Mumbai Diary: Saturday Dossier

Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Oh Deer!
A Sambar deer walks the footpath inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali on Friday.

Farewell, Chick Corea

Louiz Banks (left) with Chick Corea

This diarist remembers being gutted when he missed the chance to watch Chick Corea, the great American pianist, perform live when in Mumbai in 2018. Sadly, the chance to watch him in action will never present itself again. Corea passed away yesterday at the age of 79, after battling a rare form of cancer that was detected only recently. Tributes poured in for the jazz master from across the world, with guitarist John Mayer admitting that Corea was the single greatest improvisational musician he has ever played with. Closer to home, pianist Louiz Banks - who had shared the stage briefly with the legend during his concert in Mumbai - told this diarist, "Chick leaves behind a legacy of his amazing compositions of varied styles and a very expert level of dexterity on both the piano and the keyboard."

The show must go on

Rambo Circus members with the audience after their first live act

On Thursday, Rambo Circus reopened at an all-new location at Oshiwara and performed their first live act since the lockdown last year, to an audience of only two. "It was an expense for us to move to this location as we had to level the ground. Considering the economic impact of the last year, we didn't have much money to publicise the new venue and our shows.

An acrobat performs a stunt. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar

When we sold only two tickets, I asked our performers what they wanted to do - we collectively decided to put on the show since, for us, even these two audience members are vital for revenue. It is a battle of survival for us. We are also counting on them for word-of-mouth recommendations. We were pleased to see that they thoroughly enjoyed the show and left with big smiles," Sujit Dilip, owner of Rambo Circus, told this diarist. The acts will run for 40 days at the new location, and they say they are taking following all government-issued SOPs. Several new items have been introduced, including roller-skating and a performance by Manipuri monks.

For your paw-lentine

This Sunday, The Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD), an NGO dedicated to the care of Mumbai's strays, is inviting pet parents to usher in the day of love with their pooches. They are hosting a day-long fundraiser at Sleight of Hand, a pet-friendly confectionary café at Fort. Owner Aadore Sayani is a long-standing supporter of WSD, said Dharmita Mandrekar, the organisation's volunteer manager. "You can shop for WSD merchandise and unused items donated by well-wishers." she told this diarist. All proceeds from the sales will go towards the NGO's efforts, which you can also learn about at the event.

Paper tales

While art lovers may be more acquainted with Michelle Poonawalla's oil paintings, the city-based artist holds drawing and sketching close to her heart.

She will be showcasing a new series of works on paper at Ahmedabad gallery 079 Stories, as part of KAGAZ, a group exhibition. Poonawalla shared, "The drawings were made earlier this year. I've titled the series Love; the five drawings reflect the importance of love and friendship."

A heady lab opens in Khar

For Megha Datwani, owner of Poco Loco Tapas and Bar, the lockdown came just six months after she set foot in the F&B industry. The chemistry-themed décor and the paellas at the Khar outpost had garnered attention in its earlier avatar. Now, it has reopened its doors in place of Looney, Lover and the Poet; it's where Maraketty Grana of Thalassa Goa fame had dared to open.

The distance from the sea didn't work out for her, she told us. At the new space, patrons can expect a farm-to-foam concept. "We procure local and all-natural ingredients, such as Kerala coconuts cocoa, cinnamon and berries, and use molecular gastronomy and equipment to convert them into exciting cocktails," Datwani said.