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....
(PAST EVENT) Istanbul Meyhane Nights: Experiencing Meyhane Culture (Session #1)
Meyhane culture, while mostly reserved for special occasions these days, is still one of our favorite aspects of living in Turkey. The many shared...
Earthquake Donations, Volunteering, Needs, and Resources: Help Those Impacted in Turkey...
On Monday 06 February, 2023 two massive earthquakes (7.5 and 7.8 in magnitude) devastated Turkey and Syria, with aftershocks being felt hundreds of miles...
Christmas for Expats in Istanbul: Celebrate with a Taste of Home
Bring the magic of Christmas to your Istanbul table with our special holiday catering! Enjoy a traditional feast featuring Christmas Ham, festive sides, and...
Yabangee Recommends: “Where do I take my friend who says there...
"Where do I take my friend who says there is no spicy food in Istanbul?"
Turkish food has plenty of spices but is not generally...
Out Now: A Day in the Park: A Sonikraf Compilation
Our good friends at Sonikraf have just announced the release of their debut compilation A Day in the Park, featuring 15 underground artists currently...
The Creme de la Kaymak of Eccentric and Interesting Expat Istanbulites
Someone recently described Istanbul to me as a city where you can "have the best day of your life, followed by the worst day”,...
In Memory of Barış Mumyakmaz
It's with great sadness today that we've learned of the passing of long-time friend and contributor Barış Mumyakmaz.
A graduate of Galatasaray University and the...
Beyond the Bosphorus: Views of a Long-Term Yabancı
Having lived in Istanbul going on a decade, I have seen a lot of people come and go. It becomes almost like clockwork. Every...
In Conversation with Luke Frostick and Thomas Parker, Editors of the...
Thomas Parker and Luke Frostick are the founders and editors of the Bosphorus Review of Books, the first English language online literary journal in...
Looking for Love at First Sight Speed Dating in Istanbul
As soon as I exit the Taksim metro station and begin my walk to the event location, I begin to panic. Why am I...
The 12th Istanbul Tulip Festival in Full Bloom
The tulip is a flower long rooted into Istanbul’s history and life. It can be found in Ottoman era paintings, clothing, mentioned in poetry...
Pilates with Pets! – In Conversation with PilatesChi
My dog, Barış loves my Pilates lessons. He races into the studio and demands a bowl of water (he likes to keep hydrated as...
2018 Resolutions for the Common Yabancı in Istanbul
Old-school followers of Yabangee will likely have noted that we love starting the year off with resolutions (How to Stop Being Such a Yabancı:...
16 LGBT Friendly Cafes and Bars in Istanbul
With so many rapid changes happening in Turkey and the world, along with all the changes in our personal lives, the LGBT community needs...
Izmir Chronicles: Izmir is Worth Visiting (Part I)
Having lived in Izmir for over a year, I can say that I truly love the expat life here. Many people ask what the city is...
Turkish Köfte for Beginners
Köfte is one of the most famous, easy to find, and relatively affordable Turkish foods in the country, including Istanbul. It is also tasty...
In Conversation with Ece Aydoğan, Co-owner of Ayaküstü Masaj
I started going to Ayaküstü Masaj (literally, “massage on the run”) for foot reflexology after being diagnosed with a foot deformity earlier this year....
Turkish Literature 101: Nazım Hikmet Ran
Born on the 15th of January 1902 in Thessaloniki, where his father was serving as an Ottoman government official; Nazım Hikmet Ran, commonly known...
Through the Lens: Turkey’s Mistreated Mannequins
I first came to Turkey over 20 years ago on a summer trip with my family, and during that time, not only did I...
Altın Gün Throws a Turkish Folk Party at Salon IKSV
In the final weeks of Salon IKSV's 2018 season, Altın Gün paid a memorable visit to the popular venue in back-to-back performances. As tickets...
Turkish Films: Four Istanbuls and a Golden Fleece
Way back in December of last year, I commented on a Yabangee article about films shot in Istanbul/Turkey and complained about the obviousness of...
Behind the Scenes at the IKSV 38th Istanbul Film Festival: Daily...
Oray’s choice
Winner of the Best First Film Award at Berlinale, Oray conveys the struggles of a man with issues of adaptation. Following the screening...
Finding the Spirit of One Love in Büyük Ev Ablukada
Büyük Ev Ablukada may not be a new name to those in the Turkish community who have been following the group for years, but...