16th Road, Bandra

Looking through a tinted pane

I see a car passing by

Reminiscent of drunken East Indian Catholics

who sold their shares of the Queen of the suburbs’ sky…

“Change the channel Grams

You’ve watched this a million times”

“Go away from here, I don’t go outside like you do…

You kids get everything, yet you whine…”

I think it’s because she never had a T.V then…

What did they do then to pass time???

Thankfully they used it constructively,

Illegally selling homemade wine…

“That wine’s got you where you are now

We started from a tin shed you know

My wine money and your father’s hard work

Never forget that you fellow…”

I sipped on that spirit

the one she brewed years ago..

but not to get drunk, just to savour lush green history…

“Yes Grams I know…”

This poem has been dedicated to my grandmother, Mrs. Monica Hopkins

For more visit: http://randomcognition2.blogspot.com/

– Kenneth Hopkins

Humorous Art

This week Pradarshak art gallery is showcasing an emerging artist, Minal Rajurkar. This young artist who hails from Nagpur will be making her debut solo exhibition right here in Bandra. She has a distinct style of drawing upon social satire as her muse and uses mostly light shades and mid tones in her work. Like a few artists before her she picks characters from everyday life with a focus on the darker side of human nature but her humorous touch which characterizes her paintings almost dismisses the darker side. Her work is all rendered in acrylic on canvas. Each canvas will hold your gaze while a deeper more intensive thought takes shapes and communicates the subtle message within it. Where: Gallery Pradarshak, 100 Kalpana Bldg., 12th Road, When: Till 6th December, Timings: 11a.m – 7 p.m. (Except Sundays & Public Holidays), Contact: 26462681

– Rommel Albuquerque

Art for Concern

The exhibition will be showcasing an eclectic collection of art by senior, well established artists, including  popular artists like T Vaikuntam, Babu Xavier and Ilango among other well known names like Sudip Roy, Trupti Patel, Jehangir Jani and Lalitha Lajmi, who have a number of solo shows in India and abroad to their credit. This is a fund raising initiative and the proceeds will be going towards a cause. Averaging around Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000, no painting is priced above Rs 50,000. Concern India Foundation reaches out in various ways to over one hundred and fifty programmes through our offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune.

Where: Out Of The Blue, Union Park, When: December 3-4 at 11am- 7pm

Fun Fair

This Sunday happens to be the feast day of St. Andrews church and as anyone in this parish would tell you , if it’s a feast then we have to celebrate. A fun fair will be held this Sunday and though you may not find a giant wheel or a merry go round, they’ve got even better games for you. You can try your hand at bowling, ring toss and other fun games. Along with that you have a fashion show and dances which will feature the bachaas in and around the locality. Food lovers don’t fret, there’s a special kebabs and tandoori stall along with pickels, sausages and mini meals. Karen Murzello who’s on the organizing committee says, “The evening is going to be full of fun and games and when every one comes together its bound to be a big fun fair”. Where: St. Andrews School Quadrangle, When: Sunday 30th November, 6pm to 10pm, Entry: Free and open to all

– Rommel Albuquerque

Size No Bar

With Shoppers Stop, Globus and the hoards of clothing stores in Bandra we are forced to pick up which ever size the store has to offer which is closest to our size. Here is where Nafisa Riaz comes in.  She offers customers a unique range of western office and evening wear but specializes in made to order garments. “We do a lot of custom garments like bridal outfits, casuals and western garments and some of our range has a lot of embroidery work done on them as well” adds Nafisa. Her boutique named ‘Bisque’ after her favourite colour has an earthy but comfortable vibe. I liked the Indo western outfits that she has for girls but there’s not much of a choice for guys here. She also stocks some pretty good bed covers and cushions and has a special express delivery for those urgent orders. Where: Mecca Manzil, St. Monica road, Contact: 26402081

– Rommel Albuquerque

The Creative Destination

Here you have a story of a girl who loved to make her own jewelry as a hobby and 7 years later decided it was time to make it into a career. A story most creatively oriented people be familiar with, Ekta Maker says, “I used to walk on Linking road and notice that at least 5 other girls were wearing the same earrings or the same necklaces that I was. I couldn’t stand that and so  I decided I was going to make my own jewelry.” Each piece of jewelry in her store is hand made and you won’t find any twins or triplets here. What I liked about this store and the owner was that she understands that college kids can’t afford to buy new jewelry as often as they want to and so she has a one day course on how to make your own jewelry where she’ll teach you the different techniques and also provides the materials. “I also offer customers on the spot customization of accessories, a lot of customers have great outfits to wear out but cant find the right accessory so we custom make it for them” adds Ekta.  Here are some of the accessories that they stock.

Where: Crystal Shoppers Paradise, 2nd floor, shop 32, Below Magnet, Contact: Ekta on 9820457517

– Rommel Albuquerque

Something’s Fishy

They waiters might not wear a kashti but everything else about this Koli food festival is a 100% authentic. After the immense success of last year’s festival (there were people queuing up outside the restaurant) Soul Fry have decided to treat their patrons again with a Koli food festival will the end of the month. Some of the items on the menu include Kolbi chi Ambat, Hirvi chutney Sarga (green masala stuffed pomfret), Bharlela Khekda (crab stuffed with crab meat mixed in Koli masala and chillies) and Talela Bombil. Meldan D’Cunha says, “The flavours and masala is simply amazing. All the fish has been bought from Kalpana a Koli woman in the Citilight market, the best fish market in Mumbai.” So, we’ll see you at Soul Fry this weekend.

Where: Soul Fry, Pali Market, When: till 30th November

– Glynda Alves

Things that make you go mmmm…

When I walked into the recently opened Global Fusion Restaurant on Linking Road, I was a bit skeptical. Set right in the middle of the busy and noisy street, could you really enjoy a quiet meal comprising of all sorts of South Asian cuisines? Well it seems you can!

If you like your sushi, salads and dim sums then Global Fusion is the place for you. Comprising of a live sushi station where chefs roll them out for your fresh and cold! There are also a variety of salads – I would recommend the seafood and raw papaya salad! Starters include mushrooms and prawn tempuras (stick to the prawns, drop the mushrooms!). There are also a variety of fish and chicken to sample depending on your capacity to deal with spice!

One of the biggest things going for this restaurant is that the portions are small which means that you won’t be so full that you can’t nibble on the main course. The main course consists of freshly baked steamed bread, steamed rice and Thai Curry, chicken, prawns and fish. For the vegetarians there are tossed vegetables and potatoes as well as rice and noodles. The main course does disappoint and that’s largely because you see a whole lot of exotic foods in the previous course. But the Thai Red Curry is definitely recommended. The dessert counter has a range of Baskin Robbins ice-creams, cakes and pastries as well as other South Asian deserts like candies and sweets for you to taste. All in all the ambience and the experience at Global Fusion leaves you saying a big Global Mmmmm!

Price: Buffet pricing with a meal for two costing you Rs.1000 approximately

Where: 3rd floor, Link Square Mall, Linking Road Contact: 26469003

– Harshita Kohli

Am I Famous Yet?

Bandra is known for its beauty and glamour but a trend which started a while seems to be picking up now. We’re used to seeing celebrities , models and actors either having  a coffee at Café Coffee day or grabbing a bite to eat at Just around the corner or just jogging at Bandstand. But it seems that the local corporators are feeling neglected and their work unappreciated. That’s why as walk down Bandra’a bylanes you’ll find 4 or 5 ft tall posters of these coporators, but the one whose name and photo keep poping up everywhere is Ashish Shellar, BJP corporator, ward 77 who’s poster can be found at Pali, Peter Dias Road, John Baptist Road and more.

Local resident Hitesh Shinde says, “These posters serve no purpose except to destroy the beauty of Bandra.”

On closer inspection some of these posters have the names of party leaders, mandal heads and unknown people who seen to think that the best way to wish this corporator on his birthday is by erecting a 5ft poster in his honour. Almost all if not most of these posters are illegal and have not got permission from the BMC to be erected.

When we contacted Mr. Ashish Shellar to question him about the many posters that he has all over Bandra, he promptly said he was in a meeting and disconnected the phone. We wonder whether he was having a meeting to decide how many more posters of himself he can erect. Other poster boys too declined to comment on their illegal use of public space

Gimme Five!

Russel Almeida

I live at Chapel Road and I work as a DJ at Boat Club

Where do you hang out in Bandra?

I mostly chill and hangout on my terrace

What’s your favourite restaurant/bar in Bandra?

My favourite bar would be Janta’s and restaurant would be Snack Shack

Who’s the hottest person in Bandra?

Honestly, there are alotta hot women in Bandra, its difficult to pick just one

What is one thing that would make life in Bandra better?

Stop building big buildings, I want the good old bungalows back