Sunday 3 March 2013

When all roads in Chennai led to the Madras Market !

The most talked about event in Chennai during the recent times is the Madras Market. An idea that brought the Virtual Chennai shopping group to life in Wesley Grounds last weekend. Almost everyone I knew were so looking forward to being there including yours truly.

It was held last weekend (23rd and 24th Feb) with the theme of a flea market and had over 100 different stalls selling variety of stuff ranging from organic food stuff at Terra, colorful baskets, kids jewelery from Little Nathella, Gehna, Quirky magnets with an Indian theme at Chumbak, Chennai themed merchandise at Urumi, Natural body care products, Clothes, accessories and I can just keep going on and on ..







The evening saw some fun activities for kids and some real good music and performances were being staged.  And ofcourse like every other event the food stalls were stormed the most ! We happened to taste some global street food from Spoonbill that we really enjoyed. For, the first time I tried the much raved about Elaneer Souffle from Crimson Chakra stall , it was good but guess my expectations were too high..






Had a bit from almost all the stalls, my favourite was Spoonbill. Unfortunately, couldn't taste Biriyani from Daawat as they were completely sold out by the time I wanted veg. biriyani.

It was a fun filled day ! And hoping it turns out to be an Annual event with lot more variety. I should say the event was very well planned and organized, right through promotion to selecting a suitable location to bringing in variety for entertainment to managing parking of vehicles on the day of the event. It was a complete hassle free fun experience !!  

Friday 1 February 2013

Having the "Me" time

Sometimes life becomes so full of activity that you completely forget when your day starts, ends including what meal of the day you are about to have, such was 2012 for me. Looking back, it makes me feel sad despite having a lot of good times and wonderful memories last year there were hardly any pics that I clicked that I could connect with the various happenings of last year except may be the times when I went on a vacation.

Irony has it that I fell sick just after pongal and having a slow yet steady start to 2013 ! For almost a week now I am having the much needed "Me" time as I am trying to rest and get well soon.

It is so much fun talking to and catching up with  friends with whom you haven't spoke to for ages (that's what I did during the pongal holidays), visited a book exhibition, as I rest to get well soon I have all the time in the world to catch up with reading all the articles I missed out in my huge collection of Lonely planet magazines :)

This year I promise to take more pics and share them all with you !

Tuesday 8 January 2013

My Best of 2012 !

I am late in doing this post, been thinking about not having to miss posting about my 2012 here for over 2 weeks now.

I thought I was the only one thinking feeling bad about not writing much in my blog like I used to, but thanks to each of you who remember to ask me and letting me know that all enjoyed reading it ! - Thanks for bringing me out of my hibernation mode and on to here :)

Thanks a Lot Kg Kumar (For the first time in my life, you have actually told me something that I will feel good about) and Neha :)

Here we go to the year that has given me many firsts, unfolded many dreams and given me memories that I will cherish for my whole life through !!

Big things first - Star of 2012 has to be Brown Station

What started in a small way during the end of 2011 turns out to be the biggest event in my life. It was a passion of two friends who enjoyed good food, bonded over dreams of wanting to start restaurants finally took the plunge to start Brown Station - a Gourmet Chocolate and Dessert boutique.



In between all the chocolates , truffles, cupcakes et all , my family decided on making a short family trip to the US. It was my first time to the US and I totally enjoyed visiting cousins, aunt , uncle and all the fun times we had together !! That just reminds me that I have a travel blog where I am yet to write my travel adventures in the US.  It was lots of fun to holiday together :)) We missed being able to meet our other friends and family in the US, but we sure will the next time we are there.



I met my cousin and her family who I haven't met in almost a decade.

Couple of our best friends from college got married in Kolkatta - which led to the short fun filled trip to the land of Gol gappas with mom and friends. It was a re-union of sorts and gladly had a mini get together when few friends visited Chennai later part of the year.



We (Brown Station) got featured in 3 leading Newspapers !! and we also got an opportunity to be part of the Breakfast show in Chennai Live's Radio program during the Christmas week.

I test drove almost every car that was introduced in the first half of the year :D  Silly, but it was fun and I still have a whole list of them to do when I find time.

I learnt to bake and do chocolate art! My creativity has not stopped since then :))

2012 was a year of wonderful people - who stood by me to help me live my dreams despite their apprehensions , my bunch of friends from work at KPMG who turned out to be well wishers and brought about the belief in me that you could still meet wonderful people and make friends even when you grow up , all the helping hands and hearts who came out to help us while we were drenched with orders at Brown Station when 24 hours a day and 7 days a week were just not sufficient to meet our client requirements, my friends who taught me patience, and all my friends, family and well - wishers who took time to create memories and make 2012 a very special year for me :)

Wishing you all a very Happy 2013 !! May the year be filled with good times, happy memories, good health, great people, safe and peaceful for each of us :)