It’s another weekend like any other… or is it? Well that depends on how much stock you put into a day whose origins possibly lie rooted with naked youths running through the streets beating women with a stick in the hopes of magically making them pregnant. Can you tell I am not a fan of Valentines day? This is largely because relationships and myself are generally not on speaking terms, and even when we are Valentine’s Day often just comes in like that drunk friend and causes trouble for everyone. So this week’s weekender will be deliberately void of any Valentines Day related events:
Thursday, 05 February 2015
Thursday is Art Day this will never change and for this I am glad. Cape Town may have their First Thursdays that are dedicated to art, but here in the Big Smoke we take it that one step further and make every Thursday a celebration of our cities creative.
First off is 14/15: An Exhibition of Work by the Wits Art Students of 2014. This is the perfect opportunity to see what up and coming talent Joburg has to offer. Chances are one of these guys or girls will be the next Kentridge.
It will also be the inaugural and naming event of a new exhibition space that is opening in Braamfontein. This is code for its going to be a massive party.
DETAILS
14/15
Time: 18h00
Venue: Noswell Hall, Corner Bertha and Stiemens str, Braamfontein
Entrance is free

A short drive away is the opening of Brokeback Jozi at the Mzansi Gallery in Mellville.
From the artists description below it sounds like it will be a celebration of a deep seated love for this city and everything that makes it great. If you have an inkling of Love for Joburg, even if it’s just as a friend then this exhibition was made just for you.
“Johannesburg is my home, I’ve walked its streets and spoken through its walls. Brokeback Jozi is an expression of the people who survive and thrive in the belly of this dangerous and beautiful organism that is Jozi.”
DETAILS:
Brokeback Jozi
Venue: Mzansi Gallery, 12A 7th Street Melville
Time: 18h30
Tickets: Free entrance

Friday, 06  February 2015
Come Friday I suggest to all lovers of great  music that you find a friend in Pretoria with a comfy couch or even better a spare bed, because you are going to want to take a trip to Arcade Empire in Pretoria for Psych Night. They are hosting California based band The Allah-Las.
Basically every music critic is lining up to fellate these guys. They are a 60s revivalist that bring back visions of warm summer days on the beach. They are also being supported by the best band in the entirety of Gauteng at the moment:
Make-Overs
Medicine Boy
Bye Beneco
The Moths
SOL GEMS
DETAILS:
Psych Night
Venue: Arcade Empire, 265 The Highway Street, Pretoria
Time: 20h00
Tickets: R120 pre-sold & R150 at the door

Saturday, 31 January 2015
Okay so I lied about not suggesting any Valentines Day themed events for this weekend, but this one if for the love of our most loyal friends. They’re soft and fluffy and have four legs and will love you til the day they die, even if you treat them terribly (if you do treat them terribly you deserve to be locked up). My best friend recently died at the ripe old age of 17 so I cannot help but put the word out to aid her furry compadres.
This Saturday Tutto Food Co. is hosting a Valentines day picnic in George Hay Park in aid of The Society for Animals in Distress. The only entrance fee is some pet food, dry or wet I am sure would be much appreciated.
Picnics are also probably the best thing to happen to romance, and life in general since even before sliced bread (ripping apart a good crusty loaf is way better than preservative filled convenience anyway).
So whether you’re in a romance, bromance, froumance, or even a no-mance you should definitely pack a picnic basket and help out those that just want to give you their love, but are sadly denied the same in return.
Tutto Food the hosts being a food truck also means that even if you are too lazy to pack a picnic there will be great nosh on sale for you to indulge in.
DETAILS:
Valentine’s Picnic
Venue: George Hay Park, Randburg
Time: 11h00
Tickets: Pet Food Donation

Sunday, 25 January 2015
It seems Sunday is void of any major events that I can find that are worth writing home about.
Jo’burg has probably realised that most of us will be so tangled in sheets we won’t be able to get out of bed, or we will be suffering from  a chocolate hangover, or perhaps acute hay fever from all the flowers.
What I did manage to find however is that the Lipizzaners are performing. This is something of a nostalgia bomb for me and I realise may not be up everyone’s alley, but I highly recommend you go see them at least once the majestic beauty of these animals and the skill of their trainers really is on another level.
DETAILS
Lipizzaners, a Valentine’s performance
Venue: Lipizzaner Centre, 1 Dahlia Road, Kyalami
Time: 10h30
Tickets online: R70-140

The post Alex’s Weekender: Johannesburg appeared first on .