Girls just wanna have fun
Two hip-hoppers practise their moves near Flora Fountain at Fort
Churchgate’s got a new cuppa
A view of the facade of Eros Cinemas at Churchgate. File Pic (right) the new café in the cinema space
The next time you are looking for a cup of coffee to warm you up after a late night in town, head over to Eros. The iconic cinema house will now play host to Coffee Island. The international coffee franchise has teamed up with Vita Nova to follow up their Pune opening with three outlets in Mumbai, including a new café in the Eros Cinema building.
“The 24×7 Churchgate café embodies this vision, creating an all-day destination where Mumbai can experience our European coffee culture in its truest form,” shared Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos, CEO, Coffee Island. Vita Nova founder Pratyush Sureka (inset) added, “Mumbai has always been on our radar, it’s a city that thrives on culture, creativity, and connection, all of which align perfectly with Coffee Island’s philosophy. Eros as a location carries a certain nostalgia and timeless charm, it’s a landmark that bridges old world Mumbai with its contemporary pulse”
Curated city strolls
A previous walk at St Thomas Cathedral
Heritage educator Alisha Sadikot and typographer Tanya George are back with another edition of Mumbai Walks Fest, which begins on December 5. Apart from food, art, history, and signage, expect a few new topics as well. “New walks will include cricket and the city, diseases and medical histories, Mahim and movies. The idea is to attend walks you’ve been meaning to but never had the chance; it’s a way to celebrate the city through its many stories,” Sadikot told us.
Poems from the past
Gallery view of the works from the exhibition, Gulammohammed Sheikh: Hand Prints | Mind Prints. Pic Courtesy/ JNAF Gallery, CSMVS Mumbai
The Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation (JNAF) echoed with Gujarati verses on October 27, as artist Gulammohammed Sheikh (below) joined playwright-translator Naushil Mehta and poet Prabodh Parikh in a reading of his poems.
The reading was part of the closing of Sheikh’s ongoing exhibition, Hand Prints | Mind Prints at the gallery.“I have worked across many mediums, poetry being one of them. I have written poetry in Gujarati since the 1960s, and the reading featured 20 pieces from the selection. They were not a reflection of the artworks, but of me,” shared Sheikh.
Bowled over by bouldering
Participants try out the challenges; (right) Shaiv Gandhi. pics Courtesy/TIBC
Tired office goers stumbling past Azad Maidan on their way home might be in for a new adventure. Since September, the neighbourhood has been home to The Indian Bouldering Company (TIBC), an indoor space that offers Mumbaikars an introduction to the indoor sport of bouldering. “I fell in love with the sport during my stay in Germany. It is different to rock climbing in that it does not have a rope and harness, but is equipped with a mat below to catch you. Secondly, there are no straight inclines, but rather curved challenges that replicate natural boulders,” shared founder Shaiv Gandhi. Tomorrow, the space will host a one-day putting pop-up with Putt.One, followed by a calisthenics workshop on October 31. “We decided to host after-work sessions because a lot of visitors asked if they could drop in post work. It felt right to oblige,” Gandhi shared. For Mumbaikars who are used to hanging on from crowded trains, this will be a cakewalk.
For the love of the flute
Harsh Dave performs during a previous session. Pic Courtesy/Harsh Dave
For the musicians travelling to participate in the Flute Gandharvas Retreat 2025 on October 31, the experience of playing Hindustani classical pieces in a luxury resort in Karjat might feel odd, but it is part of the experience. “We are a community of flautists, and often meet online to practice. This is the first time we are meeting for a three-day event that will see us participate in workshops, preparations, and performances,” shared flautist and founder, Harsh Dave. As part of the sessions, Dave has also invited his teacher, flautist Pandit Vivek Sonar, a student of the legendary Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, along with Prafulla Athalye to interact with the students at the gathering. “We have students ranging from the ages of 18 to 86. It is evidence of the fact that anyone can learn, and love the flute,” shared Dave.
