Sandton awaits you ...

Last night I went to the launch party for the new book Sandton Places. It was fittingly held at the San Bar at the Sandton Sun right smack in the middle of Sandton.

If you live in Sandton (or even if you don't) you should buy this book. Like Joburg Places did before it for the Johannesburg CBD, Sandton Places gives you a one-stop source for all the fun things to do in the greater Sandton area. Otherwise you are left to your own devices to ferret them out for yourself and believe me, it has been a job to source the little gems that are scattered about the "great northern beyond" that is greater Sandton. This book is about two years too late in coming as far as I am concerned, but I am sure I will still come away with more fun things to add to my must-do list.

I was able to get my copy signed at the launch party by the three authors, Joburg Places' Gerald Garner, 2Summers' Heather Mason and Brian Unsted. And because Vince and I pre-ordered the book, we found a little surprise waiting inside the front cover. Our names are listed in the forward as subscribers!

Gerald signed my book with the inscription "Sandton awaits you"
Oh I know Gerald, I know.

Buy this book!

Hangin' in the 'hood ...

2summers blog-tress Heather informed me yesterday that Gerald Garner of JoburgPlaces is compiling a new book about places in Sandton. Woo hoo! SandtonPlaces is scheduled to be published next year and I cannot wait. I too have busy compiling my list of Sandton places (La Vie en Sandton,   Walking 'round the Richest Square Mile of Africa,  33, Is that the Duck Anniversary? for example) but I am always on the look-out for more suggestions for fun things to do in my local 'hood.

Coincidentally we already had a very local night planned in Sandton for last evening. I started out at the San Deck for sundowner hour with Vince and his work mates. It was a beautiful night for it. The San Deck offers guests breathtaking views over Sandton and the surrounding landscape.

With three large fire pits and luxurious couches, this amazing space offers the best of Joburg's beautiful sunsets in the centre of the Sandton CBD. Like many of the places in the Sandton CBD, Vince and his work mates can easily walk over from their office on Rivonia Road.

The Sandton CBD is booming. The city bird is the crane!

I walked over too. Not from home but from my parking space under the nearby Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel where we had dinner reservations at Central One, the hotel's award-winning restaurant.

Central One had just been awarded Best Dish by Restaurant Week South Africa. So close by. I had to try it.

It was a great mix of flavors. Complex but not too fussy. Vince took advantage of their weekly special  prix fixe menu. They offer two and three course options. A lamb first course, a surf and turf main featuring sweet sweet Mozambique prawns and an Italian fruit-filled dessert. The vanilla-infused hollandaise sauce for the main course was especially good.

Fun night hangin' in the 'hood.