What: Yodakin bookstore, 2 Hauz Khas Village, call (011) 41787201 or visit www.yodakin.com, Rs 50 onwards.
Why: Just when we were beginning to think that Yodakin was fictitious, we found it in a little corner of Hauz Khas Village, bearing biblio-miles of independently published books, hard-to-find films and rare posters. bpb loves: High Noon and the Body by Kyla Pasha, Rahul Roy’s The Little Book on Men and the small but super cute space.
When: You don’t want to miss Delhi’s best tombs and (s)crypts.
What: Gung: The Palace, Road 27 & 28, Sector 29, next to Reliance Mart, Gurgaon, call 09871295093; Gunpowder, 22, Hauz Khas Village, 3rd floor, call (011) 26535700 or visit the Facebook group here; The Living Room (TLR), 30, Hauz Khas Village, call (011) 46080533.
Why: At Gung’s new outpost slated to open on April 17, you can get a booth, sip on rice wine, eat a wild variety of free kimchi and dig into grilled Pork Galbi among other authentic Korean treats. Climbing the stairs up to Gunpowder, Delhi’s trendiest underground eatery, might be Capital punishment but the flaky Malabari parathas, coastal curries and lake view are totally worth the trek. Also swing by TLR, whose casual vibe, happy hour beers and jam Wednesdays make it the city’s comfiest Living Room.
What: Weekend trips with Escape Delhi, visit the Facebook group here or email
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, start at Rs 2,900 per person, including transport, food and accommodation.
Why: Sick of the Pradas, parties and pollution already? Worry not, because Nathan Steele is waiting in his getaway car, ready to whisk you away on weekend-long trips where you can camp, raft, hike, ski and more, with fellow travellers that long for a break as much as you do.
When: You need to escape (t)urbanization. Next trip scheduled for April end!
bpb scouts the best of Delhi this week. What: Play Clan, F 51, first floor, Select City Mall, Saket, visit www.theplayclan.com, Rs 185 onwards.
Why: Rajnikant Zippo lighters, rickshaw-embellished tighty-whities and 1-billion-faces totes are just some of the things that make Play Clan’s only retail outlet the coolest, most insane store in Delhi.
What: Uparwali Chai, moving tea party, visit eatanddust.wordpress.com or call +91 9871927320, Rs 800 per person.
Why: Expat and self-taught chef Pamela Simms hosts the most superlative high teas in this city of excesses (smoked trout pate, curry puffs, macaroons, Florentines, cupcakes, scones can all be devoured here), at unusual spaces like embassies, gardens and museums.
When: You enjoy a game of snacks and ladders. Date and location for the next one on Pamela’s blog soon!
What: Live in an Alphonso orchard, Mahua Bagh, Alibagh, visit http://www.mahuaresorts.com or call 9819469323, Rs 3,600 per night for an AC cottage, meals included.
Why: At this new beachfront property, you can pick organically grown fruit straight off mango trees before heading out for a swim in the ocean. Amenities also include pretty individual cottages, sky showers, and a friendly staff ready to rustle up a meal or give you a massage whenever whimsy strikes.
What: Package forwarding and personal shopping agents from the US, visit www.myus.com, membership fee starts at approximately Rs 475 annually.
Why: Because sweet talking your sister’s best friend’s aunt to bring back loot from the States is a drag. Not only will this award-winning service give you a US address and forward packages within a week, they’ll even order your stuff from sites that only accept American credit cards. bpb’s shopping cart: Bumble and Bumble hair tonic, Paul Smith fedora, Searle metallic flapper dress.
We check out the designer's Goa showroom, with saris, skulls, and dresses that tell stories.
Taking time out of the most awesome Goa wedding ever, we tracked down fashion designer Miriam Strehlau’s workshop and showroom, hidden behind the Shore Bar on Anjuna Beach. We’d spotted her acid-trip-meets-French-whimsy pieces at stores like Bombay Electric and Bungalow 8 in Mumbai, and thought we’d find more here, and at better prices. We were only half right.
Sticker Shock
Warning: If you’re looking for flea-market rates, this isn’t the place for you. Strehlau’s prices are pretty steep, especially considering her somewhat dilapidated studio. Spending Rs 4,000 on a sequined boucle jacket, no matter how pretty it is, seems like a crime when you have to struggle into it behind a rickety old screen in lieu of a trial room.
What: Live in a tree house, The Machan, 20 kms past Lonavla, call +91 8080877420 or visit www.themachan.com, Rs 10,000 a night including breakfast and dinner.
Why: Newly opened Machan boasts four gorgeous, eco-chic tree houses that rise 40 feet above the lush Jambulne forest. Bpb loves: glass-walled hanging rooms, outdoor baths, and 360° views, which compensate for the lack of room service, air conditioning and fancy food.
Why: On this pretty website you’ll find everything from ginger tea and Himalayan black eyed peas to mandarin body butter, all of which can be home delivered. Another high note is the Simon and Garfunkel Herb Collection. Cheeses and honey only available in Delhi.
