The Guide Istanbul

11/08/2020

[Exhibition] A new exhibition, Miniature 2.0: Miniature in Contemporary Art, opened today at Pera Müzesi-Museum. Focusing on contemporary approaches to miniature painting, the exhibition brings together the works of 14 artists from different countries such as Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Azerbaijan.

The works include paintings, videos, and installations that focus on various issues such as colonialism, orientalism, economic inequality, gender, identity, discrimination, social violence, compulsory migration, and representation.

* Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-6pm; Sunday, noon-6pm.
* Free entrance for all on Friday, 4-6pm; free for students on Wednesday.

07/08/2020

Let us help you follow the call to reunite with the living world through a wide range of activities in Istanbul and other parts of Turkey. We put together a list of experiences that will help you notice and appreciate the many faces of the natural world that surrounds us.

The need to get closer to nature, which we see today in modern society, isn’t just another trend. It’s an aspect of the human character that many of us, residents…View Post

06/08/2020

[Events] The long-awaited open-air events are happening at Kundura Sinema & Sahne throughout August.

In collaboration with MUBI, the film screenings take place every Friday, and the selected movies include Call Me by Your Name, In the Mood for Love, Paris, Taxes, and Ema.

The music concerts on the weekends invites Turkish musicians such as Bi Android ft. Dilşad Çelebi, Tolga Duyan, Schnell Schnell, Deniz Güngören Beşlisi, Sinan Altıparmak Trio, Lalalar, Mousikē, Çağrı Sertel ‘Multiverse’ and Oceanvs Orientalis & İlhan Erşahin.

Tickets are available at www.beykozkundura.com

31/07/2020

Today marks the beginning of Eid al-Adha, know as Kurban Bayramı in Turkish. The holiday honors the willingness of Ibrahim’s sacrifice. Traditionally, meat is shared with relatives, as well as people in need.

Happy holidays! İyi bayramlar!

30/07/2020

Maggie Moore arrived in Ankara in 2014 with her husband Richard Moore, a former ambassador to Turkey and the new head of Secret Intelligence Service. During their stay in Turkey, Maggie and her beloved guide dog Star had helped the country take steps towards training the country’s first guide dogs for visually impaired citizens.

Discover how Maggie Moore and her beloved guide dog Star have helped Turkey take steps towards training the country’s first guide dogs for visually impaired citizens. By Jane Akatay In…View Post

29/07/2020

Exploring Eminönü isn’t simply about checking places off your must-see list. Rather, it’s about enjoying the many small discoveries in between. While wandering through the district, you may end up acquiring a new hobby or skill, or simply buying certain items you always wanted but never knew where to find.

*All shops will be closed on the first day of Kurban Bayram, July 31.

Exploring Eminönü isn’t simply about checking places off your must-see list. Rather, it’s about enjoying the many small discoveries in between. While wandering through the district, you may end up…View Post

23/07/2020

[Event] Beykoz Kundura will hold a music festival titled “A Midsummer’s Night Stage” this weekend, July 25-26. Under the COVID-19 precautions, the event will take place in a lush setting by the shore, with limited capacity. Boat service from/to Beşiktaş - Beykoz Kundura is available upon reservation.

More info and tickets are available at www.beykozkundura.com/event-group/amidsummersnightstage

20/07/2020

A kilim is not a rug. Kilim is a Turkish word that actually refers to the way something is made; that is, referring to the weaving technique. “Tapestry weave” and “flat-weaving” are the closest terms to describe it. Zili, sumak, palaz, and cicim are the names given to various weaving techniques used in Anatolia.

By Bingül Gündaş Throughout history, man has insulated his home against fierce heat, bitter cold, snow and rain by weaving all kinds of clothing, covers and trappings. From such modest needs,…View Post

12/07/2020

The Hagia Sophia has been home to various cultures, religions, and traditions. Because of this history, it is unique among all the world’s grandest temples. It has spanned so many centuries, cultures, religions, artistic movements, and political junctures. Read about the stories of this splendid architecture.

The Hagia Sophia has been home to various cultures, religions, and traditions and is unique among all the world’s grandest temples.

07/07/2020

The new issue is a two-in-one magazine that includes The Guide Istanbul July/August and The Guide Bodrum 2020. Due to the current situation, we published the printed magazine in Turkish and a digital edition in English. Get a copy at our online shop.

Highlights of The Guide Istanbul:
- The evolution of Turkish ice cream
- Homemade skincare recipes
- Kolonya
- Ottoman public kitchen
- The walls of Constantinople

Highlights of The Guide Bodrum:
- Bodrum’s mandarin
- Turkish bazlama
- Five day-hikes from Bodrum
- Villages of the Latmos Mountains
- Blazing the Carian Trail
- Ancient Knidos
- The history of sponge-diving

TR: www.theguideistanbul.com/product/the-guide-bodrum-2020-the-guide-istanbul-temmuz-agustos-turkce/
EN: www.theguideistanbul.com/product/the-guide-istanbul-july-august-the-guide-bodrum-2020-digital/

The Guide Bodrum ve The Guide Istanbul Temmuz/Ağustos 2020 sayıları olmak üzere iki dergi bir arada. Fiyata Türkiye'de nakliye dahildir.View Post

03/07/2020

With the reopening of restaurants, cafes, and bars, Istanbul's outdoor dining scene is back for the season. Reunite with friends at a place where you can enjoy a splendid view, delicious food, and a healthy eating environment.

*The opening hours might be different. Check with the restaurants before you go.

Here are Istanbul’s best waterfront, rooftop, and terrace venues that guarantee delicious food with an excellent dining experience.

01/07/2020

To anyone who has taken a cursory look at an English-language bookstore in Istanbul, the name John Freely will be familiar. Known affectionately as “the memory of Istanbul”, Freely was one of those cross-cultural wonders who flourish in Istanbul’s fertile atmosphere.

To anyone who has taken a cursory look at an English-language bookstore in Istanbul, the name John Freely will be familiar. Known affectionately as “the memory of Istanbul”, Freely was…View Post

29/06/2020

If you're not ready to travel, weekend escape close to home is possible. Istanbul's Princes' Islands are ideal destinations. You can explore the places with bicycles, swim in the sea, picnic in greenery, or stay for a few nights. Check out a brief guide to each of the islands.

Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands are havens of tranquility escape from Istanbul’s noise and traffic without having to fly or drive long distances.

07/06/2020

[Online screening] Kundura Sinema & Sahne offers an online film selection during the self-quarantine period. “A Promenade from the Inside” is available to watch online via www.beykozkundura.com for free until July 1, 2020. The curated selection of short films offers audiences a virtual getaway from the city and an opportunity to reconnect with nature.

04/06/2020

During the 1960s, when the civil rights movement was happening fiercely in the United States, writer James Baldwin visited Istanbul and the city had become his on-and-off home during that period.

"Baldwin enjoyed the solitude and freedom he had in Istanbul, which made it an ideal place for him to write. Life was safer and easier: unlike in the US, he didn’t have to worry about being harassed by the police or being refused service at restaurants. 'I feel free in Turkey,' Baldwin once told his friend, the Turkish writer Yaşar Kemal."

James Baldwin spent much of the 1960s in Istanbul. He produced some of his finest work while living in the city.

01/06/2020

Istanbulties not only care about the street cats but also the dogs. Welcome to the Boğaziçi University Paws Dog Sanctuary, where stray dogs have beaten the odds and now welcome visitors and volunteers with open paws.

Welcome to the Boğaziçi University Paws Dog Sanctuary, where 66 stray dogs have beaten the odds and now welcome visitors and volunteers with open paws.

28/05/2020

Beyazıt Library was the first state library in Turkey, founded in 1884 under the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II. The building had formerly been a soup kitchen and caravansaray, forming part of the külliye (social complex) around the Beyazid Mosque. On its opening as a library, it contained around 1 million documents, including almost 11,120 hand-written books of historical importance.

Completed by Tabanlıoğlu Architects, the restoration of Beyazıt Library lets Turkey's first state library meet the public in a better condition.

24/05/2020

İyi bayramlar! Happy Eid al-Fitr to those who are celebrating. In Turkey, the holidays is also called Şeker Bayramı, when sweets (for example, the beloved baklava) plays an important role in the holiday’s traditions.

How are you celebrating the holiday this year?

21/05/2020

The technique of making pişmaniye is quite complicated and requires patience, experience, and hours of toil pulling and stretching the candy. Despite the skill needed, it can be made at home with the help of good company. It was customary to make it during the long winter nights, gathering in a home with relatives and neighbors, preparing it with shared labor, singing, exchanging jokes, riddles, and storytelling.

Pişmaniye is basically hair-thin threads of candy tossed in a mix of roasted flour and melted butter, ending in a feathery light confection that is fun to eat.

19/05/2020

Today, Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, is one of Turkey's national holidays that commemorates Mustafa Kemal's landing at Samsun on May 19 in 1919, the symbolic start of the Turkish Independence War. Atatürk also considered this day as his birthday with a clear reference to the beginning of the national establishment.

18/05/2020

Some neighborhoods of Istanbul are known for hosting a particular kind of animal. Cihangir, for example, remains popular with cats. One thing is for sure: these hapless critters deserve a modicum of respect and we should all do what we can to help them out. That’s the philosophy behind Kırık Kuyruk (“Broken Tail”), a free online tool that allows animal lovers to both locate and assist the city’s numberless strays.

Kırık Kuyruk is a new internet tool hopes to correct this injustice by helping stray animals in istanbul find the help they need.

14/05/2020

[Online screenings] 15 recent films from the program of the postponed 39th İstanbul Film Festivali will make their Turkey premieres on filmonline.iksv.org 15-29 May for audience in Turkey. The movies will be streamed in their original language with Turkish subtitles.

13/05/2020

HEY! Imaginable Guidelines is a card game aims to help ordinary residents discover how their cities are designed, and to find ways to make them better. Read more about designer Alexis Şanal on the idea of this project.
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Download May/June 2020 issue now: www.theguideistanbul.com/product/issue-172-may-june-2020/

HEY! Imaginable Guidelines is a card game that helps residents discover how their cities are designed, and to find ways to make them better.

11/05/2020

Download your free copy now: www.theguideistanbul.com/product/issue-172-may-june-2020/

Download your free copy. Stories to read from home: We have planned this issue with your safety in mind, so you don’t feel like you're missing out on anything. This time, we encourage you to stay at home and explore the city from the comfort of your own couch. After all, Istanbul–with all its wo...

11/05/2020

[Online screening] Ildikó Enyedi 's My Twentieth Century (1989) can be watched at Istanbul Modern | Istanbul Museum of Modern Art's website, from May 15, 8pm - May 16, 8pm.

https://www.istanbulmodern.org/en

11/05/2020

After a long day of fasting, the iftar dinner is usually a rich feast and stomachs fill up quickly—often going a little overboard. After such a meal, for dessert people seek something light that will not upset the stomach. In this case, güllaç is an ideal option. And it is a very easy dessert to make at home!

During Ramadan, güllaç is a typical Turkish dessert to have after iftar dinner. The name came from güllü aş (food with rose) because rose water is the essential ingredient.

08/05/2020

[Online event] Pi Artworks presents online artist talk: Nancy Atakan in conversation with Asli Seven; “In Retrograde Motion”: from needlework to performance and archival activations.⁣

May 9 at 3pm via Instagram account.

08/05/2020

When erik (known as greengages or unripe plums in English) appears in the markets, it means that spring is here.

"The crispy tartness of the greengages is especially a delight for children; no wonder greengage street vendors make their first appearance in front of school gates. They are sold in small paper cones with a miniscule salt cone tucked on top. Every single child knows how to master eating the greengage: you lick the fruit and dip it in the salt, take a bite, and dip the bitten bit into the salt again. When you’ve eaten the whole lot, you suck and scrape every bit of flesh off the pit, then spit it out as far as you can. What joy!"

Find out more about Turkish seasonal fruits and how to make greengages pickles at home.

The Turkish word erik is a generic name for “plum”, but in spring it only refers to greengages or unripe plums. It's especially a delight for children.

07/05/2020

Online artist talk series held by OMM (Odunpazarı Modern Museum) continues via its social media accounts. This week:
- May 7 at 9pm with Ersin Han Ersin
- May 10 at 9pm with Karina Smigla-Bobinski

06/05/2020

In addition to the delicious Ramazan pidesi, refreshing şerbet and güllaç, there is another Ramadan tradition dated back to Ottoman times. During the holy month, religious messages made by illuminatory lights are strung between the minarets of mosques in Istanbul. The mahya lamps also illuminated the streets for the people eating and socializing after iftar.

Ramazan pidesi is A must for breaking fast; şerbet is the thirst quencher of choice for the Ramadan period; güllaç is the number one dessert.

04/05/2020

Now is the season for artichoke! See how to cut this beautiful veggie and cook it with smoked buckwheat and lemon balm dressing at home. Read more about the recipe.

Artichoke is a heavenly green that even has a place among the stars of Greek mythology. They grow best in the soils where this legend takes root, on farms along the Aegean.

03/05/2020

The Guide Istanbul May/June 2020 issue is available . Get your digital copy and keep exploring the city from the comfort of your home!

Download for FREE: www.theguideistanbul.com/product/issue-172-may-june-2020/

01/05/2020

Innocence of Memories (2015) is a documentary film inspired by Orhan Pamuk’s 2008 novel The Museum of Innocence. Director Grant Gee talked about the making of this movie.

“Istanbul has a strange mix of chaos and quiet resignation,” he says. “People aren’t so on edge, they just give you a slightly baleful eye and go on their way. For a place that’s so macho, I also find it quite feminine. People aren’t always challenging you.”

Director Grant Gee talked about the making of Innocence of Memories, a documentary inspired by Orhan Pamuk's novel The Museum of Innocence.

29/04/2020

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Ottoman history was characterized by the influential role played by female members of the imperial court, who commissioned the construction of imperial monuments and other public works. The New Mosque in Eminönü is one of the examples.

Read more about how Hatice Turhan Sultan completed this beautiful architecture after the Great Fire of 1660.

Hatice Turhan Sultan, an influential figure from the Ottoman imperial court, redefined the city’s commercial center and the New Mosque.

27/04/2020

Do you miss Istanbul's street cats? After the Kedi movie came out in 2016, The Guide Istanbul interviewed the director Ceyda Torun to talk about how he captured the loveliness of these cats on film.

If you haven't watched this documentary, now is the time!

Director Ceyda Torun talked about his thought on making the movie Kedi, which captured the colorful lives of the street cats of Istanbul.

25/04/2020

[New Movie] Featuring Ilhan Mimaroğlu, the Turkish legendary pioneer of electronic music, the documentary film Mimaroğlu: The Robinson of Manhattan Island’ will make the world premiere online at the Visions du Réel from today until May 2.

Read about before watching the movie: www.theguideistanbul.com/ilhan-mimaroglu

Visions du Réel: https://online.visionsdureel.ch/film/mimaroglu-the-robinson-of-manhattan-island/

A new documentary explores the little-known life and music of İlhan Mimaroğlu, a pioneering Turkish composer.