The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Sameer Markande
Life comes to a paws
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Morning walkers let sleeping dogs lie at Thane East on Tuesday.
New chapter
After closing its doors nearly a year ago, we’re pleased to hear that the library at the Asiatic Society of Mumbai is opening today. Dr Shehernaz Nalwalla, who is part of the managing committee, told this diarist that they are undertaking strict precautionary measures. “For those of us associated with the library, it is a second home. We are opening up the institution in a phased manner; so now, only the library will be open, not the reading room. Even borrowed books will be kept apart for a while. We urge people to send their book requests by email, so they don’t have to wait when they come in,” she suggested. Write in to asiatic.townhall@gmail.com to ask for a title.
A poetic tribute
Kaifi Azmi is one of the greatest icons of poetry in India, and an event tomorrow will celebrate his 102nd birth anniversary. It’s a musical show called Raaga Shayari that will witness Shabana Azmi, his daughter, and Javed Akhtar reciting a select bunch of his poems. That apart, stalwarts including tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan and sitar player Purbayan Chatterjee will stage performances. Speaking about the event, Chatterjee (in pic) told this diarist, “Raaga Shayari is and will remain one of the most special shows of my life, first of all because we are paying tribute to Kaifi Azmi saab, who I think is one of the most amazing poets of our country. Also, it is immensely special for any artiste to be on stage with Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, and also my wonderful colleagues Dilshad Khan and Soumil Shringarpure. It’s a dream come true for any artiste.”
Bite into a smart cookie at Masque
Masque is a fine-dine that is nestled in a corner of Shakti Mills in Mahalaxmi. For the past 10 months, the place had been shut due to the pandemic stalling operations. But the eatery was opened once again for dine-in customers from yesterday, with necessary safety protocols being followed. There is now greater distance between two tables, with fewer diners being allowed in at one time. The place used to be a menu-less restaurant anyway, but now you have the option of scanning a QR code for the list of dishes being served. Chef Prateek Sadhu also told this diarist that all other necessary steps such as servers wearing masks, and chairs and tables being sanitised will also be adhered to. But the interesting bit is a cookie that diners will be given as souvenir after their meal. It’s made from leftover bread that was served at tailgate parties that the restaurant was hosting while the indoor restaurant was shut. “It’s part of a new direction we are taking, that of being responsible and conscious,” Sadhu shared.
Wish granted for theatrewallahs
Last year, performing arts venue Harkat Studios had joined forces with Max Mueller Bhavan Mumbai to announce three grants for people who could use Harkat’s new virtual interactive stage for their projects. The first of these will now take place on January 17. It’s called O Gaanewali, and Avanti Patel has conceptualised it. The plot deals with the intriguing story of tawaifs, or nautch girls, who entertained the nobility in ancient India with song and dance, but who were also vilified for exercising their sexual agency. “It will be a live performance, where the actors will use our virtual interactive stage to broadcast it to the world,” shared Harkat Studios founder, Karan Talwar (in pic). Visit linktr.ee/harkatstudios to buy your tickets.
Designing a more sustainable future
Concerns that emerge from effective waste disposal remain one of the biggest challenges facing the world right now. That’s why international platform What Design Can Do has launched a contest in India, in collaboration with experiential learning group Unbox Cultures Futures Society (UCFS), where they are calling for designers to come up with creative ideas for effective waste disposal. “Design holds the power to embed principles of sustainability at the heart of any new business or policy,” said UCFS co-founder Ayush Chauhan. The competition’s results will be decided in May, and three winners will get a grant of €10,000 ('8.9 lakh) to complete their projects. Log on to whatdesigncando.com to apply.
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