bpb’s weekly pick-tionary of happenings from Mumbai and beyond.

…. and again: India’s badminton superstar Saina Nehwal apologies for saying that Delhi isn’t ready to host the CWG; and eight participating Indian sportsmen fail drug test. Game over?

BMC study indicates that there is an increase in the amount of cancer-causing particles in the air as compared to last year. Certainly doesn’t help us breathe easier.

Bollywood Bedtime Stories: The home help who accused Shiney Ahuja of sexual assault now drops all charges against the actor. Meanwhile, A. R Rahman takes six months to come up with the not-so-popular CWG theme, but delivers title song for upcoming Jhoota hi Sahi in less than two days. Quite a track record!

Elizabeth Arden plans to set up spas here early next year and India rises from number 13 to 7 in Conde Nast Readers’ list of best international holiday destinations. Moving up in the world!

Weekend Quickie: Vibrasphere at Aurus on Sept 3, Ultimate DJ Challenge at Blue Frog on Sept 4, and Japan’s Tsukiji fish market comes to San-Qi at The Four Seasons Hotel.

bpb's weekly pick-tionary of happenings from Mumbai and beyond.

Alto Ctrl Del: Rahman’s Commonwealth Theme Song has fallen flat with listeners as well as members of the CWG Committee, who claim that it isn’t as catchy as Shakira’s Waka Waka and are demanding that the composer work on a new tune. Lord Siren!

Chinese lingerie company releases ad starring a Princess Diana lookalike clad in blue underwear and tiara while playing the cello. Royal Tenen-bums?

Crooked cricket: Fall-out from the international “spot-fixing” scandal continues, with Scotland Yard questioning three Pakistani players, lawyers in Islamabad calling for treason charges against corrupt cricketers – and worst of all! – accused bowler Mohammad Asif being dropped from a Malayalam movie.

Weekend Quickie: Vagina Monologues on August 28 and 29 at 6 pm at The Comedy Store; Post-oil spill Sunday clean up by Bombay Fishing Club on August 29 (location and time TBD), call Santosh on 9967366777; Styluz Night with multiple music genres at Zenzi Mills on August 27 at 9 pm.

bpb’s weekly pick-tionary of happenings from Mumbai and beyond.

Anand hi Anand: Arjun Atwal becomes the first Indian to win the PGA tour title and Viswanathan Anand refuses to accept doctorate by Hyderabad varsity after his Indian citizenship is questioned.

City cabs are all set to get a paint job, going from yellow and black to a peach, cream and brown combination. Won for the road!

Eleven hour hostage situation in Philippines leaves eight dead and seven injured. RIP.

Floods in Pakistan have already affected over 20 million people, 800,000 of which can be only reached by air. Contribute to relief efforts here.

Politics Bites: Multiplexes in the city to lose their licenses unless they give Marathi films prime time slots; after MPs, MLAs are all set to get a 62% salary hike; and  the government orders a judicial probe after five deaths in Thane orphanage.

Event Round-up: Corona Monsoon Project at Zenzi Mills on August 21 at 10 pm; Mocha TreeHuggers trek at Sanjay Gandhi National Park on August 22 at 7 am, call 9619863225;  Mia Cucina, Bandra starts Sunday brunch at noon.

bpb's weekly pick-tionary of happenings from Mumbai and beyond.

A Chip off the Old Block: The Taj Mahal Palace reopens its newly restored 107-year-old heritage wing damaged during the 26/11 terror attacks. Meanwhile, a 32-year-old building in Mumbai comes tumbling down after a minor earthquake and heavy rainfall triggered its downfall.

Across the Border: Pakistan’s ISI says India is no longer considered a threat to national security as home-grown militants take up the number one spot. Search tool Google Insights goofs up once again; doesn’t show Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of India’s map. How this blunder, we wonder?

BlackBerry users can breathe easy for now as the service may continue beyond the August 31 deadline. The risk of a ban however, still looms large if the mobile company doesn’t comply with the government’s demands.

(B)oiling Point: BMC declares salt water fish safe, but recommends avoiding crab and oysters. Meanwhile, Sahara Star hotel brings back the live mermaids at their Pan-Asian restaurant until October 5. We might be sea sick!

What: Pimp Your Sole, Puma Store, Linking Road, Khar (W), call 66430382/66430381, visit the Facebook group here, free event.

Why: Let your inner artist run free at the Puma store this weekend, where you can drop in to design your own shoe sole and maybe even see it featured in the 2011 Spring Collection – what a kick!

When: You want to win the lace. 

DJ Hanna Hansen at Blue Frog on August 13 at 10.30 pm; Garage sale for a cause by Hamara Footpath on August 14 and 15 at Dhoop, call 9819066726; Black v/s White art exhibit at Studio3 Art Gallery, Churchgate until August 15, 10 am onwards.

bpb’s weekly pick-tionary of happenings from Mumbai and beyond.

Commonwealth Shames: Opposition demands anti-corruption probe by joint parliamentary committee; Joint Director of CWC organising committee cries foul; and Delhi CM spot checks CWC sites (what took her so long?!).

Crushers: Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen call off their engagement, and Enimen admits to having a crush on Rihanna.

Flash floods in Leh leave 200 missing and another 167 dead. R.I.P.

Fuzzy Logic: UK’s Durham University allows students to take a BA course on Harry Potter, and Priyanka Chopra signs on as the national ambassador for UNICEF.