Last year, my relationship with Istanbul was shaky and one of my new year resolutions was to fix it. It was time for us to kiss and make up. I said 'Look, we could use this time to work on ourselves and our relationship. There's a full year to go.'
I moved and started to live in another neighbourhood. I knew what I wanted from the city, myself and this relationship. It was not based on expectations. It was about decisions and dreams. Meanwhile, the city was experiencing some of its most difficult times while I was having the best days. That’s what happens. In every relationship, there is a period that the one is more aware of what they want while the other is feeling lost. That is exactly what we are experiencing.
It’s December again. Our relationship is going well, actually. By 'our', I mean me, myself and I. The city & I. This year, fixing our relationship is not on my list. I’m still living in the same neighbourhood. I chose to stay. You know, in every relationship, there is a period that someone chooses to stay or leave because they realise it’s always about them. That was exactly what we had been experiencing.
This year, one of my new year's resolutions is to keep dreaming. But first of all, let’s dance together for a while, and to dream again.
Elif
In the 22th issue:
Hopping (What’s going on in Istanbul: Hand-picked and unmissable events): An exhibition about augmented and artificial intelligence reality at Bilsart, Tamino's concert, Christmas market and much more.
What's Cooking (Selected places to eat, drink, cafés, food markets): This week, we are at Comedus with Selin Osmanoğlu, the writer of Veraison.
A Pocket Guide (Literally a pocket guide to discover the city): 2 unique places for those who ask: 'Where should I quell the rush of the week?' Location: Bebek & Bomontiada. Focus: Panacea music.
A passionate dream: Satori And The Band From Space Tour 2022
What is it? Concert. Satori is back in the city to invite us to the endless land of music with different instruments and electronic sounds.
Where? Volkswagen Arena
When? 17 December
Why should you go? This time he will mesmerise his fans with his live performance project Satori And The Band From Space, which he calls 'my most passionate dream'.
Duly noted: Satori tickets are here for serene swaying. Those who want a melodic dance night, but with a faster heartbeat, can go on a date with Adriatique at Zorlu PSM the previous night. Tickets here.
Source: bilsart.com
In the fluidity of body and space: 'Islak Hacim'
What is it? Exhibition. Organised within the scope of Fırat Arapoğlu's exhibition 'Daimi Bir Akış' (A Perpetual Flow), 'Islak Hacim' (Wet Volume) questions the place of 'toilets' in gender fluidity, pleasure and diversity of use, through the performative body, architectural planning, and standards of space.
Where? Bilsart
When? 7-17 December
Why should you go? Ahmet Rüstem Ekici, who explores space and its building blocks with new media such as 3D modelling, animation, hologram, and augmented and artificial intelligence reality, promises a stimulating experience with this exhibition which is as rich in practice as it is in theory.
Duly noted: On 7 December, the opening day of the exhibition, there will be a talk with the artist and curator.
Photo: Jon Shard
Futuristic jazz: GoGo Penguin
What is it? Concert. GoGo Penguin, who creates a unique sound identity with their eclectic approaches to jazz music, is in Istanbul as part of their world tour with drummer Jon Scott.
Where? Zorlu PSM
When? 15 December
Why should you go? You can hear brand new songs from GoGo Penguin's Between Two Waves, released last summer.
Duly noted: The Comet Is Coming, Ravi Coltrane and Portico Quartet are the new forms of jazz we experienced with GoGo Penguin, and tickets are here.
A neo-psychedelic night: Gözyaşı Çetesi
What is it? Concert. Our local music scene's electronic, neo-psychedelic and indietronica band Gözyaşı Çetesi will be performing with a full band.
Where? Blind Istanbul
When? 17 December
Why should you go? Those who love Replikas and Stereolab, those who want to get lost in an astral journey to psychedelic spaces can collect unforgettable memories from this night.
Duly noted: 2 days before Gözyaşı Çetesi takes the stage, another local performance that we highly recommend is Apartmanlar, which will take the stage as part of the 'Under the Ground' series of Müze Gazhane. Tickets for Gözyaşı Çetesi are available here. While the Apartmanlar concert is free of charge, you need to download Radar Istanbul's mobile app to register.
Early Bird
Photo: Edward Cooke
Countdown to: Foals in Istanbul
What is it? Concert. For 15 years, Foals, who have produced extraordinary albums and songs where alternative rock meets math rock, are in Istanbul as part of their tour for their latest album Life Is Yours.
Where? Zorlu PSM
When? 15 August
Why should you go? Foals is in Istanbul for the first time, who knows when they will come again. Plus, brand new songs from their latest album will ring in our ears for the first time at Zorlu PSM. What more can you ask for!
Duly noted: Early tickets are selling out fast, don't miss out, go here.
Starring Sahar: Tamino
What is it? Concert. Tamino, one of the last guests of the Gezgin Salon, is not satisfied with his performance that took our minds and feet away; this time he comes to the city for a winter visit for a new meeting with his latest album Sahar in the lead.
Where? Volkswagen Arena
When? 18 February
Why should you go? The magical sound is a good reason every time. It's even more alluring in winter...
Duly noted: Some artists' fan bases are to be feared. We think Tamino's is one of them. We have to say that tickets may sell out fast, beware. You can find plenty of tickets here.
Out of Town
For the love of Christmas (and design): Cermodern Christmas Market
What is it? Christmas market. The motto of 'Think, Create, Share', which opens a space for emerging and professional designers and brings their productions together with design lovers, is in Ankara with its new edition.
Where? Cermodern
When is it? 16-17-18 December
Why should you go? You can observe a wide selection of design products, meet the creators in person and support them with your shopping.
Duly noted: Entrance to the market is free of charge. We recommend you follow CerModern's Instagram account to stay informed.
You again! Büyük Ev Ablukada
What is it? Concert. The keep coming back. They say it's over, they say it's the last concert, even if there's a new album, but no. The calendars point to a concert series on the horizon that we know in our heart that will be the same as last time but also great. The second stop is Izmir.
Where? Izmir Arena
When? 18 December
Why should you go? We're joking about it, but if there is anyone from Izmir who somehow still hasn't seen the band live, of course, they shouldn't miss it. Fingers crossed for a new album.
Duly noted: Tickets for the first day are already sold out. Here are the ones for the second day.
Dear Istanbulite, we would love to hear from you! Email us your questions or feedback at: [email protected] and DM us if you've heard a rumour about the next hip restaurant that’s worth checking out or anything else.
And also, love only grows by sharing. So please share Aposto Istanbul with your loved ones.
Bir Işık Hüzmesi Üzerine exhibits at Taksim Sanat
Curated by Begüm Güney, the exhibition Bir Işık Hüzmesi Üzerine is open to visitors until 30 December at Taksim Sanat, the exhibition zone of Kültür AŞ by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Consisting of surreal works by 17 different artists, the exhibition hosts the works of Sümer Sayın, Serkan Demir, Gözde Mulla, Bilal Yılmaz, Ahmet Öğüt, Ece Kibaroğlu, Nergiz Yeşil, Esin Aykanat Avcı, Ali Şentürk, Fulya Çetin/Sine Ergün, Sergen Şehitoğlu, Mehmet Dere, Özge Yağcı, Osman Dinç, Berkay Tuncay and Özden Demir.
You can visit this link to find out more about the exhibition and follow Kültür AŞ here to keep up with the latest activities in Istanbul.
How to become a regular #5: Comedus
This week, we are at Comedus with Selin Osmanoğlu, the writer of Veraison.
The eater: Comedus. The regular: Selin Osmanoğlu.
We are at Comedus with Selin Osmanoğlu, the WSET3 certified writer of Veraison. In the afternoon, we all gather with glasses of wine in everyone's hand and black cheese on the plate. When we warm up and start a pleasant conversation, a gentle breeze blows through the door as more people are entering. Now, we are at one of the rare delicatessen/wine bars of Istanbul. Where are you a regular? What are the reasons that this lasts?
What does it mean for you to be a regular at a place? When do you say 'OK, I am a regular now'?
Being a regular of a place seems to me to be a state of keeping a few emotions alive and holding on to a place both intellectually and de facto. You love an emotion and you try to keep it alive by putting people, sometimes objects, sometimes a smell or colours around it. For me, regularity comes from a basic feeling: trust. I feel safe in the places where I am a regular.
When I say 'OK, I'm a regular now', is when it gives me the feeling of 'being at home'. When I go to places where I am a regular, the very familiar feeling of going home keeps coming to me. When I open the door, it is as if the door of my home opens. And when the first plate is placed in front of me, I say 'OK!', 'We're sitting at the table.' I always feel this way whether I am alone or with someone else. All 5 senses are active. The eyes are looking for the same colours, the ears want to hear the same sounds, the smell memory has no difficulty, I want to spend time tasting the same taste, touching the same table. No matter who I share the table with, the conversation flows more easily, I feel more myself. That's why I attribute it to the feeling of trust.
How long have you been a regular at Comedus and why here?
Actually, I have not been a regular at Comedus for a very long time; after the pandemic, I started coming here a lot. But, a lot. I am a wine lover, and this place is a wine paradise. My first reason for coming here was my love of wine. The cheese and charcuterie are always very good. Then I got to know the people here, the conversation progressed and I became a regular. Why here? You might expect the answer to the question to be the wine, but it's not; it's the people. I mean it when I say regular, I spend a lot of time here, and I miss it if I don't.
If you are going to Comedus, it is very likely that you will see me inside, or you will hear me entering the door by saying 'Arzuuuuuuu!' That's exactly what I love. I love exchanging a few words with Arzu, listening to endless stories from Mr. Mustafa, and not being surprised to bump into Selçuk, who was probably here.
I love it when Şener comes with red roses during a conversation on the doorstep, and when I ask 'Shall we have dinner at Aheste?' I love the sweet regret of wishing we had opened a bottle as we have our third glass.
Is there anything you always order that we can call Selin's speciality?
The black cheese! It's my favourite cheese here. Whoever I go with or whoever I see, I say 'Have you tried this cheese?' I don't have a special menu, I usually go with the question 'Am I hungry or not?' I find the answer with olive oil, bread and the black cheese. There is no single wine that I say 'The evening won't go by without it!' but after a certain point, it seems like the door's always open to Akın Gürbüz Blend 1.
What are the things you always find here and what are the things you can't find here?
The feeling of curiosity that comes as soon as I step through the door never goes away. 'I wonder if the new wine has arrived? What should I drink?' and not being able to decide even after I have looked at the shelf for 10 minutes. There is nothing I can't find here. Maybe some space because it's a small place. But I wouldn't want it to get bigger. It's nice because it's small.
The Legends #1: Babylon & Vamonos
2 unique places for those who ask: Where should I quell the rush of the week? Location: Bebek & Bomontiada. Focus: Panacea music.
We asked Ceylan (İpek El) from MiniMüzikhol and Deniz (Kuzuoğlu) from Salon İKSV to choose their all-time favourite places where they can find high-quality music in the city.
Editor’s note: If you are interested in this curation, you can read the interview with Deniz that we shared last week here. Also, stay tuned for more because we’re back next week with a remindful Mini interview.
Spick-and-span
- Vamonos Record Shop by Ceylan İpek El
Where? Bebek, Neşe Sk No:4, 34342 Beşiktaş
Why? It’s my favourite neighbourhood record shop. But it’s not just a record shop. It’s a music-driven space with a focus on movement. Also, the young crowd would much rather consume what is produced rather than produce, organise and contribute. I admire and support those who put hard work into expressing themselves.
Opening hours? Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 02:00 p.m. to 08:00 p.m
What does it represent in the Istanbul music scene? The owner, Eren (Gündemir), is an admirable young man who is going against old tracks and tries hard to break the old auditory monotony. He carefully selects, hosts, and organises the music and musicians he works with - thus creating an exemplary underground culture.
Babylon
Oldies but goldies
- Babylon İstanbul by Deniz Kuzuoğlu
Where? Merkez, Silahşör Caddesi & Birahane Sokak Tarihi Bomonti Bira Fabrikası No:1, 34384 Şişli
Why? The audience entering through that red door at the time of Asmalımescit changed the lives of everyone working there. Since I started my career there, it always has a special place in my heart. Babylon said goodbye to Asmalı in 2014, but without making its fans wait too long, it made us all happy by moving to Bomontiada in 2015.
Opening hours? 09:00 a.m.- 05:00 p.m.
What does it represent in the Istanbul music scene? The venue in Asmalımescit was one of the most special spaces of the city, along with Salon İKSV, which defined the Istanbul music scene in the 2000s, from changing the face of a neighbourhood to the venue culture it established, from the names it hosted to the industry employees it trained.
In Istanbul, you can easily tell if someone is living in a house by looking at whether there are flower pots on the windowsill and balconies
