BoomTown presented by Heineken

With the Vodacom Durban July just one sleep away, most of the country is busy making their way to the party capital this weekend. Conveys will arrive tomorrow at Greyville Racecourse to pay witness to the continents biggest Horse Racing Event and there is only one marquee you should be at. BoomTown, presented by Heineken promises to be the Capital of Entertainment as the biggest Marquee for the 11th year running. 

Recognised for providing the ultimate in expert hospitality, BoomTown presented by Heineken and powered by Channel O and East Coast Radio is the only choice in providing the finest lifestyle and premium experience at the Vodacom Durban July. Joining an already announced music line with SA's biggest multi-award winning artists such as Kwesta, Sjava, Lady Zamar, Busiswa, Sun-El, Black Motion, Mlindo the Vocalist, Da Capo. Sumbody and Benny Maverick, is Holly Rey, Thabsie and Ms Cosmo who will ensure BoomTown is the entertainment capital at this years Durban July. 

Experience impeccable fashion, premium hospitality and urban lifestyle at its best and celebrate Stars of Africa at this years Boomtown presented by Heinken. A variety of hospitality packages are still available for purchase at BoomTown via Computicket. These include:

• General Access - R690 pp
• VIP package - R2500pp
• VVIP package - R3500pp
• Private Tables - R4500 ex vat pp (tables of 10 or 20)

For more information on ticketing and bookings, visit Computicket website, for more info on group bookings, kindly email david@boomtownevents.co.za

The J&B Met with Flipside

If you're looking at attending the hottest calendar event in Cape Towns social scene, that is the J&B Met this year, then theres no other place to go to than the Lifestyle Village in the race course's inner field hosted by Flipside events. Them along with MegaPro and Chattels are hosting the ever popular lifestyle village, the organisers are said to have made it bigger and better than before ensuring that your day at the races is a great one.

The artist line up that will be performing live during the day features the likes of Anthea Scholtz, Thank Me Later, Chris de Vos from Sexy Groovy Love, Ryan Murgatroyd, Strange Loving, Tomorrows Will and Brett Aitken.

The venue will have two fully stocked bars, a food court area with food trucks to satisfy any a palate, a cocktail and lounge area to chill at, for when your feet need a rest from all that dancing or to just sit back and sip on some bubbly. There will be TV's and viewing points for the races and also tote facillities so you can try your luck on some of the horses, who knows, it could be your lucky day!

As always with the Met, there is a dress code for you to follow, this years theme is "A Rare Blend", so get those creative juices flowing as this is the ideal opportunity to express your individuality ad creativity at one of the countries biggest social events.

Once the sun goes down, it's time for the after party and the same people that brought you the Lifestyle Village are also responsible for the Office J&B Met After Party. If you thought the days entertainment looked good, wait till you see what's in store for the evening. It's no doubt going to be the after party to be at.

Performing on the mainstage at the after party include Dean FUEL ft. George Sax, Timo ODV, Goodluck, DJ Mixi, Pascal & Pearce and Niskerone to name a few. With a line up like that, featuring some of the hottests acts in SA, it will be an after party thats pretty hard to beat. The venue will include two fully stocked bars, food outlets, a massie dance floor and the entire venue is highly secured, ensuring you have a fun and safe night out.

Tickets for both, the Lifestyle Fest and the After Party are available at Computicket, and are selling from R495 for the full day and night pass that includes all of the above, all day long and well into the after party, or R250 for just the after party. Tickets include 3 free whiskys plus mixers per person

For more info, visit their Flipside Event's Page on Facebook

Bucket Seat: 14 on Chartwell

Umhlanga's Chartwell drive, the ever growing buzz of the North just got another hot spot added to it. Well 14 on Chartwell has been open since last year November but I only got the chance to pay it a visit last night. If you were in Durban over the festive season you would know that the Village was the place to be, with the tourists visiting the warm beaches of the east coast, the bars and restaurants on Chartwell drive was the perfect escape for a bite to eat and a cold drink to quench the thirst. The place was buzzing and if you didn't have a table booked anywhere, chances were you were going to wait a long time or not getting a table at all. 

Anyway, I walked passed 14 on Chartwell a number of times during my visits to Umhlanga and if you haven't seen it before, they've done a marvelous job with the decor, large windows let passers by gaze into the inside which is well lit, snazzy and has a lovely lounge vibe, it was always packed and made one quite envious if you were not inside. 

A friend of mine was down from the UK and wanted to meet for dinner, this was the perfect opportunity to check the place out. Thinking that most people are back at work, I didn't think to make a booking, silly me. The place is still buzzing and we had to wait for a table, the staff were extremely accommodating, allowing us to wait on a table outside whilst one freed up inside, alternatively one could have waited at the bar, which is the main focal point of the establishment and they have quite a nice selection of spirits as well as great Craft Beer of the menu. 

If you think the place looked great from the outside, the inside is even better! The layout is great with scattered tables mixed with lounged areas for large groups on the sides, as I said the bar is the main focal point in the center but the place has a nice flow and relaxed atmosphere. It may look fancy but it rather chilled, perfect for an evening of drinks with friends. 

Onto the food, the menu is of a substantial variety, offering something for everyone's pallet and pleasantly surprised that it is very reasonably priced! For starters I ordered the Asian Lamb Riblets, which were char-grilled sticky hoisin marinade with nam jim dipping sauce. They were done to perfection, just about medium and the meat tender and succulent. I quite enjoyed the dipping sauce as well, a mixture of herbs, ginger and garlic. 

It took me a while to decide on what to have for mains as there were so much on offer that I fancied, I eventually settled for the smothered chicken breasts. Two chicken breast, lightly grilled with spices, topped with a finger licking sun dried tomato, basil and parmesan cream sauce accompanied with pan fried gnocchi. It was full of flavour and that sauce was nothing short of exquisite, it had me wiping the plate with the last gnocchi I had. 

The desert menu seemed quite tempting but after those two courses I was stuffed but  I will be back for that Hot Fudge Sundae as it seems to be the popular one on the menu. Overall 14 on Chartwell is a winner in my books, it's a different and much needed offering to the Umhlanga scene. It's already quite a hit with the crowd and busy on most nights so be sure to book to avoid disappointment. 

Address: 14 Chartwell Drive, Umhlanga Rocks

Telephone: 031 561 1017

Facebook: 14 on Chartwell

Email: fourteen@14onchartwell.com