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Columns & Conversation

Yabangee has had a number of columns through the years…

In Conversation with Zeynep Mar, the Multidisciplinary Istanbulite Artist

Zeynep Mar is a striking young artist who is currently based in Istanbul. We talked about her inspirations, working process, and her divergent style....

Off The Beaten Path: Rumeli Hisarı

Although the Bosphorus is the real star of Istanbul, its beauty is accentuated by the city’s monuments, those sturdy shapes that mediate between the...

Arrested as a Spy, Caught in a Major Earthquake, & More:...

We've all been there, haven't we? You are in a foreign country and some strangers approach you. You immediately think: "Whatever they are they selling,...

Lost in Turkey: Artvin Highlands

The Black Sea region of Turkey is somewhat of a misnomer. Better known for its rainforest-like climate, highland pastures and traditional culture, the seaside...

The View from Kuştepe (Life in the Shadow of Trump Towers)

It’s hard to miss the Trump Towers in Istanbul. The twin tower complex, bearing the signature brand name in large letters, commands your view as...

Cave Escape: Nimara Mağarası

Nimara Mağarası is a fascinating, Neolithic era cave near Marmaris, in southwest Turkey. Though close to home, I’d only fantasied about this tactile wonderland...

My Old Neighborhood

I was 50. Half a century. How was that even possible? Some years ago, one of my directors Zeynep, a lovely, cheerful Mediterranean woman had...

Book Review: Ten Minutes Thirty-Eight Seconds in This Strange World, Elif...

I deem Elif Shafak's novel Ten Minutes and Thirty-Eight Seconds in This Strange World, in which she tells the story of a prostitute named...

Noga Erez Lights Up Salon IKSV With Back-to-Back Nights of Energetic...

Every year when Salon IKSV announce their season's program, I inevitably find myself discovering a new artist I want to catch live and thus...

Midnight at the Pera Palace

A young journalist travels back in time to 1919 Istanbul, accidentally disrupting the natural flow of history. She must act quickly to prevent the...

Other Lives Brings Atmospheric Indie Rock Life to Salon IKSV

After a long drought, my thirst for a familiar indie rock live show was quenched at Salon IKSV with a much anticipated performance from...

In Conversation with The Away Days: Seven Years Later with Istanbul’s...

Many years ago - seven to be exact - Yabangee sat down for an interview with a young band that was making serious waves...

Escapist: Real Escape Room Fun for English Speakers in Istanbul

I'd be hard pressed to think of a more wholesome group activity I've taken part in these last few years, than when a group...

Theatre Review: 3 Short Comedy Plays in 1 Night!

Under the direction of Kenny Laurie, comes together three half-hour comedy plays that tell the tales of transformation and rebirth. Come Again! is the...

The Blaze and Label Project Light Up Istanbul at Volkswagen Arena

The level of production value that went into Label Project's preparation for The Blaze performing at Volkswagen Arena (Saturday 29 January, 2022) is still...

Altın Gün Bends Past and Present to Start 2022 in Anatolian...

On January 27th, courtesy of Pozitif, Altın Gün ventured from Amsterdam to the halls of Volkswagen Arena, tucked away in Istanbul's Maslak, for a...

In Conversation with Liana Georgi: Artist, Singer-Songwriter, and Pride Advocate

She may not recall this as vividly as us, as we did not ask her about it... but we first met Liana Georgi (she/they)...

Reflections on “Kulüp”: A Yabancı Perspective

“Do you know why this city exists? So that a guy like me doesn’t take you to the end of the world.” This is...

“Longing for Istanbul”: An Expat’s Love Letter to the City of...

Longing for Istanbul doubles as a sociological reflection on modernization processes in Turkish culture and a personal memoir that articulates what it means to...

Archaeology Spotlight: In Conversation with Archaeologist Dr. Asil Yaman, director of...

Phoenix Ancient City near present day Taşlıca lies far from the touristic bustle of Marmaris. This semi-isolated site is a treasure trove of archaic...

Dreaming of Dollars (But Waking Up With Liras)

The other night I was sitting with my son on the sofa, trying to read a book with him, while on the TV the...

Archaeology Spotlight: In Conversation with Professor/Dr. Mehmet Gürbüzer of Amos Ancient...

2021 marked the first official season of legal excavations in Amos Ancient City near Marmaris, Muğla. This ancient settlement dates back to roughly 3,000...

In Conversation with Performance Artist Ekin Bernay on “Atlas” in London at...

International performance art platform Performistanbul’s represented artist Ekin Bernay's new 33-minute performance titled Atlas, commissioned by V&A Museum and actualized in partnership with Performistanbul,...

The Golden Hour

Nizam walked quickly and nervously through the twilight. The fences and houses along Limon Paşa Boulevard were dark silhouettes beneath the rapidly aging sun....