Welcome to Megaplex's monthly newsletter alerting the Sandton shopper to the new and interesting in Benmore Gardens, Bryanston, Morningside, Morningside Manor, Gallo Manor, Rivonia, Sunninghill, Petervale, Wendywood, Woodmead and Kelvin. Please feel free to support our advertisers! To subscribe, see our subscription page.
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Moving East: Kelvin VillageIn a historic event (not much noticed by the Press), the Megaplex web site has expanded east across the M1, and we now have web pages for all the shopping centres in Kelvin, namely Kelvin Village Shopping Centre. The centre is laid out in two wings and two levels. There is one entrance from the car park; the passage then splits into two wings. The right wing is the road more travelled, leading at the end to the anchor tenant, Pick 'n Pay's Kelvin Family Store and dry cleaners. The left wing has the hardware store, the liquor sellers and the fast-food joints. West meets east in Mochachos Chicken Village where you can get Mexican-themed chicken dishes –all Halaal. There are "old fashioned" take-aways at Fish and Chips. Between the two wings, one descends the stairs or ramp to the lower level. Here are the post office, post boxes and public toilets, the launderette, a hair salon and the perhaps vainglorious Kelvin Medical Centre containing a GP and a dentist. If you prefer mumbo-jumbo to science, the "divinely gifted" Ancient Health Care next door should suit you. Or send a bouquet from Sandown Flowers run by Ms McRose! As befits a neighbourhood centre, Kelvin Village has many of the usual shops: Vodacom, a Day Spa, Pizzeria (Gian Carlos), Pharmacy, and Video & Internet Café – all close to the entrance. Deeper in (left wing), there's a cute little kitchenware shop, Kitchen Mania, run by Kala. Her husband Viz runs the Village Spice Shop almost next door, stocking Indian spices, incense and teas: Worth visiting just for the fragrances. Finally, for those mad about cars, Zero to Hundred, on your left as you enter, does car modification, styling, and accessories. Judging by their concern that we might advertise them, they could know about things like drag racing too... Nearby, there's the pretty Engen garage with its QuickShop, and this month's restaurant find: Cesco's – see review below. Megaplex's web page for Kelvin Village Shopping Centre is here.
Overheard"Are you going away for the holidays?" "Yes, my new boyfriend's taking me to Haga-Haga. It's in the Transkei." "I heard it's close to Kisi-Kisi, but if you get to Lufikifiki you've gone way too far!" New on the Block Back to top
Restaurant Review by Judith Back to top**** Cesco's Portuguese Restaurant & Pub (Kelvin), 18 Southway just south of Kelvin Village Shopping Centre, 19 November 2011A very different restaurant and one that was booked out on the night, although we did wonder where the patrons for the area below us were, as this remained empty the whole time we sat and ate in the non-smoking bar! The car park in huge, but needs to be much larger as, when we left, the road was also full of parked cars. This certainly points to Cesco's popularity and we are interested in joining the Science Fiction group (who had their annual dinner) in the future. The first thing that struck us was that they had possibly too few waiters to cope with the patrons. The second thing was that the waiters were cool under pressure. They only had Appletizer and red Grapetizer in plastic bottles; this was of concern since these ones are enhanced with preservatives, which destroys the flavour and purity of the drink. Fortunately, white Grapetizer was still available preservative-free in glass. The Tall Horse Sauvignon Blanc was a great find – too few restaurants stock this really good, affordable range of wines! On the food front, we started with Chicken livers and squid heads, accompanied by a chilli sauce on the side. A bit too much parsley in chilli made it difficult to locate the chillies but once found they were suitably strong! For our main course we had the bar menu's liver and onions and the Prego roll. Both were good and I made an satisfying end to the chillies with the Prego! Service was good and the evening was very enjoyable. The other parties in the restaurant seem to be enjoying themselves too –definitely a place for corporate events and parties! Contact Details for Cesco's Portuguese Restaurant & Pub.
At the COP17 RestaurantA koala bear goes into the endangered species restaurant and orders some eucalyptus leaves. He eats them and asks for the bill. The waiter brings it and, making friendly conversation, says "you know, we don't get many koalas here." The koala looks at the bill and says, "at these prices, I'm not surprised!" Gone, not yet Forgotten... Back to top
Checking Out: The Bleeding Edge Back to topWe are coming up to Holiday Season. Many of us are going away. Some won't return. Accidents don't just happen to other people! If you had a crash and needed a blood transfusion, would there be blood? There's no guarantee, of course, but you can do a bit to help your survival and that of your family, by donating blood before you go away. It takes under an hour, and hurts a bit: Be brave, it builds character! You leave with a gift if you donated four or more times in the year, and suffused with the warm glow that comes of having done something valuable for your community. The Blood Transfusion Service (SANBS) has clinics at The Colony, Jan Smuts Avenue, and Game Shopping Centre, Fourways. They open on weekdays for approximately office hours, and Saturday mornings. See the advert on the left for contact details. [Judith's comment - I am on Warfarin and so unhappy that I can no longer contribute!] Getting the Last LaughWho would have thought? Even his detractors, who have always found him unappealing, have to admit that at the moment Julius Malema is appealing. |
Your name in print! Would you like to contribute a shop- or restaurant review, a joke, or something else for this Newsletter? Please e-mail us. You will get full credit (unless you want anonymity). Reach 3198 shoppers and shop-owners: Advertise in this newsletter! Editor: Rick Raubenheimer.