<h2>The Gossip columns</h2>
<p>Framed beneath the iconic arches of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus heritage building, a man speaks on his phone</p>
<h2>It&rsquo;s a Dom good idea</h2>
<p>If you happen to pass by Chimbai&rsquo;s Perry Cross Road to find the whiff of freshly baked bread coming your way, do not be surprised. Calvin Titus&rsquo; new Dom&rsquo;s Bakehouse is set to open its kitchen this weekend. A new cloud kitchen by the entrepreneur, it will hope to bring back the old school nostalgia of local sandwich delis.</p>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/may/Eggplant-parmesan_e.jpg" alt="Custard choux; (right) eggplant parm sandwich" width="1280" height="720" /><strong><em>Eggplant Parm Sandwich and Custard choux</em></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;I always wanted to open a sandwich deli, but was struggling to find the right kind of bread. The ones I tried in the market were a little disappointing. So, we decided to go to the oven, and make it ourselves,&rdquo; the 34-year-old shared. In collaboration with chef Austine Dsouza, the bakehouse will bring to the suburb offerings from the familiar East Indian pulled pork sandwiches, Cajun chicken to chilli onion shrimp rolls and custard choux.</p>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/may/Calvin-Titus_e.jpg" alt="Calvin Titus. Pics Courtesy/Dom&rsquo;s Bakehouse" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Calvin Titus. Pics Courtesy/Dom&rsquo;s Bakehouse</em></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;We have also created a new line of choux pastries &mdash; both sweet and savoury. We also plan to bring in a special jalapeno cheese focaccia to the table,&rdquo; the Bandra boy revealed. If you are wondering about the name, it brings yet another Bandra connection to the venture. &ldquo;Austine and I came up with the idea for the project while working in our kitchen on St Dominic&rsquo;s Road. That&rsquo;s where the name comes from,&rdquo; he told this diarist.</p>
<h2>Bienvenue! A new co-working space in SoBo</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/may/Workspace_e.jpg" alt="Members at the co-working space (right) Laurent Vergain. Pics Courtesy/Alliance Fran&ccedil;aise de Bombay" width="1280" height="720" /><strong><em>Members at the co-working space (right) Laurent Vergain. Pics Courtesy/Alliance Francaise de Bombay</em></strong></p>
<p>A popular study centre in South Mumbai has now become a workspace for professionals. Laurent Vergain, executive director, Alliance Fran&ccedil;aise de Bombay (AFB), said, &ldquo;The idea behind this co-working space here, is to create an open, dynamic environment where people can connect, collaborate, and be inspired &mdash; all while staying true to the cultural and educational spirit of Alliance Fran&ccedil;aise de Bombay. This is a new initiative that reflects our commitment to serving not just our students and professionals but also the wider community of Mumbai. He shared with this diarist, &ldquo;The unique cultural ambience of AFB sets our space apart, with exhibitions, film screenings, and cultural events creating an inspiring backdrop. It&rsquo;s a space where work meets culture and ideas thrive.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>United steps for peace</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/may/Loiter-moment_e.jpg" alt="Participants at a previous walk by the community. Pics Courtesy/Why Loiter" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>Participants at a previous walk by the community. Pics Courtesy/Why Loiter</em></strong></p>
<p>For several years, the Why Loiter? community has been taking walks through the streets of Mumbai as a means to build solidarity and reclaim spaces; this Saturday, they will hope to build a conversation. The group will host a walk from Bandra West railway station to Mahim Dargah. &ldquo;Many of us in the community were having conversations about the growing tensions and situation around the borders.</p>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/may/Natasha-Maru_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p>While we grieve for the families, war also comes with its own dangers. The walk is an attempt to find a space of solidarity for people who are passionate for justice and peace,&rdquo; revealed Namrata Maru (inset), member and co-ordinator. With a focus on building conversations, participants in the walk will wear white. &ldquo;We hope to initiate conversations and will find ways to interact with people who might be curious about our initiative during the walk. This is just a peaceful walk as friends, with a common aim,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Compose on the chessboard</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/may/Solving-practice_e.jpg" alt="A chess player attempts to solve a  problem. Pic Courtesy/ChessBase India" width="1280" height="720" /><br /><strong><em>A chess player attempts to solve a problem. Pic Courtesy/ChessBase India</em></strong></p>
<p>The week-long Big Chess Summer Camp that kicks off today at a Kurla mall, will also feature some unique problems. &ldquo;In addition to our free learning camps, open to all ages, we are also hosting the Indian leg of the Israel Solving Championship on May 11,&rdquo; shared Chess Base India strategist Kartik Krishnan. The solving championship will involve chess problems composed by grandmasters from across the world to be solved in a limited time. Krishnan added, &ldquo;Composing is a unique process where you imagine sequences to be countered in two or three moves.&rdquo; The camp will set the tone for an inter school tournament for children starting on May 16.</p>
<h2>Express via poetry</h2>
<p><img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/may/Poetry-session_e.jpg" alt="A moment from a performance session. Pic Courtesy/Agatsu foundation" width="1280" height="720" /><strong><em>A moment from a performance session. Pic Courtesy/Agatsu foundation</em></strong></p>
<p>Hank Nunn Institute, in collaboration with Agatsu Foundation, is hosting a potluck poetry session at Bandra West this Sunday. Here, people can engage in poetry and discuss their emotions, thoughts and feelings. Namrata Chavan, the co-facilitator at the institute, said, &ldquo;We aim to create conversations and dialogues with people. We don&rsquo;t engage in poetry in an academic manner but to [instead] get in touch with our emotions, imaginations and associations. The poems could be any verse that touches your heart.&rdquo;</p><p><script type="text/javascript">atOptions={'key':'d0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7','format':'iframe','height':90,'width':728,'params':{}};</script></p><p>
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