Author: The Metrognome

Categories
Eat

5 must-visit cupcake joints in Mumbai

If you love cupcakes and want to explore some new options, we’ve compiled a list of little-known places for you. Enjoy!
by Ravi Shet

They are small, happy and cute – no wonder Mumbai loves cupcakes. Be it birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries or any other occasions, cupcakes are ubiquitous. They are even being customised to suit customers’ preferences.

Check out these five places for a cupcake fix in the city.

  1. Cake ‘O’ Licious, Borivali West

Cupcake_Cake'O'Licious, BorivaliThis place is situated at Chikuwadi and was founded by Aniket Shinde in January 2014. This outlet is open on all days from 10 am to 10 pm. Their Red Velvet Cheese Cupcake (Rs 25) with cream cheese frosting and Gooey Chocolate Cupcake (Rs 20) with butter and chocolate frosting are really worth trying. Aniket says, “We keep mini cupcakes, since they are pocket friendly. I also want to introduce new flavours.”

  1. Crumbilicious, Colaba

This place near to Colaba Post Office has been serving cupcakes from November 2013 and is open on all days from 11 am to 10 pm. Oreo Cupcake (Rs 100) with white chocolate frosting topped with Oreo biscuits and the Almond Caramel Cupcake (Rs 100) will definitely make your day. For people who are conscious about calories, there is a good collection of mini cupcakes (see image above). Sanah Ahuja Mohan, owner of the place says, “The Oreo Cupcake, Red Velvet Cupcake and Almond Caramel Cupcake are hot sellers, and the mini cupcakes are a hit since it gives people the chance to taste other flavours. Our focus is on quality right from sourcing the ingredients to the baking process and selling the product to customers.”

  1. Cup Cake Factory, Bandra (West)

Situated opposite Gold’s Gym, this outlet was founded in October 2014 by mother-son duo Rita and Aditya Sujan. It is open from 11.30 am to 11.30 pm on all Peanut Butter Cupcake_Cup Cake Factorydays, except for Tuesdays. Their Boston Cream Cupcake (Rs 70) – its center filled with vanilla custard and frosting of dark chocolate – and Peanut Butter Cupcake (Rs 70) – vanilla cake with peanut butter – are simply yummy. In each bite, you can sense a perfect balance of sweetness in the frosting and the freshness of ingredients. Aditya says, “We experiment with different flavours so that people get more options to explore. If, at the end of the day, something is left unsold, we distribute it to needy people and nearby NGOs, rather than throwing it away and leaving someone hungry.”

  1. Love Sugar & Dough (LSD), Vile Parle (East)

Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes, LSDAt a walkable distance from Vile Parle railway station, this outlet has been in existence from August 2013. All products served at this outlet are eggless. The Chocolate Blast Cupcake (Rs 20) and Red Velvet Cupcake (Rs 20) are very good. Sunita Shroff, Franchise Owner of the outlet says that mornings and evenings are usually crowded with students who come to the nearby classes and families come over on weekends.

  1. Sugar The Patisserie, Santacruz (West)

Situated opposite Santacruz Police Station, this place is founded by Ketaki Likhite in August 2013. It is open on all Rainbow Cupcake_Sugar The Patisseriedays from 11.30 am to 11 pm. Vanilla Ginger Cupcake (Rs 30) with butter cream frosting and ginger candies is the cupcake of the month. Rose Cupcake (Rs 30) with rose cream cheese frosting and Chocolate Cupcake (Rs 30) with dark chocolate frosting are heavenly. Ketaki says, “We don’t compromise on quality at any cost. I am happy when parents order from us or bring their children to us to pacify them.”

(Pictures courtesy Ravi Shet)

Categories
Do

How to put scrap to good use

We all have unusable scrap lying around the house. It is possible to put it to good use with a little creativity.
by Reyna Mathur

We buy so many things every year, big and small, and as time passes, many of these things begin to age. But instead of throwing them away, we can re-use them or break them up to decorate other objects, too.

Rummage around the house and you will find several useless things – old magazines, discarded glass bottles, plastic pots and containers, old clothes, faded paintings, shoelaces, frayed ribbons, to name just a few. You may be obsessive about clearing out the junk, but if you decide to get creative, you can reuse the scrap.

Wood chipsOld wooden pieces and chips: There is nothing you can do with pieces of wood left over from creating furniture. All you can do it throw them away or let the carpenter clear them. Instead, why not use the wood chips to create a 3D effect design? Unless you are very proficient with a hammer and chisel, you will require the help of a carpenter to do this. Select a surface with a design – an old faded painting is a good place to start – and using a pencil and scale, demarcate the areas of the painting you want to create a 3D effect on. Then instruct your carpenter to copy your design and specifications and further create chips of exact shape and thickness to paste over the painting. You can colour the wood chips in the colours of the surface you have pasted them on, and voila! Your 3D design is ready. You can even use this technique to create greeting cards or glam up flower vases.

Magazines and newspapers: You can create pretty bookmarks or paper 3D cut-outs simply by cutting old papers of different designs and colours into specific sizes and gluing them one over another to create a thick paper surface. If you’re throwing a party, create your own decorations by using old papers lying about the house. If you’re fond of making murals and montages, put magazines to good use for the purpose. If you have old newspapers lying around, use them to make miniature kites and colour the finished product. These can be stuck on walls for a pretty effect.

Marbles: Many homes have entire jars of marbles stashed away. The great thing about marbles is that they have great aesthetic appeal and can be glued to almost any surface permanently. You can create a very beautiful showpiece by gluing marbles in a design of your choice using a good adhesive. Lightly tie up the showpiece with string till the glue sets and the entire assembly is able to bear its own weight. Alternately, you can try gluing marbles on the outside of a light bulb to give a stunning visual effect once the light is switched on.

Old sarees and clothes: It is a good idea to give away your old clothes to the needy, but if you have any of them still lying around the house, you can put them to use. How about making a large patchwork quilt or blanket using old cloth scraps, stitching them together on a base cloth, and stuffing it with cotton? If you are adept at using a needle and thread, you could stitch clothes for small children out of sarees and old shirts, or make beautiful washcloths to use around the house.

Buttons, broken magnets, badges: Every house has a huge collection of these items. Simply cull buttons of different sizes and colours and stitch them in aButtons crazy pattern on a plain handbag. Do the same with old pins, badges and broken magnets to jazz up your bags and skirt hems. If you wear ankle socks, you can make them more interesting by sewing buttons along their elastic band. Some people even sew different coloured buttons on plain canvas shoes for an interesting effect.

Ribbons: Ribbons can be put to a variety of uses, especially in embellishing the surface of objects. You can tie two or three ribbons of different colours (but the same width) end to end and use the same to tie up wrapping paper on a gift. Or you can create floral patterns by twining ribbons together. If you have thin ribbons, use them to make wristbands. You can also braid three ribbons together and tie up your documents in them. Alternately, twirl several ribbons together and tie up the ends; use this as a hair band or like a loose scrunchie.

(Pictures courtesy singmah.com.sg, heavypetal.ca, theibtaurisblog.com. Images are used for representational purpose only)

Categories
Become

A business in weddings

Tarun Sarda came up with the unique idea of hosting exhibitions that allowed for the entire wedding shopping under one roof.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

India is currently witnessing a wave of start-ups, of all forms. Whether IT-based or home baking based, whether large or miniscule in scope, we’re seeing a start-up revolution like no other. Bolstered by the growth of technology and people’s fondness for transacting over the mobile phone, many start-ups are doing steady business.

Tarun Sarda..Tarun Sarda embarked on his start-up journey way back in 1992, when he started an agency that produced ad designs and catalogues, with a seed capita of Rs 5,000. In 1998, he helmed Vintage Publications that published Celebrating Vivaha and Timeless Jewels. The magazines were an instant hit, as were the concurrent road shows, which prompted him to launch the first Vivaha exhibition in 2003 in Delhi, followed by Timeless Jewels in 2004.

In 2002, he won the WYBA (World Young Business Achiever) award in Manila for Entrepreneurial Management where he first shared his vision for the Celebrating Vivaha exhibitions – he believed that weddings in India were recession-proof and forever growing. 2003 saw the launch of Celebrating Vivaha exhibitions in New Delhi and Mumbai.

The Vivaha Luxury Homes – a specialised exhibition on high-end interiors – followed soon after. The unparalleled growth of the wedding industry prompted Tarun to launch the Vivaha Pre-Wedding Solutions, an exhibition for back-end wedding service providers.

Today, Tarun Sarda is the man behind some of the most recognized and well attended exhibitions that take place in various parts of the country – Celebrating Vivaha, Timeless Jewels, Vivaha Luxury Homes, Vivaha Pre-Wedding Solutions and LIFE (the Lifestyle, Indulgence and Fashion Exposition). His business has now spread its wings in the international market with exhibitions in New Jersey and Dubai.

In an interview, Tarun explains how he started his business, the response that prompted him to expand the company, and his vision for the wedding industry.

How did you first hit upon the idea for the Vivaha exhibition?  It’s not an idea that would normally occur to anyone.

The idea of the exhibition came after seeing the positive response to the magazine. Seeing people react so positively to the magazine because it gave them wedding solutions, I thought, ‘Why not have a platform where people can shop for the entire wedding including venue, catering and other wedding related services under one roof?’ Since a wedding is such a happy occasion, why not make wedding shopping a happy affair as well, where people don’t have to go market to market or city to city struggling to look for the right product?

What was the response to your first exhibition?

Overwhelming, to say the least. We had a 3 km traffic jam outside Taj Palace hotel where the first show took place. People were buying in a frenzy. There came Celebrating Vivaha exhibitiona point when we even had to stop people from entering for almost half an hour till the rush inside the hall subsided a bit. In the initial years, the footfalls of 25,000 visitors (which were numbers unheard of in those days) redefined the exhibition market in the capital. In future years, the same happened in the main metropolises where similar visitor numbers made the exhibitions successful.

Which city or part of India has the most interested Indians?
Indians love to shop and weddings are occasions where they shop maximum (sic). So it is difficult to pin point any one particular city. But having said that, North India for sure has a distinct quality when we talk about shopping. They are impulsive buyers and buy without blinking an eye if they find something to their liking.

What are some of the points to remember when putting up a great exhibition?

A good wedding exhibition is one which has all categories related to the wedding segment. So instead of concentrating only on clothing and jewellery, one should see that there is everything one may need – from make-up artists to caterers, photographers, wedding planners, decorators, wedding venues and honeymoon destinations.

What are some of the points that will ruin an exhibition?

Lack of advertising. You may have the best brands exhibiting with you but till you don’t advertise to tell people you are putting up something unique, all your efforts are in vain.

What are clients looking for when they hire you?

Our clients look for a platform where they will be able to showcase and sell their products to their clients as well as the aspirational TG they work towards.

If somebody wishes to follow in your footsteps today, what advice would you give him/her?

Treat the exhibition seriously – don’t take it as a short term project where you sell booths and think your job is done. Your job is only done when you pull in the crowd which will make the exhibitors happy and pull in the exhibitors which will make the crowd happy.

(Pictures courtesy Tarun Sarda and everythingexperiential.com)

Categories
Deal with it

8 step guide to renting out your property

As a property owner, make sure you select the right people to inhabit the space when you eventually lease it out.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

If you are leasing out your property, you need to be very careful about letting it out to the right persons. Your tenants should not be allowed to default on rent and utilities payments, they cannot do anything illegal inside your property, and they cannot conduct themselves inappropriately. These are some things you will have to do as a property owner:

1. Settle all society dues for a year. You don’t use the property, but you still have to pay maintenance, water charges, any pending electricity and gas bills, parking charges, property tax, etc. Meet with the building’s accountant and find out how much you owe the society per month. If you are not able to make a trip to the building every month, it is better to write out a cheque with a lump sum amount and hand it over to the treasurer. Take a receipt for the same and ask the society to inform you in case of revised charges.

agreement2. Do a discreet background check. You will have to inform the society via a written letter that you wish to lease out your flat or shop for a certain number of months. You cannot lease out without the society’s permission to do so. When you find a potential candidate for your property, find out what the person does, where he or she works, how long they intend to use your property, how many people will reside in or use the space, etc. Enlist the help of a broker to carry out this step, but do not agree to lease out the property till you meet the candidate and are satisfied with him or her.

3. Ask for post-dated cheques. After you have informed the society that you have found a person for your house or office, introduce them to the building chairman and secretary. After this, be very clear on all the terms; what the security deposit will be, the monthly rental, the condition in which you expect the property to be handed back, which modification you will allow or get done inside the property, the system to settle utilities payments, etc. Insist on the person handing you a series of post-dated cheques – be alert the moment the person says they will pay you every month. Some tenants have been found to stop paying the rent and continuing to occupy the property. Also, do not agree to the tenant paying your rent via NEFT unless absolutely certain that they will do so.

4. Register the agreement. This is an important step, but many landlords do not insist on it because they don’t want to shell out the stamp duty and registration charges. However, registration of the house or office agreement makes the transaction legal and will absolve you of any wrongdoing in case the tenant uses your property mischievously. You and the tenant each get to keep the registered agreement.

5. Insist on police verification. This is the most important step. The mandatory police verification must happen for the new tenant because it is a certificate from the police station verifying the tenant’s credentials. This certificate must be included with your registered agreement copy.

6. Take immediate steps in case of indiscipline. Before the tenant starts using the property, give him or her a checklist of Dos and Don’ts. Insist on them maintaining decorum while using the property, and that their conduct should not reflect poorly on you. Remember that the building society is within its rights to ask you to vacate the tenant if their conduct is found reproachable. If you hear any complaints from the society about your tenant, remedy the situation at once.

7. Do not allow the tenant to change the main lock. A big red flag for any owner is the knowledge that the tenant wants to change the main fixed lock to the property. Do not allow this under any circumstances, because it suggests a malafide intention. For the tenant’s safety, allow them to use a detachable lock to use when they are not at home, and do not keep a copy of the key to this lock – in case a theft occurs in the property, the tenant should not be able to point a finger at you and declare that you may have carried out the theft.

8. Visit periodically. Your job as the owner is not complete just by doing the paperwork and collecting the rent. In the initial days, make it a point to visit the tenant for a chat after informing them of your arrival, and observe how they are using the property. If you find that any unauthorised repairs have been carried out without your permission, or if anything inside the flat or office is broken or damaged, tell the tenant that you will deduct the damages from the security deposit. Keep in touch with the society as well, to hear their account of the tenant’s behaviour.

Categories
grey space

Why seniors should laugh more often

A laughter club in Mira Road has seen amazing health benefits for its members – and urges others to join in.
MV Rupareliaby Mansukhlal Ruparelia, Chief Patron, All India Confederation of Senior Citizens (AISCCON)

Laughter is not only a medicine for helping senior citizens recover from various physical and mental ailments but also a God given free method to create good spirits and happiness in one’s life.It clears each of your nerves from stress when you laugh in a group. Senior citizens may adopt laughing at any age and get various benefits in return.

We have a group of senior citizens of a Laughter Club, Mira Road, which meets daily (except on Sundays). We begin our laughter precisely at 6.15 am and continue till 6.40 pm – this routine has been undisturbed for the last 10 years or more, whether it is summer, winter or the monsoon season. Many members have benefited through laughter and reported an improvement in their physical and mental status.

One Mr Bhende of 80 noticed that his blood sugar levels were dramatically reduced as compared to the earlier years. He still comes to the club regularly though it is difficult for him to walk, and he brings his wife along. One Mr Rana is now 78 years old. He is overweight and not able to walk, but comes every morning in an autorickshaw. Another Mr PL Gupta of 90, though settled at Goregaon four years ago, comes on his birthday every year with his son, takes part in the laughter session and distributes sweets and packets of sweet lassi to all members every year.

Why do all these people, who cannot even walk and move freely, still come here regularly? Is it just because of the shared activity? Or is it because they see the change in their health and mental frame due to the laughter?

I am proud to say that this group has participated in three TV programmes, too, one by IBN 7 for their Zindgi Live, while the others were India TV for Big Mumbaikar Award and the Independence Day special by ITN. It is astonishing to see how active and dedicated these senior citizens are, and their stories are truly inspirational.

Today, there are many senior citizens doing outstanding work for the welfare of Elders. Social Organizations should collect CD/Videos of good encouraging programmes of such persons from T V Channels or individuals, if they have and show to as many Senior Citizens as possible to enthuse them.

Categories
Film

Review: Shutter

A film about four people trapped by circumstances and forced to adapt to a strange situation, this one’s a must-watch.
by Ravi Shet

Rating: 3 out of 5

Shutter is directed by VK Prakash, who has remade his own Malayalam film by the same name. The movie starts with Pari, the oldest daughter of Jitya bhau (Sachin Khedekar) who is often away on work. Pari is rehearsing for a Super Singer Radio City competition, and her father has just returned on vacation. He is unhappy with her antics and decides to get her engaged to his friend Hemant’s son before he resumes work again.

Ekya (Amey Wagh) is an autorickshaw driver and one of Jitya’s close friends; his dearest ambition is to work outside India. Meanwhile, a struggling film director (Prakash Bare) takes Ekya’s autorickshaw and forgets to take his bag along when he alights; the bag contains a film script he is working on.

One day, Ekya, Jitya and his friends are partying in Jitya’s shop, when the two friends take a ride in Ekya’s autorickshaw to fetch liquor. At this juncture, a sex worker (Sonalee Kulkarni) enters the scene, starting a rollercoaster ride in the lives of Jitya and Ekya. A turn of events end up in the sex worker and Jitya being locked up in the shop with scarce ventilation and no food. Ekya, meanwhile, goes to fetch food for the duo and meets the film director who is still looking for his bag. At this juncture, Ekya is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. This is the focal point of the story.

 

Sachin Khedekar and Sonalee Kulkarni essay their roles to perfection with great intensity, and are ably supported by Amey Wagh and Prakash Bare. The direction is top notch, as is the cinematography by KK Manoj. My only grouse with the film was that it should have had no songs – these only take away from the overall fast pace of the film. Overall, this is a great suspense thriller. Go watch it.

(Picture courtesy in.bookmyshow.com)

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