Beautiful Girl

You’re an in-the-know kind of girl. You know where to get the best shiatsu massage. You know where to get the most luxurious pedicure. But do you know where to go when you want that extra special desi touch?

Ziba Beauty is where you go. Ziba is the one stop shop for all your desi beauty needs. Their threading technicians will analyze your face shape to give you that perfect brow. And while you’re there you can get your nose pierced, and have some of the best mehndi artists paint you up.

The ever growing Ziba empire, started back in 1986 by Kundan “Kelly” Sabarwal with a single location in Artesia, California. Over 20 years later, Ziba has worked on some of the most famous faces in the world including Madonna, Gwen Stefani, and Naomi Campbell, introducing them to some of India's best kept beauty secrets.

You don't have to be a celebrity to go to Ziba. But you'll certainly feel like when you walk out.

Ziba Beauty. www.zibabeauty.com 6 locations in Southern California. Artesia headquarters, 562-402-5131

Social Butterfly

Myspace? Too commercial. Friendster? Sooooo 2004. So what’s a hot desi like you to do when you want to meet other South Asians? Well the daily desi is going to tell you.

A new crop of desi networking sites allow you to meet and connect with other like minded desis all over the world. Zindaginet.com allows you to search people by height, religion, high school, and the oh-so-important ancestral village among other criteria. You can also save searches, upload your latest drunken vacation photos, and take a most telling personality quiz.

Next up is Yaari.com. In addition to the typical goodies, Yaari also runs various contests as well as applications for your cellie cell cell, so you can be connected on the go. Best of all membership to both sites are free. So you can chat up that John Abraham /Aishwarya Rai look-a-like all you want.

zindaginet.com

yaari.com

Play It Safe

“Now beta, if you decide to get intimate with Raj don’t forget to protect yourself.”

Huh? OK, so in our conservative culture, safe sex isn’t often the first topic of conversation. Well, times are a changing. At the Bose Pascia Gallery in New York, the Delhi based Thukral & Tagra show off their new exhibit, entitled “Put It On.”

Using a wide variety of media, including everything from underwear to footwear, the exhibition promotes safe sex practices while exploring possible solutions for the AIDS epidemic. But it’s not all gloom and doom. Pieces such as a pair of lime green flip flops picturing proper condom usage, make the exhibit is a supremely entertaining visual treat as well.

Look for more from this talented duo, including an upcoming installation at Art Basel in Switzerland. In the meantime, run, don't walk to Bose Pacia and get it while its hot.

Put it On. Bose Pacia, 508 West 26th Street, New York. Tel: 212.989.7074. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 to 6 pm. Exhibit runs until June 9^th.

The Pink City

“Pink is the navy blue of India”, Diana Vreeland, once astutely remarked oh-so many years ago. And when you visit Jaipur, you’ll realize she was right.

SLEEP
Liz Hurley threw Arun Nayar’s 40^th birthday here, French Vogue’s Carine Roitfeld is rumored to have stayed here, and well, it’s fabulous. Devi Garh, the painfully luxurious 18^th century palace turned hotel features suites embellished with marble and semi-precious stones, swimming pools with mountain views. This is way better than Uma’s house. Devi Garh, deviresorts.com

SHOP
French jeweler Marie-Helene de Taillac and Munnu Kasliwal of the famed Gem Palace have partnered together to create Hot Pink, the first concept store in Jaipur. Hot Pink brings together the best of contemporary Indian design and fashion, stocking lines such as Abraham and Thakore, Bounipun,Manish Arora, and Tulsi. Hot stuff indeed. Hot Pink, www.hotpinkindia.com

EAT
Hungry out-of-towners like Naomi Campbell and home grown royalty like Amitabh Bachchan eat at Niros Restaurant for some of the best Rajastani food in the area. It’s not exactly the hottest or trendiest spot, but with a menu that ranges from Rajastani to Chinese to Continental everyone is bound to be happy. Niros Restaurant www.nirosindia.com

Mujhse Shaadi Karogi?

So you dream of a wedding like Vikram Chatwal and Priya Sachdev but lack the multi-million dollar budget? Raj Tents can make your dreams a reality.

Calling to mind a scene out of Arabian Nights, the colorful tents come to life with mirrors, tassels, and beautiful embroidery all handmade by artisans from Rajasthan. Choose from the smaller Pergola (9 x 9 feet) to the larger Maharaja (over 700 sq feet). Raj Tents also offers a variety of linings, lighting fixtures, carved wooden tables, exotic cushions, and Dhurrie carpeting. Rentals start at $950 for 3 days and purchases start at $2,450.

Of course the tents aren’t restricted to weddings only. Pool parties, BBQs, the possibilities are endless.

Fit for a rani.

Raj Tents, 310-320-6600. www.rajtents.com

Shoot This

OK, we get it bhangra and hip hop go together like PB & J. Electronic and tabla like peanut butter and chocolate. Tired of listening to the same old remixes? Well, look no more.

Weaving soaring rock vocals, catchy electronic beats, with Hindi vocal samples and traditional Indian instruments like the dhol, Bamboo Shoots enchants and enraptures everyone from indie rockers to hip hop fans.

With a new record deal and a recent appearance on Conan O'Brien under their belts, Bamboo Shoots is poised to become hotter than Paris’s bedroom on a Friday night.

Even Aunty and Uncle can appreciate this.

www.bambooshoots.com

www.myspace.com/bambooshoots

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NhNze4lpfPw