I treasure my lazy weekends. But come Monday and someone asks me how my weekend was, I just have an, “Erm, same old same, you know?” answer. That’s why this Saturday I’m doing something that I can talk about all week: Summersalt.

Origami Creative Concepts (a young creative agency) presents Summersalt. A festival to raise money for Spoorthi, an NGO to help the youth of the Koraga community. The event promises to be filled with ice golas, painted faces, flea markets, drama dreams, crafty crafts, glitzy clothes, future fortunes, home baked brews and cookie whiffs. Yep, all your childhood dreams are about to come true. About time, huh?

Apart from this, Kalyan Singh Rathore uses trees to create installation art pieces, Shomil Shah showcases lomography in photography and Anjali Prabhu and Atam Singh Bawa present their mixed media and paper displays. There’s music from En Construccion and theatre and stand-up comedy routines from Rafiki, Logos and Ashwin Mathew. There’s more (for the tummy actually) with home-cooked food from Bengal, Mangalore, Coorg, Kerala, Mumbai, Delh and the North- East.

Summersalt’s also got games, fortune tellers, a pan-India spices counter, a flea market, an on-the-spot-home-decor-ideas counter, more music, amateur dance performances, and film screenings.

So don your polka sun-hat, slip into the comfy ballerinas and pirouette your way to a Summersalted affair.

Summersalt, in aid of Spoorthi (www.spoorthi.org). Saturday, May 31, 10 am to 7 pm. At 15, Railway Parallel Road, Kumara Park (West), Bangalore. Call Priyank on 9739593295, Bharani on 9886653993 or click www.summersaltfest.com for details. No entry fee. Performances end with a contribution hat that’s passed around. Food items start from Rs 80 for a bottle of honey and goes up till Rs 200. Artists will charge as per their costs for their pieces.

Well, it does look like all the action is moving to Malad. I recently found myself back in the bustling ‘burb, raring to sample some lip-smacking fare. Pot Pourri, that much-adored eatery in Bandra, is now also at Malad’s mammoth InOrbit Mall.

I dare say I wasn’t too keen to have my munchies in a crowded mall, what with all those mall rats making such a racket. But I was pleasantly surprised when I made my way to the third floor where Pot Pourri is located. Tucked away in a corner, between Ruby Tuesday and the Fame multiplex, you’d almost miss the bashful little place if you weren’t really looking for it.

The intimate atmosphere — all red panelling and wooden furniture — is like an oasis of calm in the midst of the mall’s frenzied pace. But, yes, although I’d left the mall’s hullabaloo behind, the menu that greeted me was almost as chaotic. But just as you would at the old faithful in Bandra, stick to the Italian fare here as well. Take my word for it and give the Mexican and Thai dishes on offer a miss.

Instead, do as I did and go straight for the pastas. Both the veg and non veg ones are filling, with just the right mix of spices and sauce. The flavours of the sauces may be a bit Indianised, but the fettuccine, spaghetti and the penne are cooked just right, neither too al dente nor too well cooked. Personally, I’d vote for the Chicken Penne Pasta, creamy and rich in herbed flavours — just the way I like it. Vegetarians would love any of the mushroom preparations as well as the tomato-rich Arabiatta sauce.

A word of warning: skip the outside tables. People-watching at the mall might be fun. But only as long as the people aren’t watching you at the tuck table!

Pot Pourri, Food Court, Next to Ruby Tuesday, InOrbit Mall, Link Road, Malad (W) and Pot Pourri, #4 Carlton Court, Turner Road, Bandra (W); Tel: 26429193, 26406010; Price: A meal for two without drinks would cost approximately Rs 1,000.

It’s a depressingly dingy, drizzly day as I pull into Hotel Janpath. Am turned out of doors immediately — to be banished to the “backside” (as they love to say in Delhi) — low spirits turn murkier. Why would a restaurant that’s any good be thus squirreled away at the back of the house?

Then I step into a Cinderella moment. Perhaps ‘banishment’ was the wrong word: ’set apart’ seems more apt. New Mexican joint Mismo (Spanish for “life”) looks ravishingly lively. Far more appetising than its ‘ugly sisters’ in the front parlour, with their government-canteen tastes.

My day brightens between hot pink walls and fiesty silk-ribbon cushions on black sofas, sheer sequinned drapes and ultra-tall-backed chairs. The limed-wood tables are charmed with very contemporary posies. The decor looks as if it would be breezy on a rainy day, airy on a hot one, and cosily playful at night, with those rose-covered lampshades alight and a faux fireplace behind the bookshelves. A refreshing, un-kitschy contrast to the usual Wild West-dragged-backwards-through-a-pinata look that Tex-Mex places favour. The kitchen would have to be an outright drunken disaster to keep me away.

Which, praised be its Aztec godmothers, it isn’t. The menu is propped by longstanding favourites from sister eatery Market Cafe (in turn drawing on the staff’s experience at Moshe Shek’s much-mourned Oliva) — the pastry-cupped grilled rawas in chermoula is an old, trusted friend who hasn’t disappointed across three venues. Then again, the smokin’ fajitas boast the same level of spectacular presentation and deft execution. The Mexican menu doesn’t throw up many surprises — beyond sopa de tortilla, it’s the standard burritos, enchiladas, nachos, quesadillas, tacos. But the homemade ice-cream is a singular treat, outshining the apple empanada. Worthier match: the chocolate-dipped churros.

I’ll drink to the lot. As soon as they get the licence to serve tequila shots and Margaritas, in a month or two!

Mismo, Hotel Janpath, Janpath Road, New Delhi; ph: 4356 5411/22, Prices: Meal for two Rs 1,500.

All that endless chatter about the IPL and cricket coming out of your ears? Throw the significant other out. Ask him to join other devotees, and yak about infields, outswingers and Sachin and Shane. Reclaim the telly.

AC on 23: check. Tall glass of (sugar-free) lemonade: check. Beanbag in place opposite that flat-screen: check. And so’s y’all don’t get channel-surfers thumb, here’s a tip: stick with the Good Times, girls. Those saas-bahu serials are too dreary, the phoren maal too many seasons old, the ‘filmis’ only show reruns — this NDTV lifestyle channel’s just right to see yourself in.

The new summer line-up on NDTV Good Times should have you glued to the couch. (Just remember to roll over, roll eyes, stretch arms and legs towards the ceiling fan for exercise, now and then. Or jog to the fridge for a chilled eye mask — to tune out pesky ad spots.)

New on the small screen, actor Perizaad Zorabian anchors Limited Edition, the show that shouts ‘Some things many can buy. For everything else, watch Limited Edition’. To drool over the swan-shaped Rolls commissioned by the Maharaja of Nabha, the latest Lamborghini gas-guzzler you don’t dare covet. Follow the L’Officiel anniv issue-in-the-making. Pant for the 5 must-have LVs of the season — window-shopping minus the wallet-workout. Nifty! Sundays 9pm

Heart beating faster yet? Manic Monday’s spot gets your pulse truly racing — or proves heart-stopping. Daredevil chick Neha Dixit screams, shivers, shrieks her glee as she tops extreme-sport challenges in Free Fall. Me, I’ve sworn not to touch a bungee cord, never to need a parachute after ogling her exploits in New Zealand. Armchair travel, that’s the ticket! Mondays 10pm

Lightheaded with relief at not being Neha? (What a job! And I thought I had to jump through hoops for a living!) Have a proper giggle — if not quite polite — over celebrity mixologist Shatbhi Basu’s barstool antics In High Spirits! This season she’s seeking her thrills cross-country, following the first ferment of cider, ale and stout, chasing the first distilled drop of Norwegian aquavit. Tuesdays 9pm

Just perfect for an evening in.

Pink is so my colour. I have a pink cellphone, a pink iPod, a pink car and now have set my sights on a hot pink laptop. So, the other day, when I almost bumped into a pink wall — yes, my BFF and I were sharing some really hot goss! — I just had to check it out. And what do I discover, my an all-new restaurant in my favourite colour!

The name Pink Pepper comes from an exotic Brazilian pepper, which is used in Continental preparations and salads. Launched by four youngsters — Vikram, Debapriya, Nitya and Pawan, all in their 20s — with years of experience in the F&B industry, the restaurant serves Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine.

But, as you can guess, it was the decor that I fell in love with. The pink and lavender stripes on the walls, the fuchsia linen and the pink-and-cream upholstery imbue the place with so much fun, our gossip session just got hotter. Over a Pink Lady mocktail (grenadine, cream and their ’secret’ ingredient), we sampled, between us, the best of the three cuisines on offer. The murgh malai kebab, dal makhni and rotis — staple North Indian fare, but so easy to get wrong — were bang on, as were the salt-and-pepper veggies, crispy fried lamb and braised noodles from the Chinese menu. But we totally flipped for the charred basil chicken breast and the pan-seared garoupa.

Mmm. My new haunt. And the colour scheme has just a bit to do with it!

Pink Pepper. 152, 1st floor, 2nd Main Road (near RTO), Indiranagar 1st Stage, Bangalore 38. Tel: 25217788, 25217787. A meal for two would cost Rs 600 (approx).

My friends always rib me about my ‘carrying my household in my bag’. But they know who’s the go-to gal for everything, from perfume to Post-its. Yes, I’ve been beaming since the big, big bag became fashionable again.

And Baggit’s latest range is as funky, functional and VFM as I want. Plush faux leathers in fresh, summery colours. I’m clasping my oversized, mango-hued treasure, hoping no one else will make a grab for it. I also love the casual-dressy denim one with a dull gold tissue ribbon sealing the sack’s mouth and retro dots on the fabric exterior. I think the little satin mini-totes are just perfect for my clubbing stash — cell phone, credit cards, gloss and keys. I don’t travel light even when I paint the town purple!

Now for a little secret: the ones I have my eye on are Baggit’s latest carry-alls for new mums. I’m not quite there on the baby front — hey, I need to get famous, climb Everest and find true love before that — but between you and me, the baby bags are just perfect for my needs.

A special bottle holder and multiple compartments lined with waterproof material so my cool, cool Gatorade doesn’t seep into my haute pink iPod case. The one in champagne and white polka dots has an adorable butterfly detail, while the slouchy navy blue with an aqua ribbon is an eye catcher. And big doesn’t even begin to describe their size.

J Lo and Halle Berry have made a baby the IT accessory right now, but I’m more than happy with the IT bag for the moment, thank you very much.

Baggit: 218, Narayan Udyog Bhavan, Dr Ambedkar Road, Lalbaug, Mumbai; Tel: 24716001; Exclusive stores at Linking Road, Bandra (W), Matunga (next to Welingkar’s) and Atria Mall, Worli. Also available at INXS, Kemp’s Corner, and inside Shopper’s Stop, Lifestyle and Pantaloon stores; Prices: Start at Rs 250 for wallets and Rs 375 for bags; New mum bags: Rs 1,300-Rs 1500.

Mornings sans caffeine turn me into Oscar the Grouch, as anyone who’s called me before 8 ack-emma will attest. And my one grouse with coffee chains in the capital used to be that their speedy service, bright lights and loud piped playlists left little room for the ruminating that’s best done over a mug of steaming joe.

It was looking like the coffee shop as the haunt of artsy and avant-garde had given way unanimously to boringly same cookie-cutters. Until along came Riyaaz Amlani’s Mocha with a different colour on every wall, a different chair to every unique table, and a bookshelf to browse.

And now the Mocha Film Club embraces Delhi. Calling to celluloid and caffeine junkies who share the passion. Screening those films you’ve only ever heard of, which will never make it to that ‘multiplex near you’. Now that’s what I call a worthy notch in my blue stocking!

So that’s a movie a month. No ticket charge. No intervals. No disgusting crunch of popcorn to mar the deep-thought mood. All you do is sign up, over at www.mocha.co.in — hover cursor over coffee cup at top of screen, click on ‘Communities’, and follow the script from there. They’ll send you the screening schedule; you’ll jog over for your invite. On the day, I’d make sure to arrive early — the early bird gets the best seat in the house, and they do fill up fast!

Catch the club premiere this Sunday (May 25th), with the delicious Cantonese drama In the Mood for Love. Where infidelity and attraction breed a slippery slope in 1962 Hong Kong. Quite the conversation-starter.

But cut short the chatter for now, ladies. Ssshhhh! Until the credits start to roll.

Mocha Film Club, 28A Defence Colony, New Delhi Time: 12-2pm, 25th May .Contact: ph: 46588445/47.

Team Trendy is taking off for a summer spa day next Tuesday May 27. We’ll see you back Thursday May 29!

We went to Maui last summer. Everything was awesome from the word go: The beaches, the hotel, the hula dancers, the mahi-mahi. But then, bikinis were de rigeur here — and I, with my Indian inhibitions, was a complete misfit. Till I realized that body types matter less than the attitude with which you carry these teeny-weenies. I wore my first bikini in Hawaii — and what a thrill that was!

Since then, I’ve been on the lookout for bikinis for my next beach holiday. And my search came to an end with Pashma’s latest range Petanu. Made up of 80 per cent polyamide and 20 per cent elasticine, they are oh-so-comfortable and superlatively feminine. Strings, bandeaus, halters in red-hot-right-now colours like aqua, fuchsia and skin. Some perked up with crystals, some enlightened with embroidery.

For more cover, there are single pieces (which, incidentally, are the trend du jour) that are almost oomphier than the bikinis. With plunging necklines, string tie-up bottoms, low backs, they cover the wobbly bits and leave you feeling like a sea goddess.

My favourite? An aqua-and-white confection studded with blue beads. I love it that each swimsuit is super-stretchable and looks right on all shapes and sizes.

And then there are the cover-ups that can take me from beach to bar without blinking an eye. Sheer kaftans in soft silk that feel like a whisper on my skin and slip on over the swimsuit. And a day range of knitted linens that allow the skin to breathe.

Now that I have my Petanu, all I want is a pina colada. With the paper umbrella, please.

Petanu by Pashma, at Ffolio, C17-18 Leela Galleria, Hotel Leela Palace, Bangalore. Tel: 080-41150789. Taj Khazana, Taj Mahal Hotel, 1 Mansingh Road, New Delhi. Tel: 011-23026162. Taj Khazana, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai. Tel: 022-66653336. Swimsuits and bikinis: Rs 4000-8000, kaftans: Rs 2500 onwards, beach tunics: Rs 8500 onwards.

I recently changed jobs — but didn’t bargain for the drastic effect it would have on my gastronomic life. With my office address not being exactly Time Square, I have been sorely missing the plentiful lunch options offered by the heart of town eateries.

Then, while scrounging around for a not-so-boring hangout close by, I spotted Flambe, a delish new restaurant that is certain to banish weekday blues!

Though their buffets are commendable and their Sunday brunches with complimentary beer definitely worth a dekko, it’s their theme-based a-la-carte — available for lunch and dinner — that keeps you guessing every day of the week.

A self-styled ‘casual fine dining restaurant’, Flambe gives a new meaning to the term ‘multi-cuisine’. If it’s mmmmmilicious Mediterranean on Mondays, it’s seafood on Wednesdays and Lebanese and Spanish on Thursday nights (Trendy pick: Gambas al ajillo, a gastronomic sin made of prawns in olive oil, garlic and chilli served with fresh Spanish paella.) On Fridays, they do American and on Saturdays, it’s sizzlers. Sundays and Tuesdays are Curries-and-Spice days.

The menu is peppered with dishes guaranteed to make even the most propah dame drool — think Bruschetta Risottos, Jamaican lamb, catch-of-the day lobsters! There is also a core Indian fare complete with chaatsfor those who prefer the straight- and-narrow. For desert, I recommend the apple strudel.

Fire up your senses!

Flambe, 1st floor, KV Plaza, Green Glen Layout, behind Salarpuria Softzone, off Sarjapur Road, Bangalore 560036. Phone: 4160 6888/89/90. Meal for two without alcohol costs Rs 1000 plus taxes. Only beer is served.

Remember queuing up outside Fire & Ice at Phoenix Mills to enter that happening hotspot? I do. And so do a lot of my clubbing friends. In fact, we even have a Facebook group that gets together to reminisce about what used to be the perfect nightclub — equal parts good music, good crowd, ample space and decent eats.

It shut down all of four years ago, but somehow the magic seems to still charm South Mumbai clubaholics. Magic, did I say? Well, the same guys who were behind Fire & Ice — Vishal Shetty, Ketan Kadam, Rohan Parikh and Pranav Desai — are already casting a spell on Mumbai with their latest lounge — Magic.

Tucked away in a quiet lane, opposite the Jewel of India restaurant in Worli, Magic lives up to its name in more ways than one. The laidback ambience and cool interiors done in wood and metal allowed me room to breathe and just to be. The lighting pleased me and ensured that I enjoyed my privacy. And unlike Fire & Ice, where dancing was almost mandatory, Magic is all about lounging on the comfy couches in the larger bar area. A few steps up the stairs will take you into the super exclusive VIP lounge where you can share a table with your special someone or crack a magic-fuelled deal.

I’m enchanted.

Magic: 12-A, ground flr, Hornby Vellard Estate, Lotus Cinema building, Next to Vitesse Motors, Opposite The Jewel of India, Worli, Mumbai; Tel: Prices: Start at Rs 300; a discount of 30 per cent on drinks during the ‘Magic Hours’ of 6-9pm.