphi Centre. Call them if you want to be there 021-434-4214. BYOB and pay for your own meal.

I'm thinking to start with seaweed salad, peanut and celery salad before heading to egg roll pancake and spring-onion filled cake. Perhaps beef-flank noodle soup or dumplings and then chicken with black means, perhaps sweet/sour prawn who knows...

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