And the award goes to

So lady Flora whats this hype and pressure about New Year resolutions I just dont get it And to add to it bombayana has asked us to compile this list of the year that was How much should we look back sideways aheadhelliptoo much stress cribbed Sir PM on their walk down DN Road before the last day of the yearOh Pheroze you mustnt allow this to get the better of you Its such a prestigious honour Imagine we get to pick our favourite moments sights sounds and even throw a brickbat or two she winked at her friend After a long pause he said I see your point Lady Flora No more complaining ndash thats my resolution for 2019 Lets get to work and share our notes with middays readersHeritage blockbuster of the year UNESCO WHS tagJune 30 2018 will go down as a landmark day for Mumbais heritage movement The Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensemble spanning 19th and 20th centuries were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site This was the third honour conferred on a city landmark ndash CSMT and Elephanta being the other two It was a victory for the many citizen groups who worked tirelessly to create a hefty research backed dossier that won the nod from the panel So the next time youre strolling through Oval Maidan or hear a chime from Rajabai Tower remember its on the world heritage mapMost awaited comeback of the year Flora FountainFinally after much anticipation the beautiful statue at the nodal point of the original city will open to the public after years of dedicated repair and restoration The stunning work of art and design depicting the Roman goddess of Abundance will sport aesthetic street furniture and lighting and she will continue to cast her calming gaze over her cityDisclaimer We hope readers dont mind some selfpromotion for the above mention It was based on public demandGlobal showcase award Three awards at UNESCOS 2017 AsiaPacific Awards for Cultural Heritage ConservationThere was much for Indias and Mumbais heritage movement as three of the 16 awards emerged from the country at this years UNESCO AsiaPacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation The LAMO Centre in Ladakh Leh won the prestigious Award of Distinction while city landmarks Rajabai Clock Tower and University of Mumbai Library Building and the Ruttonsee Muljee Jetha Fountain ndash won in the Honourable Mention category Mumbai had a role to play in all wins Brinda Somaya and Vikas Dilawaris projects were citybased of course while Dr Monisha Ahmed the cofounder of the LAMO Centre is also from here BravoLandmark of the year award St Thomas CathedralThe tercentenary celebrations of this landmark put the spotlight on the historic Anglican church one of Indias oldest as it came to life with choral concerts heritage walks restoration of its interiors and the marquee event ndash a monthlong exhibition of its rare archival material and relics currently underway at CSMVS A gift to the city its a mustsee chronicle of the citys originsNew cultural hotspot award Ballard EstateThe otherwise quiet Ballard Estate came to life earlier this month as NGO Art in the Park organised an ecofriendly Kala Utsav with art workshops for children all free of cost The initiative supported by the Indian Heritage Foundation Mumbai Port Trust and the Bombay Chamber of Commerce saw footfall of 3500 Heres to more such initiativesParty pooper of the year second year running Metro workLets face it Mumbais heritage ndash from DN Road historic landmarks to its Parsi fire temples precious mangroves have all been at the receiving end of this The furious pace at which the city has been at the mercy of this infrastructural development is a worrying sign Its been touted as an upgrade and improvement of the citys commuting and transport woes but the fallout is increasingly looking larger than the real deal which we hope will fructify into something good and beneficial The costs until now sadly are too highmiddays Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the citys sights sounds smells and stoneswherever the ink and the inclination takes her She tweets bombayanaSend your feedback to mailbagmiddaycomCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates