15 April,2011 07:21 AM IST | | The Guide Team
Plus 4 more must-catch events
Where Rae Sport Academy, near Mafatlal Clubhouse, Chowpatty, Girgaum.
Call 23677584 / 9920088873
The sun's high up, the city's turning into a nightmarish furnace and there's no way you can take your kid out of town, what with maddening work schedules. Our suggestion? Sign him / her foru00a0 fun lessons in kayaking, windsurfing and stand-up paddling, here in Mumbai. Rae Sport Academy, run by certified water sports expert Rajiv Bhatia, is finally putting our city's long coastline to good use with their smartly packaged courses in water sports.
"Water sports like windsurfing and kayaking are a great way for children to appreciate and understand nature, and the need to keep it clean. While they learn a new sport, it helps them build up their energy levels and self-esteem and aids in the overall development of their personality. You don't even need to travel to a beach destination to enjoy these activities," says Bhatia.Windsurfing, open to those above the age of eight, will have participants learn how to windsurf on their own, unassisted with the right gear and equipment, while kayaking, which is ideal for kids above seven, promises to be a surefire hit.
Sewri gets a coat of pink
On Saturday, 2 pm to sunset
Where Sewri Jetty.
Call 22821811
Who would've imagined that a flamingo (or 10,000 of them) would choose the grimy mudflats of Sewri as its winter home, till the first showers arrive? This Saturday, you can witness this pink carpet take residence at Bombay Natural History Society's (BNHS) Flamingo Festival. "Nature scientists and bird experts will help you spot flamingos and other species of water birds including the Purple Heron or the Black-Headed Ibis," says the PRO for BNHS, Atul Sathe. "The objective is to introduce Mumbaikars to these birds as well as encourage nature conservation." Interested? Hop on to any of the BNHS buses that will be available outside Sewri station (East) to ferry you to the jetty, every 20 minutes, from 2 pm to 6 pm.
History class on Mumbai's Original Inhabitants
On Saturday, 2 pm to 8 pm
Where Veneration Hall, opp Irla Church, Vile Parle (W).
Call 9820087771 / 9867368669
The East Indians (a Marathi-speaking, Roman Catholic ethnic group) can well be called the aborigines of our cityu00a0-- they are the city's original inhabitants, and still, are often sidelined by some of the masses who have made Mumbai their home. Mobai Gaothan Panchayat (MGP) aims at creating awareness about this unique community, their culture and tradition by displaying artefacts and photographs of the community, along with selling East Indian articles and foods at an exhibition that will be a first-of-its-kind in the city. "Apart from
educating other communities about us, the aim of this exhibition is also to remind ourselves of what we are and become stronger as a community," says Prem Moraes, the spokesperson for the exhibition. "For us, Bombay still means the seven islands that originally formed it."
Feel that magic ofu00a0flyingu00a0fingers
On Sunday, 7 pm
Where Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
Call 22824567
Tickets Rs 500, Rs 750 and Rs 1,000
Like most musical prodigies, Beijing-born Yuja Wang started learning the piano when she was six. Soon, her nimble fingers got her fame and earned her the title, Flying Fingers, thanks to the speed in which she flies through each musical note. This Sunday, you can witness the 24 year-old Western Classical music prodigy as she takes the stage at NCPA, as part of a programme organised by the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation. The exclusive recording artist for Deutsche Grammophon will make magic on Furtados' new Steinway 'Model D' Concert Grand Piano. Be witness to a magnificent amalgamation of fearless spontaneity and a practiced discipline.
Hop on to ekjute's 30-year caravan
Till April 24
Where Prithvi Theatre, 20, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Vile Parle (W).
Call 26149546
In a country like India, and specifically in a city like Mumbai, it takes a lot to come out with meaningful theatre and stay on firm ground for three decades. With star names like Nadira Zaheer Babbar associated with it, the Ekjute theatre group has churned out over sixty plays, many of which have been etched in the Hindi theatre-scape, forever. The group celebrates 30 years of its existence through a grand fest titled Ekjute 30 Years Caravan. Apart from featuring 18 of its productions at Prithvi, the fest will also include platform performances from their traditional folks forms, street plays on socio-political topics, theatre workshops, seminars, exhibitions of sets and costumes, felicitation of old backstage workers, decoration and lighting. Catch their latest productionu00a0-- Sach, Joota, Namaku00a0-- based on three short stories of eminent Urdu writer Razia Sajjad Zaheer today at 6 pm, apart from other popular plays including Footnotes of Life and Yaar Banaa Buddy, which will be staged over the weekend.
