<h2>Dil maange mor</h2>
A peacock has the best seat in the house as it perches itself atop a tree at Malabar Hill.
<h2>Fridays for a cause</h2>
<img title="Screen grab from a previous online session in progress" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2023/jul/dos-july-twenty-pic-b_e.jpg" alt="Screen grab from a previous online session in progress" width="1280" height="538" />Screen grab from a previous online session in progress
Femme Fridays, an online reading and writing group exclusively for and by women, has announced that its doors are now open to the queer community. With the first session to be held online on July 26, they call this space for literature enthusiasts The Queer Reading Room. Helmed by co-founder Lavanya Rana, this room will discuss and write about all things queer. &ldquo;Being a lesbian and a non-binary person, I have wanted a space like this for a long time. We will discuss and write about queer art and literature in the session,&rdquo; she tells us. Head to @femme_fridays to sign up.
<img title="Lavanya Rana" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2023/jul/dos-july-twenty-pic-c_e.jpg" alt="Lavanya Rana" width="1280" height="720" />Lavanya Rana
<h2>Down memory lane with Diana</h2>
<img title="Edulji in the mid-day newsroom. Pics/Shadab Khan" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2023/jul/dos-july-twenty-pic-d_e.jpg" alt="Edulji in the mid-day newsroom. Pics/Shadab Khan" width="1280" height="720" />Edulji in the mid-day newsroom. &nbsp;Pics/Shadab Khan
Diana Edulji was in the building the other day to participate in mid-day&rsquo;s Mumbai cricket podcast with Clayton Murzello. The former India cricket captain was delighted to be shown a part of our photo archives. Among the photographs was a pamphlet (published before her benefit game in 1997) which had an appreciation written by the late Union Railways Minister Madhavrao Scindia, who she considered a great supporter when she served the Indian Railways. The podcast goes up next week. Brace yourself for some hard talk.
<h2>Trees of hope stand tall on Cadell Road</h2>
<img title="The trees on Cadell Road, Dadar. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi; (right) a photo from the time of filing the petition. Pic Courtesy/Rajan Jayakar" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2023/jul/dos-july-twenty-pic-e_e.jpg" alt="The trees on Cadell Road, Dadar. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi; (right) a photo from the time of filing the petition. Pic Courtesy/Rajan Jayakar" width="1698" height="720" />The trees on Cadell Road, Dadar. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi; (right) a photo from the time of filing the petition. Pic Courtesy/Rajan Jayakar
Among the urban flora that lend Dadar its character are two rain trees on Cadell Road. In 1998-99, the city&rsquo;s municipal corporation had decided to axe these fully-grown trees citing obstruction of traffic. But the National Society of the Friends of the Trees (FOT) was swift in filing a petition for a stay order. Following the High Court&rsquo;s direction, reflectors were also put on the trees to avoid accidents. In July 2017, the High Court ordered that the trees should not be cut.&nbsp;
<img title="Rajan Jayakar; (right) Dr Pheroza Godrej" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2023/jul/dos-july-twenty-pic-f_e.jpg" alt="Rajan Jayakar; (right) Dr Pheroza Godrej" width="1280" height="720" />Rajan Jayakar; (right) Dr Pheroza Godrej
Advocate Rajan Jayakar, who had filed the petition back then, pointed to the act&rsquo;s domino effect, &ldquo;The trees in the same line towards Shivaji Park could also fall in danger if these trees are removed.&rdquo;
Twenty-five years later, FOT will hold a peaceful ceremony this weekend to commemorate the survival of the canopied duo. Calling the act their own little Chipko Andolan, Dr Pheroza Godrej, president emeritus, FOT, told this diarist, &ldquo;It is a symbolic gathering around the trees to remember that when citizens get together, we can do good things; and with the help of authorities, we can do better things.&rdquo;
<h2>Busking on the Metro</h2>
<img title="A previous busking performance by Haasil" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2023/jul/dos-july-twenty-pic-g_e.jpg" alt="A previous busking performance by Haasil" width="1280" height="720" />A previous busking performance by Haasil
Last evening, Ghatkopar Metro Station filled up with the sound of music, as three-piece band Haasil performed popular tunes by Indian artists Shaan, the late Krishnakumar Kunnath and Lucky Ali. It was the first busking performance of the series Metro Tunes, initiated by Natural Streets for Performing Arts (NSPA).&nbsp; The band had Geetesh Gorule on vocals, Bhavik Mehta on guitar and Harshal Vaze on caj&oacute;n. Mehta told this diarist, &ldquo;The aim is to promote the culture of busking and support theatre artists and musicians. Yesterday, we sang songs that got lost in time; non-Bollywood music by Indian artists.&rdquo;

The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce

Mumbai Diary: Thursday Dossier

Dil maange mor

Fridays for a cause

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