AFTER the busy weekend last week, what with an array of Halloween activities and the Rugby World Cup Final, it’s time to take it slower. Here are some gentle activities for the refined music and art lover and those who enjoy a stroll around a Saturday market.
Thursday, November 2
KZN Philharmonic’s Spring Season Concert 3
The orchestra’s Spring Season runs every Thursday from October 19 to November 9. Concerts take place in the Playhouse Opera Theatre at 19:00.
This week, on November 2, will be Concert 3 where Daniel Boico will open the night with Franz Schubert’s joyous Rosamunde Overture.
American virtuoso Nikita Mndoyants will showcase Beethoven’s Piano Concerto in C Minor which was first performed in April 1803.
The orchestra will also perform Bruch’s Third Symphony in E Major. Max Bruch is a German Romantic composer who lived from 1838 to 1920 and who composed more than 200 works.
Please note that this performance may be filmed. By entering the event, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur.
Season tickets are only available through the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s offices at marketing@kznphil.org.za or 031 369 9438. Single tickets may be purchased through Quicket. Concert 3’s tickets can be purchased here: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/235810-kzn-philharmonic-orchestra-2023-spring-symphony-season-concert-3/#/
There will be tea and symphony concerts for the final rehearsal every Thursday morning at 10:00 in the Playhouse Opera. Tickets are R50 for adults throughout. Unreserved seating is available at the downstairs stalls, and the Playhouse Coffee Corner is open for coffee and light snacks.
A special gift to orchestra aficionados: The KZN Philharmonic offers a Park and Ride service – a bus running from the Upper Highway area, passing through Musgrave and another one running from uMhloti, passing through the north Durban area. For more information, call 031 369 9438, email bookings@kznphil.org.za or visit www.kznphil.org.za
Friday, November 3
Support Careways non-profit by visiting their night market
Careways will host their night market on Friday, November 3, at the Kloof Civic Hall from 17:00 to 19:00. Visitors can look forward to delicious food and drinks and a variety of stalls, as well as a secure indoor children’s play area. Santa will also be visiting. Thomas Ras and Kyle McGladdery will come with some items that can be won at the spin-and-win table.
Careways is a non-profit organisation that reaches out to the intellectually impaired adult. Their goal is to provide daycare centres where those attending are involved in a variety of activities or outings; to provide a service to families of those persons who have intellectual disabilities and to provide life-long care in residential facilities.
These objectives are pursued within an environment underpinned by Christian faith and values.
Saturday, November 4
A Westville 031 market called the Buzz Market
Come along with your family to 38 Pitlochry Road, Westville, next door to the Garden Centre, on Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00.
The Buzz is a local, community market that started out of necessity during the Covid-19 lockdown and is now a regular Saturday feature in the heart of Westville. Find local unique and authentic gifts; delicious organic vegetables; funky clothing with a local flair; decadent treats, including brownies, biscotti, muffins and malva; boerie rolls, Indian delights and home-crafted sauces; decor and jewellery, and as always, delish coffee.
A Denis Hurley Centre Street Lit bookseller also will be there with quality second-hand books!
For more info, contact info@buzzmarket.co.za.
Black November Market Day
Enjoy a full day of fun with the kids at Munies Hockey Club in Greyville, opposite the Botanic Gardens from 08:00 to 19:00. There will be a mini circus, a clown, some comedy, pony rides, an inflatable theme park and food stalls.
For more information, contact Ballito Markets on 083 628 5801 / 082 757 3535.
Support Lovemark’s Market
Lovemark is hosting their Christmas Craft Market on Saturday, November 4, at the Onomo Hotel, 56 KE Masinga Road in Stamford Hill. It will be from 09:00 until 15:00. There will be original crafters of fashion, organic beauty, essential oils and herbs and much more. There will also be live music.
Lovemarks supports local talented entrepreneurs. They also do skills development classes for unemployed adults and teens living in poverty.
All weekend
Bonsai show at Botanic Gardens
Residents and bonsai tree enthusiasts will be in a pint-sized paradise this weekend as the South African Bonsai Convention show comes to the Durban Botanic Gardens. The Durban Bonsai Society will host the South African Bonsai Convention on Saturday, November 4 (from 08:00 to 17:00) and Sunday, November 5 (from 08:00 to 13:00) at the Durban Botanic Gardens, 9A John Zikhali Rd.
Martin Naidoo, a bonsai enthusiast and a member of the Durban Bonsai Society, has encouraged Durbanites to come out in their numbers for the two-day show.
“The Durban Bonsai Society is hosting the convention for the first time since 2011, and it will see different Bonsai societies around South Africa take part. The general public will have access to the show side of things over the two days. There will be bonsai tree sales, tree clinics, displays and demonstrations on the days. It is also an opportunity for the public to learn more about the art but also how to take care of your bonsai trees. We hope the community will come out and support the event,” he said.
Tickets cost R30 for adults, R20 for pensioners and children U12 are free. You can also find the club on Facebook under the name Durban Bonsai Society as well as on Instagram.
Peruse pure wonder at the Durban Art Gallery with Pitika Ntuli’s acclaimed exhibition
Pitika Ntuli’s solo exhibition, Azibuyele Emasisweni (Return to the Source), curated by Ruzy Rusike, is currently exhibiting at the Durban Art Gallery (DAG) until January 2024.
Pitika Ntuli, an eighty-year-old artist, created 45 new sculptures from bones and other materials, and some of the country’s most esteemed poets and musicians responded to the body of work with songs and poems that were packaged for an online presentation of the exhibition during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The digital initiative reached so far and was so ground-breaking that it won a Global Fine Art Award in 2021.
Ntuli’s works are best appreciated in person. This exhibition also coincides with the Articulate Africa Art and Book Fair. An extensive public programme with workshops, talks and walkabouts will support the exhibition at the DAB. The exhibition can be viewed online at www.themelrosegallery.com.
The gallery is open from 08:30 to 16:00 on Saturday and 11:00 to 16:00 on Sunday. It is located at 30 Anton Lembede Street, Durban Central.
Sunday, November 5
A new 031 market: Fresh and Fabulous Sunday Market in Assagay
Since August, the proactive and resourceful team from Macnut Farm in Lello Road, Assagay, have held a Sunday Fresh Produce Market for locals to buy and sell home-grown produce in picture-perfect surroundings.
“Assagay residents are cultivating fresh produce, so we thought we would create an opportunity for visitors and locals to buy fresh, home-grown, farm and fresh produce from source. We are anticipating fresh veggies, herbs, eggs, honey, plants and shrubs. We also welcome baked goods, jams, pickles and preserves, meat products, frozen homemade meals, breads, biltong and plants. We don’t want cooked meals, market food, buy-and-sell items, garments or accessories, factory-made goods or handicrafts. We really want to keep it fresh and fabulous!” said Paul Paine, the convenor.
There will be Sunday lunch, drinks and a bar available. There is on-site parking.
The hours are from 11:00 until 14:00. There is no charge either to sell or to enter. Traders are welcome. For more info, call 031 7652572 or 074 603 0000.
The market is at Macnut Farm on 13 Lello Road, Assagay.
An epic viewing on the big screen
The Rhumbelow Film Club is screening The Fabelmans, a Stephen Spielberg 2022 movie with a top cast. It is a coming-of-age story about young Sammy Fabelman who falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see The Greatest Show on Earth. Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother. The movie has been nominated for seven awards.
The venue opens 60 minutes before the show for snacks and drinks. The show is at 14:00 on Sunday, November 5. The running time is 151 minutes with a 15-minute interval.
Attendance is restricted to Rhumbelow Film Club members only and is free to members. Membership for July to December is R300.
Booking is essential as there is limited secure parking available. There is a bar available so you aren’t permitted to bring your own alcohol onto the premises.
For bookings or more information, call Roland Stansell at 082 499 8636 or email him at roland@stansell.co.za.
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