The Greenys from the German artist Yutta Saftien are artificial plants made out of green material, mainly wool, crocheted by hand. She has been developing Greenys since 2002. The Greenys are placed in the public area to enable passers to knit or crochet with the offered material beside. Each of the 38 streetlamp on Abdi Ipekci Avenue will be greened up with a long Greenys with leaves and blossoms between April 22 and 27, 2008. The aim of the project is to remind people “the green” gone as the result of global warming.

The 3rd Meeting of Art Galleries, organized by Municipality of Besiktaş is held at Akatlar MKM between April 25th and May 4th. 19 art galleries participate Art Show 08 with the works of 90 artists. It is open everyday between 10:00 and 19:00.


Mamma Mia Musical is based on Abba’s timeless songs and has been performed in 170 cities since 1999. The show will be staged at Istanbul Show Center (former Mydonose), Yeşilköy on October 7, 2008. The tickets can be purchased through Biletix.

Suna and Inan Kırac Foundation Pera Museum hosts a selection of 120 paintings and sculptors by Joan Miró (1893-1983), Spanish painter and sculptor. The exhibition is between May 3 and August 31, 2008.

Photographer Ibrahim Goksungur’s portraits taken from all over the world are on display at French Cultural Center. The exhibition titled “The Dark Face of the World” can be visited until May 20th.

Israel, which connects Europe, Asia and Africa, is a junction point of millions of migrating birds. The “Migrating Birds Know No Boundary” exhibition is organized by Israel Cultural Office and takes placein Sisli Belediyesi Bilim Merkezi (Municipality of Sisli Science Center) beginning from April 7th

"Troya," the new show by famous Turkish folkdance troupe Anadolu Ateşi (Fire of Anatolia) is staged at Istanbul Show Center (former Mydonose). The show is the dance version of 3000-year-old Troya Legend. The tickets can be purchased through Biletix.

16th International Istanbul Theater Festival, organized by Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, and sponsored by Aygaz and Opet will be held between May 15 and June 4, 2008.


Spanish artist Salvador Dali’s works will be on display at Sakip Sabanci Museum (SSM), Emirgan beginning form September 19, 2008.

Istanbul Fotograf Merkezi, Tarlabasi Bulvari 272, hosts Canadian photographer Lorrain Field's Body/Field: Temporal Inscriptions exhibition until May 30th. Ms. Fields lives in Istanbul. Visiting hours: everyday except Sunday 11:00-19:00.

Sakip Sabanci Museum (SSM), Emirgan hosts Masterpieces from Louvre Collections The Three Capitals of Islamic Art: Istanbul, Isfahan and Delhi exhibition that displays a collection of major Islamic artifacts from Louvre Museum.

Bead: Belief, Power and Beauty exhibition, sponsored by Kadir Has Foundation and consisting of finds of bead and bead themed items can be visited at Istanbul Archeology Museum until April 23, 2008. Most of these archeological pieces are on display for the first time.

Is Sanat Arts and Culture Center, located in the Is Towers, has been hosting important concerts since its establishment in 2000. In addition to exclusive performances of classical, jazz, Turkish and world music, dances and plays are being staged at Istanbul Hall of Is Sanat.

Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra (BIFO), one of the most prestigious orchestras in Turkey, opens 2007-2008 season on October 3, 2007. Click for the detailed program

A new occasion for classical music lovers: Istanbul Recitals. Worldwide famous virtuosi perform on the recitals that take place at Lütfi Kyrdar Concert Hall.

Istanbul State Opera and Ballet opens 2007-2008 season on October 8, 2007. The performances are at AKM (Atatürk Kültür Merkezi), Taksim and Sureyya Opera at Kadikoy. Click for the detailed program

The concerts of Istanbul Symphony Orchestra are held at Atatürk Kültür Merkezi (AKM) Grand Hall. The performances are on Friday at 19:30 are repeated on Saturday morning at 11:00. Click for the detailed program

In September Istanbul European Choir started to have rehearsals like every other fall; with one difference this year: the rehearsal venue is no longer German Highschool but Teutonia instead due to the physical renovations of the high school building. In this season, the choir will be rehearsing Carl Orff's Carmina Burana with choirmaster Gökçen Koray. It is planned to perform this work with IDSO under the direction of Alexander Rahbari in January 2008.

March/April issue of The Guide Istanbul is now available at major newsstands, and selected bookstores. Click to read the magazine's Publisher's Letter highlighting all the wonderful articles that you will be reading about in this issue!

IDO Ferries, which provide 85% of sea transportation in Istanbul announced the winter schedule. For the timetable please. visit

The films broadcasting on cnbc-e TV channel are in their original language with Turkish subtitle. The monthly program is given at Films on cnbc-e section under Rhythm of Town title.

Yedikule Animal Shelter, survives with the donations of the volunteers, started a new charity campaign for winter. 2000 dogs are waiting for blankets and pillows knitted with minimum dimensions of 60cm x 60 cm. In this way you will evaluate your left yarns and help the dogs warm in cold winter days. You can send the blankets or pillows via cargo.
Yedikule Animal Shelter has urgent need of some materials and medical products for the dogs residing there. Old newspapers, raw food (for feeding puppies and sick dogs by adding medicine), dry food, biscuits for puppies, non-sterilized gloves, mixed vaccination are some these requirements. For more information please call Meral Olcay (212) 633-5857
Yedikule Hayvan Barinagi
Yedikule Sahil Yolu, Surdibi, Eski Havagazi Deposu
Yedikule-Istanbul

Lâle Apa and Bedriye Medina’s bestselling first cookbook titled Remix – New Healthy Practical and Colorful Recipes, is now available in English! Containing over 200 healthy and practical recipes, Remix is chockfull of international recipes, “with a twist” – from soups, salads and dips to seafood, meat and chicken dishes to delectable desserts! The English version of Remix is available at all major bookstores throughout Istanbul and Turkey and costs 40 YTL.

Did you ever consider becoming an angel? Now is your chance! We, the pink angels, are looking for volunteers to help us in our play groups activities in the pediatric ward of the Marmara University Hospital, Altunizade (Mondays, Saturdays, Sundays 10.00-12.0 and since a few weeks also in the Cerrahpasa University Hospital, Aksaray (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 13.30-16.0. We are trying to bring some sunshine into the lives of children with cancer and need more angels to assist us. Please don't be put off by the illness and your imagination of how sad it might be in a children's cancer ward. In fact children deal with this illness much better than adults, because naturally they still take a day at a time. However they need some time away from their disease and play and laugh and do silly things just like any other child. YOU can help them do all this. Please call and find out more. Ms. Ute Levi: (212) 257 89 53, mobile: (532)791 49 49, e-mail: lejack@attglobal.net.

Fotografevi, Galatasaray organizes one-week long workshops for expats in Istanbul on Basic, Advanced and Digital Photography. Classes start every Monday. The film and digital workshops are available to experienced photographers as well as photography enthusiasts of all ages. The participants will both have the opportunity taking shots on various districts in Istanbul and follow the workshops of famous Turkish photographers. For more information please check.

Camocagi (Glass furnace) organizes some long-term courses, weekend courses and daily workshops on different techniques in 2007. The education program covers instruction on theory, techniques, and materials. All of the classes are given by instructors with international teaching backgrounds. The aim is to equip the students with basic skills necessary for working with glass, as well as to develop their aesthetic sensibilities. Glass blowing, mixed media, lampworking, bead making, fusing & slumping, kiln casting, enameling and raku are the techniques taught in themes of the courses. For detailed information please visit the link given below. The route to Camocagi is also given on the right.

Like to Play Drum? Drumcircle in Istanbul come together at Eylülist Music Club, Arnavutköy every Monday and Tuesday between 20:00 and 22:00. Aydyn Karabulut and Cem Erman conduct the sessions. Hitting techniques, musical note information, rhythm practices are for the beginners on Monday. Various rhythms, solo and group rhythm works, creating their own music is for expert drummers on Tuesdays. For more information please call Ms. I?yk Temiz (0536) 780 80 51.
Eylülist, 1. Cadde, 64 Arnavutköy
Tel: (212) 257 11 09

Handmade Lavender Sacs: The lavenders collected before dawn and dried in special places are on sale at Pabetland, Istanbul with "Lava" brand. The sacs are embellished with laces and handmade embroideries. These are beautiful gifts for your beloved ones and for you! The lavenders raised in Akmese village of Izmit bring the fresh fragnance to your cupboards and drawers. The price is between 5 YTL and 25 YTL. You can call Mrs. Güler Akin for group buying. Tel212) 233 22 38.

Readings for Expats
Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey, a nonfiction anthology edited by Anastasia M. Ashman and Jennifer Eaton Gökmen. Published by Dogan Kitap, the English version of Expat Harem is now available in Turkey's bookstores together with the Turkish edition. Already garnering interest locally, Expat Harem's Turkish edition (entitled Türkçe Sevmek: Türkiye'de Yasayan Yabanci Kadinlarin Gözüyle Türkler) is framed by a powerfully sentimental foreword penned by Turkey's foremost female author Elif Safak.

"Osman’s Dream. The Story of the Ottoman Empire, 1300-1923" is the latest book of Caroline Finkel. It is a narrative history of the Ottoman Empire from its earliest beginnings to its final destruction on the battlefields of the First World War. "Osman’s Dream" is aimed at the general reader, and is now available from reputable bookstores in Turkey.

Hughette Eyüboglu who is among the first foreign brides in Turkey, published her memories in Turkish last year and attracted attention. The English and French versions of the said book "Living Under the Shadow of Two Cultures" and "Du Clocher au Minaret" respectively are at the bookstores as of June.