29 March,2026 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Team SMD
Pic/Satej Shinde
Young girls cover themselves with their dupatta to escape the scorching sun at Juhu Beach.
Yet another independent book store is set to bite the dust, and this time it's a double whammy for readers. The Book Garden in Vile Parle East's Agarwal Market is set to down its shutters for the final time on May 31, with the shop lease coming to an end. With this, the city will also lose a cherished third space where many would go to enjoy a few quiet hours curled up with a book away from the demands of office or home.
The two-year-old store, run by book lover and lifelong Parle resident Tanmayee Thakur, has always had a unique collection of books, handpicked across both new, popular titles and second-hand books on everything from Mumbai lore to crime to pirate ships. Already got too many books at home and can't buy anymore? The store also functions as a reading room, where patrons can spend the entire day tackling their TBR pile - or the second-hand collection here - for a nominal charge of Rs 99.
"These past two years have been an absolute blessing but the lease coming to its end is going to give me time to pause, reflect, and plan the next steps. The book business is a hard one to be in and sometimes one needs to rest before going back into it," she says. It's a big loss for readers in the suburb. The only silver lining, though, is that Thakur is offering all books at a discount. Show some love, Mumbai, and pick up a book or two.
Our in-house cricket nut had a wry smile on his face as Thursday evening progressed towards night. He was amused at the reaction to Mumbai not getting an India vs Australia cricket Test in the just-announced 2026-27 schedule. There has been no Test match between the two countries in our city since 2004. And Kolkata hasn't hosted an India vs Australia Test since the 2001 Test which turned out to be a watershed moment in Indian cricket history; India winning despite following on. Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi, and Ahmedabad have been chosen as venues. We allowed him to boast a bit. "Didn't I point out this gap a good one week ago in the piece on the Eden Test," he asked. We acknowledged it. That your favourite Sunday newspaper stressed the oddity to its cricket-loving readers brought him most satisfaction. For your cricket fix, read Sunday mid-day, and don't miss this page too.
Police officers, civil servants, and legal professionals - all people who are used to files, FIRs, and fieldwork have taken to gallery walls. This is all for the 10th Sahayog Contemporary Art Exhibition group show.
Back for its tenth edition, the exhibition, curated by artist Satyendra Rane, runs from March 27 to April 2 at Kaladalan Art Gallery in Prabhadevi.
The coming together of members from the Mumbai Police, law, civil services, and other walks of life reflects the power of artistic expression. Rane says, "For the audience, it reshapes the perception of both art and service. Art is no longer seen as something limited to trained professionals."
This year's line-up includes names like IAS officer Nidhi Choudhari, and retired ACP Shailendra Gaikwad, alongside practicing artists such as Anupama Mandavkar and Revathi Shivakumar. By directing a part of the proceeds to the Mumbai Police Welfare Association, Rane says they are able to directly support those who serve the community tirelessly.
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi accompanied by co-owner of Rajasthan Royals Shilpa Shetty (left) with co-owner of Kings XI Punjab Preity Zinta, addresses a press conference after the IPL auction in Mumbai on January 19, 2010. Pic/Getty Images
Lalit Modi is thrilled that the Indian Premier League (IPL), which he created, is living up to its potential on the commercial scale. The other day, a team owner in the current setup credited another administrator for the IPL's growth. An enraged Modi called the team owner a clown on X. The former IPL commissioner is not everyone's favourite, but credit must be given to him for creating a product that has changed the landscape of world cricket. That said, we hear that the IPL wouldn't have begun in 2008 if the then BCCI president Sharad Pawar not given Modi all the backing to launch it. And yes, India winning the 2007 World T20 event proved to be a catalyst.
This year's edition, like in the past, promises to be your summer's No.1 entertainment platform.
