Archives for “Art & culture” tag

This is a spot that some days I love and others I hate it. K44 is a dirty, filthy space that has become one of the most hip bars in town. It is now considered as one of the classic cases of finding an empty warehouse and turning it into a bar.

When τώρα k44 opened its doors it was the ultimate hipster destination until it became mainstream and was transformed into a noisy club. Since the day I went there and I faced gate keepers and a huge crowd waiting outside it took me some years to visit it again. The motive to return was an event, a gig of Kid Flicks (gr) and Slow Magic (USA) with a free ticket. There were few people, good music and the whole atmosphere took me back to the first days of k44.

Whichever edition of k44 you prefer, the old one or the new mainstream, the main reason to be there is the events. Concerts and dj sets of any kind (hip hop, post rock, experimental, dub step, even Greek trash) are hosted there. If you are searching for the best events of Athens check what’s going on at k44.

In 2000 Athens finally acquired a National Museum of Contemporary Art. A museum that lacked from this city for many years and though it exists now, it is still “homeless”. But thanks to the initiators of this project, the museum is temporarily hosted in the Conservatory of Athens. The space is not big enough to house the entire art collection of EMST so there are current exhibitions of Greek and international artists. For more information about the exhibitions or other events visit the website.

The “homeless” situation proved to be very creative as many innovating ways have been found to communicate the art to the public like outdoor exhibitions or video art screenings in public squares. Synchronicity involves the notion of flexibility, the ability and the strength to keep pace with the needs and the conditions of each era. EMST defends synchronicity not only by its name but through its actions. Hopefully, in the end of 2013 the promising, permanent space will be ready to welcome EMST.

Every city needs its big summer – music festival. Athens may not have the one with the popular artists in the line-up but it has Plisskën festival. Plisskën is not an old classic festival. It exists since 2010 and I have only visited it last year but it left me with the best impression. It was very well organized and the bands were coming from different nations, sounds and kinds of music but all had one thing in common, there were excellent musicians and amazing live performers. So, when it comes to concerts I really trust the choices of the people behind Plisskën.

This year’s Plisskën is quite different and it will shake Athens up really well. Instead of 1 day now it is happening for 4 days and in 4 different spots.Τώρα K44, Six d.o.g.s, The Hub and the Building 56 in which the main event will take place on May 18th. There will be some bands I would have never heard of otherwise and some others like Death Grips for example, whose live-show I would probably never go to see. But who knows I might be pleasantly surprised!  

I can’t wait to see Fm Belfast “running in their underwear”, Larry Gus performing his new radio hits “angelos kuriou” and “achileas kuriakidhs” and late at night listen to a classical orchestra, Brandt Brauer Frick, playing techno music. Plisskën is a great occasion to explore music and have a marvelous time. For four days our nights are dedicated to Plisskën!!

This is once again a place which I can not place into just one category. For starters; It is definitely a taverna, based on the looks especially the small patio which gives a little bit of an island feeling to me.

Serves Greek-type food in small portions, the ones you put in the middle of the table and then everybody fights to get one piece but in the end no one dares to eat the last one. Believe me, if you find yourself in that situation don’t hesitate to take the last piece, it will be worth it!

The inside space of Xelona is bigger and has an Indian-touch to me, but maybe that is only my impression as the always in a good mood owner looks absolutely Indian to me, too!

Nevertheless, you can also enjoy just a drink at the bar and as the music is not too loud, as in most places in Athens, it suits fantastic for a calm, mid-of-the-week drink or more.

Technopolis is a great example of a reformation of an old factory and its redefinition as a cultural venue. The complex where Technopolis is located used to host the gas factory of Athens – that’s what the Gazi area owes its name to. When electricity became the one and only source of energy, the factory was abandoned.

After 1999, the gas factory was restored and became an industrial museum and a cultural center, a fact that led to the development of the surrounding area as well. Today, Technopolis is site that hosts many cultural activities of all kinds.

Technopolis is where Synch Festival, Athens Fashion Week, Athens Jazz Festival and many other festivals take place. It is the place where the heart of Athens beats. Especially from spring and on, almost every night there is something to do in Technopolis. Sometimes with free entrance, sometimes with expensive tickets. Even if there is no event going on a walk around the old factory and a beer in the cafeteria is worth it!