|
Wednesday, 19 June 2013 10:56 |
If lunch hour Botox trips have been
hampered by the rains, replace it with lunch hour reading. Publishing house Penguin
launched e-singles a few days ago: short, digital-only reads aimed at people
stuck in traffic, waiting for other people to arrive who are stuck in traffic
and for those whose faces can’t take another shot at lunch. Come on, give us a smile. Oh wait, you are smiling. We couldn't tell.
Rumi For More?
An initiative to make literature
more accessible, these e-singles are available on Google books and Flipkart via
their Android app and currently the catalogue comprises authors like Sudha
Murthy, Sowmya Aji, Arka Dutta and Ravindra Singh. Now we don’t love the
current compilation and can’t wait for Penguin to roll out its plans to add
poetry and chapters from novels to the list, which you can download at work for
Rs 25, just before you begin your commute. The catalogue currently has around forty titles including The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk by Sudha Murthy, Another Time Another Place by Sowmy Aji and Here's How It Goes by Arka Dutta.
Getting There: Penguin’s
e-singles are available through Flipkart here, at Rs 25.
Penguin E-Singles for Rs 25!
If lunch hour Botox rips have been
hampered by the rains, replace it with lunch hour reading. Publishing house Penguin
launched e-singles a few days ago: short, digital-only reads aimed at people
stuck in traffic, waiting for other people to arrive who are stuck in traffic
and for those whose faces can’t take another shot at lunch.
Rumi For More?
An initiative to make literature
more accessible, these e-singles are available on Google books and Flipkart via
their Android app and currently the catalogue comprises authors like Sudha
Murthy, Sowmya Aji and Ravindra Singh. Now we don’t love the current
compilation and can’t wait for Penguin to roll out its plans to add poetry and
chapters from novels to the list, which you can download at work for Rs 25, just
before you begin your commute. The catalogue currently has over forty titles
Getting There: Penguin’s
e-singles are available through Flipkart here, at Rs 25.
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 19 June 2013 10:55 |
“Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly,
“'tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to show you when you're there”
We were warily reminded of Mary Howitt's poem as we trudged up two grimy floors (Anupam Sweets sits on the first floor) to make our way to Esparanza, the newly opened spa in Gk-2's M block market.
Knead A Touch of Style
Greeted with a Vedic-retreat-meets-yoga-class instrumental soundtrack, friendly staff and an uninspired waiting room (white couches and gold table), we were reminded of how far this was from its namesake- Esperanza, one of Cabo's finest spas. Presented with a coffee-table book which described in detail the 'experience' that the spa was, here's what we learnt:
There are trips you can take at Esparanza depending on your budget, relationship status and frame of mind. The 'lovers journey', self-explanatory and a bit cheesy, comprises of couple massages; 'contemporary journey' entails strong detox elements; 'decadent journey', for when nothing less than a caviar facial, chocolate body polishes and diamond massages will do. There are extensive skin, body and hair treatments available as well - a list almost as robust as Amatra's. We settled for a modest pedicure.
Stop Spa-rring
Divided into sections (each labelled under a spanish word), Esparanza contains a manicure/pedicure nail-art room, a hair salon and massage rooms (complete with private steam/sauna cubicles). Each massage room is lit to resemble the night-sky and an orchid stem greets clients. The overall effect might've worked had the sections been spaced out but the immediate effect is more parlour than spa(cial).
But the service at Esparanza more than compensates for its not-so-large quarters. Armed with an arsenal of products from Skin Truths, our beauty specialist began our pedicure by first sanitizing his hands in front of us. Squeaky clean, we settled into perhaps the longest and most rewarding pedicure experience, with attention to detail marking every step. After more than an hour of scrubbing and cleaning we walked away with buttery soft (he made us check) feet.
Esparanza works in terms of location (for those who don't want to travel to Vasant Kunj for crowd favourite Three Graces Spa) and service but like we mentioned above, is just too cramped for a luxury spa. You might have to go all the way to Cabo for that.
Getting There: Esparanza, M-60, M-Block Market, 2nd Floor, GK-2, call 41099919 for an appointment.All services listed on the website. Rs 700 for a pedicure.
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 19 June 2013 10:52 |
 Everyone in Delhi knows to gird their loins for the “slow months”, June to October when there’s absolutely nothing interesting to do in the city.
But this year might be different: Welcome to #delhisummer, a pop-up (God, we're tired of that term) venture run by 1701 co-founders Karishma Jhalani and Ashwin Jain which will be on at an undisclosed location in Khan Market from 1 pm to 1 am all of next weekend.
Expect food by Diva, cocktails by PCO and music curated by the Reggae Rajahs—live bands and DJs alike. Also, it’s going to be a great place to shop with 1701’s own stock (we wrote about them here), Taramay , T Republic, and Neon Planes among others.
In other exciting Khan Market related news, we hear that PCO might possibly be setting up shop there in some avatar or another. PCO did not confirm this when we spoke to them, but here’s hoping! The dry season might possibly soon be wet—and we don’t mean the intermittent monsoon either.
Getting there: On June 27, 28 & 29, 1 pm to 1 am, Khan Market, view 1701’s Facebook page here for updates on the venue.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 12:37 |
How many psychedelic zebras were killed so you could get to work? How many fresh fruits were tripping at breakfast this morning? How many velvet robes gave up their lives of motel comfort to be here?
These are questions we routinely ask ourselves as we get into Mumbai taxi cabs that are upholstered with all kinds of prints laid on thick, thick fabric that is definitely not for all seasons and pupils.
Trying to remedy this is Taxi Fabric, a brand new community of designers that want to give the city’s cabs an Eliza Doolittle-worthy makeover. My Fare Lady? Taxi Fabric was started up by Sanket Avlani, art director at ad firm Creativeland Asia, who like many of us in this clogged city, is constantly stuck in traffic. To keep himself entertained on long rides from Wadala to Andheri and back, Avlani started taking pictures of taxi seat covers and sharing the images online, which generated a ton of interest. This led to a lovely Tumblr account, a brainstorming session with friends from the advertising industry, and finally, a bunch of designers coming together to re-design taxi seat covers.
Bhaisaab, Kitna Metre?
"As a people, Indians are not very receptive to design -our mass transport systems lack a certain edgy design element. I felt that there was a massive blind spot that needed to be addressed", says Avlani. According to him, Taxi Fabric is still in a very nascent stage. The group is in the process of getting in touch with designers and setting up their networks with taxi drivers and owners.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 12:03 |
 There’s the very interesting Truman Show disorder that makes you think your whole life is being filmed. It can be one of the hazards of being an overly consumptive society, the question of when does the camera switch from showing you things to just showing you? Perhaps, if this is your problem, you shouldn’t join the Pinhole Sessions, a new short film club at Ziro Café, because that will be all about looking in, in perfect little vignettes, and celebrating the art of a really short movie.
Pet Projector
Pinhole Sessions are designed by Lightcube, an agency that seeks to change the way you watch cinema by changing the venues you watch films in. “We take films to unconventional places,” explains co-founder Suraj Prasad. Formerly involved in organizing film clubs and screenings, Suraj found that none of them satisfied him, and so he decided to start his own venture last year. Loosely based on the wonderful Austin Film Society , in the year and a half that Lightcube has been active there have been screenings in museums, art galleries and even Dhenuki village. They also organized a Satyajit Ray retrospective this April. Suraj hints at a “really major film event” due to hit the capital in August, but he won’t go into any more details except that it’ll involve critics, filmmakers, technical people, and is going to be a big trade event. Watch this space?
Scene Stealers
“Short films have really evolved,” he offers as a motivation to start Pinhole Sessions. They began the sessions last Thursday and plan to have one every alternate week, with maybe a surprise screening thrown in now and then. The membership fee for six months is nominal (Rs 500) and you can also submit your films to be screened (email mailto:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
) .
Last time they kicked off with a film by Fritz Lang aka The Master Of Darkness, so we suggest you get a glass of wine before the event actually starts, just to hold yourself together.
Hitch(cock) a ride?
Getting there: On June 27, Ziro Café, 24/3 HKV, view Lightcube’s Facebook page here for more details.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 10:48 |
 7.30pm on a Monday evening is perhaps never as buzzing anywhere as a metro/train station. We fed off the buoyant mood and rushed to the barely opened food mall, Epicuria, in Nehru Place's metro station.
While the mall is partly under construction (we brought you news of its opening), the food court section is almost complete. Crowd favourites likes Sagar Ratna, KFC meet newbies like Uncle Tom's and Joey Matthew's Kerala Express.
Model Behaviour
Joey Matthews, super model and host of popular cookery show Love Bites with Joey has gone back to her Malyali roots with Joey Matthews Kerala Express; on opening day, she tells us that she’ll soon be introducing bi-weekly specials as additions to a compact permanent menu, which we tackled by way of spicy buttermilk, a rich blend of chillies, curry leaves, ginger and mint. Eager to outdo the buttermilk was our appam, soft and fluffy as a hotel room pillow.
Seasoned in the Sun
Vegetarians have few options at Kerala Express- between appams and Malabar Parathas (contains egg) there only lies one curry dish- the vegetarian stew, fragrant with heat and spice, just slightly sweet with coconut, lush with thick chunks of potato, carrot and cauliflower. Our non-vegetarian companion swore by her mutton chilly fry - flavoured with cumin seeds and chillies, the mutton itself was tender with a deliciously crusty outer layer. The Malabar roll however, stuffed with coriander, tomatoes, chilies and meat, paled in comparison to the sharply executed flavouring of the other dishes.
Available on the menu was also black Kerala coffee, but we didn’t need the caffeine kick to remember the tale of how a well-cooked meal redeemed our Monday.
Getting There: Joey Matthews Kerala Express, Food Court, Lower Ground Floor, Nehru Place Metro Station, Rs 1000 for a meal for two.
|
|
|
|
Monday, 17 June 2013 10:56 |
In this weekly column, filmmaker Danish Aslam will be your purveyor of the finest quality random facts, useless trivia and other esoterica from the world wide web. He lives mostly behind a keyboard and may or may not be a wizened old green man who speaks in grammatically incorrect aphorisms. You can find more on his home page http://pictually.me/dontpanic
The Invisible World
Let's start with the trippy stuff (a good mantra to apply to most things in life). And we don't need to go too far for it either. This post put up on So Bad So Good consists of images of everyday things magnified up to 2000x, revealing the teeming universe that exists under our noses. And in the case of coffee (one of the images in the post) quite literally. What intrigues me is that caffeine and vodka tonic are the 2 most psychedelic of the lot. So does that mean what it looks like has some bearing on what it does to you, even on a microscopic level? Food for thought.
Here's To The Crazy Ones
Balloon-powered internet. For everyone. If anybody other than Google had put up a page that had this as the heading, I'd be closing the tab faster than you can say "Internet Hoax". Or perhaps even "Psychotic Breakdown". Which is probably why this latest product of the fertile minds at the Googleplex has been self-deprecatingly dubbed 'Project Loon' . Launched a couple of days back from New Zealand, this latest moon shot project from the infamous Google X Labs aims to use high-altitude balloons to create 3G-speed internet connection for every part of the world. It may never happen, but you have to give the guys credit for never letting imagination or sheer practicality get in the way of innovation. Hey, who would've thought we'd see driverless cars in our lifetime, right?
"…To Fade Away"
"It's better to burn out than to fade away". These iconic words are entrenched in the minds of everybody who was ever fascinated by the musical phenomenon known as Kurt Cobain. For the ignorant, these words were among the final few sentences of his suicide note found along with his body on April 8, 1994. But ironically, just a few months before the event that changed the world of music, Cobain had done an interview for Rolling Stone on why he'd never been happier in his life. Available in the Rolling Stone Archives, this freewheeling conversation with David Fricke is as insightful as it is bittersweet, as Cobain prophetically talks about how he didn't have any material left for an album after 'In Utero', 'Teen Spirit' was a cliched riff, how he didn't think Nirvana would last more than a couple of albums more & a song that was supposed to be in the album called 'I hate myself & I want to die', which he wanted to be the title of 'In Utero'. Perhaps the most ironic line of all: "I like guns. I just enjoy shooting them." Goosebumps & believe it or not, a few smiles.
Moments On Celluloid
Sometimes you remember a movie because of the great scenes. And sometimes you remember a great scene. Period. Put up by WhatCulture!, this list of 10 great scenes that completely overshadow their movies is, if nothing else, a nice opportunity to stop & reminisce about some moments of sheer genius that made us almost forget the rest of the stuff that came before and after.
PS: And staying on the theme of great movie moments, here's a collection of some of the best, beautifully illustrated by Alice X. Zhang, a self-proclaimed 'artist-fangirl'. And, as this video proves, she's got some serious Photoshop chops there.
Who Needs A Car?
All the technophiles out there reading this, please take a moment to have a geekgasm as I introduce the Emperor 1510 LX .What's that, you ask? Only the most mind-numbingly brilliant concept for a computer workstation that I've seen in a long long time. Priced at a cool $21,500 (effectively leaving most of us with drooling over our keyboards as the closest we're ever going to get to it), this product of the Modern Work Environment Lab features a retractable monitor stand for unto 5 monitors, a reclining Italian leather seat, a Bose sound system AND a cupholder. And the best part? This is not even their most expensive product. At $49,150, that distinction is held by the Emperor 200, which comes with a touch-screen control centre and a personal air filtering system. It literally cleans the air you breathe! Who wants an SUV anyway?
Best Story Ever
To end today's discourse, here's a bit of brightness from one of the most cheerful actors to ever exist - the human dynamo, Jackie Chan. In this bit for the Canadian channel CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, he recalls an incident from when he was an extra on Enter The Dragon with Bruce Lee. The incident by itself is fairly sweet, but the infectious joy with which he narrates it is guaranteed to leave you smiling.
PS: And if you liked this segment, do a Google search for "Best Story Ever Series The Hour". That should keep you occupied for a while.
|
|
|
|
Monday, 17 June 2013 10:24 |
 Here is a 2.0 version of the mood ring you bought at Archie’s Gallery in the 1992: Ambika Pillai’snew range of mood nail polishes that haven't changed a bit despite our myriad mood swings. Colours of the tantrum?
Shady Deal
According to the friendly lady who painted our fingernails, the colours are meant to change with temperature. ‘Normal’ was the silver grey we chose, appropriately named ‘Storm’. Cold meant it would turn black. “Black-black?” we asked, and when she nodded, we imagined it like a thundery overcast sky..
Reader, we tried. We stood outside in the rain, sticking our hands into the drizzle. “Uncomfortable!” said our mood, silver stayed the nailpolish. We put fingers into the car AC vent, no luck there. Finally, at the nth hour, we shoved our hand into the freezer. This worked. Our nails turned from light grey to dark, but running the fingertips of our non-frozen hand over the nails turned them light again.
So, the moral of the story is that this nail polish is pretty bad at gauging your mood - but that can be said about most things (and people) in your life. On the other hand, the silver is quite pretty with a pleasing matte finish. Plus, it’s a good party trick if you have a glass of ice and a conversation to break.
Getting there: Purchase at Ambika Pillai Salons, Rs 350 per nail polish bottle.
|
|
|
|
Monday, 17 June 2013 09:52 |
In our research, we came across this Italian print ad for the Vespa from the 1960s, which says “Chi Vespa mangia le mele, chi non Vespa no”.
He who Vespas eats apples, who doesn't Vespa doesn't.
We thought about that as we looked upon the beautifully shaped scooter at Vespa's first showroom in Delhi, opened recently in Adhchini.
PS: For a great glimpse at Italian bikes and politics in the 60s and 70s, read The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner. One of our favorite novels this year!
Have Some Wheel Power ?
A canary yellow scooter had us agreeing with a BBC TopGear review that claims “the overall effect is somewhere between handsome and beautiful, so neither sex will feel out of place while riding it." With a gleaming finish, chrome headlights resembling amorous bedroom eyes, stylishly understated handle bars, this was a seriously good looking machine.
Spread across one floor in Adhchini, the store currently houses five models of Vespa LX 125 in jewel colours: volcanic black, dragon red, midnight blue and canary yellow (we hear that a pink edition might also be released soon).
A separate glass-walled section houses accessories for Vespa aficionados, from helmets (price varying according to size), mugs, keychains and t-shirts. The rear part of the store also features a beautifully detailed wall of Vespa trivia and history in images. We spotted thecommemorative stamp launched in 1956 Italy to mark the production of the millionth Vespa, along with the first Vespa pamphlet designed for promotion which featured a woman driving. Sh(r)ine on.
Hop On, Stat(s)
With an all-steel-single-piece steel body construction, this light looking ride offers its drivers both strength and safety. The ride quality has been reviewed as stellar both by BBCTopGear and Autocar India but it's motor has come into controversy for not delivering adequate power.
The store staff tells us that while the scooter delivers a mileage of 48-50 km/lit within the city, it inches up to 55km/lit on the highway. All that grease-speak translated means that while this is one stylish ride, it is worth evaluating stats against other options given its high ticket price- Rs 66000 and upwards.
Definitely a more eco-friendly option in traffic-dense cities like ours, we took a moment to imagine what it would feel like riding side-saddle with Gregory Peck ala A Roman Holiday. Classic.
Getting there: Vespa, 77a,78 village adhchini, Sri Aurobindo Marg, call 9910091224. Rs 66000 (depending on specifics) for a Vespa 125 LX.
|
|
|
|
Friday, 14 June 2013 12:23 |
 What: Zaza Home pop-up at Zaza Stay, G54 Nizamuddin West, call 47373450, Rs 60 for a soap.
Why: You might remember our story about Zaza Home’s Christmas sale, where the interior store turned into a bit of a free-for-all for shoppers and the lovely Café Zaffiro served wine. The sad news is that Zaza Home has shuttered for the foreseeable future, but there’s a silver lining. Over the next few weeks, most of the products from the store will be going over to Zaza Stay, the company’s well decorated, light filled guest house. At the moment, the goodies include thick water glasses, heavy in your hand, bright colanders, painted bowls and frivolous hair clips in the shape of flowers, with more stock coming in every day. The spoils of war?
When: You need a little ra-zaza-le dazzle in your life.
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, 14 June 2013 12:14 |
What: Retro Comics, view Facebook page here and read comics online here, free.
Why: Everything we know about Indian mythology, we know from Amar Chitra Katha. Everything we know about mosquitoes, we know from a very old Tinkle comic. And there’s still some part of us that can’t eat a sabudana vada without thinking of Chacha Choudhary’s sidekick. Nostalgic? Check out Subin Jameel’s Facebook page curating vintage comics from across the country, using his own personal collection and more from the internet and posting them online. All the comics are available for free and we discovered some true gems: The Adventures Of Girl Phantom, Pots Of Gold and Clay Princess. Vin(tage)!
When: You want to have a panel discussion.
|
|
|
|
Friday, 14 June 2013 11:05 |
What: Les Bistro du Parc to open in Defence Colony, first week of July. A-57,58,59 Moolchand Market, Defence Colony, call 467800800.
Why: We've promised ourselves that next time a new restaurant in Delhi calls itself 'multi-cuisine/continental', we'll pack our bags and move. It's with great expectations then, that we bring to you the news of Le Bistro du Parc opening an "authentic" French Bistro in Defence Colony. A friendly phone call revealed that the menu will be small, with five dishes each for the main courses and appetizers, and dishes will change according to availability and season of produce. Bon Appetit.
When: You want to grill a mockingbird.
|
|
|
|
Friday, 14 June 2013 10:59 |
What: Moon River launches an international fashion floor. Coming this September.
Why: Diane von Frustenberg recently released a collection called, “Life is a Party”(some picks currently available at Kitsch), and it looks like Delhi finally gets to RSVP. Moon River, one of our favourite stores in the city is launching an international fashion floor dedicated to labels like DvF, Carven, Zadig & Voltaire and MSGM. Currently under construction, the fashion floor will showcase clothes, shoes as well as selected accessories from these lines. It's a wrap?
When: You're the one that's trending.
|
|
|
|
Friday, 14 June 2013 10:49 |
 What: Expedition to a Mango Orchard, June 30, 9.30 am, sign up details here.
Why: To us romance always felt like eating a mango- drippy, almost too sweet and impossible to get through one without getting your hands dirty. The idea then of a mango party seems too cutesy to resist. Delhi Heritage Walks is organizing a day trip to the mango orchards of Rataul (50 kms from Delhi). With unlimited mangoes to eat and 5 kgs to take back home with you, the proceeds of this trip will go towards Rataul's Salma Public School for girls. All you have to do is sign up and bring your own knife. Look sharp!
When: It's about the fruit of your loins.
|
|
|
|
Thursday, 13 June 2013 13:25 |
Fluffy Singh is not a toy, because to say that would be to discount his human attributes. He's a "good listener", with sparkly brown eyes that are about to break into song and dance. He has the body language of your uncle who's always the last man standing on the wedding dance floor; he's got a full face that looks like it's stuffed with rasgullas - hence the tummy - but is really just on the verge of a really large laugh. Fluffy is less than a foot high and cuddly, yes, but a toy he is not. Meet him here. A soft mini Sardar character for your shelf, this "India memento" was conceptualised by cousins Sanjay Manaktala and Advait Gupt, with backgrounds in IT and investment banking respectively. "You know that sweet Sardar uncle you see at all your family weddings? Wipe that smirk off your face! This isn't another Sardar joke, just the inspiration behind Fluffy," they tell us. Turban Planning
Fluffy Singh was something that “just happened" to Sanjay and Advait, much like their change in careers. Sanjay, who came to India as an IT Guy a few years ago and dabbled in the comedy scene in Bangalore, is now a full time stand-up comedian and Advait, who worked in the finance sector, recently co-founded a digital media production house called Supari Studios. It all started when Sanjay, originally an NRI, was visiting India and wanted to take back memorabilia for his friends and family. “I wanted to get something for my Punjabi relatives in the US that reminded them of home, but at the same time was unique," he tells us. The lack of something to take back led to the birth of Fluffy Singh, an idea that was discussed over Tandoori chicken and rolls at Mini Punjab, Bandra. Amritsar to LA After many rolls and two pot bellies that could be prototypes for Fluffy Singh, the cousins had a sample of this souvenir ready. "It received such a good response from everyone we showed it, so we decided to go for it," says Advait, probably with the enthusiasm he borrows from Fluffy. With a test website that was launched just yesterday (they are in the process of setting up a jazzier, more Fluffy-appropriate portal), you can choose from an office going or a stay-at-home version of Fluffy now, but we hear that he’s going to start a family with a certain Fluffy Kaur and that Fluffy Juniors will soon be on their way. Sanjay and Advait are also looking at launching different avatars of Fluffy - a hip hop version a.k.a Fluffy-B and even a Super Fluffy. The site also has a coming soon space for a blog, videos and a 'Fluffy Around The World' section that reminds us of the garden gnome's 'travels' in French film Amelie. Currently priced at 30 USD a pop(ppe), Fluffy Singh can be shipped to any part of the world and will soon be available in retail outlets in Mumbai and Bangalore. The website is currently taking pre-orders and will be ready to ship in a few weeks from now. So go get your own Fluffy Singh - he could be a soft something for your bed; shelf help for the office, a cuddly cultural export, an instant mood gifter. Just remember, Fluffy Singh is not a toy, but with his rosy cheeks and sweet demeanour, he sure is a doll. Getting There: Check out Fluffysingh.com for details, email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
for queries, 30 USD (approximately Rs 1,700).
|
|
|
|
Thursday, 13 June 2013 13:22 |
If you've been on the Bandra side of the Sea Link or stopped by Rangsharda for a drink recently, you've probably noticed an odd looking structure, a building that looks like a giant desktop or a puzzle, waiting to fall into the hands of a curious child. "A Cubist baby of lines and planes," author Jeanette Winterson would call it.
Some scouting and resurrection of three Winterson books later, we found that this will be the new gallery and office space for the Bombay Art Society, designed by Sanjay Puri, architect extraordinaire, the man who's also behind The Infosys building in Mysore and the CIE building in Cochin.
Art Deco
The Bombay Art Society was founded in the 1800s during the time of the British rule to give an impetus to the local art scene. A hundred and twenty three years on and the Society that allegedly gave MF Husain his first big break in 1947 (he was awarded a gold medal at an annual Bombay Art Society exhibition), is set to get their very own building. "It’s a landmark moment for us, and we’re very excited,” says Parfulla Dahanukar, President, Bombay Art Society, which has functioned out of the Jehangir Art Gallery since 1952. “We’ve had some of the greatest names in the history of Indian Art associated with us and it’s great to have a building that is unique and contemporary, one that reflects the organization it will house," she says.
But getting the building to reflect what it holds on the inside wasn’t an easy job. With an idea to maximize the small 1,300 square metre plot, Puri created a fully fluid area to fit the society’s requirements. The building, which people often tell him resembles Henri Moore’s cubist sculptures, will house three galleries, a small auditorium for lectures and talks, a café and an office. To create an illusion of space, Puri had to use a wire mesh for the structure of the building as well as floating columns-so there are no straight beams that run directly from the top to the bottom of the building. “The idea was to allow one space to flow into another. Which is why the building has no corners!” A comment on the contemporary art scene in India, Puri feels the building showcases just how much Indian art has progressed.
Building Blocks
The building has attracted a lot of attention, both good and bad, considering this project has been over eight years in the making partly due to delayed BMC permissions and its complex design.
While this space will start to function in a few months from now, Puri tells us about the other Bombay buildings he loves to stare at and what he day dreams about when he looks at the city.
Up: Puri's Favourite Bombay Buildings
1. Kanchanjunga Apartments on Pedder Road by Charles Correa: For its clean and inspiring design plan.
2. Nehru Science Center in Worli by Achyut Kanvinde: For its internal volumes and the spaces that seamlessly move from one to another.
3. NCPA building in Nariman Point by Philip Johnson: For its beautiful picture windows and clean lines.
Fantasy League: Puri's ideas for Mumbai
- Extend Mumbai’s coastline: Of the 125 km coastline that Mumbai has, only 25 kms are accessible to the public. Reclaim some land and build a landscaped, green track from one end to the other. It would solve one of the biggest issues the city is facing right now-public spaces.
- Make Ballard Estate a no car zone: If the area is compulsorily pedestrian, tiny roadside cafes and boutiques could flourish in the area.
- Tulsi Pipe could be our lung: According to Puri, Mumbai even had a chance to re-engineer itself about twenty five years ago when the mills shut down .Tulsi Pipe Road could have been a green lung in Mumbai if some of the mill land on that long stretch of road was left to be developed as a green belt.
Up, up and away!
Getting There: Bombay Art Society, currently at Jehagir Art Gallery, Kala Ghoda, 22044058.View their website here.Soon to open at Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (W)
|
|
|
|
Thursday, 13 June 2013 13:16 |
 Coming out of our favourite away-from-the-office den in Khan Market (Market Café—great burrito, usually a decent speed on the wifi and bonus! You’ll always run into someone you know) we spotted a wall that seemed to have gone a bit typography crazy. ‘Weird,’ said the 8 foot high banner, plastered over what used to be Watermelon Café, ‘Independent & Proud.’ (View the picture on our Instagram feed here.)
The Wheel Deal
Obviously, we had to investigate. Turns out Khan Market’s getting a brand new bar—featuring Italian and “proper Indian” food said the owner who had walked out to take a call when he bumped into us. Called ‘Trolleys’, think of airline food carts as opposed to weird little men on the internet. This will have a liquor license from the very first day and will feature lots of trolleys on their south-side façade, facing the other side of the market, somewhere over Subway.
When we asked about the banner, he said it was a deliberate way to create some mystery. “‘Weird’ is our bar, ‘Independent’ is our food and ‘Proud’ is our service staff,” he said.
Rolling In The Deep?
With HKV businesses fleeing from there as fast as they can, will Khan Market’s proximity to Meharchand mean that the nightlife there will get a bit of a kick in the pants? As long time fans, we certainly hope so. Look out for our full review soon!
Getting there: Opens June 25, 7, first floor, Khan Market.
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 12 June 2013 12:28 |
Are you a bad girl and are you wearing sleeveless?
If that question has been plaguing you and not just ironically, we suggest you head over to freshly launched e-zine, The Ladies Finger to lighten up and perhaps find some perspective.
Making a not so shy debut last week, The Ladies Finger is an online magazine with a “sometimes tongue-in-cheek, sometimes serious” check on everything to do with women. You heard it ladies, it's almost the transcript version of some of those conversations the Sex and the City crew had over brunch.
Girls Just Wanna Make Puns
From a correspondence course on self-love (we hope you lock that bedroom door), fun things to do in Madhya Pradesh- mass weddings and involuntary pregnancy tests, 21 types of people with feelings, a completely original Bechdel test to evaluate a movie's worthiness, and an ask Iron Maiden (the terrible pun here had us reeling) section where an anonymous person (we're guessing a bored Arts major) answers questions posed by users calling themselves “wanna come” and “that kind of tablet”.
Nisha Susan, co-founder of the magazine, shares that unlike a magazine with a definitive voice and point of view at The Ladies Finger, they're “ refreshingly not chasing (or, even creating) a fake angle. Essentially, we write about everything and everything is up for discussion”. Post modernists much?
Of Legs, Links and Love
While the articles are sometimes entertaining, we're hoping they grow up to be more Jezebel and less Cosmopolitan. Like our Editor said, if you're happy and you know it, spread the legs… err, we mean link - which is http://www.theladiesfinger.com.
The Editors at Theladiesfinger also put together their list of four recommended blogs, especially for bpb readers. Trolls ahoy!
- Vice.com
- popjustice.com
- nerdfitness.com
- smartbitchestrashybooks.com
Getting There: Log onto www.theladiesfinger.com, free, to contribute a story send your pitch to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 12 June 2013 12:18 |
“ It’s sensual, fuzzy with playful arousal and so intimate that you can almost taste the kiss just standing in front of the photograph”. There’s no denying the urgency of these words, or that kiss photographed by a teenage Pablo Bartholomew in Kiss, Pablo and Pooh.
Still Frames
Perhaps better known for his stark images of the Bhopal gas tragedy, Indian photojournalist Pablo Bartholomew, recently conferred with the Padam Sri, is showcasing his early works at Photo-Ink Gallery over the next couple of months - a furiously scribbled love letter to three cities, Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta of the early '70's and '80s.
The exhibition, titled “Outside in- A tale of 3 cities.. the '70s and '80s” first debuted at Recontres D'Arles back in 2007. Often personal, the body of art features black and white images of the artist's friends and a few self-portraits all set against the '70s. Pablo shared with BPB why the work is as contemporary as ever, “only markers like hairstyles, clothes, spectacles may have changed. The kids still do now, what we did then. The music, the cigarettes, the parties and the hanging out. But, that was also the first time the West came to the East.”
While the entire exhibition remains personal and close to his heart, “one image. if I had to say, which resonates more than the others, is the picture of the band playing at St. Stephens college.”
The 13th showing of this exhibition will be remain at Photo-Ink Gallery until August 17, 2013 but the real treat for fans is this Thursday (June 13) when the artist himself will be present at the venue and open for interaction.
Getting There: More event details here. Photo- Ink MGF Hyundai Building, Faiz Road, New Delhi, call 28755940, 11 am.
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 12 June 2013 11:14 |
 Once upon a time in Delhi, 1240 AD to be exact, there was a king who started off as a slave. His name was Ghiasuddin Balban and he was ambitious enough to name a village after himself—Ghiaspur, a prosperous little place—which later took on the name of its most famous dead inhabitant: Nizamuddin. In Ghiaspur, Ghiasuddin built himself a little red palace called the Lal Mahal, which later housed Firuz Khilji and most famously, Ibn Batuta.
Tagging It
Why should you care about this history lesson? Because the slave king’s home—India’s oldest surviving Islamic palace, which incidentally, also has South Asia’s oldest surviving true dome construction—is about to be torn down to make way for a “two storey structure”, modern and concrete, complete with en suite bathrooms.
We heard of Lal Mahal from the Twitter feed for Monuments Of Delhi (https://twitter.com/DelhiHeritage) run by Vikramjit Singh Rooprai, an IT person, with no historical background but an abiding love for Delhi’s hidden history. “I’m so totally into IT, I can’t think of anything else,” he jokes to us on the phone, but this can’t be true, because Vikramjit is also the creator and founder of Delhi Heritage Photography Club, a group that meets to look at unknown monuments in the city—and maybe take a few pictures while they’re there. In the two and a half years Vikramjit has been running the club, they’ve gone on close to 80 walks, with not a single one repeated.
Here Are The Stats Then:
Monuments in Delhi you know: 10 to 15
Monuments in Delhi someone who really knows the city knows: 25
Monuments listed with the Archaeological Society Of India: About 150
Actual number of historical monuments and sites in Delhi: 1,317
Number that still exist: 800
Number that Vikramjit has seen: 300.
Constructing Arguments
Lal Mahal is in danger of destruction, but not if Vikramjit has anything to do with it. The world of heritage conservation in Delhi seems to be a strange politically filled place from what we learnt in conversation with him: we were warned against going to visit Lal Mahal on our own because people have blocked the entry way, and he speaks of fights going on for years between the ASI and the government. With his Save Lal Mahal campaign (#savelalmahal on Twitter), he wants to bring attention to it in the best way, cease the mosque next door from constructing further (one part of the building is already destroyed) and make it a heritage monument open to all. There are even plans of a conducted walk there, so email if you’d like to sign up!
PS: We got Vikramjit to give us a list of five places you probably never knew about, hidden right under your Delhi belly:
Zafar Mahal: As opposed to Lal Mahal, the first Islamic palace, this is the last, in the heart of Mehrauli. Built by Akbar Shah II (father of Bahadur Shah Zafar), when he started the famous Sair-e-Gulfaroshan (Phoolwalon ki Sair festival).
Kushk Mahal: The hunting lodge of Feroz Shah Tughlaq. It is (hold your breath) inside Teen Murti House, next to Nehru Planetarium and Nehru Memorial. During Tughlaq’s reign, this area was a dense forest and so he built a high hunting lodge for to score prey.
Khirki Mosque: One of the most magnificent mosques of its time. This is the first (mostly) covered mosque of South Asia. Built by Junan Shah Tilangani (prime minister of Feroz Shah Tughlaq), it has red sandstone windows everywhere (from where it got its name Khirki). It’s right opposite Select City Walk Mall, but hidden by row of small shops.
Begumpur & Bijai Mandal: In the colony behind Khirki Mosque stands the majestic Begumpur Masjid, which was built by same Junan Shah, and is much bigger in size. Its uniqueness is that it has a very huge central arch, which was unusual during in 14th century. Plus it has a raised Mallu Khana attached outside northern wall, which was a separate mosque for women. From the top, you can see the other monument and all the way up to Qutub Minar
South Ex Part 1: Right behind South Ex 1 Market, there are series of tombs spread across the residential colony. Starting from Darya Khan Lohani’s Tomb in Kidwai Nagar, which is on the raised platform on a round-about to tombs of Kale Khan, Bhure Khan, Chhote Khan and Bade Khan. Not too far from this place is Kotla Mobarakpur, which has magnificent Octagonal Tomb of Mubarak Shah Sayyid and a hidden mosque.
And just to even it out, five places you can’t visit, even though they’re right there:
Malcha Mahal: Deep inside Delhi ridge, this is a huge hunting lodge of Feroz Shah Tughlaq. It was given to Begum Wilayat Mahal of Oudh Dynasty by the Supreme Court and her children, Princess Sakina and Prince Raza live there. The palace has no electricity and no basic amenities. They (now in their late 60s) live alone and don’t allow anyone to approach.
Chaumachi Khan’s Tomb: This is a very small tomb hidden inside Mehrauli. On three sides, buildings have been constructed and the fourth side belongs to the local Ramlila committee and they have fenced it in, blocking access to the tomb. It’s a rare octagonal tomb, where all eight sides are different sizes.
Qasai Wala Gumbad: These are two huge tombs in Vasant Vihar. They are so big that their white glazed domes can be seen on Delhi-Gurgaon expressway. This complex contains one small tomb also, known to be the shrine of Pir Murad Ali Shah. But it is under private control not open to public exploration. They won’t stop you if you go and worship at this grave but if you try to enter the Mosque or Madrasa, where dozens of kids study Islam, they will confront you.
Monuments inside Airport: Delhi Airport has some amazing monuments. It has the Dargah of Raushan Khan and Kale Khan: yes, the same one who established Sarai Kale Khan. This shrine is right next to Runway 2. Behind this runway, there are the Air India A380 and Blue Dart hangers and behind these hangers, there’s a huge tomb and sarai of Sohail, who was the ruler of this town. These were earlier on Runway 2 but when GMR started building T3, they were uprooted and moved.
Monuments of Golf Course: Delhi Golf Course has some brilliant monuments hidden in it – the Lal Bangla (twin palaces) and Barakhamba. It also has Mir Taqi’s Tomb (not to be confused with the famous poet Mir Taqi Mir) and a few others, which are closed to the public because the Golf Course is a private property.
Go on then, build a little history.
Getting there: Tweet with the hashtag #savelalmahal to get involved, join the Facebook group here to go for free walks, visit the website at http://monumentsofdelhi.com/ for write-ups, maps and photos of the monuments mentioned.
|
|
|
|
|
