Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A Diwali Worth Spent

What:Bacardi flavrz Presents Timeout nights with DJ LOOPKIN (Bhavishyavani)
Loopkin, DJ/producer, plays groovy, progressive, funky and dynamic electro-techno music. His sets are an analog delight - he always uses turntables and effects. As part of the now-legendary Bhavishayvani Future Soundz crew, Loopkin regularly presides over some of the best dance music gigs in Mumbai. His sets have been fixtures at the city’s leading venues like Aurus in Juhu and Blue Frog in Lower Parel. Unknown to most clubbing regulars who’ve been treated to his sets, before Loopkin arrived in Mumbai in 2004, he set up and ran a record label (Hologram) as well as producing the work of well-known European and American DJs. You can find his own music on this label too. His DJing career, however, can be traced back a decade ago when Loopkin first discovered the original techno sound from Detroit after listening to a “mix-up” of DJ Jeff Mills - a discovery that turned his life upside down. He began spinning acid-techno tunes in Britanny (the western region of France) in 1995. Loopkin began to be well-known in Britanny thanks to the radio show “Line-up’” where he and his best mate, played regularly from ‘95-97. During this time, Loopkin proved he can mix everything from acid-house to techno and made people dance as never before. Besides playing marathon 10 hour DJ sets, he ‘s gigged all over France with international DJs like The Youngsters (f.com, Fr), Stryke (Guidance USA), Steve Bicknell ( Cosmic, UK) and the father of French house music, Laurent Garnier (F com, Fr). Promoters:- Mypurplemartini in association with The Bombay Elektrik Projekt
When:Saturday, November 21, 2009 9:00 PM to Sunday, November 22, 2009 1:00 AM
Where:Bonobo, Linking Road
Mumbai, Mahārāshtra   India

It was just a month back, I remember. I was about to die, not from any externally inflicted disease but lost within myself, I searching for a trail to get my hands on just one pill of that rat poison. How does that look like? I don’t know, there aren’t many rats around my house. And I thought if I spend this Diwali in a lifetime of loneliness, it’s better I die.

A day of cricket in a novice' life

But fate had it otherwise. I was blessed with a fat sponge who dropped by with a host of friends that I had not quite recognized from my school’s past. It took me a while to recognize that the shiny face of my sponge friend is none other than my school mate and the sick looking still in tenth grade physique with porcupine hair is actually a college undergraduate. I pray that he survives adulthood.

91.1 Whatta Fun! I had taken an oath of not bursting any crackers and hopefully a bunch of these guys were scary cats. Last year I almost did the great thing of cracking my cars driver windows. It was close to where I had buried a whole set of those ‘tiger-bombs’ under the sand. Anyhow, it has been a year worth of learning and surviving and struggles. So, I think holidays are meant for slumbering till noon.

The Epicureans – What’s On

What:Signature Classics
Experience the signature dishes of Master Chef Lin in this award winning restaurant. Lunch & Dinner... From Burrp.com
When:Sunday, November 1, 2009 12:00 AM to Monday, November 30, 2009 12:00 AM
Where:The Szechwan Court
The Oberoi 39 MG Road
Bangalore, Karnātaka   India
There is a place on Earth where eating means sweating. Welcome to Nagpur! Or Nagpore or ‘Naak Pour’, however you may call it, the uprising city of Vidharbha region in Maharashtra (India) that allegedly got its name from a river nearby, although I have never seen any, that goes by the name of ‘Nag’ as in the Cobra.
Yes where else would you find such tongue burning, rectum burning delicious, one inch deep oil submerged and mixed with chopped red and green chillies, food to savour? I have had an experience myself and I have vowed to term it cuisine. It’s just “Saoji”.
When those Marathi Tais (Elsewhere called cousin aunties) bring home-production based mini joint’s cooked food, lovingly called Saoji, you can’t resist that tempting smell of grounded spices otherwise called ‘khada masala’ and a whole packet of red chilli put in especially just for one person. Isn’t that great!

While I had the pleasure of one night in lavatory, the aftermath that followed after eating a typical cuisine of theirs, I gave up all my hopes. How would I ever become a ‘Marathi Mulga’! Lord! Not to be confused with a cock though. They give you every opportunity not to miss their mouth watering delicacies. Piece of advise. It’s not for those who have a knack for bland or non-spicy food. Otherwise, they would end up like me.

I was watching a show on travel & living and it gave me an idea why not search for the recipes on the net. Speaking of which I would now like to praise the other side of the story and that is the Pork Chops, Prawn Curry Rice, the outcome of Tibetans in exile settlements at Mussoorie. There’s something called soba noodles that I am yet to figure out but I have heard legends of this special kind of noodles which settles in your mouth and blend your thoughts with pork & soup and takes you to a night long imagination of Shangri-La kung-fu movies. And all of this just under half a grand. They give a rice bowl, Shaptak and a pair of chopsticks with it and instantly you feel like your eyes are getting stretched laterally wide and your beard disappearing (if you’re a man) and your legs getting smoother than a Barbie doll (if you’re a girl) and that’s it! The magic’s working on you. Ever tried the momo-soup?

In fact, I have got a better idea. I’ll leave you folks with the two choices I have enlisted above and you can decide which one suits your appetite. Cheers!