WATCH: Get a taste of diverse cultures this July in Jozi

EVER wondered what our big old concrete jungle has on offer during the cold winter months?

Then look no further! The CHRONICLE took to the streets and found some hot spots and places you simply must visit.

Top of Africa

Find the Top of Africa at the top of the Carlton Centre in downtown Johannesburg. Its 50 storeys make it Africa’s tallest building at 223 m (732 ft). With magnificent views, it gives you a 360-degree picture of the city, particularly on a clear day and at sunset. It just fails to make the list of the world’s top 100 skyscrapers, by a mere 40m.

On a clear day you can see as far as the capital city of Pretoria, and at any time of year you’ll be amazed at the number of trees you’ll see – more than a million of them – making it the biggest urban forest in the world. Top of Africa is in Johannesburg’s downtown Central Business District at 150 Commissioner Street. The best times to visit are Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm or Sunday 9am to 2pm. With Constitution Hill, Gandhi Square, Market Theatre, Nelson Mandela Bridge, the Apartheid Museum and Gold Reef City all part of the Johannesburg City Sightseeing Bus tour, this is a must-see. The amazing view costs only R15 for adults and R10 for children under 12.

Visit the Johannesburg City Sightseeing Bus tour site here (https://city-sightseeing.com/en/108/johannesburg)

Kitchener’s Carvery Bar

Karaoke Night is every Sunday. Let down your hair and warm up your vocal cords for a night of karaoke. Bring your friends over to Kitchener’s Carvery Bar on the corner of Juta and De Beer streets from 6pm till late, for a fun night of singing and dancing – as there is a great prize to be won each week. Entrance is free.

Laughter is the best medicine at Comedy Night. Comedy Night is held at Kitchener’s Carvery Bar every Tuesday from 8pm until late and entrance is R30. For more information on these two events contact 011 403 0166 or visit them on Facebook: Kitcheners Carvery Bar.

Sunset Sundays

Sunset Sundays are held every Sunday at Republic of 94, on 94 Juta Street in Braamfontein. Come for a wind-down and enjoy relaxed vibes with friends after a crazy week and refresh yourself for the new week ahead. It runs from 12.30pm until 10pm. For more information visit Sunset Sundays on Facebook and Instagram.

Pick-me-up Poetry

Are you a poet and you don’t even know it? Be sure to check out Pick-me-up Poetry at the Melville Grill Lounge on 76 4th Avenue, Melville from 7pm to 9pm every Tuesday. With amazing food and drink specials at the Grill Lounge, be sure to bring along your friends. There is an open mike with awesome prizes with each week’s mystery poetry challenge. For more information visit Pick-me-up Poetry on Facebook.

Market on Main

Market on Main is a weekly upmarket market that trades in regional foods and local design and takes place every Sunday at Arts on Main, downtown Johannesburg from 10am to 3pm on 264 Fox Street and Berea Road, Maboneng.

For regular updates and announcements please like their Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Visit : https://www.mabonengprecinct.com/ or https://marketonmain.co.za/ or call 011 592 0513.

Neighbourgoods Market Johannesburg

The Market is a source of speciality foods and goods – a meeting point to enjoy the community, swap ideas and be inspired by the energy of Johannesburg. It is at 73 Juta Street, Braamfontein. For more information contact 081 416 2605.

First Thursdays

On the first Thursday of every month there is a walk between galleries and cultural attractions in Braamfontein and Rosebank from the afternoon hours till late in the evening. The July edition will be held on July 6. The next First Thursday in Braamfontein will start from The Point of Order (corner Bertha and Stiemans Streets, Noswal Hall).

• The first stop will be the Wits Art Museum (corner Bertha and Jorissen Streets) and the theme will be One Colour at a Time: Contemporary Screenprints – Printmaking workshop with Prints on Paper.
• The next stops are Stevenson (62 Juta Street), Kalashnikovv Gallery on 153 Smit Service Street, Umuzi on 3 Reserve Street and Once in Joburg on 90 De Korte Street.
• You end your evening off at The Orbit Live Music and Bistro on 81 De Korte Street.

WATCH:

If you would like to spend your first Thursday in Rosebank, then start it off at SunshineCo on 29A Keyes Avenue. The next stops are:

• CIRCA Gallery on 2 Jellicoe Avenue where Liza Grobler and Giggs Kgole will be exhibiting, SMAC Gallery (first floor The Trumpet, Keyes Art Mile),
• WHATIFTHEWORLD and Southern Guild Gallery on 19 Keyes Avenue, Keyes Art Mile on 19 Keyes Avenue, Goodman Gallery at 163 Jan Smuts Avenue, Bolton Road Collection (corner Bolton and Jan Smuts Avenue), Res Gallery, David Krut Projects and Priest Jhb on 142 Jan Smuts Avenue.
• Don’t miss Gallery2, Lizamore and Associates on 155 Jan Smuts Avenue and finally end off at Goethe-Institut on 119 Jan Smuts Avenue.

For all you need to know about First Thursdays visit them on Facebook and Instagram under First Thursdays Johannesburg.

For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.

Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za

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