Broke and Lost in Istanbul

“Habitash! Habitash!” The unfamiliar deckhand appeared as a silhouette, repeatedly emphasizing this made-up word as though I would finally understand what it meant the sixth...

City Highlights: Sancaklar Cami

A friend of mine from the Czech Republic once told me her feelings while she visited Istanbul one year ago. She said that it...

That Pink Elephant Mystique: A Celebration of International Women’s Day, in...

“Silence is the worst. Whenever a thick cloud of silence descends, the yapping voices inside me become all the more audible, rising to the...

Take 5: Çengelköy

Coming around a bend on the Anatolian side between the two bridges is the aptly named Çengelköy. The neighborhood, whose name means hook village in Turkish, is...

Construction Fever: Will It Save Us from the Next Big One?

Bağdat Caddesi is a long, wide shopping avenue on the Asian side of the city, Istanbul’s equivalent of 5th Avenue or Rodeo Drive. Nearby are...

Weekend Getaway: Muğla

Looking to experience a city with a mellow vibe? Head to southwest Turkey, away from the crowds, to the picturesque city of Muğla, located...

Songs for an Unfinished City (An Istanbullu’s Listening Guide)

Every great city has its own soundtrack, or at least, deserves one. If it doesn’t, you should think about moving somewhere else. I think of...

From Boza to Bourbon: Dem Karaköy

It seems everywhere you look in Istanbul there is a coffee shop (or soon to be one). The hip Karaköy district is no exception;...

Take 5: Karaköy

Spread across the quaint streets of Karaköy there are restaurants, cafes and bars at every corner. There is one type of restaurant, in particular,...

In Conversation: Musician Hande Başaran

Hande Başaran is a Renaissance woman: musician, singer, mother, kindergarten teacher and all-round creator. When I first heard Hande perform, I was struck by the...

!f Film Fest Review of Theory of Obscurity: A Film about...

Director: Don Hardy Release date:18 March 2015 Cast: The Residents, Matt Groening, Penn Jilette, Jerry Harrison, Les Claypool. Showing on the first day of the 15th !f...

Reading in bed and paying it forward

When I first came to Turkey, I brought with me the holiday I created. That's right, a holiday. I was living in New York...

On the Road to Gebze: Surviving in the Industrial Heartland

On the road to Gebze, where I teach twice a week, I have a lot of time to contemplate the passing landscape. Out on the...

Q & A: Pelin Turgut – Co-Founder & Co-Director of !f

In anticipation of the 15th !f Independent Istanbul Film Festival we reached out to co-founder and co-director of !f, Pelin Turgut. She took the time...

Romancing the Old City: A Somewhat Cynical Love Note to Istanbul

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Then up he...

Take 5: Balat

Since I moved to Izmir for work, my visits to Istanbul have become more dedicated, more concentrated. Now, every time I return I feel...

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”,...
David Gökçedağ

Who Loves Public Speaking?

Ever felt like jumping out of a window rather than giving a speech at work? Well, I have... Although some of us might be...

Review: Lara Di Lara, Emre Akbay, Emir Yargin by Sofar...

It was another rainy, cold Friday night in Istanbul when Sofar Sounds Istanbul stars Lara Di Lara, Emre Akbay and Emir Yargin arrived at the...

Take 5: Kadıköy

Calm, cool, easy-going Kadiköy has always been one my favourite Istanbul districts. I love to start my day with breakfast at the picturesque Thales...

Banksy Was(n’t) Here

Early last month, The Art of Banksy made its world debut, launching at Global Karaköy, a brand new art space located in the heart of...

The Allure of Elsewhere

Wherever you go, there you are.  And wherever you are, there is someone who wants to be somewhere else.  After living in the United...

Walking to Balat: A Photoessay

There is an Istanbul that is unknown to many visitors; it lives beyond the chaos of Sultanahmet and Beyoğlu, hiding in suburban streets and...

Review: Gaye Su Akyol @ Babylon Bomonti

A snowy Saturday night in Istanbul couldn't be spent any better than with 200-something fellow music lovers at a Gaye Su Akyol concert, courtesy of Babylon Bomonti....