Notre Dame de Paris: Timeless for a Reason

“Belle” is the only word I know that suits her well When she dances oh, the stories she can tell.... She dances naked in my soul...

Exploring the Princes’ Islands: The Kınalıada Mosque

The Princes' Islands (Adalar) are a chain of nine small islands in the Sea of Marmara, about 20 km east of the center of...

Joshua Bell: From Childhood Crush to Global Superstar and into Istanbul…

The year is 1990. I am a fifth grader at the American International School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and a first year violin student...

Review: Spoken Word Istanbul @ Arsen Lüpen

Three years ago, Merve Pehlivan, an art and writing enthusiast, decided to create a friendly environment where writers, poets, singers and performers of all...

Büyülü Fener: A Magic Lantern to Istanbul’s Past

A middle aged man passes under a vivid yet rustic sign that reads BÜYÜLÜ FENER, which fits like a puzzle piece among the colors of...

The Underground Sancaklar Mosque in Istanbul

It took us around two and a half hours to reach Sancaklar neighborhood, which lies on the outskirts of Istanbul Metropolitan City, to check out...

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...

Mountaineering in Turkey: Climbing Destinations and Mountaineering Clubs

By Gökay Ürk, guest writer for Yabangee After providing an introduction to Turkish mountaineering history and highlighting some prominent Turkish climbers, let’s take a look...

Zorlu Center is a Jellicle Cat

Zorlu Center recently opened its doors to the world as an international center for business, shopping, and, above all, culture and art. It is...

How Bazaar: Istanbul’s Best Markets

When one thinks of shopping in Istanbul, there’s one particular place that usually springs to mind. The city’s most famous market, the Grand Bazaar,...

Review: Füsun Onur’s “Through the Looking Glass” @ ARTER

From 2010, ARTER has offered a continual base for the production and display of contemporary art.  Since opening its doors, the gallery has hosted a...

Review: Konstantin Lifschitz, Effortless in Istanbul

Istanbul has been around since 660 B.C., back when it was Byzantium. Bach is more than 300 years old. Neve Shalom Synagogue is from...

Babylon Bomonti’s Housewarming with Flight Facilities

This past Thursday was a big day for Babylon and for those of us who missed the venue this summer. But the wait was...

Review: The Act of Killing

Joshua Oppenheimer’s remarkable film, The Act of Killing will screen at Istanbul’s !f film festival for the final time on Sunday 24 February. The...

Yabangee Wine Tasting: An Informal Attempt

Turkey is home to some of the world’s oldest wine making traditions, particularly along its Western coastal regions near the Marmara and Aegean seas....

Altın Gün Throws a Turkish Folk Party at Salon IKSV

In the final weeks of Salon IKSV's 2018 season, Altın Gün paid a memorable visit to the popular venue in back-to-back performances. As tickets...

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...

Looking for Love at First Sight Speed Dating in Istanbul

As soon as I exit the Taksim metro station and begin my walk to the event location, I begin to panic. Why am I...

Review: “Foreign Films About Turkey” @ TÜRVAK Exhibition Hall

Of all the images that cross our mind when we think of Istanbul, one that features Charles Bronson holding a gun is the least...

Jose Carreras Marks the Musical Season

Just when the season looked like it couldn't possibly get any better, the Zorlu Center went above and beyond by featuring the crème de...

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....

Review: GoGo Penguin @ Salon IKSV

As a band name, 'GoGo Penguin' doesn't exactly carry the weight or edginess that one usually associates with a jazz trio. But as soon as...

Halloween Discount – Introducing Mitra Costume Shop: Meeting All Your Costume...

Mitra Costume Design Vintage Shop has been providing costumes (both rental and sales) since 2010 and with a constantly evolving selection of over 2,500...

Review: 23rd Istanbul Jazz Festival Opening @ Cemil Topuzlu

Imagine a night that Damon Albarn opens the 23rd Istanbul Jazz Festival at Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre and then the Arabic ‘Ada Sahillerinde Bekliyorum’...