Archives for “Music” tag

Can there be a better combination? A museum, permanent collections, exhibitions, a quality restaurant, a peaceful garden, great looking building and even better bosphorus view. So it is easy to see why Sabancı Museum is the first thing I would do if I had only one thing to do in Istanbul (after the old town square of course).

The museum is named after the most famous business man of Turkey, Sakıp Sabancı. Sabancı family invested in the cultural development of Turkey with this museum and a top notch university. The location of the museum is convenient and beautiful: drive up north, passing under the second bosphorus bridge. It is by the sea, with a great garden that you can relax in.  

There are permanent art exhibitions owned by the Sabancı family, like historic hand written Qurans and books, paintings of world famous Turkish painters like Osman Hamdi Bey and İbrahim Çallı. Also, there are archaeological collections in the garden.

In addition to permanent exhibitions, there are seasonal exhibitions. They are announced on their website. 

On the summer Sunday mornings, there is brunch in the garden with jazz concerts presented by famous local jazz bands. Other than that, it is always relaxing to be in the garden and enjoy the view

There is also a magnificent restaurant called muzedechanga, which is awarded by many global newspapers and magazines.

The museum is open all year but of course the best time to visit is from spring to fall when you can enjoy the garden and the view.

Ortaköy offers something for every taste. Bomonti Brasserie (for me it is a beer house) is a good choice for an afternoon beer and snacks just in the middle of Ortaköy Square.It has 4 floors and the roof terrace is strongly recommended especially in good weather. You can enjoy both the panoramic view including the old town and the Bosphorus while watching the crowds in the Ortaköy square.

Bomonti is a local beer brand that started production in 1890 and having a rebirth in the recent years. And Bomonti Brasserie in Ortaköy serves mainly Bomonti Beers with decent accompanying snacks and food. My favorite beer is Bomonti Unfiltered and the snacks basket goes well with it.

For lunch or dinner, they have a huge menu which makes you think that “when you try to do everything, you can not do it perfectly”. This is more or less correct. They are not specialized but I have never been disappointed with any food there. They have decent pizzas and more than decent grilled beefs. Especially “Bomonti Lokum” worths a try.

I think you will also enjoy the atmosphere and decoration, especially the library & objects exhibited on the second floor. There is live music at the weekends.

Boncuk has been my favorite meyhane (Turkish tavern) for more than 10 years. They’re located on the famous Nevizade street in a four-storey building with a summer terrace. Few tables also available in front which are popular in summer for people watching. Although Rakı is the most popular, a local wine menu available with moderate prices besides other alcoholic or non alcoholic drinks.

Sharing food is a tradition at meyhanes, starting with mezes (cold starters) where they’re usually on table till the end of night. Mezes are served over a large tray to choose from and Boncuk is famous for Armenian meze “topik” and whiting fish with basil sauce. Another specialty is grilled liver as a hot starter where they also offer calamari or shrimps generally followed by fish of day according to season. After 21:00, a street band of Turkish musicians sings around tables working on tip basis. They are not the best but great fun when people join them to sing their popular songs!

Boncuk is an ideal restaurant to experience traditional Turkish food with moderate prices and I advice reservation for summer weekends especially for outdoor seating.

This is the time of the year when we get lovely music news. The music that pours out the streets of İstanbul, enlightens us and hugs all the visitors. If you are here during these dates don’t hesitate to pick a concert of your choice in the spots indicated and live the city to its maximum.

İstanbul Jazz Festival is celebrating its 20th year this year and it spreads throughout the city in 14 different spots. It will take place between 8-18 July 2013.

Istanbul Jazz Festival, which provides audiences with new discovery opportunities through its eclectic programme and various venues it uses, will continue to let music lovers experience firsts by organising concerts in unusual venues. But the best spot for me is always Salon IKSV.

In addition to the usual hosts of the festival such as Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Stage, Haliç Congress Center, Istanbul Modern, Istanbul Archeological Museum, Sabancı University Sakıp Sabancı Museum and Salon IKSV; the new venues that will be featured in this year’s festival are Embassy of Germany Tarabya Summer Residence, Consulate General of Austria – Austrian Cultural Office Garden, Feriye Restaurant, Istanbul Technical University Maçka Campus Mustafa Kemal Lecture Hall, KüçükÇiftlik Park, Rahmi M. Koç Museum and Imperial Garden of Yıldız Palace.

Time to enjoy the City!

The first thing I look for when I travel abroad, are the second hand vinyl shops. Even though I might not buy anything, to feel the atmosphere of something divine for me. I have been a vinyl collector for some time now – before the new trend wave – and always on the lookout for something exciting. I know there are people out there who feel with me and when they visit İstanbul I would like them to dwell into Kontraplak (Kontrarecords) which is a rather new shop along with the many on Yeni Çarşı Caddesi, just down the quater to Galatasaray High School.

Everything is labeled from A to Z and it’s a tremendously clean shop. The “clean” factor is something of a luxury for vinyl shops, as you might already know. You can find a variety of vinyl’s from rock to jazz, electronic to hip-hop. You can experiment and discover new stuff easily, as the owner Okan Aydın is a very open minded music listener. He can and will recommend stuff for you with the input of similar genres or groups. You can ease your mind and relax your soul on the comfortable coach in the homely atmosphere of the shop.

The rates you find in Kontraplak are very affordable and when compared to similar shops all over, the quality and cost balance is nearly perfect. Okan has not forgotten the possibility of an interest towards Turkish artist vinyl’s and therefore he as a small section for such dwellers.