24 things to do around Mumbai from February 7 to February 13

Hear a tale or two
7 PM: Take in two Dastangoi plays, directed by Mahmood Farooqui, and featuring artists Mayank Yadav, Sudhish Sinha, Rana Pratap and Rajesh Kumar. This is an ancient form of storytelling, where two storytellers sit on a wooden platform, and narrate a story to the audience. Dastan-e-Chouboli is the story of a princess who has taken a vow of silence, and if someone manages to make her speak four times, she either marries him or sends him to jail. Dastan-e-Bachpan is the story of Amir Hamza and his friend Amar, who are pranksters growing up in school together.
WHERE: Jeff Goldberg Studio, above Mamagoto, Hill Road, Bandra West
ENTRY: Rs 200
CALL: 7506906927

Make a sushi roll
4 PM - 6 PM: Get hands-on experience with the art of Japanese cuisine with Chef Masato Toida and mixologist Sagar Tamang. In this two-hour workshop, you will learn how to make the finest vegetarian and non-vegetarian sushi and Japanese cocktails and mocktails. Do we see you planning a sushi dinner already?
WHERE: Ruka, 462, AB Nair Road, Juhu
ENTRY: Rs 1,800
CALL: 67159225

Go for a funfair
4 PM onwards: The Rajasthani Mahila Mandal presents its 2016 ‘Anand Mela' themed around a spring carnival. Dig into a variety of continental and homemade Rajasthani nibbles, game stalls, entertainment shows and stalls with goodies. For the children, there is a crèche as well as a play-corner.
WHERE: Hindu Gymkhana, near Marine Lines Railway Station
CALL: 23861332

An ode to the cutting
3 pm - 6pm: We Mumbaikars love our cutting chai, and those little quintessential glasses we have it in. Artist Seema Kohli's installation, Cutting Chai, that celebrates these vessels and plays an ode to chai and all that goes with it, is delightful to take in. "I feel chai holds many conversations, dialogues and intimate spaces. It is a part of my working space, where I can introspect and create an ode by making tea cups, tea glasses and kettles." The installation is also made of metal servers traditionally called "Cheeka" which are used to serve tea in rural areas.
WHERE: First Tree, Rampart Row
WHEN: Till February 16

Get close to the stars
11 AM: Astrophysicist Aniket Sule, from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, will lead the audience through calendars and astronomy in this session of Chai and Why. Why do the dates for Sankranti change every year? What is the summer solstice all about?
WHERE: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu
CALL: 9757157795
Free

Meet Dr Suess
11 AM - 1 PM: Take your kids to meet Piloo Pahelji, Yooks and Zooks. Priyanka Babbar's storytelling session with Tall Tales will bring characters from children's books such as Terhvi Paheli and Dr Suess' The Butter Battle Book alive. Suitable for kids between three and seven.
WHERE: Only Much Louder, Mathuradas Mills Compound, Lower Parel
ENTRY: Rs 400
CALL: 9769725776

LOL with stand-ups
6 PM: You'll be spoilt for choice at Kings, Rajas and Ranis, a stand-up fest featuring the best of Hindi and English acts brought to you by the Weirdass Pajama Festival. This evening, gear up for the hilarious talents of Vir Das, Sunil Pal, Mandy Knight, Imran Yusuf and Jonathan Atherton.
WHERE: Taj Land's End, Bandra West
ENTRY: Rs 1,105 - Rs 2,000
LOG ON: www.pajamafest.co.in

Go treasure hunting
4 PM: All you flâneurs, head to the queen of the suburbs for a unique treasure hunt this evening. Saunter around its charming alleyways, bungalows and artsy walls as you solve one riddle at a time. Round up your friends for this one.
WHERE: Chapel Road, Bandra West
ENTRY: Rs 385
CALL: 9833163486

Get your sexy back
6.00 PM - 9 PM: Ditch those awkward moves and get some sensuality with this Salsa and Kizomba (a similar dance from Angola) masterclass. Dancer Raluca Lehadus is down from the UK to teach tricks about truly "listening" to your partner, working on you expression, as well as becoming a confident and sexy dancer.
WHERE: Tangerine Arts Studio, Rukhsana, off Pali Hill, Bandra West
COST: Rs 750 for one class; Rs 1,200 for two classes
CALL: 7506450730

Go for this

Dharavi Biennale is back in town
If you missed the Dharavi Biennale last year, help is near at hand. The community arts project by NGO Society for Nutrition Education and Health Action (SNEHA), which brought together communities in Dharavi to discuss health and gender from 2013-2015, has put together a re-show for a week. Head to their workspace-cum-gallery, a little house called Colour Box, where you can get to see some really quirky artwork, all made out of recycled materials mostly found in Dharavi. Look out for the Immunity Wall made out of recycled plastic blobs and a textile map of gender-based violence. There are new artworks as well. We suggest you keep your cameras handy, for the exhibition is right in the picturesque potters' colony of Kumbharwada.
WHEN: Till February 21, 11 AM - 7 PM
WHERE: The Colour Box, Kumbharwada, 90 Feet Road, Dharavi
CALL: 7506906927

Block a seat

Rendezvous at a museum
Alisha Sadikot will take you around one of the loveliest museums in the city - the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum. The visit, called a ‘secret tour', will open up explorations of the unique Victorian building, which was conceptualised alongside a botanical garden. In this interactive session, participants will be encouraged to read and decipher the highlight objects from the Museum's permanent collection, comprised of maps, statues, models, dioramas and fine and decorative arts from the 19th century that illustrate the city's history and heritage. You need to register, so better act quickly.
WHEN: February 14, 10.30 AM - 12.30 PM
WHERE: Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Byculla East
ENTRY: Rs 599
CALL: 32270033

Learn the story behind art
FEB 10, 6.30 PM: Attend a lecture by Dr BN Goswamy, leading art historian, who will analyse a series of Nala Damyanthi paintings by eminent artists. The talk will shed light on how historical paintings have been derived from stories, and are often a reflection of the artists' interpretation of the saga. Dr Goswamy, is professor Emeritus of Art History at the
Punjab University.
WHERE: Experimental Theatre, Sir Dorab Tata Road, Nariman Point
ENTRY: Rs 200- R300
CALL: 66223737

Watch Parsai come alive
FEB 10, 9 PM: Popcorn with Parsai will bring Hindi literature's modern satirist Harishankar Parsai's humour alive on stage. In this one-man play, Dayashankar Pandey plays the writer, who narrates his bittersweet experiences of life and, at the same time holds a mirror to our political class and society in this powerful 80-minute performance.
WHERE: Prithvi Theatre, 20 Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Juhu
ENTRY: Rs 200
CALL: 26149546

Go on a Cupid trail
Till FEB 14, 7 PM - 11.30 PM: If you're looking for an early Valentine's day celebration, sign up for the cupid trail with Chandon. You will get 2 complimentary flutes of Chandon Rosé alongside gourmet dining experiences at Shiro, Ruka, Salt Water Cafe and more.
ENTRY: Rs 1060 per person
LOG ON TO: www.wowtables.com

Buy a book just for Rs 50
Ongoing, 10 AM - 7 PM: If you're looking to add titles to your bookshelf, Strand Book Stall is where you need to head. The iconic store at Fort is having a sale, starting with discounts ranging from 50 to 90 per cent. You'll find titles on various genres, including children's fiction, history and current affairs.
WHERE: Strand Book Stall, 15-C, Dhannur Building, Bora Bazaar Precinct, Fort
CALL: 22661719

Catch Pankaj Udhas live
7.30 PM: Enjoy an evening of romantic ghazals and nazms by maestro Pankaj Udhas, who will hold a concert to commemorate 35 years of his musical journey. Titled Love Notes, Udhas will sing some of his most memorable songs like Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera, Aur Ahista Kijiye Baatein, Saawan Ke Suhane Mausam Mein, Jiye toh Jiye, Na Kajre ki Dhaar, Chupke Chupke and more.
WHERE: Nehru Centre, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli
ENTRY: Rs 400 - Rs 1,250
CALL: 24964680

Unwind away from Mumbai
FEB 13, 9 40 AM: Spend your weekend soaking in the idyllic scenery at Bhandardara, a pristine water reservoir near Igatpuri hill station. You'll be camping in tents under the blanket of millions of stars. Catch a local train to Kasara from your nearest railway station on central line (09:41 am Kasara train from CST). Reach Kasara at 11:51 am where you will meet the group. While basic washroom facility is available at campsite, it's not a leisure trip so make sure you prepare yourself accordingly.
WHERE: Meeting point will be at Kasara at 11:51 at the ticket counter.
ENTRY: Rs 3000
LOG ON TO: www.365hops.com
CALL: 7838984471

The blues round up
It's that time of the year again when all roads lead to Mehboob Studio for The Mahindra Blues Festival, Asia's largest blues gathering. And we suggest you take it all in. Don't know who to listen to? We list four acts.

The Heritage Blues Orchestra: The orchestra is deeply rooted in African-American musical traditions and still manages to sound modern and relevant. The Grammy-nominated group transitions from the Chicago backbeat to A Cappella harmonies with ease. It's a brilliant mix of blues, R&B, gospel and jazz, that will move you and make you move.

Soulmate: And the desi addition to the list is out very own Shillong-based Soulmate. They have often said "We didn't choose the blues, the blues chose us." When you see them perform, you get what they mean. Their power-packed stage acts will have you dancing and singing along. And their lead singer, Tipriti Kharbangar, is a treat to watch and listen to.

Joss Stone: If you are a 90s kid, you have to know Joss Stone and her album Soul Sessions. The 28-year-old is a great example of mixing blues with good old pop, and her husky voice will have you hooked. Her latest album, Water For Your Soul, is a mix of reggae, hip hop, R'n'B and blues. "It's really a combination of all the things I like," Joss has said. "I'll always have that bluesy, soul thing because it is in my voice." One of the stand-outs from this album, songs from which she will be performing at the festival, is her collaboration with Jamaican superstar Damien Marley. "I've always loved reggae and Damien gave me the confidence to go through that door."

Keb Mo: Three-time Grammy winner Keb Mo is going to be here playing songs off his 2015 album, BLUESAmericana. The album, which is all about that loving feeling, is melodic and poignant, and is heavy on the acoustic guitar. His opinion of Blues reflects what you could expect from his performance. "I used to think there were only two types of Blues - fast and slow. Now I know there is Delta Blues, Texas Blues, Chicago Blues, soul-blues… The blues is very powerful and puts the ‘realness' in it
for me."

WHEN: February 13 and 14
WHERE: Mehboob Studios, Bandra
TICKETS: Rs 1,200 to Rs 4,000
Log on to: bookmyshow.com

Calling all crab lovers
7 PM - 1.30 AM: Do you love indulging in some thick, juicy crab pincer meat? Or say fresh crabs tossed in a wok? Nom Nom has introduced a special crab menu with elements from Malaysian, Indonesian, Korean and Japanese cuisine. You could try California sushi rolls (a vinegar rice roll filled with crab meat, avocado and crisp lettuce), soy steamed rock shell crab (flavours of crab enhanced with simple light soy sauce and steamed) and more.
WHERE: Nom Nom, Shop No. 3, ground floor, Shubham Co - Operative Housing Society, Juhu Versova Link Road, Andheri (W)
CALL: 26244280
08 monday

Anuvab takes on the Brit
9 PM: If you're up for an evening of stand-up comedy, catch Anuvab Pal performing his famous solo, The Empire. The enthralling 80-minute performance follows a Bengali man with a colonial hangover, with Pal hand-picking significant moments from our history and narrating them in a humourous manner.
WHERE: Havana Bar, Colaba
ENTRY: Rs 450 (includes a beer/mocktail)
CALL: 9867505275
09 tuesday

Get pro tips
6.15 PM - 7.45 PM: Women looking for advice on career goals, should attend this mentoring workshop and interact with women CEOs and entrepreneurs. In attendance will be Anuja Shukla, Google cloud platform head India, Anshulika Dubey, co-founder, Wishberry, Padmini Misra, global head HR of Cox and Kings, and Kainaaz Messman, owner of Theobroma.
WHERE: The Good Wife, BKC, ground floor, The Capital, G Block BKC
ENTRY: Rs 250
CALL: 42228557
10 wednesday

Revive a dying art
FEB 11 - 24, 11 AM - 7 PM: Suvigya Sharma, a Jaipur-based artist who specialises in the art of miniature painting, will display his works at ArtDesh Gallery. Rooted in the Mughal traditions dating back to the 16th century, miniature paintings are a dying art form, and Sharma happens to be one of the few practitioners. On display will be colonial stamp paper paintings embellished with 24-carat gold, and also traditional Pichwai paintings on cloth.
WHERE: ArtDesh Gallery. White House Annexe, 91, Walkeshwar Road, Malabar Hill
CALL: 23692860
11 Thursday

Toy around with tools
6 PM - 8 PM: If you have an interest in working with work tools, such as drills, saws, 3D printers and laser cutters, Maker's Asylum is holding a two-hour tool training session. The workshop by will cover the basics of power tools, their usage procedures, as well as required safety guidelines. You'll be walked through the safest and best practices, with a few handy tricks thrown in that are usually learned over years of experience. To sign up, you need to be 18 or above.
WHERE: Maker's Asylum, D-11/1, Road No. 21, opposite Passport Seva Kendra, MIDC, Andheri East
ENTRY: Rs 1,200
CALL: 9004686828
12 Friday

Peddle along the coast
11.30 PM: Cycle around the city at midnight. You'll be completing overall 35kms with halts at points like Marine Drive, Shivaji Park and Bandstand. It will be a coastal ride where you'll be passing around areas like Girgaon chowpatty, Worli Sea face, Shivaji park, Siddhivinayak temple, Mahim dargah among others. Do remember, there will be no midway back out during the ride. If you want, you can drop the cycles at the starting point at your own expenses.
WHERE: Mad Over Donuts, Colaba Causeway
ENTRY: Rs 999
Call: 7838984471
13 saturday