Photo courtesy michielvw

It’s the largest individually timed cycling event in the world, and it attracts more than 35,000 entrants. It’s the Cape Argus Cycle Tour, and it’s not to be missed.

Back in 1978, Bill Myrea and John Stegmann started the race to promote the development of cycle paths in Cape Town.  That inaugural race, named after sponsoring newspaper Cape Argus, lured in hundreds of cyclists, and since then, it has only picked up speed. Now “The Argus,” as it has affectionately been dubbed, is the culminating event in a series of 5 races, and the 110-km course feels the treads of bikes from all over the globe.

Per tradition, the race this year will be held on the second Sunday of March, the 11^th. The charity-giving cyclists take off from Adderley Street, and the finish line awaits them at Cape Town Stadium. Even if you’re not a cyclist, the scenic yet skill-bending course is lined with spectators who leave hoarse from cheering.

Just make sure the various street closures don’t slow you to a halt, and book your dinner reservations well in advance – otherwise you’ll be competing for a table with competitors who have been pedaling off calories all day. But do roll in yourself to witness the whoosh of tires and the rainbowed blur of colored spandex.

Cape Argus Cycle Tour; www.cycletour.co.za

Monday night comedy. Tuesday night karaoke. Up-and-coming bands on Wednesdays. Cultural tributes on Thursdays. Live music all weekend long. At the Zula Sound Bar & Café, just pick the night of the week—and one of the rooms in the bar—and thump along to your favourite beats.

Zula recently relocated to 98 Long Street, but its original venue stole the hearts of the husband-and-wife owners who stumbled in during their honeymoon. Many newlyweds first purchase a house or a car, but after many risks and a few rough spots, Zoë and Vusa decided to buy the bar. The London-based couple immigrated to Cape Town, and since then, they’ve made sure the venue stays as bold as they are. (At least stop in to see the car suspended from the ceiling.)

The multi-level venue reverberates with eclectic headliners from rock to indie to electric to folk. So dance along, or bob your head at the bar while munching on a pizza. Or shoot some pool, or test out your pipes during karaoke. No matter what, Zula will have something for you.

Zula Sound Bar & Café; 98 Long Street; +27 (0) 21 4242442; Google Map

Photo courtesy alistair.pott

Does the love of your life make your heart soar? Then show him or her by booking a scenic helicopter flight that will take your relationship to new heights.

This Valentine’s Day, go above and beyond – or at least just above – and do something out of the ordinary. Explore the country from the air with Makana Aviation, and share the awe-inspiring experience with the one whom you already share so much. While we’re sure nothing compares to the beauty of your sweetheart, the picturesque Cape Town landscape is still quite breathtaking. Choose from four scenic flights or create a custom-made one, and gaze at the country’s golden beaches, the jagged cliff faces, and the acres of vineyards. Just make sure to leave out your cheesy lines, like her eyes being as blue as the sea or him being as rugged as a mountain.

To continue the date once you’re back on the ground, check out a few specials Makana has on their site. Depending on the type of flight you book, you can enjoy a complimentary harbour cruise, or let some wine and chocolate sweeten the deal. So if you’re looking for points in the creativity department this Valentine’s Day, let Makana Aviation help you take off.

Makana Aviation; East Pier Road; +27 (0)21 425 3868; www.nacmakana.com

Photo courtesy Stoked School of Surfing

Now that summer’s here, why not cool down in a way that makes you, well, cooler. Instead of sitting inside in the air conditioning, book a lesson or a trip with Stoked School of Surf and you’ll be able to show off some new skills before the days grow shorter again.

Surfing has a reputation for becoming an all-encompassing, life-changing sport. And so it was for marketing-manager-turned-surf-school- entrepreneur Michelle Davy. The thrill of riding her first wave engulfed her, and her 9-to-5 desk job soon got washed away. After a four-year trip sampling the world’s greatest surf spots and earning both her Sports Science degree and SSA surf coach accreditation, she began her mobile company in hopes of getting others to get as “stoked” about surfing as she was. With her passion and expertise, it’s no wonder her school is voted #1 on TripAdvisor.

Whether you’ve never held a surfboard or if you spend so much time in the water that you’ve started to grow gills, Stoked Surf School has something for you. Take a beginners group lesson, have some one-on-one training, or spend a weekend trip exploring Cape Town’s coastline with fellow wave lovers. The school hosts private parties (even for kids!) or team-building events—and let’s be honest, being in wet suits with all of your coworkers is a bonding experience indeed.

So pump up your cool factor, and get to the point where you, too, are checking the upcoming surf forecast.

Stoked School of Surf; +27 (0) 82 412 8781; www.stokedsurfschool.com

Photo courtesy ImipolexG

Iiiiiiittt’s fig season! Those little pouches of seedy sweetness are again dangling from the branches. And at Hoogwater Farms, they’re there for the taking!

Every Saturday until 25 February, the orchards are open for harvesting. This means that for R40, you can spend the day like Dionysus (his symbol was the fig), popping as many of the fruits into your mouth as you desire while lounging on the lawn. Pack a picnic, or make it a true Bacchanalia and have wine and treats waiting for you by purchasing them in advance (or onsite) from Hoogwater Farm. Preserve the day by taking home a basket of figs for R5 (baskets provided) for all of your jam-making and figgy pudding needs.

And if you’ve never had a fig, you should for the sheer history of it all! They’ve been around since the beginning of oral and written history. Adam and Eve clothed themselves in fig leaves. A Titan battled the gods, and fleeing Zeus, mother earth protected him by transforming him into a fig tree. The Indian national tree (the baynan) is a type of fig revered because the Buddha achieved enlightenment underneath its shady branches.

Your day at Hoogwater Farms doesn’t need to be so epic, but it will certainly be fun. Just bring enough cash because the farm doesn’t have a credit card machine, and contact Madri Ochse for more details: (+27) 83 726 2803.

Hoogwater Farm; R43 Road toward Ceres, Wolseley; (+27) 83 726 2803

Photo courtesy Russel Wasserfall

Housed in a converted sheep-sheering cottage tucked away 30 minutes from Cape Town, The Table at De Meye combines a comforting, home-style ambience with exquisite cuisine.  The focus is the food and company – it’s a leisurely, hours-long lunch where the only decision you have to make is if you want the wine pairings. The owners, brother-sister duo Camilla and Jason Comins, conjure up a new 3-course set menu each week featuring seasonal ingredients and homemade everything.

Before training professionally, the farm-raised Comins grew up tending backyard vegetable gardens and breeding livestock for the kitchens, so whatever the surprise dishes are for the week, they’re bound to be delicious. While tender lamb shoulder and roast pork belly often appear atop the linen table cloths of downtown 5-stars, here the same luxurious fare is brought to you family-style, in view of the sprawling lawn and the shady oaks. If your inner foodie craves an extra course, sign up for a food photography class by Camilla’s husband, the renowned Russel Wasserfall.

Given the preparation necessary, advanced booking is necessary. The average cost per meal is R250, and they will cater to dietary requirements.

The Table at De Meye; Elsenburg Road; 083 252 9588; www.thetablerestaurant.co.za

Photo courtesy crazyegg95

If one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, then you’re about to hit the jackpot. The “trash” at the Alphen Antiques and Collectibles Fair is really anything but, as it represents fine craftsmanship. It is just in need of a new home.

Founder Des Dewing has been obsessed with antiquing for more than 30 years – and you certainly can tell!  He knows the classiest of classy, the authentic from the imposter, and has assembled dozens of premier vendors specialising in all kinds of “stuff.” The booty includes furniture, silver, artwork, jewellery, clothing and more, so browse around, and stuff your treasure chest.

In case you’re looking to clear the clutter from your attic, Dewing is there to help you sell, too. With a trained, appraising eye, he will make sure that your valuables find someone who will value them as well.

So if you, too, are compelled by the mystery of unique items – or are just looking for a souvenir or some redecorating ideas – come to Alphen Centre (a community centre) in Main Road Constantia every second and fourth Sunday of the month.

Alphen Antiques and Collectibles Fair; Main Road Constantia; www.antiqueking.co.za

Courtesy of LVstar Photography

Instead of jockeying for space on crowded dance floors and pricey lounges, fling yourself into this year’s Boomerang trance music festival and turn a one-second holiday into a three-day party.

Since 2008, Mindcultivation has been hosting this electrifying way to ring in the new year. The Boomerang festival gets its name from its intention to “simulate life in a more timeless environment, taking you from the current year up into the very fabric of time and space, keeping you there a while longer and then finally submitting you back safely into your world.” Or, um, as we like to say (a little more simply): dancing your butt off to the pulsing beat of 3 days of music.

This year’s headliner is Ukraine’s famous SynSUN. Their recently released, 5-star album “Elter Ego” bursts with enough energy to keep you going all weekend long.

Your partying will benefit a good cause, too – a percentage of each R280 ticket will be donated to Stop Hunger Now, a nonprofit that combats child hunger. View the music line-up, and reserve tickets here: http://www.boomerangfestival.com/

Courtesy clarism_4 @ Flickr

No matter where, when, or why, carnivals always mean one thing: fun. Cape Town’s Minstrel Carnival is no different.

Not only is the annual street party a spectacle of music, dancing, and elaborate costumes, it’s a cultural tradition, too. Dating back to the 1800s, Kaapse Klopse (as the carnival is known locally) originated during the slave era, either because the new year marked slaves’ only holiday, or because minstrel entertainers aboard American steamliners docked in Cape Town and performed for the sailors at that time.

Today, the event is still as enthralling. Troupes dance and sing through city centre, dressed in bold-coloured, feisty outfits. Some groups practice months beforehand in hopes of winning one of the competitions held at Athlone Stadium.

Whether you’d like to participate or to spectate, parade downtown on 2 January for Cape Town’s historical, yet hippest, way to begin the new year.

Courtesy Kidz Get Wild Holiday Camp

Give the kids a gift that keeps the Christmas holiday going even after the presents have been unwrapped – let them have days of play at a Kidz Get Wild camp! (And sometimes with the kids’ built-up holiday anticipation, it might be a gift for the parents, too!)

This 3-, 4-, or 7-day camp is perfect to begin the holidays with some solid family time, but then to let the kids play out their festive fidgets. With more than 80 activities, every child will find something he or she likes. They can abseil down a waterfall, practice their archery accuracy, or play a good ol’ game of team tag. They can inspire their inner Picasso with various crafts, or start their pop artist fan base with nights of singing, drumming, and dancing. There’s even a pizza-making competition!

And parents, even though the kids will be having fun, meeting new friends, and dabbling in activities ranging from messy to extreme, the kids are well watched, and safety is a priority. With a ratio of 1 adult to every 5 children, gender-specific cabins, and first aid on hand, pack everything but worry. The Waterval (http://www.waterval.co.za/) venue offers acres for the kids to roam, but also a secure environment and the best facilities.

Keep the holiday fun (and your kids!) running, and enroll 1-7 graders in the 4-12 January Kidz Get Wild camp, starting at R790. Grab 5 friends or siblings, and a group discount applies. See their site for enrollment forms and more information: http://www.kgw.co.za/Kidz-Get-Wild-Home.html It’ll be a great gift for both parent and kid!