ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Çiçek Kahraman, Co-Founder of UKA Film
UKA Film is the multifaceted collaborative effort of co-founders Çiçek Kahraman and Can Kılcıoğlu. With a scope that compliments their skill sets and covers various...
In Conversation with Teymour Ashkan, Founder of Istanbul&I
I first met Teymour during last Ramazan, when some mutual friends were celebrating the holy month by feeding local children after sunset, a bit...
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #2: On Cleanliness
A few years ago, on a freezing, snowy day, my roommate and I climbed our way up one of Istanbul's steep hills and hopped...
A Glimpse into Müz Botanik Kafe
During my first few days in Istanbul, I happened to pass Müz Botanik Kafe by chance. I was in a hurry, but the little...
Street Market Smarts: Beylikdüzü Beygah Pazarı
Bazaars. Turkey has a lot of them, but we don’t seem to get enough. Whether it is the chaotic yet welcoming atmosphere, pricing, or...
Expat Spotlight Recap: #1 & #2
Expat Spotlight, in collaboration with ATÖLYE, is our monthly series showcasing the inspiring contributions being made by Istanbul’s diverse international community to the city’s...
Ataşehir and Ümraniye: Portraits of the City’s ‘New Hope’
At first glance, Ataşehir seems to embody everything you hate about modern Istanbul. At second glance, it doesn’t get much better.
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ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Lesia Petrovska, Interior Architect
Being an interior architect is a detail-oriented and challenging profession, certainly magnified when the typical project worked on is over 1,000 km away. Lesia...
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #1: On Residence Permit Applications
Every yabancı has at least one tale of woe and regret when it comes to residence permit applications in Istanbul. I am no exception.
After passing...
BU Paws: Boğaziçi University’s Dog Sanctuary
Istanbul is a city more than a little renowned among those in the know as a city of cats. Less well-known is the ancient...
ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Oki Kasajima, Freelance Designer
Going on a four year honeymoon isn't really the type of thing you plan for, but it's exactly what happened to freelance designer Oki...
My Big Fat Turkish Wedding Dress: An Istanbul Guide
If I knew then what I know now:
Which neighborhood has the best, cheapest or most fashionable dresses? How much should I pay? Should I...
In Conversation with Sandrine Ramboux, Founder of C@rma
Sandrine Ramboux is a Belgian expat who has called Istanbul home for the past decade, together with her husband and two daughters. A 20...
Street Market Smarts: Beşiktaş Cumartesi Pazarı
If you love produce it's safe to say that any market in Turkey will be a delight for the senses. Mounds of green peppers...
Tax Season Approacheth: Tips for U.S. Expats
It was 2014, when I realized that the last time that I had filed taxes was the year that George W Bush decided he...
ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Emre Erbirer, Communications Coordinator
In their influential role as one of the city’s foremost creative hubs, ATÖLYE has launched a number of ambitious projects focused on guiding the local community...
Take 5: Vefa
When most people think of the "Old City" of Istanbul, Sultanahmet usually springs to mind. Yet perhaps one of the most interesting areas historically,...
In Conversation with Gökhan Bahtışen and Amylin Loglisci, Seyahan Jewelry
I first came to Seyahan Jewelry because my longtime friend, Amylin Loglisci, was exhibiting her exquisite paintings there last year. Each watercolor painting illustrated...
Come what may, Spoken Word Istanbul is here to stay
“There are just three rules: No Racism, no sexism, and no homophobia.”
Rules? I thought this was an open-mic event. There shouldn’t be any rules.
“You...
The Away Days Return Home @ Salon IKSV
The Away Days don’t sound like your average Istanbul band, but then again, how does an “average Istanbul band” even sound? With a city...
ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Carla Lemgruber, Design Consultant & Freelancer
Carla Lemgruber traveled quite a distance from Rio de Janeiro in pursuit of love so that she could set roots here in Istanbul. A...
In Conversation with Sami Hamid, Director of VR First Bahçeşehir
Sami Hamid is a true international, born in Belgium and raised in Spain by an English mother and Iraqi father. After spending most of...
Letter from Karaman: Night of the Dervish
The city of Karaman stands on the low wheat plains of Anatolia, about an hour south of Konya, the birthplace of Rumi.
Arriving from Istanbul,...
Seven Organic, Health Food, and Exotic Markets in Istanbul
When I first came to Turkey six years ago for a vacation, one of the first things that enamored me was the food. The...