Spacing Out

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Attend Alan Bates’ show this weekend, and you’ll find yourself in one of two situations:

1. Hahahahhahah...zzzzzz OR

2. Zzzzzzz...hahahaha

The stand-up comedy hypnotist either leads you into a trance while you guffaw at his jokes, or hypnotises your bored mind into thinking his one-liners are funny. Either way, the curiosity-rousing combination of induced charm and chuckles is worth pencilling into your schedule this weekend.

Look into My Eyes and Laugh

Here’s how it works: Bates will get on stage, unleash his mind-bending jokes, and hypnotise volunteers for your entertainment. And if the entire crowd is cruel, maybe he’ll even perform a mass hypnosis.

Pick Me

Bates is a member of the The Federation of Ethical Stage Hypnotists and has been performing live for over 20 years all over the world. Hocus pocus or a real riot? Succumb to his influence and you’ll find out.

On December 4 at St Andrews Auditorium, Bandra at 8 pm and December 5 at 7.30 pm at Sophia Bhabha Hall, Breachcandy. Tickets available on bookmyshow.com, Rs 300 onwards.

In the Zone

If you’re looking to zone all the way out this weekend, head to Big Red Tent’s camp ground two hours from Mumbai. On the banks of the idyllic Bhatsa river, this newly setup camp site comes packed with tents and site rentals, sleeping kits, showers, barbeque grills, board games and of course, happy campers.

With a hope to inculcate camping culture among avowed urbanites such as us, the organisers also volunteer to teach people the ropes – pitching a tent, building a camp fire, hiking skills. For those who don’t want to spend the weekend lazing in a hammock, trek-worthy temples and forts are nearby. Check in to their website next week to know more about their New Year specials.

Getting there: Mokasi farm, Kavdas Village, Shahpur, Thane, to book call 9930582878 / 9820193347 or log on to www.bigredtent.in, Rs1200 per person for one night of camping.

bpb Review: Golden Dragon

Rejoicing Restaurant

The first thing we noticed as we walked through the frosted doors of the Golden Dragon, re-opened last week after being damaged in the ravage of 26/11, was a feeling of exhilaration. Reflected on the faces of fellow diners and in the quietly jubilant expressions of the staff, it made the atmosphere at this elegant restaurant unmistakably celebratory.

The space itself is very different from its predecessor - re-imagined in white accented with splashes of gold and red, the dining room is broken into cozy sections by glass walls. Also new is an open dim sum kitchen, dynamic with constantly moving chefs and cheerful bellows of smoke. The tables are too broad; the menus large and unwieldy. All in all, minor gripes.

Sampling the Dragon

We began with complementary portions of pickled pumpkin and winter melon, both reliably sweet and surprisingly fiery – this melding of unexpected flavors would appear throughout our meal. Our first appetizer was chef's special Song of the Dragon, where chicken, prawns or crunchy baby potatoes arrived on a bed of three types of chillies flavored with Schezuan pepper. If you have to pick just one starter, get this. Dim sum of steamed wontons was good but unremarkable.

For mains, we chose sea bass in mango and mustard sauce, which was tender, pitch-perfect, and emblematic of the kitchen’s mastery over seafood; also served was Eggplant Tobaijan, a dish that demonstrated just how delicious the much-maligned brinjal can be when cooked right and bathed in a thick, spicy tomato sauce. Assorted vegetables in oyster sauce, a mainstay on most Chinese menus, was excellent.

Bitter Sweet

The dessert selection here is more inventive (and extensive) than most Asian restaurants. Complementing regulars like date pancakes is decadent black sesame crème brulee and bitter chocolate and ginger dim sum, served with a side of lychees and dramatically flambéed in a golden-red sauce.

Healing Meal

All in all, the kitchen didn’t miss a trick, but right now the food at Golden Dragon is not the point. The restaurant is a symbol of renewal and healing, and Mumbaikars will patronise it for sentimental reasons alone. But as the terrible events of 26/11 fade into subtext, this new avatar of an old favorite will continue to endure because the fare it turns out is excellent and surprising, and its vibe, optimistic and pure.

Getting There: The Golden Dragon, Taj Mahal Palace and Hotel, Apollo Bunder, Colaba, call 22023366, approximately Rs 3,000 for a meal for two.

PS: Party Like it’s 1999

Another resurrection in the neighborhood is Three Flights Up, which this weekend rose from the ashes after almost a decade. Or preserved in amber and brought to life might be a more accurate description. Like Spielberg’s dinosaurs, this nightclub is an unchanged anachronism, complete with the same logo, eerily lit corridor, rap music and dance floor crisscrossed with green laser beams from ten years ago. Go if you want to relive your misspent college days, but remember, nostalgia comes at a price: a Kingfisher Ultra is for Rs 250, and some shots on the menu, including the Vviagra Falls (useful perhaps, for the rather elderly patrons present at opening night) cost up to Rs 650.

Getting There: Three Flights Up, 1st Floor, Narang House, Apollo Bunder, Colaba, Rs 250 for a Kingfisher Ultra.

Weekend Guide: bpb Goes to Goa!

bpb freebie: Awesome discount on scuba training from Dive Right In. For this and other freebies, enter your email in the subscription box.

bpb Contest: Share your Goa secret (a store/a bar/a beach/a yummy treat) and win cool merchandise from Basecamp travel store. Write into guide@bpbweekend.com.

bED

What: Villa Morjim Portuguese Estate, Temvado, Morjim Beach, Rs 30,000 per night for five bedrooms before December 15, visit www.villamorjim.com.

Why: Because this estate’s charm and proximity to the beach (a two minute walk) makes it one of the best properties in Goa. It comes equipped with a range of facilities, including a terrace pavilion with a 360 degree view of the River Chapora, a full staff, and library. You can also shack up at the nearby Little Siolim or Casa Marsol in Candolim.

When: You want the best casa scenario.

pOMFRET

What: The old, the new and the born-again on Goa’s food scene – Hotel Kinara, Chimbel, on the “low” road between Panjim and Old Goa; Ernesto’s Bistro, Mala, 49, Near Fontainhas Post Office, Panjim, call 09823015921; L’Orange, near Magnum Resort, Candolim Main Road, call 09970173606.

Why: Our best find - Prawns Rawa and Crab Masala at the half-hidden, local dive Hotel Kinara. And new in the Latin Quarter, the food at Ernesto’s Bistro is as beautiful as the old house it occupies. We suggest you go with Ernesto’s personal recommendations: pork ribs and steak. Finally, L’Orange has a revamped menu focusing on local cuisine, spices for which Chef Asheen’s mum grinds by hand. Wednesdays are Goa Festival Nights.

When: You want a taste of beaches and cream.

***

What: Club Fresh, on Morjim Beach, North Goa, visit the Facebook page here.

Why: Opened just last week with no official information out yet, this is Goa’s newest urban legend. Word on the street is that this Nikki Beach-style, pop-up resort is right on the beach, a mere 20 feet from the sea. Amenities include luxury tent accommodation, sushi and Thai restaurants, international DJs and more.

When: You want to humour a rumour. Pretty and still underground, Club Fresh is perfect for an after dinner drink.

bOUNTY

What: Beach hopping in a fisherman’s boat, Palolem Beach, South Goa, Rs 2,800 for seven hours – bargaining encouraged.

Why: Use charm as bait and get the fishermen at Palolem to take you out on their boats. A perfect day trip begins from the nearby Patnem Beach, with lunch on the Agonda sands (don’t miss Darcy's beefsteak) and dolphin watching on the way to the secluded Butterfly Beach.

When: You want to get in on Goa’s net profit.

***

What: Paperworks, F-2, Pinto Arcade, DB Marg, Panjim, opposite Panjim Gymkhanna, call (0832) 2425841.

Why: Earn your hippie points at Paperworks, where all the stock is made from hand-made, locally produced paper. You can record your trip on their super cool stationery while chilling at the Miramar Beach nearby.

When: You want to leave a paper trail.

***

A Little Sun for your iPod: bpb brings Goa’s Sunburn music spree to your MP3! Sunburn (Dec 27-29) performers and electronic dance music artists Jalebee Cartel share their current playlist.

Event Round-Up: The Weirdass HAMateur Night with Vir Das at Blue Frog on Nov 29 at 9 pm; Trek in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park Forest for Gaia Conservation’s Plant a Tree Day on Nov 29 at 8.30 am; and Berlin Sound Tamasha at Zenzi on Nov 28 at 9.30 pm.

Ankle-deep in Converse-ation

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A Shoe-In!

Mumbai’s new Converse store might not be as hip as some of its global counterparts, but its stock would make a sneaker-aficionado do a happy jig. Ranging from basic to funky, the shoes are surprisingly well-priced: the classic versions cost only Rs 999, and bring back nostalgic memories of college. We couldn’t resist buying them, just for kicks.

If you’re looking for something fancier, jazzy pairs with prints and crazy lace formations are also available. Unfortunately, the new to-die-for Chuck Tailor All Star Sequins shoes are plastered across the walls, but missing in action from the shelves. We were promised that a shiny new shipment would be in next week. So footsie with the hottest one of the lot must wait, but you’ll find plenty others to pair up with until they arrive.

Head to Toe

In addition to footwear, the store stocks caps, duffel bags, laptop cases and clothes for men and women. Check out their high-waisted pin striped pants (Rs 900), comfy tracks (Rs 999) and preppy, light sweaters in black and white (Rs 800), perfect for a Mumbai winter.

Don’t Walk Past
If you’re still not impressed, the store’s current offer is sure to put a hitch in your stride: get a laptop bag, a pair of classic sneakers and two T-shirts worth Rs 5,000 for Rs 2,000! Until December 3.

PS: For a pair of customised sneakers, check out Shubert’s hand-painted pairs and take 20% off 7 Degree Burn’s custom-made arty converse shoes. Exclusive deal for bpb subscribers only!

The Holistic Nine Yards

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Dye Another Day, Naturally

In our maximum city of manufactured everything, natural highs are the newest buys. Among the many Mumbai stores packaging and marketing “natural living” is Omved, a green lifestyle brand that sells everything from organic beauty and sleep products to post-partum kits and meditation mats. Dropping the PVC, chemicals, toxins, artificial dyes and pretty much every other planet-plaguing evil from their products, Omved is a tree-hugger’s shopping feast. We back their baby range of organic crib sheets and swaddling cloths, healing rajais filled with sleep-inducing herbs and PVC-free yoga mats. Their line of holistic vedic jewellery and Navratna pendants for good fortune seem a little out there, though, as does their service that promises to balance our inner “chakras”.

After their Phoenix Mills and Napeansea Road branches, Omved’s latest store just opened up at Inorbit Mall, Vashi. Coming soon: Bandra and Juhu outlets.

How I Met Your Mother

Also fighting the pro-planet battle is the month-old Mother Earth at SOBO Central. Armed with pesticide-free fruits, veggies and organic pulses, this two-level store also stocks home products sourced from various NGOs, jewellery and clothing. Natural buy is their war cry.

Getting there: Ground and 1st floor, Sobo Central, Tardeo, call 9892107754.

The Unwearable Tightness of Being

Peel off your gym tights and let your skin breathe in LHcare’s Ayurganic range of exercise and lounge wear by designer duo Lecoanet Hemant. Kala Ghoda’s high fashion store Muse is stocking these 100% cotton airy threads for men and women, apparently dyed with active herbs that penetrate the skin to purify blood and energise the system. Yoga pants with the ability to enhance your metabolism and boost your immunity. A bit of stretch? Maybe, but they’re comfy as hell.

Getting there: Muse, Dr VB Guide Marg, near Rhythm House, Fort, call 22625701.

Weekend Guide: Mumbai Memo

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bUSY BEES

What: Community office at The Hub, Candelar Apartments, 1st floor, St John Baptist Road, same building as Dilshad’s salon, Bandra (W), call 32220475, start at Rs 3,000 a month.

Why: Freelancers and entrepreneurs rent out work space (wi-fi, coffee and IT backup included) at The Hub’s two-floor cheery common office. Perfect for start-ups, but your business idea will have to pass through a board to be accepted.

When: You need to make a collect(ive) call.

***

What: Rickshaw Recycle kitsch city journals, Moon River, The Courtyard, Colaba, Rs 450 and up.

Why: Ever visited the statue of liberty in a hand-pulled rickshaw, or the Eiffel Tower on the back of a camel? Adorned with just such scenarios, these colourful, recycled notebooks bring you a step closer to a crazy vacation.

When: You want to act your (p)age.

pEACE

What: Forever Bombay necklace, call Meera Mittal on 9819847794, Rs 2,400.

Why: This former Gayatri Khanna designer uses crystals, thread and bead work to commemorate the first anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, creating the Taj Mahal Hotel dome and a montage of peace symbols on a leather pendant. Ask to see her crystal choker too!

When: You want to pay tribute.

***

What: Black clay and wood smoke pipe, Muse, 48 Dr VB Guide Marg, near Rhythm House, Fort, call 22625701, Rs 675.

Why: Because you can almost hear the alien-looking face sculpted on this chillum say “take me to your dealer.” Handcrafted in Jaipur, these pieces have exclusively landed in an unlikely spot – high fashion store Muse.

When: You need a new pipe dream.

bIZZARE

What: Mumbai Xpress Rickshaw Challenge, visit www.rickshawchallenge.com to register, price on request.

Why: In this “amazing race for the clinically insane”, you’ll get to drive over almost 2,000 kilometers from Tamil Nadu to Mumbai in your very own kaali-peeli. For another fast fix, attend the Harley-Davidson Boot Camp on November 22.

When: Race starts July 30, 2010; registration open now. Step on it!

Event round-up: Ruhaniyat sufi music festival on Nov 21 and 22 at 6.30 pm at Horniman Circle Garden, tickets at Rhythm House; Jazz Utsav 2009 at Priyadarshini Park, Napean Sea Road; and catch us live on 94.3 this Saturday at 9 pm, co-hosting Pirate Radio with Miss Malini.

Vireless Vish: Hi, All!

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Every month, Vireless Vish will try and get you high on gadgets, and bring you right back down to earth with cool electronic buys you can use. In this space, he hopes to connect with fellow gizmo junkies, and seduce new ones. For tech queries email him at guide@bpbweekend.com.

Hey Guys,

I thought I’d open the column with a super value-for-money find: The Lacie’s LaCinema Classic, 500 GB multimedia hard drive for a very reasonable Rs 8,990.

There’s no prefix in the electronic world that has been abused as much as ‘multimedia’; it’s been stuck in front of pretty much every content storage device. Before I launch into an angry techno tirade known to drive friends and family away, let me get straight to the point. My latest hunt for a REAL multimedia hard drive has borne fruit – a reasonably priced one that can be directly connected to your television, comes with a remote, and is the perfect way to expand or replace your existing storage devices. Sweet!

Storehouse of Cool

You’re probably wondering why you need this if you already own a DVD player. For starters, this plays all the digital stuff that you might be “legally” downloading and sharing with your friends, as well as video content without having to convert it with subtitles (for AVI- Divx, XVID). That basically means that all your data can be stored on one hard drive with a massive capacity, and accessed directly without having to burn a CD/DVD, or connecting to your computer. Plus, an additional front USB port allows you to connect a friend’s flash drive to stream directly from it too.

Awesome Deal

LaCinema comes with a quality-enhancing HDMI cable for your LCD screen that other companies usually make you buy separately for between Rs 1,500 and Rs 3,000.

Specs

Lacie’s LaCinema Classic 500GB (USB 2.0)
For: Rs 8,990, click here to buy.

Multimedia features:
Video: MPEG-4 AVI, XviD, DivX (3.11, 4.x, 5.x)
Audio: MP3, WMA
Photo: JPEG (includes HD-JPEG mode for improved quality)
Capacity: 500 GB (up to 1 terabyte)
Subtitles: SRT, SSA, ASS, SUB, SMI Output : Video: Composite video (cable included), HDMI (cable included and upscaling to 1080p) Audio: Stereo (L/R), digital coaxial SPDIF, HDMI v1.1
Remote included.

Gateau Gaga: French Desserts & Indigo's Secret Recipe!

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Francey Pants!
Your French may have to be pardoned as you scroll through Parfait’s fancy dessert menu; Poires Au Caramel Religieuses, Gateau de la Foret Noire, Profiteroles, Roulade a la Framboise are just some of the tasty tongue twisters that Le Cordon Bleu patisserie chef Smriti Mehra whips up.


Cake Stock
Picking through the wares on her deliciously pink website, we finally settled on Tiramisu with Mediterranean orange rinds, Alhambra with hazelnuts and Belgian chocolate, carrot cake and Oreo cheesecake. All except the carrot cake, (too dry for our liking) were sinfully delish…Parfait!

To order call 9769203959 or log on to the website on www.parfait.co.in

Leaked: Indigo’s Best Kept Secret!

Speaking of cake, we pulled this yummy Blueberry Cheesecake recipe from right under Indigo pastry chef Ajinkya Saundankar’s hat. Break out the oven mitts!

Blueberry Cheesecake

Recipe by Ajinkya Saundankar, Pastry Chef at Indigo

For cake base:
150 gms flour
75 gms caster sugar
75 + 25 gms butter
Water to bind.

Mix together flour, sugar and first part of butter. Add water to bind, make a short crust dough and spread on baking tray. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool down, ground in Robocop by adding second part of butter. Spread on cake mould and bake until it gets colour, then let it cool.

For Cheesecake:

600 gms Philadelphia Cream Cheese
250 ml fresh cream
3 pcs eggs
1 tbsp corn flour
Few drops lime juice
150 gms castor sugar
250 gms blueberry compote

Cream the cheese in a bowl until it’s smooth without any lumps. Add sugar and corn flour in the cheese, add eggs one by one, lime juice and fresh cream. Mix well. Mix in blueberry compote (can be either frozen blueberry cooked with some red wine or tinned blueberry). Pour on the prepared cake base and bake at low temperature 325f /163 degree cel for 20 to 25 minutes. When the center can be moved slightly like jelly, remove from the oven and cool down. Set in the fridge and serve cold.

Bandra’s Newest Courtesan

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Pass on Aspasia?
In ancient Athens, Aspasia was a beautiful and intelligent courtesan, romantically linked to one of the most powerful rulers in Greece. In Bandra, it is a new fashion store that sheds most of the superlatives that its namesake once stood for. Predominantly stocked with Indian clothes designed by owner Surabhi Kalsi, the splashily sequined and zardosi work didn’t offer us much pleasure. Same goes for the staid men’s collection of shirts and jackets by Salim Asgarally and Ken Fernandes. Way more interesting was Surabhi’s rack of western wear (Rs 3,000), where she uses mirror work to embellish pretty skirts and dresses.

Fleshing it Out
But to really get your money’s worth, head to the accessories section and riffle through Diana Linda’s merchandise. An expat designer, she trades her take on Bollywood – laptop bags, clutches, wallets and satchels with Hindi film posters – for Rs 700 and up. If you dare, ask to see her colourful and colossal pompom neck piece. Also flashing her wares is New York-based jewellery designer Riddhika Jasrani, who retails a range of interesting vintage earrings (start at Rs 1,000). You may walk past Karan Beri’s footwear standing on the sidelines, without so much as a glance.

All in all, after twenty lackluster minutes with Aspasia, we were just momentarily infatuated. Our advice – bypass this lady. There’s better game in town.

Getting there: Shop no 3, Corner View CHS, 15th and 33rd Road, opposite Hues, Bandra (W). Call 9769192682.

bpb Review: Purple Rain

Purple Pour Down

Purple Rain, a restobar that made its debut over the weekend, certainly takes its moniker seriously. Padded walls, waiter uniforms, even cocktail straws sport various shades of purple; the patterned waterfall framing the entrance evokes rain. Accompanying these are a ceiling crisscrossed with exposed pipes, whitewashed pillars embedded with mirrors, and a migraine-inducing, internally lit bar that constantly changes colour. All in all, the place is a throw-back to the 1990s and underage nights at Fire and Ice. Flaming Vipers and DJ Goa Gil… those were the days.

Italian Parathas?

The décor’s incongruousness is reflected in the menu as well, but works much better here. We kicked off our meal with a batch of well-mixed, well-priced cocktails (all at about Rs 300). Be sure to try the bell pepper and lime martini – delicious and startlingly different, it was the highlight of our evening.

We wondered at how unwieldy the food menu was – at almost a foot and a half, it was awkward to prop on our laps and flip through. But one glance through, and its size made sense. There were 16 vegetarian starters alone, with three Jain options. The choices, explained the very earnest manager, sprang from a new concept of Indo-Italian fusion cuisine, where Italian dishes were uniquely adapted for the Indian palate. Sounded to us like a Tarla Dalal book.

Fusion Fantasies

The appetizers we ordered however, were far too sophisticated for most home chefs and reminded us that Purple Rain is headed by the celebrated Chef Max, who formerly cooked at Olive. Stuffed mushrooms (Rs 275) were moist and juicy; Jamaican Jerk Chicken Tikka (Rs 375) effortlessly melded two diverse cuisines; Cheese Cigarellos (Rs 275) were the least impressive of the trio, with a brittle casing and what tasted like Amul cheese.

But it’s the main courses in which the kitchen really hits its stride. Perhaps that’s because the chefs have more elements to work with here, to fully flesh out the east-meets-west concept. The Chicken Joneel (Rs 500) was intensely spiced and yum. Portobello Dahi Ke Kebab (Rs 600) consisted of fat mushrooms stuffed with herbed, creamy cheese and swimming in a gently spiced tomato broth, and a side of paratha squares, all of which went perfectly together. A neat trick to pull off.

We finished our meal with the Chocolate Bombe (Rs 350), the same molten chocolate cake popping up on every other menu across the city. This one was gooey and served with mild, nutty ice cream.

Identity Crisis

Purple Rain has an admirable goal – to bridge the gap between your mum’s kitchen and haute cuisine. And for the most part it succeeds in doing so. We just wish that the space was less overbearing and scattered. In its current avatar, it seems suspended between a comfort food restaurant and hectic night club, as if, like in the song, its creators can’t seem to make up their minds.

Getting there: Sobo Central, 3rd Floor, Near Haji Ali, Tardeo, call 66157100.

Weekend Guide: Painting the Town

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bRIGHT

What: Blackberry makeover by ColorMii, call 9820083636 or visit www.colormii.com, starts at Rs 2,000.

Why: Because it’s your best friend, and it deserves some TLC too. Pick a colour, and the guys at ColorMii will customise your Berry on the spot (older models take longer, but they’ll give you a replacement handset). New models, old handsets, repair services are available as well.

When: You want to Curve up and dye.

***

What: Japanese Anime cushions at Angels, Link Corner, 33rd and 24th Road, Bandra (W), Rs 375.

Why: You’d hardly expect to see semi-clad women slurping popsicles at a children’s store. The risqué anime cushion covers at White Peacock’s new kiddie concern might shock shopping moms, but are a pleasant surprise for those looking to pick up a jolly good pillow.

When: You want your soft ware to be hardcore.

pREVIEW

What: Cupcake Picnic Hampers from Cupcakes & Co, call on 9920976000, temporary home delivery until outlets open next month, starts at Rs 40.

Why: These new kids on the block are rising to the top of Mumbai’s cupcake rush with their unbelievably cute Picnic Hampers - a cane basket that holds cupcakes shaped like burgers, popcorn and Coke cans with straws. They do regular versions and cookies as well.

When: You enjoy a good basket case.

***

What: Dark Waters, H20, Pali Naka, next to Totos Garage Pub, Bandra (W), call 9821445176.

Why: Lurking in the basement of H20, this designer den of high-end export clothing and accessories stocks a secret stash of Armani shirts, Dior dresses, Christian Louboutin heels and Chanel, Mark Jacob and Burberry handbags. We loved the printed gum boots (Rs 1,650) and Juicy Couture boy shorts in a heart box (Rs 750).

When: You need a lair for your flair.

bASIL

What: Spice Rush, next to Asiatic Department Store, opposite Churchgate Station, Veer Nariman Road.

Why: Because the multi-coloured walls and happy chairs at this new eatery will cheer you up even before you sample the food. And if the breakfast and sandwich menu is anything like the Indian buffet we sampled at a soft opening this week, Spice Rush is sure to become a favorite hangout for the work and college set.

When: You want a nook on the bright side. Opening next week!

Here's Looking at You, Kid!

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Bespoke Bacchas

Frilly frocks and long socks get the boot as film stylist Sohaya and Renuka brings flower to the child with Baccha Party’s fluid skirts, halter tops and kurtas. To order, call 9820121632. For an organic fix, turn to Mitrah (at O.M.O, Bandra) who’ll tie and dye your kids in cool cottons. We heart their range of psychedelic bibs. Designs and price list available on their website.

Ready, Set, Dough

A set of two chocolate cupcakes, a jar full of icing and a fistful of rainbow sprinkles – these Ice your Own Cupcake kits originally designed for children are guaranteed to be a hit with grown ups as well. Babycakes’ new venture, these kits are the yummiest way to go back in time this Children’s Day. For Rs 80, to order (minimum of 6) call 9820120098.

Once Upon a Time…

At Indus – the Bookstore (Grand Hyatt, Kalina), kids get to star in their own happily ever after tales. Personalised story books allow them to play any character they want, from heroic kings and dainty princesses to mustachioed goons and wise fairy godmothers! And if Indus’ 100-odd story templates don’t work, you can get the completely customised ones too. For ages 5 to 10, start at Rs 300.

Sunday School

Get on a boat this Sunday, and you can help a child sail through school. Book a seat (Rs 3,000) on board Aquasail’s yacht, the proceeds of which will go towards Concern India’s education initiative for street kids. Call 9986781826 for details.

November Rain

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Get a Handle on the Weather

The untimely drizzle wouldn’t have caught you off guard if you had one of these super-stylish sun-and-shower umbrellas by Blush. Made out of 100% cotton Chikan fabric from Lucknow and waterproofed, these work perfectly as sun umbrellas and can weather stormy showers too. Now you know better, and can order your own (Rs 850 per piece). Just so you have all your bases covered.

How to order: Call Karishma at 9820671553 or email her at blushimpex@gmail.com.

Inn Season

Scouting around, we discovered that the quaint bungalow which houses the new Seasons Furnishings outlet excited us much more than the store’s actual stock. Hitting all the current trends, the furnishings - upholstery, wall paper, bed linen - displayed was pleasant enough, but nothing to write home about. A little more digging however, unearthed this very stylish monsoon umbrella holder, available by order at the store and eerily fitting for currently overcast skies.

Getting there: Jasmine Villa, I, Pali Naka, Bandra (W), call 26000070.

Tuesday Tip(sy) Offs

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Cold Play

Fahrenheit 21 is, quite literally, the coolest new kid on the block. Mumbai’s first ice bar, it’s slated to open in Andheri only later this week, but we talked to co-owner Alok Purohit and gathered some cold hard facts: the bar is spread over little more than 800 square feet, with interiors made completely of ice. Its temperature, as the name suggests, is constantly maintained at below freezing. Along with drinks, the menu will also feature warm food (wonder how that would fare in the sub-zero climes), and a doorman who allows only 45 people in at a time.

We recently visited the Absolut Ice Bar in Stockholm which, with its ghostly light and eerie walls, reminded us of Dr Freeze and made us feel like we’d strayed right into a Batman comic. If Fahrenheit 21 is a chip off this old ice block, it’s definitely going to be worth the frost bite and frumpy clothes (they swath you in shapeless, furry parkas before you enter). (Brrr)ing it on!

Look out for the full bpb review this weekend.

Ciao, ’Bella

And if you don’t feel like leaving your cozy home, here’s a delish cocktail recipe, straight from Valhalla’s stellar bar to yours. Salud!

Isabella

45 ml Bacardi Rum
40 ml apple juice
20 ml grape juice
4 California grapes
6 mint leaves

Mix in all the ingredients, stir well, and add over crushed ice. Serve in an old fashioned glass.

For more recipes from these magic mixologists, check out Second Helping, bpb’s newest culinary service.

What's the Story, Morning Glory?

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Three to Dastango

Once upon a time in a leafy city suburb, three story tellers, also known as Dastangos, came with bags full of tales – dramatic epics, happy capers, and farfetched yarns. They learned that although the rest of the city was too busy to indulge their lost and ancient art of Urdu storytelling, Bandra and its creative subjects would always make room for a good tale. And so it was decided. At the upcoming Celebrate Bandra fest, Mahmood Farooqui, assisted by his two Shahs of Blah, would perform stories old and new, jugglers and tricksters helping their narratives come alive.

Dastangoi, the art of relating and simultaneously composing long stories, has existed in India for centuries. And over the last four years, Mahmood and his crew have taken this speech-and-spectacle act to a host of Indian cities, Pakistan and the US. Catch them in action on November 15 from 7 pm to 9 pm.

Also, check out their blog at http://dastangoi.blogspot.com.

Getting there: Pioneer Hall, St John Baptist Road, Bandra (W).

Trading Tales

You too can take a page out of the Dastan book and become a story teller. If you have novels that have crossed their shelf life, donate them for a cause. All you have to do is give in your old books before the 14th of this month (find your drop-off centre here) and visit Café Goa on the 17th, where they will be sold, the proceeds of which go to one of Celebrate Bandra’s causes. Remember to bring along your favourite music, which you can play for the crowd. Starts on November 17 at 8 pm and climaxes the next day at 12 am.

Getting there: Café Goa, Khadeshwari Mandir Marg, Off St John Baptist Road, Bandra (W).

Guiding B(e)acon

bpb Freebie: Subscribers get unlimited wine or beer with bpb and East’s month-long aphrodisiac tasting menu. To register for the launch event, email us at guide@bpbweekend.com.

bpb contest: Take a shot - be the first to email us about your favourite shot (guide@bpbweekend.com) and a pair of super funky shot glasses from Bliss are yours.

bEGIN

What: Second Helping gets experts to answer your culinary queries, email secondhelping@bpbweekend.com, free service exclusively for bpb subscribers.

Why: bpb brings together Mumbai’s best – Valhalla’s bartending team; Kshama Prabhu from The Tasting Room; InterContinental Marine Drive's Paul Kinny; East's owner, Nachiket Shetye; and Indigo's pastry chef Ajinkya Saundankar; (read their bios here) - to help out in your kitchen. From setting your cocktails on fire to revealing the secret uses of pine nuts, they’ll answer your quirkiest gastronomical questions.

When: You want too many cooks to help with your broth. On until January 1.

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What: Cutlery couture, Manish Arora for Good Earth, Raghuvanshi Mills, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, call 24951954, price on request.

Why: After stamping his psychedelic prints on everything from shoes to lipstick, fashion’s most colourful figure is all set to gatecrash your dinner party. And if his earlier designs are anything to go by, Manish Arora’s new range of bone china cutlery will be the best thing since sliced bread.

When: You want a new Fish (to) Fry. Launches Wednesday, November 11.

pARTAKE

What: Wine and beer tasting room and store, Santé, Chawla House, 60/62 Woodhouse Road, Colaba, call 64509779, starts at Rs 50 per tasting (includes five 20 ml wines).

Why: Because of all the Mumbai outposts, the new Colaba branch is the only one that offers wine tastings from domestic and international lists (currently featuring offerings from France, Chile and South Africa) that change every week. Coming soon: a cozy booth where you can enjoy a bottle of wine you bought, fresh off the rack.

When: You want a room with a brew.

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What: Thai catering by Lotus Blossom, call 9967624034, starts at Rs 400 per person for a minimum of 10 people.

Why: Radhika’s delicate lotus fruit appetizers, sweet peanut salad and spicy basil prawn are guaranteed to float your boat.

When: You’re trying to curry favours.

bITTERSWEET

What: Liqueur cupcakes by Venial Sin, call Michelle 9867663256, Rs 45 a piece.

Why: The man behind the desserts at Da Vinci and Thai Ban is spiking his cupcakes with Amaretto and Amarula, cointreau and Kahlua, and a slew of other delicious liqueurs. His rich chocolate frosting is the icing on the cake.

When: You want to get battered and boozed.

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Event Round-up: Mumbai Salsa Festival from Nov 6-8 at Bandra (W); Farhan Akhtar, Indian Ocean and Parikrama perform live on Nov 7 at Chitrakoot Grounds, Andheri (W); Techno and crazy visuals from Blot at Zenzi Mills, Lower Parel on Nov 7 at 9.30 pm.

Lights of Fancy

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Papier Prêt

You’d hardly expect paper, glue and banana fibre to turn into something so chic. Paper chandeliers and lamps are the new heavyweights on the light circuit, and the best buzz-worthy buy for your home. We spied these at Bliss, a newly opened lifestyle store at Versova that also stocks clothes by designers like Nachiket Barve and Lina Tipnis, and accessories by Soul of Silver, Pandora’s Pitara and Stoffa.

These eco-friendly floor lamps have been designed by Jenny Pinto, who makes the material in her Bangalore studio out of long silky fibers from banana tree trunks, and styles it to create a dance of shadows and sensuality. Do we see flash bulbs?

Getting there: 180, Aram Nagar 1, Fisheries University Road, 7 Bungalows, Versova, Andheri (W).

Wax Couture
Also putting the chic after eco are Crawford Market’s 100% bees wax candles. None of that overwhelmingly flavoured berry stuff; just the subtle scent of honey and lemon grass, and hints of natural colour. Plus, these candles can wax eloquent for 40 hours, and won’t go off under the fan. You can sniff them out at Contemporary Arts and Crafts (Napeansea Road), Attic (Khar), Dhoop (Khar), Mobius Strip (Bandra), Tribal Route (Andheri), 1BHK (Kamla Mills, Lower Parel). And if you need another reason to schedule a hot pick-up today, bpb subscribers take 10% off all Crawford Market candles until November 15th.

Plus, the weekend’s almost here – so go ahead and lighten up!

bpb Review: Bespoke Café

So this is where they keep all the light: that’s the first thought we had as we entered the brand new and cheerily sunny Bespoke Café, tucked away into a corner of the otherwise windowless, oppressively opulent Palladium at Phoenix Mills. But the pretty view – freshly-graphitised glimpses of Tulsi Pipe Road looked even more colourful through the restaurant’s stain glass windows – is not all Bespoke has to offer.

Fancy Brews

Sink into a buttery leather chair (and we mean that literally – the seats are so plush that one of us Secret Scouters could barely see over the table) and pick through the moderate non-alcoholic beverage menu made up of the usual suspects - coffee from Kenya, Columbia and Malabar; a range of herbal teas; and pathetically watered-down hot chocolate – or move on to the more interesting wine list. A number of international labels are featured here, including a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Colchagua Valley in Chile that we especially liked.

Time for a Break(fast)

The food menu at Bespoke seems designed for shoppers taking a break and the corporates that work around Lower Parel. Averaging Rs 100 a dish, the all-day breakfast is a good bet (although they don’t open until 11 am), as is the creamy spinach dip, perfectly accompanied by crunchy strips of lavash. We also enjoyed the black bean burger, garnished with tomatoes and what has become a must-add on hip menus across the city: wasabi mayo. Finish off with a peanut butter torte, whose sugar boost will make the prospect of returning to the crazy fray of Phoenix Mills a little more bearable.

Coffee and Tees

Bespoke is part of The Collective, a high-end men’s chain that dominates one side of the Palladium, and a clever addition to the luxurious shopping experience the store aims to provide (a Jean Claude Biguine salon and spa is also housed here). Lulled by the wine and food, we were easily tempted by hard-to-find inventory of John Varvatos and Rock and Republic, as well as an utterly irresistible (and at Rs 6,000 for a razor, ridiculously expensive) line of products from Art of Shaving.

Just as, we suspect, was intended by the crafty cats at Collective. So when you find yourself standing at the cash counter, basking in the afterglow of a nice Australian red and handing over your credit card for a pair of Ferragamos that you don’t need, just remember this: you had been warned.

Getting there: The Collective, Palladium, Phoenix Mills, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel

Beauty by the Beasts

The Bait Shop

Bait? Bread? Breakfast? That’s what you’ll be calling your feet if you check them in for a pedicure at the newly opened Bambooo Tree – All Day Spaa in Bandra. If you can get past the numerology-influenced sign board and the “women’s only” pamphlet, this tiny spa has a lot to offer. The best is the controversial Doctor Fish pedicure (Rs 550 for 45 minutes). Here, a shoal of toothless Garra Rufa fish imported all the way from Turkey nibble dead skin off your feet, making them shiny and new. Though many around the world swear by this treatment, several countries have given it the boot owing to hygiene and heath issues.

The two spa rooms are not plush but yet enticing, and house masseuses that can cater to your every knead. You’ll find a range of different treatments including Exotic Candle, Holistic Bamboo and Power Yoga massages, which at Rs 2,000 and up, are a little pricey. Hair, skin and nail treatments are also available.

Getting there: 752 Merchant House, in the lane opposite Bagel Shop, New Kantwadi Road, Bandra (W), call 32221861 / 9930142067.

Other Fish to Fry

For guys (or girls with an aversion to feet-feasting beasts), Toni and Guy has just opened its second Mumbai outpost – this one’s in Colaba – complete with unisex hair, skin and beauty treatments (they plan to get their pedicure booths up and running by next week). Stop by for a pruning by head stylist Rupal Thakkar, who’s been wielding her magic scissors for over 15 years.

Getting there: Shop No. 1, Saideep Building, 17 Cuffe Parade, call 22154464.

Drawing a Blanc

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Act I
It will be bottoms (and curtains) up at the Sula Vineyard Friday evening, where the Nashik estate will play host to the Class of ’84. Buy your ticket to this awesome play, drive out to the rolling hills and drink it all in – a starry night sky, a Greek amphitheatre, and playwright Rahul Da Cunha’s theatre crew, including Rajit Kapur and Shernaz Patel, getting high on nostalgia.

Act II
Theatrics will be followed up by painting under the stars, sipping on wine straight from vineyards and feasting on yummy treats from Little Italy and Kareem’s.

Act III
If you’re too lazy (or inebriated) to drive home, we suggest you make a night of it. Beyond, the super luxurious accommodation on the Sula estate is booked out for the next three months, but the nearby affordable Ginger Hotel is a great option.

Home Productions
If you can’t escape the city this weekend, we insist you walk through the Mumbai Wine Tasting festival at the Radio Club pier, held on November 7 and 8 between 11 am and 10 pm. Accompanying the extensive wine list – representatives from York, Sula, Zampa and other wineries will be present – will be a barbeque cook out, docked speed boats and the colourful personalities that invariably populate such events.

Le Fin

Getting there: Sula Vineyards, Nashik.Call 09860190017. Tickets are available on Bookmyshow.com / The Pier, Bombay Presidency Radio Club, Apollo Bunder, Colaba.
For passes, email info@mumbaiwinefest.in, call 9820097565