Marcellus Baptista

Scene & Heard

On The Bondwagon
Bond, big bucks and big bashes go together. You felt so when you experienced the parties to celebrate the premiere of the latest Bond movie, ‘Die Another Day’ and heard about the promotional blitz.

There were two parties in succession, one at Shatranj Napoli hosted by 20th Century Fox and the other at Ambassador Hotel hosted by Raj Travels & Tours that takes you places just like all the James Bond movies.
While the Ambassador Hotel party did not seem to bring alive the aura of the Bond movies, the one at Shatranj Napoli took you to Bondland with decor of ice, gadgets, special Bond cocktails, title songs from the movies and a sprinkling of Bond girls. Not the real ones, of course, like Halle Berry.

Shatranj Napoli also staged a James Bond High Jinks promotion at its restaurant and sports bar. Other promotional activities were in full swing. Like Reid & Taylor, the premium brand of luxury suiting, that launched a massive Rs 45 million exercise for ‘Die Another Day’. It is believed that the association of the brand and Bond has proved to be a success.

Spirited Times
Spirited events have been the order of the day (night) in Mumbai. At the Oberoi Towers poolside lawn it was party time celebrating the Chivas Regal Invitational Golf Challenge held earlier in the day at Willingdon Sports Club. Music, live music, a DJ at the Mexican Room where the party continued after dinner. And, of course, a generous amount of Chivas.

At Cafe Royal it was an informal wine tasting and dinner session hosted by Rukn Luthra, country manager, South & South East Asia, Ernest & Julio Gallo. Kanchanok Pavasreeskul, fine wine ambassador of the famed American wine group, was also present, as was US Consul General Angus Simmons, F N Ginwalla, president, The Maharashtra Wine Merchants Association and Cafe Royal directors Farhang Jehani and Farzad Jehani.

Guests sipped and savoured Ernest & Julio Gallo wines like Sonoma Conty, Turning Leaf, Wine Cellars, Andre Brut, Carlo Rossi.

And at Enigma, the nightclub of J W Marriott Hotel, it was time for the grand finale of the Smirnoff Club Look ‘Walk Da Bar’ nights with clubbers showing off their outfits and attitude.

The Great Escape
This is the season for that great escape to Goa. A whole lot of Mumbai models walked the ramp over the pool on the hilltop at Club Cubana at Arpora as Royal Challenge and Bentex presented a fashion show of designer Azeem Khan’s creations, choreographed by Marc Robinson.

And Mumbai visitors, and residents of Goa, have discovered that the heady spirits of the land need not be just feni. Madame Rosa Distillery, famous for its Big Boss feni, has just introduced its range of liqueurs.

It comes in 375 ml attractive bottles, shaped like a Christmas tree, is offered in four flavours: mango, anise, chocolate mint, almond. People have been enjoying it chilled, on the rocks or even topping it over desserts or ice-cream.