A quick guide to year-end events in three cities

Johannesburg

• ANIMAL ANTI CRUELTY LEAGUE. The AACL hospital will be open on December 25, and 26, and New Year’s Day from 10am to noon, for emergencies only for those who cannot afford private vet fees. The kennel office will open at the same times for animal adoptions. The AACL is at 59 Alice Street, Regents Park. Ph: 435-0675.

• CAROLS AT THE CIVIC. “Deck the halls with …” Well, okay, for the benefit of stone-hearted cynics, we’ll keep this space carol free. For others, myself included, who unwittingly find themselves crooning, the Civic Theatre is having Carols in the Foyer every night from 7pm. See you there.

• COMEDY AT THE CIVIC. Carols not your stuff? Do you prefer Hustler and hearing about the merits of ProNutro, instead? Try Comedy Games, an hour of stand-up comedy at the civic every Wednesday to Friday from 5pm at the Pianola Bar. Scrooges will be pleased to hear it is totally free.

• CIVIC THEATRE TOURS. Join a guided tour of the Civic Theatre. The tours highlight interesting and historical features of the buildings and demonstrate the technical aspects of stage, sets, sound and lighting. The tours are every Tuesday and Thursday at 11am and 2pm. Phone Anja Ziese at 403-3408.

• FUNK HEAVEN. You’ve stopped cruising the Jo’burg clubs because retro and funk are you thang and there’s just not place to hang. Well your time in purgatory is over. On News Year’s Eve, and every Friday and Saturday thereafter, Heaven will cater to your desires. The new club on the corner of Republican and Rabie, above Bimbos in Fontainebleau, aims to creat a relaxed, funky vibe. Fridays will be gay nights, and Saturdays will be open to all, for the small admission fee of R10 for members and R15/20 for non-members. For details Ph 792-9302 or 886-8940

• ICE AT EASTGATE. You didn’t join the trek north but wish you had. With the heavens opening up with such frequency you can’t even appreciate a good, hot, sunny summer and on top of it all, Sandton isn’t even catering to your nostalgia for far northern climes this year. Maybe the giant ice sculptures of reindeer at Eastgate will soothe the heart.

• JOHANNESBURG ART GALLERY. Hidden Treasures is an exhibition of art works selected from the storerooms by staff members of the Johannesburg Art Gallery and reflects the personal tastes of the employees of the Gallery. The works will be on display until January 28. Also on display at the gallery, are photographs from the “City Life” competition run in conjunction with Fuji. The works are largely by street photographers and capture everyday aspects of our golden city, from portraits to protests.

• LUNCH WITH THE BOYS. Do you relish the chance to do lunch with the next Africa Cup of Nations champs? Bafana Bafana will be at the Sports Cafe, Village Walk, Sandton, on Wednesday January 10. Speakers will include Clive Barker, Neil Tovey, Sizwe Motaung and Andre Arendse. The speeches will be followed by an question and answer session. The fee for the lunch is R45 and includes a three-course meal, welcome drink packs and a lucky draw. Booking is essential. Phone Candy 883-0497.

• PAVEMENT ART EXHIBITION. The Village Walk shopping centre is holding an exhibition of pavement art every Saturday between 10am and 6.30pm in the fountain forecourt, Maude Street, Sandton.

Cape Town

• LEARN TO MAKE PLATES. Join the Discovery Room team at the South African Museum on January 4 and learn how to paint on bisk-fired plates and turn them into masterpieces. The workshop will take place from 11am to 1pm. Cost is R12. For further information phone 24-3330.

• PLANETARIUM SHOWS. Bring your children to the South African Museum to listen to the wonderful sky stories of the San people from the Kalahari every Saturday at 12pm. For more grown-up star-gazers, explore the remarkable geology and environment of Table Mountain and the skies centred on its celestial counterpart. This show is only on December 28 and January 4 at 8pm. For details of other current planetarium shows, phone Louisa van Jaarsveld at 24-3330.

• SEARCH FOR THE GREAT SHARKS. BMW Pavillion, Imax Cinema, V&A Waterfront. Treat the kiddies to a surprise and take them to see this mega-screen shark fest before a trip to the beach. Ph: 419-7364.

• UKUTHWASA. The Jol, 7 Bree Street, Cape Town. Head along to these workshops on Wednesdays from 8pm to 9.30pm and learn all about African dance and music courtesy of Asazi. Cost is R25 for a single session or R80 for a four-week course. For more information contact Simona at 448-2548.

• VIDEOS AT THE SA MUSEUM. In the mood for a bit of history to exercise your mind after all that Christmas stodge? Lunch-time videos are held regularly at the South African museum, on Wednesdays from 1.05pm. On December 27, Romans in Britain tells the story of the Roman conquest of Britain and of life during the period of occupation through excavated material and reconstructed models and diagrams; and Roman World tours the present-day area of the Roman world at its greatest extent when the Romans wanted “to make a town of the whole world”. On January 3, Vietnam and the Falklands looks at these two wars.

Durban

• BAT STUDIO ARTISTS. Resident artists of the Bat Studio will be exhibiting their work at the studio until December 31. You’ll be able to pick up quality wooden carvings, ceramics and other local works of art for under R400.

  Ph: 32-0468.

• COLOUR ME AFRICA. The launch of Lalela (the KwaZulu-Natal Design Council) will represent disadvantaged designers from KwaZulu-Natal and will focus on indigneous designs through a combination of fashion and art. The fashion show will have a strong performance element featuring poetry, a rap band and dancers. It takes place on December 22 at 7.30pm at the Bat Hall.

  Ph: 304-1936.

• HOLIDAY ART WORKSHOPS. The NSA Gallery is holding two craft workshops for teenagers and younger children between January 15 and 17. Both workshops will be run by experienced art teachers. The theme for teenagers

  is fabric painting and the children’s theme is the festive table. To book phone 207-3676.

• LUNCH-HOUR FILMS. The Durban Municipality gives regular free lunch-hour film screenings in the Museum Theatre of the City Hall. On January 2 they will be showing a selection of holiday videos. The film will start at 1pm.

• SOLEIL LEVANT MARKET. Galerie Soleil Levant is holding a festive season market this weekend. On sale will be reasonably priced paintings and drawings for those of you who haven’t managed to do all your Christmas shopping yet. The gallery is open from 10am to 6pm. Ph: 29-4929.