<h2>In focus</h2>
A woman strides past the imposing sculpture titled Cameraman, created by artist Suryakant Lokhande, near Mehboob Studios in Bandra West
<h2>On cloud nine</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Port-Kitchen_e.jpg" alt="Diners at the restaurant. Pic Courtesy/Port_Bombay" width="1280" height="720" /> Diners at the restaurant. Pic Courtesy/Port_Bombay
Bryan Adams might have been on the playlist if you dropped by for a bite at PORT Kitchen and Bar at G5A in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/soraia-replaces-tote-on-the-turf-at-the-iconic-mahalaxmi-racecourse-here-are-all-the-details-about-the-new-restaurant-23605807" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mahalaxmi</a> last weekend. The restaurant turned nine last weekend, and is hosting a special series of tasting sessions to celebrate later this week. &ldquo;PORT started as a place for people to sit after a performance &mdash; to talk, to eat, to decompress.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Ishan-Benegal_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
We were responding to the need of that moment. Nine years later, we&rsquo;re honestly and pleasantly surprised by how far we&rsquo;ve come,&rdquo; shared Ishan Benegal (inset), founder and chef. With the decade, and a new year, on the horizon, Benegal revealed that the space will now look to grow further. &ldquo;We want to keep creating experiences that feel nourishing, thoughtful, and joyful, both in the kitchen and beyond it,&rdquo; he told this diarist.&nbsp;
<h2>Pride in public</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Ashish-Pandya_e.jpg" alt="Saksshie Juneja and Ashish Pandya" width="1280" height="720" /> Saksshie Juneja and Ashish Pandya
Platform Gaysi Family and <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-refusal-to-parcel-liquor-sparks-violent-rampage-at-mankhurd-toddy-shop-23607728" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mumbai </a>Queer Pride hosted an open-air fundraiser, &lsquo;Out in the Open&rsquo;, yesterday (December 14), which was aimed at raising funds for the Mumbai Queer Pride March 2026. Conceived as a community mixer, the event focused on fostering connection and conversation. Saksshie Juneja, founder of Gaysi Family, told this diarist, &ldquo;The whole point of this community mixer and fundraiser is that people mingle and talk, resulting in bringing the community together.&rdquo;
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Gaysi-a_e.jpg" alt="Participants at a previous fundraiser. pics courtesy/saksshie juneja" width="1280" height="720" /> Participants at a previous fundraiser. Pics courtesy/Saksshie Juneja
Organised in collaboration with the Mumbai Queer Pride Collective, Ashish Pandya added, &ldquo;We hosted this to create accessible, joyful spaces to ensure that queer lives remain visible, relevant, and celebrated throughout the year, and not just during Pride season. Events like this strengthen networks, and help build momentum for a more inclusive city.&rdquo; The fundraiser will play a key role in supporting Mumbai <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sunday-mid-day/article/from-colaba-causeway-to-aksa-beach-iconic-spots-that-mumbais-lgbtqia-community-met-over-the-years-23568998" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Queer </a>Pride 2026. For more details, log on to @gaysifamily.
<h2>In the name of the master</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/John-McLaughlin_e.jpg" alt="John McLaughlin (left) and Shankar Mahadevan at the press conference. Pics courtesy/NCPA" width="1280" height="720" /> John McLaughlin (left) and Shankar Mahadevan at the press conference. Pics courtesy/NCPA
Nostalgia was in the air as members of the iconic band, Shakti teamed up once again at the NCPA ahead of the Maestro Forever: A Tribute to Zakir Hussain Concert; a two-day tribute to the late <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/culture/article/mumbai-to-host-two-day-tribute-music-festival-honouring-tabla-legend-ustad-zakir-hussain-23607697" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ustad Zakir Hussain</a> (inset) who passed away last year on December 15. &ldquo;If I start talking about Zakir, I wouldn&rsquo;t know where to stop,&rdquo; shared the veteran John McLaughlin.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Zakir-Hussain-a_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
Having performed alongside the Padma Vibhushan-awardee since 1969, McLaughlin said, &ldquo;From that moment on, he became a part of my life. I wouldn&rsquo;t be who I am today without him. You cannot describe his talent.&rdquo; But the tribute was not a moment of sadness. As the maestro&rsquo;s brother, and percussionist Taufiq Qureshi shared, &ldquo;Zakir bhai always said: &lsquo;Do not mourn &mdash; celebrate.&rsquo; So, we will celebrate him and his music. His name means Zikar, so let&rsquo;s fill the world with the remembrance of his music.&rdquo;
<h2>Pole position</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Dj-Skip-Dj-Johney_e.jpg" alt="DJ Skip (left) and DJ Johney in performance. Pic Courtesy/DJ Johney" width="1280" height="720" /> DJ Skip (left) and DJ Johney in performance. Pic Courtesy/DJ Johney
Vasai-based Johney Chaubey aka DJ Johney and DJ Skip walked away with the top prize at the IDA World DJ Championship held in Krakow on December 6. &ldquo;I feel incredibly proud. We entered the competition through a wildcard, and the crowd&rsquo;s reaction especially during our mix of Mundiyan was spectacular,&rdquo; shared the 25-year old DJ.
<h2>Motorsport mania for Mumbaikars</h2>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Ravivaar_e.jpg" alt="Participants at an event at the karting club. pics courtesy/two stop strat" width="1280" height="720" /> Participants at an event at the karting club. Pics courtesy/Two Stop Strat
<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/navi-mumbai-to-host-maharashtras-first-formula-street-race-in-the-indian-racing-festival-2025-23594957" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Motorsport </a>enthusiasts had the opportunity to race to their heart&rsquo;s content yesterday (December 14) at the fifth Social Karting Day at IndiKarting, Wadala. Organised by motorsport community, Two Stop Strat, it offered participants the thrill of an on-ground experience, over watching the motor sport.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/dec/Yaquta-Harsh_e.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" />
Yaquta Bootwala (right), community co-founder, revealed to us, &ldquo;My co-founder Harsh Walawalkar (below, right) has competed in Indian karting, and I&rsquo;ve always been passionate about it. However, India doesn&rsquo;t have a racing culture as such. We wanted to build a community [for this]. The Ravivar <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/mumbai-horse-racing-fynbos-for-indian-1000-guineas-gr-1-23607647" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Racing club </a>is an initiative towards this. One Sunday every month, we get together to learn from professional drivers.&rdquo;

Bryan Adams might have been on the playlist if you dropped by for a bite at PORT Kitchen and Bar at G5A in Mahalaxmi last weekend. The restaurant turned nine 

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