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Green is Red
It’s time to paint the town red in green! Well, for the confused, let us clear the message. Since, climate change concerns and environment have become the epicentre of all our considerations, the latest one to take charge and spread awareness about global warming is Santa Claus. Call it a survival strategy to save his home, North Pole from melting or an attempt to reach out to the next generation for help and awareness, but this Christmas Mr Claus will be flaunting a cause. The concept, though, is not a breaking change. Santa turned green some time back with a children book, When Santa Turned Green, written by Victoria Perla in order to aid the awareness programme against global warming.
Al Gore, a global leader and champion of the cause, had commented that it will help the youngest of children to start caring for the planet and solving the crisis. The Green Santa effect is seemingly growing. Even Mc Donald’s mascot turned green to catch the young generation’s attention towards the cause. The fast-food chain has been out with a series of environmental and social initiatives designed to prove that it cares, going for an organic makeover and even tying up with Greenpeace. So, when our powerful global leaders couldn’t make things work at Copenhagen, the focus has shifted to the younger lot, say children.
“Practical learing is more effcetive than theory. And, with such concepts, children are drawn towards the cause and are bcoming part of it,” says Aroma Dhawan, a teacher from the city. Santa Claus is all about gifts, cakes and celebrations and when he says go green than some actually follow. Like Nazm, Aroma’s 11-year-daughter, “She too is going to celebrate green Christmas by baking a ‘green’ cake. And, that means a carrot cake, with lots of beans as icing. She has stictly told all of us to stick to the eco-freindly celebration resolution,” shares Aroma. Well, it’s also an easy way to put the message across. “Occassions like this are the rigth time to make kids understand the importance of certain issues. Everybody loves Santa, whether in Chandigarh or Chicago. So, if he endorses eco-friendly moves, kids are bound to be effected positively,” says Sahil Arora, who will be getting Santa’s message across to his two sons this Christmas by getting them eco-friendly gifts. “But, we must make sure that this should just not end with Christmas. From food to gifts to clothes, it’s the right time to tell your kids about their environment-friendly options and encourag eto chooe them,” feels Mona Shree, director, The British School-44. Well, one thing is for sure. This Chistmas, decorate your Christmas tree with eco-friendly things, wrap your gifts with recycled paper and you might get a gift or two more from Santa! Put your green cap on and ring the bell — Ho, ho, ho! Merry Green Christmas!
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Wish U a Merry X-mas
Praying, singing and rejoicing! Indeed there are different paths to reach God and touch the hearts and they needn’t be always ‘boring’. There are interesting, rather musical ways of reaching God. Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act II made gospel singing and church hymns sound hip and enjoyable.
And, this we believe should be the practice, ‘enjoying everything we do.’
Whether it is having a hearty meal with friends, merry making, dancing or singing to the Lord. So, ‘Ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no river deep below.....’ Carol singing, as people say, has definitely witnessed a change over time. And how?
“Accordion used to be the only instrument played for carols when I was young,” fondly remembers Annie Charles Samuel, co-founder and vice- principal of Mount Carmel School, listing the good changes she has seen in the carols, the instruments and participation of people in the choir and church singing. “The new generation has created their own rap, R&B kind of carols, which are interesting, ‘singable’ and lovely.
At the same time, now they use all kinds of instruments for carol singing — guitar, drums, violin pack them in a bus and off they go to greet friends and relatives for X- mas and New Year,” she smiles. Carol singing is one of the oldest customs in Great Britain. People go from house to house singing carols and collecting money for charity. The word carol comes from the ancient Greek ‘choros’, which means dancing in a circle, and from the old French word carole, meaning a song to accompany dancing. However, over the years, the word ‘carol’ changed its meaning referring only to certain kinds of songs, and now known as Christmas songs. “From Malayam, Hindi, English to fusion, we sing all kinds of Chirstmas carols, puts in Jiji Abraham, a student of DAV college. Besides, now youngsters have added a new dimension to carol singing. They put up projectors in the church and sing carols. Annie has an interesting observation to share. “People from the other communities enjoy carol singing. Some non-Christian families invite us and we go for carol singing to their place, greeting them and wishing them a prosperous year ahead. The traditional period to sing carol is from St Thomas’s Day (21 December) until the morning of Christmas Day. Adds Annie, “In the Western countries carol singing starts a month in advance of the D-day, but here in this part of the region we do it 10 days ago. All said and done, the idea of singing carols is to praise the lord no matter how it is done.” jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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A matter of hearth
It’s straight from the heart and it’s straight from the hearth! So, when a new European and Mediterranean Bistro-35 opens its doors, it appears there was always a place for this one. What about woods and fire amidst kitchen?
Flamme Bois Café (pronounced as Flam-wa) opened a fortnight ago and it seems the fire is out to spread.
“It means flaming wood or tree and that we thought was apt for a name as it goes with the concept,” Karan Deep Singh Suri, director, Suri Bradford Hospitality, owner Flamme Bois, spells it out. He adds, “I love food, have been travelling all over and while researching, we realised that there’s no restaurant in the city that can boast of food from the wood fire.” The ‘nature and earth lovers camp’ complaining of cold electric cooking can dilate their pupils with excitement. He nods, “You’ll notice an essential difference between the food that’s cooked through routine electric versions on LPG and the one’s been cooked on wooden fire. They are just not the same quality.” After the Unique Selling Proposition, it’s time to turn over. Well, the entire cooking’s done in olive oil, there’s a range of continental and a chef with the lineage ands legacy. A peep in the menu and there’s non-veg lovers delight chicken satay, falafel, chicken fajita, host of soups, a range of wood fired pizzas, of course desserts and beverages and happy hours! The menu has been personally looked after by chef Rozario, who comes with a decade of experience in the field from Dubai. “The entire menu has been personally searched and selected and taken care of by the chef as it’s his baby. I just has the concept in mind and looked for people who could fit into it.” As for others, nobody would quite mind fitting into white and dark wooden interiors, sinking into beige cushions and watching the chef work its magic live. Think white walls, red bricks, dark brown wood. “It is the first venture, everything has been done with a lot of pains. The entire panel of walls are like canvases, bare and carrying that authentic touch. It took us a lot of time to make the threads drop one at a time.” He’s referring to the smooth, smeared carvings in the wall, with candle drop threads. Anyways back to the food, how about trying some pizzas from the hearth, pastas from the wood fired oven and everything else for company?
manpriya@tribunemail.com |
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Old Turks
Wednesday morning saw some vintage beauties zip across the city beautiful to Kasauli hills. Organised by Surya Rock Rose Resorts in association with Chandigarh Chapter of Vintage and Classic Car Club the car rally was flagged off from Sukhna Lake by Advisor to the UT Administrator, Pardeep Mehra. More than 15 vintage car enthusiasts participated in this tourism promotion rally, which ended at Surya Rock Rose Resorts amidst breath taking Kasauli Hills.
“We are very well aware that hills around Kausali has tremendous potential for tourism and by organising this vintage car rally we just want to prove that,” says Kamaljit Singh, managing director, Surya Rock Rose Resorts.
“In fact this is just a beginning and this rally is mere a curtain raiser for the much bigger event we are planning to organise in March, 2010,” said Dheeraj Punj, group vice president, Surya Rock Rose Resorts. “Along with Vintage and Classic car club, we shall be holding even bigger vintage car rally in which Delhi Chapter of the club will also participate,” informed Punj.
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At your service
The catering standards in the tri-city took another high with the launch of Supper Club, an outdoor concept catering company that is part of the Nagpal Frozen Food Group on Tuesday. The moving force behind Supper Club, Sahil Nagpal, is a graduate from the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition, Mumbai. Having worked under some of the leading chefs of the country including Chef Vernon Coelho and Chef Hemant Oberoi he says, “Our objective is very clear. We want to give our clientele a unique experience in luxury dining outside the restaurant doors.
Most guests get fed up with attending back-to-back functions as they seem alike in terms of menu, concept and presentation. We are looking at carving a niche for ourselves by introducing a number of specialised services like Silver Service, Gueridon Service, Kiosk Service, Platter Service etc.” Talking about the importance of hygiene, Nagpal said, “Our focus will be on maintaining the highest standards of hygiene not only in the guest areas but also the kitchen. We have set a number of processes and standards in place to ensure that raw as well as cooked food is kept in a sterile environment in the kitchen area. Our chefs and support staff will be required to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene,” he added.
Supper Club will cater to corporate gatherings, kitty parties, exhibitions, weddings and functions where there are 50 to 1000 guests. The company will look to innovate new concepts and re-innovate the basics so that the guests savour the ambience created by the food and service.
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Across the barbed wire
Experience the appearance, bling, glamour and the air of Pakistan at the Made in Pakistan, a consumer exposition from the heart of Pakistan at CII. Giving a new outlook to Indo-Pak friendship and an initiative by the CII, it brings you an exotic range of products from the neighbour country. Perfectly timed to cater to buoyant consumer sentiments in the festive season of Christmas and New Year, this prestigious friendship show “Made in Pakistan ” presents a bouquet of products including garments, footwear, handicrafts, onyx, dry fruits, kitchenware, marble, melamine, furniture, cutlery, paintings, gemstones and sports goods from 43 companies and two food stalls.
The showstoppers are the Onyx décor pieces with their elaborate and exclusive designs and finishing. “The Onyx we use is exclusive to Baluchistan, were it is mined. These pieces are also exported worldwide,” says Mohd Saleem, from Warsi Max Imports from Lahore. The range started from Rs 300 and goes up to Rs 20,000. Elegant wine glasses to elaborate fireplaces, everything has unique touch. If Onyx appeals to your home, then the wardrobe gets designer with the famous Pakistani suits. Designer pieces in cotton, broche chiffon, raw silk and embellished with crystals, stones and threadwork, starting from Rs 2000 onwards. The glamorous and trendy designer juttis with sucha tillawork are a must pick and cost effective too with a range between Rs 400- Rs 1000. The other attractions included designer melamine crockery, dry fruits and shesham wood works. Sharing this sentiment, the leader of the delegation Parvez Bandey, proprietor, P&B Textiles, Rawalpindi says, “Such fairs not only give an opportunity for trade and business, but is also an initiative to reach out to people of India and engage with them. As an add on, food courts at the show will serve the exquisite Pakistani cuisine bringing a flavour of Anarkali Bazaar of Lahore.” On till December 27 |
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Chill-out zone
It’s one place where you can recline and relax after a day’s hectic work. Delicious food, variety of drinks, music according to your preference, ranging from rock to soft and the perfect ambience — the all-new Metro35 lounge is offering everything to make your evenings worthwhile. To be launched on Wednesday, the Lounge will throw a page 3 party on December 25. “The party will see the city’s who’s who.”
A la Carte menu will be available on the weekdays that will be replaced by snacks on Saturdays and Sundays.
“On weekends people can order for sizzlers, snacks, soups and sandwiches along with drinks. The lounge will remain open on Saturday nights,” says DJ Taran Mehra of the lounge. All Indian and international brands of liqueurs, mocktails and cocktails are available here. The lounge will promote house music. “We aim to invite DJs from Delhi and Mumbai to mix music. Also, every Tuesday and Thursday will see rock music performances by various city-based rock bands. We are trying to bring in the concept of live music in the city.” Every Wednesday will see a hip-hop night. The interiors of the lounge are done in wood and glass. A New Year party is also scheduled on December 31. —
TNS Home proud
With the rise of demand and interest of people in creatively and aesthetically decorating their homes, the business of home decor has gained momentum in the city. One such event, an exhibition organised by Rekha Chaudhary and Dipti Sawhney, proves our claim. The exhibition Hotel Aroma-22 has something to offer to all. On display are blankets, carpets, durries, bedsheets, gift items and kitchen accessories which are being conceptually designed in a manner to please your eyes and gel with different kind of interiors. —
TNS Conclude December 24 |
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FLASHBACK
Bride and prejudice
Jab maa dhoonde bahu aur beta chahe wife they come together to Lux Perfect Bride to hunt for one. A reality show with 10 girls and five boys with their Mummyjis in tow was a favourite of those married or yet-to-be-married alike. While the boys occupied Kunwar quarters, kanyas and mothers were together in Mummy Mahal. Full of dates, romance, cooking and cleaning, this Mahal was also steep in backbiting, scheming and plotting that saw exit of one would-be-bride after another till Rumpa and Hitesh became the first couple to wed on small screen. Love & war
Here love is war. MTV Splitsvilla 2 had nine boys and nine girls chase love and fame in the land of attraction and deceit. Some of the tales of forever love simply fell flat while others rose in this villa of lust, trust and mistrust. The game, a potpourri of flirting, proposals and dejections saw participating couples bad mouth opponents to their best apart from some punches and casting couch allegations. The chosen king and a queen ruled this realm full of politics, pressure and maliciousness. Swayamvar saga
This reality show promised to reveal a seldom seen side of the ‘drama queen’. Rakhi ka Swayamvar was another show full of the masala, fun, excitement and curiosity. Uninhibited, audacious and outspoken Rakhi for a change mellowed down and tried to act a shy and docile to-be- bride. Contestants sang, danced and wrote love letters to woo Rakhi. She chose her soulmate in Canadian born Gujarati NRI Elesh Parujanwala from a pool of potential grooms. Both decided to get engaged and to know each other before tying the knot. Soon the things turned sour for the couple and they called it quits. Rakhi is now looking for another swayamvar to select a right partner in her life. Baby borrowers
Pati, Patni aur Woh isolated celebrity couples from their glamorous lives, and thrust them into the real world, where they become parents. The show saw them go through the challenging and frustrating experience of parenthood from infancy to adolescence. The couples spend an entire month in a closed environment, monitored by cameras 24X7 as they lived the life of an eight-month pregnant woman to taking care of an infant, a toddler, and a teenager. What’s more elders came to spend time at their home towards the end of the show. Truth and dare
Sach Ka Saamna with its mix of truth and lies reached out beyond the television screen to shake up more lives than intended. Washing the dirty linen in public, this shows’s USP was revealing personal details. Asked from celebrity and non-celebrity guests were questions about relationships with parents, partners and extra marital details. The show had its participants reveal dark secrets publically in presence of family members as audience watched the participants and their loved one react to unsavory secrets of lives. Never-ending tales
If there were the shows that directly dealt with relationships, there is an unending list of others who cashed on the phenomenon. Bigg Boss offered a peep into the married life of Tanaaj and Bakhtiyaar Irani. The hit dance couple’s stay at the house together was plagued by fights and arguments. Fiza, aka Anuradha Bali, made good use of Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao to share her sob ‘Chand’ story to her confidante Palak. The heady mix of joy, tears, envy and revenge that a relationship offers definitely makes a spectacle for all those who watch it and in turn get associated with it. Inspired by the success of earlier shows, Bindaas is going a step ahead and coming up with a show on infidelity — Emotional Atyaachar. Watch out what 2010 has in store for us. mona@tribunemail.com |
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Bond
Wagon
Relation: Siblings
Times togethere: 17 years Same to same: Both like soulful music Yet diffrent: Almost everything right from our looks and nature to tastes in cuisines, movies, books, recreation but most prominently: Good social skills – Gundeep Like living in her own world -
Tarika
Fondest memory: When I visited her in the maternity home. I still remember her cute face and the green cardigan she was wearing - Gundeep She gave me a memorable gift and a surprise birthday party on my 17th birthday inviting all my friends - Tarika Eagerly await: Chance to dance!
Special something: Both sing along. Cool jugalbandi! |
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Do you feel the pain?
About one in three people actually feel physical discomfort when they see someone else in agony, scientists have claimed. The finding, by Dr Stuart Derbyshire, a psychologist at the University of Birmingham, may help explain why some people are more empathetic to other people’s misery.
To reach the conclusion, Derbyshire and colleagues invited 123 university students to watch video clips and photographs of patients and sports stars in painful situations. Close to one-third of the students said that for at least one image, they not only had an emotional reaction, but also fleetingly felt pain in the same site as the injury in the image, the researchers reported in the journal Pain. Researchers then took functional MRI scans of 10 of these “responders,” along with 10 “non-responders” who reported no pain while viewing the images.
Functional MRI charts changes in brain blood flow, allowing researchers to see which brain areas become more active in response to a particular stimulus. Here, the researchers scanned participants’ brains as they viewed either images of people in pain, images that were emotional but not painful, or neutral images. The investigators found that while viewing the painful images, both responders and non-responders showed activity in the emotional centers of the brain. —ANI
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Renee Writes
I am 19 years old and studying for a degree in Psychology. There is a boy in my class whom I find extremely attractive and feel he is also inclined towards me. I am hesitant in forming a relationship with him, as I do not know where this will ultimately lead us. I don’t even think marriage is possible as he is from a different caste and community. He looks interested in me, but he has never spoken to me in particular I am wondering if to strike a friendship. Should I ask him for a coffee in the canteen or do you think it looks too forward. I am in a dilemma regarding this and hardly concentrating on my studies. Please advise what should I do. Dear girl, not much of a predicament actually. Why are you jumping so far ahead, marriage without even knowing the guy? As you grow in years you will reailse that issues like caste and creed are not real issues and can be dealt with as long as you know, which way you are headed. First of all you must try and be friends with the boy. Sometimes you actually don’t like the person when you get to know the person. Any relationship is about knowing and understanding each other. And who knows you might actually find a friend in him. And in today’s world it is definitely not considered awkward if a girl asks a guy out, so just go ahead and do it, at least you will be either ways in the situation and will be able to focus better on your studies. Survival of the fittest
I am 32 and recently moved from Mumbai to Chandigarh. I am into marketing and I have a lot of fieldwork to do. My problem is language, and my assessment of the customer. I feel the attitude of people here is very different from those in Mumbai. It is very difficult to deal with customers here. I keep thinking of quitting my job and moving back. But on the other hand I feel that I should learn to survive in a different environment. I have had a habit over the years that each time I have a difficult situation, I run away from it. This time I feel may be if I stand my ground I will do better. Can you suggest what would be the best way to deal with this situation so that I can retain my job and also be happy. Young man, I like your resilience to hang on. Life is all about judging the right perspective and learning to survive a situation with the correct attitude. Yes, in our country with its diversity in cultures you will definitely find people reacting differently to different situations. Attitudes and perceptions are governed by environment, circumstance and culture. I am glad you have decided to stick to your guns quitting is very easy and normally it is human nature to find the easy way out. But making a comfort zone like this is not a very healthy sign. How much will you run and from how many situations. Sometimes we just like to find excuses for ourselves as the inner child is very strong and if not nurtured or dealt with it goes into a negative spiral very easily. Stop running from situations as you are basically running from your own self. Try dealing with life and make your inner self stronger. Once this hurdle is crossed other aspects of your life will also clear up and happiness is yours for the taking. Life is beautiful
I am 21 years old and just trying to find my way in life. I have taken up a job after graduation and getting a good salary. My problem is that my level of self-confidence is really not so good. As a child I was treated very badly at home, with the result I am now hesitant to make friends or reach out to new people. I thought having a job would make me feel more confident, but I feel that it is just taking away my confidence. I can still not make friends in my job, I feel low and miserable. How can I change my thinking and attitude to be more friendly and desirable. Do not worry, don’t we all go through this at some stage in life. Yes, I can understand that being the middle kid you have felt bullied but may be that’s how you perceive your situation. Ask your other two siblings they might have a similar story to tell. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. When you feel helpless you are allowing unnecessary fears to enter your domain. Just pull yourself together and affirm to yourself, I am smart intelligent and beautiful everyone wants to know me. Give yourself the love you deserve. You have to learn to cultivate your inner self. Self-confidence stems from self-acceptance and that comes to us when we develop self-love. So, all you have to do is change your attitude towards your own self and soon you will find a confident girl in you.
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Relationship selling took a giant leap in the passing year. From saas-bahu serials, the virus spread thick and fast, taking into its grip the peek-a-boo or the reality TV, which has become ‘daily dharma’ of those seeking vicarious pleasures.
Here are the top five ‘real’ shows which religiously stuck to their brief of cashing in on relationships big time in 2009.