Mumbai Diary: Monday Dossier

Faced with realityA maskedup pedestrian walks past a billboard in Marine DriveRaising the bar for MumbaiWorld Class India is a mixology competition where the best from across the country show off their chops Wersquore happy to report that three citybased mixologists mdashHemali Bendre from The Bombay Canteen TBC Prantik Haldar from Orsquo Pedro and Santosh Kukreti from La Cafe mdash have been shortlisted among 12 candidates who will battle it out at the finals Bendre in pic who is one of the few women on the list of finalists told this diarist that shersquos both surprised to have been shortlisted and excited for the finals ldquoBack in Pune when I was in college I used to take part in events Since May 2019 Irsquove been with TBC Itrsquos been a great learning experience One of my aims is to see more women in such competitions and in the alcohol beverages industry so that itrsquos no longer a taboo for us to serve alcohol Irsquom happy if this inspires other womenrdquo she added Well wersquoll be rooting for these MumbaikarsA balancing actYou have to feel for people in the statersquos food and beverage industry They saw a glimmer of hope after a crippling year when restaurants were allowed to function again last October only for those hopes to be dashed with the new curfew guidelines in place which have driven another nail into their coffin One aggrieved restaurateur Darsshan Ravalh who owns Hotel Sapna in Pune recently put out a heartfelt video urging the authorities to give them some respite In it Ravalh encapsulates the anguish that others like him are feeling at present and when this diarist asked him what hopes he has from the Maharashtra government the restaurateur shared ldquoWe just want the state government to have a proper dialogue with us in the industryso that some balance can be struckrdquo Thatrsquos not too much to ask for is itMore love for prelovedFrom left Sana and Alfiya KhanBombay Closet Cleanse a popular Instagrambased thrifting handle has found a brickandmortar home in Bandra Located opposite China Gate restaurant the store will offer preloved designer wear and vintage pieces rare vinyl records and books It will also serve as a consignment store supporting other thrift shops and local businesses Founder Sana Khan shared that they will also have a rental section for costumes bridal wear designer clothing and luxury bags ldquoWe have been told itrsquos a risk given the uncertain times However we have had several successful popups across the city A physical store offers much more than shopping in many ways it is like time travelrdquoConservation mattersMumbai is a city that boasts of some fantastic examples of conservation such as the Flora Fountain in pic But therersquos a lot more to be achieved in this area To further this conversation the Asiatic Society of Mumbai is hosting a lecture series starting today titled As Good As New The art and science of conserving Mumbai About the virtual series Dr Shehernaz Nalwalla who is part of the managing committee shared ldquoThe focus is on conservation at various levels mdash archaeology public spaces buildings paper like maps manuscripts and books and art and sculpture Based on curbs the last session may end with a visit to our conservation labrdquo she addedKeep this reading platform afloatAqui Thami and Himanshu SBombay Underground a platform fostering independent publishing and zines and love for reading has been running three libraries mdash Dharavi Art Room and Sister Library and the new Bombay Zine Library in Bandra Caught between high rentals and the struggle to stay afloat theyrsquore hosting a sale on their Instagram handle bombayundergroundThe cofounders of Bombay UndergroundOne can choose any book from their collection approach them with a price and have it delivered ldquoTherersquos a chance we might have to shut down one of the spaces So wersquore trying to let go of some of our booksrdquo shared cofounder Himanshu S He added they have plans for more exhibits sales and reading spaces apart from an archive of zines If you wish to lend them a hand log on to milaaporgfundraiserschotagallery