03 January,2026 09:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Satej Shinde
The vaulted archways of the World Trade Center in Cuffe Parade create an aesthetic frame over people passing by.
The saree might be a radical fashion choice at a metal gig, but that did not bother Vijayalakshmi Venkatesh. The author accompanied her son to the recent Scarfest in Lower Parel last week. "My son often sings, and is a fan of metal. So, I have come to learn a litle about Slayer and Lamb Of God," she chuckled. While it might have surprised the metalheads, Venkatesh admitted they were some of the nicest people around.
A little bird told us the New Year was off to a delicious start at the Mumbai Zoo in Byculla. A 2026 banner made using fruits like strawberry, pear, and gooseberry made for a sweet daytime snack for the zoo's resident Malabar Pied Hornbill, Alexandrine Parakeet, Golden Pheasant, African Grey Parrots, and other terrestrial birds. "It's an annual ritual. Last year, it was the deer who rang in 2025. These activities double as enrichment exercises for the animals, keeping them in touch with their wild side," said zoo biologist Dr Abhishek Satam, who led the effort that was brought to âfruition' by the zoo staff.
Ever dreamed of floating down the ocean under a full moon? Indo Kayak Juhu is set to host night kayaking experiences near Juhu Beach on January 4 and 5, offering Mumbaikars a rare chance to see the shoreline in a completely different light. Open to everyone, including first-timers, the session will be overseen by trained guides who will assist participants as they kayak past the shoreline. Speaking to the diarist, Pratiksha Bavdane, owner, shared, "Moonlight kayaking is a reminder that Mumbai still has moments of calm and wonder. Hosting this experience is about revealing the city's quieter, more magical side - right under the moonlight."
There are few reasons to worry for beginners as lifejackets are mandatory, and a safety boat will follow every group until they return to shore, she added. The experience combines adventure with calm, as paddlers can glide over water under the glow of the moon. Readers can log on to @indokayakjuhu for more details.
The Nazaria Arts Collective will host the Youth Film Festival on January 24 and 25 in collaboration with Alliance Française, Cama Hall, Goethe, and Nehru Science Centre. The event will celebrate diverse stories by young creators across India. Screenings highlight films by underprivileged children from Jogeshwari, Govandi, Dharavi, and Kandivli. Co-curator and film program lead Sapan Taneja says the festival is "rooted in years of grassroots practice while celebrating their own voice."
If you are among those who read poetry only accidentally, you might want to rethink your plan for the coming week. Author and poet Devangana Mishra is set to host a session on January 9 that looks to unravel the complex genre of poetry. "Poetry is often seen as an intellectual niche, and meant for the elite in many ways. Even when it is at its simplest form, it is often looked at as abstraction. The workshop looks to unravel and simplify the exercise to erase that distinction," shared Mishra. Having hosted a previous workshop at Method Kala Ghoda, the poet revealed, "The workshop will also encourage participants to create their own poetry using prompts and ideas. My last experience left me surprised with the verses. Few of them had written poetry before. It shows how poetry is for everyone," she told this diarist.
