<h2>Horsing around&nbsp;</h2>
An installation with multiple horses stands out amidst the rush of the crowds at the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/culture/article/kala-ghoda-arts-festival-2026-easy-travel-guide-and-hacks-to-reach-the-mumbai-art-festival-easily-23614455" rel="nofollow">Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.</a>
<h2>That&rsquo;s snippin&rsquo; good news!</h2>
<img src="http://admin.mid-day.com/images/2026/feb/New-MadoWot_e.jpg" alt="A view of the green exteriors of the salon" width="1280" height="720" /> A view of the green exteriors of the salon
It might have taken her five years, but Sapna Bhavnani&rsquo;s Mad O Wot salon is back in Khar West. &ldquo;I had been looking for a space for the last year or so,&rdquo; the hair stylist shared. If finding real estate in the prime suburbia of Khar and <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mid-day-exclusive-mumbai-bandra-east-skywalk-ready-launch-awaited-for-commuter-relief-23613434" rel="nofollow">Bandra </a>was not challenging by itself, Bhavnani was looking for something that leaned into her ideas of sustainability.
<img src="http://admin.mid-day.com/images/2026/feb/Madowat-a_e.jpg" alt="Sapna Bhavnani. Pics Courtesy/MAD O WoT" width="1280" height="720" /> Sapna Bhavnani. Pics Courtesy/MAD O WoT
&ldquo;Having lived amidst greenery in Kamshet since the pandemic, I wanted to find a space that was similar. In fact, I have had a few people walk in thinking it was a caf&eacute;,&rdquo; the stylist told us. With its green exteriors, the salon is also steadfast in its idea of eco-sustainable products. &ldquo;Every product in the salon is vegan-friendly, and hand-picked,&rdquo; she added. Although the official launch is in March, friends and neighbours are already making their way to the green salon in the neighbourhood. &ldquo;Drop by sometime,&rdquo; she nudged us.
<h2>Kenya believe it?</h2>
<img src="http://admin.mid-day.com/images/2026/feb/Shubhangi-Swarup_e.jpg" alt="File pic/Satej Shinde" width="1280" height="720" /> File pic/Satej Shinde
Two worlds are set to make an unlikely confluence at the Turkana basin in northern Kenya later this year. As part of a poet residency by Macondo Literary Festival and Literature Live!, two poets each from <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/photo/in-photos-kenyas-drought-crisis-puts-two-million-at-risk-of-hunger-and-water-shortages-109375" rel="nofollow">Kenya and India </a>will spend a week writing poetry at the Turkana Basin Institute (TBI). &ldquo;One of the mandates of the Mumbai Literature Live! was to build relationships with other literary geographies that we are not often familiar with. Writer Shubhangi Swarup told us about the Macondo Literary Festival in Kenya, which has evolved into a fertile creative ground for the region,&rdquo; shared Quasar Thakore Padamsee (below), co-director of Literature Live! Padamsee gave us a glimpse of the residency, revealing that writers with an interest in ecology and nature will spend time in the company of scientists and a Kenyan poet practitioner during the stay. Those keen to participate, can log on to @litlivefest before February 20.
<h2>Designs for suburban Mumbai</h2>
<img src="http://admin.mid-day.com/images/2026/feb/Map-ax_e.jpg" alt="(From left) Junctions and Geometry; a map of the open spaces of H/W ward" width="1280" height="720" /> (From left) Junctions and Geometry; a map of the open spaces of H/W ward
If you thought this city needs a complete overhaul worth thousands of crores of rupees, architect Alan Abraham would disagree. The co-founder of Bombay Greenway is part of the team organising the exhibition, The Everyday City, at the Bombay Arts Society.
<img src="http://admin.mid-day.com/images/2026/feb/Abraham_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
Starting on February 12, the three-day event will build conversations on mobility, architecture, and design around maps, citizen initiatives and proposals of spaces around Bandra, Khar, and Santacruz, shared Abraham. &ldquo;The idea is to push design as a solution; to show how simple solutions can improve interactions with the city. We hope to make people aware by putting it out in the public realm,&rdquo; he shared.&nbsp;
<h2>Cello, that was fun</h2>
<img src="http://admin.mid-day.com/images/2026/feb/Ria-Masters_e.jpg" alt="Children watch as Ria Master plays the cello. Pic Courtesy/@sparklesound" width="1280" height="720" /> Children watch as Ria Master plays the cello. Pic Courtesy/@sparklesound
When Ria Master signed on to be part of the Kidiaree showcase at the Children&rsquo;s Museum in CSMVS for the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival last Sunday, she was living a childhood experience. &ldquo;I used to attend every Kala Ghoda Arts Festival with my father,&rdquo; shared the Marine Lines resident. Having completed the storytelling session, Masters rounded it off with a cello performance that had the kids entranced. &ldquo;Children are such curious little people. They were so drawn to the size of the cello, its sound, and strings,&rdquo; she shared.&nbsp;
<h2>Aarey gets its own market share</h2>
<img src="http://admin.mid-day.com/images/2026/feb/Tribal-market_e.jpg" alt="An Aarey resident with local organic produce. PIC COURTESY/SEEDS OF BANYAN" width="1280" height="720" /> An Aarey resident with local organic produce. PIC COURTESY/SEEDS OF BANYAN
Word in the woods is that Aarey Forest will soon have its own farmer&rsquo;s market come March. &ldquo;If busy suburbs like Bandra and Versova can have their own farmer&rsquo;s markets, what&rsquo;s stopping us?&rdquo; a member of citizen group Seeds of Banyan told this diarist. Efforts for a Women&rsquo;s Day-special pilot test on March 8 have already begun, and will spotlight produce like lal maath and spinach, alongside a range of native seeds for curious home gardeners. If Mumbaikars show up in support, the market will return as a weekly or monthly affair, we were assured.

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Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

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