Brush with books
Art books may not fly off the shelves like other genres but some city patrons are doing their bit to promote them
How long does it take one to get used to a new trend? If you ask us, we would say almost as soon as the trend gets underway. Till not so long ago, we were accustomed to the trend of sharing a cup of tea with the likes of Raghu Rai or Anjolie Ela Menon or Jatin Das and talk art. Having done it a few times, we now take it as if it has always been the case with us and so is buying art-related books at such dos. Thanks to the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, which has furthered both these trends. And others have been quick to follow. Zazeen Art Centre-47, for one.
Capital Book Depot showcases its collection of art books

Cuisine crafted
The National Craft Mela will host a variety of food festivals across the city restaurants
The National Craft Mela, which is to be held from October 24 to November 2 at Kalagram, is all set to attract the dwellers of tricity and educate them about the real Indian art and craft, especially the rural art. In addition to this, many other activities have been planned for the mela including different cultural programmes of various states of the country with special attraction for food lovers.

Objet D’ ART
Kitchen katha
If a few abundant pans, glasses could speak about the bleakness of life, then this is it — a photograph titled Kitchen in Bali by ace photographer Diwan Manna, which we saw in the recent annual exhibition of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi. This, later we learnt happens to be just one of the kitchen series Diwan has been working on, first in the city and later in Jakarta and Bali.

Ode to City Beautiful
Pathron ka nahin aabgino ka hai, Yeh nagar toh faqat dilnashino ka hai…” “ Chandigarh Shehar ki bhi toh kya baat hai, Yeh toh kudrat ki nayaab saugaat hai.” These two literary creations eulogizing the natural and panoramic beauty of Chandigarh, the best-designed modern architectural marvel, are documented in lyricist S. Rakesh’s latest anthology of songs, Gaane Anjaane.

Rock solid

These three cyclists enjoy a ride on their bikes near Leisure Valley-10. Lifestyle photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Art-iculate
Art comes calling
If Mohammad would not come to the mountain, the mountain would come to him. So what if people of the city would not visit art galleries, Government Museum and Art Gallery is making sure that art reaches out to them. Hence is the concept of mobile exhibition. How does our artist community like this unique way of making art popular?

Hidden treasure
An Italian art expert is looking to put an end to decades of speculation regarding a long-lost Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece, claiming it maybe hidden in a secret cavity behind a palace wall. University professor Maurizio Seracini alleges a clue in a huge artwork in Florence's historic Palazzo Vecchio appeared to suggest that The Battle of Anghiari, painted by Leonardo in 1503, his largest work, lied beneath.

Festive fanfare
From traditional attire to western casuals, the Punjabi University’s zonal youth festival saw a mélange of trends
The Punjabi University’s zonal youth festival started amidst much fanfare at GSSDGS Khalsa College, Patiala. It began with a cultural extravaganza, including giddha and creative dance that filled the atmosphere with vibrant colours and energy. But what is interesting is that not just the participants, the audiences too were in a festive mood.

Cook hi kaho
The cookery competition on Wednesday night show finally proved, Men Can Cook!
In an exciting evening at the Taj Hotel-17, Golf pro Amrit Inder Singh showed that his skills were not just limited to the golf course but his drive also included skilful and tasty cooking. Amrit Inder Singh, who is also the coach of Jeev Milkha Singh, was adjudged the winner in the Carlsberg Men Can Cook contest and his coveted prize was a one years supply of Carlsberg beer!
Karen Anand with the winners of the show, Men Can Cook

Side Lanes
Write notes
Gurcharan Das is a short man with twinkling eyes and a puckish expression that flits between constant amusement and ill-concealed impatience at the mobiles that ring and an audience that keeps hopping around, during his talk on life’s hurdles that keep us from living it in the most moral way we can.

Bachchan’s Friday jitters
I am a pessimist by nature, says 
Amitabh Bachchan
He may have successfully completed four decades in the film industry, but Bollywood's 'Shehenshah' Amitabh Bachchan says that he still faces pre-release jitters because he is a "huge pessimist" by nature.

Cheeni Kum
Amitabh Bachchan to launch diabetes unit in Goa
Bollywood super star Amitabh Bachchan will formally launch a free mobile diabetes testing unit of a UK charity in Goa next Sunday. The Mobile Diabetes Assessment Unit, complete with testing equipment, a bed and washing facilities will travel across Goa in India providing free diabetes testing.

Mumbai matinee
Mumbai film festival to begin on October 29
The 11th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival (MFF), beginning October 29, will screen 200 films from 56 countries. The Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI) committee comprising veteran Bollywood producer-cum-director Yash Chopra, Amit Khanna, actor Shabana Azmi and actor-turned-director Amol Palekar unveiled the line-up for the 11th annual Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) on Tuesday.

A royal visit
Salman Khan floors fans in Rajasthan
Thousands of ecstatic movie buffs assembled in Sumerpur town of Rajasthan to have a glimpse of their favourite Bollywood actor Salman Khan. Salman visited Sumerpur on October 19 on the invitation of Rajasthan's Tourism Minister Beena Kak who had promised her electorate of bringing the macho star to this place if she was voted to power in the legislative assembly elections.

Presidential suit
The 55th National Film Awards function at Vigyan Bhavan, in New Delhi on Wednesday, was a glamorous gala, with the stars at their stylish best for their date with the President
With the support of: Actor Shefali Shah after receiving the Best Supporting Actress award.	Bestowed: Awardees Feroz Abbas Khan (Best Screenplay) and Sonam Kapoor (Special Jury Award on behalf of her father Anil Kapoor). PTI Photos:  Shahbaz Khan	Play on: President Pratibha Patil presents the Best Female Playback Singer award to Shreya Ghoshal.