Experiences Dua Lipa should cross off her Mumbai bucket-list

~ On her maiden visit to the city, here’s what we hope she enjoys ~

The latest star on the block, British singer/songwriter Dua Lipa has taken the music world by storm. At the age of 22, this performer has won three Brit Awards and two Grammys, topping the charts in 2018 with her number one single, New Rules. On her first ever visit to Mumbai for the OnePlus Music Festival in November, below are quintessential Mumbai experiences we hope to give her a taste of:

Foods to try - Mumbai is considered a food lovers paradise with options to satisfy every palate. But with so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming. So, we’ve shortlisted a few that are a must-try:

• Parsi cafés - These small cafés dotted around the city are the remnants of Zoroastrian settlers in Mumbai and are symbols of India's cultural diversity. Checkered tablecloths, vintage wooden furniture take visitors down memory lane to a time in the city’s past
• Vada pav, Pav bhaji and Pani puri – If there’s one thing Mumbai loves, it’s street food. A quick meal, each of these options are a must try for a first-time visitor. From spicy, to buttery and tangy, there’s something for everyone. And the best part? It’s all vegetarian!
• Regular or masala chai – The city that never sleeps runs on chai (tea)! Whether you have it in its original form or with traditional Indian spices, it’s the perfect pick-me-up every Mumbaikar craves

One for the ‘gram – In spite of the hustle-bustle, Mumbai is an extremely picturesque city and has some iconic spots that everyone must visit to capture the essence of the city. Below are our recommendations:

• The Gateway of India – One of the most important landmarks of the city, this monument is the most popular tourist attraction and symbolizes the spirit of Mumbai
• The Taj Mahal Palace - The Taj Mahal Palace hotel located right next to the Gateway of India is another structure that inspires awe in the minds of those visiting the city. Its rich history and heritage have shaped that of the city and is a true crown that marks the shores of Mumbai..
• Britannia Restaurant – One of the city’s oldest and most iconic restaurants Britannia & Co. is now in the able hands of the third generation, still whipping up food influenced by the family’s Iranian and Parsi roots. This is a great location and a feast for the eyes and tongue!

It happens only in Mumbai:

• Rickshaw ride – One of the most popular modes of transport, rickshaws are a staple on the streets of Mumbai. These 3 wheeled wonders will get you where you want, in a jiffy! For someone who has never sat in one, it’ll definitely be a ride to remember. If you’re lucky, you could ride in one which has an LCD tv and WiFi!

Do you think we’ve covered all of what Mumbai has to offer? If not, tag @OnePlus_India and let us know what we missed using #OPMF. And before you forget, book your tickets on Insider.in to see Dua Lipa live along with the festival’s stellar line up of Katy Perry, Amit Trivedi, Ritviz, Local Train and AsWeKeepSearching on November 16^th!

Machines like me: Sex robots And the fascinating ways in which they are impacting human sexuality

Mumbai, 21^st September, 2019: Allysson Silva, Co-Founder, NextOs, Neil McArthur, author and Harmony, the Robot shared the stage at India Today Conclave, Mumbai on the 21^st September, 2019 emphasizing on the intimate affair with a Sex Robot.

SESSION BRIEF:

We do live in interesting and strange times. What are the implications of living and having intimate affairs with a sex robot? If machines become more like human beings, what will it mean to relationships? The reality is that, sexbots are almost here. A full version of sexbots is just a few years away.

Key takeaways:

Allysson: We have started creating robots from sex toys, have created entire body of such robots.

Neil: There are various aspects to sex technologies. Digi sexuality and such digi sexual technology (using platforms like Tinder, Skype, Instagram) is one.

Next, there are those technologies such as virtual reality.

Then there is digi sex. Here, the users' sexual identity comes from the use of technology, they don't need human partners.

Allysson: We are not isolating people. There are some who may be living with many people, but they may still feel isolated. Robots make people less shy, more sociable. By speaking with robots, you can actually gain more confidence.

# Japan had gone through a phase of rampant depression; it is considered an isolated society. In such a country, there are several people who are over 50 years old, but never married. For them, such sexbots can be a solution.

Also in the case of depression, sexbots can cure this with the presence of robots. So many possibilities open.

QUOTES

Neil: Technology can get things right or get them wrong. There are concerns that robots will generate negative stereotypes.

Allysson:

'Harmony' (the sexbot) has a strong personality, and she can say 'no' to people.

Robots are a reflection of stereo types in the society. I agree we should not promote them.

Neil: It's not yet time to give rights to sexbots. Any technology should make us better human beings.

Allysson: Regarding the prospects of people even marrying robots, it all depends on local laws. People are very empathetic. We can fall in love with cars and other objects.

Neill: Technology may actually help solve a lot of issues. As it develops, women are going to be bigger users of sex technologies.

Allyssen: If you are being honest with your partner, using such technogies should not be a problem even in India.

Neill: Won't be surprised to see India on the cutting edge of these technologies.

We tend to forget how integrated young people are with technology.

Neil: We should skip the stigmatization that goes with such things, skip all that and then accept it.

For further info and registration, delegates can log on to www.indiatodayconclave.com

Gorge on to some scrumptious Parsi delights at the Cultures of Mumbai, Hotel Sahara Star

August 2019, Mumbai: Hotel Sahara Star one of India's luxurious five-star Hotel invites you to delve into the celebration of different Cultures of Mumbai. The city is always been a melting pot of different mouthwatering yet exotic cuisines.

The Parsi Pop Up is all about enjoying the most relishing food that is from the sweetest community in the city. Try out some of the finest Parsi delicacies like Salli Boti, Berry Pulao and Kheema Pao that will leave a lip smacking and tantalizing effect to your taste buds.

A Parsi dish is incomplete without eggs, potatoes and meat. And so are the desserts made from vermicelli (sevaiyan) and semolina (rava) with a Middle Eastern twist and a unique flavor. ‘Lagan nu Custard’, is a perfect blend of caramel flan with the addition of dried fruits

The exclusive menu will include Parsi delicacies like Chicken Resha par Eedu, Bheeda par Eedu, Chicken Farcha Fingers, Ravo, Mutton Sali Boti, Saas ni Macchi (Pomfret), Paneer Farcha, and many more, which will be an appeasement for your taste buds.

Binge on to the rich aromatic Parsi delicacies at EarthPlate this whole month and reminisce the love for Parsi Food all over again.

Hotel:
EARTHPLATE, Hotel Sahara Star
Price:
2500/- Taxes
Date:

16th to 26th August, 2019

About Sahara Star Hotel:

Sahara Star, the flagship hotel of Sahara India Pariwar, is one of India’s most desirable destinations. The 5-star hotel strategically located near Mumbai's domestic airport magnificently blends Indian mysticism and culture, while personifying the country's progressive spirit blending peerless hospitality with ultra-modern technology. Creating a paradigm shift, Sahara Star showcases world largest-pillar-less- clear- to- sky dome, an architectural landmark blending hospitality and entertainment to cater one of the most individualized hospitality experiences. Hotel Sahara Star features 348 well-appointed luxurious guestrooms with 25 elegant suites.4 specialty restaurants and 1 inimitable journey. Hotel Sahara Star brings together a sumptuous array of delicacies from across the Globe. The hotel features an unbelievable external façade made of glass and steel post completion. Here, the culture, mystique & hospitality of India blend with modern facility & services to create the finest business-cum-leisure hotel of the country.

India’s leading Sports Management Institute IISM moves into Smartworks, Mumbai

·         Smartworks becomes the first managed office space provider to configure workspace for an Education Institute

·         IISM offers specialized degree programs in association with the University of Mumbai

Mumbai, August 12^th, 2019: Smartworks has become India’s first agile workspace space provider to apply space as a service for classroom training. The firm has leased out 25000 sq.ft to Nilesh Kulkarni’s International Institute of Sports Management (IISM). For the first time, a management education institute has moved into an agile workspace, which otherwise is usually occupied by enterprises, start-ups, and freelancers. Smartworks has a total footprint of 2.8 million sq. ft. across 23 locations in 9 cities and is the only Indian bootstrapped workspace provider to have become profitable.

With IISM in Smartworks’ facility at Fleet House in Mumbai’s Andheri locality, the market leader in enterprise onboarding has brought in a completely untouched sector, Education, into the rapidly growing ambit of co-working spaces. This new addition will change the way shared workspaces were perceived; they are not just for working but for learning as well.

IISM, founded by former Indian Test cricketer Nilesh Kulkarni, is the foremost institute involved in the most unexplored education avenues to meet the demands of the growing sports industry. Imparting excellence in the sports educational sector for 10 years, IISM has emerged as one of the best institutes for sports management education in India. The education institute will be conducting classroom training for specialized degree programs namely Bachelor of Sports Management and Master of Sports Management in association with the University of Mumbai and 11 months autonomous Post-Graduation Program in Sports and Wellness management within the Smartworks premises with over 500 students.

The facility is now booked more than 90% and has a total footprint of almost 1 lakh sqft in Mumbai. It provides close proximity to business district Bandra- Kurla complex and the Western Expressway and currently hosts a mix of corporates such as CRISIL, Marsh Insurance, NEC Technologies to name a few.

“We are excited to have India’s most prestigious Sports Management institute in Smartworks. We have yet again proved our capability of configuring spaces as per client requirements irrespective of the business domain. With this first of its kind association between an education institute and Smartworks, we are certain that these spaces will become the next classrooms soon. We remain committed to providing unmatched experience and solutions to businesses that will help them boost the company as well as industry growth to remain productive and further the step towards innovation in the country,” said Neetish Sarda, Founder of Smartworks. 

Commenting on the recent move-in Nilesh Kulkarni, Founder IISM, said, “At IISM we believe in nothing but the best when it comes to imparting education to our students so that they learn and grow. We want our students to meet their aspirations in an environment where they are pumped up with energy and positivity. Our ultimate goal is to ensure an atmosphere for them so that they stay active, productive and lively throughout their sessions. IISM campus has eight 30-seater to 120-seater classrooms, an exclusive research lab for our students, a cafeteria with a vibe where students can enjoy break time and common breakout areas for students to unwind themselves during free-time. Given that the facility is centrally located in the city, adjacent to Marol metro station, it is convenient for the students to access any mode of transportation for commuting which makes the location a strategic fit for our institute.”

Smartworks has created a niche for itself in the co-working space industry by bringing enterprises into the purview and leasing entire floors to the latter.

“We are witnessing growing interest from corporates in Mumbai across sectors including IT, sports, banking and e-commerce among others. The large demand stems from the benefits and array of facilities provided to our members across our centers which include state-of-the-art infrastructure, vast opportunities to network and exchange ideas, a productive work environment, and services which ensure a happy and stress- free workspace,” Neetish added.

Since its inception in April 2016, Smartworks has been aggressively expanding its footprint across key cities in India due to the growing demand for agile workspaces. Technologically sound while focusing on customer delight, encouraging collaboration, ease of doing business and overall community building for enhanced productivity remain Smartworks' key focused areas while serving customers.

About Smartworks:

Smartworks is India’s largest provider of agile workspaces, with a footprint of 2.8 million sq. ft. across 23 locations in 9 cities (Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Pune) catering to more than 600 organizations across large enterprises, SMEs and start-ups. Founded in April 2016, Smartworks is redefining the Indian office experience by focusing on design, hospitality, technology and customer delight experience. Smartworks is also the only Indian agile workspace provider to have become profitable in India.

Central to this ambition is the company’s motto, ‘Workspaces that work for you’, with the vision of creating the perfect environment by just not building communities, but also ensuring their member employees are productive in the workplace.

For more information, log in to www.smartworksoffice.com

Master Class on Eggless & Vegan Recipes by Chef Toni Rodriguez at Academy of Pastry Arts, Mumbai

June, Mumbai: Academy of Pastry Arts, India is hosting a master-class session with world-renowned Vegan Pastry Chef Toni Rodriguez on 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th June at their Mumbai center. The 3-day master class program is going to be remarkable as Chef Toni will be providing hands-on training to the budding Chef’s on vegan and eggless recipes. He will also taste the dishes prepared by the students and will provide his live feedback which will be a great morale booster for the students. He will also be discussing pedagogy with the faculty members which will not only give them a new perspective towards teaching but will also brush up their leadership skills.

Originally from Barcelona, Spain, Chef Toni Rodriguez is a globally renowned Vegan pastry chef.  He is also the founder of Europe’s first vegan patisserie, Lujuria Vegana. In 2003, he chose the vegetarian regime and in 2004, the vegan. For the students at Academy, it is going to be a nice learning curve as none other than the vegan pastry king himself will teach them the tricks of the trade and will also provide his first-hand feedback on their performance.

For the benefit of students, the academy organizes Demo and Walk-Through Classes on every Friday where notable culinary faculties visit and evaluate the recipes being prepared by students. Recently, the academy organized one such Demo and Walk-Through class where delicacies like Plated desserts, Modern French Pastries, Petit Gateaux- Basic and Chocolates- have been taught.

Such events also give the opportunity to experience the first-hand training and teaching techniques of famous Academy Chefs. Attendees can witness budding Chefs preparing food items that tempt the taste buds. Also, guests are invited to taste snacks and pastries during such Demo & Walk-Through classes every Friday.

Commenting on the same, Chef Niklesh Sharma, Founder, Academy of Pastry Arts, said, “We here at Academy have always stressed on quality teaching through practical cooking classes and we regularly invite world-renowned Chefs to provide our students with the world’s best hands-on training module.  Chef Toni’s bakery classes at the Academy will be very insightful for the students and will help them in up-skilling their cooking methods.”

Sharing his thoughts on his visit at Mumbai center, Chef Toni Rodriguez said, “It is always a pleasure to be with the bright and talented students of Academy of Pastry Arts. These budding Chefs have always inspired me to bring the best in every delicacy I prepare. It’s actually a win-win situation where both the parties interact, train, teach and learn to grow.”

About Academy of Pastry Arts:

Academy of Pastry Arts is an esteemed group of professional culinary and pastry schools with Pan- Asia presence in Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The journey started in 2010 with the flagship school in Malaysia and now, the company is growing exponentially with plans to be in Dubai and Indonesia soon. The Academy uses cutting edge technology, mixed with ingenious techniques, specifically designed to teach the art, science, and techniques of creating good food and methods needed to excel in the food industry. Our win in the World Pastry Cup 2019, is a serious indicator of our pursuant efforts.

The visiting faculty consists of the largest number of Master Chefs spanning the level of MOF, World Champions, Master Chocolatiers and Master Bakers and a total of over 75 such classes were conducted across its centers in 2017.

IPL 2019 Special Offers @ The Orchid Hotel, Mumbai

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 is back this season and there is no place better than 'Mostly Grills' and Merlin's to catch all the action unfolds. The trendy open aired venue plays a perfect host to your favorite sporting event with live streaming, unbeatable food and beverage specials. Exclusively decorated keeping cricket fans in mind the venue is dotted with large display screens, adorned with IPL team flags, team information posters and stewards attired in IPL team jersey.

On cricket day the in-house mixologists will concoct signature cocktails and mocktails honoring the participating team names. Combine your choicest of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks with your favorite team, and you're bound to have a cheerful time. You will also be treated with special food packages for every 'super four' and 'super sixes'. There is a special menu designed by our Executive Chef that includes delectable starters, choice of international Grills, imported meats, fresh seafood, kebabs, sizzlers and desserts all prepared to your preference.

Celebrate the food battle in the name of team spirit as you congregate with your close ones on the match day to the tunes of Roars, Victories, Losses and Cheers!

Date: 23rd March to 12th May 2019

IPL Offers:

Domestic Beer Bucket @1220/- ++ (Kingfisher 5 Beers)

Imported Beer Bucket @2220/- ++ (Stella or Horgarden 5 Beers)

Unlimited IMFL Package @1820/- ++ (Domestic Liquor + 1 Starter)

Time: 04.00 pm to 12:00 am

Reservations: Tel: 022 -26164000 / Mobile: 91369 31103

Address: Mostly Grills and Merlin's,The Orchid Mumbai,70/c, Nehru Road, Adjacent to Domestic Airport, Vile Parle (E), Mumbai - 400099. http://www.orchidhotel.com/