As we near the end of 2020, a year we’ll all be glad to see in the rearview mirror, a reminder it’s important to treat oneself now and again.

I find a responsible number of drinks on a Thursday evening is a nice way to ease into the weekend, and the return of Cape Town’s First Thursday calendar is a welcome addition.

Thursday, November 5, is the next round, and there’s a great deal of buzz around Cartel Gallery by Ideas Cartel.

The third edition of the event will see a brand new exhibition going on display at 113 Loop Street, along with the chance to enjoy some of the finest views the Cape Town CBD has to offer.

On the third and fourth floor, which will be accessible to the public, you’ll find:

• Eight artists in a new setup with workspaces repurposed
• Live DJ set & trumpet – Candice Heyns & Lee Thomson
• Live hand-poked tattoos
• Thrift market
• Cartel bar and food

There are 20 spots available for those hand-poked tattoos, so if you’re keen then make sure you arrive early, with the event kicking off from 4PM.

You can even purchase your favourite artwork via the Ideas Cartel app (App Store and Google Play Store), and any drinks ordered through the app will also score a R5 discount.

If you’ve ever set foot inside 113 Loop Street, you’ll know that Ideas Cartel leaves nothing to chance, so expect a high-quality evening with all the necessary COVID-19 measures in place

Whilst the third and fourth floors will be open to the general public, this event will feature the first pop-up bar experience on the 10th floor.

In order to gain access to the 10th floor, you’ll need to buy a R100 ticket from Quicket, with limited spots available.

There will be live music, art, cocktails, and a terrace with 360-degree views of the city, offering an exclusive opportunity to support local artists offering an original variety of artworks.

In Cape Town, much like Friday at 1PM is the end of the workweek, so too is November basically the end of the working year.

You don’t need an excuse to enjoy yourself on a Thursday evening, whilst supporting local artists, but if you did, that should do the trick…