Third time lucky is what I’ve always thought. Especially when I found true love the third time around! So maybe for me, the third year of the Jalsa fashion extravaganza’s gonna be extra specially lucky.

What started two years ago as a platform for designers and entrepreneurs from across the subcontinent to showcase their talent, is now a whopper of a do, where everyone who’s anyone just has to stop by to have a look see. This treasure trove of handpicked clothes, jewellery, accessories and gifts — a precursor to the festive season just around the corner — is the brainchild of Delhi fashionista Timsy Anand.

So, after last year’s spectacular haul, what can you expect on the hangers today? Well, I was a fly on the wall while they displayed the glam togs with intricate embroidery by Seema and Jamila Malhotra of Shimmer. They’ve done costumes for Hollywood period films like Elizabeth and Shakespeare in Love, so you can be sure their stuff is as ornate as it comes. And then there are the handwoven saris by actor Satish Shah’s wife Madhoo and rich Benarasi weaves by Nilambari.

Somewhat more my less-is-more style are Ragini Singhania’s feminine silhouettes and Anju Modi’s simple yet stunning cuts. Overall, the labels show a well-rounded Indian presence — with Soumya & Anupam from Kolkata, Vinita Pittie from Hyderabad and simply jaw-droppingly beautiful Parsi Garas by Revival.

In the jewellery section, I was floored by the Jadau by Jaipur’s Gems Paradise and today, I plan to grab some of Vasundhara Mantri’s beautiful semi-precious creations, especially the ones with Moghul style motifs.

And although I didn’t get a chance to see these on my recce trip, I’m looking forward to being amazed by the contingent of Pakistani designers that’s showing at Jalsa for the first time. The buzz is that Sara Gilani, Zara Shahajehan and Mahnaz Adamjee’s elaborate embroidery, plush fabrics and beautifully woven textiles are going to delight.

Perfect for a sale whose name means ‘a joyous celebration’, right?

Jalsa, August 12th & 13th, at Hotel Taj President, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai; Tel: 66650808; Prices: Start from Rs 1,000.

The growing murmurs of this exciting new eatery in Gurgaon impelled me to call my foodie friends in Sushant Lok, from whom no savoury secret is hidden. And instantly, it was out: The Oak Tree, which has been quietly spreading its shade behind a neighbourhood market, has burst forth in full glory.

It’s a cosy, woodsy space, with perforated screens and sunny yellow drapes. Like the mighty timber it’s named for, The Oak Tree boasts big, big platters: the dishes range from Asian food-court classics like Hainanese chicken and Penang curry to “modern Continental” grills on the Italian “lava stone” (a barbecue stoked with volcanic rock, that evens out the heat).

For starters, I’ll heartily endorse the 48 hour chicken nuggets — I’d kill to know what they do to a bird to make it taste as good, before wrapping it in a crisp paper cone to serve. Sea-foodies, beg for the prawns in saffron-spiced beer batter. Veggies? Make a beeline for tiropetes (Greek-style filo parcels).

On to the main attraction. It’s tough to ignore the excellent “lava grills” and the risotto Forrestiere (with exotic mushrooms) beckons; but for a lighter and brighter meal, you just have to have the Hainanese chicken — such a simple dish, hardly another standalone kitchen in town has it; but so heartily wholesome. Then again, chef Anil Mohan’s experience and involvement tell: The Oak Tree could give many a five-star kitchen a run for its money.

Good luck making room for dessert, though I recommend the cheese platter. But if you must root into a sweet, make it their molten chocolate cake.

Come sit in the shade of the mighty Oak, and partake.

The Oak Tree, C-002, Super Mart I, DLF IV, Gurgaon; ph: (0124)4225341-2. Prices: Meal for two Rs 1,500.

The leonine presence on my gtalk list is spectacular. And each of these August-borns is self-confessedly special, just any birthday gift won’t do. All I’ve got is three days, no time to sneak out of work, and not a whopper of a budget. And there’s rakhi, around the corner too!

A dire situation, but only until I chanced upon itasveer, this website kick-started by four IIT Delhi alums (totally overworked and smiling away at the great response the site has been getting), where finding a gift that’s so apt is as easy as making one — you can print your favourite images, photographs, or messages on a whole load of fun products.

Don’t need a Da Vinci streak to crack this one. Just their ‘Doodlepad’ application, where I threw in some dialogue boxes, some thought bubbles, some funky frames and design templates, to create fab designs that are totally unique. For my sister, a gorgeous black keepsake box. A tee with my best bud’s fave line: ‘I wish my hair could borrow volume from my butt’. And of course, a kewl rakhi for my bro, with our photos on it!

Now, I’m paranoid about shopping on the net (what if the stuff never turns up at my door?), but the customer support at itasveer is brill. Just after it says ‘Success!’ on the payment gateway, pat comes an email tracking my order. All the goodies arrive within 3 to 5 days (another email informs me the day my orders are despatched), packed snugly in ridged cardboard boxes and thermocol padding. And if you have a query, just shoot off an email, and it’s answered super-promptly.

So all it took, to bring on those megawatt smiles on my loved ones’ faces, was a lunch hour, a credit card, a couple of mouse clicks, and some inspiration. Sigh. Another day in the life of fabulous ten-armed-goddess me.

For details log on to www.itasveer.com. Prices, Rs 65 on. Delivers across India, but orders accepted from around the world (you can pay in foreign currency).

I am a diehard Dilliwali. Nothing comes between me and my butter chicken. So imagine my glee when I chanced upon the Republic of Chicken, a hip new eatery at my neighbourhood mall in Rajouri Garden. Three things to love about this place: chicken, chicken and more chicken. No visas required, just an appetite, for entry to this republic!

The huge, sprawling eatery has an open-plan kitchen, informal seating, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu’s high on the drool-quotient, with its prime ingredient appearing in several finger-licking variations. Pita pockets stuffed with chicken burger patties, breaded nuggets (grilled or fried), satay sticks with the traditional peanut dressing or a modified yoghurt-spice marinade, steamed dimsums, and the Greek-inspired rolls are just the thing for busy shoppers.

I loved their juicy spit roast. So crisp was its crust, and so tender the chicken, I devoured an entire helping with a side order of their crunchy vegetable stir fry and coleslaw. These beauties come sizzling off a rotisserie. ROC lists a zingy Schweppes ginger ale, just the thing to wash it down with. After a hard to top meal, the ice-cream-and-cookies medley, for dessert, almost measured up.

And if you still haven’t had your fill, a deli counter lets you shop for delish cold cuts.

I already know where I’m headed next: to ROC’s other just-opened outlet in South Ex. I was too stuffed to sample the butter chicken this time around.

Republic of Chicken, 3rd Floor, City Square Mall, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi; Ph: 42503751 / 52 / 53. Republic of Chicken, Eros-48, 3rd Floor, South Extension 1, New Delhi; Ph: 46508671 / 72 / 73. Meal for two: Rs 400.

As a woman of the world, I knew that whenever I hear the words P-U-N-J-A-B-I and M-U-S-I-C together, I absolutely had to lift my skirts and clickety-clack my Jimmy Choos to aural safety. But that was until a lost-looking guitarist slung elegant sufi-isms from his first album ‘Bulla Ki Jaana’ straight into our collective souls, three years back. Now I’m ecstatic that Rabbi Shergill, who ruled the airwaves practically for ever after its release, is out with his next, ‘Avengi Ja Nahin’.

Humming my fave songs from his mellow debut, I reached home, and pressed play. Out poured melodious musings on life and love. Here’s a man who falls in love with just enough gusto to have your head bobbing (’Karachi Waliye’), implores his sweetheart to follow his guitar notes (’Mein Boliyan’): will she, won’t she? He also stars alongside a leggy lass in the video of his title song (’Avengi Ja Nahin’), on air right now across music channels.

‘Challa’, ‘Ballo’ and ‘Bilquis’ are classic Rabbi as we know him: thoughtful, provocative, sweet. The trio looks all set to be flash favourites on my I-pod. And Mumbaiyas get their moment in the sun with ‘Avin Tu Bandra’ (with the accent in place!)

It left me feeling sated and starved at the same time, as I lost the count of the loops it took on my player. With a little help from my friendly CD jacket, the touching lyrics left a lump in my throat.

If you loved the last one, this one is for you.

Avengi Ja Nahin, Rabbi Shergill, YRF Music; Price (CD): Rs 149; Available at all leading music stores and outlets.

Today at 4pm, join and Magazine’s Divide and Clean Drive with Anusha Dandekar, Prahlad Kakkar, Apnavi Thacker, Matan Schabracq and Yogesh Lakhani from Prahlad Kakkar’s “Papa Pancho,” off Carter Road, Khar (W), and moving onto neighbouring streets.

When I’m seeking a bit of quiet luxury and refuge from the monsoon weather, I love exploring the galleries on bustling Arthur Bunder Road in Colaba. Recently, after climbing a few more sets of stairs than my weary legs can normally take, I stumbled upon a gem of a find. Set against a stark white background, complete with high vaulted ceilings and iron pillars, is a treasure trove of eclectic yet elegant artefacts and objets d’art. I suddenly found myself wondering how I could incorporate the stunning three feet high metallic lotuses and towering fluted brass Mughal inspired sculptures into my apartment.

Luckily for me, many of the pieces in Viya Home — derived from the first names of siblings Vikram and Divya Goyal who own the place — come in a variety of sizes to suit modern-day living. With two stores already in Delhi, this is the siblings’ first Mumbai store, which opened its doors in February this year.

Viya Home’s inspiring, ever-changing collage, coupled with the vibrance of Colaba’s Arthur Bunder Road — an area which is rapidly metamorphing into a hub for contemporary Indian art, design and fashion — ensures this is the perfect destination to while away some worthwhile hours.

Their latest collection is a sophisticated blend of old and new, handpicked from all over India: one-of-a-kind objects, selected for their beauty, sculptures, accessories and furniture all designed in-house. And everything underpinned by a unique ‘India Modern’ aesthetic.

I love the intricate mother-of-pearl and abalone inlay coffee tables, which I’m happily told can be customised in both design and scale. The Haveli ceiling is breathtaking, as are the highly decorative Tibetan cabinets which bow strongly to tradition, yet also complement the modern ascetic. For those less dramatically inclined, the elegant lotus candle-holders and array of marble bowls with malachite and mother-of-pearl inlay work are so effortlessly chic. So me!

Viya Home, 01/31 Kamal Mansion, Floor 2, Above Ambience Arts, Arthur Bunder Road, Colaba, Mumbai; Tel: 66102009, 99878 79694; E-mail: queries@viyahome.com; Website: www.viyahome.com; Prices: Rs 1500 and up.

For the last 10 days (apart from poring over the latest Vogue) I’ve been looking out for the perfect autumn dress. The closets in town, however, do not match the ones I have in my head.

So when I bumped into fashion glam pal, Kanick, and he told me that he and Ramya (another fash-glam-pal) have set up a studio called September and they’re showing a collection of dresses for this season, I took a deep breath and held it till I got there.

And woohoooo, it’s dresses galore! Chiffons and georgettes kiss linens and raw silks. They whisper to each other in autumnal prints of leaves, bamboo, roses and earthy sighs. And what I finally see is a wealth of frock ops. What’s different, thought I, are the cuts. Not the usual baby-doll ones, but more mature, vintage and en vogue (yay!).

Pair them with tights. Team them with jeans. Complement them with yoga pants. Or just sport them with smooth legs, a coat and espadrilles — they’re all bound to floor the audience.

September (named so, because both designers were born in September) opened last month after their debut at the Lakme India Fashion week. But I suggest you don’t wait till September to pay them a peep.

September by Kanick & Ramya. Number 431/C, 4th Main, 8th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore 560008. Tel: 9986074673, 9844304822. Prices start from Rs 700 and go up to Rs 3500.

I am a sucker for sizzlers. So when I heard that IndiJoe’s, one of my fave all-day-diners, has opened up a whole new outlet that serves these wooden plattered smoky delights, my fate for the weekend was sealed.

Plush red leather seats, red brick walls dotted with records, dartboards, saxophones and a giant horseshoe, stained glass lamps and music from the 80’s — the English tavern-meets-retro-pub feel at IndiJoe’s on Church Street instantly set the mood for an otherwise quiet Saturday afternoon.

While agonising over which sizzler to try out — they have chicken, steak, seafood, mutton and veggie — I had Hot ‘n’ Crispy Joe’s Shrimps, hand-battered and crispy fried served with red pepper tartar sauce and fries, as starters. My bud went for the Mozzarella in Carozza, a heavenly combo of melted mozzarella lightly wrapped in crisp slices of farmer’s bread accompanied by a yum pesto and tomato coulis.

Next came the sizzling main course. Sliced chicken layered with cheese, flavored with a light white wine and emmental sauce, alongside fiery spaghetti and veggies spiced with green Tabasco sauce — I had a winner in my Stacked Chicken Valdostana. “Ditto,” said my pal while digging into her Blazing King Prawns cooked in sweet chilli garlic sauce, sprinkled with grilled pepper and Chinese greens and served with steamed rice or noodles, that they flambeed right at our table.

Though I didn’t get to sample any, the maitre d’ assured us that the Crumbling Melting Cottage Cheese — cutlets made out of cottage and Monterey Jack cheese served with Spanish rice and melted cheese — was an absolute must-have for vegetarians.

For dessert, I chose a delicious Fruit Crumble. The fruits, stewed in honey and wine and topped with ice-cream, was a perfect balance to the fiery entree.

All sizzle, no fizzle.

IndiJoe’s Sizzlers. 46/2 Kalpak Arcade, Church Street (opposite Hotel Empire), Bangalore 1. Tel: 41113311. A meal for two, including non-alcoholic drinks, will cost around Rs 1000.

The other day I took a good look around my house, and I noticed, horrors, that everything looked fusty and dull: the paintings, the chairs, even that tall vase I’d got from China. My agenda for this week is to add a dash of something new (I’m not in the market for a complete overhaul just yet), to brighten and lighten and gladden.

I’ve just got a sneak peak at ‘Treasure Trove’, India’s first-ever three day exhibition-cum-sale of antique tiles that adorned palaces, monuments, and other regal abodes, over a century ago. This year, at their annual fundraiser, People For Animals, the country’s largest animal welfare society is exhibiting over 10,000 antique tiles that have been sourced from all over the country (and then authenticated, of course!).

Back then, these rare handmade and hand-painted tiles were imported from all over the world including Holland, Greece, Japan and the UK. Check out the ones with the lovely pink English tea-roses, the wine-red pomegranates (it’s the Greek symbol for prosperity), the gorgeous leafy Japanese bamboos, as well as those which feature delicate Chinese calligraphy, and vibrant geometric Islamic patterns.

Whichever ones you pick, these tiles — part history and part art — are both versatile and durable. You can simply frame them and hang them on your walls. Or you can be a bit more adventurous and work a couple into pieces of furniture, design your tea-tray around them, or use them to frame a mirror.

Join me as I get started on brightening up my future with a bit from the past.

Treasure Trove, August 8-10, InterContinental The Grand, Barakhamba Avenue, C P, New Delhi. Tel: 91 11 44447777. Prices per tile, Rs 1,500 on.

Gals, you know I’m always telling you about hot and happenin’ in Mumbai, from the best meals to the best heels to the best deals? But now I want to give you all a tip about the colour of this season: green (well, I prefer to call it ‘emerald’, cause that sounds way cooler!). Yes, apart from being a Trendylicious babe, I’m all for thinking eco-friendly and making the right choices. My home — a place that sets guests oohing and aahing with its unique decor touches — is full of ecologically sound stuff like non-wood biodegradable furniture, organic cotton sheets and chemical-free cleaning agents. I read my news online to save trees, and I carpool or use public transport to get to and from all the hottest parties! Basically, I want my carbon footprint as tiny as a fairytale princess’s foot.

So, why am I telling you all this now? Well, there’s something afoot on the Save The Earth front and I thought you’d want to know about the Next Big Thing. and magazine’s latest special issue examines the various facets of green living. And to coincide with this, they’ve roped in some celebs with a conscience to pitch in with an exciting event.

At 4 pm this Thursday, the green crusaders will take to the streets to encourage Mumbaikars towards a cleaner, greener city, and eventually, a cleaner and greener India. Who can you expect showing people how to segregate their garbage into bio-degradable, recyclable and non-biodegradable waste? The issue’s fashionably green cover girl VJ Anusha Dandekar, tell-it-like-it-is ad-man Prahlad Kakkar, Mumbai-based street artist Apnavi Thacker, restauranteur Matan Schabracq (of Zenzi and The Bagel Shop fame) and businessman Yogesh Lakhani, along with a lot of us who’ve decided the buck stops with us.

This Divide and Clean Drive’s going to get all the right-minded people in action. I hope you won’t be left behind.

The Divide and Clean Drive kicks off from Prahlad Kakkar’s “Papa Pancho,” off Carter Road, Khar (W), on August 7 at 4pm and moves onto neighbouring streets. www.andpersandmag.com/new/events.html. Media sponsors: Bright Outdoor Media, Indiantelevision.com, Radio Mirchi, Equator Events and www.trendy.in.