The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Sameer Markande
His cross to bear
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On Good Friday, a man tries to adorn the pillar outside St. Michael’s church in Mahim with a garland.
Mohini, the cover girl
Ace bassist Mohini Dey was in for a pleasant surprise recently when she found herself on the cover of Bassiste, a French music magazine, along with nine legendary bass players. “I had no idea I was going to be featured and found out through the Internet,” she told this diarist. The others include big global names such as Pino Palladino, Lee Sklar and Nathan East. That is exalted company, indeed.
Farewell, Ashwin Deo
Pic/Facebook
Yesterday, the alcohol-beverage industry mourned the loss of winemaker Ashwin Deo, who died of heart failure. Deo, 57, had spearheaded Moët Hennessy operations till 2008. After that he launched Trinity Vintners Pvt Ltd that set up Turning Point, India’s first ready-to-drink sangria aimed at removing the fuss out of wines. His last stint was as co-founder at Pipeline FnB Pvt Ltd. Delhi-based sommelier Magandeep Singh remembers Deo as someone who achieved many milestones for India’s fine beverages industry: “We interacted at a very early point in my career; he was a mentor who taught me about working in this trade even as he remained a true [and extremely jovial] friend. He was a modern-day gentleman, classy, eloquent, elegant, erudite, but also one who knew when to loosen that tie and have a blast.” Chandni Dhundia, category head (wines), Pernod Ricard India recalls that it was Ashwin who hired her at Moët Hennessy in 2005. “He introduced me to the world of wines and champagnes. He was a stickler for details whether in a PPT or at a VIP event. He taught us the magic of champagne,” said Dhundia.
BTS heaven in Mira Road
K-pop continues to garner fans across the world, and we’re happy to report that a Mira Road-based eatery is attracting K-armies with its BTS-themed interiors. Bang Tan Shefs, co-owned by Riya Goon and Vivek Chandaliya, opened its doors in March and serves a mix of Chinese, Korean, Thai, Continental and Indian food. Goon told this diarist that the idea is to turn the space into a community-driven centre, especially for BTS armies to come hang out, catch screenings, read books and display their products. “I became a BTS fan during the lockdown, all thanks to my sister. We wanted a fun, young place for the youth, especially for teens to feel at home,” she added.
A new way to go green
To restore the forest landscape of the Mulund range of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), charitable trust iNaturewatch Foundation is working on a project that incorporates an effective but low-cost method, for the first time. It’s called Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) and is said to improve the productivity of deforested or degraded land. Supported by DCB Bank and SGNP, the initiative will be carried out in coordination with the forest department over three years. “The site is unique because it promotes natural regeneration, and so the hurdles against it — like fire or grazing — have to be removed,” founder Dr V Shubhalaxmi shared.
Indian modern art rules
Tyeb Mehta, Untitled, oil on canvas, 1981. Pic courtesy/AstaGuru
VS Gaitonde was the star of AstaGuru’s recently concluded Modern Indian Art online auction, with his Untitled masterpiece from 1971 commanding the highest price at approximately Rs 14.13 crore. Overall, the auction registered an impressive Rs 70.68 crore in sales, with 100 per cent lots sold.
The auction catalogue featured 30 artworks by leading modernists including Tyeb Mehta, with most pieces being auctioned for the first time. “The results show an ever-growing demand for works by eminent Indian modernists. They are a testament to the fact that despite the uncertainty of the pandemic, the art auction market has stood its ground through the last year,” said CEO Tushar Sethi.
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