Its very difficult to try and write this post without sounding biased. Since february of 2010, Main Street Life has been my home, my inspiration, and one of the most important things to have existed in my life. I lived in the showspace and documented my life via the interweb on mainstreetlife.tv , a site I still continue to manage. I also started The Bioscope with one of my best friends Darryl Els, which is situated on the ground floor of the building.

I often go up onto the roof and stare out over the city, I often take a bicycle out and explore. I often just enjoy the fact that Im walking as opposed to always being stuck inside a car. Although I’ve been selling the dream of living in the city for months now, Im only really starting to see whats its done for me now, five months later.

I now know whats around the corner, I now know the order of streets in the city, and which way they go in terms of one-ways. I now know The Bioscope is NOT the only independent cinema, and that there are literally thousands of hidden gems that I manage to unearth on a daily basis. I also can now proudly announce that although I have to be realistic and remain aware, I am NOT afraid of the city.

Did I mention Main Street Life was a residential apartment block? with units that are being sold off and rented? at the time of writing this, units are still available, but im not sure how long that will be. There is a boutique hotel called 12 Decades on the top floor, as well as a fantastic roof space with a pool, bar , and boxing gym.

check it out for yourself.

286 Fox Street. Here’s the official site

I took a park and ride from Constitution Hill, and started the ride through the city with the baaaaaas of the vuvus and a busload of jovial fans. After a while I got so wrapped up in the excitement of inside the bus, that I forgot to look out the window.

All of sudden we were there. Up until now, I had only ever seen 3D renderings and so initially, seeing it in its realistic entirety caught me completely by surprise. No words could come out, but in my head the feeling of “I cant believe we built this” bounced around my head. There was this dude next to me, my new best friend for the last 15 minutes jumping up and down shouting “we said we were gonna do it! and so we did it!!! we did it! Baaaaaaaaaa (vuvu noise)”.

Brett Bailey’s ‘House of the Holy Afro’ is finally showing in Joburg after six years of performances in Europe and Australia. It’s a show and a party in a space that’s usually a theatre but is now a pop-up club.

Hi energy, super slick, crosses many musical genres and celebrates everything we’re celebrating right now – the fabulousness of 21st century Africa. It’s original, inspired and quirky – from the 11pm starting time to the Afro kitsch outfits, from the camp drama to the disco make-up. Think Zulu Lulu on steroids – in a glitter pit.

On every night at 11pm (except Mondays) until 11 July – so a perfect party spot after the evening match.

Market Theatre Laboratory, Newtown.

Originally built as a bird sanctuary, the James and Ethel Grey park is a Jobusy favorite for outdoor spaces. A recent R5-million upgrade transformed the park into landscaped gardens, meandering walkways and sublime scenery. The central area boasts a 180 degree panoramic view – stretching from the east of the city through to the Johannesburg Hospital – clearly showing a decent section of the world’s largest man-made forest. Nestled in the affluent suburbs surrounding Melrose Arch, the park is great for flying your remote-controlled toy plane or socialising your Labradoodle or Italian Greyhound with other pedigrees. Ideal for just chilling too.

Illovo has really grown up in the last few years. Wolves is the new kid on the block… or rather the new girl with pigtails on the swing in the park on the block. Filled with all manner of kitch art, toys and ceramic deer, the latest addition to the strip is a welcome breath of fresh candy-floss flavoured air. They don’t have a liquor licence (yet) so either bring your own or have some tea and a cupcake instead. The red velvet cake is the most sublime way to start your morning.

Wolves is also one of only two stockists in Joburg of must-have Australian fashion and design magazine Frankie.

4 Corlett Drive, Illovo. Parking right outside, or on the corner of North and Oxford (accessible from North Rd).

hello@wolves.co.za  011 447 2360

This place took me completely by surprise. In fact, pretty much all the public pools I’ve been to in the city have been in great order. The mix of people was amazing. All lining up to take the high dive.

I grew up with a pool in the back yard, and I don’t mean to sound elistist but a lot of middle-class South African’s did, so the idea of ‘chilling at the pool’ with a whole bunch of strangers has always felt a little weird.

Not so much anymore. I now live well above the ground in the city, so a public pool is a pretty rad place to hang out with friends. Decant a little something something into a plastic bottle, get a little summer mix happening in the ghettoblaster/iPod, pack some sun tan cream, and you got yourself a party.

Dunvegan Rd. Sydenham.

Looking for sure way to score in Joburg? In amongst the enthusiastic teenagers, you’ve got a place you can just as easily become a kid again! You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to regain the feeling of those glory days. There’s nothing like rolling a lumo green ball down a flashing aisle at the back of a dodgy arcade, boasting old classics like Pacman, Super Mario Brothers and even bumper cars to feel like you’re 12 again.

What I find works best is to imagine someone’s face on the pins – an old school teacher who dissed your project or an ex who ‘just wasn’t that into you’. It works, although it may take a while before I qualify for the uniform with the name over the pocket.

A tip:  It gets busy so book.

First Floor. The Zone. Oxford St. Rosebank

The aptly-named mall is a great access point for anyone wanting to explore Little Addis. Inside the mall, the majority of stores are Ethiopian, selling anything and everything from music, coffee and spices to traditional wedding dresses. The mall is best accessed from Jeppe Street, but can also be entered from Bree.  The mall is close to Von Weilig as a cross street. Look out for the large white and red sign reading Joburg Mall. On the top floor, we recommend Cafe Addis as a great spot for traditional Ethiopian food. Give a warm greeting to our main man Kassa who is one of the owners. He’s a great man and knows the area really well.

The Velskoen Drive-In is officially the last remaining Drive-In theatre in Johannesburg. The experience is much like going to a road house. Haunting in the fact that you know for sure that the place is long past its glory days, but at the same time, such an important thing to preserve.

Pay R65 per car. The first show kicks off at 7:30pm.

We only just stumbled across this gem of a party. The basic idea is getting some up-and-coming fashion labels to bring their stuff together and get it out into the scene. The scene itself is one hip-hop-loving, uber stylist scene, and these events seem to turn into a fat party by the end. Look out for the next event, and the moment we see it become a regular feature we’ll get it into our calendar section.

This event is something best enjoyed by someone who either owns, or wouldn’t have a problem wearing, a baseball cap where nothing’s bent and the sticker of authenticity shines bright.