behindtheakhtar

[behindtheakhtar]

Behind the Akhtar

What's good castmates? It's been a minute, huh? Life moves fast and we find ourselves behind on pretty much everything. Raise your hand if you've been there!✋ This has been the case for me these past few weeks. I've missed all of you and have so much to share. Let's get caught up on what I've been up to, where I've been, and who I have been spending time with...

The Hare and Hedgehog Cafe

The Hare and Hedgehog is an old fairytale about social class and peculiarly, spousal selection. The eponymous cafe was recently renovated and I was stoked to go check it out. Will it live up to the moral of the fable and have both bourgeoisie and proletariat welcome to sip its coffee creations? Real coffee drinkers are early birds, so I had to check it out early in the morning. It was rather peaceful outside and not too many folks were inside. This scenario gave me the best chance to check out what changes were made.

It was definitely cozy inside. Here's what's new:

Plush light blue sofa and armchairs

White cafe tables and chairs with accented wooden legs

Vanilla and clove candles placed throughout the space

Performance stage equipped with a microphone, violin, spotlights, and sound system

There is plenty of room for your books, laptops, and of course drinks and bites as you work, chat with friends, or simply enjoy the entertainment centered on the new performance space. The renovation turned out to be specific, small changes that show an intention to host emerging artists and attract patrons looking for a chill, laid-back experience. The Hare and Hedgehog does seem to pull off just that while living up to its fabled connection, being visited by both celebrity and regular folk alike.

The closer it got to the lunch hour, the cafe became surprisingly fuller. I say surprisingly because I was flabbergasted by the sight of a dirty Impress-O Espresso Machine at the counter. How could anyone continue to order drinks and food with the machine in that condition? I have no clue.

Drink and eat at your own risk!

Winterfestivities

The snowcapped mountains can only mean one thing. Winter has come. And with that brings the cheery celebrations of Winterfest. Not my favorite holiday but one I do enjoy nevertheless. This year, I wanted to start an annual Winterfest tradition. Besides capturing a photo with Father Winter, I decided to host a charity fundraiser for the organization, Toys for Elders. Everybody knows a pair of socks and underwear can be one of the best gifts ever as an adult, but we can also admit to missing the joy of unwrapping a new toy on the big day. Remember getting that new video game you wanted, or the trendiest doll with all its cute outfits? If you were like me, you geeked out on your first camcorder. The X, Z-Cam 360 was almost a relic at that time but it was my first so it was special. Even as a kid, I knew I loved being in front of a camera and pestered my parents almost to death (close call with my dad and a near cardiac explosion) to get me one. They gave in on the condition that I film family events such as birthday parties, house parties, dinner parties, pool parties...yup, we loved to party! It was a cool gig in retrospect given that it gave me the humbling experience of being behind the camera. But you can bet that I found ways to get in the frame every time. Anyway, the point of this ramble is that getting toys doesn't really happen outside of childhood, so I take great pleasure in re-introducing that joy to the elderly citizens of our world at Winterfest time.

It was a chill shindig, the way I like 'em after suffering many years of family party extravaganzas. As a special treat that evening, I did a live painting as an extra donation to the organization. I wasn't sure what I would paint right up until the time I started painting. Pretty risky, especially since I thought it was a poor effort in the end, but it's the thought that counts, right?

I do want to shout out my good friend and caterer, Dorothy Bheeda, for preparing some scrumptious eats for us during the event. As always, she proves herself to be not just a competent cook, but a gourmand that elevates every meal into a work of art. Hire her as a caterer for your next event! It's fully my fault she lost her job at a Make-a-Dish (long story for another day), so I'm doing my part to get her gigs to stay afloat. Didn't get a chance to snap a pic with her during the event, so here's one as she's leaving my apartment at the end of the night. (Sorry Do! You look great regardless!!)

Have You Ever Had Prairie Grass Nectar?

If you've never heard of this before, it's made from prairie grass hay, fills you right up, and reduces tension leaving you happy! Over the New Year's holiday, I'm getting a taste of the ranch life, and this special nectar blend, at Grapevine Terrace. As I'm prepping for another season of Residency of the Heart, I needed a relaxing reset and decided to check out this vacation rental located in Rider's Glen in Chestnut Ridge. You all know I'm a city boy at heart so I'm way out of my comfort zone here, but I've brought along a special guest who helps ease my discomfort.

Castmates, please extend a gracious howdy to my little lady, Devin Capricciosa. (If you have a keen eye, you should recognize her from my Winterfest party pics.) Yup! I'm off the market (so report any imposter Cupid's Corner profiles you see, it's not me!) and totally happy and committed to this gem right here. I'll give you guys the how we met background another day. Just suffice to know for now that she has a full-time residency in my heart (yeah...I'm doing cheesy romance puns now). We've only spent one night at Grapevine Terrace and have two more days left to explore Rider's Glen. If you know of any spots we should hit up, let me know on Social Bunny. I love checking out places you guys recommend. We're planning on making our own nectar tomorrow, seeing some horses, and scoping the local pub scene. So far, we've enjoyed staying in, cooking some matza ball soup together, then watching the New Year's Eve countdown. Have you made any resolutions for the New Year castmates? Hope you've had a great time over the holidays, spent time with your loved ones, and are taking care of yourself. I know it has been a pretty hefty rundown today, but I really enjoy sharing my day-to-day life with you all. We'll be back to our usual behind-the-scenes content at the studio soon. Super excited to keep you in the loop of the upcoming season! Stepping behind the curtain, Veer.

[behindtheakhtar]

Behind the Akhtar

What's up castmates?! First off, thank you! Your support these past seasons of my life has been immensely impactful to my entertainment career. I am forever grateful to you for tuning into my streams, commenting on my videos, watching me in shows and movies, and attending my events. Our connection comes from a shared love of creativity and pursuing our artistic passions. Let's stay connected in a few ways: - Join the Club! Cast & Crew is a club for adventurers, wellness enthusiasts, and foodies. More info in the coming days, so stay tuned! - Hop on Social Bunny! Live chat with me this Sunday while I attend the Starlight Accolades. - Snap a selfie on set! One lucky winner will get to join me for an exclusive tour of the set of my current hospital drama show. Alright friends, I am headed out to the Spice Festival to order from stalls, challenge others to a dunk competition, and view art. San Myshuno is the greatest world on the map! City Living cannot be beat! Excited to catch-up with you all in these next few days and share behind-the-scenes footage of my life in my new blog, Behind the Akhtar. Stepping behind the curtain, Veer Akhtar.