Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Crabby customerA local fisherman proudly displays a freshly caught crab at the Gorai JettySanju Baba turns restaurateurFrom left Amit Lakhyani Sanjay Dutt and Ishaan VarmaWhile the Chicken Sanju Baba at Bhendi Bazaarrsquos Noor Mohammadi continues to be a foodie favourite actor Sanjay Dutt is cooking up another special Dutt has teamed up with entrepreneurs Amit Lakhyani and Ishaan Varma to launch his first restaurant Solaire located in the Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotels and Residences SantacruzA view of the interiors of the spaceOpening at the end of this month the restaurant will feature Italian favourites Middle Eastern mezze and Indian staples on the menu alongside signature craft cocktails Dutt shared ldquoSolaire is just the beginning With this launch in Mumbai Irsquom stepping into hospitality in a big way there are many more experiences that wersquove already begun working on I want to build destinations that are global in flavour but personal in spiritrdquo Varma added ldquoFrom the design to the cocktails to the atmosphere every detail is meant to immerse people in a world that feels bold vibrant and memorablerdquoOh Maria Santa Maria bids adieuA view of the deli in Bandra Pics CourtesyInstagramIt seems like the city is going through a quiet makeover In addition to the gloomy weather regulars to this Waroda Road haunt woke up to the disappointing news that Santa Maria cafeacute was shutting down The deli that opened doors in March 2024 announced that they will be closing shop by August 24 ldquoTo every one of you who walked in stayed supported us shared a meal or a memory thank yourdquo said their note on social media While coowner Diego Miranda didnrsquot wish to explain further he confirmed that the space will be downing shutters this weekend However regulars need not worry ldquoWe will surely relocate soon we are working on itrdquo he reassured us via a short message We shall keep our fingers crossed for itOne rainy day at the museumUrsula Weekes peruses the objects at the museum during her visit Pics CourtesyDr BDL museumMumbairsquos heavy downpour didnrsquot deter Dr Ursula Weekes celebrated art historian from visiting the nowconcluded exhibition Eckart Muthesius and Manik Bagh Pioneering Modernism in India at the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum on August 18 ldquoDr Weekes shared her appreciation for our exhibition that showcased rare photographs and drawings of Indorersquos Manik Bagh Palace along with the museumrsquos restoration and our collection of miniature paintingsrdquo shared Tasneem Zakaria Mehta managing trustee and director BDL Museum Weekes too shared a heartfelt note thanking the museum for the visitChinaparsquos tryst with destinyNikhil Chinapa and Nawed KhanThe Independence Day fervour can be quite inspiring Ask Nikhil Chinapa The DJ and composer has teamed up with fellow electronic music DJ and producer Nawed Khan AKA Browncoat for their latest single 1947 centred on the iconic Tryst With Destiny speech by first Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru The percussive production also features Sandeep Mishrarsquos evocative sarangi ldquoEver since I was a little kid I have been moved by the speech that Pandit Nehru gave in Parliament at the stroke of midnight on August 15rdquo shared Chinapa The composer and his label Submerge have now invited budding DJs and producers to give it their own spin ldquoWe decided to launch a remix contest for 1947 because therersquos a lot of incredible untapped talent across Indiardquo he sharedWhatrsquos your storyAn illustration from Badri Narayanrsquos The Elephant and the DogThis Saturday give wings to your imagination at a picture book workshop at the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation JNAF on August 23 Taking inspiration from artist and author Badri Narayan inset who was also a profound storyteller illustrator and a selftaught artist Kristine Rodricks an independent creative arts facilitator leading the session aims to encourage participants to create stories of their own in a safe spaceKristine Rodricks Illustration CourtesyNational Book TrustldquoThe workshop will introduce people to the artistsrsquo illustrations for childrenrsquos books at the gallery discuss elements of storytelling and guide them to build stories based on his characters in the paintingsrdquo Rodricks told this diarist