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Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts

Monday, 26 October 2015

14th Istanbul Biennial is still going on!


14th Istanbul Biennial started to take place on Semptember 5, 2015 and it will en on November 1, 2015. The theme of this year's festival is "Salt Water".

There will be participants from all around the world. You can see the list here: http://14b.iksv.org/allparticipants.asp

You can see the biennial at many locations in Istanbul, all of which are at convenient locations: Rumeli Feneri, Riva Beach, Hrant Dink Foundation and Agos, French Orphanage, Galata Greek Primary School, Istanbul Modern Museum, FLO Building (Anatolian Passage), Pera Museum, SALT Galata, Kucuk Mustafa Pasha Bath, Buyukada Public Library, Trotsky House, Sivriada, and so on.

If you are Istanbul, try to visit as many of these exhibitions as you can.

Thursday, 22 October 2015

Istanbul Coffee Festival 2015


Istanbul Coffee Festival will be held on 22-25 October 2015 at Haydarpasa Terminal. This festival is supposed to be the most comprehensive festival in Europe.

The festival will be perfect for coffee lovers! Think about this: combining the taste of coffee with the atmosphere historical Haydarpasa Terminal. You will have the chance to taste different kinds of coffee from all around the world, watch the shows of local and global professionals, and participate in workshops.

You can find the event calender from here: http://www.istanbulcoffeefestival.com/
You can buy tickets from here: http://www.biletix.com/etkinlik-grup/107179041/ISTANBUL/tr

Thursday, 6 August 2015

5-10 August 2015: Time to See the Sculptures of Xu Hongfei



The sculptures of Xu Hongfei is at Istanbul as a part of his world tour. The sculptures are will be on display until 10 August. Don't miss them, if you are going to pass by Cevahir Mall, Nisantasi Sanatcilar Parki, or Abide-i Hurriyet Square.

The "fat and happy" women of the sculpture make you happy, too. I was on my way to work, and stopped to see them. They looked so alive that I thought they would really start to dance in front of me.

You can take as many photos as you like. People love to pose like the sculpted women. You'll have an interactive exhibition experience.



Who is Xu Hongfei?


He is a successful and talented Chinese sculpture. He started this project in 1997, he has sculpted over a hundred of these sculptures. He uses bronze, white marble and wood as materials. You'll admire the details of his works.

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Best City Hotels For Relaxing Massages



Istanbul can be a stressful city. If you are living in Istanbul for a long time, you feel urgent need to massages. Of course, everyone who comes to visit Istanbul for whatever time can benefit from relaxing massages.

I've been a couple of massage parlours, all of which were downstairs of a city hotel. I haven't been to independent massage parlours, because I have a feeling that the quality will be better not to defame the hotel itself.

Talimhane hotels


There are many hotels at Talimhane, most of which looks luxurious. So, I had kept away from them, until my family bought me a massage from a discount web site. I made a reservation at an incorrect hotel. Then I met "Avantgarde Hotel". The massage was fine, the parlous was a little bit complex and crowded. Then I found the correct hotel: Ramada Hotel (Talimhane, not Pangalti). This time parlour was better and the massage was very good.

Both of the hotels above hire at least one East Asian masseuse. The prices were rather economic, compared to the services (massage, sauna, pool, herbal tea). I haven't tried other hotels yet, but I think the prices and the services won't change dramatically.

Almost all the city hotel like Talimhane hotels, Taksim hotels, Pera Hotels and Sultanahmet hotels have SPA centres inside them. If you are staying farther than the city centre, such as at Avcilar hotels or airport hotels, you should look for more elaborated SPA centres and fitness centres to make the most of your time.

Monday, 29 June 2015

Room Escape Games in Istanbul

I have an urge to escape


I've always loved to play room escape games on web or on mobile. Finding secret objects, solving puzzles, racing against time... And one day I learned that I could really be the one who is trying to escape the room!

Room escape games are very trendy in Istanbul. I knew only a couple of them, so I searched for them at the Internet. You'll have to make reservations in advance and ask for the prices.

ISTrapped


I guess this is the first room escape game in Istanbul (but not the last). I, my sister and a friend of hers tried this, and liked it very much. I won't give any spoiler, only two adjective to define it: mysterious and nostalgic. I think you should try it at least once. It is in an old beautiful building at Asmalimescit, close the Tunnel and Istiklal Street.

Escapist


I haven't been to Escapist (yet). It is very close to my office, so I see its plate almost everyday at Trump Towers Mall. This one is the biggest room game in Istanbul. You have six options here: company, secret experiment, on the trail of past, sacred treasure, the key of Agatha, abandoned.

Tuzak


European coast is always faster to adopt novelties, but Anatolian coast keeps up with them soon. Tuzak is a room escape game at Kadıkoy. It is very close to the bull statue. This time you aren't trying to escape from a room, you are trying to escape from a hotel, Hotel California.

Numara13


It is claimed to be one of the best and the most spooky room escape games in Istanbul. Its story is based on a real story, which makes it more interesting.

Defuse the Bomb


This is slightly different from other room escape games. I guess it feels like you have a part in a TV series. I don't know what happens, if you cannot find the bomb!

Thursday, 25 June 2015

Istanbul Pride 2015



Attention please! Istanbul Pride 2015 will take place on 28 June, Sunday. It will start from Taksim Square, and after a walk along Istiklal Street, it will end at Tunnel Square.

Istanbul is one of the cities in the world, where LGBTI week is celebrated. On 21 June, Trans Pride took place on Istiklal Street.

On 28 June, everyone will come together in peace, will sing and shout for LGBTI rights and against homophobia.

I will be there on 28 June, but in case, I will share a couple of pictures from Istanbul Pride 2013, which took place just after the Gezi Park Protests. So, it was carrying the soul of both LGBTI and Gezi Park. At that time, the participation was the highest of all Prides.

Sunday, 3 May 2015

Polonezkoy Cherry Festival



Polonezkoy Cherry Festival 2015 will be held in 13-14 June. Polonezkoy is a beautiful green district for people who wants to escape the city. It is in Beykoz and takes only half an hour with a private car. But the parking lots may be occupied at the time of the festival. Try coming early, you won't get bored, I promise.

I've been to the festival once and it's really fun. Polish folklore groups sing and dance buoyantly with their colourful dresses. After they give a break, girls and boys give the audience cherries from baskets. It was really a lovely scene, even if I couldn't event get one cherry, my favourite fruit!

You have almost one month. You are not late to make plans!

Wednesday, 8 April 2015

Istanbul Tulip Festival 2015


Istanbul Tulip Festival 2015 will be held on 11 April-3 May 2015 at Goztepe 60. Yil Park and Emirgan Park. If you're interested, plan accordingly. Don't miss it!

Not only this park, but also many places will be full of colourful tulips during the spring. Istanbul is also famous for its judas trees. Just a walk on the Bosphorus coast will provide you spectacular views.

Where is Goztepe 60. Yil Park?


This is fairly a new park. I didn't even see it yet. As I see it, Istanbul still didn't meet its real park. (There is more concrete than greens.) Anyway, there is plenty of space for hundreds of tulips. It is near Bagdat Street. You may walk from Goztepe, or simply take a taxi from where you will come.

Where is Emirgan Park?


I think this park (actually woods) is much better and natural. You should visit here, even if you cannot catch the tulip festival. From Taksim or Besiktas, you can get on a bus. After only 15-20 minutes, you get off at Emirgan stop and walk a little. That's all. If you like, taxis are always available.

There are some other places you can see tulips, but the main events will take place at these two parks. You may listen to traditional music, what artists do paper marbling (ebru) or calligraphy, or buy some tulips. The whole programme is here, but it is unfortunately in Turkish:
http://www.ibb.gov.tr/sites/istanbuldalalezamani/Pages/FestivalProgrami.aspx

Sunday, 29 March 2015

I'm Listening to Istanbul, Poem Written by Orhan Veli Kanik, Translated by Talat Sait Halman




I'm Listening to Istanbul
I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed;
At first there blows a gentle breeze
And the leaves on the trees
Softly flutter or sway;
Out there, far away,
The bells of water carriers incessantly ring;
I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed;
Then suddenly birds fly by,
Flocks of birds, high up, in a hue and cry
While nets are drawn in the fishing grounds
And a woman’s feet begin to dabble in the water.
I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.
The Grand Bazaar is serene and cool,
A hubbub at the hub of the market,
Mosque yards are brimful of pigeons,
At the docks while hammers bang and clang
Spring winds bear the smell of sweat;
I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.
Still giddy since bygone bacchanals,
A seaside mansion with dingy boathouses is fast asleep,
Amid the din and drone of southern winds, reposed,
I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed;
Now a dainty girl walks by on the sidewalk:
Cusswords, tunes and songs, malapert remarks;
Something falls on the ground out of her hand,
It’s a rose I guess.
I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

 I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed;
A bird flutters round your skirt;
I know your brow is moist with sweat
And your lips are wet.
A silver moon rises beyond the pine trees:
I can sense it all in your heart’s throbbing.
I am listening to Istanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

Orhan Veli Kanık
Translated by Talât Sait Halman (1982)
* You can listen the poem from this video:

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Best 3D Cinemas in Istanbul

3D movies began with Avatar and it became an exciting branch of cinema. This week the last part of legendary Hobbit trilogy, Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, has come out. All the fans are so excited. In case you are in Istanbul, you are lucky. There are many movie houses in Istanbul.



3D movie houses have different formats, such as IMAX and XPAND. IMAX is available only at Istinye Park and Marmara Park. Here is the list of them:

European Coast:



  • Beyoglu Atlas
  • Beyoglu Cinemaximum (Fitas)
  • Nisantasi CityLife (City's AVM)
  • Osmanbey Gazi
  • Mecidiyekoy Maximum (Cevahir)
  • Sisli Cinemaximum (Trump Towers)
  • Mecidiyekoy Profilo AVM
  • Zincirlikuyu Cinemaximum Zorlu Center
  • Levent Cinemaximum (Kanyon)
  • Levent Saphire Cinema Pink
  • Levent Ozdilek Cinetime
  • Etiler Akmerkez Cinema Pink
  • Istinye Cinemaximum (Istinye Park) IMAX
  • Deniz Private Cinecity Etiler
  • Fatih Cinemaximum (Historia)
  • Bakirkoy Cinemaximum (Marmara Forum)
  • Bakirkoy Cinemaximum (Capacity)
  • Bakirkoy Carousel Cinema Pink
  • Atakoy Cinemaximum (Atakoy Plus)
  • Florya Cinemaximum Aqua
  • Florya Cinefly Flyinn
  • Bayrampasa Cinemaximum (Forum Istanbul)
  • Eyup Cinemaximum (Vialand)
  • Gungoren Cinemaximum (Kale)
  • Bagcilar Site
  • Bagcilar 212 AVM Cinemarine
  • Esenler Espri Site
  • Bahcelievler Metroport Cine Vip
  • Maslak TIM
  • Yesilkoy Airport Cinemas
  • Deniz Private Cinecity Trio Atasehir
  • Yenibosna Starcity Site
  • Atasehir Novada Avsar
  • Sefakoy Sinemay Armoni Park
  • Esenyurt Cinemaximum Akbati
  • Beylikduzu Cinemaximum Marmara Park IMAX


Anatolian (Asian) Coast:



  • Altunizade Capitol Spectrum
  • Kadikoy Cinemaximum (Nautilus)
  • Kadikoy Rexx
  • Acibadem Cinemaximum (Akasya)
  • Göztepe Avsar Optimum
  • Caddebostan Cinemaximum (Budak)
  • Kozyatagi Avsar Kozzy
  • Umraniye Cinemaximum (Meydan)
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