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What: Kue Bar, The Westin, 36/3-B Koregaon Park Annexe, Mundhawa Road, Ghorpadi, call 020 67210000.

Why: You’ll find elements of Cuba in the fruity cocktails, tapas and music set that make up the brand new Kue Bar that opened at the Westin last evening. We suggest you get one of the circular booths and order a Cocktail Hemingway accompanied by a plate of beer drunken prawns (see recipe below).

When: You want to be fit as Fidel.

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What: Newsdrink.com, invite code: brownpaperbag, free membership.

Why: Newsdrink.com is the new Marie biscuit. A fresh aggregator site for newspapers, magazines and blogs from around the world, it’s the perfect accompaniment to your morning cup of tea. We love: Foreign Policy, Reuters’ Oddly Enough Blog and Two Guys Around TheWorld Photo Blog. What would be really fun, however, is if Newsdrink gives us access to paid subscriptions. Just a suggestion. Indian publications will be out next week, and a mobile app, next month.

When: You need a free press journal.

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What: Home-made tarts and pies by Cocoa, call 9823155866 to order, approx Rs 700 for a ten inch pie.

Why: Have love and crust issues? Call Le Cordon Bleu (London) educated Gayatri Shirke who makes warm, crumbly pies and tarts that taste like home. Available in apple, lemon, chocolate and almond-pear. Besides the pie chart, also ask to see her list of other desserts that include cupcakes, cookies, cheesecakes and one highly recommended Choc Supreme mousse cake.

When: Now, in our crumble opinion.

bpb freebie: Super discount on monsoon packages at  Saj Resort, Mahabaleshwar. For this and other deals as well as a FREE fortnightly guide in your inbox, enter your email in the subscription box.

What: Bric-a-brac from new label Quirk Box, view the Facebook group here, available at Either Or, 24, Sohrab Hall, 21, Sassoon Road, opposite Jehangir Hospital, call 020 26050225, start at Rs 295.

Why: Pune based graphic artist Jayesh Sachdev and Mumbai fashion designer Rixi Bhatia pooled their resources to come up with a box full of quirks. This they opened up in Pune last weekend to reveal wallets and dresses, wall art and notebooks covered in mad minions and psychedelic animals. While Sachdev’s favourite is the Ice Cream Factory Dress, he’s also excited about the range of boxer shorts out in September.

When: You believe in Rixis and elves.

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What: Rainmaker’s Shack, a secret lodge, Hippie Hills, 24 kms from Lonavala, call McMathew on 09860388804 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , view the Facebook group here,  starts at Rs 3,000 a night and Rs 1,500 for three meals.

Why: When the Rainmaker’s Shack at Lonavala started gaining too much attention, owner McMathew shut shop and moved to a secret jungle location across Pawna lake. Prior registration and approval (recommendations and common Facebook friends help) will get you a map that leads to two deck rooms and a log cabin on a water-facing property. Here you can cycle, barbeque, swim, fish, trek. Also, knowing a certain “Jim Morrison” (listed as the manager on their Facebook group) is bound to open up a few Doors.

When: You want to figure out lodge-istics.

Also see ten Indian fests you should be attending in 2011. PS: Magical mushrooms, Mohit Chauhan and Metallica are involved.

What: Bliss lifestyle store, second floor, Phoenix Market City Mall, Viman Nagar, Nagar Road, products start at Rs 50.

Why: Mumbai’s quirky lifestyle store comes to Pune, bringing with it boxer shorts and furniture, tees and upcycled creations from over 60 hip designers. bpb recommends you drop in for Haathi Chaap’s elephant poo paper products and fun designs by Tuesday Afternoon and Quirk Box.

When: Slated to open on July 15.

What: Gypsy House service apartments, 11, Lane no 1, Koregaon Park, call 09850812711 / 020 26052299, start at Rs 5,000 (rates flexible depending on your time of visit) includes morning tea /coffee and toast.

Why: When in roam try the Gypsy House, service apartments that come with cute, clean rooms, Wi-fi, laundry service, patches of green and a jogging track. Besides the peaceful location – a two-minute walk from the Osho ashram – we love that they let you order in food from any Pune restaurant. One chocolate mousse from Dario’s, please.

When: You are wandering where to shack up.

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What: Super trips (join theirs or get one customised) by White Collar Hippie, call Vikrant on 9820644720 or view the Facebook group here, price on request.

Why: White Collar Hippie is fresh off the boat, and we were on the docks waiting to receive it. Run by adventure junkies Sachin Parikh and Vikrant Chheda who want people to “travel, not vacation”, this company designs the coolest group trips: travelling to a music festival with a band, learning to build a boat and climb coconut trees while kayaking in Kerala, surfing on a secluded beach with sand sculpture classes and astronomy lessons in a Rajasthan desert. Watch their Facebook page for trip dates.

When: You want world piece.

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What: Low fat and no fat yogurt by Cravingz, Shop number 1 & 2, Gera Gardens 2, Koregaon Park Road, call +91-9970790008, approximately Rs 70 for a small cup.

Why: 150 flavours, 30 toppings, 8 new daily varieties, 0 cones (alas!), 60 paise per gram, no calories – this new yogurt store in Koregaon Park gets the math right. We suggest you start with green apple, blueberry and cookie and cream flavours, which you can top with pretty fruit crystals in pineapple, mango and orange.

When: You want to do some number crunching.

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What: Jewellery by Neha Sahai, n 09811086131, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or view the Facebook page here, start at Rs 1,000, ships to Pune.

Why: NIFT graduate Neha Sahai is a little bit obsessed with the birds and bees: she perches them onto brooches, pins, neck pieces and rings and even scarves. bpb loves a double brooch chain where a butterfly pin hangs on your jacket button and connects to a sparrow in a nest that sits on your shoulder – pretty fly!

When: You want to be Captain Sparrow

What: Seafood home delivery by Pesca Fresh, call 020 26136666 or visit www.pescafresh.com, free home delivery.

Why: You want crabs? Okay that came out wrong. Let’s start over. How would you like prawns, pomfret, Bombay duck and the more exotic shark, Himalayan trout, oysters, octopus, sea bass sent to your doorstep? Call Pesca Fresh, a recently-launched seafood home delivery service that can also arrange for your catch to be cut, cleaned, peeled, filleted, sliced and chopped as per your requirement. Snapper to it!

When: You want to pump up the basa.

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What: Pretzel A’more, Lane 6, North Main Road, Koregaon Park, Rs 50 for a pretzel.

Why: bpb’s gets its knickers in a twist for Koregaon Park’s new pretzel place. This takeaway joint serves sweet and savoury versions of the snack, including flavours like Berrilicious, Hawaiin and Coffee on the Go. We recommend you try the lemon-chocolate and spicy jalapeno-cheese-garlic pretzels. Also available are hot dogs and burger patties in pretzel buns. Read the full review here.

When: It’s so knot happening, dude!

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What: Comedy to Go by The Comedy Store, call 4348 5010 / 9004603132 or book online here,  at Hyatt Regency, Weikfield IT Park, Nagar Road, Rs 600.

Why: Mumbai’s Comedy Store has started packing its stand up acts into takeaway boxes and transporting them to Pune. We’ve had a byte and we can tell you, they travel well. This week, you can spoon a trio of British men who promise to have your city in a fit of giggles.

When: June 29 at 8.30 pm. 

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What: Silk-screened tees from Pardon My Hindi, order online at http://pardonmyhindi.com, approximately Rs 1,350 plus shipping.

Why: Finally, we’re getting beyond kitsch. San Francisco-based artist Chiraag Bhakta combines the tired old elements of the million design brands that have cropped up recently -  printed T-shirt, desi icons, moustachioed men in turbans – and comes up with this fresh new tee in collaboration with Das Racist, a rap trio from New York. Wear you at?!

When: You want to view the Motherland from the other land.

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What: Live in a tree house, The Machan, 20 kms before Lonavla, call +91 8080877420 or visit www.themachan.com, Rs 10,000 a night per couple, including breakfast and dinner.

Why: Imagine this: four gorgeous, eco-chic tree houses rising 40 feet above the Jambulne forest, complete with glass ceilings, outdoor baths and wooden decks overlooking the valley. Wild fig trees made lush with monsoon, in which vultures, falcons and Malabar Whistling Thrushes live. What are you waiting for, you high flyer?

When: You need to let off some neem.

bpb freebie: Subscribers get super discount at Nature’s Basket gourmet store (Dhole Patil Road). For this and other deals as well as a FREE fortnightly guide in your inbox, enter your email in the subscription box.

What: bpb’s Fire Escape, view page for submission email address and other details, prizes include free stays at InterContinental Marine Drive and The Westin Mumbai Garden City.

Why: What are the five (or more) things you would take with you if your house was on fire? Email us a photo of these items and you could score a free night's stay at the InterContinental Marine Drive or The Westin Mumbai. All entries will be featured on bpb’s Fire Escape, and the most “liked” ones will win.

When: Contest closes on June 10.

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What: Saturday chicken barbeque delivery by Big Bubba, call Tutto Bene Delicatessen on 9867885533, place your order one day in advance, Rs 325 per plate.

Why: Introduced last week, this service by Big Bubba (barbeque brand by the guys behind Tutto Bene) delivers a plateful of summer goodness to your doorstep: call a day in advance, and they’ll send over 600 gms of barbecued chicken along with sides of rice, beans and salsa. There’s a catch, though: this is a Saturday only delivery. One more reason to love the weekend!

Big Bubba can also organise a barbecue party in your backyard (Rs 650 per person for a minimum of 10 people), supplying everything from grills, a chef, specially designed menus and marinated meats to charcoal, mock meats and utensils.

When: You want to employ grilled labour.

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What: Ginger lime & black pepper soap and other yummy bath/beauty products on www.naturelle.in, shop online, start at Rs 5o.

Why: Founded by biochemist-turned-entrepreneur Meghana Choudhary-Joshi, this Pune based e-shop stocks enough natural beauty products (lip balms, face packs, shampoo, soap) to power a hundred showers. We suggest you tap into Tvam whipped grapefruit body butter and Madras coffee scrub by Nourish.

When: You're soaping for the best.

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What: Panash at the Four Points by Sheraton, Viman Nagar, call (020)39406699, Rs 550 for a vegetarian dim sum fixed menu.

Why: Early birds should flock to this brand new Pan Asian restaurant, but don’t expect to get all the worms. On a recent visit, we discovered gingery Manchow Thong soup, sticky dim sums and an unmanned  Teppanyaki station. What did we miso? Read the full bpb review here.

When: You like it fresh off the bao.

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What: Wall tattoos by Shellyswall, visit www.shellyswalls.com or call 09821458112, same week installation in Pune, start at Rs 500.

Why: Get driven up the wall in a vintage jalopy or perch a flock of birds over your bed with these fun wall stickers that come in a ton of different colours, sizes and designs. You can customise your own as well, and just peel them off when you’re ready to move on.

When: You want to answer the wall of the wild.

bpb freebie: Super discount from Le Kebabiere and Stone Water Grill exclusively for subscribers. For this and other cool deals as well as a FREE Pune guide in your inbox every fortnight, enter your email in the subscription box.

What: Ninad Gidwani’s uber-functional ceramic crockery, Bungalow #12A, Stavley Road, near Kayani Bakery, Pune, call +919225526324, Rs 1,500 for a fondue bowl.

Why: Operating out of his home, this clayboy churns out super cute, eco-friendly ceramics including kitchenware, tea lights, fountains and more. bpb's favourite: pretty fondue bowls coated with healthy iron, magnesium and calcium glaze, also used at ABC Farms.

When: You want fondue diligence.

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What: Baan Tao, Ista Hotel, 88, Nagar Road, Yerwada, near Aga Khan Palace, Pune, call (020) 41418888 or visit www.istahotels.com, approximately Rs 2,000 for a meal for two.

Why: bpb only just visited Baan Tao and was instantly charmed by giant pineapples, water bodies and sylvan al fresco seating. The kitchen matches up to the decor, sending out complimentary bowls of jasmine tea; tart, juicy papaya salad; and authentic Thai curry spicy enough to make our eyes water.

When: You want more Bangkok for your buck.

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What: Kraayonz Tattoo Studio and Cafe, next to Envy, main road, Koregaon Park, call Siddhart on 9970181647or visit www.sameerpatange.com, Rs 5,000 for a 3 inch tattoo.

Why: Ink your teeth into Pune’s newest Mumbai import – celebrity tattoo artist Sameer Patange’s Kraayonz. This tattoo studio comes with a comfy, anti-anxiety chair; decor that pays tribute to cult films; heavy metal music; and treats from Deja Vu Cafe, also from Mumbai.

When: You want to win the lucky draw.

After covering Mumbai for over a year, the Secret Scouters go to Pune, unearthing the coolest things to eat/shop/do in our sister city!

bpb Freebie: Get an exclusive discount on all your purchases at www.firstrow.in. For this and other deals as well as a FREE Pune guide in your inbox every fortnight, enter your email in the subscription box.

What: London Muffin Bakery, Princeton Flair, Lane No 8, next to Forennte Patisserie, Koregaon Park.
Why: A Mr and Mrs Lee opened the London Muffin Bakery two days ago, selling all kinds of breads, cakes, muffins and bagels from a takeaway counter. Coffee and a croissant to go? Ah, wouldn’t it be lover-Lee!
When: You are yeast interested.

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What: CMYK Book Store, Goldfields Enclave, Row House #4, South Main Road, Koregaon Park, call (020) 41206529.
Why: Delhi’s uber-cool illustrated bookstore pages Pune, bringing with it a battery of interesting titles including Phaidon’s bestselling cook book Silver Spoon, a limited edition tomb on Elvis Presley and New York Times – The Complete Front Pages (might be the only way to read the paper since their online edition is no longer free). Also available will be fun Designwalla stationery, cool pop art chairs and a soon-to-open garden café.
When: You want the Capital’s letters.