Here’s wishing all readers of Clipboard a very merry Christmas, filled with joy and blessings and here’s hoping you are inspired by the true meaning of Christmas for all people!
Here is this week’s Clipboard, with its usual selection of items of activity in and around Harare in coming weeks. If you have something you would like to tell people about, then e-mail information to aquarius@iwayafrica.co.zw and it will be included. This e-newsletter includes information about arts, theatre, sport and business events – in fact, about anything! If you would like NOT to receive this e-mail (which is sent text only to keep it very small and easily downloadable) then also advise us at that address. Please pass this e-mail on to your family, friends and colleagues, so that everyone is better informed about what’s on.
Thursday December 24 – Christmas Eve dinner. La Fontaine Grillroom, Meikles Hotel. With dinner and dance music by the Vintage Vibes resident band, and a splendid four-course supper, this is an evening of fine dining and commemorating Christmas with family or friends. A Scots theme with our guest pipers. Book by calling (04) 707721 or e-mailing switchboard@meikles.com
Thursday December 24 – Christmas Eve dinner at Organikks. Enjoy an exotic dinner at this fine restaurant, with starters, mains and desserts, complemented by choices of side servings and salads. Book by calling 0782 785000
Friday December 25 – Christmas Day Luncheon. Choose from La Fontaine Grillroom, The Stewart Rooms or The Pavilion for a superb meal and entertainment at Harare’s five-star Meikles Hotel. Children’s play area and children’s games after lunch. Entertainment by Vintage Vibes in la Fontaine, by Daniel Jenkins in The Stewart Rooms and by a disco in The Pavilion. Book by calling (04) 707721 or e-mailing switchboard@meikles.com. Some venues already full!
Friday December 25 – Christmas Day luncheon. Cresta Lodge invites families for a fun day. Entertainment by Chalenam Rhythms. Lunch served from 12 to 2pm. Under-8s get a fun free party with Santa.
Sunday December 27 – Centenary High Tea. Meikles Hotel marks its 100th anniversary with a series of high tea events. Enjoy the new high tea, have a talk on the hotel’s history and then go on a tour of the hotel and immediate surrounds. Ends with a short wine tasting. Entertaining and interesting for all ages. $12 per person. Book by calling reservations on (04) 707721 or e-mailing switchboard@meikles.com. This will be the final special high tea( though you can enjoy high tea without the talk and walk at any time every day!).
Tuesday December 29 – Fun quiz night – year end edition. 167 Enterprise Road, also known as Theo’s House of Coffees. Arrive 6ish for a 6,45 start (prompt) – allowing you to get settled in with food and drinks. No entry fee and all welcome to this team quiz, in which the accent is on enjoyment. Supper from $5. Just arrive, but if you wish to ensure you have a table, please book by calling 0772 881877.
Wednesday December 30 and Saturday January 2 – Drama Workshops – FREE. Wondering what to do during your festive break? Well, wonder no more. Reps Theatre will host two fun and exciting FREE drama workshops for anyone interested or experienced in acting. 11am to 1pm on both days. Please feel free to stay on afterwards for some snacks and drinks in the Reps Members’ Bar. Adrian Stanley Rehearsal Room, Reps Theatre. The workshops will involve improvisation techniques for the stage as well as some work on scenes. Dress: comfortable clothes that you can move/run around in, preferably something you don’t mind getting a little dirty, such as shorts and T-shirts / basic gym wear. The aim is to have loads of fun while learning essential drama skills. If possible, please let us know which workshop you will be attending. This will help us to ensure that we have enough materials for everyone. E-mail Reps Office at: reps@mweb.co.zw or Kyla Render at kyla.render@live.com or call, text or whatsapp Kyla on 0772 311 412.
Thursday December 31 – Ah, yes, I remember it well. Reps Theatre, Belgravia. A New Year’s Eve concert – one show only. 6.30pm. Start your New Year celebrations with a look back, as John Jones, Roz Ribeiro, Pete Hadingham, Nigel Hopkins and others bring you the songs you remember from the great musicals you have loved: Oklahoma, Gigi, Showboat, The Student Prince, Desert Song, White Horse Inn, shows by Ivor Novello and more. All seats $12. Activities in the Reps main bar afterwards, leading to midnight celebration. Booking now open at The Spotlight for the show.
Thursday December 31 – Bring in the new year at Meikles Hotel. Dinners with entertainment in :La Fontaine Grillroom, The Stewart Rooms and The Pavilion. 8pm onwards. Fireworks at midnight to welcome in 2016 (also open to the public – pop along to Jason Moyo Avenue from 11.30pm to see the display). Book by calling (04) 707721 or e-mailing switchboard@meikles.com. For 100 years the premier venue for welcoming in new year in Harare.
Friday January 1 – enjoy brunch on New Year’s Day … whether or not you have been partying through the night. Superb choices of continental or full English, in the five-star Meikles Hotel (The Pavilion). From 7am onwards, into the lunch hour. Book by calling (04) 707721 or e-mailing switchboard@meikles.com
Tuesday January 12 – the first fun quiz at 167 for 2016. Quizmaster Alastair Garrard. Starts 6.45pm, but arrive earlier to settle in and have supper. No entry fee. Supper from $5. Drinks on sale. A fun team quiz to which everyone is welcome – bring a team or come along and join up with a team. The accent is on fun. 167 Enterprise Road, or Theo’s House of Coffees. More info and reserve tables: call Lollie on 0772 881877.
Thursday January 21- The Second Travel and Tourism Quiz. Hosted for people in the travel and tourism sector as a fun evening out. It’s a team quiz for maximum five members (if you have more, set up a second team). The accent is on competitive fun. Back by demand after the successful inaugural one in October. Hosted by the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism. Booking essential, so please register your team with ZCT by calling (04) 250246or e-mailing ceozct@gmail.com. Venue is 167 Enterprise Road (known as Theo’s House of Coffees), Arrive 6pm to 6.15pm to settle in, have drinks and get ready. Supper will be during the evening. Cost is $15 per person, including supper and entry fee. Drinks available.
Friday January 22 – Diva Delight! Music by three of Harare’s finest female singers, featuring music from the ladies of songs and the ‘girl groups’ of the present and past. A wonderful evening out, starting 7pm. Entry $5 per person. Supper and drinks available. Bring your own chairs or blankets – no cooler boxes. To reserve a place call Lollie on 0772 881877. Venue: 167 Enterprise Road, or Theo’s House of Coffees. A follow-up to recent musical evenings at this venue. Singers tonight are Mande Snyman, Storm Whittaker and Jamie Bell.
Wednesday January 20 to Friday January 22 – Public relations workshop, including writing workshop. Aimed at PR practitioners, advertising agency staff, journalists and PAs with involvements in publishing and writing. Call Mande on 0772 245292 for advance information about venue, content and costs.
Tuesday January 26 – Fun quiz night at 167. Quizmaster Russell Clark. A fun team quiz for all, No entry fee. Supper available from $5. Bar open. Bring a team or come along and join a team – the accent is on fun. More and info and table bookings by calling Lollie on 0772 881877.
Thursday January 28 – Ignite Your Business Workshop. A six-week workshop starting on this date. Workshop has weekly 2.5 hour classes on either Thursday evenings or Saturday mornings. It designed for entrepreneurs, aspiring and actual, and teaches how to build and grow a successful business in 2016. It combines goal-setting, motivation, success habits, business planning, financial management, business management and more, to bring you an all-in-one firecracker to get your year started with a bang. Go to www.sabrebusinessworld.com for all the details and to register or e-mail sabre@sabrebusinessworld.com or call/whatsapp 0772 354840 / 0772 236625.
Thursday January 28 to Saturday February 6 – The Pianist. Directed by Graham Crutchley, starring Kyla Render, with piano accompaniment by Annette Eastwood. A powerful play on the Reps Theatre Main Stage. The true story of 14-year-old Lisa Jura’s escape from Nazi-occupied Vienna to England, where she finds herself alone. Through her perseverance she finds a home, music and love. At the height of the Blitz she gets to audition to study at the Royal Academy of Music … . Booking opens soon at The Spotlight.
Friday January 29 – wine tasting evening at Inn On The Vumba. Come down for a great weekend break and join in the fun tasting. More information by calling (020) 60722. Inn On The Vumba is just outside Mutare on the road into the Bvumba mountains, looking green and cool at this time of year.
Wednesday February 10 to Friday February 12 – The 2016 Tourism Convention. A must-attend event for everyone in a decision-making role in travel and tourism. Hosted by the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism and held at Elephant Hills Resort, Victoria Falls. Regional participation from neighbouring countries. Theme: Growing emerging economies through tourism development. More information and bookings: call (04) 250246 or e-mail ceozct@gmail.com
Friday February 12 – Fundraising dinner for Harare Children’s Home. A superb supper with dinner and dance music, plus auction, raffles and fun for all. All in a good cause. Venue: Stewart Rooms, Meikles Hotel. More details in early December but diarise now.
Friday February 19 – Down Memory Lane. A musical evening with Mande Snyman and Kevin Hanssen at 167 Enterprise Road, or Theo’s House of Coffees. Showtime 7pm. Entry $5 per person. Supper and drinks available. Bring your own chairs and blankets if you wish. No cooler boxes. Call to reserve a place by phoning Lollie on 0772 881877. Featuring music from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Wednesday March 9 to Saturday March 24 – The Musical World of Disney. A colourful show featuring music from Disney shows. Directed by Sue Bolt with musical direction by Meg Mackenzie. Reps Theatre. Booking opens soon at The Spotlight.
NIAA Vocal and Instrumental Eisteddfod 2016. Entries close on Wednesday 27 January. Entries before that date are very welcome, but no late entries can be accepted. As the first school term is so short, the preparation and programming time will be extremely tight, and we urge all teachers and participants to have their entries in good order so as to avoid queries and delays in processing. If you have not already picked up the 2016 syllabus, you can download one from our Facebook page, or from our website www.niaazim.co.zw. Our offices are now closed for the year and will re-open on January 4.
Christmas cakes from Connections: Celebrate Christmas with a difference. Our specialities are a yummy very rich chocolate cake and Black Forest cake. We also make snacks like marinated drumsticks, meatballs,mini-pies,samoosas and assorted mini pastries and other items. Call or visit Connections Restaurant at Celebration Centre, 162 Swan Drive, Borrowdale. Connections is also open at these times over the festive season: Thursday December 24, 9am to 1pm; Sunday December 27, 7am to 7pm; Tuesday December 29, 8am to 2pm; Wednesday December 30, 8am to 2pm; Thursday December 31, 8am to 1am in the new year!; Sunday January 3, 7am to 7pm. Call (04) 850880-92 ext 246 or 0772 268493, e-mail linda.matanga@celebrate.org.
Some helpful information about school terms in 2016: First term – Start: Tuesday January 12, End: Wednesday March 23, half term: February 19 to 22. Second term – Start: Tuesday May 3, End: Thursday August 4, half term: June 17 to 20. Public Holidays: Africa Day, May 25. Third term: Start Tuesday September 6, End: Thursday December 8, half term: October 14 to 17. First term 2017 starts Tuesday January 10. Thank you to Paula Blackburn of St George’s College for assistance with this useful information.
Don’t forget to help those people and animals in need of our care this festive season. While enjoying the Christmas and new year holidays, support through donations and other gestures organisations helping those in need. In particular can you please remember the good work done by ZNSPCA, the Harare SPCA, VAWZ, Harare Children’s Home, the various old folks’ homes, the Friend Foundation and many more. Your festive season will be better if you know you have helped a person or an animal whose life will be enhanced or even saved by your generosity and care.
Post published in: Arts