EVENTS

Inspirations from Nepal, oil, acrylic and water colour paintings by Mark D Vickers. 24 April to 6 May, 4pm on inauguration day, gallery hours: 10.30am to 6pm, Saturdays closed, Park Gallery, Pulchok, 5522307, parkgallery.wlink.com

Jewels of Newar Art, Pauba art by contemporary Nepali artists. 26 April to 15 May, 5.30pm on inauguration day, gallery hours: 11am to 5pm, Saturdays: 12pm to 4pm, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited, 4218048

French Films Festival 2011, four representative French movies with English subtitles. Till 22 April, 7pm, Gardens of Alliance Francaise, Tripureshwor, 4241163, 4242832, www.alliancefrancaise.org.np
www.planetnepal.org.np

Bookworm book fest, 2068, book fair cum literary festival. 21 April, 11am, Gyan Mandala, Moksh Restaurant, Jhamsikhel, 5546812

Rare Asian Textile, from the private collection of Barbara Adams and Female Substantive, paintings by Iisa Brittain. Till 22 April, 5.30pm on inauguration day, gallery hours: 11am to 6pm, Saturday: 12pm to 4pm, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal, 4218048

Musical amusements, an array of Acrylic paintings based on musical instruments from east and west by artist Ramesh Bikal. Till 22 April, 10.30am to 6pm, Park Gallery, Pulchok, Saturdays closed

Garden Symphony, botanical art in water color and gouache by Canadian artist Emira Doric Muftic. Till 29 April, 5pm on opening day, gallery hours: 10.30am to 6pm, Park Gallery, Pulchok, Saturdays closed

Watercolour paintings of unique and exquisite orchids, by Hemlata Pradhan. Till 1 May, Serindia Gallery, O.P. Garden, Soi Charoenkrung 36, Charoenkrung Road, Bangkok, 02236410, [email protected]

VrijMarkt Festival, join the Dutch at the Queen's day free market, handicraft, food, games,deals and more. 30 April, 12pm to 7pm, Summit Hotel, Lalitpur, free entrance

MUSIC

Universal Religion 2011, music festival bringing together performers from around the world. Till 24 April, 12 noon onwards, Fulbari Resort, Pokhara, [email protected], [email protected], 984138662/9851043398

Absolute Live Music, by Rashmi & Kitcha Band every Friday and performances by Shabnam & Cannabiz Band every Wednesday. 7.30pm onwards, Absolute bar, Hotel
Narayani Complex, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, 5521408, 5549504, [email protected]

DINING

Lhasa Bar, enjoy a beer or a splash of cocktail at this springboard for excellent young musicians starting out on the Thamel circuit. Thamel

Pumpernickel Bakery, get an early breakfast or brunch with interesting choices of bread and sandwiches. Experiment with their goat cheese or yak cheese sandwiches, or have a sip of coffee in the classy indoor dining area. Thamel

Bronco Billy, a new restaurant in town offering Tex-Mex and Indian dishes. They make their own corn tortillas, which gets a big thumbs-up. But really, we can't wait to try their Margaritas. Pulchok, opposite Namaste Supermarket

Krishnarpan, a specialty Nepali restaurant at The Dwarika's Hotel, 6 to 22 courses, an authentic Nepali meal. The Dwarika's Hotel, Battisputali, 4479488

Boudha Stupa Restaurant & Cafe, enjoy wood-fired pizza with a superb view of Boudha stupa and free wifi, candlelight dinner options are also available for the romantics every full moon night. Boudha, 2130681

Milk Coffee n Cocktail Cafe, coffee house during the day and a cozy lounge serving cocktails at night, try their yarchagumba and molecular cocktails along with the famous Starbucks. Woodland Complex, Durbar Marg

The Oriental Tearoom at
Pipalbot, has rather complicated opening hours but a mouth-watering spring menu. Try sake-cured salmon for lunch and twice-cooked caramelised pork belly for dinner. Babar Mahal Revisited

Black Pepper Caf� & Pub, cosmopolitan dining and drinking in a traditional style courtyard, try the apple sauce pork chops and enjoy the good service. Kopundole Height, Lalitpur, 5521897, 5536926, http://blackpepper.com

Mike's Breakfast, huge breakfasts and a never-ending supply of coffee amidst a lush garden, popular among tourists and locals alike. Naxal, 4424303

GETAWAYS

Charikot Panorama Resort, enjoy mountain views and local culture at the historic town of Charikot. Special packages on offer. Charikot,Dolakha, 5529463, [email protected]

The Dwarika's Himalayan Shangri- La Village Resort, overnight package with accommodation, dinner and
breakfast. Dhulikhel, Rs 3500 (single), Rs 5000 (double), 10 percent service charge extra, call 4479488 for reservations