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The new party numbers It
defies all norms of a night club. It has no dance floor and yet there is adrenalin-pumping music and you can dance anywhere - even around tables and on the furniture. It gives you the option of buying booze by the bottle. A VIP table can cost a whooping Rs 4 lakh a night.
But if you happen to be A-Listers, who have partied in this ultra luxe lounge in other cities like New York, London, Miami, Monte Carlo or Singapore — this kind of money is just part of one-night revellery. Welcome to Pangaea, Delhi's latest night club at Hotel Ashok, brought to India by American entrepreneur Michael Van Cleef Ault and B. K. Modi-led Spice Group. It is the newest watering hole of Delhi's glitterati and the uber rich. Pangaea's founder Ault says, "Pangaea is a Ferrari of the nightclub world." In some of his other Pangaea clubs, a table reservation can cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $15,000 (Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 9
lakh). Impeccable service Pangaea has classic art on its walls framed between velvet curtains. It has foreign hostesses who provide VIP concierge and bottle-services which means you can buy full bottle instead of lining up at the bar or waiting for a drink to arrive on your table. Every element is meticulously designed, from the surrealistic entry tunnel and exotic furnishings to the inspired music by DJs. But Pangaea is not alone. Dripping with opulence and promising unmatched service, more such night clubs are transforming the party-scene in the capital and redefining high-end entertainment. The Buddha Bar that has been re-branded in India as B-Bar (in deference to Lord Buddha), is another acclaimed global night club that arrived in the Capital last year. This after-hours club has been credited for creating a distinctive lounge and fusion sound that has spawned a passionate fan following the world over. Spread across over 25,000 square feet at Delhi's Select City Walk Mall, B-Bar has the same Far-Eastern elegance as in its other branches in Monte Carlo, Paris, Kiev, London, Monaco, Prague, Budapest, and Washington DC. Vintage spirits Featuring a peaceful resting Samurai as a centrepiece (instead of a Buddha statue in its other outlets), it boasts of a glamorous bar located beneath the central atrium that houses a list of fine and rare vintage spirits and Japanese sakes. With four opulent private dining rooms, B-Bar offers guests their own island with some heart-pounding music. Music mania Music is central to most of these new-age lounges. Blue Frog at Seven Style Mile in Mehrauli offers European panache to Delhi's night life. Conceived by music lovers, it is the ultimate platform for live music and has a unique seating area that slopes onto the dance floor. The spaced-out bar (literally) with spaceships on the ceiling offers a mélange of cocktails, wines and straight shots and the modern European food with Asian influences is an epicurean's delight. Blue Frog, which launched in Mumbai a couple of years ago, decided to come to Delhi in 2012 when night life began perking up in the capital even as an increasing number of young, upwardly mobile professionals started looking for exclusive places to unwind in the evening. With its own set of high net worth individuals, the party scene seems to be shifting from Mumbai to Delhi. Members-only club The Bangalore established Monkey Bar is making a foray into Delhi. Reports are the Sanctum Club from the Silicone Valley of India is making its way to the capital. Modelled on London's private members-only clubs, it is known as much for its culinary delicacies as for its immaculate service and luxurious interiors. The exclusive club invites prominent bands and a wide range of national and international DJ's and has a variety of other entertainments. International stars are invited to give members a real bang for their bucks. A number of theme-based lounges, too, are making their way to the capital. The Dirty Martini at the Olive Qutub is one of them. The décor is set in the prohibition era in America in the 1920s when cocktails were served in teacups and the entertainment was around live bands and floorshows….an era of molls and gangsters, of flappers and flamboyance. Ultimate clubbing There's also plenty of foot-tapping music at the Ice Lounge Nightout at the Metropolitan Mall. It unveils the ultimate experience of clubbing with Delhi's first ever lounge with a water-based dance floor. Though serious night life options opened up in Delhi with the launch of the members-only LAP in Hotel Samrat promoted by film star Arjun Rampal and restaurateur A D Singh, it was the Hauz Khas Village that heralded the boom a few years ago. It is a watering hole for the Capital's well-heeled with lounges and gastropubs like La Bohème, Mia Bella, D'Destination Lounge & Bar and others that have become symbolic of the changes in Delhi's night life. However, it is the new stand-alone ultra entertainment destinations like Pangaea, B-Bar and Blue Frog that seem to be setting the mood and heralding a boomtime for the $13-billion Indian restaurant and clubbing industry. The nightlife in Delhi is never going to be the same again.
Apart from Pangaea and Buddha Bar over a hundred clubs make the grade as the top ultra entertainment destinations of the world. Here's looking at the top ten… Cielo, New
York: The state-of-the-art space in New York is the haunt of those ravers and techno junkies who crave the sounds of deep European dance music. Ministry of Sound,
London: A legendary night spot that is virtually a touristic attraction, the Ministry of Sound is devoted to the American house music and at the forefront of the global dance music scene. Showcase,
Paris: Located in an old naval hangar in the Champs Elysées, this is a dimly lit nightclub decorated in an Art Nouveau style and overlooking River Seine. A great venue for lovers of European music. Watergate,
Berlin: A hot spot for serious clubbers, it is a split-level nightlife venue overlooking River Spree. The LED lighting system runs the length of the club and the music is mind-blowing Pacha,
Ibiza: Among the best nightclubs in the world, Pacha in the Mediterranean Island of Ibiza in Spain, is known for its amazing house music. It also has five different rooms incorporating other musical styles. Imperia Lounge,
Moscow: Competing with the best in the West the Imperia lounge's two dance floors pulsate with throbbing music. The ceiling is a giant plasma screen projecting live, psychedelic video installation. Womb,
Tokyo: One of the largest night clubs in the world, Womb spread across four floors hosts guest artists from around the globe. The music usually centres on techno, drum, bass and electro. Zouk,
Singapore: Named after the French Creole word Party, Zouk's tagline is "One people, one tribe and one dance." With its fabulous dance floor, the club sets the night on fire with its intense and energetic music. Eyebar,
Hongkong: Located on the 30th floor of a skyscraper, the aqua blue themed Eyebar offers a
panoramic view of Hong Kong's skyline. Listen to some great music relaxing at the lounge sofas and enjoying exotic
in-house cocktails. Chinese Laundry, Sydney: One of the hottest nightclubs of Sydney, the Chinese Laundry's party music is simply electrifying. From hip-hop to techno, drum and bass, it is a dream come true for those who like to dance.
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Serve it right These come in a range of materials like wood, aluminum, steel, brass, porcelain, ceramic, marble, cut glass and silver. These vary in shapes and sizes and can be wide or small, flat or shallow. Ranging in colours and designs, these can be painted with delicate brush strokes or meticulously carved in glass. Though trays make pretty decoration pieces, these are primarily used for carrying food. Elegant trays provide a beautiful backdrop for culinary creations. Ornamental trays Today we are all familiar with these and most kitchens have one or two of these. Yet few put these to their best use. Besides affording you the luxury of having food carried to you in style or helping the host serve dinner at a party, trays can give a nice finishing touch to a living room decor. A beautiful tray, when not in use as a food carrier, can become a decorative in the living room. If it has pretty flowers or some famous monuments etched on it, it can be creatively placed like a painting to add cheer to an otherwise austere room, which is full of furniture. These make fabulous organisers for everything from jewellery and makeup tools to office stationery and mail. Feast in style When these are used as serving trays, these give the food an attractive appeal and make it look appetising. This, in turn, stimulates the flow of natural digestive juices helping the body assimilate the meal better. Even the dullest of menus can look like a feast when brought in a stylish tray. Austere offices tend to become friendly when the office boy serves the morning cup of coffee/tea neatly in a tray. Time was when big serving trays were in vogue. However, today with the families going nuclear, trays too have become smaller, more manageable and striking in their designs and colour schemes bringing in that touch of elegance and glamour. Though there may not be any dedicated stores for trays, these can be generally found in showrooms dealing in homeware or high-end furniture artefacts. There is an array of exotic varieties. Though conventional designs still abound, there is an imaginative blend of shapes, sizes and materials. Excellent gifts Fancy trays make excellent house-warming and anniversary gifts. The trendy ones that attract the upmarket buyers can range in prices varying from a few hundred rupees to those that can cost in thousands. The price tags of silver-coated trays or those whose handles are embellished with precious materials like Swarovski and other shiny crystals can cost a small fortune. Seeing their popularity a number of global luxury companies like Gucci, Tiffany, Hermes, Versace and others have entered the growing market giving a new fillip to creativity and prices. Though these brands might be expensive but demand for quality serving trays has grown rapidly over the years. Interestingly, even the sophisticated Indian buyer no longer seems to mind investing a few thousand rupees for some creatively designed trays for those very special occasions. After all, what could be a more appropriate gift than imaginatively designed trays, which add a touch of class to almost any occasion? Versatile accessory The tray has become a versatile accessory in the home. There is not a room that couldn’t make good use of a tray. These look great on a bedside table, as a kitchen utility, in the bathroom for toiletries, on the dressing table for cosmetics, in the entry for mail or on the table with cups of steaming hot coffee. There are trays for all occasions and for all strategic spaces in the house. With a growing niche market, manufacturers are busy innovating in terms of design, colour and shapes to create trays that are appropriate for almost all types of people and decor. Whether it is the ordinary wooden trays or the top-end designer ones, there’s demand for all types. Be it a Rs 50 plastic or melamine tray or a Rs 40,000 Versace tray, there’s always a customer around. And with Diwali approaching, the business will go northward.
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Shooting to build a better world For documentary filmmaker Arjun Pandey, his work is a matter of faith. His films on wildlife and the environment are an offshoot of his faith in giving back to society Jasmine Singh
The
only growth that he believes in is spiritual growth. Documentary filmmaker Arjun Pandey’s pursuit is to make a better today by caring for people. This is what he saw his father Ishwar Pandey, a documentary film director-cum-cinematographer, mother, Harsaran Kaur one of the first news producers in India with Doordarshan and uncle Mike Pandey, a celebrated wildlife documentary filmmaker, do. He is a part of a project, a film on tiger conservation being directed by Mike Pandey and produced by John Abraham. He has recently completed a film on fast food, titled Fat or Skinny, part of a global series on how India is going to feed our growing world. He is the director of 24 Frames, a 40 year-old production house that was started by his father. At17, he started working with his father as an apprentice, while pursuing his economics Hons from Delhi University. “I always had a craving to learn new things and put them to test in real life. From management courses in Delhi, to attending summer school in Germany, to a course on personal leadership at Columbia, I always believed in the strength of learning,” shares Arjun. It was however his father and uncle who inspired him to be a documentary filmmaker. "I would observe what made my father, an award-winning cinematographer and director and uncle who is also a three time Green Oscar winner work so dedicatedly in the fields, which were neither glamourous nor lucrative," he narrates adding that 'earning fat money' was never on the priority list of his family. He wanted to raise issues that he felt strongly. "The most beautiful gift, nature, has been exploited to the hilt. Everyone is concerned about it, but how many actually come down to doing something about it,” he expresses his concern. Arjun says, “I have been fortunate to be a part of films/projects based on protection of wildlife species like the whale sharks, elephants, horseshoe crabs and vultures. It helps to generate awareness. If there is a problem, someone has to fix it,” he adds. He wants to give society a cleaner and greener tomorrow. Helped by wife Ambica, he tries to achieve the same through his production house. “Our films have played out in almost 170 countries globally and on most major broadcasters, from the BBC, Discovery, Al-Jazeera, CCTV, and in India from NDTV to Doordarshan,” he says. He is inspired to face the challenges head by faith in His Holiness, Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual head of the Drukpa Buddhist lineage. He has made a few documentaries on him as well. He says, “I have been fortunate to have spent time filming him, interacting with him. It was an awakening for a higher calling.” In the pipeline are a TV series on environmental conservation, film on women’s rights and an anti-human trafficking project as part of a media coalition. He is starting a few youtube channels, including KhullamKhulla, Delhi-pedia (an online video-based Delhi guide) and a RealIndia.tv channel that shifts public consciousness into a positive mindset,” he shares, adding, “For effective use of funds, we support the initiative by pooling in equipment so that we can budget our resources.”
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It
Musicians from India and around the world perform six nights a week at the club, which is known for its immaculate acoustics. Genres of music range from jazz, blues, funk, soul and Afro/Latin to electronic, club, rock and folk. Added to that are musical theatre performances as well as stand-up comedy, poetry and film nights.
Top rated in the world, celebrity bartender Zdenek Kastanek, has whipped up his own brand of moonshine with a beverage menu that has an array of exciting martins and cocktails. The Dirty Martini's musical soul combines the chic character of the past with the funk of the present.
These
Though no one knows for sure when people started using serving trays, these are said to have been around for centuries. Even paintings of the ancient Biblical era show people in royal banquets being served food on ornamental trays.
The Uttermost Etro Tray will add style to your living room. The hand-shaped metal and glass give this tray a radiant sheen as it reflects the light off the golden glass pieces. The textured surface offers a beautiful look for this exotic serving tray and also helps secure stuff 
This stunning round tray by American company Michael Graves Designs is in mirror-polished stainless steel with heatproof black curved handles. It has clean lines accented by raised dots around the rim and handles. It is a stylish way to serve your guests with cheese or hors d’oeuvre.
The flower fantasy serving tray by Italian fashion and accessories house Versace is blooming with garlands of posies, violet and clover. A part of the iconic Versace-meets-Rosenthal collection, the fine porcelain tray adds elegance to any setting and can be a great gifting option.
Decorated with a traditional French garden design, this imaginative soup and sandwich tray from German ceramics company Villeroy & Boch lends classic charm to the lunch or dinner menu, and can be mixed and matched seamlessly with other pieces from the collection.
This unique tray from Italian kitchen design studio Alessi can be spread out for presentation on the table. Slight variation of angles can make it curve up, or it can be spread out flat or given any desired shape. This anodised aluminium tray can be easily rolled to save storage space.
Inspired from Japanese, naturalistic art, the glistening Christofle silver Belle Epoque serving tray has delicate flower details at both handles. France’s Christofle is renowned for its gorgeous silverware ever since it was established in 1830. This tray is proof of the craftsmanship.
The black granite and nickel tray from American designer Michael Aram’s Ocean Collection celebrates the bounty of the oceans and provides a jewel-like platform for the culinary gifts it provides us. The 15-inch-long tray reflects both beauty and intrigue in equal parts.
The Lotus leaf tray by Chinese designer Chang Yung Ho is an exact replica of a real lotus leaf picked from the pond of Beijing’s Summer Palace. The leaf was dried for six months and, then, scanned with a 3-D scanner and reproduced in stainless steel. It can be used on both sides.
The epitome of sleek, modern design, this sturdy tray made from aluminium and acacia wood by American company Nambé is great for breakfast in bed, or simply for indulging in some treats while reclining in the family room. A great gift for someone who likes to be served in style.
Topped with a clear glass knob, the two-tier serving tray from American kitchen accessories company Imax features two serving surfaces. It has a metal frame and two glazed ceramic trays. Each tray has a pearl centre and a yellow ochre border with delicate scored detail.
TIFFANY AND CO. 
FLOATING EARTH TRAY
BARBARA BARRY OVAL SCRIPT TRAY
A sleek little tray with loads of serving potential, the mirror-polished V Tray by Italian design house Alessi is virtually a work of art. Its three slats are angled at 90 degrees, making the V Tray great for serving fruit, crackers and cheese, or any other items worthy of fine display.
ADIDAS BRINGS BACK THE CRAZY
PACKING A PUNCH
COFFEE TABLE(T)
Do you sometimes get a feeling that your office meetings do not take off? If yes, then you need to sit at the 747 Jumbo Jet Conference Table by MotoArt, the American company that designs high quality corporate and home furniture from vintage airplane parts. The 3.6 meter wide, high-mirror polished table is made from an actual Boeing 747’s parts that had been put to scrap. It seats 12 people and has six pop-up connection ports for electronics and is accented with internal LED lighting and topped with a B-52 engine spinner that will give you the feeling of flying high.
Spanish luxury porcelain sculpture manufacturer, Lladró celebrated its 60th anniversary this year with an exhibition in Delhi featuring some of the brand's historical pieces. The works have been carefully chosen to outline the evolution of its sculptures from the 1950s to the present. Explained with graphic and audiovisual material, the overview demonstrated the ongoing creative restlessness of Team Lladro. The company displayed a number of its stunning figurines created in the City of Porcelain in Valencia, Spain, much to the delight and awe of the capital's art lovers.
It is sure to make a splash when it is released later this year. Mercedes Benz, in collaboration with Silver Arrows Marine, has created a 14-metre-long motor yacht that combines design elements of Benz with some amazing innovations. Called the Silver Arrow of the Sea, it took designers one year to perfect every detail of this futuristic 14-metre luxury yacht which, when released, will complete the third dimension of the German auto giant — car on the road, Diamler Benz Eurocopter in the sky and now the yacht on water.
A pencil, you’d say, is a pencil. But when it is made by the German fine writing instruments company Graf von Faber-Castell, it becomes much more than a wood-and-lead tool. The company’s sterling silver Perfect Pencil is a case in point. It comes with four extra wooden pencils and a platinum-plated pencil extender that has a built-in sharpener and a replaceable eraser under the cap of the pencil so that you have everything within the smallest space for writing, correcting and sharpening. Crafted from Californian Cedar wood, it releases a heady aroma when sharpened to put you in a creative mood.
When you wear this jacket, you will be wired up. Quite literally. Italian fashion house Zegna's Sport Icon is a slim-fit, waterproof, triple-layer jacket that has joystick controls installed into the sleeves so you never have to take out your phone. Bluetooth connectivity ensures remote, hands-free operation of mobile devices in this ultimate jacket. It allows the wearer to answer or end calls through an integrated microphone, as well as play music by toggling the flexible stick. You just connect your headphones to the jacket and string them through a hole near your ears and voila, you are good to go. Truly wearable computers have arrived.
Get ready to see the world through gold-leaf lenses with Dolce & Gabbana's sunglasses that have golden filigree framing. A part of the Italian designer duo's Fall Winter 2014 Collection, the eyewear has dazzled the trendsetters with its mosaic-and-gilded detailing. The opulently styled shades not just protect eyes but also raise the wearer's persona with supreme elegance. Ruling as the trend of the season, the bejewelled look of Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses is likely to become an instant hit on fashion streets.
If you thought computers, tablets and iPads were making handwriting redundant, think again. American online mega store Hammacher Schlemmer has launched the wireless stylus that makes taking notes on an iPad seem as natural as writing freehand with pen and paper. Comparable in size and feel to its ink-filled cousins when used with free downloadable apps such as IdealNotes or FlyNotes, the pen transforms an iPad into a note pad. It allows you to write fluidly, even letting you rest your hand on the screen, making it ideal for taking notes during meetings, jotting a quick memo or, if you are an artist, sketching a playful doodle.