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...
St. Mary of the Mongols: The Last Byzantine Church
Nowadays Istanbul is known for its mosques, but prior to 1453, Constantinople was a completely Christian city replete with churches. Many of them exist to this day:...
Retrospective – Connect for Creativity: Project Launch
From the organizer:
We are delighted to invite you to the launch of Connect for Creativity on Tuesday 7 May, 19.00 at ATÖLYE.
Connect for Creativity...
Insider Trading: Culinary Walks with Gourmet Holidays
Everybody knows that Istanbul is full of history and culture, so what better way to experience it than by tasting your way through both?...
Venue Spotlight: The Hidden Terrace of #bunk taksim Hostel
#bunk kicked off in 2011 with the aim of bringing high-quality, stylish hostel accommodation to Istanbul in an affordable package. With two locations currently in the...
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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Anatolian Travel Archives: Eflatun Pınar
We raced against the sun to reach the spring before all light had gone, Seçkin at the wheel and me biting my nails with...
Through the Lens: Beşiktaş Match Day Mayhem
While there are many demographics represented in Istanbul, the city can be divided into three main tribes, based on loyalty to Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, or Beşiktaş. I am...
ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Selen Sariel, Designer-in-Residence
Every year the Designer-in-Residence program at ATÖLYE sparks newfound life in the hub's impressive Prototyping Lab - an opportunity to conceptualize, experiment, and share...
Rain or Shine, Minipax Played On
The Minipax Festival was besieged by rain storms for a second year in a row, much to the chagrin of most of the attendees....
Taste of Tea: Conceptual Art on the Train
Haydarpaşa Garı train station, quiet of late because of construction work, is once again buzzing with people. But this time the crowds running to...
!F Istanbul International Independent Film Festival Awards Ceremony
!f Istanbul 2015, Istanbul's premier independent film festival, wrapped up recently at Nu Pera in Beyoğlu. It wasn't like you would expect, if the...
Retrospective – Expat Spotlight #7: Performance @ ATÖLYE
In collaboration with ATÖLYE, Yabangee continues to present Expat Spotlight, a monthly series showcasing the freshest, most inspiring contributions being made by Istanbul’s diverse...
Berlin Konzerthaus: European Delight at the CRR
The Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall is hosting quite a program this year, and it finished October off with impressive performances back to back. Among...
IKSV 38th Istanbul Film Festival Kicks Off
Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the Istanbul Film Festival’s 38th edition will host 467 screenings of 186 films by...
Review: Asian Dub Foundation `La Haine` Live Soundtrack @ Babylon Bomonti
An opportunity to reunite with Mathieu Kassovitz’s cult classic La Haine? Re-watching baby Vinz alongside a live performance from the talented Asian Dub Foundation? Babylon...
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...
Enchanting Trio: Mozart, Fazıl Say, and the Heybeliada Monastery
Among the most acclaimed and anticipated segment of this year's IKSV Music Festival was the Mozart Marathon with Fazıl Say. The former, a legend...
!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...
Letters from Istanbul: Yeldeğirmeni’s Quiet Renaissance
Author’s note: Last week, I wrote about the stories behind some of Istanbul’s street names, and the week before that I traced some of...
Sarah Brightman Rocks our Souls in Istanbul
I remember being 5 or 6 years old and watching in awe as a pretty-looking, round-eyed young woman came on the TV screen, captivating...
Finding and Tasting Turkey’s Microbrews: Gara Guzu and Pera
Beer in Istanbul is a touchy subject for a lot of expats, who generally fall into a few camps when it comes to preference....
In Conversation with Gece’s Gökçe Balaban
Istanbul-based band Gece released their third album Iyi Niyetti Bir Gün on 6 May. To mark the occasion, I sat down with bassist Gökçe...
Miniatürk – Educational and Fun!
Miniatürk, situated on the North-Eastern shore of the Golden Horn, in a nutshell, is a display of the main monuments of Istanbul and Turkey...