As we readers can all agree, that whether it is keeping us in the loop of all the fascinating events in and around Bandra month after month or introducing us to other interesting Bandraites in the form of artists, entrepreneurs, enterprising house wives, etc; Bandra Buzz has left no stone unturned in getting out there and dishing us a good story.

As ‘Bandra Buzz’ celebrates its 5th anniversary this month, I thought I would join in felicitating this successful suburban monthly paper, with some of my own cool fivers….

     5 best places to visit if you have not been to Bandra before…

  1. ‘Linking Road’ for its infinite number of shops and snip deals.
  2. Bandra’s very own ‘Khau gali’ situated at the end of the Carter Road behind ‘Cafe coffee day’, there is almost anything for everyone to entertain their palates. Don’t ask what you get there, ask what you don’t…..
  3. ‘Bandstand promenade.’ This one is like a tradition. Almost anyone I know including the NRI’s is over keen to photograph and tag themselves on FB in front of the masions of the two super ‘S. Khans’.
  4. ‘Elco Arcade.’ Who comes to Bandra and doesn’t know Elco? Right from the spicy Chaat restaurant of the arcade to the variety of dress material shops inside, it’s the oldest and biggest landmark of the suburb.
  5. ‘Bandra Fort.’ Situated just a stone’s throw away from Hotel Taj Lands End at Lands End, Bandra, it can almost be missed if you take a ‘U turn’ from what appears to be a dead end. But it certainly is not. Whether you walk up the ‘botanical garden looking property’ on the left as you enter or climb up the stairs of the structure to catch the best view of Mumbai’s sky line with the ‘Bandra Worli sea link’ as a back drop, this terrain offers Mumbaikars one of the most breath taking sunset points.

 

         5 top things to do in Bandra if you flying solo

  1. Take a sneak at this fantastic book shop called ‘Tidal Waves’ off water field road. The cafe attached to it adds to its charm and the quiet ambience of the book shop which has a wide range of narratives to browse through, gives you the space you may be looking for.
  2. ‘Fitness classes conducted at St Josephs and Carmel Convent.’ Not run by the schools but by an independent trainer, for only Rs 1400 a month, these classes offer a combination of kick boxing, step aerobics, dance and yoga, held for two hours three times a week, you don’t have to put up with fellow fitness fanatics just normal people who are just as realistic as you about keeping healthy.
  3. ‘Catch a film at Movie time Suburbia or Globus movie hall’. Though a ticket at Suburbia, Shoppers Stop costs lesser than the other and has better popcorn too, Globus has a familiar comfort about it.
  4. Tea at ‘Taj mahal tea house’. Off Mehboob studio, from the outside this tea shop can be nearly missed. But on entering you get a feeling of being transported to ‘somewhere else’. Brewing their own tea, priced smartly, with a range of unique books in wooden racks placed next to the few solo armchairs, this is a place no one will stare at you for just taking a break from the hustle bustle, on your own.

And if you don’t like tea, even a glass of mineral water while you relax with Zakir Hussains trademark table playing in the back ground, makes it worth the while.

 

  1. ‘Joggers Park.’ This park at the beginning of Carter road has a mix bag of walkers, joggers, kids, and sea admirers. Safe yet buzzing with vibrancy, whether you zone out with the ocean breeze on the benches or watch children play along the edges of the duck filled pond in the centre of the park, this park is sometimes known as ‘Bandra’s pride, neighbours envy!’

 

              5 legendary bakeries and confectionaries

   Bandra cannot be complete without listing its ‘old as gold’ bakery come patisserie outlets.

  1. ‘A 1 bakery’ off Hill road. If you wake up to catch the sunrise, don’t be surprised if few others have woken up with you too, to get their hands on the freshly made pau’s and chicken puffs for an early breakfast.
  2. Opposite the above, touching the Holy family hospital, is the ‘Hearsch Bakery’, doesn’t matter what day of the week you get there, you will have to climb over other customers, if you want your request for the ‘delicious chicken rolls’ to be met.
  3. ‘Andora’ opposite St Andrews School and College. Almost serving as a college canteen for the students of St Andrews College, this is more of a snack joint serving a range of products from mini samosas to chicken patties and biryanis and even Chinese meals. Priced keeping the younger lot in mind, the tiny seating area outside makes it a good hang out too.
  4. ‘Venus Bakery’ next to Lilavati Hospital known for the original fruit and plum cakes and the avoidable artificial orange and bright pink cream cakes, the egg puffs deserve a mention. In spite of the ‘classic Red velvet cup cakes and light French macaroon making confectionaries’ springing up everywhere, this one still draws a crowd with its simplicity and mentionable turn out.
  5. ‘Mac ronnels’ at Hill road started by the late ‘Cajetan Francis Periera, fondly known as ‘Caje’ was one of the first scrumptious ‘savoury and pastry salons’ in Bandra to introduce fresh baked items (I still remember the hot dogs, chicken puffs, lemon rolls, deep chocolate Easter eggs and jam tarts I gorged on as a child, priced no more than Rs 5 if I may add) Though it shut down many years ago, ‘Mac Craig’, off turner road, run now by his grandson ‘Craig’ now, carries the legacy by providing similar food fare and has a loyal clientele of kids and adults who devour the ham croissants, traditional sandwiches, chicken savouries and wholesome mutton puffs available there.

 

             5 best places to get your full value for money

  1. The open shoe shops at Linking Road Street, priced from Rs 150 to 400 a pair, they look chic, can give you the initial shoe bites but last for at least for a year. Their variety of styles and colours are endless and the sellers are game for a decent bargain.
  2. ‘Global Fusion’ linking road. For around Rs 1000, you can eat till you stuffed. The ‘all you can have buffet’ that covers almost everything from sushi to tempuras to lip smacking starters in both vegetarian and non, this is a ‘full paisa vasool’ meal.
  3. ‘Bandra Gymkhana.’ If you are lucky enough to be a member of the gym or know one, you can wine and dine in half the price of any of the other Bandra restaurants. Known for its seasonal food festivals you will never foot a bill which will burn a hole in your pocket.
  4. ‘Hill road branding’. If you want to wear high street brands such as Zara and Mango but don’t want to pay high street prices, walk down the Hill road stretch and haggle with the countless ‘clothe hawkers’ and pick up labels from Rs 100 onwards. It’s a steal deal!
  5. ‘Variety’ at Bazaar road. Reasonably priced for any material right from sofa covers to curtains and a vast range of bed sheets and towels, this one keeps up with good quality standards, yet it is not as costly as the more known ones in the suburb.

 

          5 types of people it helps to get to know in Bandra….

  1. ‘Any street policeman you see on a regular basis’, it always helps to keep their name handy when in a pickle.
  2. ‘Your building watchman.’ They will oblige you with running errands when your domestic help has run off.
  3. ‘The cell phone number of a good auto driver, local,’ who can come get you when you are stranded. Especially helpful in the monsoons when the potholes have all overflowed.
  4. ‘Your local fruit vendor,’ who will not grossly over charge you if you are on first name basis with him.
  5. ‘The servers behind the food counter at the famed ‘Candies.’ For if you want quick service and need to catch their eye for it, it would be a bonus to know a couple by their face and name.

 

        5 things that need to be changed ASAP….

  1. ‘The pestering behaviour of Eunuchs’ at traffic lights trying to cause fear especially among innocent commuters in auto rickshaws and pedestrians too, who are exposed to them without having the option of avoiding them by keeping vehicle windows up.
  2. ‘The attitude of the black and yellow cab drivers’ that refuse to do short distances leaving the ‘car less’ people with no choice of transport. Everyone may not want to spend on an ‘uber or an ola cab’. Also most elders may have no idea how to work mobile apps that are used to book them.
  3. The many phone numbers of BMC one has to dial to lodge small grievances and complaints. ‘A direct phone number ’ would be preferred where immediate action can be taken rather than being put on hold and dialling at least five phone numbers as part of the ‘pass the buck game.’
  4. ‘More art galleries, hobby groups, an infrastructure for the older generation to keep active’, such ventures need to be encouraged rather than Multinational bank franchisees and fancy jewellery shops sprouting at every nook and corner of the suburb.   
  5. ‘A small police chowk’ for safety at the end of every street in Bandra covering a 24/7 duty time and an enforcement of strong road discipline between public and private transport.

 

5 watering holes that have proved their longevity and fun quotient

  1. ‘Big Nasty.’ Honestly when it first started many years ago I thought it would be another flash in the dark. But this pub above the ‘Shatranj Napoli’ at Pali Hill, though always over crowded does some mean shooters and the music gets five stars.
  2. ‘Irish House.’ Though it’s hardly been a few months since its opening at Pali Naka, no other place is more rocking at 6 pm on a weekday in Bandra than this one. Giving an ‘International feel’ with a mix of expats and Bandraites enjoying cold beers, their happy hour from 5 pm to 8 pm cannot be missed.
  3. ‘Hawaiian Shack’ on 15th road. Once upon a time, it used to be the coolest club with a fab DJ. Though it has lost its charm over the years thanks to a ‘different kind of crowd’ stopping by, if you happen to go there for old time sake, you will still enjoy the nostalgia the retro numbers brings you.
  4.  ‘The Elbo room’. Opened by actor Chunky Pandey and model Dino Morea, this quiet little pub off linking road has made its own mark among the night birds, and during the IPL season and world football matches, it’s filled with the cheers of regular sports fans.
  5. ‘Janata Restaurant and bar‘. Though I would not personally go there for my own reasons, known to be the ‘anytime local joint’ for a peg or two, it’s quite famous among all age groups. It has an ac and non ac section and a good place to go if you looking for a cheap option.

 

      5 most frequented events in Bandra

  1. ‘Celebrate Bandra’.  Though it needs no introduction, every year they add new events that take place all over the suburb. This year, the kids seemed to be the focus where fitness classes and kid bands kept the little ones busy. ‘The D’monte recreation centre’ hosted a fete for everyone and with its diverse flea market and mini food stalls, the event was the most talked about for a while
  2. ‘The Andrean Fair.’  Held on St Andrews grounds, featuring joy rides for kids, live musical performances by famous singers, games and merchandise stalls for one and all, these are two days of enjoyment that very few Bandraites would want to be left out from.
  3. ‘Christmas market at Bandra Gym’. Come Christmas and the gymkhana grounds are transformed into evenings of carol singing, fun and frolic, Christmas artefact sellers, unique concept stores.  And it is always pleasure to watch the older generation relishing sausage rolls and sorpotels across the small counters of private food stalls.
  4. ‘Bandra Fair. ‘  Held every year in September honouring the ‘Mother Mary feast week’, if you are okay with rowdy crowds and the general public from all over Mumbai shoving you from all sides, then walking up the steps and making your way to light candles at ‘the feet of Our Lady’ is considered to be a powerful and an enriching experience.
  5. ‘Car free day’ at Bandra, held annually, is one of a kind. Right from Otters club to cafe coffee day has a vehicle restriction that means no fuel emitting monsters are permitted. The thrill of seeing children run across roads fearlessly and bumping into familiar faces of the neighbourhood holding ice creams can be quite amusing.

 

5 things we underestimate about Bandra

  1. ‘The pleasure of a stroll in the untouched by-lanes of Bandra’ showcasing old bungalows and cute cottages owned by generations that have still not given in to the redeveloping thirst.
  2. ‘The faithful mochi’ on the corner of your road who has been keeping together all your worn out pairs for the last few decades and has never demanded more than ten percent of his actual cost.
  3. ‘The terrifying busy Saturday nights’ where we always say we won’t step out and then end up waiting in long queues outside restaurants and bars only to finally get in and then be offered lousy service and sweaty armpits.
  4. ‘Our Local Banya stores’ that have always been giving us free home delivery services before they got sidelined by swankier offshoots keeping ‘foreign food products’. They keep most of the same products too, you just have to call and ask.
  5. ‘The public 2 feet by 2 feet phone booths operated by enterprising handicapped people’; this is their livelihood. With everyone including the agarbatti seller on the roads having his own mobile phone, who knows how much these will last?

 

       5 Reasons Bandra is Queen of Suburbs

  1. ‘She has an air about her’ which is different from any other place in Mumbai. Even the townies admit to that.
  2. ‘She knows she wears the crown’ and doesn’t have to break into multiplexes and multi crore mall projects to prove that.
  3. ‘She welcomes everyone with an open heart’, like a true Queen; making them never want to leave.
  4. ‘Her property prices are unaffordable#, much like ‘A Queen’s’ personal tastes are.
  5. Simply putting it all in one perspective, ‘Bandra is Bandra!!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Kainaz Jussawalla

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