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Window vistas Showroom windows in the tricity attract shoppers in many ways: they catch attention, connect or even convey a message
It's no cakewalk to make the loitering, strolling, coke-sipping window-shopper slow down, pause, take note and enter! Anyone who's been to Macy's Herald Square around Christmas knows what we're talking about. The power of store windows. Or the pull of store windows. Something, that from the very Indian 'XYZ sons' to the very Italian Salvatore Ferragamo can't do without. Bringing you the best and the baffling window props to paraphernalia from around the world and, of course, City Beautiful. Says Geet Sethi, regional manager, north, Esprit-17 showroom. "Our windows are done by a visual merchandising team and inputs come from Germany, which means that all our stores look all the same across the globe at one point of time." So much for their significance. At Esprit, they had once used just the legs and shown only the denims during promotions. Adds Geet, "Once Edc had sponsored a television channel function, during which the whole window was made to look like a rock festival with a rock band standing." Polo Ralph Lauren a few years back, pushed new limits when it unveiled the first interactive store window, wherein customers could shop 24x7. Like the regular windows, it displayed merchandise available in the store with the technology rendering it a virtual store. Looks as if the décor like the confetti, snow, pebbles, sparkles are out long enough to rather return! Closer home, recently, shoppers witnessed a huge, lifesize 40-feet -long denim done by Kapsons. Jatin Bedi, business head, Kapsons, Chandigarh, where the pair was hanged, says, "Of course, that was to catch the attention of the buyers and to announce the new look denims. I guess, the cloth used was 60 metres or so." You can well imagine! Yes, it didn't quite fit in the window; so they had to hang it out, spanning several floors! United Colours of Benetton, has resorted time and again to innovation. Once even an old brand scooter finding its way next to the mannequins. On the international markets, one of Hermes's spring summer collection had an original artwork as background and the garden setting used chairs, birdbath, topiaries as props. "Once when I was in Singapore, they were trying to popularise an all-time garment, so there were a lot of knick-knacks like bath accessories, rocks, red-coloured boat, legs of an octopus, scooty, bathroom tiles etc," says Manish Jain from Meena Bazaar. They had once used a bicycle to convey the message of approachability besides connecting with more people during recession. Catch attention, connect, convey message, what else does that big piece of glass do? Chips in Geet, "Store windows also educate about what's in, what's out, how to wear certain clothes because the mannequins are shown in interactive positions." She laughs, "Once there was this brand that had used living models with heavily painted faces as store statues." Dead, alive, plastic or real, they let their mannequins do all the talking! manpriya@tribunemail.com
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French dressing The only
Indian designer to be invited for this prestigious show, Sanchita has
created a special line for it, titled The Fable Collection. Excerpts
from an interview: How did 'Under the Louvre' happen? "Under
the Louvre, that's taking place during the Paris Haute Couture and
Men`B9s Fashion week shows, is a brand new experiment that opens the
window to a wider audience. This opportunity came to me through the
Analuiza Fashion Office, where I have been showing my collection for the
past four seasons. Analuiza was contacted by Who`B9s Next, the trade
fair organisers, who also act as talent spotters. They were on the
lookout for edgy new brands and emerging designers with original ideas
to showcase their collections in an artistic setting. The
inspiration for the Fables Collection? "This individualistic
collection is a conceptualisation of a collective cultural consciousness
handed down from generation to generation as oral literature or pour
quoi fables to impart lessons and values. "An anthology of
timeless tales from ancient Indian, Hellenistic, French and Greek-Roman
heritage, which unfold on a modern tapestry that responds to genius and
taste in antiquity. How did you adapt the fables on fabric? "The
animal protagonists with anthropomorphic characteristics symbolise the
moral without being didactic. The na`EFve motif of the hare and the
tortoise in a race against each other is recognisable in every language,
literature and culture. The collection will include tees, tank tops,
dresses and accessories that blend art with history, mythology, legend
and scripture. How do you source your collections? "We
strive to be eco-friendly and environmentally ethical. Since India has a
traditional background in terms of being a haven for fine-quality
cottons, we tend to incorporate it in many of our designs, by using
traditional techniques and treating the fabrics with modern and
technological finishings." chetnabanerjee@tribunemail.com
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Pal harbour Jigyasa Kapoor Chimra To start our series on spices from the sidelanes, we bring the flavour of mutton rogan josh and butter chicken from one of the city's oldest dhabas Pal
The story so far Now, a successful venture, it was late Ashok Kumar, father of Pritpal Singh, Joginder Singh and Mahinder Singh, who started this venture in the year 1965. Recalls Pritpal, "It was some 44 years ago that our father started this business. At that time he started with a rehri in Nehru Shastri Market-22, and later was allotted a kokha (shed). Time passed and our popularity increased, and then we were allotted a booth in Sector 28. And by God's grace there has been no looking back since." Together we cook
Food for thought The one thing that I like about this dhaba is the freshness of food. They make sure everything is as fresh as a rose. "Our entire food is consumed in the same day. So, the question of stale or left over food does not apply here," says Pritpal. Main course Continuing with the traditional style of cooking, these men use the age-old recipes and make sure there are no shortcuts like readymade masalas etc. "People like our desi flavour. We won't trade it for anything in the world," says Pritpal. Coming to the core concern-their specialization. Well, that is mutton and chicken. Talking specific, for a wholesome treat try mutton curry, rogan josh, butter mutton, butter chicken, magaz butter, dahi mutton and keema. Veggies don't loose heart, for this place has some lip smacking veggie delights too. Their bhaigan ka bharta, mutter paneer and dal fry too are enticing. Celebrity status Every famous eatery has some renowned names associated with it and so has Pal Dhaba. They have found loyal foodies in Bollywood star like Rishi Kapoor, Poonam Dhillon, Daler Mehndi, Gurdas Maan and Surinder Shinda. Says Pritpal, "These stars have had food with us and for Daler bhaji, he is so fond of our food that whenever he is even nearby, he orders food from us." That's star power. jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com
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Wax factor on green carpet Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's wax figure, which was unveiled at the Madame Tussauds museum in New York last month, has been especially flown in to be showcased at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards event in Macau. Amitabh's wax figure, dressed in a traditional black sherwani suit with a heavily embroidered gold and black shawl, is the first figure to be part of Madame Tussauds New York's all-new Bollywood Zone. The wax figure was placed in the centre of the green carpet on the first day of the event. Celebrities, dignitaries as well as members of the audience grabbed a chance to pose with the statue, which will be here for three days. The IIFA, which began Thursday, will end Saturday. Amitabh, who is IIFA brand ambassador, and his son Abhishek as well as daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai too posed with the statue as they walked the IIFA green carpet. The actor who kick-started the three-day-long IIFA extravaganza here with a press conference today, said that he did not subscribe to the constant comparisons with Hollywood. "Why can't we be proud of what we are doing rather than comparing ourself with others. The west is west and the east is east. Let both of them exist in their own world. What is wrong with the Indians?," the actor said. — IANS, PTI
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Losing proposition
In the study, researchers found that overweight individuals who ate such a diet for four weeks lost weight and experienced improvements in blood cholesterol levels and other heart disease
risk factors. They found that a high-carbohydrate, low-fat vegetarian diet also resulted in weight loss but without the additional cardiovascular benefits. David J.A. Jenkins, M.D., of St. Michael's
Hospital and the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues tested the effects of a
low-carbohydrate diet high in vegetable proteins from gluten, soy, nuts, fruits, vegetables, cereals and vegetable oils among overweight men and women with high LDL cholesterol levels. A total of 25 participants were randomly assigned to consume this diet-the "Eco-Atkins" diet-for four weeks, while an additional 25 participants ate a control diet that was high-carbohydrate,
lacto-ovo vegetarian and based on low-fat dairy and whole grain products. Study food was provided to participants at 60 percent of their estimated calorie requirements. Of the 47 participants who began the study, 44 (22 in each group) completed the four-week period. The researchers found that weight loss was
similar-about 4 kg or 8.8 pounds-in both groups bit reductions in LDL-C levels and improvements in the ratios between total cholesterol and HDL-C were greater for the low-carbohydrate diet
compared with the high-carbohydrate diet. The low-carbohydrate diet also appeared to
produce beneficial changes in levels and ratios of apolipoproteins, proteins that bind to fats. In addition, small but significantly greater
reductions were seen in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure for the low-carbohydrate vs the high-carbohydrate group. The researchers concluded that pending answers to important questions, including whether further reducing carbohydrate intake would produce
additional benefits, "a plant-based low-carbohydrate diet high in vegetable proteins and oils may be an effective option in treating those with dyslipidemia for whom both weight loss and lower LDL-C concentrations are treatment goals." The study is published in the June 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
— ANI |
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Bean brigade Kandla Nijhowne
When we were in school, our botany book described the raajmah as a kidney shaped legume and our Zoology teacher referred to the kidney as a bean shaped organ! Did the term kidney bean come before the word, kidney? That’s food for thought of a different category, but the super food we shall presently try our hand at are kidney beans (raajmah). This jewel like shiny red bean is a great source of cholesterol-lowering fiber, which in turn prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal. This makes these beans an especially good choice for individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. The insoluble fiber also lowers the risk of heart attack. Rich in iron, kidney beans, when combined with whole grains such as rice, provide virtually fat-free high quality protein. Well! Looks like our all-time favourite
raajmah chaawal is a sound bet, after all! Bean Chimichangas
Ordinary dough for 6 flour tortillas 1 tbsp olive oil 2 ½ cups cooked beans (raajmah) 2 tablespoons green chillies, seeded and chopped Salt and pepper to taste 12 tablespoons cheese, grated 1 cup sour cream 2 medium sized onions 2 tomatoes Lettuce, shredded Method To prepare sour cream, stir a tablespoon of yoghurt into the cream and keep aside for 4-5 hours like you would set ‘dahi’. Refrigerate when it has set. Tortillas can be cooked on the tava (like chapattis, using our standard dough with a light smearing of oil). Heat beans and chillies in a saucepan with the olive oil. Make sure the olive oil does not burn, as that will change its flavour for the worse. In the centre of each warm tortilla, spread the sautéed beans and chillies, and then sprinkle with cheese. Fold edges of tortilla to the centre, overlapping edges. Place seam side down on a warmed serving plate. Top with sour cream and garnish with lettuce and tomatoes. Bean and egg salad
200 gm kidney beans, soaked and cooked ½ kg potatoes, boiled and peeled 2 hard boiled eggs 2 green chillies, chopped 2 stalks of celery, sliced 2 tbsp mango chutney 2 spring onions, chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed handful of coriander leaves, chopped 1 tbsp oil Salt and pepper to taste Method Heat the oil in a pan and briefly stir fry the onions, green chillies, and garlic. Dice the eggs and potatoes and then combine all the ingredients. Mix well, season and serve while the salad is still warm. The eggs in the recipe can be replaced with cubed paneer. |
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Casino Royale Blackjack, roulette, poker, Bollywood stars go for it in Macau
Whether it is blackjack, roulette, poker or even just slot machines, actors and filmmakers are betting sums of money on the playing tables. While actors like Zayed Khan, Lara Dutta and Riteish Deshmukh have already hit the casinos, others like Amitabh Bachchan and Javed Akhtar preferred to stay away from the stalls at the lavish Venetian Macau-Resort here. Australian singer Peter Andre also stayed away. Genelia D'Souza and Ashutosh Gowariker who arrived Thursday are waiting to try their luck. Some roulette sound bytes of the stars: Amitabh Bachchan: I don't gamble. Lara Dutta: I played a little bit last night. Riteish (Deshmukh) taught me how to gamble. That is going to come handy for both of us later, but it's fun and exciting. Peter Andre: I don't know if I will play at the casino or not. Actually my dad doesn't like it.
Genelia D'Souza: I am definitely going to be visiting the casinos here... Life is all about fun. I don't know how to play at the casino, but I am hoping to take some tips from here. R. Madhavan: We go there (casinos) and pay our dues. I am not very good at it. I just play on slot machines and hope I hit the jackpot - that's all. Neil Nitin Mukesh: No casinos for me. Javed
Akhtar: Sushmita
Sen: Kabir Bedi: I usually win some, lose some, but I don't play by the extremes. Ashutosh
Gowariker: Rakeysh Omprakash
Mehra: Randhir Kapoor: I think I will go to the casinos . Please wish me luck. — IANS
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Filmi party
The aim of the festival is to sensitise various environmental issues, which affect people directly or indirectly. The films to be screened in the festival are critically acclaimed films on topics ranging from wildlife conservation, urban environmental conservation and indigenous farming
techniques. Humlog has been using low budget films as a medium to raise its voice against local environmental and health issues. Screening films from other parts of the country helps the people realise the importance of the environmental conservation. Day - 1 Tiger — the Death Chronicles
Tiger–The Death Chronicles, in 63 minutes, encapsulates 30 years of conservation attitude in this country. For the first time ever, a film joins diverse voices, from tiger scientists and conservationists to ordinary citizens, to attempt a brutal and an honest assessment of the present and the future of the tiger.. The film is presented and directed by Krishnendu
Bose, an internationally awarded film-maker, who has been making conservation films for the past 20 years. Delhi - Work in Progress
Delhi, known as one of the greenest capital in the world, is changing fast. This 2500-year-old-city’s history and greens are being transformed for a globalised look. This process is being rushed up for the Commonwealth Games to be hosted by Delhi in 2010, As Delhi’s face is changing beyond recognition, what is the price we are paying in destroying the green lung of our city? What is the vision of this change? Who is planning the change and for whom? Is this change inclusive? This 38-minute-film made by Krishnendu Bose captures the key milestones of this transformation. City’s leading academics, urban planners, environmentalists and activists, debate the nature of this change. But while we debate, resist and make films on this ‘new’ Delhi, Delhi is being transformed forever. Mother Earth
Produced by Deccan Development Society, the film is about a voyage of peace and harmony by serving Mother Earth through ecological practices of farming. Since 1985, the women of DDS Sanghams have used about 1.2 million eco-employment days to bring back under active cultivation over 10 thousand acres of degraded agricultural lands. Day 2 Repeat screenings of the films screened on Day 1. Timings: 5:30 - 8 pm. Entry free.
— TNS |
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Star struck
Sonam wants to be a star and makes no bones Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor, who turned 24 recently, says she always wanted to be a star and not just another actor. "For me, stardom is a new and novel experience... it's lovely. That's why I became a film actor. If I only wanted to be an actor, I would have done theatre. But I actually wanted to be a star and I make no bones about that," Sonam says in an interview. Sonam, who made her Bollywood debut in 2007 with Saawariya and later featured in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Delhi 6, says stardom definitely brings more pressure but she knows how to manage it. Sonam is at the ongoing International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards for her first stage performance and says she is extremely nervous. "I am nervous. I have butterflies in my stomach that are going all the way up to my head. The dress that I am wearing is very elaborate. It's by Anamika Khanna and is pink, red and black in colour and has a lot of glitter and sequins like most show outfits. I hope the outfit stays. But I am excited as well," she said. As of now, Sonam is looking forward to her home production Ayesha as well as Mehra's Sahibaan. — IANS
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Bowled over
Mysterious Girl hitmaker Peter Andre, who is here to perform at this year's IIFA extravaganza, is bowled over by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his baritone. Andre, who is a self confessed fan of old Bollywood cinema and counts Mother India amongst his all time favourites, said that he was impressed by the statuesque actor's personality. "He is amazing and honestly you hang on every word that he says. Everyone listens to his words with great concentration. And I think that whatever he says is just so perfect and so live," Andre said in an interview. — PTI
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Love's in the air
Whether it is 63-year-old Kabir Bedi or Riteish Deshmukh, who is almost half the latter's age, Bollywood's unmarried men were spotted with their girlfriends at the ongoing International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend here. While Kabir Bedi walked in on the first day's green carpet hand-in-hand with his much-younger girlfriend Parveen Dusanj, Riteish descended with his rumoured girlfriend Genelia D'Souza. Even former Miss World Lara Dutta, who looked stunning in a black heavily sequined top with trousers, walked in with actor boyfriend Dino Morea and stole away the limelight with her poise and enigma. The IIFA, an annual event that promises to take Indian cinema beyond Indian shores, kick-started here Thursday and will end Saturday with the award ceremony.
— IANS |
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Irresistible offer
Sparkles’ designer jewellery for everyday wear comes with an offer of 40 per cent more jewellery or flat 15 per cent off.
— TNS |
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Now,
another Indian style guru makes the French connection. Designer Sanchita
Ajjampur will soon be participating in a trade show called 'Under the
Louvre', organised by Whose Next, in France. The trade show will take
place at the Louvre Museum from June 26 - 28, during the men's wear
shows, ahead of the Haute Couture week. The show will be presented as an
art exhibition with 80 labels showing their collections. 
Serpentine
queue, cavalcade of cars, noisy environ and shouts for mutton curry,
mutter paneer, bhaigan ka bharta and dal fry is peculiar of
any popular dhaba. But when it comes to the most famous ones, the
difference is freshness of food and a long waiting time for a table. Same
is the case of Pal Dhaba-28. A name synonymous with mutton curry, rogan
josh and dahi mutton, Pal Dhaba is a household name for city
folks, but what surprises us is the owner's commitment and quality
control. And, we are sure these are the things that make people come back
again and again.
The best thing about this
dhaba is, despite the success and a fan following of number of foodies,
these three brothers still handle the kitchen themselves. Says Pritpal,
"Though we have helpers but it's me and my brother Mahinder who cook
the food." And when he says food, mind you these men cook the entire
bill of fare. "We start around 4.30 every morning and make sure
everything is cooked till early noon." Ask him if it is necessary
(well, they have a fleet of men working for them) and he says, "Some
of our guests have been visiting us for the past 25-30 years. They know
our style of cooking, and if sometime somebody else cooks, they come up
and say, aj khanna apne nahi banaya. This gives us the motivation
to cook ourselves, as this is what the customers like." Well, that's
human. Who doesn't like appreciation!
A wannabe was desperately learning English to be in the loop of the educated hoi-polloi. He went to a party, accompanied by the wife, a young son and a daughter. On confronting the host, thus went his rehearsed speech: Sir jee, this is my housewife and this is me…This is my kid and this is my kidney!
A bevy of Bollywood stars attending the ongoing International Indian Film Academy
(IIFA) event here is loving Macau for the one thing it can't do in India officially—gambling. 
Three short films at the Green Film Fest will highlight various environmental issues
Humlog, a voluntary organisation, in association with STEPS, is holding the Green Film Festival on June 13 and 14 at the Government Museum and Art Gallery auditorium, Sector 10
Tiger, the symbol of India and one of the most charismatic animals to walk the face of the earth, is facing a severe crisis today. It’s prey, habitat and the animal itself are being decimated. The movie explores this crisis.
Ebony Retail Holdings Pvt. Ltd. is back with bargain offers on branded signature jewellery like Gili, Sparkles and Cygnus. Gili has beautifully crafted jewellery starting from Rs 5,000 and comes with a 75 per cent buy back and 85 per cent exchange offer. One can avail up to 25 per cent off too. Cygnus comes with a starting range of Rs 3,000. On purchase of Rs 15,000, get a chain worth Rs 4,300 free and on a purchase of Rs 25,000 onwards, get a pendent worth Rs 9,000 for free.