Susan Fowler of IHT published a piece on the meyhane culture in Istanbul.
And there is also a video on the culture of rakı

According to old school, traditional meyhanes are disappearing too fast. There is also a generational shift. Pub like places are more popular, beer replaces rakı for many young people and of course there is fast-food context. Meyhane wants us to spend a longer time around and although we are not very efficient in our temporal arrangement, we do not like to spend so much time for the food… (and money of course, unfortunately, meyhane owners like to overcharge….)

as one of the world’s great cities, writes Brendan Shanahan.

LIKE Rome or Cairo, Istanbul is one of the world’s eternal cities. For almost 2000 years – first as the capital of the Roman Empire, then as the centre of Byzantium and, finally, as the jewel of the Ottomans – it has sat on the Bosphorus straits, bridging Asia and Europe………….

6th International Comedy Films Festival is in İstanbul between 23-27 November.
The sections of this festival are: “The Most Serious Comedy Film Competition” “Family Comedies” “American Indies” “Europe Laughs” “What Made Us Laugh” and “Tribute to Şener Şen”
The festival venues are Cinebonus Maçka G-Mall Cinemas, Beyoğlu Alkazar Cinemas and Institute Français d’Istanbul theatres.
You can find more information here

Ingmar Bergman films are being screened at İstanbul Modern (also other films of different genres).
You can find more information here

A day at İstanbul Modern: wandering through works of modern art and/or photography exhibition…then watching a Bergman film…and finally a break in İstanbul Modern’s café: for digesting all those images while enjoying a glass of wine… Images of works of art and images of Bergman wandering inside my head and the stunning view of İstanbul in front of my eyes…A perfect day…

the BBC programme for the unsigned musicians is in town. It will be held in

Bilgi Üniversitesi santralistanbul Kampüsü
E-3 Binası, Eski Silahtarağa Elektrik Santralı,
Kazım Karabekir Caddesi No1,
34060 Eyüp, İstanbul
this Saturday between 10:00-18:00!

check out more here

If you were faced with someone holding a microphone at you so sweetly, trust me, you wouldn’t be able to resist either.
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