3rd Istanbul Design Biennial: An Evening at Galata Greek School
Are we human? That is the main question surrounding the 3rd Istanbul Design Biennial which debuted on Saturday 22 October.
“The 3rd Istanbul Design Biennial...
Finding the Spirit of One Love in Büyük Ev Ablukada
Büyük Ev Ablukada may not be a new name to those in the Turkish community who have been following the group for years, but...
Persian Play is Highlight of the 20th Theatre Festival
As we transition into summer from spring, so have begun the series of IKSV Festivals: the just over Theatre Festival, the ongoing Music Festival,...
Review: Akram Zaatari @ SALT Beyoğlu
SALT Beyoğlu is an impressive space, with six stories of beautiful facilities (I'm personally partial to the free and clean public restroom on the...
One Love Festival 15: What to Know and Who to See...
One Love Festival has been a constant in Istanbul's summer festival scene for over 15 years - one of the key players in a...
Review: Buika @ Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theater
Summer of 2016 has been a sad one for those of us who waited so long to see some of our favorite artists live...
Review: Nilüfer Verdi Trio feat. Ülkü Aybala Sunat @ Denizde Caz
A night cruise on the Bosphorus is always a good idea, as is a jazz concert by local musicians. Thankfully, The Primetime Cruise gave...
Accessible, Riveting and Totally Radical: Catch Ai Wei Wei’s “On Porcelain”...
“If you love your country, you become a criminal,” celebrated and controversial Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei said during an artist talk when his...
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...
Review: Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Hamlet’ @ Salon IKSV
This season, Salon IKSV is offering something completely new to theater lovers with its Oyun Salonu program. I assume that most of you have...
The Last Round: Boxing, Martial Arts, and a Social Conscience
In the dead of this past winter, I ran into a friend in Cihangir who seemed uncharacteristically ecstatic. I told him as much and...
Visiting Istanbul’s “Thailand & East/South Asian Market”
If you are a lover of Southeast Asian foods, then this review has a worthy activity for your time. The Thailand & East/South Asian...
Review: Randy Esen Quartet ft. Şenova Ülker @ Denizde Caz
A night cruise on the Bosphorus has been on my list of things to do for a few years now. But at the same...
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...
IKSV Music Festival: Opening Night @ Lütfi Kırdar Sarayı
The classical season is officially over. The 2013-2014 season in Istanbul was one of the greatest seasons I have ever experienced. It was a...
Review: Ayhan Sicimoğlu & Latin All Stars @ Babylon
Babylon has always been the perfect place to head to on a Saturday night in Asmalımescit. The venue hosts local artists as well as...
Review: Gripin @ Jolly Joker
What a crowded Jolly Joker lacks in elbow room it certainly makes up for in performance quality, and this month's Gripin performance was no...
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...
People Upon the Lips of the Sea: A Look Back at...
“How should one enter the sea? In our country, men use breechcloths and pants for sea bathing. If we are to choose one of...
Review: Neighbours @ Istanbul Modern
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words. That it can weave a story in your brain in a matter of minutes where words...
The Away Days Return Home @ Salon IKSV
The Away Days don’t sound like your average Istanbul band, but then again, how does an “average Istanbul band” even sound? With a city...
“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...
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...
Beauty and the Beast: A Fairy Tale Comes Alive
The Zorlu Center PSM kicked October off with a performance series that justly made the news, hit the papers, turned heads, and made art...