Moving away from the HKV cluster, the last half of 2015 has seen a boom of launches and in around the central district of Delhi. This resurgence of the once cool CP has made us very happy. Informal, one of the recent additions by the team of Imperfecto, is spread over an area of 6000 sq. ft. Split between two floors, an open balcony and a wonderful terrace, this café cum club is massive to say the least. The intrigue and confusion starts setting in when you find a barbers shop at the entrance. Taking it for granted that you will enquire about this setup, the staff proceeds to seat you in the chair and make you down some free and very potent “barber shots”. You can recover from that experience as you make you way up to the rooftop. We suggest you pick from one of the rustic tables under fairy lights with green grass beneath your feet. The menu has everything from healthier grill options to regular pub grub with a focus on Spanish food. We settled for the Moroccan Platter and loved the hummus enough to ask for doubles, but the other dips were a let down. Speaking of let downs, the bar seemed to be having an off day. Of the 3 different cocktails we tried – Diggin Bourbon with coriander, maple and ginger, Candy Garden that came with vodka, peach liqueur, pineapple juice and red wine, and finally, Switched on Fire with wheat beer, dark rum, sprite and ginger ale – none had the goods to make us go back for a second sip. So we settled for a beer as an amateur band crooned old Hindi pop and Sufi numbers. Everything else – including the attentive service – is spot on here, but we wish they were less informal about their concoctions.
Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.
Directed by: Arvind Gaur
Lushin Dubey’s powerful solo performance is coming back to Delhi. I Will Not Cry is an exceptional blend of theatre and multimedia, using satire and humour to highlight the issue of child deaths in India. The play talks about the collective responsibility of the nation and the society to take measures to handle this issue.
Note: Passes to be collected from the venue between 5 pm and 6:30 pm on the day of the play.
Directed by: Rishi Mehta
Run For Your Wife, written by Ray Cooney, is the world’s longest running comedy play. Now adapted for Indian audiences, the play is set in South Delhi where Sabby, a taxi driver is living a life of duplicity – he secretly has two wives. So far, he has been able to keep his two families separate but a chance turn in events makes his schedule go awry. Will he continue to get away with his deception?
Ticket price: Rs 350 to 500
Tickets available on BookMyShow
Staken, stirred, muddled or blended – whatever cocktail you like, whichever way you like it, it is all coming right to your doorstep with Delhi Cocktail Week. And we are telling you about it now, so you can mark your calendars and make sure you#39;re in town!
Spread over a week, DCW will be a celebration of cocktail craftsmanship through a variety of tasting sessions, parties and master classes, a pop-up, pub crawls, sessions with experts and even a mixology competition.
The first such event of it#39;s kind, this boozy week will be hosted jointly by over 150 bars and restaurants across the city including popular names like PCO, The Hungry Monkey, Mamagoto, Chi Asian Cookhouse, Raasta, The Backyard and more.
Tickets:
Standard Pass: Rs 599 provides access to a DCW special signature cocktail menu along with food pairing offers.
Premium Pass: Rs 1,099 for 8 wristbands for each day of the week gets you access to the signature cocktail menu along with food pairings as well as unlimited free party bus shuttle service, which you#39;ll definitely need after all that drinking.
VVIP Pass: Rs 5,499 for 8 wristbands for each day of the week means access to the cocktail menu along with special privileges, unlimited free party bus shuttle service, exclusive invites to a private event and one pass for any DCW masterclass or two pub crawls.
For more details, visit their Facebook page.
Kasol is a place straight out of a picture postcard. Dotted with a number of cool cafes, this little place nestled in the Himalayas is surrounded by pine forests and flanked by the ferocious Parvati River. So imagine our excitement when we heard of The Kasol Art Summit Experience, a 5-day long programme starting on November 20th! Organised by Cabbageheads, a company that focusses on creating art-based concepts, the art summit will provide a great platform for travellers across the globe to share their thoughts on art, movies and more. The 5-day journey on this scenic pristine valley will include art exhibitions, movie screenings, a trek to Malana, and a paintball tournament, to name a few. Over 25 artists and travellers will showcase their works at Riverside Kasol, Parvati Valley.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Day one starts with the excitement of music, bonfire and the promise of fun times ahead. On the second day, trek to Malana, where you will get a chance to explore the hamlet and its quaint cafes. Post a scrumptious breakfast, engage in some art and discussions. End your day with a movie screening: Women Making Films (a concept by Vaishnavi Sundar). On day 3, immerse yourself in art with live artwork creation, live poetry sessions and adventure games. On the last day, catch a movie and enjoy a grand dinner with bonfire and conversations.
Participants don’t have to worry about equipment or material such as paints, canvas, etc as they will be provided, making your travel hassle-free. What’s more, the organisers will also ensure good hygienic food and clean amenities. Adventure lovers can sneak out and take a serene walk from Kasol to Chalal, where the deep woods are sure to leave you enchanted.
When: November 20th to 25th
Where: Riverside Kasol
Cost: Rs 13,000 (all 5 days inclusive of travel, stay and more)
For more details, call 9811578364
The multiple award-winning blues legend from the UK, Dana Gillespie will soon be in India for her India tour. Scheduled to perform at Qla in Delhi, she will be joined by guitarist Jake Zaitz and pianist Matt Gest. With over 53 years of experience in the music industry and with over 64 albums to her credit, Gillespie is a well-known musician the world over. At this gig she will be performing her signature style of risqué blues.
Cover charges: Rs 600
Karina Buhr, the Brazilian musician, actress and performer will soon be in the Capital and playing a live gig at Depot 29. Hailing from Northeastern Brazil which is known for its varied repertory of Brazilian rhythms, Buhr started her musical career with the launch of her solo album titled Eu Menti Pra Voce. Currently touring Brazil to promote her new album Selvatica, she will be in India on the invitation of the Brazilian Embassy in India.
Indo-Japanese fest, hosted by En, is a one-of-its kind festival aimed at promoting relations between the two countries. From cultural performances and authentic culinary treats, guests will get to experience the best of the varied traditions of India and Japan. The restaurant will be decked in classic Oriental finery along with an outdoor market that will offer finger-licking food. There will be mehndi art, Indian classical music, a jazz band, a Taiko drums performance and a special kid’s area where kids can enjoy fun activities.
501 Friday is coming back to Antisocial, this time with gigs by Kraken, Grammy Winning Effort and Undying Inc. While Kraken, a Delhi-based band, is more of an experimental rock outfit with influences from death and heavy metal, Undying Inc. is one of the most popular metal acts in India. They have played supporting gigs for big names like Meshuggah and Megadeth and performed at some of the biggest festivals in the country. Inspired by heavy metal bands like Maylene and the Sons of Disaster and He Is Legend, Grammy Winning Effort is a hardcore, punk and rock band that’s made up of popular Delhi-based musicians.
Most of us nursed childhood dreams of becoming rockstars, air guitaring our way through high school. Yet, somewhere down the line, we lost that dream thanks to busy work schedules. But it’s never too late to pick up a new instrument or learn to sing. Music schools understand this, which is why they’ve introduced e-learning courses with flexible timings. Here are 5 such services that will help you hone your musical skills.
Shankar Mahadevan Academy
Started by Bollywood musician and vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, the academy boasts over 4, 000 students across 50 countries. With the aim of spreading the joy of music, the online music classes cater to young students and busy professionals alike. With tailor-made courses that suit every music lover, there are vocal and instrumental courses in Hindustani, Carnatic, Bollywood and Devotional music.
Register here
Indian Music Lessons
Blending traditional approach with modern technology, IML is a blessing for music enthusiasts. The best part about this service is that here you will be taught on a one-on-one basis and not with pre-recorded videos. Learn to ace a Thumri or Khayal and try your hand at the tabla, sitar, bansuri and sarod. They are also planning a music concert next year in Kolkata where the students/alumni will get a chance to perform together.
Register here
Sangeet Vidhyalaya
The e-learning programme by Sangeet Vidhyalaya is an easy and convenient way of brushing up your music skills. The high-quality audio and video classes are organised for both individuals and a small group. The website mostly specialises in vocal classes but instrumental classes can be arranged on request. You can choose from courses on Indian Classical, Sufi, Rabindra Sangeet and Western music.
Find out more here
Hindi Music Lessons
Started in 1995 by musician and music teacher, Sonny John Abraham, this is the country’s first e-learning portal for instrumental music. You can learn basics of keyboard, piano and guitar through Skype or video lessons and also undergo vocal training. The music software course will help you understand the art of mixing and composing music using technology.
Find out more here
Benares Music Academy
Benares is a cultural hub and is the land of the famous Benaras gharana of Indian classical music. Taking forward the guru-shishya parampara, the academy aims at providing both vocal and instrumental lessons under the guidance of renowned sitar maestro, Pandit Shivnath Mishra and his disciples. The online classes are taken through Skype and are to be booked in advance.
Find out more here
1AQ is playing host to a solo exhibition by portrait artist Rishab Sud where works done by him over a period of time will be displayed. There will be 50 portraits which include 20 charcoal and 30 oil that will be featured in the exhibition. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Raja Ravi Verma, Rembrandt, Bonnat and more, Rishab’s art expresses an amalgamation of impressionism and academic art.
He has represented ‘self’ through portraits of Maharaja Hira Singh of Nabha, director Muzaffar Ali and his wife Meera, ace fashion photographer Hemant Khandelwal and more
Hauz Khas Social will be hosting a debut gig by the collaborative musical project which includes Nischay Parekh and Jivraj Singh. Parekh is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who has played at numerous music festivals in the country. Singh is a popular percussionist, beat-poet and producer and one who is often recognised as the one of the hottest drummers around.
Joining the two on this day will also be Run! Its’ The Kid, a Delhi-based moody waltz act. Currently working on their debut album slated to be released next year, the band’s music is a mix of playful tunes and somber ballads.
Artist Rashmi Sikand Yadav will be exhibiting her work titled Ascension which will include her renditions of expression and movement. Using acrylic paints, she explores unique textures, layering and mark-making.
Kingdom of Dreams will be launching its brand new Showshaa Nightclub with a gig by Hard Rock Sofa, a Russian electronic music duo including Alexander Shapovalov and Denis Chepikov. Together they have released a number of singles and EPs and they achieved worldwide success with their song Blow Up. Their song Here We Go was also featured on the film Fast And The Furious 6 and they have worked on hit remixes for artists like David Guetta, Alesso and Style of Eye. Supporting acts for the evening will include NDS, Silan, Funk Heads and Vkey.
Catch the launch of Boheme#39;s terrace with a bass-heavy gig featuring SHFT and Bass Pilots. Along with that, there is going to be a special pop-up BBQ menu curated by The Nomad Chefs. There will also be movie screenings especially curated by Shamiana, Asia#39;s largest short film club.
The solo techno project of Delhi-based DJ and producer Vipul, SHFT has a versatile and finely honed sound. His innovative productions and groovy sets are quickly making him a popular name on the club scene in India.
Bass Pilots, the house and techno music project by Ardaman Dua and Sahil Singh, have been active on the electronic music scene in Delhi for several years. Over the years, they’ve played alongside numerous international artists like Oliver Huntemann, Mad Maxx and Emok.
Directed by: Kanchan Ujjal Singh | Duration: 1 hr 30 mins
Don’t Dress For Dinner is a hilarious comedy that ensues when Bernard, a married man, simply wants a romp with his mistress one weekend when his wife is away. Hidden love notes and mistaken identities lead to funny complications for Bernard.
Ticket prices: Rs 200 to 500
Tickets available on BookMyShow
Cast: Ashish Paliwal, Shena Gamat, Shivam Pradhan, Pranav Brara
I Love You, Let’s Have Sex is an interactive play that questions and analyses the relationships within the story in a comical and insightful. The aim is to eventually inspire the audience to participate in the progression of the play and also reflect on their own relationships with other people.
Tickets: Rs 300
Schedule:
22 November, 6 pm and 8 pm: Akshara Theatre (ticketed)
24 November, 7 pm: The Pint Room (free event)
25 November, 6:30 pm: Anand Lok Community Centre (free event)