Knitting in Joburg: Arthur Bales Turns 120
More than a year ago, I blogged about a yarn shop in Edenvale and planned to start a longer series about knitting in Joburg. Somehow I never got around to expanding that series until now, but I'm glad I procrastinated: My favorite yarn and fabric shop, Arthur Bales,...
Hidden Joburg: The Lions Shul
Yesterday I visited the Doornfontein Shul -- commonly known as the Lions Shul -- in downtown Joburg. The shul, built in 1905, is featured in Hidden Johannesburg, which I blogged about recently in my post about the Lemon Squeezer Church. I'm pleased to be one step...
Gallery-Hopping Through Rosebank with Thabo the Tourist
A couple of weeks ago, my friend Gail and I went on a walking tour of art galleries in Rosebank with Thabo the Tourist. I had never met Thabo before, but I was excited to do his tour because Thabo the Tourist is such a catchy name for a guide. (The "h" in Thabo is...
Jozi Getaways: Houseboating on the Vaal River
A year or so ago, at the height of the covid pandemic, I saw a friend's Facebook post about a weekend excursion in a houseboat on the Vaal River. She rented the boat from Old Willow No. 7 Houseboat Charters, an hour's drive from Joburg. Houseboats lined up at Old...
Why I Became a Member of the Rand Club
I've been visiting the Rand Club, one of Joburg's most historic buildings, for years. The Rand Club is on the corner of Fox and Loveday Streets in downtown Joburg. Although the club was founded in 1887, the current clubhouse was built in 1904. Read an in-depth history...
St. Nicholas of Japan in Brixton: A Balm for My Messy Brain
I've been doom-scrolling too much and sleeping too little lately. The U.S. government has been hijacked by right-wing zealots. Women's rights have been rolled back by 50 years. The South African government can't provide basic services to its people and we face Stage 6...
Mexican Food in Alexandra (and Other Tales From the Kasi)
Some of the best tacos in Johannesburg are served at a restaurant in Alexandra Township. Who knew? I certainly didn't. But luckily I do know Asanda Daza, and Asanda knows everything about food in Alexandra (a.k.a. Alex). Asanda at the Junk Park, our first stop on the...
Andrew Lindsay, Joburg’s Mosaic Master
I recently participated in a public art bus tour hosted by the City of Johannesburg, honoring the legacy of Andrew (Drew) Lindsay. Drew died of a heart attack in October 2021 while sitting in his garden outside the Spaza Art Gallery in Troyeville. He was 65. If you'd...
The Blogitects’ Excellent (Mis)adventures in KwaZulu-Natal, Part 3
Before reading this post, read Part 1 and Part 2 of the Blogitects’ Excellent (Mis)adventures. After our double-tire-puncture fiasco, Thorsten and I were stranded at the entrance to the Tembe Elephant Park (about an hour from our accommodation in Kosi Bay.)...
The Blogitects’ Excellent (Mis)adventures in KwaZulu-Natal, Part 2
Before reading this post, read Part 1 of the Blogitects' Excellent (Mis)adventures. Thorsten and I woke up early on Friday morning, eager to explore the Kosi Mouth beach and estuary. Amangwane Camp sits right beside the entrance to the nature reserve, run by Ezemvelo...
The Blogitects’ Excellent (Mis)adventures in KwaZulu-Natal, Part 1
Thorsten and I, a.k.a. the Blogitects (one blogger, one architect), recently took a much-anticipated road trip through South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province. It was a very exciting trip but it did not go as planned. I've procrastinated several days on writing about it...
Hidden Joburg: The Lemon Squeezer Church
I recently bought a copy of Hidden Johannesburg, a hardback coffee table book featuring 28 of Joburg's most interesting (and difficult to access, in some cases) buildings and interiors. Hidden Johannesburg, written by Paul Duncan and photographed by Alain Proust. The...
Joburg’s Five Best Shawarmas
As many of you already know, I've been on a mission to discover Joburg's best shawarmas. This turned out to be a bigger challenge than I initially anticipated. One of many photos of me eating a shawarma, in this instance at the Schwarma Co. in Norwood. All the photos...
The Awe-Inspiring Shiva Temple of Actonville, Benoni
Several months ago I spotted a post in the @WhatsOnInJoburg Instagram feed. "Africa's tallest Shiva Shakti Statue is in Benoni", the post read, with a photo of the biggest, boldest, most colorful Hindu deity I've ever seen. I made a mental note to visit the Sivan...
Heather Mason
I’m an American writer/blogger/photographer living a quirky life in Johannesburg. Follow along as I explore Johannesburg, South Africa, and the rest of the world.
