Burgers of the East Rand: Zani in Katlehong
I used to write about food in the East Rand -- the municipality just to the east of Joburg, officially called Ekurhuleni -- all the time. (For a few examples, see here and here [...]
Veldskoens: Southern Africa’s Favorite Shoes
I can't remember the exact moment when I became aware of veldskoens, a.k.a. vellies. These leather foot coverings -- somewhere between a shoe and a boot -- have always been prolific in rural South [...]
Chinese Tea and Cake in Bedfordview
Tomorrow is the Lunar New Year -- the Year of the Rabbit -- and this is my first Joburg post of 2023. In celebration of both these facts, I'm thrilled to tell you about [...]
A Tour of Joburg’s Mediterranean East
During my Rosebank jacaranda tour last October, I held a contest: The first participant to spot the lone white jacaranda tree on our route could choose a new place in Joburg for me to [...]
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 [...]
Mustardbox 713: Chowing Korean Corn Dogs in Boksburg
Sadly, Mustradbox 713 is closed and I'm not sure if/when it will re-open. I'll update this post if I hear anything. A few days ago, I received a hot tip from my friend Debjeet [...]
Senhor Galo’s: A Portuguese Roadhouse in Edenvale
Seventh in my “Roadhouses of Gauteng” series. Browse all of my roadhouse posts or view a map of the roadhouses I’ve visited. Yesterday I made a quick solo lunch run to Senhor Galo's, a brand-new roadhouse in Edenvale. Senhor [...]
My Favorite Jozi Coffee Shops: Red Door Café in Edenvale
Twelfth in an occasional series about my favorite coffee shops in Joburg. I'd nearly forgotten about the chilly day, more than two months ago, when Gail and I had a spontaneous coffee and lunch at [...]
Thrifting Across the East Rand
My friend Ryan recently started a thrifting side business. She travels around, visiting second-hand clothing markets and charity shops around Joburg, picks up quirky and fabulous clothes at rock-bottom prices, then advertises her best [...]
Knitting in Joburg: Elli’s Needlework, Edenvale
Although I don't write about it as often as I did earlier in the pandemic, I'm still knitting. I still only know one stitch and I haven't progressed past knitting in a straight line. [...]
Dinner at Johnny Guitar Drive In (Roadhouse) in Alberton
Third in my Roadhouses of Gauteng series. Browse all of my roadhouse posts or view a map of the roadhouses I’ve visited. The Johnny Guitar Drive In, a roadhouse in downtown Alberton on Joburg's East Rand, has [...]
Valentine’s Date at the Fireplace Roadhouse
Second in my Roadhouses of Gauteng series. Browse all of my roadhouse posts or view a map of the roadhouses I’ve visited. In my first roadhouse post, I mentioned I'd been meaning to do a roadhouse [...]