Where waters are falling Japanese water features are the latest rage among city gardeners, simply because they fit into the Indian psyche, says Parbina Rashid  When Harmeet Kaur, during one casual chit-chat session, asked us to have a look at her Tsukubai (pronounced as Sukubai), our instant reaction was “are you talking about your new maid?” Politely but firmly we were told that Tsukubai was the new water feature, which adorned her front garden. Curiosity got the better of us, and with a cameraman on tow; we reach her residence in Sector 8, to find out more about her source of pride and joy. VAASTU WISE

GREEN FINGERS: Harmeet Kaur with her Tsukubai

COOL STUFF
Cotton for winters
FOR your fashion cravings Cotton County is here to spice up your wardrobe with its Winter Collection 2006 range to match young tastes. Comprising pullovers, jackets, woollens, coats, chesters, tracksuits and lowers, full sleeve T-shirts, sweatshirts, shirts, denim and trousers the range has a wide range of styles, cuts, fabrics and detailing. The new jacket range, chic semi-formal and semi-casual Bush coats, designer and casual coats are ideal for the office as well as party and leisurewear. Trendy and sporty range of jackets is ideal for the fun loving hip-hop crowd. Prices range between Rs 899 to Rs 4999.

Art Deco THE Jewellery Design and Technology Institute, Noida, a premier institute of jewellery designing in India organised OPUS—showcasing 2006 recently for showcasing the jewellery designed by the VI graduating batch. The showcasing was followed by the convocation ceremony in the evening. The theme for the design project was ‘Art Deco’ and the students had designed jewellery based on the their inspiration which were as vivid as furniture, sculptures, architectural elements, machinery, fabric patterns to abstract. The jewellery on display were made of sterling silver, leather using cubic zirconia, beads and precious and semi-precious stones.

Beat office blues Smriti Sharma WHEN was the last time you said some thing good about your work place or try recalling some thing good that you said about your colleague. Can’t remember? Okay, so you have problems at your work place? So what does one do? Yell at the colleagues, backbite about them or if nothing helps, seek solace in banging our own heads against the wall (Obviously this has to be the last resort!)? But rue no more as Carolyn Birchill, one of the most sought after trainers in the corporate world, is here to give you healthier solutions to complicated situations you can’t handle at your workplaces. And all these guaranteed ‘to-pull-you–out’ answers come with Carolyn’s assurance as they are tried and tested by her for she has experienced all of them at her so many work places.                                                                                                              Carolyn Birchill photo by Vicky Gharu

FILM & FASHION Smith & the Rubik Cube TALK show queen Oprah Winfrey was completely bedazzled when her celeb guest Will Smith solved a Rubik's Cube puzzle before her very eyes. Oprah challenged the MIB actor over the authenticity of his puzzle-solving skills in new movie The Pusuit Of Happiness. But instead of getting afraid, an eager Smith willingly offered to turn a muddled Rubik's Cube into one with six same-colour sides in just two minutes. Oprah challenged the MIB actor over the authenticity of his puzzle-solving skills in new movie The Pusuit Of Happiness. But instead of getting afraid, an eager Smith willingly offered to turn a muddled Rubik's Cube into one with six same-colour sides in just two minutes.

Blow hot, blow cold ...with cocktails Angad B. Sodhi THE leaves are turning, the temperature is dropping, the sun seems to have got cooler and throats are starting to feel a little sore. Soon it’ll be that time of year when one just feels like wrapping a blanket around and curling up in front of a warm fire with a nice warm drink. Well, for those of you who are looking for a change from the usual, here are a few winter cocktails from around the world to keep you warm. I know that the word cocktail brings to mind the stereotypical image of sitting on a beach, wallowing in the summer sun and sucking on an enormous glass that has half a pineapple shoved in it, but the winter also brings to us a selection of drinks that can warm the soul. (Let me also assure everybody that I have carefully selected drinks for which ingredients are easily available in the city.)

Mistress of spices
Anandita Gupta
EVER toured the magical world of spices? Enchanting, colourful spices will greet you if you visit Geeti Bakshi’s industrial unit. As one enters, silken smooth haldi powder rises like the pale yellow dust from a butterfly wing. Fenugreek kernels lie scattered on the floor, like lush moss after rain.

Now a chocolate fountain! Gayatri Rajwade AS the rich, creamy, thick swirls come gently cascading down, you cannot help but be drawn to it all. Utterly fascinating and delightfully delicious, a chocolate fountain is something all and I mean all of us have dreamt of and guess what, all our childhood fantasies have come true, our city has one!  Brush past a hundred people at Fun Republic (Mani Majra), break away from the irresistible draw of the Big Mac, walk up the stairs to the first floor, single minded in your pursuit towards the Big C and lo and behold ‘Choco Fun’ with its chocolate fountain will lure you, entice you, allure you and tempt you into its furls. The brainchild of former corporate employee M. K. Sharma, ‘Choco-Fun’ is all about d(r)ipping chocolate and more! CHOCOLATY FACTS

BON APPETIT Drinks, Dips and Dunkers “PARTY-Time” is in the air and don’t we all love it! It’s a wonderful excuse to gather together friends and family, to catch up on news and enjoy food and drink. The scariest part is putting the menu together, cooking some innovative grub and keeping in mind that we don’t repeat our main ingredients. If you want to create the “gush-factor”, here is a teeny-weeny bit of advice ---- Allow peanuts and aloo-tikia to gently bow out from the snacks-scenario. The time has come for something more hi-fi than that. Dips are not always exactly healthy, but the fact that you serve them, surrounded by batons of raw veggies like carrots, radish, cucumber and broccoli more than makes up for the cream or cheese in the dips themselves. This column carries two dips and I shall inflict some mocktails on you in the column next Saturday!

Health tip of the day