Columns & Conversation

Yabangee has had a number of columns through the years…

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Ayşe Esin Durmaz, Makerlab Associate

Considering the largely editorial nature of Yabangee's workflow, the Makerlab at ATÖLYE has always been a place of great interest to us, with very...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Ece Erel, Founder of TeapoTea

There is no debating that tea is central to the very fabric of life in Turkey. A quick meander through any bustling neighborhood will...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Gülşah Görücü, Turkey’s Arts & Culture...

To the outside observer, Istanbul's arts and culture scene is a thriving, cosmopolitan blend of offerings for those willing to make the most of...

Through the Lens: Haydarpaşa Terminal and Rail Yard

For everyone who has stared with fondness and curiosity at the Haydarpaşa Terminal, either from a passing ferry, the Tibbiye Caddesi bridge to the...

Walk Across Turkey: Köşk

I reached the town of Köşk (population 9,900) early on Tuesday, 4 September. It was only 10:45 a.m. I had planned to spend the...

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

The Festival Commenced with a Grand Opening Ceremony The 38th Istanbul Film Festival organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) commenced with...

BaBa Zula @ Babylon: Review

Imagine the inner chambers of the Harem at Topkapi, those rooms filled with dangling tasseled lamps projecting sparkling shadowy lights onto cobalt tiled walls...

Beethoven is in the Air

2013 was a blessed year for classical music lovers and it looks like the bounty will continue on to the year 2014. Let's take...

“L’Italiano” in Town: Toto Cutugno

As the season comes to an end, concert venues entered the final days and weeks of their performances. Among my favorite venues this year...

Raskatov’s Crying in the Wilderness @ St. Irene

One of the most intriguing programs of the IKSV Istanbul Music Festival was without a doubt the evening that featured the renowned Russian composer...

Menuhin’s Prodigious Youth Perform in the Bach Festival

If you are into classical music at all, there is no chance that you have not heard of Yehudi Menuhin. He is the single most...

The Elgiz Museum: A Mixed Bag of Contemporary Art

While the Elgiz Museum is a bit off the beaten path, it is well worth a visit. Located in Maslak, it showcases the Elgiz...

Review: Luis Ernesto Gomez & Latin Jazz Band @ Nardis Jazz...

This weekend, I visited Nardis Jazz Club, just a few metres away from our beautiful Galata Tower, to catch Luis Ernesto Gomez & Latin Jazz Band. Despite visiting the venue on...

Babylon Soundgarden 2017: Staying True to Istanbul’s Roots

2017 may have been host to a fair number of quality summer music festivals in Istanbul, but for those who don't favor electronic music,...

Turkish Films: Four Istanbuls and a Golden Fleece

Way back in December of last year, I commented on a Yabangee article about films shot in Istanbul/Turkey and complained about the obviousness of...

Reflections on “Kulüp”: A Yabancı Perspective

“Do you know why this city exists? So that a guy like me doesn’t take you to the end of the world.” This is...

Meet the Civil Society Worker: ‘City Box’ Athens – Istanbul Meets...

Istanbul is a very vibrant city, full of young people. Although I did not know too many Turkish people when I started visiting the...

In Conversation with Artist Doug Russell (Part 1)

In 2008 I visited Turkey for the first time as a student from the University of Wyoming.  Together with nine of my classmates, I...

In Conversation with Vahid Evazzadeh, Theater Director and Filmmaker

This October, Istanbul will host A Corner in the World, a new international performing arts festival. A Corner in the World is a unique...

In Conversation with Anastasiia Piletckaia, Art Curator

Istanbul is a melting pot of yabangees from different backgrounds and professions. I was fortunate to meet Anastasiia Piletckaia quite soon after relocating to the...

House-Hunting in the Age of Terror

My wife wants to buy an apartment. That’s a pretty common goal for many people in this city, since it’s a sound investment. The...

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...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Michael Barngrover, VR Developer

A quick chat with most any foreigner living in Istanbul will demonstrate the city's tendency to attract residents in unique and often random ways....

Retrospective – Architectural Visualization with Martin Harrison-Priestman @ ATÖLYE

Özyeğin University, in collaboration with ATÖLYE, will host an Architectural Visualization workshop under the guidance of Martin Harrison-Priestman on Saturday 19 August. Running from 10:00...