The turn of events: City restaurants add special activities to attract footfall

UP the wooden staircase on the first floor landing reception of Abode Hotel in Colaba is Subko Coffee housed inside a 120yearold heritage building Last month citybased photographer poet and historian Anushka Gupta exhibited her collection of Mumbai photographs titled Histories of Bombay at the coffee house We got ourselves a specialty coffee infused with vanilla and soda A refreshing pickmeup the words of poetess Gupta and her blackandwhite frames drew us into an artsy embraceBidisha Basu and Anushka GuptaFrom pictures of theatres and libraries to Irani cafes and staircases of old Bombay buildings the lobby turned into an exhibition space for her photographs creating a perfect juxtaposition on the exposed brick walls The backdrop of the high ceiling a shimmery chandelier and teakwood panels offered the perfect setting Add to this the wafting aroma of freshly brewed coffee ldquoA lot about my exhibition was about the space I am trying to capture the heritage beauty of Bombay and here I get to showcase it in a 120yearold heritage structure As an artist I am looking to tell my story in a deeper sense and have the walls resonate with what I am trying to sayrdquo shares Gupta who was there every other day of the exhibition to receive an encouraging response from hotel guests and walkin visitors ldquoPeople shared their stories about the city It was a wonderful gatheringrdquo she tells usVarun Grover at Leaping WindowsRestaurants have picked up on what holds the attention of guests and earns them footfalls While experiences beyond food and drinks offer a sense of community they also alter the vibe of the space welcoming a larger audience For Bidisha Basu and her partner Utsa Shome Leaping Windows in Versova took off in their drawing room as a comic book library ldquoWhen we didnrsquot have the space in 2010 we did meetups at Mocha Bandra For us the cafeacute came later So when we eventually did have the space we knew it would be used for comic book events Later it opened up for drawing competitions for kids music gigs and mental wellness awareness sessionsrdquo explains Basu From their Friday night pub quiz to Live at Leaping on one Saturday every month events have reduced since COVID19ldquoWe are conscious of ensuring that the regulars donrsquot shy away from the space because they find it packed with a gig So we space it out and retain the chill viberdquo says Basu adding ldquoOn October 1 we are doing a collaboration with Mood Space a mental health organisation As October 10 is World Mental Health Day they are going to put up a vent board for people to share their innermost feelingsrdquoSimilarly from perfume workshops at restaurants to painting sessions at beer pubs herersquos how eateries in the city are opening up their space for interesting foodmeetsactivities experiencesFlex your art over beerCanvas painting session at DoolallyOne of the first spaces to offer interactive and experiential workshops in Mumbai was beer haven Doolally Today they offer a range of activities for all age groups and across interests This week you donrsquot need to be a Picasso to sign up for their Greek summer house canvas painting workshop organised by Bombay Drawing Room It promises to be a Greeceinspired fun and laidback art session You get to take the painting homeOn September 16 2 pm to 4 pmAt Doolally Taproom AndheriLog on to doolallyineventsCost Rs 1500 inclusive of FampB worth Rs 300Resin a toastWhile you sip on sangrias and dig into tapas take a canvas painting class resin art or paint and sip workshop by Bombay Drawing Room at texmex joint Poco LocoOn Every SaturdayAt Poco Loco Tapas amp Bar KharCall 9619602123Cost Rs 1500Purrfect plansYou donrsquot have to make plans and leave your pet out of it Attend Kitty Bash at the BrewDog which consistently hosts petfriendly events Participate in games and win gifts by shakehandsindia Get a complementary basic health checkup and treat your cats to a food buffetOn September 18 3 pmAt BrewDog Midtown Mumbai Kamala Mills Lower Parel Log on to petfedorgeventsmumbaikittybash18SeptemberCost Rs 399Comedy with compassionIn 2019 Cafe Arpan introduced The Laughter Hour With the intention of the space being able to offer a therapeutic setting and laughter being the best medicine hosting a comedy show was a nobrainer The space has been supporting upcoming artistes and doesnrsquot charge any fee for them to showcase their artOn September 17 7 pm to 8 pmAt Cafe Arpan JuhuCall 7400490008Cost Rs 200 each ticket holder will get a complementary refreshing beverageWhat an ice spaceIn April art design and architecture space IFBE opened inside a Ballard Estate icefactory With The Banyan Cafeacute to feed the cravings the space is designed to host exhibitions and workshops At the upcoming talk and performance by Aditya Prakash the Carnatic vocalist will take us on a journey that traces his ability to seamlessly blend the Indian classical style of South India with jazz and the process of finding his creative voice He will also launch his album Isolashun in which the classical language becomes his medium to tell a deeply personal story one that speaks of xenophobia beauty norms radicalism and mental healthOn September 19 630 pmAt 1012 Calicut Road Ballard Estate FortLog on to ifbespaceCall 9619024000Laugh like nobodyrsquos watchingGrin Revolution Easily Embarrassed with comic Aman Jotwani promises an evening filled with laughterOn September 19 830 pmAt Leaping Windows VersovaLog on to insiderinCost Rs 200