From Indian Coffee Houses to high-end cafes, the coffee culture in the tricity has come a long way and has lots brewing

od made offices, deadlines, pink slips, recession, but he also made coffee.And who needs a study by associate professors from the 'University of lagoon dale islands' that seven to 10 cups of coffee a week reduce the chances of heat stroke by two thirds? Huh! Have lip, will sip. Exactly why coffee is Chandigarh's cup of tea. Lifestyle brings you a telescopic view of the café culture in the tricity, then, now and how; from here to headed where.

Once upon a time…

It all began in 2002, when Barista entered the scene. Suddenly, coffee was an experience, coffee was cool, coffee was the biggest social discovery. A year later, it's welcome Café Coffee Day. After that, we never looked back. Did we? Barista and CCD, now one for each sector. Costa Coffee was only slightly late in the string of brands waiting to serve the tricity. Mr Beans, Mocha's, Arabia, Barista Lavazza, Chandigarh kept on bowing and opening the door. To think, once all we had was Indian Coffee House in the name of the place where you take the 'elixir of urban living.' Where turbaned men served South Indian along with coffee to shy youngsters exchanging hidden glances. In Mohalli one actually after the concept of gizmo café opened. Save for a few closed boards like Barista in Sector 17, Costa Coffee, Mr Beans-9, there's been an exponential growth, to put it mildly. Sunny Malik, city-based lawyer, recalls, "There were two coffee houses, one in the varsity and the other in Sector 17. There were only one to two types of coffee available and the only name was coffee house, people went there basically to have South Indian fare." Light years of difference between flashback and fast forward!

Round the clock, round the corner

Got the blues, need a break, have nothing to do, hit the coffee joint. It isn't just seventy kinds of coffees being served. Not even the brownies, muffins or cookies. Rather, an experience, an addiction, a whole new lifestyle. Plug on to a laptop, spend time on your shuffle, work on notes, fill the form, meet a friend, watch a cricket match, or just be, after all, it's a coffee table. Shares Mahesh Kumar, guest experience manager, at a city café, "We provide facilities like wi-fi, guitar, chess, scrabble, range of magazines and coffee table books to our guests." He adds, "That's not it. Save for the regular menu, we change the menu every season, four times a year." Is it any wonder, 'Let's go for a coffee' has become the national anthem.

Menu makeover

The change in menu comes with change in culture. From the days of enjoying egg uttapam and cutlets along with a cup of frothy coffee to a whole range of coffee cuisine, the menu just keeps getting tempting. If it was just coffee or breads, cakes, muffins, brownies, it's graduated to dosa, pasta, and soups. Having a breakfast menu, summer menu, autumn menu, winter specials, they have tastes for each changing season. CCD plans to open Chandigarh to an extra dose of caffeine with coffee bars and lounges, with coffee shots reminding of tequila shots.

Summers have breezers, smoothies, granites and shakes, apart from the regular variety of coffee. The winter menu is more lavish like chocolate and crème-blended coffees.

Cafes turned mystic with hookahs and sheeshas. Desire became tempting with desserts and sizzlers complementing your coffee. Backpackers-9, a travel-café with a tabloid menu, salads, books, paintings and pictures offers a 'different' rather European style café culture in city.

With everybody there, all the time, probably they've moved on to little Punjabi food and soups.

Crowd puller

Remember how we had only Indian Coffee House, a heritage site for city coffee culture, as the only haven for those who wanted to break away from the usual tea-drinking phenomenon. Thronged by professors, journalists, writers, and between the oldies at the tables, we had the prospective bride and groom meetings, the blind dates, and occasional birthday parties.

And then there was a café revolution; the young and all became addicts, better still fans. From special time, café culture became relaxation time. A mecca for youngsters, in company of Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy and cappuccino, the perfect date with coffee, soft ambience and watching Bridges of Madison County, a casual family outing, important business meetings, even interviews happen over a cup of fresh, brewed coffee.

The setting is plush, yet informal, upmarket, yet within reach, and that's drawing people from all age groups to these cafes. But, "We may have got the ambience right and the coffee glitzy, but we still haven't captured the concept that created coffee houses in the first place. Most city cafés are loud and noisy. Its difficult to enjoy coffee and conversation at the same time, leave aside sharing ideas and thoughts. Perhaps, we have nice chairs, couches and menu but lack the etiquettes to enjoy a cup of coffee," feels Neelam Man Singh, eminent theatre personality from city.

With changing demographics, the global influences have also give refined touch to our coffee. There is Turkish coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Greek coffee, Belgian coffee, Thai style coffee…well, where there's a will, there's a coffee!

It's the festive season and just the right time to re-do your home, with summer tones giving way to perky autumn hues

Go, splash out the yellow paint, pick up a few bright purple throw pillows and dig around for a brilliant blue blanket, for the weather is sure going to turn breezy and bright. And, since the season is changing and celebrations galore, how about doing your home again, in warmer shades, to be precise more vivid and cheerful hues. Though those pastel shades that you bought only some months back have been saving you from the harsh sunrays and the heat wave, but as far as colours, fabrics and the general feel of the house goes, lighter furniture and brighter colours are in for autumn/winter 2009 festive season.

Colour code

Spelling colour trends, Jaswinder Kaur, an interior decorator from Mohali, says, "This season will be of bright yellows, bold reds and funky purples. Light greys, browns and greens will also be a hit." And, what's out, "Nothing actually. Each and every colour has its importance and when it comes to home décor, there isn't a single colour in the spectrum that designers wouldn't like to use." Citing examples, she says, "Few years back nobody would have used yellow or mauve on a wall, today it's a common sight to see bright hues on the wall."

Fabricated

Talk about home furnishings and we have Vimmy Singh, furnishing designer from Navyazari-Design Studio in Sector 34 spelling the autumn/winter trends. "Contemporary look, clean lines and shimmery touch on fabrics are in. And, in winter, people like heavy stuff. Suede and silk replaces sheer fabrics for curtains and when it comes to tapestry, gold is the colour of the season (remember its also festive time). Lending warmth to the house, it also gives a luxurious touch to the décor." Ask what's out and she says, "Puffy, oversized furniture, pastel hues and clutter of decorative pieces is out and outmoded."

Brocade and silk upholstery is another thing that you could add to your home décor. Says an employee of Fabindia, "With the change of season there's always a change in fabrics used for home décor. Heavier fabrics like brocade, silk and wool make way and lighter fabrics fade away." Talk about colours and she too agrees that festive season is all about dark and deep colours.

Get floored

Flooring is another item in the house that changes the entire look of the house. For people, winter simply means folding out the carpets and durries that you nicely packed for the summer. This season spells the trend of carpet tiles and it's the old-world charm of wall-to-wall carpet that is out. "For floor covering, this season we have bright hue woolen durries. Gone is the trend of wall-to-wall carpets people like smart and stylish things and this season is all about wool," says an employee of Fabindia.

Light up

The festive season is here and how can anyone miss the home décor items like lamps and candles. Seen in every home décor shop these slick pieces have come in varied shapes, materials and sizes. Brass is one metal that is quite a hit this season other than that what we saw were paper lamps. Yes, you read it right paper lamps. Either as hanging lamps or with a wooden base these lamps have a top of fine paper cutting and are covered with glass to protect the delicate paper. In bright hues these lamp tops is one thing that could lighten up your home décor this festive season. Available at Fabindia.

For more choices check out Rosebys-they have some interesting pieces in table lamps and aromatic candles in varied fragrances.

jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

Our socio-cultural traditions are interwoven with religion in its wider ramifications and enmeshed with the spiritual reverence for our deities. No literary work has influenced the social and cultural life of Indians here and abroad as the epic of Ramayana," says K.K. Khandelwal, PSCM, while disclosing the 10-day-programme of Ram Leela from September 19 which is being organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations, Haryana, at Yavanika Open Theatre in Panchkula.

"The divine spectacle will be staged by 31 artistes of Swami Harigovind Foundation Brindavan, including female actors under the direction of Ram Parshad Maharaj from 8 pm onwards and all are welcome," adds BS Balhara Project director.

Over the centuries, the devouts had been paying obeisance to Goddess Durga to invoke blessings during the auspicious Navratra days, twice a year at the Mata Mansa Devi shrine in Manimajra.

"Like previous years, the Ashwin Navratra mela will be held from September 19 to 27 for which elaborate arrangements have been made," says Pankaj Yadav, DC Panchkula and chief administrator. "Strict vigilance by district officers and police, deployment of medical staff, installation of CCTV cameras and other facilities will ensure safety and welfare of the devotees," assured Pankaj Yadav.

"Besides regular religious and cultural activities, noted devotional and sufi singer Barkat Sidhu and Vivek Ranga will present Bhajan Sandhya on September 21 and 22, respectively," says Yadav.

The Durga Puja celebrations by ICON-Panchkula, a religious, cultural and charitable organisations too will be held at the community centre, Sector 20, from September 24 to 28. Swami Brahmeshanandji Maharaj of Ramakrishna mission will inaugurate the event. Besides cultural activities, including devotional music, classical music and dance, quiz and painting competition too will be held.

It's raining exhibitions in city and denizens are ready to soak in some plenty. After the ongoing Silkfab, it's the handicrafts and handloom mela at Lajpat Bhawan-15, offering a wide variety of fabrics and artwork for your wardrobe and home. Starting from silk, yet again weavers from across different states have come with a vast range from Bhagalpuri to Chanderi to Maheswari, pick up traditional prints in suits and sarees and style them to your casual or formal wear. In cotton wear, we have Luckhnowi chicken work, Jaipuri and Gujarati prints in bandhini, kota doriya, lavish lehenga-cholis with mirrorwork and colourful embroidery. The price for fabrics varies between Rs 300 to Rs 5000.

For home furnishings, handicrafts in wood and jute make for a collection. From religious miniatures to paintings and stone jewellery, it has something for everyone. The price range here starts from Rs 50 onwards.

On a Saturday afternoon, a group of youngsters (to be categorised as dudes), hanging around at the Centra Mall, noticed people walking in and out of a gallery, which has paintings that they haven't never seen in close quarters hung all over. Curiosity gets the better of them, and they decide to take a look, pretty sure of not finding anything interesting. It's almost 20 minutes, and the gang is engrossed trying to make sense of pictures hung on the wall. " Here you go, this is the whole idea of bringing artists and their works at the mall," says Rakesh Sharma, of creative beans, who along with three other ex-students Neerja Sharma, Mahesh Sharma and Pawan Soni of Government College of arts ('92 batch) have organised an Art Expo at Centra Mall. " We have named it Art expo and not exhibition," offers the group. " The idea is to bring art to people who don't understand it, and who wouldn't otherwise go to any gallery or museum to check out the work of art."

Now, this is what we say is commercialisation of art. Echoes the group, "The better way to put it across would be innovation in art. We don't think students or those without any interest in art would ever visit a gallery or a museum or an art Exhibition. Through Art expo we want to familiarise people about art. At a place like a mall, you can expect people across all age groups as visitors."

And here it is- works of 40-50 artists, freelancers, professors from GCA, freshers, depicting varied themes. Some are strokes of fine art on the canvas in the form of an 'oil on canvas' painting, others are real life pictures produced in the form of digital and graphic prints, and a few selected sculptures. Santosh from Kuruhshetra captured Buddha on canvas, whereas Sonam Jain's depiction of King and Queen on the cards in a mysterious way symbolizing the power of the almighty, Shelly Bindal's Jodhpuri sculpture, Vinay Malik's shadow of the wheels of a bicycle caught on digital prints made for a good picture.

Says Shelly Bindal of 2009 batch, "We compiled the Expo in a short span of time. Everyone has given their best."

As for the 'Creative Beans', they plan to hold similar sale cum exhibitions in the near future as well.

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Dil Bole Hadippa is a gender-bending tale, one that pits a male and female Rani Mukherjee against a sprightly Shahid Kapoor. It’s interesting that this film comes in the wake of the most recent controversy regarding top athlete Castor Semenya’s true gender. I am sure this story has no links to it, though it may very well have sprung some of it’s elemental connections from our very own athlete Shanti’s humiliating debacle. Let’s not digress though. Yashraj’s film has no pretensions to a deep analysis of the social equation between male, female or any other gender. It is a crassly commercial masala flick that tries to incorporate some hit elements from the much appreciated Chak De India, the money-spinning sport of cricket, the guaranteed masala of a nautanki and the rustic milieu it’s set in, Punjab, an essential Yashraj element. The story is terribly clichéd and it’s plotting follows the usual yashrajisms. So, if you are looking for originality –forget it!

Its time when Wagah becomes live with the sounds of willow crackers, the Aman Cup is in session and the local Indian team is yet again on the receiving end of the Pakistani onslaught. So to avert another successive defeat in the coming year the chief Indian sponsor (Anupam Kher) decides to get his county cricketer son Rohan (Shahid Kapoor) back to India. Veera (Rani Mukherjee) is the typical village belle, who has to turn into Veer Pratap Singh ( Rani again) to get selected in the team.

The problem with the film is that it’s framed on a flimsy non-evocative premise. That there is no girls’ team in Amritsar and therefore Veera had to become Veer is unconvincingly laid out. The anger that Rohan expresses on realizing that he has been duped also appears false because by then he has already expressed his love for Veera. The twist in fact appears just in time to extend the narrative and bring in some much needed teary emotion. Though cricket is the backbone of the story, the director prefers to focus his mite on playing out the love-quadrangle in order to complicate the narrative and give it more teeth. Rani is ravishing in the film, convincing in her essaying of both Veer and Veera, also the lead pair look pretty good together-the age difference doesn’t show up at all, the film lacks strength because the script is quite hackneyed, the narrative is pretty unconvincing, the background score ( Ik Onkar play incessantly accompanied with a lot of Bhangra rap) is off-putting,  the songs( penned by Jaideep Sahni, composed by Pritam and choreographed by Rekha,Chini and Vaibhavi) are surprisingly pedestrian and there’s not much bite in the drama. Debutant director Anurag Singh doesn’t get the pacing or the plotting right. His treatment is singularly uninspiring. The tension is missing and so are the thrills, as a result even Rani’s histrionics appear insipid and un-involving -just as the film itself!

Johnsont307@gmail.com

Wanted is the remake of Pokiri in Tamil and Telugu, both hit films directed by ace dancer Prabhudhevaa himself. There is nothing new in this film save for Salman Khan. There is a huge body count on display here and the act of killing itself seems to have received tremendous creative input, here. The usual song routines are there with hip music and new-age dancing ( Salman appears pretty stiff even though he doesn’t have to do anything challenging), the action is pulverizing and the drama is manipulated shamelessly. This kind of film needs no script. It’s all about playing it by numbers. 

Radhe (Salman Khan) is a hard-core gangster. Totally fearless, he single handedly eliminates Gani Bhai’s enemies and as a result there are severe repercussions. Jhanvi (Ayesha Takia) falls for Radhe when he plays hero and rescues her from some hoodlums. Not much to go on really but the story takes a turn Radhe’s true identity is revealed. It’s all so predictable.

This tale is certainly not innovative-the narrative is quite ingratiating, obsessed as it is by violence in every form. There’s quite a bit of forced humour at play and when it’s not there you laugh anyway at the ridiculous twists and turns the story takes. Salman sleep-walks through the role- he even looks bleary-eyed through-out and Ayesha Takia is just another pretty face in a long line of them. Prabhudhevaa, give us a break puhleaaaaase!

TAROT TALK
What the cards say today...
P. KHURRANA

ARIES: You draw Ten of Pentacles, so a very depleting and confusing time when you do not know exactly what you want. Physically, you need to be gentle with yourself and take care not to dissipate your energy reserves. Tip of the week: Speak only once you are sure. Lucky colour: Saffron.

TAURUS: The Moon takes you through a difficult karmic situation. Work will progress satisfactorily. You may be in an irritable mood and will be prone to losing your temper with friends and family and may resent their advice or well-meaning efforts. Tip: Accept responsibility for the current circumstances and make the necessary changes. Lucky colour: Sea green

GEMINI: You draw The Fool and feel free, unburdened and happy. No matter how you try, you can't fully control the object of your love without changing it into something different. You may not conform to social norms. Tip: Act on the present situation and do not be afraid. Lucky colour: Bottle green.

CANCER: The Emperor gets you in touch with you're leadership qualities. You may want to make changes that will not be to peoples liking. You are best to stick to yourself today. Try to avoid serious discussions with loved ones. Tip: Don't let your own stubbornness cause irreversible problems. Lucky colour: Baby pink.

LEO: The Lovers inspire you to climb new heights and actualise creative ideas. Sharing your hospitality, entertaining people and other loving gestures are emphasised now. You are apt to feel relaxed and pleasantly unambitious. Tip: Focus on remaining quiet and observing. Lucky colour: Silver.

VIRGO: The wheel of fortune spins in some good fortune. Your sense of humour and willingness to help others will put you in the spotlight at work and at home. Romance will improve. Unrealistic expectations about financial dealings could result in disappointments. Tip: Do things with passion and don't hold back. Lucky colour: Pink

LIBRA: The Priests usher in a pure, exalted and gracious influence. You don't want anything rough edged, or gritty, unpleasant or stretching. There will be moments of leisure and romance with person you love. Tip: Be cautious when making important career related decisions. Lucky colour: Royal blue.

SCORPIO: The Queen of Swords brings mental clarity and perspective in chaotic situation. Sweep some things under the carpet; it's not as if anyone will know. Activities away from home will bring extra pleasure and broaden your viewpoint. Tip: Listen to your dreams and do not undermine imagination. Lucky colour: Black.

SAGITTARIUS: Ten of pentacles bode extremely well for relationship and romance. You may have some ideas for new business ventures. Professionalism will help you gain clarity and give you the confidence to go ahead with your plans. Tip: Be clear about your priorities. Lucky colour: Deep crimson

CAPRICORN: The Prince of Wands rides in his flaming chariot of gold to instigate dynamic changes at work. There is a blossoming of consciousness and the fragrance all around you. Focus on organising the home to cope with the festive season and the hectic social life. Tip: Time to save and make plans for the future. Lucky colour: Creamy white.

AQUARIUS: The karmic Wheel of fortune turns in your favour. A new friendship with an opposite sex shows signs of long lasting commitment. Those of you living away from home, return to your roots. Beware of folly or obsession in material aspects. Tip: Play your cards right and you will find opportunities coming your way. Lucky colour: Red.

PISCES: The Magus brings change and travel. You walk down memory lane with old friends and celebrate with nostalgia and gay abandon. Socially you are on top form and feel extremely popular. Tip: Being flexible and prepared for last minute changes will help you contain the situation. Lucky colour: Turquoise.