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Hey {{first_name | Brew}},
Cape Town’s week had spooky main-character energy.
Between a new shopping centre rising near Stellenbosch, a lion pulling a Houdini off a moving truck, and the Cape Town Marathon calling it off for safety, the city’s been doing its usual mix of chaos and class.
Meanwhile, from Muizenberg’s kite festival to Botanik’s three-floor Halloween party, the weekend forecast is 100 % costumes, cocktails, and questionable decisions.
Here’s what’s been brewing 👇
The Lineup:
📰 The News – Saxdowne Shopping Centre plans, the runaway lion, Cape Town Marathon’s tough call, and Khayelitsha’s mountain-climbing hero.
💎 Hidden Gems – Where to get the best sushi-and-cocktail combo, plus local merch spots that actually look good.
🌆 What’s Happenin’ – October 24 – 30: your top events across the city, from jazz nights to Halloween madness.
🎃 Topic of the Week – What are you doing for Halloween in Cape Town? Chaos, couch, or couldn’t care less?
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Here’s what had us buzzing this week 👇
🗞️ The Headlines
🏃 MARATHON ORGANISERS TELL WIND: "YOU WIN THIS ROUND"
The Cape Town Marathon organisers made the brutally unpopular but absolutely correct call to cancel Sunday's main event due to dangerously high winds. Cue a mix of understanding nods and absolute fury from runners who'd carbo-loaded for a week straight.
Why this was a boss move:
Doing the right thing is often a lonely business. It’s easier to let people run and hope for the best, but these organisers chose safety over popularity. A concept most of our politicians are still trying to figure out.
As the column rightly points out, there can be no refunds. The logistics, security, and infrastructure costs are sunk faster than a runner's spirits on cancellation day. A reserve day would just mean double the road closures and double the annoyance for everyone else.
It’s a metaphor for South Africa: choosing the right, difficult path over the easy, popular one. Now if only we could apply that to, well, everything else.
🦁 LION GOES ON UNEXPECTED SIGHTSEEING TOUR
A large male lion recently decided his truck-based transport was sub-par and executed a daring leap to freedom near Lichtenburg. The footage is less The Lion King and more Tom & Jerry, with a rather clumsy landing on the tar.
Why this is peak South African content:
The owner’s response was a masterclass in ambiguity: "I can't confirm it, but the lion is safe." Sir, that is a contradiction, not a statement.
Social media detectives immediately declared the lion "darted and safe," proving that Facebook comments are the new News24.
It sparked the classic SA debate: wildlife ownership vs. animal safety, all while we were just trying to figure out if the lion stuck the landing.
This big cat’s failed jailbreak reminds us that in SA, your morning commute can be interrupted by a literal king of the jungle. Just another Tuesday.
🛍️ SAXDOWNE SHOPPING CENTRE: COMING TO A ROAD NEAR YOU... IN 2026
Abland Property Developers is building a new 6,000-square-meter shopping centre in Stellenbosch, promising a "raw and rustic" tribute to Cape Town's charm. It's scheduled to open late next year, so you have ample time to practice your "rustic" shopping face.
Why we’re reading the press release so you don’t have to:
The developers described it with more poetic flair than a high school love letter: “weathered textures,” “rugged materials,” and “a sense of nostalgia.” So, exposed brick and a Clicks. Got it.
In a plot twist nobody saw coming, the groundbreaking announcement was for 2015. A full decade ago. Either this is the slowest build in history, or someone’s intern needs a new calendar.
They also announced a joint venture with The Cavaleros Group, "uniting two of South Africa’s most respected property companies." Translation: they're pooling their powers to make sure you never have to drive more than 5 minutes for a Shoprite again.
🏔️ KHAYELITSHA'S MONDE SITOLE IS HEADED FOR ACONCAGUA
From the township streets of Khayelitsha to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Monde Steven Sitole is a man who laughs in the face of the word "impossible." Next stop? Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America, via a gnarly route called the "Polish" one. Sounds cold.
Why his story is better than your weekend plans:
His inspiration? His single mom, and the libraries of Site B. He read about explorers and decided to become one. Take that, TikTok attention span.
He’s done things most of us only dream of, like attending school on a tall ship and being a Mike Horn young explorer. Meanwhile, my biggest adventure this week was finding a parking spot in Gardens.
He needs about R100k and some gear, including a down parka and a headlamp. If anyone has a spare ice axe lying around, now’s the time to be a legend. This is the kind of local story that makes you want to put down your phone and go touch a mountain.
💎 Hidden Gems
🍣 SUSHI & SUNSETS: WHERE TO GET YOUR RAW FISH FIX
Beluga at the V&A Waterfront: For when you want the classic, upscale sushi experience without the Camps Bay traffic. It’s sophisticated, it’s reliable, and you can watch the boats while you debate whether to order one more spicy tuna roll. Located in the Cruise Terminal, it’s a solid A-grade choice.
Chinchilla in Camps Bay: Let's be real, you don't go to Chinchilla for the best sushi in Cape Town. You go for the best view in Cape Town. It’s the quintessential "tourist trap" that we all secretly love because that Camps Bay panorama, with the sea and the Twelve Apostles, is a dish no chef can replicate. Go for the 'gram, stay for the cocktails.
👕 COOL LOCAL MERCH: T-SHIRTS THAT SCREAM "I WAS HERE"
Maggy Lou’s: Highlighted for its "sooooooo cool" shirt, this spot is a strong contender. It’s also conveniently located near BRASH burger, making it the perfect plan B when your first merch hunt fails. A true lesson in resilient retail therapy.
Arthur’s Mini Super: Multiple people said it, so it must be true. Arthur’s is your go-to for merch that actually has "Cape Town" written on it. No more explaining that your obscure graphic is, in fact, a stylised representation of the southeaster.
Big Blue: With spots at Canal Walk and Table Bay Mall, Big Blue has a fun selection of tees with South African food logos. Perfect for declaring your love for All Gold tomato sauce or Mrs Ball's chutney to the world. A true patriot's uniform.
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🌬️ What’s Happenin’
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FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER
🎷 Bokani Dyer Live in Muizenberg
SA jazz legend brings his soulful piano and smooth grooves to an intimate seaside venue.
🎭 OO Tamthura – Vernacular Comedy Show
Cape Town’s funniest multilingual night — local humour that hits home.
🎬 Mixed Night 2 – presented by DJI
Cinematic mash-ups, storytelling, and film-nerd energy under one roof.
🎭 MANBAND – The Last Ride
A hilarious and heartfelt theatre show set in Kalk Bay’s iconic venue.
SATURDAY 25TH OCTOBER
🪁 Cape Town International Kite Festival 2025
The skies light up over Muizenberg — a day of colour, music, and charity.
🖼️ SAMW / WOF SS26 – INFLUHKS Showcase
Runway meets art at this high-fashion summer showcase.
🎨 Origami Protea Workshop – Fold a Flower, Feed a Child
Make art that matters — each flower folded funds a meal.
🎶 Jack Johnson Tribute – In Between Dreams
Laid-back acoustic classics and beachy sing-alongs.
🪩 Halloween ft Geometric Flux
Three dance floors, psychedelic décor, and wild costumes — Botanik’s biggest party of the year.
SUNDAY 26TH OCTOBER
💃 Cape Town Oriental Dance Festival – Performance Day
Dancers from around the world take over the Waterfront stage.
🎺 Helderberg Country Rhythm & Blues
Live blues in the mountains — wine, sunset, and soul.
🎷 Nomadic Orchestra Live
Brass, Balkan beats, and pure Sunday energy.
🎨 Gel Plate Printing Workshop
Get creative with layered textures and colours in a relaxed studio setting.
🎭 Feature Night 2 – Women and the Wind
A special screening celebrating female filmmakers.
MONDAY 27TH OCTOBER
🎓 Lean Summit 2025
Talks, case studies, and practical frameworks at the GSB.
🍽️ Dining with Purpose (Chef Scott Walker × Ladles of Love)
Fundraising dinner with a fine-dining twist.
📸 Conservation Night
An evening of stories, images, and impact.
🎭 Ads Night 2025: Flavours of Film
Student showcase celebrating the craft of advertising.
TUESDAY 28TH OCTOBER
🎬 Trails In Motion – Film Screening
Adventure running stories on the big screen.
🎤 Suits & Sneakers: KasiNomics by GG Alcock
Inside SA’s informal economy—fast, funny, razor-sharp.
🎤 The Honey Badger Talk (Mike Charton)
A fast-paced, story-driven history talk.
🧠 VWS South Peninsula Quiz Night
Good vibes, tough questions, great views.
WEDNESDAY 29TH OCTOBER
🚲 Bike Night – presented by First Ascent
Community ride + skills and stories.
🎸 The GetOnCo Bands Night (Launch!)
New local sounds kick off a fresh series.
🎥 No Other Land – Cape Town Screening
Award-winning doc + discussion.
😂 Lunga Tshuka: The Energizer Funny
High-energy stand-up to power your midweek.
THURSDAY 30TH OCTOBER
🎓 The IIE’s Varsity College Law Social 2025
Network, unwind, and celebrate the legal year with fellow students and alumni.
🎭 Bongeziwe Mabandla Solo Tour
Soul-stirring performance from one of South Africa’s most poetic voices — stripped back, powerful, unforgettable.
🎨 Sip · Savour · See
Organic wines, fine canapés, and local art in an elegant evening of taste and conversation.
🎃What Are You Doing for Halloween This Year?
Cape Town’s gearing up for one of the biggest Halloween weekends in years and we want to know what you’re up to.
Maybe you’re going full send at Botanik’s three-floor Halloween bash with Geometric Flux. Or keeping it low-key with a Labia horror screening and a glass (okay, bottle) of red. Or maybe… you don’t give a damn about Halloween and just want a quiet weekend with pizza, Netflix, and zero fake blood involved.
Some of us are here for the chaos, others for the couch.
So, what’s your vibe this year? 🎭👻
Reply to tell us what you’re (not) doing this Halloween.
📊 How Was the Newsletter This Week?
And that’s a wrap on this week’s brew.
See you next Thursday, same chaos, new stories.
🍷 Team CPT Brew
