Bombay Bred

There are times when you really need to make a statement. Pack a punch. Which is why you have to ditch the delicate gold strand necklace and throw on something a little more exotic.

Bombay bred Shahnaz Hughson is the owner of Bombay Gal an Atlanta boutique specializing in clothing and hand crafted jewelry. Shahnaz’s designs are not for wallflowers. She sources from far-flung places like Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Africa, Brazil and of course India. Think Masai glass, gold horns, copper disks. The result is big beautiful exotic pieces that can go just easily with a tee as they can with an evening gown.

Multi-tasking jewelry? Now that’s a hot ticket.

For more info check out www.myspace.com or

www.bombay-gal.com

Jump for Jhumpa

She’s at it again. Jhumpa Lahiri of The Namesake fame has recently released Unaccustomed Earth, a collection of short stories once again focusing on Bengali immigrants. Alcoholism, adultery, arranged marriages, and aging parents are just the tip of the iceberg.

What I love Lahiri’s books is her ability to reach deeper than the typical ABCD lit. She explores the bi-cultural identity of first generation Indian children, without pandering to stereotypes. The burden of family wishes and yet the desire to follow your own dreams, the guilt, and the expectations that many Indian-Americans can relate to, are themes which Lahiri makes so poignant and real in her stories.

Ruma must learn to get along with her father without the comfort of her deceased mother. Hema confronts her feelings for an old crush when she is on the eve of entering an arranged marriage. An American man falls in love with unavailable Indian roommate.

Heart wrenching, delicious, and soulful, Unaccustomed Earth is a delight to the senses. So put away your Us Weekly and read something substantial this summer.

Buy it here Unaccustomed Earth

Love is in the Air

Love it or hate it, The Love Guru is here. Watch Mike Myers (as Guru Pitka), “Bombay Dreams” star Manu Naryan (as Ranjeesh) , and Jessica Alba (Jane) dance Bollywood style to a remake of Steve Miller’s “The Joker” in The Love Guru.

It's Happening

Just when I started to wonder what where all the summer scary movies are, the news came in. The master of suspense, M. Night Shayamalan is back in full force tomorrow with his latest film The Happening.

In the movie, an oh-so-frightful pandemic is spreading with the unfortunate victims losing the ability to speak and physical deterioration followed by…. DEATH. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg as “Elliot Moore” a high school teacher from Philadelphia, running for his life with his estranged wife Alma (Zooey Deschanel), their daughter and his BFF Julian (John Leguizamo).

Oooooh, sounds scary!! The best part is you never really see the killer, making the entire situation even more of a mystery. And if nothing else you get to watch Mark Wahlberg for 2 hours, (Hot!). Sooooo, grab some popcorn and a slurpee and start the summer movie season off with a bang (or a BOO!).

The Happening opens in theaters Friday June 13, (cue spooky music) www.thehappeningmovie.com

Ooooh I'm So Trendy

I love India, but truth be told it’s hard to keep up with what’s hot when you return for a visit. With India’s economy growing by the nanosecond, new bars, shops, restaurants, are multiplying faster than cows on a Mumbai street.

Welcome to my new favorite website, Trendylicious. It’s kind of like The Desi Dish, but in India. The newsletter is designed to give women the 411 on fashion, art, culture, and nightlife in Mumbai, Banglore, and Delhi. Staffed by freelance writers,
Trendylicious is fun and easy to read. It’s like talking to your best friend who happens to know everyone and everything in town.

Some of my bookmarks included a write up about Passion Yoga (no ancient swamis necessary), Details design store, Bootleggers bar (a real bar, no cover!) and my favorite Frou Frou a girly-girl dress shop. Dresses for starting at Rs. 220 (only $5!!!). Who said the dollar was weak?

www.trendy.in

Two Hot Chicks