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Columns & Conversation

Yabangee has had a number of columns through the years…

Review: Chinawoman @ Babylon Bomonti

Born in Canada to Russian parents, Michelle Gurevitch, or Chinawoman, is a happy new discovery for me, although I seem to be late to...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Göksu Kaçaroğlu, Service Designer & Researcher

Taking note of the influence that service design has in our daily lives is not a conscious pursuit for most. Yet, the practices of...

Want a Romantic Evening? Try Kuzguncuk

When you first arrive in the city, you feel drawn to the riotous spectacle of Taksim, or to the multitudes of the street markets...

In Conversation with Istanbul Rock Band, Farketmez

With their upcoming performance alongside The Young Shaven at Karga on Saturday 16 December, Farketmez reminds us that plenty of Istanbul's most promising bands...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Solène Pignet, Founder of Creators for...

A prevalent outlook on entrepreneurship is that in our modern profit-driven marketplace, there's little opportunity for ethical and social minded projects to take root...

Introducing: Open Roof Space by ATÖLYE

Educational institutions are increasingly seeking ways to rethink and transform learning environments in a way that increases the possibility of exploration. With this aim...

In Conversation with Justin and Busra of Turkish Tea Time

Let’s be honest, us Yabangees know all too well that the online resources available for learning Turkish are far from enjoyable and rarely interactive....

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Buğra Çelik, Director of imece &...

The quintessential feel-good success stories are ones which diverge from the traditional path and incorporate elements that border on chance - gaining experience in...

Walk Across Turkey: Rolling into Denizli

Friday, 14 September The next morning I woke up, broke camp, and walked over to the station’s café for a breakfast of menemen (scrambled eggs,...

In Conversation With Abdulwahed Kabakibou, Co-founder of A Clean Start

During my three years in Istanbul, hiring A Clean Start has been a simple and inexpensive way to take care of my apartment. Let’s...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Ashkan Rohani, Chartered Civil Engineer

The ever-evolving infrastructure of Istanbul evokes a gamut of emotions, ranging from the optimistically awe-inspired to deep-rooted concern. Civil engineering is in many ways...

Take 5: Nişantaşı (Glitz Edition)

Nişantaşı is known for its glitz. Jewelry shops, coyly revealing their sparkling displays, are spaced sporadically along broad avenues as the trendily dressed stroll...

Life under Occupation: A Review of Eleni by Nicholas Gage

When Mosul was invaded in June, one of the first announcements made by ISIS was that the civilians within their territory would be treated...

Kem Kum Egyptian Vegan Restaurant: Moda’s Family-Owned Culinary Delight

For those happy with Turkish cuisine, finding a place to eat in Istanbul is easy enough with plenty of options in every neighborhood and...

In Conversation with Cynthia Paulauskas, Founder of Mediterranean Delights Fitness Voyage...

This post is sponsored by MDFV. When you think of a blue cruise, fitness is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. But...

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...

Retrospective – Expat Spotlight #13 – Social Innovation

In collaboration with ATÖLYE and imece, Yabangee returns with Expat Spotlight, a monthly series showcasing the freshest, most inspiring contributions being made by Istanbul’s...

Behind the Scenes at the IKSV 38th Istanbul Film Festival: Daily...

The creation story of Cyrano de Bergerac: Edmond Edmond, which tells the creation story of Cyrano de Bergerac, probably the most popular play in French...

Soundgarden Festival, Reviewed

Aahh, early summer in Istanbul. The sun is shining, the weather is sweet. And it's weekend festival season. Yeeeaaah. This Saturday, Parkorman, home to the...

City Scherzos: Mother-of-Pearl

We were getting married. We couldn’t believe it. It was unbelievable. We didn’t consider ourselves the marrying type. We were too lazy to get...

Observatory Time: With Man Ray in Anamur

It’s always a good idea to get out of Istanbul, to escape the traffic, the noise and endless grind of people and machines. My wife...

In Conversation with 3D Animator Paulius Masteika

“I see myself as world citizen. The whole world is my home but I have to say, Istanbul is the place where I see...

Autumn Rhythms: Life in the ‘New Normal’

Life begins all over again in the fall: That old saying is particularly apt this year.  In the city by the Bosphorus, students and teachers...

Review: Incesaz @ Salon IKSV

Salon IKSV, one of our favorite stops between the neighborhoods of Galata and Şişhane, continues to bring delightful performances to their stage. Last Thursday...