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bREAKFAST

What: Cafe 88, Meherchand Market, Shop no. 134, call 490518888.

Why: New kid on the block Cafe 88 has a pedigreed background. Owned by the same folks at Yeti, the café is meant to be like a hotel coffee shop—except not in a hotel. We sneaked a peek and were greeted with an old-world staircase leading up to a beautiful terrace shaded by umbrellas. We hear they’re serving “multi-cuisine” dishes including Australian, Jamaican and even Japanese food. Liquid courage to face the prices (we suspect this might be expensive) will be disguised as beer and wine only.

When: Lobby for your bill next week.

***

What: Gingr food messenger, view at http://gingr.me/en/, app available for Android phones, free.

Why: This nifty new app app lets you text restaurants to place orders, make bookings and complain about how they forgot to send you extra soy sauce with your sushi… again. Pretty and user friendly, Gingr allows you to search by cuisine or area, as well as make dinner reservations and figure out happy hours during your next boring meeting. Multi-tasking, anyone?

When: You’re in the mood for text-mex.

pOETS

What: Project Voice by Sara Kay and Phil Kaye, spoken word poetry, visithttp://www.project-voice.net.

Why: "When they make fun of your accent, I'll take you swimming because we all sound the same underwater." Poets Sara Kay and Phil Kaye’s spoken words about spiders and sweaters, love letters and elbows, are guaranteed to make you fall in love. The US-based poets have performed solo or together at some of the best venues and events including Lincoln Center, Tribeca Film Festival, the United Nations and a 2011 TED conference. Even if you can't catch them live, watch their videos and read their books just to marvel at how acrobatic words can be. If you begin to love them like this Scouter does (YouTube introduced to me by a super someone last year), maybe even email them. From their audience dedication last night, we know they read fan mail.

When: You really want to meter.

***

What: BarTrender Pro, order at Benetta Bartrender, Suite 1210, DLF Towers-2, Jasola call 41550060, Rs 3.5 lakhs and upwards.

Why: We Instagrammed your last house party and we have to say, you’re looking sort of idiotic. There that’s you in the blue, not a Uni student and still chugging straight from the bottle. How about you put that Absolut down and invest in a grown-up (read: expensive) bar instead. Previously available only at hotels, BarTender Pro is now selling their hybrid bars to individuals as well. These are stocked with professional cocktail mixer, a wine cooler from France (no free bottles though, we checked), a dual temperature zone and dry storage bar. Cheers!

When: You need a sip replacement.

bIZARRE!

What: Flying Angels, Jawarharlal Nehru Stadium, Bhisham Pitamah Marg, Pragati Vihar, entry free. 

Why: Kitted out in feathers (of course!) the Flying Angels promise to wrap up Bonjour India by leaping from steel railings inside a specially constructed dome; dress up in clown costumes to heckle the crowd, and generally take your breath away. We suggest you break out your Mardi Gras beads and binoculars.

When: Hark, the herald angels swing on March 31, 6 pm.

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bUTTERCREAM

What: Maison Des Desserts Patisserie , Hauz Khas Village, call 9560366914, Rs 125 for a citrus meringue muffin.

Why: bpb featured Shirani Mehta way back when she was a home baker in Gurgaon and we are jazzed about her brand new offline space in HKV, where indignantly rich desserts sit in a beautiful display. We loved chocolate orange cake and decadent roulade, but you might have a hard time choosing just two (or twenty).

When: You want to make a Frostian bargain. 

***

What: Turn tricks with magician Ishamuddin at May Day Bookstore and Cafe. Registration details to be shared on their Facebook page next week, free.

Why: Ishamuddin—famous for the Indian rope trick - is proficient also in traditional magic, snake charming, juggling and acrobatics. And he is willing to share his best tricks with you – wand to give it a shot? Along with attending the workshop, you can also watch a documentary on magic and raid the May Day café for refreshments. 

When: Make your heart (st)healthier on March 24. 

*** 

pLUSH

What: Mithai-inspired cushions and quilts by Safomasi, available online and at Artisan Luxe, Meharchand Market, prices start at Rs 1,500 for a small cushion.

Why: Artist Sarah Fotheringham, currently a designer at W+K, spent several years travelling around India, drawing pictures of various mithai. With the help of her boyfriend and business partner, she began to print these on cotton to turn them into fun colourful cushions—both floor and small—as well as quilts. Her current collection includes some very pretty camels from the Pushkar fair, and she plans to introduce rugs soon, with illustrations from Japan. Fun fact: the name Safomasi comes from their names—Sarah Fotheringham and Maninder Singh. Duo over? 

When: You want to let the katli out of the bag.

***

bREAKDANCE

What: Cafe 79, Lado Sarai main market, call 09818674130, opens this week.

Why: This new restaurant calls itself an 'art and music cafe' (yes, we rolled our eyes too) and is founded by the folks over at alternative station Radio79Delhi. The menu will feature sandwiches, juices, coffee, a terrace and free wi-fi, as well as three additional rooms, which will be rented out for pop-up purposes. Look out for our full review next week!

When: You need a tune-a sandwich. 

** 

What: Sunset walk with Skilled Samaritan, Rs 1500 per person, meets at Badarpur Metro Station, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to sign up. 

Why: This foundation has been leading walks through the little village of Sirohi—40 kilometres from Delhi—for a while, with most proceeds going to bettering the village. This particular walk takes you through a stone quarry with sunken lakes to the top of a hill, where the Kot temple offers a birds-eye view of the Aravalli hills. Follow the trek up with a home cooked meal in the village as well as a tempo ride home. The foundation is also commissioning and selling cool charpoys, the strings made of trash plastic material, crafted by the villagers in any colour you’d like. Diwan-i-khas!

When: Sunday, March 10, 3.30 pm to 8.30 pm.

 

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bIRDS

What: Simply Fondue,43, Chiranjiv Towers, Nehru Place, call 32906629.

Why: American fondue chain (with branches in California, Texas and New York) comes to the Capital with fondues cheese and chocolate, many dippers and a range of broths. Targeted at the cubicle dwellers that crowd up Nehru Place, will this be where suits will spend their bread? Full review out next week.

When: You want to kiss the brie(d).

***

What: Hot air ballooning, as part of The Great Adventure Fest, Haryana Police RTC, Bhondsi and Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Gurgaon. Rs 4,500 per ticket, buy tickets here.

Why: Pull out all the cheesy stops and take her on a hot air balloon ride. Both free flight and tethered (for the faint hearted) options are available. With each balloon carrying three to four passengers, we suspect this could be a rad singles party venue as well. The Great Adventure Fest also offers other attractions like parasailing, powered paragliding, paintballing, adventure walls, rocket ejectors, archery, and quad biking to name a phew.

When: Hope floats on March 23, 6 am.

pOTS

What: Artisan tea and coffee for your next party by Jugmug Thela- Chai & Coffee,email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , approximately Rs 80 for a mug-size drink.

Why: Because champagne is so 2012. Give your next bash a cutting (chai) edge with the help of the dudes--former graphic designers--at Jugmug Thela, a fun new service that will set up a kiosk of "artisan" tea and coffee, doling out tea made from 12 secret ingredients and Italian-style coffee to your guests. Also coming up are blends from Costa Rica and Vietnam.

When: You want to raze the bar.

**

What: Fake water faucets and more on www.Giftloop.it, Rs 2,700

Why: We at the bpb office cringe each time someone says ‘e-store’, but we’re willing to give the newly launched Gift Loop a chance. Why? Because this voyeur’s guide to gifting not only curates fun products from international partner vendors that ship to India, but also lets you view, steal and buy users’ sexy gift wishes from around the web. Bow Derrick! We loved the fake water faucet, whiskey stones and bamboo Mac Book case.

When: You need to compile a present-ation.

bIBLIO 

What: Rare books from the Kerala State library available online, view at http://statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/rarebooks/index.php.

Why: Who would've thought that the Kerala State Library could be a bibliophile's wet dream? But here they come with an online archive of over a thousand rare books, easy to browse, search zoom into and ogle over. Most are academic, but have a browse and you could stumble upon books like Beasts And Man In India by John Lockwood Kipling (yes, Rudyard’s dad) and The Diary Of The Besieged Resident In Paris, a collection of reports from a war correspondent during the Franco-Prussian war. Hard-core!

When: You want someone to Kochi up to.

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bITE

What: Rosang, 35 Hauz Khas Village, call 9711925133. 

Why: We hear that Hauz Khas Village ( yes we know, same ol' same ol') has a brand new North East Indian restaurant, with winning Siam Boi on the menu, made with these key ingredients: 1. King Chilly, the hottest Guiness world record chilly and 2. Very strong ginger flavour, pepper and herbs chilly available only in the North Eastern Hills area (sic). This is one spice party we can't wait to attend.

When: You want to meat your match. Full review out next week.

***

What: The International Summer School, New Delhi, visit http://www.issnewdelhi.in, applications are now open.

Why: Get more out of the approaching summer than a tan. The International Summer School launches in Delhi,  a fun opportunity to spend six weeks learning and meeting people from across the world. With academic modules from the Jamia Milia Islamia, courses here range from politics, history, economics and sociology, and include a built- in 'experience module' that allows students  to travel and research for two weeks. Sweat deal!

When: You want to be well-re(a)d in the sun. From July 16.

pACK 

What: The Great Wall Marathon by The Active Holiday Company, call 09886281381 or visit www.activeholiday.in, packages start from 1,200 USD (flights and visa exclusive).

Why: Beach bums, be scared. Really scared as The Active Holiday Company whirls in to get your vacation a** off its beach towel and into some sort of sporting gear. Sign up for a holiday with this travel fitness company and you'll find yourself running a marathon in a country you haven't been to before, trekking up a mountain to get a bird's eye view of a new city or scuba diving below a pretty island. Coming up this May is a holiday planned around the Beijing Great Wall Marathon that involves 5,164 stone steps, among other challenges. But you're on vacation? Quit whining and start training!

When: You don't want to be just another brick in the wall. From  May 15 to 20. 

***

What: Darth Vader fine art print from Arrested by Art, call 26521147, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Rs 999 (shipping extra).

Why: The Sun was our favourite tabloid in London, for when we wanted to read trashy stories posing as breaking news. Imagine our delight when we find a fine art print of Darth Vader under the masthead of The Sun, with the words Gotcha emblazoned across. Made available by Arrested by Art, this print is one among several, including some fun New Yorker covers. Roller poster?

When: You want to Vader the storm.

bRIT

What: William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, a “peculiar production” by The Tadpole Repertory and Wide Aisle Productions, Zorba, MG Road. For tickets call Chanakya, 8826721770.

Why: Not your ordinary production, this Shakespeare adaptation involves choreography, acrobatics, and staging the play as a promenade performance. The audience moves between locations set up in the outdoor space at Zorba. We're on b(o)ard for this one.

When: “A sad tale's best for winter”. March 1-3, 2013.

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bEDHEAD

What: Arisinal breads by Chez Nini home delivered, log on to http://www.lepetitepantry.com/store-chez-nini, Rs 200 for one loaf of pain au fromage.

Why: Every one loves Chez Nini, but not too many have been lucky enough to raid the dessert section in the back, packed with croissants, breads and cupcakes (Nira, the chef, flew down Andrew Whitley of Bread Matters to train her and her staff how to make the perfect loaf). Now, however you can have them delivered right to your doorstep. Nira’s personal favourites are sourdough flaxseed and whole wheat breads, but she says the walnut loaf is also lovely, toasted.

When: You want to rise to the occasion. 

***

What: X-warrior race, a 4 km course with 20 commando style obstacles, Rs 750 for individual registration, book tickets online at the website.

Why: There is more to life than running spell-checks on documents. There's the actual thing, where foot meets concrete/grass. X-Warrior takes this to a new level with obstacles like rope climbing, inclined walls, hurdles, barbed wire crawl, balance beams and cargo nets all contained in a 4km stretch. Spread across the Thyagraj Stadium, we are promised band performances and a DJ later. Plus a chance to compete against actual commandos from the special forces and see just how much we suck.

When: Run Lola run on March 10, 10 am to 6 pm. 

pLAY

What: Indoor Safari Swing from FabFurnish, buy it here, Rs 2,899,

Why: At any given point, the bpb office is filled with all kinds of animals – three fake birds, one Mail Chimp and hardworking mules who may or may not turn feral at night. And so as we redecorate,  it only makes sense that we replace our old cane swing with this cool Safari one. Well-priced and compact enough to fit in your home too, this Safari seat has a capacity of 104 kgs. Hippos, are you listening?

When: You want (Seren)geti Images

*** 

What: Bora Bora Tiki Bar, 5-6 Southern Park, Saket, call 41315757. 

Why: Delhi gets its first tiki bar, inspired by island culture. Expect a variety of sea food and Cantonese cuisine, lots of fruity drinks, and a shack like environment. On weekends, there’ll be live salsa dancing and a flash mob (yes, another one of those). Loosely affiliated with London’s Mahiki, we’re expecting this to make up for our lack of beach. Look out for our full review next week!

When: You want to lei down and die.

bOOTH

What: Over the Rainbow, an installation of the Travelling Tent Cinema, Max Mueller Bhavan, 3 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, call 23329506, 16 February to 25 February, at 6 pm.

Why: We've written before of our love for Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya's work. This time around, they bring with them an installation, so special that only two people at a time can be admitted to view it. Traveling with the jatras, the touring talkies hawk an eclectic mix of films and based on their journey around rural Maharashtra. To know more, you got to mov(i)e it.

When: You're a lone ranger.

***

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bENCHED

What: Pero flagship store in Meharchand Market, check out the Facebook page here, Rs 11,000 for a calf length dress.

Why: bpb scoop! We’ve long been fan girls of Aneeth Arora’s pretty, floaty dresses, but dreaded the thought of schlepping all the way out to her studio to see the full collection. Now she plans to come closer home with her first store, opening in Meharchand Market in the next couple of months. Expect to see natural fabrics, floral prints and a riot of color from her new collections when you manage to muslin your way in!

When: You have a Pero-shaped figure. Store slated to open in a few months.

***

What: Delhi Literature Festival, January 9 and 10, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Janpath, entry free.

Why: Book worms rejoice: you don't need to go all the way to Jaipur anymore. Delhi hosts its first literature festival this weekend, featuring panel discussions, exhibitions, book launches, readings and music performances. Javed Akhtar, Kapil Sibal, Dilip Cherian and authors Jai Arjun Singh, Advaita Kala, Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan (shameless plug for the bpb Delhi editor!) will be speaking at the festival over the two day fest, which promises to expand over the next couple of years.

When: You want to weigh the prose and cons.

pROVOCATIVE

What: Raw Leaf salad delivery service, visit www.rawleaf.in, Rs 150 for chicken Ceaser salad.

Why: Launching this weekend, (online orders work at the moment, but for proper phone service wait till Monday) Raw Leaf sends fresh organic salad greens reach to your doorstep 24 to 48 hours after they’ve been harvested. Acting fresh?! Available also are a number of pre-done salads—just add dressing—including Caesar, Asia mix and coleslaw. Or you can order the mixed bag, a blend of red and green lettuce leaves, and be a little less healthy with a BLT.

When: You want to lettuce take you home.

***

What: Days-of-the-week panty set, buy online, a pack of 7 costs Rs 999.

Why: Our pick for the week is the set of 7 panties brought to us by the very thoughtful people from Pretty Secrets. What's special about these you ask? Well, their superpower is what they say and not who they are. They have Manic Mondays and Tricky Tuesdays, Wild Wednesdays (amen!), Sexy Saturdays and Soulful Sundays - we like Stay In Bed Sundays better.

When: You want a new kind of Sunday best.

bOOST

What: Open track day at Buddh International Circuit, Rs 4,000 for one hour.

Why: BIC opens its tracks to the general public for one day only, letting you go where Schumacher once turned a corner. An hour-long driving session in your own car will cost Rs 4,000 and Rs 3,000 for a bike. Hardcore fanboys can also opt for taxi rides in Mercedes SLS (Twin seater) and Mercedes C, E and ML classes, with certified drivers at a cost of Rs 7,500 per person.

When: Races begin on February 17, 2013.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 27 6 4061 12.0

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bREAD

What: Organic Farmer’s Market, Lodi, The Garden Restaurant.

Why: Sure, your neighbourhood thela-walla is convenient, but to be honest, his beans are looking a bit withered lately. Switch over to the new Farmer’s Market, which started last week and will be on  every Sunday, where you'll find not only fresh beans and other produce from I Say Organics and Nourish Organics but also baked goods from Pahargunj’s Brown Bread Bakery, organic milk, yogurt and butter from Kishan Welfare Club and yummy Himalayan Swiss cheese from HP Farms. Plus, Lodi puts out a brunch too: add a Bloody Mary and you’ve just upgraded one very annoying household chore.

When: You want to kisan and tell on Sundays, 10 am to 3 pm.

***

What: Make your own porn painting with Love Is Art, buy online at www.loveisartkit.com, approximately Rs 3,100 plus shipping.

Why: Because an MMS clip is so last year. Taint (and paint) your reputation with this nifty little kit instead, which allows you and your significant other to roll around a canvas covered in paint to create your very own “intimate” piece of art. Kit comes with washable, non-toxic paint, cotton, non-allergenic white canvas, protective plastic sheets, disposable slippers and even a body scrubber. Just because you’re dirty!

When: You want a well-hung memento.

pUTNAM

What: Thirty Nine, T 6B, HKV, call 46593377.

Why: Of course this new restaurant and bar has a theme - it's in Hauz Khas Village, after all - but we're hoping the Anglo Indian/British decor is subtle rather than staged. It certainly seems promising, with dark wooden interiors, leather armchairs by the fireplace, cricket bats and old photographs framed on the wall, a small section of bookshelves and a sweet looking terrace section. The food too, looks pretty authentic (with the exception of maple syrup ribs) with British Raj curried chicken and shepherd’s pie on the menu. Look out for our full review next week!

When: You enjoy a pub-lic display of affection.

***

What: Resist, Gallery Engendered SPACE, 125A, second floor, Shahpur Jat, call 40539738, entry free.

Why: In a weekend packed with cool art shows, here's one we're particularly excited about: Resist showcases underground art along with more mainstream works around their theme of ‘the personal as political’. Expect to see installations and graffiti by Anjolie Ela Menon, Arpana Kaur and Daku, live music performances and fashion installations featuring Manish Arora, Tarun Tahiliani, Satya Paul and others, all spread across four floors, including a rooftop. Plus, if the theme gets your creative juices going, you can collect one of a 100 1x1 canvases and contribution to a massive installation they’re calling the Wall Of Resistance. (You can also send in your work, and collect it when the installation is done to take home with you.) Stop signs!

When: Become a barrier-ista on February 2 at 7 pm.

bERTH

What: A restaurant meal delivered to your train berth by Mera Food Choice (www.merafoodchoice.com), Rs 150 for shahi paneer at Lucknow Junction.

Why: If you must take the train, you might as well travel in (relative) style: a new website ties up with hotels in different cities and delivers a vegetarian meal to your seat at stations, from a Maharaja thali at Kozhikode Main to paneer parathas and pulav at Kanpur Central. The website design needs work, but it is convenient and fast, allowing you to look through menus for different stops and order online, using your PNR or train number. At the moment they only supply to select trains (Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Bangalore are both on the list), but they’re working on adding more. 

When: You could use a berth-day celebration. 

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bARLEY

What:  Sunday “drunch” at PCO, Vasant Vihar, call 9811848259 for address and password, Rs  2,500 plus taxes per person.

Why: Saturday might be a dry day, but PCO is helping you get over that un-hangover by inviting 40 people to come and make their own cocktails on the day after. We’re big fans of the curly haired bartender’s awesome wine cup plus delicious Old Fashioneds, so if you’re smart you’ll get him to show you the ropes.  Also available will be delish food to soak up all the alcohol, and did we mention the wine cups already?

When: Sunday January 27 from 3 to 6 pm. Limited seats only, so RSVP soon!

***

What: KONA pop-up shop, 1 Jor Bagh Market, visit the Facebook page here or see http://thekonapopup.wordpress.com/.

Why: KONA had their first exhibit in Jor Bagh last weekend, but if you missed that, here’s another one: a fun shop-of-wonders with mad products sourced from engineers, artists and architects from all over the country. We love this Sahil & Sarthak woven chair, the tribute to Sachin poster by Mumbai-based Sanket Avlani and Parul Panthri's eclectic lamp. KONA is the perfect place to pick up a gift for your friend who has everything. Or, you know, us.

When: Be a pop (t)art on February 1-3, 11 am to 7 pm.

pECAN

What: Project Play, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call +91-9717718269 to donate/sign up.

Why: Think you’ve got skills? Then it’s time to step up to the plate: Project Play was founded in Mumbai a couple of years ago by Kunaal Majgaonkar and Shail Desai, journalists at Times of India and Hindustan Times, who wanted to bring sports training and equipment to underprivileged kids. 80 kids later, they’re ready to help out in Delhi as well, and are looking for your time—and in the absence of that, your old sports equipment, which they will repair if it’s in bad shape. Currently, they’re working with government schools to find enthusiastic children as well as a training ground, but they aim to get started as soon as next month.

When: You want to teach at game-bridge university.

***

What: Big Chill dessert shop, Kailash Colony Market, Greater Kailash 1, approximately Rs 160 for banoffee pie.

Why: bpb scoop! Big Chill will open a dessert-only outlet in Kailash Colony as early as March 2013. Expect the space, which is currently under construction, to be a showcase of the restaurant’s legendary desserts, and besieged by long lines from opening day onwards. Go ahead and join the queue – there’s the best-ever banoffee pie waiting on the other side.

When: The Pie-d Piper arrives in March.

bRACE

What: Dance Marathon Fundraiser at Blue Frog, Mehrauli, call 30800300 or visit the Facebook page here, Rs 900 per person as a visitor.

Why: We have an iron clad no-dancing rule for most occasions, but here’s an instance when we’re break it and shake it: Blue Frog in association with Southend Next is organising a Dance Marathon to raise money for Sparsh, an initiative to set up a state-of-the-art pediatric dialysis center with the help of AIIMS. Each participant will raise money with his/her moves (learn them here), so you better start practicing.

When: Don’t want to be a brick in the waltz on February 2, 10am-6pm.

***

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bREW

What: Starbucks opens at Select City Walk, Saket, Rs 135 for a tall caramel macchiato.

Why: bpb Scoop! We’re super pumped that the much-loved international coffee giant is finally saying hello to Delhi. Currently under construction on the ground floor of Select City Walk (where Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf once lived), Starbucks promises to be one of those places which will be swamped for weeks. While the Starbucks India Twitter feed “neither confirms nor denies” the opening, someone we spoke to at the mall verified our claim but could not tell us in when it would open. Watch this space for more, and in the meanwhile, read our review of the Mumbai version to know what to expect!

When: You're latte for work.

***

What: Fire dancing and twirling at Hauz Khas Village with Janit Gambhir , call 9555729283, approximately Rs 1,000 per class.

Why: Pyromaniacs, meet your match. Janit, who has been informally teaching fire dancing classes for years (we wrote about him in Mumbai ages ago) is now flaming out in the Village, offering one-on one-sessions even home visits. His classes are a bit steep, but hey, how many people can teach you how to hold, twirl, and set ablaze a fire staff while freestyle dancing on your terrace? 

When: You want to build a coal-ition.

pECKISH

What: Baking equipment from Baking Supplies, call 8860000616 or order order via the Facebook page, Rs 400  for a set of small muffin cups.

Why: Tarts, you’re going to love this one: a new online store that sends over an array of pretty equipment to heat up your oven, including baking trays, silicone moulds, compound chocolate,  and measuring spoons. A larger inventory of ingredients and supplies will be added soon, as will other modes of payment (currently restricted to a rather clumsy bank transfer) but for now, pick a set of silicon cups (a girl can never have enough of those)!

When: You want to get whisked away.

***

What: Caravan Conversations: Poetry, Partnership & Marriage, Delhi Book Company,  M-12, Connaught Circus, Connaught Place, view the Facebook event page here, entry free.

Why: Our favourite long form magazine is staging a conversation between married poets, Martin Figura and Helen Ivory, who will be reading their work and discussing poetry, marriage and everything in between. Martin performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to rave reviews recently, and Helen is the editor of the Poetry archive (see some of her work here), so it promises to be a fun time. Plus tea and snacks with people after, and your weekend could be verse.

When: Put a bee in your sonnet on Friday, January 18, at 6.30 pm.

bARDS

What: Masaya and Maddox opening at M-68, GK 1, M Block Market.

Why: It’s not often that two new bars open within a week of each other in the same market, let alone the same building, but that’s what’s happening with Masaya and Maddox. Situated in the same building as Haute Saute, Masaya is a lounge speckled with blue lighting and a long bar. Maddox is also a lounge—heaven help us!—which doesn’t yet have a liquor license but is lined with enough red velvet to make you feel like you’re in a shady part of Moscow. Despite their Siamese-twin locations, natures and names, however, we have received assurances that they belong to two different owners. Bar-thers from another mother?

When: Masaya slated to launch on January 26; Maddox is currently serving mocktails and food.

***

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bUTTON

What: Brooks Brothers, Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj, approximately Rs 4,000 for a shirt.

Why: The super popular suit-and-shirt brand is finally coming to the Capital, and considering (according to Wikipedia, anyway) that they were the first to introduce Madras shirts to the US, we’re curious as to what new trends Brooks Brothers will be showing us. Known for dressing American presidents, and more recently, styling Mad Men and The Great Gastby, here is a good place to go if you’re looking for a skinny tie and suspenders, or just some well fitting pants. While their US stores feature women’s wear as well, Delhi will see only clothes for men at the moment. Typical.

When: Blazer of glory on January 16.

***

What: Clipped app for iPhone and Android + plug in, download on http://clipped.me, free.

Why: This new app + plug in by US based child genius (don’t you just hate them!) 15 year-old Tanay Tandon, uses an algorithim that can convert web pages and documents into bullet points. bpb found that while this works great on news stories, they still haven’t quite figured out the key word system in feature stories yet. Still, it’s super useful for when you’re on the go with lots to read and little time to spare. Don’t believe us? See testimonials on Tanay’s website, one from “that kid in my Spanish class”. Study hall of fame!

When: You want to byte the bullet.

pOSE

What: Sugar Blossoms Cake Studio, 132 Meharchand Market, Rs 720 for a dozen cake truffles.

Why: We sampled Sugar Blossoms' cake truffles at a party once and their taste lingered in our tequila-fogged memory for days. It is therefore with great anticipation that we await the opening of a full-fledged Sugar Blossoms bakery in Meharchand Market next week, where the baker, Kajal, will retail not just the truffles but also cookies, cupcakes and cakes. The tiny space will be mostly takeaway in the beginning with only a couple of chairs, but Kajal plans to expand soon, and also add in a coffee machine. Bake away service, indeed!

When: Slated to open next week.

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What: Yoga headbands and jewellery custom made from t-shirts by Devki Jewellery, starts at Rs 500, order via the Facebook page here.

Why: So you’re still holding on to your college boyfriend’s t-shirt. We're not judging, but do suggest that you make the habit a little less creepy by turning the disintegrating rag into something can actually wear, and not just in bed: enter Ambika of Devki Jewellery, a TV reporter-turned-designer who not only creates conventional jewelry (the cotton versions are a lot more fun) but turns your t-shirts into light, pretty headbands and necklaces. We like the braided cotton versions the best, although she can work with synthetic fabrics as well. Tee off!

When: You want to be a headbander.

bASS

What: Storm Festival, Coorg, Karnataka, Rs 3,500 for season ticket + stay (book here).

Why: You might think Coorg is all about misty hills and coffee, but here’s another reason to wake up to its charms: The second edition of the Storm music festival is next month, with reasonably priced tickets, tents you can stay in and a line up that includes Sid Cuotto, Pearl, Nikhil Chinapa and Indian Ocean doing a fusion set with Shankar Mahadevan. Bonus: there’ll be authentic Coorgi cuisine, a bar, and workshops on cooking and yoga. Feastival!

When: Lightening crashes on February 1 and 2.