Bryanston Shopping Centre is Back!

The revamp is finished at Bryanston Shopping Centre (corner of William Nicol and Ballyclare Drives). The tower now looks like something that belongs on the Mars Rover or in the Square Kilometre Array, but otherwise the revamp has done wonders for the centre.  It is now light and airy, clean and bright.  Fountain Court (the large main courtyard) is weatherproof.  A few shops did not survive the ordeal (see "gone" below), but the majority appear to be hanging in there.

The Organic Market is back too, and will be held on 27 January and 28 February from 09:00 to 14 00 in the Fountain Court.  Some 23 vendors are participating in the January Organic Market, with wares ranging from fruit, vegetables and organic olive oil to wire & bead work, home-produced perfumes to Eastern artefacts, pearls to Himalayan lamps!

Funny Language, English...

High-end fashion jewellery. Silver, pearls and gemstones for all occasions. Shop D9, Hobart Grove Centre, Bryanston. www.marshajjewellery.com 011 7075268

New on the Block  Back to top

• J's Café, Lower Level in The Square Sunninghill have re-launched under a new name, with new menu and new look as Ritual Café – Light meals, contemporary ambience: Food such as ricotta hotcakes, sweetcorn fritters and Buns in the Oven. Local premium beers like Darling, @Union & Jack Black.
• Emara Life in Rivonia Area, 15 Wessels Road (Rivonia Post Boxes Building, Entrance in Ninth Ave): Health, wellness and education services: Fitness, pole dancing, Physiotherapy, Biokinetics, Martial Arts, Kids lessons and fitness.
• Top Cash in Sandton Court – Instant Cash Loans, pawn valuables, sell to them, or buy. Buys 9ct & 18ct gold items, diamonds and Kruger Rands.
• Bag Town, Lower Level in Rivonia Oriental City – All kinds of bags, handbags, travel luggage.

Odd Jobs

Double Restaurant Review by Judith Back to top

***** Casa da Galina, The Codfather Group of Restaurants, 1st Ave corner Rivonia Road

A late night meal after a presentation and discussion at Wits seemed in order as the snacks were very salty there.  Casa Galina is a restaurant in the Codfather group and has a Portuguese flavour.  The service is excellent and waiters have a real sense of humour!  The non-smoking area was nearly deserted and the electricity went on and off initially.  Then the lights came on for the rest of the evening - Eskom or a kitchen fault?  Who's complaining.

We ordered hot chocolate and Spier Savignon Blanc, plus a Prego roll and clams.  Sadly no clams and none were available at Food Lovers that day either.  Changed the order to Lullas Calamari.  Gloria, our waitress, organised everything perfectly.  The Prego was excellent, the calamari superb.  Her hearty laugh at our jokes made the evening great and the wine was excellent

Contact Details for Casa da Galinha.

*** Taste of India, Early Dawn Mall, Rivonia Boulevard & 9th Ave

You might think we love curry - only too true because I do!  Standard hot chocolate and a good dry white wine accompanied by their samoosas - vegetable this time - set the evening up for relaxation.  We decided to share a Lamb Korma and a Garlic Nan.  There was a slight mess-up here - the Nan never arrived and was duly credited back.

However the Lamb Korma was wonderful.  Service needs jacking up a bit.  We can really recommend the food.

Contact Details for Taste of India.

J.R. of Morningside Manor writes:

I totally agree with the review in December on the new Piza e Vino at the Wedge. The pizzas my husband and I had were shocking. The bases were soggy and on the one the topping was so scant and to make up for the lack of topping the pizza was then smothered in a cream sauce from a "squeeze" bottle. Non edible and no one was interested in our concern.

Gone... Back to top

• Avastar Night Club, Restaurant, Café, & Sports Bar in Rivonia Area – Closed, not before time, many residents would say.
• Animania, Shop 1, Lower Level in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Vet shop for all dog and cat products.
• KJ’s Ladies' Classic Casuals, Lower Level in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Ladies' Fashion & Accessories.

Dangerous Food

Julius nearly drowned in his breakfast muesli the other morning.

It seems a strong currant pulled him in.

Public Interest: Claim for Your Pothole Damage!  Back to top

Cllr. Vincent Earp (Ward 103) writes:

"Dear Residents, Johannesburg City is insured against its liability for damage caused to motor vehicles by potholes. Over the past 12 months, as our roads have continued their general decline, I have received an increasing number of queries regarding claims against the City for damages caused to residents' property.  Residents wishing to claim for damage caused by potholes should send their claims to Bonolo Ramohlala, e-mail: bramohlala@jra.org.za or Tel: 011 298 5148.  Residents should also report potholes to hotline@jra.org.za or 0860 563 874."

Civic Beat: Joburg City 2013 Rates Policy Meeting this Saturday

On Saturday 26 January 2013 from 10:00-12:00, the City of Joburg will hold hold a public meeting to review the Property Rates Policy, at the Marlboro Gardens Recreation Centre, 52 Zinnia Drive cor. Pansy Crescent, Marlboro Gardens (GPS -26.09249,28.09731).  If you are a ratepayer and unhappy about current Rates policy, why not go along and make your voice heard?  Although it is technically for Region E (Sandton, Alexandra, Houghton, etc), anyone from anywhere in the city can go along.  Other meetings are listed here on the Joburg City website.

At exactly the same time, the Democratic Alliance will be holding a table at Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre.  Come and join the DA, meet your City Councillors, and complain about the Rates and the potholes.

The Checkout:  Back to top

A serious appeal this time: The Animal Anti-Cruelty League in Regents Park Johannesburg (Phone 011 435 0672) is looking for a home for two retired Metro Police Dogs -  Prince and Puna.  Puna is a 6-year-old male German Shepherd, black & tan in colour, a bit skittish.  Prince is a 10-year-old male Labrador, beige in colour, who likes to dig.

Description: "We are retired Johannesburg Metro Police Dogs. We have served the city proudly and kept it safe for years. We have been entrusted to the AACL as we know they will do their best to find us our retirement homes. We may be a little hard of hearing and short of sight but our training and discipline (although we like to play the fool sometimes) will have us walking perfectly on lead when accompanying you on your morning and afternoon stroll. All we want is a soft bed, gentle voice and a spot in the sun. Please adopt us."

The Editor thinks it is ungrateful of Joburg Metro Police not to provide for the retirement of their Service Dogs, but instead to give them to the AACL who will put them down eventually if no homes are found.  If you have a good home and R600, you can help (Metro Police didn't neuter these dogs, so you'd pay for that, and they don't provide pet medical cover, so you'll have all future vet's bills too).