Columns & Conversation

Yabangee has had a number of columns through the years…

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...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Ece Çiftçi – Illustrator &...

Finding one's true calling is a daunting prospect, with experiences along the way ultimately lending themselves to a deeper understanding and satisfaction. Ece Çiftçi...

Retrospective – Curious Community: City Planning from a Feminist Perspective

From the organizer: Organized by ATÖLYE and 3dots;, with support from Sweden Institute, 'Curious Community' is a monthly event series with a panel format. This...

Retrospective – Life Lessons #3: Scott Cohen

From the organizer: You are invited to attend the third episode of ATÖLYE Academy’s Life Lessons series with Newlab’s Co founder Scott Cohen on the 16th of July. The third guest...

Lost in Turkey: Lake Bafa

This little pocket of salty sea water trapped inland by ancient sediment accumulation has managed to retain all of its Aegean culture, with a...

Walk Across Turkey: The Motorcycle Man

Friday, 21 September I began my second full day in Çardak using the hotel’s slow internet connection to upload photos to my blog. Toward the...

Crossing Over at Hecate Sanctuary in Lagina

Hidden within an olive grove, Hecate sanctuary in Lagina could pass as a secret garden, one filled with a mystical air and esoteric treasures....

!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...

Review: Art Tour with Sena Başöz of istanbulite

By Missy Weimer and Zamira Skalkottas In Istanbul, it can sometimes be hard to view art, but not for lack of content; the city is...

Review: Picasso at the Pera

For many, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) is the preeminent artist of the twentieth century. In addition to being active and prolific, he was able to...

Review: Medical Phalanx of Space & Spent Ex @ Karga Bar

In a city where bars and venues, from Taksim to Beşiktaş to Kadıköy, are filled with 80s cover bands and generic DJs, it is often...

The Kronos Quartet Crawls into Our Souls at the CRR

I remember very clearly the day that I was introduced to the Kronos Quartet. It was 1992 and I was in seventh grade. It...

Why It’s OK to Love “The Water Diviner”

The Water Diviner, or Son Umut in Turkish, is a film about a father traveling from Australia to find his sons lost in the...

Review: Hamdi Akatay & Tepecik Filarmoni Orkestrası @ Babylon Bomonti

A Thursday night spent in Babylon Bomonti never disappoints. Last week, I finally made it to see Hamdi Akatay & Tepecik Philharmonic Orchestra on stage....

An Evening with Popist Supper Club: Istanbul’s Newest Pop-Up Dining Experience

There is an old Turkish saying stating if you are bored with Istanbul, you are bored with life. Although Istanbul is rarely boring there...

Reflections on Contemporary Istanbul 2018

In Julia Cameron's classic book on creativity The Artist's Way, she recommends a tool called an "artist date," which she describes as "a block of...

The Exhibition: Theatre Puts A Spotlight on Community

The year is 1874. In Paris’ Café Guerbois, gathering place of artists, writers and their admirers, a group of six painters meet on the...

In Conversation with Lymbyc Systym

Maybe it was the first days of winter, which we Istanbulites usually dread, or the lack of Tarlabaşı-crew promotion for the show (yes, a...

In Conversation with Kate Clow of Trekking in Turkey

Kate Clow, a long-time resident of Turkey, is a renowned sage of hiking in the region. She is best known for heading efforts to build,...

In Conversation with Musician Enzo Ikah

Foreigners living in big cities all have something in common: the desire to live a better life. Most of them remain anonymous, but some,...

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...

Makaya McCraven Wants You to Let Your Suckiness Shine… and He’s...

When I’m told that Makaya McCraven might be five minutes late to our interview because he’s visiting the iconic Blue Mosque, my first reaction...

Out Now: “Letters from Istanbul, Vol 3: Living with Terror” by...

We're delighted to announce that long-time contributor James Tressler has recently released the third volume to his Letters from Istanbul series, available for purchase via Lulu....

Take 5: Beşiktaş

After living in Beşiktaş for about three years, on and off, I’ve come to realize that it is regarded as a hate or love...