The Cape Town leg of the annual Decorex SA interior design and décor exhibition is about to hit the city. Over the past 17 years, this event has grown from a small-trade fair, to attracting over 100, 000 local and international visitors and trade buyers today. Decorex has become a pioneer brand in the interior design landscape – constantly reinventing itself, and encouraging consumers, local decorators and interior designers to seek inspiration locally instead of overseas. This enables them to stay at the forefront of a trend-driven industry.

Visitors to Decorex Cape Town 2012 can look forward to an interior design experience expressing the Mother City´s innovative energy. The exhibition stalls will be bursting with exuberant and confident brand ideas – forming a hotbed of the captivating colours, forms, shapes and silhouettes of the moment. Decorex Designer Collection, a homeware range on a creative crusade to showcase South African design talent and artisan traditions in modern form, will also launch during this year’s event. Free demos and workshops at the how-to theatre, foodie delights at pop-up cafés, and restaurants provide for a whole day of excitement.

For more information, this year’s line-up, or to book tickets, please visit www.decorex.co.za

Photo courtesy Frank3.0

The Easter Bunny has been bouncing around getting ready for this year’s annual Easter egg hunt at Del Vera Outdoor Village. Let the kids loose to stuff their baskets full with a whole lot of treats. Even though chocolates might be gobbled up quickly, childhood memories of Easter happiness will last a lifetime.

After the hunt, let the kids run off their sugar high in the 300-year-old Yellowwood forest or dive into some craft time. If they’re over the bunnies, they can head over to the Equine Sport Centre to blaze along the trails perched atop a saddle.

As for the adults, the village houses a variety of shops and activities, from hand-thrown ceramics to olive and wine tastings. Or let the spirit of the season motivate you to meander through the vineyards and gardens and appreciate the beauty of life in its lush forms.

The Easter egg hunt will be held on both Saturday the 7^th and on Monday the 9^th; you can contact info@delvera.co.za for more details. Hop over soon, and let the good times roll!

Del Vera Outdoor Village; Stellenbosch; +27 (0)21 884 4352; www.delvera.co.za

Photo courtesy cobalt123

Who hosts the best St. Patty’s Day party in Cape Town? Well, the Irish, of course! And you don’t need the luck of one to find the best place to be; just head over to the Irish South African Association’s annual toast to the motherland, and you’ll be in good company.

Every year, the expats band together to celebrate a night of Irish pride. Using the gorgeous South Atlantic views as Cape Town’s stand-in for the Irish Sea, the Lagoon Beach Hotel and its world-class kitchens will magic up a three-course gourmet dinner of authentic Irish fare. Then when you’ve had a few drams of whiskey and a Guinness or two, grab your ghillies and jig along with an interactive Irish dancing program and the toe-tapping tunes of a true Irish band.

While the day-long pub crawls certainly have their charm, this event is a bit more straight-laced. Dress “smart with a splash of green” as you must appear put together in the presence of His Excellency, the Irish Ambassador to South Africa, Mr. Brendan McHanon, and his wife, Irene. But this dinner is on the 16^th, so you can always just use the night to warm up for (or just go straight through to) the next day’s marathon of festivities, which conveniently falls on a Saturday this year.

Tables for the ISAA dinner-dance will disappear faster than a leprechaun spotted by a human, so reserve a seat now for R275. Events this good are as rare as a four-leaf clover!

Irish South African Association; Marine Drive, Milnerton; +27 21 528 2000; http://www.ireland.co.za/news/detail/isaa-cape-town-st-patricks-dinner-dance-2012/58.aspx

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 mollymilana

Celebrate for a good cause, and don’t worry about Mardi Gras being too raunchy for the kids! At the Community Chest Carnival, there’s fun for everyone—and it’s all to support those who might not have a lot to party about.

What began as a theatrical garden party in 1954 eventually evolved into today’s annual tradition of rides, food, and music in Wynberg. For toddlers to teens, there’s a giant revolving swing set, clowns and balloon sculptors, and an under-18 dance party, and the food is an attraction in itself. The booths represent authentic cuisines from 9 countries including Holland, Italy, Austria, and Mexico, so you’ll feel like you’ve travelled far and wide, even though your kids are nearby entertaining themselves on the rides.

Thanks to some 9,000 volunteers, the 90 tents of food and fun provide an enjoyable way to give back. The 4-day carnival’s proceeds benefit more than 400 organisations throughout the province. (Just don’t let the kids eat too much candy floss before they go into the jumping castle – that’s not the kind of “giving back” the carnival is hoping to receive.)

The event runs from 29 February to 3 March, and tickets can be purchased from R5 for pensioners to an R25 family ticket, depending on the day. With all the excitement, it’s no wonder the event has been running for 59 years and attracts more than 80,000 people!

Community Chest Carnival; Maynardville Park; 021 424 3344; www.comchest.org.za

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 OnMilwaukee

Dinner and a movie. OK, so maybe it’s cliché, but it’s a classic date night for a reason. And really, what’s not to love? So speaking of love, why not take yours to the two-in-one Il Cappero where they’ll bring both meal and movie to you.

Italians know romance and good food, and this Roman husband and Sicilian wife know how to do Valentine’s Day right. Aldo and Cetti met aboard a commercial yacht (Aldo was the captain, and Cetti was the chef), and after marrying and cruising around the world together, they docked permanently in Cape Town. The two are still sailing smooth at Il Cappero, where Aldo runs the front of the house, and Cetti is still creating authentic plates that will transport you right to Italy.

Il Cappero (“the caper,” an ode to that salty star of Italian cuisine) has selected a 3-course Valentine’s Day menu, so choose from options like their famous arancine Sicilane (fried rice balls stuffed with meat and cheese) and their cannoli Sicilane. Then move your chair closer to your sweet and continue to be waited upon as Roman Holiday begins to roll. Featuring the dashing Gregory Peck and the exquisite Audrey Hepburn, this 1953 classic film is a perfect match to a tantalizing Italian meal.

For those who loathe fighting the dining crowds on the holiday of hearts, enjoy Il Cappero’s dinner and a movie Valentine’s special any time from 11-19 February. Get cozy, open up the wine list, and enjoy a quintessential date night duo.

Il Cappero; 3 Barrack Street; +27 (0)21 461 3168; www.ilcappero.co.za

Photo courtesy Zoe Henry

“I to the world am like a drop of water
That in the ocean seeks another drop,
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself.” (1.2.36)

Don’t let rhyme and rhythm intimidate you. Just because it’s Shakespeare doesn’t mean the work is impossible to understand. And that’s even more true when the Bard is in the hands of the players at Maynardville’s open air theatre who bring the late-1500s British play closer to the present day. To the 1970s, to be exact. Though still in Elizabethan speak, they’re featuring A Comedy of Errors themed as Kung Fu cinema. Let your inner Bruce Lee roundhouse kick his way out of you, yet still make a cultured claim of seeing one of theatre’s greats.

For the newbies to Poet Will, this age-old tale is a good ease-into-Shakespeare play. It’s easy to follow and walloped with humor. Two sets of twins get separated in childhood – one master, one servant in each pair – and unbeknownst to them, all four reappear in the same city years later. The townspeople and relatives misidentify the lookalikes, and chaos and confusion assault the stage. Then see it all with yellow Adidas track suits, glo-sticks, and platform boots!

Per usual Maynardville theatregoers, pack a picnic beforehand (or pre-order one), and grab some snacks and hot chocolate at intermission. It’s a fun yet sophisticated way to enjoy the glorious summer evenings, but buy your tickets now because the show ends on 18 February!

Maynardville Open-Air Theatre; 20 Piers Street; www.maynardville.co.za

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