When art and luxury collide

Howdy Mumbo Jojos,

What do you get when you combine philosophy, art, luxury and hospitality? The most unique hotel in India, that’s what! And it’s not just us who are saying that. The people behind IHEA (Indian Hospitality Excellence Awards) think so too. Presenting Le Sutra, the world’s first Indian Art Hotel. And it’s in OUR city!

Le Sutra is a 16-room boutique hotel in Bandra where each room, wall and art installation depicts an aspect of the Indian philosophy and ethos. Sutra means thread in Sanskrit signifying that which binds everything together.

The three levels of the Hotel represent the Gunas which sum up the world view in Indian philosophy namely Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. These are the attributes which make up a man; his thoughts and emotions. The rooms are an extension of the Gunas and represent their various faces. Each room is either based on a character or a philosophy.

Tamas  is related to excessiveness and represents that part which craves indulgence and gratification. The rooms on this floor are thus extravagant and colourful. On the Tamas floor you’ll find  Ravana (the Ramayana villan), Maya(Illusion) and Vaasna(Sensuality).

Ravana

Rajas is the desire to acquire something that one does not have and hence leads to activity. Thus the rooms are stylish and vibrant. Rajas has Dyuutya (Gambling), Kathak(Story Teller, also the art form), Sringar(Adornment) and Karna (in many ways, the hero of Mahabharata).

Kathak

Sattva means balance, order or purity and represents that part of the being which is calm and controlled and seeks higher level of attainment. Thus the rooms are minimalistic and aesthetic. It’s rooms are Prakriti (Nature), Shuddhi (Purification), Nirvan (Nirvana) and Mandal (Shree Yantra).

Nirvana

The decor of each room is kept true to its name with Ravana  having a chair complete with horns and a sceptre whereas Vaasna  has miniature Khajurao  paintings and a Yoni lamp. Kathak  has a Sarangi  chair and art installations of ‘The Dancing feet’, ‘Peti’ and ‘Dholak’ and Nirvana has a chair inspired by the Sanchi Stupa  and Khadau, a symbol of control.

Vaasna

Karna

The Hotel boasts of a gallery Gallery leSutra which hosts art exhibitions, book readings, supper theatre and elite events regularly and also has a day spa called Angdai. What’s more is that it has Out of the Blue and Olive Bar and Kitchen for dining options!

It's been designed by 18-25 designers, artists, philosophers, curators and visualizers in the country and is a perfect representation of Indian art and philosophy in a contemporary form.

A room here would cost you around Rs.12, 000 a night. I know it’s a little steep but there is no price to pay for luxury, is there? :D

Personally, I am SO tempted to just take a vacation and spend a weekend in Le Sutra! Aaah...I’m in dream land already!

So until next time, remember to QUIRK UP!

For more information, check out: http://www.lesutra.in/

-Master Blincca

Tonight's gonna be a good night

Howdy Mumbo Jojos,

One of the reasons we love our city so much is because of its night life, right? The vibe and the energy are so addictive! But aren’t there times you wish the night life experience had more to offer? I bet there are many nights when you’re in the mood to let you hair down and do something different but are bored of the same scene. That’s why I feel as if we, the quirk masters, and the guys behind The Bombay Elektrik Project are brothers from another mother (except that we are girls :D)

The Bombay Elektrik Project (BEP) is a company which provides alternative nightlife entertainment solutions. I love that word alternative. It signifies everything BEP is. It’s an alternative to and freedom from the run-of-the-mill night life options in the city. It’s unique, edgy and entertaining as hell!

So you have Monday Night Poetry Slam, where amateur poets present their work to be judged to win cash and bragging rights for the month, Monday Shorts, a short films screening event showcasing everything from world cinema to queer cinema, open mic nights for budding musicians and amateur stand-up comics (called Unplugd and Krack U Up respectively), beer pong (yes, we finally have your attention, don’t we?) and live gigs by bands from India(such as Shaair and Func, MIDIval Punditz) and all over the world in genres like reggae, electronica, indie, jazz, African music and other such exotic stuff!

What’s amazing about BEP is not only that they organize these events but also that they are serious about providing a platform for talent, be it music, poetry or comedy. They work at the grass root level, organizing workshops in music, film, poetry and art.

Their events are held all over the city but particularly at Café Goa Bistro and Grill, Bandra and Wink at the Taj President, Cuffe Parade.

Some of their upcoming events are

Monday Night Slam on February 7th at Café Goa- This time BEP is going to hold the event according to official poetry slam format as they want to prepare their poets for the International Arena for Spoken Word. So, the poets will be judged by random audience members!

Mingle-A pub Quiz with a difference on February 16th at Café Goa: It’s more than a quiz. It’s an opportunity to meet new people who have the same interest as you-quizzing! Everyone will be assigned a table when they come in and the winning table at the end of the night will have their tab picked up by the venue.

Beer Pong- Happening very soon...

I feel like BEP has a cosmic connection with us party-maniacs in the city because they’ve read our minds so perfectly! All hail the great BEP!

Well, it’s time for me to wrap up here to go and unearth some other quirk treasures..

Until then, remember to QUIRK UP!

-Master Blincca

Check out The Bombay Elektrik Project on Facebook

 http://www.facebook.com/bombayelektrik

Café Goa- Agnelo Building, Khadeshwari Mandir Marg, Off St. John Baptist Road, Bandra (W),Mumbai

Wink- Taj President Hotel, G D Somani Rd, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai

The blockbuster 'Deewar'

Hullo Mumbo Jojos!

Time to get the hidden artsy nerd in you out! Like we promised, we would get something novel for you to do in the city of Mumbay everyday; today’s to do fun would also end up making the city itself quirkier!

Put on some sun screen and get ready for your day with brushes, paints, ideas and QUIRK with (drumroll) ‘TheWall Project’!

The wall project was first started in Mumbay by some Mumbo Jojos who wanted to add colour to the boring grey walls of the city. After certain permissions in hand, these guys literally got art to the streets. 

They first started on Chapel Road in Bandra and later moved on to the Tulsi pipe road from Mahim station all the way upto Phoenix mills. This project was known as the ‘Great Wall of Mumbai’ where everyone from street kids to international graffiti artists turned up. The result-tobacco stained walls transformed into artistic graffiti laden walls worth featuring in hip-hop videos. 

The themes vary from Bruce Lee to global warming. The main idea is to beautify barren walls such that passers by who have no time to look at themselves in the mirror would take a minute, stop and notice the change. Also, it serves as a portfolio for artists who have been known to get job offers based on their work on the walls. These murals also aid Graffiti tourism!

Many walls along the Tulsi pipe road are yet to be painted; for which the permission has already been granted by the B.M.C. Join their community on Facebook and you’ll receive their notifications about any project happening around in which you can help out.

The main agenda is beautification, expression of one’s ideas through art, social responsibility, mutual understanding or the simple idea to do something novel.

I am a part of this project too..In fact these pics are from my first time with the project...

So go ahead…paint the town red, green, yellow or any other colour your mind orders you to!

This is Master Dhoro Zoro paintin…errrr signing off!

Til then Quirk up!
Check out 'The Wall Project' on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9822921861

Induction of new core members: 4^th February, 2011

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131413203593304&ref=mf

Next painting project: 6^th February, 2011 at Andheri

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104722556272383&ref=mf

Capoeira Anyone ??

Time for the third QUINK folks.

It's finally my turn, Master Gayu Panda’s, to fill you in on some more about the quirky city of Mumbay. I hope that you’ve tried out the Fish Foot Spa! Now that your feet are all pampered, it's time for them to get down to some serious kicking because today, we have martial arts for you! Now, some of you might wonder what is new or quirky about martial arts. Many of you might actually even know the art. But have you tried Capoeira? Capoeira isn’t just martial art. It is an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, music, and dance. Woah !! Imagine all that packed into one art form and you’ve got enough reason to try it out.

Capoeira techniques involve kicks, sweeps, strikes and body throws, along with deadly flips. Phew! Just the thought of it makes you feel fit. That would be one rigorous workout. 

                                                            

More than a martial art or dance, capoeira is often considered a way of life by those who practice it. 'Cordao De Ouro India' is the first and only Capoeira Group in India started by Reza Massah (whose Capoeira nickname is Monitor Baba!). If you want to check out this quirky martial art before you sign up for the classes, Cordao De Ouro performs live every Sunday at the Carter Road Amphitheatre in Bandra.

Capoeira Mumbai Street Parade

And after you’ve seen the show, you’re sure going to want to kick some dirt. So put on your track pants and head out to the Capoeira class. Sweat it out pals; because you’re never going to get a better chance to combine martial arts, sport, music and dance all into one art form. And you never know, before long you’d have your own Batizado ceremony (baptism in the art of Capoeira!!) and you’ll have your own Capoeira nickname! Now that’s definitely quirky!!

Capoeira classes are held at:

Juhu:
Juhu Gymkhana

Khar:
SS Sahani School, 18th Road, Khar (W) Mumbai

Or for further details simply log on to:
capoeiraindia.blogspot.com/

Until next time, don’t forget to Quirk Up!!

-Master Gayu Panda

oh FISH!

Hullo Mumbo Jojos,

Today Master Gayu Panda and Master Blincca have given me the honour to post the first QUINK. And we surely have one helluva thing for you to experience!

Ever wondered what it would be like if you let more than a hundred fish chew your foot?? No it's not the story of that moronic movie Piranha 3D. I am talking about the latest fad that has hit the city-Fish Foot Spa!

It involves dipping your feet in a tank filled with the ‘Garra Ruffa’ or ‘doctor fish’ which slowly nibble at the dead skin on your feet. The result-visibly softer feet! Around the world, people have been enjoying it since 2008….but finally we have it in our very own Mumbay. All you men out there don’t pass it off as something sissy…a woman surely likes her man with clean feet!

The cost of a 45 minute session is around 500-700 rupees. But it is surely worth the prickly tickly feeling !! some of the places  offering this therapy are  Bamboo Tree all day spa in Bandra, the Thai spa at Phoenix Mills and Versova, Orchids Fish and Foot spa in Andheri and Korum mall in Thane.

But if you are an animal lover... PETA has already spoken against this ‘deadly’ pleasure.  My pet gold fish almost got a heart attack when I told them about this.

Next, I am waiting for the snake venom  therapy to come to town...intrigued??

Well, that's enough of quirking for today. Let the comments come in about this legendary first QUINK!

Until the next QUINK …QUIRK UP!!

-Master Dhoro Zoro

P.S. -The Garra Ruffas dont have teeth! ;)