Bicycles leaning on startlingly bright walls, men playing a game of petanque in a dusty square, and travellers lolling on stone benches on the seafront — Pondy provides picture postcards of languor in every other frame. The soporific mood is well and truly alive in the Union Territory and is never more evident than on long summer days. But there are moments when the city knows how to shake it up too, which are worth checking out.
TUCK IN:
It’s food festival time at both Hidesign hotels in the city.
Italian under the stars:
There’s plenty of true-blue Italian to be found inside the boulevards. But, this weekend and the next, you can tuck into ravioli, risotto, and panna cotta, right under the stars, in an open courtyard flanked by trees, at Le Dupleix. The restaurant on Rue Caserne has created a special menu, ‘Taste of Italy,’ featuring several Italian treats, including shrimp and ricotta arancini, mushroom and walnut ravioli, potato and parmesan gnocchi and grilled beef steak with polenta.
Street food by the sea:
Tucking into freshly made food on the street, washed by a balmy breeze from the sea, is one way of unwinding a hot summer day. The Street Food Festival at The Promenade is for those who don’t mind loosening their purse strings for street food sans the bustle, heat and noise of the streets. You can pop in gol gappas and dahi puri at chaat counters, bite into samosas served with fiery chutneys, or make short work of kothu parottas. Better still make a line for the counters where you can ask for bajjis from potato, eggplant, cauliflower, chillis or jalepenos. The festival is on from Saturday, 7 p.m. onwards.
SPLURGE:
Anytime is a good time to ‘go green’! If you’re trying to incorporate more natural materials and eco-friendly practices into your lifestyle, stop by at Iyarkaiagam on 10, Muthumariamman Koil Street. Pick up a few green tips or earth-friendly products in an entire store dedicated to bio-degradable merchandise by the Nature Eco Products brand. Handmade accessories including seed jewellery, hand-woven bags, terracotta crockery, recycled stationery and other ‘green’ artefacts are lined up this weekend at the store. Also take a look at the art and photography on display. For details, contact, 98435 91618 or 98439 51618.
Music and more:
Parisian soiree: Begin the weekend on Friday night, sitting back on the lounge, sipping your favourite cocktail/ mocktail and soaking up an evening of cabaret music at Opus 8 on Capitaine Marius Xavier Street. Singer Isabeu, accompanied by David, will render classic French numbers at the “Chansons du vieux Paris” evening. Entry fee is Rs. 250.
It’s raining ragas: Tune in to an evening of ragas that promise to drench your spirit at ‘Barkha — song of the rains’, a concert by students of Auroville-based Nandita Di. Debasish Dass accompanies on the table. The concert begins at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday at Pitanga Cultural Centre, Samasti. Call 0413- 2622403 for details.
Boogie Night: Fancy spending Saturday night on your feet? The dance floor at Umami on Labourdonnais Street is open for all those who want to jive and jig on the dance floor. Pumping up the spirit is Pondy’s DJ Sleepwalker ready with some bar grooves. Entry is Rs.1,000, including coupons for food and drink.
Meditative music: Let soft and soothing music wash over you as classical musician Christina Eschmann plays the flute and an ensemble of musical instruments at a Sunday evening concert. The meditative concert which will take you from ‘music to silence’ begins sharp at 5.30 p.m. at Pitanga Cultural Centre, Auroville. Contact 0413- 2622403 for details.
Experience:
Unwind through art: So you’ve tried the good old ways to unwind and want something different? For quite some time, art therapy classes at Auroville have been offering a creative way to relax. Sign up for two days of art therapy from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, where the path to rejuvenation is through transformational art experiences which include painting, collage, doll making, doll making, puppetry and journaling. For registration and details on art therapy, contact Tia Pleiman at 9787468553 or e-mail tialovesart@gmail.com
Swing the hula hoop: Have you always envied those svelte performers who’ve twirled hoops with ease on their waists? Here’s a chance to add the hula hoop to your list of accomplishments! Professional American hula hooper Amanda teaches this enjoyable exercise at Eluciole Circus, Auroville, every Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Mix the cardio exercise with some fitness and dance at the workshop. E-mail: amo72@wildcats.unh.edu for reservations and details.
Paint onpulp: Learn how to make the most of paper pulp at Tasmai art gallery on Saturday and Sunday. The workshop is on from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. at 17, Advocate Chinna Thambi Street, Kuruchikuppam. An exhibition of paintings on paper pulp by artist Kirti Chandak is already on. For details and registration, call 0413-2221052.
Dine in the middle of a lake: February is not the only month for romance, believe the folks at Ocean Spray resort. You can dine and wine on a boat floating through Ocean Spray’s artificial lake with all the trappings of romance- candlelight, cocktails, food, desserts and music. Call 96009 17488 for reservations.
Coming Up:
Outdoor EDM: Next Saturday night, the lawns at Seagulls will reverberate with electronic dance music at the beachside party, White Sensazion. The Lost Triplets featuring DJ Bobby Beck will mix the music for the outdoor event organized by Global Voyage and Boxx N Hanz. You can go as glam as you like as long as you toe the one condition in the dress code-you have to wear white! The party kicks off at 6 p.m. and winds up by 12.30 a.m. For tickets, contact 08056307018, 09567350049 or book online through bookmyshow.in
