Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Where to party this New Year’s Eve
There’s a little something to suit every taste as you contemplate how best to usher in the new year, writes Bianca Coleman
THE V&A Waterfront will once again host Cape Town’s biggest free New Year’s Eve party from 7pm on Sunday, December 31.
Five hours of festivities will include an array of activity and entertainment zones, along with food trucks for visitors to grab a quick bite on the go. For more formal dining, book your spot at one of the dozens of restaurants on the property.
Balducci’s five-course menu is R1 799 a person, including a glass of sparkling wine on arrival (call 021 421 6002/3 to book), while at Belthazar, four courses will set you back R2 299 with a glass of bubbly on arrival. Mains do include luxury big ticket dishes, however, like a shellfish platter or a meat and fish platter with sirloin, line fish and prawns. Call 021 421 3753/6 to book.
Both restaurants offer a great view of all the action, including the Amphitheatre, which will be one of the primary attractions, featuring a combination of dance and music. New this year is the Silo Courtyard, which will be the perfect place to chill out with some smooth vocal stylings and ambient jazz.
Pop-up performances to look forward to include the Fat Italian Opera Chef, Big Mama Africa, the Fab Four acapella group, the Jazz Cats jazz trio, Afro Jazz Guitar Hero, and a little sax and violins here and there.
As a children’s safety feature on one of the busiest nights of the year, a crew dressed in blue will be present to hand out location-assist bracelets, and parents are advised to tag their young ones.
Ending off the party will be the annual tradition of a massive fireworks display lighting up the sky at midnight.
For the uninitiated, traffic congestion can be a nightmare so plan ahead to park off-site and use a ride share service or MyCiTi buses.
For more information, contact the V&A Info Centre on info@waterfront.co.za or 021 408 7600.
Shimmy Beach Club will be hosting an exclusive, Ibizastyle party set to the sounds of international superstar DJ, JP Candela, and local legend Dean Fuel. The brainchild of DJ David Guetta, F*** Me I’m Famous (FMIF) is a dance music compilation turned party held at Pacha in Ibiza, and is known as the most popular party in the world due to its sold-out status throughout the season. Shimmy has the exclusive rights to bring this house music extravaganza to the Mother City, for one unforgettable night.
Tickets are from R950 a person (excluding food and beverages), with general access and VIP tickets available via www.shimmybeachclub. co.za/ticketsPremier ticket options are available upon request by emailing admin@ shimmybeachclub.co.za
Square Café & Wine Bar will be putting on a 1960s-themed celebration with Keeno Lee performing ’60s hits live from 9pm. On arrival, help yourself from the bubbly and popcorn station, followed by wine tasting on the terrace.
Various hot and cold food options will be available – salads, hot dogs, grills, fry-ups, milkshakes, desserts, and tea and coffee. Complimentary bubbly will be served at midnight.
The dress code is ’60s soiree with a prize for the best effort. Cost is R595 a person, R295 a child under 12. Dinner begins at 8pm. To book, call
021 204 8000 or email book@ squarecafewinebar.co.za
If you fancy an early night or want to extend your celebrations, catch the 2pm performance of the acclaimed musical King Kong at The Fugard Theatre, with a glass of Cap Classique included in the ticket price, which ranges between R180 and R280. The theatre bars will be open until 7.30pm.
King Kong runs until February 18, Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8pm with a matinee at 3pm on Saturdays and on Sundays at 4pm. Tickets for other performances cost between R130 and R280. All bookings can be made at Webtickets and through the Fugard Theatre Box office on 021 461 4554.
For the 10th year, Crew Bar will take over Napier Street in Green Point to host the annual Pink New Year’s Eve Party, an Ibizan celebration with multiple dancefloors, a DJ lineup including Johannesburg’s legendary Therapy DJ, Stuart Hillary, and other music and live acts.
Guests are invited to dress island-style for all-night revelry beginning at 8pm.
Tickets available at http:// qkt.io/IBIZA and at the venue. VIP includes complimentary drinks and snacks, fast track access, dedicated VIP area and dancefloor.
HQ in Heritage Square is planning a Masquerade Ball with canapés upon arrival, a welcome cocktail and threecourse meal for R795 a person. DJs will spin their tunes from 9pm. The dress code is Black Venetian and a mask is required. Full payment is required to secure a booking. Contact management@ hqrestaurant.co.za for details. First of all, it’s going to be crazy on the roads so expect to wait longer than usual for an Uber driver, and to pay a higher price. Dynamic pricing happens when demand for rides is high and there are not enough drivers on the road. It is what it is, and it sure beats waking up in a jail cell on January 1 – or worse.
This year Uber has partnered with Drive Dry to make it easier to decide against drinking under the influence.
On December 24, 25 and
31 – the days most notorious for high numbers of alcoholrelated road accidents –
Drive Dry will be giving out complimentary Uber Rides vouchers to anyone who visits @DriveDry on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and publicly takes the pledge to drive dry.
Even one drink can hamper your judgement on the road, so it is best to simply not take the risk at all.
To request a ride, download the free application for Android, iPhone, Blackberry 7, or register for Uber at www. uber.com/go. For questions, visit www.uber.com