Musings

90 Degrees on Rivonia is emptying out.  The video shop and two of the restaurants folded a long time ago. Polpetta Restaurant moved to the Wedge in May 2018. Nandos has moved opposite MacDonald's in Rivonia (and added a drive-through). Crew Men's Grooming has now closed. Peers & Fisher Optometrists moved to Dunkeld West. Portable Shades of Beauty upstairs has been replaced by Abina's New Look Hair Salon. It isn't clear if the night club, Sankayi, still exists, but much of its space is empty.

We are left with FishAways and Steers Morningside (one franchise), the 24-hour Spar, the Spar Tops bottle store, and the Engen Garage. Well, OK, the hairdresser upstairs and the Dry Cleaners in the basement.

This decline is sad for us at the newsletter. Ninety Degrees (then called "The Pavilion") was the first shopping centre we listed on the Megaplex website early in this century. It rapidly became our most popular page. We then added Morning Glen Mall –not the Mall of today (that is even now being replaced by the mall of tomorrow), but the much smaller, one-storey version... That then became our most popular page. We added more and more shopping centres and precincts. The Megaplex site now covers most of Sandton and Bryanston, except for that centre at the corner of Rivonia Road and Sandton Drive that no-one goes to anymore because it is so crowded.

Will 90 Degrees (named for the shape of the centre) recover, or disappear altogether?  We await developments.

Odd Jobs

A waiter in a grill house must be a "steakholder", right?

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

• Nando's Restaurant & (New) Drive-Thru moved from 90° on Rivonia to 777 Rivonia Road in Rivonia – the world's best Chicken Restaurant. Famous flame-grilled peri-peri chicken for the gourmet pollovore. Eat in or take away. Has a generator.
• Peers & Fisher Optometrists moved from Shop 9 in 90° on Rivonia to Dunkeld West Centre Shop Number 5, Corner Jan Smuts Avenue and Bompas Rd, Dunkeld West, Johannesburg.
• Sandton Wound Clinic (now The Wound & Stoma Clinic) moved from Cramerview Village to Suite G05, Main Building Ground Floor, Sandton Mediclinic, Cnr Main Rd & Peter Place, Bryanston.
• Amici Pizzeria has rebranded as Pizza Mezza in Cramerview Village – Italian restaurant. Salads, starts, pasta, pizza, desserts..
• Ocean Basket, Shop 09, Ground in Rivonia Village – Fish, Seafood and Sushi Restaurant. Fish & chips. Lunch-hour specials. Open 11:30 - 22:00 Daily.
• Escobar Lounge Bar, in Cramerview Village – Up the stairs (not disabled-friendly).
• Yamama Gemmer, in Cramerview Village – Homemade Ginger Beer, since 2010.
• Intermodal Freight (Suite 113), First Floor in Cramerview Village – Clearing, forwarding, integrated logistics, local and long distance: DBN CPT PLZ JHB.
• Moloi & Co Accountants, First Floor in Cramerview Village – Established June 2010. "There is strength in numbers".
• RO3 Oasis Water Randburg on the back car park in Cramerview Village – RO purified and oxygenated bottled water. Refilling of bottles.
• Crossfit Bryanston, Unit 10B on the back car park in Cramerview Village.
• Reach Your Genetic Potential, located on the back car park in Cramerview Village – Specialized programs developed by experts, combined with evidence-based athletic assessments, meal plans, high tech anthropometric and metabolic testing. This assists you to gain a truly balanced and fulfilled lifestyle.
• The Yoga Co on the back car park in Cramerview Village – Inspiration for joyful living.
• Simply French, Shop 30b on the back car park in Cramerview Village – Workshops and home interior gifts, furniture, products and services. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint: With it you can paint anything (glass, wood, fabric, concrete, metal, plastic).
• Buttons & Bows, Shop 31B on the back car park in Cramerview Village – Haberdashery shop: Wide range of wool, buttons, zips, and thread.
• MicroJet SA, Shop C1, Building C in Woodmead Commercial Park – Top quality demo home appliances: Fridge, freezers, microwave ovens, dishwashers. One stop appliances.
• National Locksmiths, Shop A, Building A in Woodmead Commercial Park – "Your key to security": Car key coding, vehicle, office, and home assistance.
• Rear Vew Images (Kiosk), South Wing in Woodmead Retail Park – Canvas Prints. Kiosk in the atrium outside MTN. R120 for 10 x 10 cm to R999 for 80 x 80 cm.
• Pick 'n Pay Liquor, Shop 01, South Wing in Woodmead Retail Park – Everything in the way of liquor and cold drinks that you could want. At the east (inner) entrance to the Hypermarket.
• Old Mutual, Shop 07, South Wing in Woodmead Retail Park – Tax Free Investing, Retirement Annuities, Life, Car & Travel Insurance, Funeral Cover, Medical Gap Cover, Personal Loans R2,000–R200,000.
• Eden Tech Woodmead, Shop 23, Restaurant Block in Woodmead Retail Park – Audio/Electronic, PC, Cellphone & Photo.
• Brooklyn Biltong Woodmead, North Wing in Woodmead Retail Park – Biltong and dry wors. Right next to the ABSA ATM.
• Icool Life, Ground in Rivonia Village – Gifts, clothes and an array of other interesting products.

Restaurant Reviews by Judith Back to top

*** Ocean Basket, Rivonia Village, Rivonia

Newly opened, replacing Pizza Luna, this restaurant was not yet licensed when we went there. Boulevard Cellars opposite helpfully filled the gap. The tables were dusty and the chairs had no cushions on them. Metilia gave good service and the Jupiter Meze platter that we shared was good. Can recommend for the food and hope that management improves.

Contact Details for Ocean Basket.  Back to top

***** STK Grill House, Morningview Shopping Centre, South Road

A return visit after a few months, Bheki was a great waiter. We had hot chocolate and Flagstone Poetry Cabernet. For food, I chose the small fillet with creamed spinach and my partner the rump. Both steaks were melt-in-the-mouth. This place is great and full of big welcomes and great attention.

Contact Details for STK Grill House.  Back to top

Funny Language, English...

On the Word "Connoisseur":
I have such eclectic eating habits that friends refer to me as a “common sewer” of food! –John D. Laskowski,  Pennsylvania in AWADmail Issue 908.

Unanimated:  Back to top

• The Massage Company in Rivonia Area Shops – Was at Pilates pH at 777 Rivonia Road.
• MediSpace Wellness Institute in Rivonia Area Shops – Cnr Rivonia Rd & 7th Avenue, Client-focused health model supported by scientific research, designed to promote longevity, slow down the effects of chronic stress and prevent lifestyle diseases.
• Weight Loss Centre in Rivonia Area Shops – Discard habits that sabotage your weight and health, Shed centimetres/kilograms.  Was at 777 Rivonia Road.
• Crew Men's Grooming, Shop 8 in 90° on Rivonia – Men's hairdressers. Hair, Health & Beauty - Hair Salon. "For the total male grooming experience".
• Skin Dynamix, Shop 06 in Cramerview Village – Beauty salon offering a variety of skincare treatments. Lamelle, Africology, Dermalogica.
• French Corner Bakery & Coffee in Cramerview Village – Breakfasts, light meals, catering, coffee, pastries. Catering, platters for events.
• ZAKspeed Electronic World, Shop C1 in in Woodmead Commercial Park – Audiovisual and multimedia wholesale and retail: Car sound systems, public address, disco, home theatre, computers.
• Beauty Shack, Shop C2 in Woodmead Commercial Park – Cheap toilet paper and cosmetics.
• Floors Direct, Shop C3 in Woodmead Commercial Park – Leaders in wood and laminated flooring, vinyl and carpets.
• Demo Warehouse, Shop C5 in Woodmead Commercial Park – "The largest demo reseller of electronic goods and appliances in Southern Africa. Best deals on demo models and b-grade stock". Appliances, electronics, laundry.
• Isjon Hair & Image, Shop 07 in Woodmead Retail Park – Upmarket unisex hair salon. Hair & Image. (Johan & Rista are qualified "image consultants"). Make-up, makeovers. Was in South Wing.
• Vets Mart, Shop 05 in Woodmead Retail Park – Pet foods, veterinary medicines, pet toys. Dog and Cat shampoo, chews, pet baskets, leads, name tags, collars. Parrot accessories. Was South Wing.

Thought for the Day:

Every day is a gift; that's why it's called "The Present". –Netflorist slogan (nevertheless true).

Feature: Gardening with Brig. (ret'd) "Nuke" Killer:

Anonymous of Rivonia writes: "After the rains, my garden is full of weeds. What is the best way to get rid of them?"

The Brigadier replies, "Personally, I use a flamethrower that I borrow from the nearby military base.  Gives a great show.  If you're not so fortunate, you can pull them out by hand, or help reduce unemployment by hiring someone.

"Mind you, from the point of view of ecology, weeds are pioneer plants.  As a pioneer nation, we should welcome them!  Leave them alone.  You will have a lovely green garden with no work, and next season they will have fertilized the soil for other plants. Meanwhile you can eat some of them, Marog for example.  However, I'd draw the line at our exotic gift from the British, blackjacks."

Old Mayor; New Mayor?

Yesterday was the last working day of Herman Mashaba as mayor of Johannesburg.  Within the limitations (such as having to appease the EFF), he did a good job.  Corruption in the metro has been slashed. Over 1000 new traffic officers have been added to the force to supplement the SAPS.  The unsafe M2 bridges have been fixed (but more remain).  Many roads were resurfaced for the first time in two decades.  Staff have been insourced.  Construction has increased in the city.  Well done, Mr Mashaba!  We hope your successor will be able to do as well.

As we write this, the cliff-hanger election for the new mayor has been postponed to next week. Will the ANC take us back to the dark days of corruption, cronyism, and carelessness?  Will the DA maintain Mashaba's magnificent legacy?  Will the EFF somehow win and give us more land invasions, racism and chaos?

Overheard at the Checkout (about a year ago)

"Judy! What are you doing in the shops on Black Friday?"

"Hi Thandi; shopping, of course – why?"

"Don't you know? Black Friday is only for us blacks: That's why it is called Black Friday!"