Through the Lens: Kuzguncuk
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Surrounded by pine trees in the district of Üsküdar, Kuzguncuk feels like entering the perfect time capsule. One...
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #3: On Teaching English
On my first day of teaching English in Istanbul, I was thrust into the classroom without so much as a book or a clue.
I...
The 12th Istanbul Tulip Festival in Full Bloom
The tulip is a flower long rooted into Istanbul’s history and life. It can be found in Ottoman era paintings, clothing, mentioned in poetry...
Istanblues Be Gone! A Rainy Day Guide
Unpredictable Spring showers can put a real dampener (pun intended) on one's social calendar. But even if you have exhausted the city’s museums and...
Street Market Smarts: Kapalıçarşı (Grand Bazaar)
The Grand Bazaar has been important for as long as this city has. That is to say, the emergence of the bazaar didn’t take...
Open Call for Submissions @ Bosphorus Review of Books
From BRB:
The Bosphorus Review of Books is a predominantly English-language journal focused on cross-cultural arts exchange and providing literary works and commentary for...
6 Permanent Istanbul Collections Worth (Re)visiting
What comes to your mind, when you hear the word Istanbul? After living here for almost four years, there are many words and associations which...
ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Çiçek Kahraman, Co-Founder of UKA Film
UKA Film is the multifaceted collaborative effort of co-founders Çiçek Kahraman and Can Kılcıoğlu. With a scope that compliments their skill sets and covers various...
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...
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #2: On Cleanliness
A few years ago, on a freezing, snowy day, my roommate and I climbed our way up one of Istanbul's steep hills and hopped...
A Glimpse into Müz Botanik Kafe
During my first few days in Istanbul, I happened to pass Müz Botanik Kafe by chance. I was in a hurry, but the little...
Street Market Smarts: Beylikdüzü Beygah Pazarı
Bazaars. Turkey has a lot of them, but we don’t seem to get enough. Whether it is the chaotic yet welcoming atmosphere, pricing, or...
Expat Spotlight Recap: #1 & #2
Expat Spotlight, in collaboration with ATÖLYE, is our monthly series showcasing the inspiring contributions being made by Istanbul’s diverse international community to the city’s...
Ataşehir and Ümraniye: Portraits of the City’s ‘New Hope’
At first glance, Ataşehir seems to embody everything you hate about modern Istanbul. At second glance, it doesn’t get much better.
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ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Lesia Petrovska, Interior Architect
Being an interior architect is a detail-oriented and challenging profession, certainly magnified when the typical project worked on is over 1,000 km away. Lesia...
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #1: On Residence Permit Applications
Every yabancı has at least one tale of woe and regret when it comes to residence permit applications in Istanbul. I am no exception.
After passing...
BU Paws: Boğaziçi University’s Dog Sanctuary
Istanbul is a city more than a little renowned among those in the know as a city of cats. Less well-known is the ancient...
ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Oki Kasajima, Freelance Designer
Going on a four year honeymoon isn't really the type of thing you plan for, but it's exactly what happened to freelance designer Oki...
My Big Fat Turkish Wedding Dress: An Istanbul Guide
If I knew then what I know now:
Which neighborhood has the best, cheapest or most fashionable dresses? How much should I pay? Should I...
In Conversation with Sandrine Ramboux, Founder of C@rma
Sandrine Ramboux is a Belgian expat who has called Istanbul home for the past decade, together with her husband and two daughters. A 20...
Street Market Smarts: Beşiktaş Cumartesi Pazarı
If you love produce it's safe to say that any market in Turkey will be a delight for the senses. Mounds of green peppers...
Tax Season Approacheth: Tips for U.S. Expats
It was 2014, when I realized that the last time that I had filed taxes was the year that George W Bush decided he...
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...
Take 5: Vefa
When most people think of the "Old City" of Istanbul, Sultanahmet usually springs to mind. Yet perhaps one of the most interesting areas historically,...