..Because Hipsters Don't Lie

Breathe in some Bree Street and you will have been introduced to Cape Town's favourite hipster-watching spot. I love Bree Street. I'm a little bit obsessed with the curved paths, the whiff of coffee permeating through the air and the occasional pretty boy staring at his own reflection. 

I don't know how many synonyms I could use to convey my deep infatuation with this laid-back, free-thinking and stylish route of imagination. To me, Bree Street is like my very own yellow brick road - you discover what you want to see, or rather what your inner creative desires. 

For an insanely great cup of coffee, try Jason Bakery. I often find myself gazing into the hatch at Jason Bakery, resisting the urge to take a swipe at the array of croissants and pastries on offer. Instead, I adopt the cool kid's morning routine - sipping on a really good cup of Deluxe Coffeeworks coffee! This place really knows how to wake a kid up, between all the caffeine and morning chatter. 

I've heard their bacon croissants are pretty good too - sadly, I don't eat bacon, and I like Babe way too much to ever sway.

This is me after a cup of Jason's coffee

Frost yourself at Lady Cupcake. I really believe that I was a professional cupcake eater in my last life, which is why you'll often find me drooling over pretty creations from Lady Cupcake. The flavours vary from smooth red velvet, to a hint of spice with chili chocolate and to an outrageous bacon, cinnamon and maple cupcake. Plus, they cover happy hour too - pina colada or beer cupcakes anyone? 

Americans do lots of things right (think Honey Boo Boo & deep fried chocolate), but there are certain things that they do great - like, Clarkes Bar and Dining Room. They serve up classic American fare in huge portions, which makes this spot perfect for a hungry heart like mine. They make a mean meaty burger, magical cheesy fries and decadent french toast topped with nutella, ricotta and pecans - so I suggest that you ditch the diet, when you feel like taking in their authentic American hipster vibe. Their tagline is 'we got food, we got liquor, we got music'. Enough said.

Get dressed up for a date with a potent drink at Orphanage Cocktail Emporium. The name is rather awful, and there aren't any Oliver Twist types - but there are lots of yummy concoctions, and a decadent interior that allows you to pretend that you're at party thrown by Jay Gatsby himself. This place is pretty damn beautiful, and is devoid of the binge-drinking that often accompanies a 'quiet stroll on Long Street'. Plus, they have a cocktail called 'Daddy Warbucks' - rum, lime, ginger beer, almond & rose water syrup - that I intend on having the next time I pop by.

Work the Trench

Sleek & sophisticated in Winter? Nothing conveys Winter fashion quite like a classic trench coat - keep warm and avoid the bulked up package, which often comes with one-layer-too-many.

Just remember what your general body shape is! I never followed this key point, which I suppose is why trench coats used to make me feel like I had drowned in an oversized tent. Now that I've learnt that I'm a pear (N.B. I hate pears with a passion), it's been far more fun dressing up in something warm and fuzzy.

Girl Crush of the Week

Harley Viera Newton. Her names sounds like she was born from a line of Brazilian royalty, but she's really just an American model & DJ signed to Jay-Z's record label Roc Nation. 

This girl epitomizes the rationale behind "music and fashion going hand in hand", which is actually more like a stunning stroll down the runway in Harley's world. Music inspires fashion. Fashion inspires music. They feed off each other like addicts on crack; inspiring each other like translucent lovers.  

Harley is the official DJ for House of Dior, a beauty ambassador for the brand and an all-round style icon. Plus, she admits to sipping on whiskey ginger ales and vodka pineapples in her spare time - I have no idea what those are, but they sound damn delicious, and I want in on the fun too. 

Blue Carpets & Wagging Tongues

It was the customary 'Taylor Swift wins everything' night at the Billboard Music Awards - this girl seriously knows what she's doing in the fashion and music stakes. Hate her or love her, but you can't deny her adorkable talent for slating ex's and looking absolutely ravishing wherever she goes.

Taylor Swift

My other favourite look for the night came from Selena Gomez who looked stunning in a neon & white Versace number.

Selena Gomez

Miley Cyrus was quite memorable in an edgy Balmain jumpsuit - this paired perfectly with her new hairstyle & red lips. If you're going to channel your inner rebel than you might as well go all out!

Miley Cyrus

My not-so-faves: What were they thinking??

Madonna

Kesha

Avril Lavigne & Chad Kroeger

David Guetta & wife

Baffling Bieber

Justin Bieber seems to cause a stir wherever he goes these days - let's start at the beginning.

The boy is rich. He can afford to buy good style, right? Instead, he chose to wonder around on stage in a jacket missing a sleeve & leather pants that resembled some sort of skirt. 

Perhaps, the audience was criticizing his poor outfit choice when they decided to boo him when he received the fan-voted Milestone Award. I thought that this was pretty harsh and immature coming from a room full of creative individuals -Biebs might be going through a rough patch in terms of his personal choices, but you have to give him credit for being one heck of a talented performer.

Biebs went on to say the following during his acceptance speech: "Basically from my heart I really just want to say it really should be about the music. It should be about the craft that I'm making. This is not a gimmick, and I'm an artist, and I should be taken seriously." Getting defensive perhaps?

Backstage Action? Taylor Swift sticks out her tongue in disgust when she sees pal Selena & boyfriend Bieber get cosy backstage.

Flapper Girls & Dapper Looking Boys

"All right...I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool -that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." 

- The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is my darling of literary classics. Demure women enveloped by feathers and masculine protocols. Smoke. Delicate headgear. The Noveau rich. Decadence. Any excuse to break the rules while flaunting all the pretty things that money can buy you. 

You simply have to throw on the most expensive clothing that you own, head out to one of Cape Town's growing number of pretentious clubs, and you might just begin to understand the obsession that intellectuals have with The Great Gatsby.  

"Another shot of Patron please. Put it on my tab."

The self-made man walks our streets with the swag of a gentleman, who is adorned with the sweet smell of power, and the vulnerability of someone who doesn't quite know whether he's in or out. So, what does he do? He force feeds his wealth on elite dance floors, filled with people who are too vacant to interpret his behaviour as anything more than just a 'good time'. This is Gatsby. 

We buy shots of intoxication for people we don't know, because our insecurities dictate that acceptance is attained if you reel society in with beautifully painted wads of cash. It's the curse of the glitz, glamour and pseudo-charms of an inner world that is far too occupied with staying on top. 

Wild parties and bad behaviour. You only live once.

Or, perhaps it's an obsession with love? 

Gatsby desperately wanted to charm delicate Daisy with his epic soirees and decadent world - he desired her, wanted her - she was a drifting soul that would complete his world. We're all searching for love in this club, aren't we? 


The Great Gatsby is as relevant today as it was yesterday. A timeless tale that will never go out of fashion, until love does. 

Save a few lives & eat some cake

Baking. Good for the soul, great for the mind and just a tad risky for the hips. There really is no excuse to pass up the decadence of a sugary cupcake, especially when it's for a great cause. The Bake a Difference Save 7 Lives Cupcake Drive is almost here - a worthy initiative that hopes to create greater awareness around the Organ Donor Foundation.

I registered as an organ donor 14 months ago. After losing a parent to cancer, I realised that literally anyone could potentially need a new lease on life - so, why not make the commitment to make an exchange? Carrying around a card in your wallet that says "I am an organ donor" does not necessarily make you a better human being, but it does say that you want to make a difference, and that matters. 

The Bake a Difference Save Seven Lives Cupcake Drive aims to assist the Organ Donor Foundation in reaching its target of 50 000 sign ups in 2013. It takes place tomorrow (20th May) at the Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant, and pairs 9 transplant patients with 9 amazing chefs/food personalities! 

I truly believe in Bake a Difference. It celebrates the gift of life, sweet friends and sugary treats that are bound to entice you - 'like' them on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/ BakeADifferenceSave7LivesCupcakeDrive. Eat some cake. Save 7 lives. 

I urge all of you to register as an organ donor - http://www.odf.org.za/. 

Not a fan of buttery goodness & the humble cupcake? Visit The Exchange at Cavendish Square, where you can grab some fashionable garb in exchange for your commitment to save 7 lives.

Chow Down For Less

We've all been to that dark and dreadful place - pockets that empty out and a bank balance that deserves some loving. 

Cereal for breakfast, lunch and supper. Boxed wine. 2min noodles when you really feel like splurging! Okay, perhaps I'm giving into my flair for the dramatics and my Thespian counterparts - but wining and dining really can blow the budget these days. 

Take a look at my picks for eating out when the Winter chills and pinched pockets hit:

Kitty Purr Purr

Cats aren't usually my thing. I'm a dog kinda gal - except when it comes to boys - and, I always profess that you might one day find me adopting the 'old lady with the 9 dogs' look.

Anyways, I couldn't resist sharing a few charming pics of these 'lil purring darlings with their male counterparts from Des Hommes et Des Chatons. 

Scroll through. Drool. And, pick your favourite tomcat.  

Nice guys finish last.

"Would you like me open the car door for you? I'll even hold your hand while we take a moonlight stroll through the park. I'll tell you how I genuinely feel about you - no lies, no photoshopped feelings and no douche bag moves. Did I mention that I reply to SMS's, return calls and will buy you lots of chocolate (AND a love fern) to compensate for my lack of smoothness?"

Nice guys. You tend to find them at the back of the line. They insist that they always finish last. They complain that girls bitch about douche bag behaviour from aesthetically pleasing boys, and that we never pick the 'nice' ones with honest-to-good personalities.

Watching my friends and I dance our way across the dating arena has subsequently forced me to confront the curse of the anti-jerk. I've met quite a few admirable and polite boys along my way, and yet I refuse to engage in anything besides mindless chatter with Mr Thoughtful.  

Case in point: Mr Cubana. It was 2011. I had lost my cellphone for the 2nd time in two weeks, resulting in one-too-many tequilas in an attempt to drown my sorrows (and pockets). Boozed up and full of bravado, I decided to take the next logical step - hunt down my beloved Blackberry on the dance floor! It was around this time that a sweet, young boy with a sober face offered to join the search party. 

He took my digits and called my phone a few times to see if anyone would pick up. Alas, the Blackberry was gone - douche bag phonebook and all. The next day, I received an unexpected call - Mr Nice Guy from Cubana! He was honest, polite, uncomplicated and genuinely wanted to see if I had survived the aftermath of the night before. I gracefully declined his offer of a coffee date. Why? He was just too damn nice.

This was the classic case of a a respectful, interesting and friendly guy getting the thumbs down simply because he wasn't challenging enough. He was honest and asked me out - no mind games and no lies - and yet, I still couldn't let him through my portal of lust. Where is he now? He got engaged this week and seems pretty content with life.

 The problem with nice guys is that they are too mild. Dull. Colourless. They woo hearts through a peachy and pleasant demeanor, and eventually morph into the 'Yes Man'. The 'Yes Man' will agree with whatever you say, bring you cupcakes when the crimson wave hits and call you every single night. The defect in this standard of behaviour is that it becomes exhausting to put up with - the guy loses his appeal when he loses his identity. If I wanted a date who agreed with everything that I said, then I'd be having Friday night slumber parties with a pot plant.

We want you to respect us, respect yourself and to essentially bring your own brand of spirit to the game. We want to be seduced with the aroma of well-earned authority and hands that entwine with ours - only ours. Jerks are tempting because we do love a great chase, but are far too hard to maintain. 

So don't suffocate us with sweet nothings. Don't agree with us all the time. And please don't give us chocolate/flowers to prove that you're a good person. Just be you. That's enough. Oh, and maybe wear cologne. That helps.