Live Music in Istanbul: 9 of the City’s Best Venues
There's nothing like a great concert, especially when life is stressful. The catharsis of listening to a live band and perhaps even dancing has...
Take 5: Karaköy (Shopping Edition)
Karaköy is a unique neighborhood with a mishmash of art, culture and food all packed into a zigzag of tiny streets and alleys. Although...
Sketching Istanbul’s Hans Part 2: Rüstem Paşa Han
Emilie Varlet and Gabrielle Reeves began exploring Istanbul's hans in the summer of 2014, when they first started their sketching adventures in the city. They have...
Gold Day Recipes: Delicious Eats for a Day of Socializing and...
Like every other Turkish kid who grew up in the 90s, I have been to many “gold days” (altın günü) hosted by my mother...
Arter & Antrepo 5: Architectural Monuments Hosting Contemporary Art in Istanbul
That Istanbul is a force to be reckoned with in the contemporary art world is undeniable. You just need to look at spaces like...
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...
Ani: A Timeless Beauty on the Edge of Turkey
I remember walking down the large avenues and neatly perpendicular streets of Washington, D.C. not too long ago, longing for old buildings and crooked...
Learning Turkish: What You’re Up Against
The task of learning a new language while living in a foreign country can be a fun challenge. But it can also be stressful, and...
Cibali’s Tobacco Factory Turned Learning Facility
Türkiye is known for its sigara (cigarette) smoking culture. And while many events have shaped this practice, there is an intriguing tobacco history that...
20 Must-See Turkish TV Series: 2000s
While it's safe to say that Turkish TV series have always been widely popular domestically, recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the...
(PAST EVENT) 18th Contemporary Istanbul @ Tersane Istanbul
Contemporary Istanbul, the city's premier international art fair, is back for its 18th edition, bringing together art enthusiasts, collectors, curators, and artists from around...
Barış Manço: 10-Song Starter Kit
How does one explain Barış Manço? He is kind of like the Turkish John Denver, but with the notoriety of John Lennon and a...
(Past Event) Hofesh Shechter Company: Double Murder @ Zorlu PSM
The 27th Istanbul Theatre Festival organized by IKSV proudly announces an electrifying addition to its program: "Double Murder" by the acclaimed Hofesh Shechter Company....
Discovering Barış Manço Museum
When I was about 12, I was bored to tears by rock music. My brother was in a band and practiced for hours. If...
The Passages of İstiklal
İstiklal Caddesi is home to many eateries, stores and coffee shops. Although chains such as Shake Shack have been cropping up, the promenade manages...
The Season of the Witch: Spooky Istanbul Explorations and the Hunt...
As the weather has instantly morphed into Fall (literally overnight I have gone from sweating due to the obscene muggy temperature, to sweating due...
Five Beloved Turkish TV Series from the 2000s
Every New Year's Eve, Turks reminisce about the early 2000s and its classics. Rightly so, if there was something special about the 2000s, it...
The Untold Story of an African in Turkey
By Bairma Kihoro
People have always been crossing borders. Not just geographical, but social, cultural and psychological ones as well. Everyone has their own dramas,...
Ramadan in Türkiye: A Primer
Ramadan, pronounced in Turkish as Ramazan, is once again upon us. There are the basic tenets of the month-long fast that anyone living in...
Tipping in Turkey
Certain things that are second nature at home can be a minefield abroad. Etiquette in all of its various forms is especially tricky. Despite...
Raquy Danziger: Darbuka Drummer Extraordinaire
A darbuka drum is a Middle Eastern instrument whose structure varies depending on location. They all have a conical shape with a nearly circular...
In Conversation with SABO on “Time Machine” – (Versus Art Project)
Versus Art Project is hosting a new exhibition from artist SABO entitled "Time Machine" from Thursday 3 June through Saturday 10 July. Based on...
The Olive Tree: Turkey’s Past, Present, and Future
“Zeytinyağı gibi üste çıkma!” or “Don’t stick out like olive oil!”
This time last year, my husband and I were sipping olive oil at a...
(Sep 2 – 14) 27th Istanbul Jazz Festival from IKSV
From the organizer:
Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) and sponsored by Garanti BBVA for 23 years with the support of...