I think we should be quick to separate writing blogs into the categories “professional writers” and normal folk. missmillib.blogspot.com should actually form into a special category of “award winning professional writers”.

Milli was born and raised in the Eastern Cape, making her one of the many Xhosa’s who are in Gauteng to carve a life out of the city of gold. The notches in her belt include her being a Rhodes Journalism Grad, extensive work in media and fashion, as well as playing her own significant role promoting the arts here in Joburg and South Africa. Her very first job was at McDonalds when she was 16 and the next was as a fashion assistant with no license and car at Cosmopolitan in Cape Town. “It was a great job. Don’t know how I managed without the car and license – many black stylists on that side have similar tales to tell, at least four years ago it was like that lol” Milli says.

After leaving CT for JHB, she wanted to come and work with fashion designers quickly did that, but also ended up working with  musicians doing the pr and marketing. since then been freelancing at various fashion magazines including Elle, Dazed and Confused, Colors, True Love and Marie Claire. She now has a column (slice of life and social commentary) in the Friday section of the Mail and Guardian.

Why we like so much is because  she’s living her dreams and carving this massive place out for herself here in Joburg.

BAM!

check the blog now

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

Up until now, nobody has ever documented the city of Johannesburg via bycicle. Now that some amazing fixed gear bikes have been made available to residents of Main Street Life, and for rent to the public, the city can now be discovered. After a test run, the photos published in this journey mark the first official mission out into the city. From building raids, singing church goers, and amazing store discoveries, the bike is undoubtedly the best mode of transport.

READ IT HERE BELOW

Joburg’s buskers usually hang out in mall underground parking lots . You know that song you always hear when you’re trying to get your R2 coin to stay inside the parking ticket machine at The Zone in Rosebank? No, it’s not Tracy Chapman, it’s M. Witches. His years of smiling, playing guitar and singing popular tunes has finally paid off and his first cd – completely self financed – has been pressed. For only R50 you can take his smooth voice away with you and enjoy his covers as well as his own compositions like the title track “Let’s Show The World”.

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)”.

In the distance, is Ghandi Sqaure. This beautiful landscaped piece of Main Street travels towards Ghandi Square from the west. After Ghandi Square, Main Street then takes you on to Arts on Main, and the Maboneng Precinct. But this section of road is great for pedestrians, and is filled with all sorts of hustle and bustle. This is the city life you find everywhere else in the world. On the road you can find great gems like Cramers Coffee, Smokey Joes, and Shop Around The Corner.

College radio will always be cooler. That always seems like a universal law. It takes a college that knows what they’re doing! But after that, you can safely say that the selection will be edgier, more on the pulse, and less corporate! UJFM started out in a tiny hole on the wall, and now after a year or so, proudly broadcast out of their slick new studios in the Bunting Road Campus of UJ (University of Johannesburg)

Its 95.4 fm. check it out. Join the Facebook group

A film by Adi Loveland.

Whoever puts these stickers up is a Joburg super hero. Someone looking down on a city, offering some comfort and security. I don’t have a face or name for him/her. I’ve come close to finding out, but have purposely backed away. I don’t want it to be rooted to anyone or anything. I love it just being there. On ATMs, on parking ticket dispensers, parking meters, in my wallet and all other sorts of unexpected places.

It’s what we really need. Someone who props us up emotionally when we least expect it. Someone who can be there before our anxieties get the best of us.

Big props need to be given to JHBLive. These guys have been kicking it from the very beginning. They were the first to answer the question “what is there to do in Joburg tonight?”. Years of answering this exact question, have resulted in JHBLive literally owning current Johannesburg nightlife info. Go check them out and see whether its your scene, they try have something for everyone.

check it.