
ASTROLOGY does not lay claim to anything more."
We were quite curious also to inspect the concept of "Pop up store". The style of the store was precisely what my imagination had concocted before hand: Predominantly white with bursts of colour. Modern, clean design with an area to cool chill (The term I use to describe the phenomenon of relaxing while looking/seeming fashionable...)
There were endless supplies of free Vitamin water (this would describe the odd handful of drunk individuals making their way through the crowd). Being me, I sampled each & every variant available from berry flavoured Power C promising to boost the immune system to XXX : acai-blueberry-pomegranate (in case you were wondering the XXX stands for "triple oxidants").
The bunch that had gathered in this space would be best described as hip, trendy & relatively fashion conscious, the accents circulating the room lead me to believe that there were a lot of international visitors in this venue.
The vitamin water concept is growing on me at snail's pace, but growing nonetheless.
The funky, quirky labels on the bottles make you want to support this brand & product in a strange manner. Here's a label I peeled off.
While we glugged our oh so healthy H₂0 we grooved to the delicious & equally addictive beats of Miss Funafuji.
The Pop Up Store will be available until June. So you best get over there and check it out.
We were indulged in performances by a range of highly talented yet down to earth performers. What an interesting concoction. The first performer was a young lady called Thobekhile on the guitar she seemed to know as well as the back of her hand. She sang 3 pieces that made me think and most importantly feel. Wow. Second was Simphiwe who spoke with great fluency and expression. Involved us intellectually in a way that would forever stay with me, my favourite “Hip hop I love you, Hip hop I love you not” (yummy title).
A few minutes later and I was informed for the 1st time ever that there were a whole bunch of fully completed election ballots in a car in Khayelitsha ( a township in Cape town) this after word that DA had won over 50% of the Provincial vote (Western Cape). What a heavy chunk of information to take home. Better to be aware than not. Lutho sang for us. So beautifully we just wanted him to continue. On and on and on. Until until.
A surprise and undoubtedly different vivid performance was served loud and warm ( I didn’t catch the name) then Meridrian :comprised of beautiful Kim & Seth raised hairs and summoned Goosebumps in their near flawless in sync music. Before they began they explained where they were coming from “a stratosphere where everything was okay & right” or something close. It was clear after their performance what they meant. If I was forced to box & lable their sound I would describe it as a dreamy, floetic blend of lyrics & flow that sucks you in. Not sure that labels them much but that’s my answer and I’m sticking to it.
Then there was Moratiwa Molema; I just love that name. It means “My love” or “loved one” in Setswana. I’m Tswana. I later spoke to her and found out she is from Botswana. She calmed us down and got us clapping rhythmically to her sharp subject matter and rhythmic piece.
I was intending on staying for 30mins max but ended up meeting new interesting people that I would have otherwise never come into contact with. Having inspiring conversation and scrumptious vegetarian cuisine (I’d describe myself as a carnivore, yes, not quite omnivore – there should be a name given to those with eating habits between omnivore and carnivore) and Yet I enjoyed the meal immensely.
The performances were chillingly relevant to how the world’s ticking right this moment. I was a sponge absorbing as much as I could of this little nook – Portobello that is to be no more after that evening. But as one of the staff said “only the lord knows”.
Either way I’m glad my soul reveled in its presence for the short time it did.
What a place.
(I have to mention this - Sivuyisiwa; pictured above; was a lovely, confident, eloquent host – her passion is contagious. There were several acts that were not at all planned...that’s quite something) Urban peacock I look forward to your next offering
PICTURED BELOW: Sergius my lovely photographer (I kinda hijacked him and asked him to please forward me the pics he took there, he's back in Singapore now and sent me this amazing pic he took on the -YES- GREAT WALL OF CHINA!)
Thobekile
Lethu
Kim & Seth make up Meridrian
Moratiwa & her entrancing flute
The weird...
& Wonderful surprise performance.
A Collage Of Thoughts & Experiences