Good morning, Bengaluru!
🗳️ It’s election day! Don’t forget to vote and make your voice heard!
☀️ Today’s weather: High: 37 ℃ | Low: 24 ℃ | Mainly clear sky.
🧐 Did you know? International Jazz Day is celebrated worldwide on April 30 every year.
🥘 A sanctuary for the senses
In Koramangala, Cafe Zubaan offers a serene escape, merging delightful gastronomy with intellectual stimulation.
What’s it about? Nestled on a quiet bylane off 80-foot Road, Cafe Zubaan stands out with its tranquil white-and-pastel green facade, lush planters, and a welcoming atmosphere that slows down the city’s pace. Inside, the cafe combines minimalist aesthetics with cultural richness, underscored by the soft melodies of ghazals that fill the air, creating a soothing retreat from the urban rush.
- The menu entices with authentic Lebanese cuisine, starting with a mezze platter and moving to more hearty dishes like Istanbul kebabs and a mix grill.
- The cafe not only serves food but also brews up culture with its signature Kahwa and a thoughtful selection of books on significant socio-political topics.
Community space: Owners Labeeb Usman and Jasna Moidu envision the cafe as more than a dining space. It’s a platform for dialogue and discovery, where discussions from the “Kahwa Aur Kitabein” sessions inspire patrons to explore and question societal norms, particularly around gender identity.
🗳️ Enhancing polling accessibility
Karnataka Election Commission introduces innovative measures to boost voter turnout.
What’s it about? With urban voter apathy posing a significant challenge, the Karnataka Election Commission has implemented several strategic initiatives aimed at improving voter turnout in urban areas. These measures include voter facilitation counters, QR code navigation, and the Chunavana mobile application, all designed to simplify the voting process and encourage participation.
- Voter facilitation counters are staffed with booth-level officers who assist voters in finding their designated booths, thereby minimizing confusion and wait times.
- The Chunavana app provides real-time information on polling station queues, candidate details, and nearby amenities, including parking and emergency services.
Improvement areas: The Election Commission is targeting about 5,000 polling stations identified for improvement, with a focus on those that had less than 30% turnout in past elections.
🏗️ Sumadhura Group’s land acquisition
Sumadhura Group gears up for a significant expansion in Bengaluru’s real estate market with a new 40-acre acquisition.
What’s it about? Sumadhura Group, a prominent real estate developer in South India, has announced the acquisition of 40 acres in Bengaluru for approximately ₹800 crore. This strategic purchase sets the stage for the development of residential projects with a potential revenue of up to ₹6000 crore.
- The land, spread across four parcels in the fast-growing corridors of East and South-West Bengaluru, positions the company to capitalise on the increasing demand for housing in these areas.
- The group plans to develop four residential projects on these sites over the next five years, aiming to achieve six million sq ft of saleable area.
Market Growth: This expansion comes at a time when Bengaluru’s housing market is witnessing robust growth, with prices in the city rising by 18% year-on-year in the third quarter, primarily driven by demand in the peripheral and outer East regions.
🎷 International Jazz Day event
Bangalore School of Music gears up for a vibrant celebration of International Jazz Day with events spanning three days.
What’s it about? The Bangalore School of Music (BSM) is set to mark International Jazz Day with a series of performances and workshops from April 27 to April 30. This annual celebration, observed worldwide on April 30, will see a diverse lineup of events hosted by BSM to highlight the rich tapestry of jazz music and its growing appeal among the youth.
- The festival will kick off with performances by BSM students and emerging talents from the local jazz scene, including a special show by the August Quartet and Pockets & Changes at the Goethe Institut.
- The second day will feature seasoned artists at the Bangalore International Centre, including the Radha Thomas Ensemble and the Gerard Machado Network, alongside a unique percussion showcase by Sunil Ramesh and Rohit.
Cultural fusion: The closing day at the Museum of Art and Photography will feature MoonArra in a musical dialogue with Prakash Sontakke, exploring the intersections of Indian classical music and jazz.
✨ Things to do…
Here are some fun and interesting things to do in the city over the weekend!
- Experience a unique shopping experience at SOCIAL’s Garage Sale Pop-up.
- Catch Kailash Kher and Kailasa Live at Phoenix Marketcity.
- Enjoy an afternoon of interactive fun at the Thrifty X Mystery Match event.
- Gursimran Khamba will make you laugh at his Lemons & Peaches standup show.
- Thaikkudam Bridge is performing live at Garuda Mall.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll Results:
- I like Plain Dosa: 40.0%
- I like Masala Dosa: 60.0% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!