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Local food movements, organic fruits and vegetables at supermarkets as well as increased reports of GMO produce have collectively succeeded in stirring up awareness about the source and quality of our produce. The ingredients that go into our daily meals can’t be substandard, and fuelled by the added environmental benefits, we’ve noticed a trend of many urban dwellers maintaining both small and large kitchen gardens. An open garden space isn’t a luxury for most of us though, but you don’t need to be denied the benefits. Here’s our handy guide on how grow a vertical garden of your own.
WHAT IS IT
If you’re tied down for space, vertical gardening is the way ahead for you. The concept stems from using a vertical structure, such as a wall, to grow various plants. While a full-fledged green wall requires detailed planning and sophisticated irrigation structures, there are several hacks that are easy, inexpensive, and give great results.
Like any living organism, a garden too requires tremendous care and time, so make sure you’re well prepared to put in a few hours. Identify a wall you can use as a support for this DIY project – it could be in your balcony, on the terrace, or even a window-sill. The only pre-condition is that this wall needs to receive ample sunlight.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Bearing the wall as a support, you need to put together a structure that will hold the soil and plants in place. Depending on the size of your wall and the amount you are willing to spend, you can create various structures. No matter what structure you use, make sure it has sufficient holes to drain out excess water. See the pictures below for step-by-step reference.
Image courtesy AKA Design
– Using a basic frame made of wood, metal, or bamboo, you can line the back with a wire mesh and tie pots to it using jute rope. Alternatively, you could also inlay the frame with horizontal wooden planks and attach large pockets made out of recycled plastic sacks that are sturdy enough to hold the weight of the soil.
Image courtesy Country Living
– Repurpose an old chest of drawers or find a good bargain at a thrift sale and use it to give life to your garden. If you’ve got very little space, such as a window-sill, an old milk crate is a great option.
– Not only is recycling good for the earth, it can also add character to your otherwise drab balcony or terrace. Cut out a large opening in old cola bottles and hang them down using nylon or jute ropes. Alternatively, hang a shoe organiser and use its pockets to hold small plants.
Once you have your structure in place, your next concern is the soil. The medium used for growing plants is generally in a 1:1:1 ratio of soil, compost, and cocopeat. Red soil is most commonly available and can be picked up at any local nursery; compost is a decomposed manure that’s added to the soil to enhance its nutrients; and cocopeat is a byproduct of coconut husk that’s used to retain water. All three can be purchased individually at local plant nurseries or are sometimes sold as pre-mix.
WHAT CAN YOU GROW
Given our warm, tropical temperatures, you can grow a wide range of plants, vegetables, and herbs at home. If you have a slightly bigger structure, vegetables like tomatoes, chillies, okra, brinjal, French beans, and lime are easy to grow. Flowers such as aster, carnations, petunia, marigold, geranium and roses can be planted on a terrace or balcony. Home cooks will know the vast difference some freshly picked herbs can make to a meal, and varieties like basil, oregano, sage, and rosemary can be potted on a window sill as well. Local nurseries are sure to stock saplings, while seeds can be purchased on NurseryLive, Plantsman#39;s Seeds, Biocarve Seeds, and Kraft Seeds.
WHAT NEXT
Once you have the structure, soil, and saplings or seeds in place, get your hands dirty! If you’re using saplings, fill the structure with soil and create a small depression in the centre to gently insert the sapling. Add soil around it until the sapling stabilises. If you’re using seeds, create a hole in the centre, spread out the seeds and cover them up with soil. Water your plant daily under normal temperatures and during summer, you should be hydrating it twice a day while during the monsoon, you can touch the soil to determine if it needs to be watered. Use vermi compost about once in two to three weeks to keep your plants healthy. For organic pesticides, use a spray made by grinding neem leaves in water and straining on the plants.
With a little bit of patience and a whole lot of care, an abundant vertical garden is just a few steps away.
Roots is a series of specially curated monthly gigs put together by BAJAAO Entertainment and Social Offline. The fourth edition features performances by Chaos, an explosive thrash metal band from Thiruvananthapuram; and experimental/progressive metal band The Minerva Conduct and hardcore three-piece punk band Death by Fungi, both from Mumbai.
Entry: Free
Oozeundat comprises duo Roan Sable and Sidhant Naren who both dabble in underground electronic dance music. Their techno sets have a reputation for being thoughful and intensely crafted, with a love for creating deep, obscure sounds.
The young and energetic Pratik Umrigar and Chaitanya Gaikwad form Pune-based Audio Glitch. Primarily focussed on techno, their sound is dominated by bass heavy grooves, crunchy snares and dark, clipped beats.
Also part of the night#39;s line-up is Qwiver a project by Mumbai-based DJ Lynston D#39;souza. His sets explore a range of genres from deep house to minimal, with his focus on tech house and techno, while his sound is a unique mix of groove and intricate detail. Rounding up the line-up is Karan Desai aka Frolic State, a music producer and DJ whose signature sound comprises dark, hypnotic and groovy techno.
Entry: Free
Café Mangii has curated a special menu of sizzlers for the monsoon. This year#39;s specials include vegetarian offerings such as Chevre Stuffed Polenta (loaded smashed baby potato, ratatouille and Mornay sauce), Zucchini Pancake (fettuccini in tomato cream, tossed broccoli, mushrooms and mustard sauce). Meat lovers can enjoy the Chicken and Quinoa Meat Balls (spaghetti aglio olio, exotic vegetables and herbed garlic tomato coulis) and Prawns Sambal Oelek among others. Round off your meal with the Sizzling Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownie or the Mango Cheesecake.
Note: The menu is available at both Khar and Powai outlets
Directed by: Sharman Joshi
Cast: Sharman Joshi, Tejashri Pradhan
The protagonists of the play are not happy in their marriages and start an affair after a romantic dinner and night at an inn. They decide to meet on the same weekend every year and continue this tradition for twenty-four years.
The play follows their story and their journey together in which they are never late for their meetings and help each other overcome any problem that they face, whenever it is required.
Entry - Rs 300 - Rs 2,000
Tickets available on BookMyShow.com
As the clouds roll in and the lush fragrance of rain permeates the air, unwind in an exquisite ambience to appreciate the great Indian monsoon; as enjoyed in different parts of our country with a perfect cup of tea and delectable snacks.The contemporary Lobby Lounge at Grand Hyatt Mumbai presents the perfect monsoon indulgence with a splendid spread of an all-time exquisite selection of authentic teas from across the country. Come home ,to an array of chef crafted, regional delights like Samosa, Bread Pakoda, Dal Ki Kachori, Kanda Bhajji and Dal Vada to name a few as you enjoy your favourite blend of tea from the special menu. Tour the country with a refreshing selection of teas like the Kashmiri Kahwa, Punjabi Chai, Gujarati Masala Chai, Rajasthani Chai, Maharashtrian Chai and Kerela Sulaimani Tea.
9th Beer Burger Festival is a month long festival dedicated to the classic combination of curated burgers by the folks at Woodside paired with handcrafted brews and other international beers.
From a vegan Pulled Jackfruit burger to a non-vegetarian Espresso Rubbed Tenderloin burger or the Sloppy Joe, no one will go back insatiate. Paying tribute to the Roman love for cheese, one can find a whole Rustic Buratta Burger, Confit Burger and Creole Spiced Bombay Duck Burger. Don’t hold yourself back from this cherished festival for connoisseurs, in Roman style.
Entry: Free
For more information, contact 022 26328963 (Andheri) and 022 22025525 ( Colaba)
Note: The festival is also taking place in the Colaba outlet
Mapping Stillness aims to chart an aesthetic enquiry around the notion of stillness that is perceived in varying degrees in the works of Sujith SN, Prathap Modi and Madhu Das. Each work is a pictorial marker of journeys across fictitious landscapes in diverse mediums such as watercolours, woodblocks, woodcut prints and drawings.
In his watercolours, Sujith SN negotiates the formal aspects of scale and colour to construct panoramic landscapes that are medititations on the impact of urbanization and globalization. The woodblocks and woodcut prints by Prathap Modi are studies that combine combine self-portraiture and performance to express themes of oneness and a desire to co-habit in harmony with nature. Finally, Madhu Das examines the human condition through a series of mixed-media drawings on paper.
Just when we were beginning to debate whether NH7 Weekender was going to be held this year or not, memes started popping up all over our Twitter timeline from artists and friends of the festival. Echoing our sentiments, the hashtag read #NH7kutheaahe, a nod to Pune, where the first edition took place way back in 2010.
Since then, the festival has grown each year and you can count on a few surprises along the way. Last year, they added Shillong to the roster and made lineup announcements via friends, artists and musicians involved with the festival somehow. This year, their sixth, is bringing in even more surprises. Not only have they changed directions and canned Delhi and Bangalore from the festival list – boo to that! – but they’ve also found a way to keep audiences hooked with a full day of lineup announcements on their social media handles via live videos from each artist.
This year, the festival is heading to Pune, Shillong and Hyderabad as well as hosting mini editions and smaller gigs across other cities. If you can#39;t make the trek to the festival grounds, check out NH7 Weekender Express – a series of one day editions across five cities – Kolkata, Pondicherry, Mysore, Nagpur and Jaipur. Still no love for Delhi or Bangalore, but we’ll survive! Then there’s Bacardi Club Nights that will offer a sneak peek into what#39;s to come in addition to a series of 100 house parties. More on that later.
For now, we’ve been glued to their Facebook since 10.30 am today for the lineup. So far, we#39;ve got progressive rock pioneer aka Porcupine Tree#39;s Steven Wilson, who had hinted at a visit to India back in May, singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez, popular indie electronic music producer RAC and Anoushka Shankar among the confirmed international acts, along with a mix of upcoming talent such as Mosko, aswekeepsearching, and crowd favourites like Nicholson, Papon, Tejas, Indian Ocean and Bhayanak Maut. You can look forward to a few laughs as well courtesy comedians like Kenneth Sebastian and Abish Mathew. Check out the lineup below.
NH7 Weekender 2016 Lineup
SHILLONG: October 21st – 22nd
Tejas | aswekeepsearching | Papon | Aberrant | Robot Mode | Sapta | Fossils | Wild Palms | Farhan Akhtar | Su Real | Natty | Kumail | Imphal Talkies And The Howlers | Vertical Horizon | Dhruv Visvanath | Alobo Naga And The Band | Underground Authority | Bipul Chettri | Undying Inc | Rhythm Shaw | Blue Temptation | Dossers Urge | Mr Woodnote Lil Rhys | Nucleya | Madboy/Mink | Nanok | River | Dhruv Voyage | Prateek Kuhad | The Ritornellos | Dualist Inquiry | Soulmate | Steven Wilson | Vir Das And Alien Chutney
HYDERABAD: November 5th – 6th
aswekeepsearching | Alluri | Indian Ocean | Spud In The Box | Nicholson | Dinosaur Pile-Up | Bhayanak Maut | Robot Mode | The Ska Vengers | Ankur And The Ghalat Family | Sapta | Fossils | Black Letters | Komorebi | Farhan Akhtar | Dhruv Visvanath | Until We Last | Skrat | The F16s | Parikrama | Lagori | Baiju Dharmajan | Sandunes | Nucleya | Madboy/Mink | Anish Sood | Hriday Gattani | Peepal Tree | Parvaaz | Arjun Vagale | Vir Das And Alien Chutney | Prateek Kuhad | The Raghu Dixit Project | Ganesh Talkies | Dualist Inquiry | Murthovic | Swarathma
PUNE: December 2nd – 4th
Jose Gonzalez | When Chai Met Toast | Anoushka Shankar | aswekeepsearching | Mosko | Papon | Nicholson | Thaikuddam Bridge | Robot Mode | DJ Premier | Sapta | Fossils | Komorebi | RAC | Imphal Talkies And The Howlers | Mali | Van Goffey | SickFlip | NAFS | Underground Authority | Easy Wanderlings | DIVINE | Shri | The F16s | Rhythm Shaw | The Joy Formidable | Eagulls | Dossers Urge | Nucleya | Shankar Mahadevan | Abish Mathew Live | Kenneth Sebastian | Kanchan Daniel The Beards | River | BK Hrangkhaw l Ganesh Talkies | Parekh Singh | Sempre Libera | Sid Vashi | Skyharbor | Steven Wilson
Directed By: Dinesh Thakur
Artists: Atul Mathur, Jyotindra Bhatt, Preeta Mathur Thakur, Aman Gupta, Pragati Pandey, Shankar Iyer, Hardeep Singh
The play is a Hindi version of Marathi Comedy Chi Sau Ka, by Dr. Vasant Deo. Set in the North Indian nautanki style of theatre with live music, it is based on the life of Anjali Sharma, who is set out to search for her dream man herself. Stumped in the face of pitiless society, her story persuades us to question and re-examine our value system.
The narration will feature Thumr composed and rendered by Smt. Lakshami Shankar, as well as Tagore poems, recited by late Shri Basu Bhattacharya.
Entry: Rs 300-350
Tickets available on bookmyshow.com
Local food movements, organic fruits and vegetables at supermarkets as well as increased reports of GMO produce have collectively succeeded in stirring up awareness about the source and quality of our produce. The ingredients that go into our daily meals can’t be substandard, and fuelled by the added environmental benefits, we’ve noticed a trend of many urban dwellers maintaining both small and large kitchen gardens. An open garden space isn’t a luxury for most of us though, but you don’t need to be denied the benefits. Here’s our handy guide on how grow a vertical garden of your own.
WHAT IS IT
If you’re tied down for space, vertical gardening is the way ahead for you. The concept stems from using a vertical structure, such as a wall, to grow various plants. While a full-fledged green wall requires detailed planning and sophisticated irrigation structures, there are several hacks that are easy, inexpensive, and give great results.
Like any living organism, a garden too requires tremendous care and time, so make sure you’re well prepared to put in a few hours. Identify a wall you can use as a support for this DIY project – it could be in your balcony, on the terrace, or even a window-sill. The only pre-condition is that this wall needs to receive ample sunlight.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Bearing the wall as a support, you need to put together a structure that will hold the soil and plants in place. Depending on the size of your wall and the amount you are willing to spend, you can create various structures. No matter what structure you use, make sure it has sufficient holes to drain out excess water. See the pictures below for step-by-step reference.
Image courtesy AKA Design
– Using a basic frame made of wood, metal, or bamboo, you can line the back with a wire mesh and tie pots to it using jute rope. Alternatively, you could also inlay the frame with horizontal wooden planks and attach large pockets made out of recycled plastic sacks that are sturdy enough to hold the weight of the soil.
Image courtesy Country Living
– Repurpose an old chest of drawers or find a good bargain at a thrift sale and use it to give life to your garden. If you’ve got very little space, such as a window-sill, an old milk crate is a great option.
– Not only is recycling good for the earth, it can also add character to your otherwise drab balcony or terrace. Cut out a large opening in old cola bottles and hang them down using nylon or jute ropes. Alternatively, hang a shoe organiser and use its pockets to hold small plants.
Once you have your structure in place, your next concern is the soil. The medium used for growing plants is generally in a 1:1:1 ratio of soil, compost, and cocopeat. Red soil is most commonly available and can be picked up at any local nursery; compost is a decomposed manure that’s added to the soil to enhance its nutrients; and cocopeat is a byproduct of coconut husk that’s used to retain water. All three can be purchased individually at local plant nurseries or are sometimes sold as pre-mix.
WHAT CAN YOU GROW
Given our warm, tropical temperatures, you can grow a wide range of plants, vegetables, and herbs at home. If you have a slightly bigger structure, vegetables like tomatoes, chillies, okra, brinjal, French beans, and lime are easy to grow. Flowers such as aster, carnations, petunia, marigold, geranium and roses can be planted on a terrace or balcony. Home cooks will know the vast difference some freshly picked herbs can make to a meal, and varieties like basil, oregano, sage, and rosemary can be potted on a window sill as well. Local nurseries are sure to stock saplings, while seeds can be purchased on NurseryLive, Plantsman#39;s Seeds, Biocarve Seeds, and Kraft Seeds.
WHAT NEXT
Once you have the structure, soil, and saplings or seeds in place, get your hands dirty! If you’re using saplings, fill the structure with soil and create a small depression in the centre to gently insert the sapling. Add soil around it until the sapling stabilises. If you’re using seeds, create a hole in the centre, spread out the seeds and cover them up with soil. Water your plant daily under normal temperatures and during summer, you should be hydrating it twice a day while during the monsoon, you can touch the soil to determine if it needs to be watered. Use vermi compost about once in two to three weeks to keep your plants healthy. For organic pesticides, use a spray made by grinding neem leaves in water and straining on the plants.
With a little bit of patience and a whole lot of care, an abundant vertical garden is just a few steps away.
Khadi fabric comes with a rich history and is an integral part of our country’s identity. And being suited to all seasons, it lends itself as an idea wardrobe staple. With the Make In India Movement gaining momentum and several designers working with traditional textiles and art forms, khadi too is having its moment in the sun (pun unintended). Check out these clothing labels and embrace the age-old fabric in its chic modern avatar.
Khaadi
This Karachi based brand specialises in hand-woven, pure khadi products, with both unstitched fabric as well as a prêt line of traditional and Western wear for women, men and kids on offer. Traditional silhouettes are given a youthful modern spin with trendy prints and embroidery that’s complemented by vibrant colours. While their Khaas line features exclusive, limited edition pieces, and they also stock formals, bottoms and colourful, vibrant accessories such as bags, scarves and jewellery.
We Recommend: Their embroidered kurtas
Price: Rs 1,700 onwards
Shop here
Malkha
Each piece of clothing crafted by this label is the result of a decentralised, sustainable, field-to-fabric cotton textile chain with the direct involvement of farmers, ginners, spinners and dyers. Their collection focusses on saris, duppatas and unstitched fabric – each featuring vibrant traditional techniques such as ajrakh, kalamkari, with Indian motifs such as peepal leaves, peacocks and lotuses.
We Recommend: Their Kalamkari duppatas
Price: Rs 370 onwards
Shop here
Jaypore
Working with artisans and craftsmen from across India, this label combines traditional art forms and indigenous fabrics. You’ll find chic collections that incorporate different local craft techniques such as chikankari, zari, bandhani and block printing; while their garments are all made from handspun and handwoven khadi. They offer a wide variety of menswear and womenswear including saris (woven, printed and embroidered), kurtas, tunics, jackets, blouses, dresses, shrugs and palazzos.
We Recommend: Their Indigo Treasures collection
Price: Rs 1,250 onwards
Shop here
Red Sister Blue
Based out of Mumbai, this khadi-embracing label is the brainchild of Nanda and Michael Grobe. It’s East meets West here with the traditional homegrown fabric getting a modern makeover in the form of clean, contemporary Western silhouettes. Most of their garments are available in solid colours or feature simple colour blocking, making them easy to mix and match with items from your existing wardrobe. They’ve got your casual wardrobe covered with options that include tops, trousers, dresses, shorts, shrugs, jackets and skirts; along with limited edition collections that incorporate the latest trends.
We Recommend: Wrap khadi dresses
Price: Rs 999 onwards
Shop here
The city has always had a lively cultural scene with a number of performance venues – including institutions such as Bombelli’s, Berry’s, and more recently, Rang Bhavan and Razz Rhino – that have played a vital part in nurturing musicians. So if you’re a music head, read on for a lowdown on the finest gig nights in the city to discover the newest indie talent and homegrown sounds at.
ELECTRONICA
FRWD
Presented in association with Mixtape, this series features homegrown producers with a line-up that usually includes a headliner and a few supporting acts. The first couple of editions have been drum ‘n’ bass heavy, featuring outfits such as Dark Circle Factory, Ox7gen, Bombay Bassment and Bandish Projekt.
When: Monthly
Where: antiSOCIAL
Grime Riot Disco
In November 2010, singer/actor Monica Dogra, event manager Anamika Singh and graphic designer Kunal Lodhia, started what they termed an anti-party that eschewed swish clubs for dive bars and abandoned locations across the city. Going strong for six years, the last few editions have found a new home at Khar Social’s underground performance venue. You’re guaranteed a good time with a line-up that’s appropriately dance friendly featuring electronica producers such as Nerm, Nanok, Tansane and DJ MoCity (founder of reggae soundsystem Reggae Rajahs).
When: Monthly
Where: Venues vary, updates here
Where We At
Curated by the good folks at OML to “showcase the freshest new sounds across India’s aural landscape”, this series has so far featured club friendly acts such as duo Perfect Timings, comprising Sandunes aka Sanaya Ardeshir and Kolkata-based percussionist Jivraj ‘Jiver’ Singh; Mumbai-based hip-hop DJ Uri; and Bangalore-based electronic music producer _RHL aka Rahul Giri.
When: Monthly, usually on a Friday
Where: Bonobo
Silencio
This bi-monthly series at The Lalit’s posh nightspot features a mix of homegrown and international DJs. The sound tends to lean towards house and techno with recent gigs having featured DJs and producers such as Oozeundat, Norcotiq, Chhabb, UK-based Jody Wisternoff and Brian Sanhaji from Frankfurt.
When: Bi-monthly, on alternate Thursdays
Where: Kitty Su
ROCK
Roots
Amidst a scene where electronica and EDM have become de rigueur, Roots turns the focus back on rock and metal. The inaugural edition featured heavyweights Bhayanak Maut and Mumbai-based metal supergroup Providence; while the second installment will see speed and groove metallers Undying Inc, progressive metal band Reverse Polarity and 19-year-old Rishab Seen who adapts metal sounds to the sitar.
When: Monthly, usually on a Sunday
Where: antiSOCIAL
EASY LISTENING
Social Live
Though the show may have literally been taken underground since moving from the Todi Mill outpost to Khar’s antiSOCIAL, this property aims to recreate the feel of an open-air concert. The programming so far has included hummable easygoing acts such as Blackstrat Blues, singer-songwriters Ankur Tewari and Fat Yellow Moon aka Abhishek Chandran, and pop-reggae outfit Tough on Tobacco.
When: Monthly
Where: antiSOCIAL
PlugUnplug
As the name suggests, this series showcases popular indie acts either indoors in a plugged setting, or outdoors, in an unplugged setup. Past gigs have featured singer-songwriters Nikhil D’souza, Nicholson and Rodney Branigan as well as folk-pop outfit Anukur the Ghalat Family and acapella group Voctronica.
When: Monthly
Where: Bonobo
Awestrung
A monthly open air gig organised by High Street Phoenix in collaboration with event management agency Shark Ink, this one’s a crowd pleaser. The line up tends to vary, and has included electronica artists Nucleya and Madboy/Mink, rock acts Zero and The Lightyears Explode, Rajasthani singer Mame Khan, world music collective Maati Bani and folk act Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Café.
When: Monthly, between September and May
Where: The Courtyard, High Street Phoenix
HIP HOP
The Grind
This night is devoted to hip-hop, from old school to newer forms, with tunes curated by DJ Ishani, who has previously been a resident DJ at popular nightlife spots such as Purple Haze, Zenzi and Zenzi Mills.
When: Monthly
Where: Todi Mill Social, antiSOCIAL
UnCensored
Presented by artist management agency UnMute in collaboration with blueFROG, this gig series celebrated its second anniversary last month. Once a month, DJ Sa takes the decks spinning, hip-hop, old skool and trap. In the spirit of promoting the sound in the still nascent scene, SA also regularly invites guest artists under a sub-property – Turn it Up – with line-ups that have included Nerm, Sound Avtar, DJ Uri, upcoming rapper Divine, Illa Straight, DJ Ishani, DJ Bobkat and DJ Proof to name a few.
When: Monthly
Where: blueFROG
With urban development of every square inch of Mumbai accelerating day by day, it’s become increasingly difficult to find a bit of greenery amidst the clusters of concrete towers that have come to dominate the cityscape. The next time you’re in need of some respite from the perennial chaos, let our handy guide lead you to an oasis of fresh air and peace.
Sagar Upvan, Colaba
Tucked away behind Colaba Bus Depot near Sassoon Docks, this secluded 12-hectare garden is the result of a joint land reclamation effort by the Mumbai Port Trust and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The garden is replete with several varieties of plants and trees, including a few exotic species, thus giving visitors a rare chance to spot various kinds of birds and butterflies. Well-paved pathways that wind through the garden attract several morning walkers, while one side offers seafront seating with beautiful views of the Arabian Sea. The BPT garden – as it’s known locally – also includes a greenhouse, an elevated rock garden and a cacti garden. Besides offering respite from the chaos of the city, the garden serves as an example of sustainable urban development, as it receives a steady supply of water from the neighbouring sewage treatment plant.
Where: WG Union Road, Next to Colaba Bus Depot, Colaba
Entry: Rs 2
Timings: 6 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm
Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali
Spread across 103 sq km, this is the largest stretch of greenery you’ll come across within city limits. The park is home to myriad species of flora and fauna, making it a great option to introduce kids to nature. There are several trails to explore including the Malad Trail Line, which leads to an artificial lake where you might spot evidence of wildlife activity from the night before, the Bamboo Hut and Nagla Block trails – both of which are popular with birders and lepidopterists. You can also trek deep into the park to the 2,000 year old Kanheri Caves, a complex of around 100 rock-cut caves with depictions of the Buddha and bodhisattavas. While the park is open to all, the Nature Information Center (located near the entrance and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) conduct regular walks including nature trails, birding and butterfly-watching excursions, star-gazing sessions and even overnight camps.
Where: Borivali (East)
Entry: Rs 20
Timings: 6.30 am to 6.30 pm (Closed on Monday)
Joseph Baptista Garden, Mazgaon
This green oasis, popularly known as Mazgaon Garden, is a five-minute walk from Dockyard Road station on the Harbour line. Originally named after John Hay Grant, an erstwhile Municipal Commissioner of Bombay, the garden was built atop a reservoir on Bhandarwada Hill in 1884. Being at a height, the garden affords sweeping views of the docks to the east and the Gamdevi temple and railway lines to the south. Patches of lush lawns dominate the landscape and are dotted with plants such as hibiscus, cycas and bougainvillea. There are also dedicated sections for children, senior citizens and students, as well as a jogging track.
Where: Near PT Peter#39;s Church, D Koyande Road, Ekta Nagar, Mazgaon
Entry: Free
Timings: 5 am to 11 am; 4 pm to 9 pm
Hanging Gardens, Malabar Hill
Also known as Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, this green spot is part of a complex that also houses the Kamla Nehru Park, which is famous for its Old Woman’s Shoe. The garden is carefully landscaped – look around and you’ll spot bushes pruned in the shape of various animals – and offers plenty of seating, making it a great hideaway to curl up with a book or just watch the world go by. Those who come here for a morning walk or jog needn’t worry if they’ve forgotten to bring their music, as ambient sounds float from speakers located across the vicinity. If you’re here in the evening, you’ll be privy to gorgeous sunset views of the Arabian Sea. The BMC recently announced plans to redevelop the garden with the aim to provide better lighting, drinking water for both visitors and their pets, as well as include a special children’s area.
Where: Malabar Hill, Near Kamla Nehru Park
Entry: Free
Timings: 9 am to 9 pm
If you want to know what’s new in the world of Bollywood and pop music these days, a surefire way is to tune into the pile-up of FM radios out there. But if you are a fan of indie music, you’ll know the very real struggle of scoping out new artists – you’ll buy expensive festival tickets, attend gigs, wait for recommendations from friends – but eventually you’ll end up going back to that year-old YouTube playlist.
If you are looking to shuffle things up, then it might just be worth your while to check out these Indian web-radios that feature new and cutting edge music from the indie scene in the country. All you need is a decent Internet connection and a passion for music and you are ready to get started.
RADIO 79
Run by the company that organises the annual Area 79 Arts Music Festival, Radio 79 is a coming together of like-minded artists and fans for independent and often-overlooked music from around the country and the world. It offers a total of four streams – relax (ambient chill-out music), trip (psychedelic), dance (club hits) and a New Delhi live radio stream.
The live radio has fantastic segments with music curated by well-known contemporary artists in the country. There’s Pressure Drop With Reggae Rajahs every Tuesday at 2 pm, Makossa by Solo Indien every Thursday at 4 pm and India Anveshan with East Stepper every Friday at 5 pm.
NH7 RADIO
From the good folks who bring us the happiest music festival, NH7 Radio is the place to listen to a mixed bag of homegrown as well as international music. So while there’s music by Indian bands such as Soulmate and Pentagram, there’s also electronica by Australian band Spartak and blues by Indonesia-based Gugun Blues Shelter. There are a total of six radio stations for different genres and once you sign up, you can also create your own playlists of the songs you like.
MY OPUS RADIO
Based in Bangalore, My Opus Radio is for those who are interested in Indian music but also like to stay in the know-how of what’s going on in the international music scene. Named after Opus, the once-iconic restaurant in Bangalore popular for hosting live gigs, the radio offers a total of 13 genre-specific stations.
The radio also has curated shows by well-known musicians in India – Stanley Pinto, the jazz artist, has a daily show on the Sax Violins station while DJ Blackjack, one of the oldest DJs in the country, has his own show and channel where he plays some of the best classic rock songs from around the world.
And if you wish to explore the evolving Indian music scene, tune into Something Special on The Opus Platform station for interviews, jam sessions and more fun with artists and bands.
RADIO FLOTE
Hip-hop in Tamil? Check. Arabic world music? Check. Bangalore-based Radio Flote has all this and more – from Indian bands to music from around the world. You could choose from one of their 19 stations for different genres or browse their list of artists. They also have apps for iOS and Android platforms.
BC RADIO
Started in 2012 by a group of musicians from IIT Bombay, BC Radio’s (short for ‘Be the Change Radio’) mission is to “portray the exotic diversity of India#39;s undiscovered music to Indians themselves.” With this aim in mind, the web radio has five stations featuring genres such as metal, rock, regional, electronica and progressive/fusion. Along with popular bands and artists, they also put a lot of effort into bringing music from lesser-known bands from remote corners of India, guaranteeing a fantastic listening experience.
Back in school, we had all the time to make something fun for art class or test experiments for a science assignment. Past a certain age though, our daily routine means all those skills are sidelined, which is a real pity. Fortunately, Mumbai entrepreneurs are showing their artistic side by launching art dens that encourage others to create something with their own hands.
Maker#39;s Asylum, Andheri
This lab is divine ground for science nerds. A community space for ‘makers’ who have crazy ideas, it’s where they can collaborate and ideate to shape their inventions. You could be working on any interdisciplinary activity covering science, technology, engineering, art and math. The space provides you hardware tools that you might need to prototype your ideas, plus they encourage building a community that allows people to exchange ideas or get a second eye on the project to troubleshoot – all of which allows you to learn, explore and, most importantly, think out of the box.
They offer amenities such as 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, electronics lab and prototyping tools for woodwork, robotics, bicycle building and repair, rapid prototyping, and open source computer-aided design. For beginners, they also organise workshops by local makers that help them understand the tricks of the trade. During the tenure of the workshop, they encourage you to build a product from scratch that students can take back home while learning to use industrial tools. These classes are accessible to everyone, while the space can be rented on project or a membership basis.
Ideal For: Mechanical Projects
Cost: Membership starts from Rs 3,500
Timings: 11 am to 10 pm
Indian Culture Lab, Vikroli
In an effort to keep up with the times, Godrej industries has been innovating their business across fields such as real estate, electronics and FMCG. With this culture lab, the brand aims to get closer to young consumers, offering a fluid experimental space that encourages the sharing of ideas and explores modern trends, especially in the Indian context. Started in 2011, this alternative intellectual hub acts as a catalyst for conversations about contemporary India. They regularly organise talks and cultural events – usually free and open to all – featuring professionals, media stalwarts and aspiring intellectuals. Friday Fundas, for example, is a weekly series that sees eminent speakers and performers such as Sushant Divgikar, Sunita Bhuyan, Stephen Alter and Anuvab Pal. They also run an interactive Film and Book Club, with filmmakers and authors in attendance. The Culture Lab also doubles as an incubator where they work with allied partners – that include galleries, cultural collectives and educational institutions – to develop new ideas and nurture projects till they are self-sustainable and ready for the market.
Ideal For: Budding entrepreneurs
Cost: Free
Timings: 10 am to 9 pm
G5A, Lower Parel
Architect and filmmaker Anuradha Parikh started the G5A Foundation for Contemporary Culture last year giving art lovers a brand new space for their flights of fancy. This is a non-profit centre for contemporary art, culture and community exchange that is a major hub for research, design and documentation that revolves around culture, community and the city. Along with being a platform for young artists, it’s also a lab for fine arts and an incubator for budding art entrepreneurs, while they foster a community that works towards a common sensibility.
The reconstructed warehouse in a mill can accommodate up to 150 people for screening, lectures, seminars, discussions, seminars, workshops and performances. They have an in-house canteen that doubles up as a hangout for artists, and the rooftop makes for an ideal spot for poetry slams, board game nights and more. There’s also a study section that can accommodate over 35 students for a close group discussion.
G5A’s board of directors and executive team handpicks projects to incubate and helps them grow under their guidance. If you are looking for a short term course, they also host various workshops such as creative writing, printing, filmmaking that you can sign up for.
Ideal For: Art Students
Cost: Free
Timings: 10 am to 9 pm
With the onset of monsoon, the outskirts of Mumbai and Pune get covered in a green cape making them worth a weekend visit, if only to break away from our comfort zone. Last month, we told you about our favourites from Lonavala that we recommended for a road trip and this time around, we take the road less travelled by hopping on a Jetty to Alibaug and driving through scenic Mulshi to dine at a lakeview resort.
Boardwalk by Flamboyante
Located a short walk down from Mandwa Jetty (just before the parking lot), this recently opened restaurant, whose partners include Cuffe Parade restaurant Flamboyante, offers picnic table-like seating indoors, but we recommend you make a beeline for the pretty outdoor area with four-seater tables and a community bench for larger parties. Settle down under an umbrella and take in the view – there’s palm tree lined Mandwa beach to your left, the sea in front and the distant silhouette of Mumbai’s harbour on the right. The kitchen dishes out Italian, Lebanese and North Indian cuisines. If you’re here during the day, the wood-fired thin crust Herbed Chicken and Bell Pepper Pizza (Rs 375) or the Grilled Fish in Lemon Butter Parsley (Rs 440) make for a light yet filling meal. Order a round of cocktails as well and make a boozy brunch of it. We hear that homegrown craft brands, starting with The Gateway Brewery, will also be available here very soon.
Boardwalk currently welcomes diners in two batches – for brunch or lunch from 11 am to 3 pm and then for its lively sundowners from 5 pm to 8 pm, when the last ferries leave. They’re also open to private parties and are planning to organise live gigs and other events post monsoon.
Price: Rs 2,000 for two
Timings: 10 am to 10 pm
Getting there: Mandwa Jetty is about a 45-minute ferry ride from the Gateway of India. Boardwalk will organise speedboats on request for groups of 10 at Rs 1,000.
All boat and ferry services are usually closed during monsoon (June to September) but Mandwa is still accessible by road from Mumbai and 3 hours via the Expressway from Pune.
Basho Resort and Restaurant
The Western Ghats are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful areas accessible to us within driving distance. Adding to that chemistry is the spectacular Mulshi Lake that has now become THE spot for campers during winter. The latest entrant in the area is this Pune export bringing its robust menu to the lakeside resort. The green architecture pleases with its thatched roof, bamboo ceiling, wooden steps, pebbled pathways and abundant flora. The landscape and the foliage help you relax with a view of Mulshi Lake and a blue pool where you can take a dip when the day starts getting hotter.
The food menu has something for everyone. We started off with a Chicken Stroganoff (Rs 260) – a colourful plate of chicken breast with a side of potato mash finished with stir-fried veggies. The Chicken Shaslik Sizzler (Rs 450) too made for a wholesome meal. They also offer a good selection for breakfast that will kickstart the day right. You can stay back to soak in the forest-y charm for a little while longer and pick from four luxury tents or cottages that allow access to the swimming pool as well as a yoga studio and in-house spa.
Price: Rs 750 for a meal for two
Timings: 7.30 am to 10 pm
Getting there: Mulshi is a 45 minutes drive from Pune and 3 hours via the Expressway from Mumbai.
Get an insight into the traditional Japanese art of Origami with Mimansa Vahia. The workshop will be held in three phases of Beginners, Intermediate and Advance. Participants can choose one, two or all three levels. Some of the creations that will be taught are Kawasaki tubular rose, Jun Maekawa#39;s Rabbit as well as decorative boxes and envelopes.
ENTRY: Rs 800, Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200
Tickets available on BookMyShow
What better way to indulge in monsoons than some deep fried foods, beer and dark rum! Team at this Bandra eatery has put together a crackling menu packed with all these goodies. Indulge in the Masala Maggi, Fried Chilli, Cheese Chutney Toast or the Kerala Fish Bhajiya and much more. What’s bhajiya without chai! Find your way to our Old Monk infused Masala Chai. To take comfort food to the next level, pair them with Old Monk Nescafe or the Hot Monk Chocolate. Alternatively, reminisce about your rainy holidays with cocktails like the Old Monkjito and the Beachy Monk with Malibu to go with the Bacon bhajiyas or the Fire Cracker Prawn Bhajiyas with the Bounty Brownies Bhajiya. From happy splashes in puddles to impromptu rainy drives and cosy blankets, here’s another monsoon experience that is going to be really hard to forget.
Kickstart the monsoon with a warm bowl of soup as The Sassy Spoon, as they introduce a fresh new range of soups this season. The delicious range of soups include options like - French Onion Soup with a Cheesy Croute, a healthy Barley and Chicken Broth with Raw Banana, a Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Roasted Chicken and an Asian Seafood Broth, to name a few.