This year Fine Brandy Fusion makes it debut in the Western Cape and promises to amaze the people of Gauteng for the 6th year in a row. This vibrant event (which was previously known as the Fine Brandy Festival) showcases the array of delightful fusions that are used to create unique South African brandies and the fusions of cultures and styles it celebrates. The Cape Town event is held at the Cape Town International Convention Center and the Johannesburg event is held at the Sandton Convention Center.

Fine Brandy Fusion is part social happening, part learning experience and reflects both the refined and the fun side of Brandy. The organizers are quite excited to host the first Cape Town edition of this event. They can now host a highly successful event in Cape Town a stones throw from the spot where brandy was first distilled on a ship docked in Table Bay harbour 341 years ago. Local brandy aficionados no longer have to fly to Johannesburg to join the magnificent showcase of South Africa’s finest.

Visitors to both Fine Brandy Fusion events will have lots to see and lots to do. These glamorous events are ideal for the young and trendy, sophisticates and connoisseurs eager to explore South Africa’s internationally admired brandy industry.  This year’s even will see brand new concepts and a return of popular highlights. You can expect anything from trend-forward cocktails to the age-old craft of barrel-making.

There will also be Burlesque dancers, beautiful interactive brand spaces and boutique stands. There will also be a Walk of Fame which will spotlight South African brandies’ world domination, bringing home the  Worldwide Best Brandy trophy 15 times (six years in succession at the International Wine & Spirits Competition).

Tickets cost R195 for the Johannesburg event and R175 for the Cape Town event. This price includes a brandy glass and Nespresso vouchers. Tickets are available from Computicket or at the door. Please note that no visitors under the age of 18 are allowed.

To keep up to date with the entertainment line-up, the brands on display and the tastings and master classes at Fine Brandy Fusion check out the Fine Brandy Fusion Facebook page. You can also follow @BrandyFusion on Twitter (the official hashtag is  #brandyfusion) or check out the Fine Brandy Fusion website.

Cape Town, 10 May – Thousands came out in numbers to unleash their Hip Hop talent, in a battle of the best in graffiti, emcee and dance – at the Sprite Uncontainable Mobile Studio auditions, at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Blazin’ hot talent burnt the ground, as they battled it out for the most uncontainable Hip Hop talent.

Falko, a renowned graffiti artist and one of the campaign judges, has seen a lot of talent around the streets of Cape Town, where Hip Hop is embraced in its entirety. “I’m super stoked to be part of the campaign and to help find the country’s uncontainable talent, again.”

Rome here we come

You might wonder what Rome has to do with Cape Town?

Simple answer: Cape Town Active will have a short holiday and visit Rome in Italy.

So for that reason there will be not updates on Cape Town Active till end of May as we will enjoy Italian Food and Lifestyle

But you are welcome to email you guest posts and PR and we will attend them once we are back in the Mother City.

photo credit: cuellar via photopin cc

Cape Town Blogger | Interview | Tasneem Thomas

We are happy to have another Cape Town Blogger interview.

Say hello to Tasneem and the blog citygirlvibe.com.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, I’m Tasneem Thomas and I’m the author of citygirlvibe.com. I’m a fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger that’s utterly obsessed with Table mountain and city lights.

I’m a 21year old student studying Clothing and Textile at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. I’m obsessed with my City and tend to fall in love with something new everyday.

How you first got involved in with blogging ?

I followed a lot of bloggers and always fell in love with other people’s blogs, until I was approached by somebody to do a guest post on their blog. That’s when it hit me that I could actually start my own and I guess that’s when City Girl Vibe was born.

What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?

Being a regular, lazy 21 year old, Shopping, Exploring Cape Town, Hanging out with friends, Finding new coffee shops and lately… Catching up on sleep.

What networking do you do that you feel helps your blogging business?

I don’t blog for money but Twitter definitely is one of the main “promoters” for my blog. Its where I get to interact with new brands, communicate with PR companies, Build my reader base, Score new opportunities, Constantly stay in the loop and build new friendships and bridges that would help me in the future.

How do you keep coming up with material/content for your blogs?

This would probably have to be one of the best perks of being a fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger. There are always new products on the market waiting to be tested and Fashion changes constantly! I get motivated and inspired to blog by the little things.

What would you prioritize?Content? SEO? Traffic? Readers

Content and readers are the most important thing to me. People that actually reads my blog is what keeps me motivated to keep on blogging. I want readers to come back and actually enjoy what they’re reading. I always say Quality over Quantity!

Whats the best thing a blogger can give to his readers?

Originality and honesty. You can read the same thing on different blogs but how you carry your message across is what keeps your readers interested. Honesty is key! I always believe that you should be honest to your readers. Don’t promote a brand/product if you didn’t like using it or if the product doesn’t live up to its expectations. Don’t feel obligated to lie just because you were sent a product for free.

Everyone has a favorite/least favorite post. Name yours and why?

Mine would have to be the post that I did for my 20th birthday when I went on Cape Town’s red bus. I love being a tourist in my own city and being on the City Sightseeing bus was just amazing. Being able to share my experiences with my blog readers especially if they’re good ones, is what makes me happy.

Name some of the bloggers whom you look up to and why?

I love Kim Gray’s blog. Its the first blog I started reading and I just admire how she established a name for herself in the blogging world.
Superficialgirls are another one of my faves. Her love for blogging, fashion and pretty things really shows in her stunning pictures.
Diva Desle . She’s an amazing blogger and individual. She blog’s purely for the love of it.

If someone was interested in blogging, what would be a few things you would suggest?

• Firstly distinguish what type of blogger you’re going to be.
• Choose a name that you won’t get tired of and that’ll be appropriate for the type of blogger that you’re going to be.
• Have a passion for what you do because if you’re not, it’ll show in your blogging.
• Don’t start a blog because you want to be famous or get freebies.
• Always try to be different and yourself.

Visit her site on www.citygirlvibe.com
Follow City Girl Vibe On Twitter www.twitter.com/citygirlvibe
Become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/citygirlvibe

A big thank you from Cape Town Active to Tasneem for this interview. Please check out her blog at www.citygirlvibe.com. If you want to participate, please visit our Cape Town Blogger Interview page at http://capetownactive.com/capetownbloggerinterview/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dBP5jnFdJ8

The same driving challenge will be made available to the South African public later in the year.

Shell Helix’s Driven to Extremes is a three-part television series commissioned by Shell to put its premium motor oil, Shell Helix Ultra, to the ultimate test in the subarctic temperatures of Siberia in Russia, the searing heat of China’s Taklimakan desert and the mud and wet of Malaysia’s Johor jungle.

In the original global campaign the experiences of actor Tom Hardy and Formula One racing driver Mika Salo in Siberia, Hollywood star Henry Cavill and British Superbikes Champion Neil Hodgson in the Taklimakan desert, and Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody and Mika Salo in the Johor jungle are captured in a three part TV series, called Driven to Extremes.

The series recently aired in South Africa on Discovery Channel in March 2013. “Petrol heads” and adventure enthusiasts can view additional content and never before seen material from the Driven to Extremes TV series on www.youtube.com/shellhelix.

Between the 7th  and 9th of May 2013, global and local media, joined by some of the international stars from the  TV series, Driven to Extremes, will experience the thrill of a similarly extreme driving challenge in Cape Town. This will be an opportunity for local media to experience the challenges first hand before everyone else.

The Cape Town media leg of the Driven to Extremes campaign is expected to generate world-wide coverage for the Helix brand as well as showcase South Africa’s diverse scenery and challenging driving experiences.

Most excitingly, South African motorists stand a chance of taking part in a similar experience in December 2013 by entering the Can You Handle the Extremes global promotion at participating Auto Retail Outlets, Shell Service Stations or taking the challenge online via www.shellhelixextreme.com.

Pizza Challenge Live

Who doesn’t!? So for that reason I like Col’Cacchio pizza restaurants as they have a huge selection on pizzas.

So here is the good news: The Col’Cacchio pizzeria Celebrity Chef Series is back. Four months, four celebrity chefs and four amazing pizzas! Liam Tomlin kicks off in May, followed by extreme adventurer and chef, David Grier in June, and the creative goddesses from Charly’s Bakery in July.

And they have a special promo starting with this for August.

Col’Cacchio pizzeria is giving all foodies the chance to star in the Pizza Challenge Live, now SA’s first online reality show. Entries are open and it’s time for all home chefs to show South Africa their pizza-making ingenuity!

How Pizza Challenge Live works:

1. Log onto www.colcacchio.co.za/pizzachallenge and submit your deliciously creative pizza idea – entries close on 24 May 2013
2. Share your pizza masterpiece with your friends to up your votes
3. Make it to the last 4 and be part of the Big Pizza Showdown live online broadcast
4. Keep calm and entertaining under pressure and keep those votes coming in – the public decides who stays and who goes!
5. Be crowned the fourth 2013 Celebrity Chef, see your very own gourmet pizza on the menu and WIN a year’s supply of Col’Cacchio pizza!

And by the way: R5 from the sale of each celebrity pizza will again be donated to the Children’s Hospital Trust. This year’s donation will go towards a very special project, the building of South Africa’s first Childsafe Research and Educational Centre which will focus on educating patients’ families and the general public about improving child safety and injury prevention at home.