Is Roger the new Henri? Hopefully. Roughly a decade ago when Joburg’s happy and gay district on Henri Street, Braamfontein, closed all it’s doors, we thought we were doomed to the northern suburbs forever. Now Roger Road in Selby, on the southern side of the CBD, is home to two new gay bars, Rawbar and SimplyBlue. Nestled in between CitrusLounge and Lemon8, Rawbar is a welcome and stylish addition to Joburg’s rather flaccid gay scene (which includes Risque in Fourways). The CitrusLounge crew have again shown their skills at creating spaces that are conducive to, um, crowded and fun times. Promoted as an “all male cruise and booze bar”, this place isn’t for girls. Or sissies.

38 Roger Rd (corner Webber), Selby

+27 82 094 0029

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

12 Decades is the city’s only Art Hotel. what this means is that it’s by no means traditional. Its a 12 room, self catering boutique hotel. 12 designers were picked, and each given a specific decade out of Joburg’s history. The result? an amazing selction of untold stories, and some of the most innovative uses of space and household design. A particular favourite, is the room designed by Michael Subotsky (above), which features a working camera obscura reflecting the image of Ponte, as well as the room next door, designed by Jobusy’s very own Bradley Kirshenbaum from Love Jozi.

Situated on the roof of Main Street Life in the Maboneng Precinct, the 12 Decades is certainly one for the tourist will a bit of imagination. The whole concept would be lost on a foreign business man needing to get to meetings in Sandton. So now the 12 Decades comes in at an affordable rate to avoid foreigners getting stuck at a Holiday Inn in Rosebank, or for those wanting something slightly cleaner than a backpackers. This hotel is for those wanting to make their two or three day Joburg stop over a little more interesting.

With The Bioscope, Malva, bike rentals, and Arts on Main down the road, you should be more than taken care of.

visit the site

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If your idea of nightlife is about nineties nostalgia then The Oxford on Oxford Road, Illovo is the place for you. If you’re impressed by heavily made-up bottle blondes and mammoth bouncers in ’smart’ shoes, then this club will be right up your alley. Problem is – it’s not up an alley. It’s in a office block/car-park/restaurant court. You even have to exit the club and face the fluorescent lighting of the centre to get to the loo. Clubbing in Johannesburg is best when it’s about downtown discos, sublime djs, sexy views and no pretension. The Oxford feels more like a pop-up club with dated trimmings. Thumbs down.

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.

Watch this space… or rather, don’t. Next time Mess hosts a dinner for twenty or so fans it will be somewhere completely different. Last night their pop-up restaurant was held in a vacant renovated store-front, almost ready for a lucky tenant. It was on the corner of Juta and De Beer, Braamfontein, in the heart of developer Adam Levy’s facelift precinct – sometimes described as Joburg’s Soho. The food prepared in the pop-up kitchen was so delicious and original (a bit too original for me), the company, vibe and sounds of distant vuvus made for an evening that was soooo Joburg 2010.

Mess are Kate White (copywriter and author) and Jonathan Cane (Vega lecturer). So nice to see talented people sharing their creativity outside the agency, and for only R150 a pop.

Here’s the situation. I bet there is a large percentage of people out there in Joburg that didn’t know we had a Chinatown. Alive and well, and just before Bruma, in the quiet suburb of Cyrildene, is the very cool. very functioning Chinatown. But, Chinatown used to be in the city centre, and thankfully some spots still remain like Swallows Inn and the Yung Chen Noodle Den. Swallows Inn is an incredible place, when you know the history of the area. What made them stick around? A love for the city?

There is this large downtstairs section that was probably once the spot to be seen seen eating noodles this side of Ghandi Square! It was here that I discovered the fantastic combination of whiskey and Chinese Food. Going there now, you greeted with smiles, and the same quality fried rice you get anywhere. Just this time, you walk out and stare down commissioner with a smile on your face! This is the right Chinatown. When you wanna take someone down….you gotsta do it in THIS Chinatown!

Cruise down Commissioner Street. Once you enter Newtown territory in the west, if you cant see the luminous chinese signs you shouldn’t be on the road.

This very cutely named store is the place you need to go for a snack. It’s just that – a bakery that will also give you a cheese burger and chips for a shade over R20 or a Finding Nemo themed birthday cake so clear it looks screen-printed. The queues around lunch time are testament to the cheap, hit-the-spot quick bites that the busy Joe needs to keep moving for the rest of the day. For those with the luxury of time on their hands there’s a coffee shop attached that serves light lunches, with tables on Main Street. The vibe on the street is busy business – so dip your almond biscotti into your cappuccino while watching people meander past the large replica gold Zimbabwe Rhino in front of the Jenga-esque 45 Fox Street building. Try figure out how the building hasn’t fallen over yet.

Speedy tip – get on a first name basis with the lady running the show, get the phone number and pre-order a beef and avo wrap (with chips & salad on the side) for 28 bucks and have it at your table the minute you sit down. Impress your friends, get the promotion, be a hero.

Cnr Simmonds and Main St. Find them on the Main Street Strip