UEFA Opened an Exhibition in Istanbul
The Union of European Football Federations (UEFA) inaugurated the "Only A Game?" exhibition at the Taksim Cumhuriyet Arts Gallery, with contributions of the Turkish Football Federation and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality as a part of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture activities.
"Only a Game?" brings together a wide range of objects and images, characteristics of the city's attachment to local and European football, and various high-tech elements, with a view to making it as fun and interactive as possible.
Visitors can see the Champions League cup till February 10, the Europa League cup till February 28, and the Cup Winners' Cup till the end of the exhibition.
Visitors are invited to plunge into the emotions of the game, inspired by a selection of prestigious artefacts, trophies and memorabilia, covering in particular the last 50 years of European football.
The exhibition will stay open till April 30.
"Only A Game?" has already enjoyed resounding successes in Brussels and Liverpool.
2010/11 Fall-Winter Collections Exhibited at
Istanbul Fashion Week
The 2nd Istanbul Fashion Week (IFW), organized by İTKİB (Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters’ Association), took place in Santralistanbul between 3 and 6 February 2010.
The first of the fashion days was realized on August 2009 and was called Istanbul Fashion Days, where 25.000 visitors visited the event in three days with an immense interest by the local and foreign sector followers.
The event was held a second time in parallel to the World Fashion Weeks calendar under the name “Istanbul Fashion Week”, like its counterparts in the fashion capitals of the world.
In the Istanbul Fashion Week (IFW) official opening ceremony held in Santralistanbul with ribbon cutting ceremony attended by the famous Hollywood star Meg Ryan and Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Çağlayan.
Hikmet Tanrıverdi, IHKIB Chairman said, “IFW will be consistently organized twice a year, aiming to carry the Turkish fashion brands and the textile sector to the position they deserve in the international arena,”.
Meg Ryan, who has gained interest with her warm and humble attitude during the opening, repeated how happy she was to be in Istanbul and also stated that “She was greatly honoured to be present in the opening of the Istanbul Fashion Week”.
During the four-day organization, that created a fashion atmosphere in Istanbul, the Turkish ready-wear brands and fashion designers exhibited their 2010/11 Fall-Winter collections with a total of 25 fashion shows, featuring the designs and ready-to-wear products of 10 designers and 15 ready-to-wear manufacturers.
This year’s IFW is visited by approximately 35,000 fashion followers, as well as a crowded group of foreign press members and buyers.
The Tourism Industry turned to Turkey for this year’s
EMITT Exhibition
On 11 February, the 14th edition of EMITT, the East Mediterranean International Travel & Tourism Exhibition held in Turkey, welcoming thousands of tourism professionals and travel enthusiasts.
This year, the event featured 50 countries, from Turkey's nearest neighbours to long-haul holiday destinations, as well as over 100 cities and regions, and over 500 resorts, travel agencies, tour operators from within Turkey.
Visitors to EMITT saw a wide variety of destinations at the show, many of which are regular participants. However, the event was also recognised as an effective platform for new destinations to promote themselves to Turkey's travel market.
This year, companies from Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Japan, Tanzania and Tatarstan promoted their services for the first time, alongside many new Turkish organisations, including the Western at Black Sea Development Society (BAKAB), who represented cities and resorts from the western Black Sea region.
Event Director, Hacer Aydin said, "I'm always very pleased to introduce new destinations to the Turkish travel market. Our travel industry is developing rapidly. Turkish travellers are looking for something different and new destinations always attract a great deal of attention so I'm sure our new exhibitors found even more than they expected EMITT!"
A variety of initiatives were launched during the event by the participating companies, including early booking discounts and draws for free holidays.
This year's guest country, Egypt, presented a number of cultural shows to entertain EMITT's visitors, including an Egyptian Night, featuring traditional dancing. Nehad Gamal Eldin of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism office in Istanbul commented, "We have taken part in the EMITT fair every year since it started. Our results from the show prompted our decision to sponsor the fair as ‘guest country' in 2010. Our Ministry representatives took part in the fair, alongside 15 tourism agencies from Egypt. The EMITT fair is a great opportunity to show the values of Egypt to Turkey and the world".
EMITT 2010 took place on 11-14 February in TUYAP Fair, Convention and Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey.
Istanbul’s new centre: Salon
Located at the entrance and first floors of Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts - IKSV's new building, Salon will become a new stop on the line joining Galata and Şişhane, at the crossroads of the city's hub of culture and arts.
With an audience capacity of 200 seated and 600 standing, Salon will host classical, jazz, rock, alternative and world music concerts, theatre and dance performances along with activities for children, panels and conferences. Reflecting its innovative and creative outlook onto its design, Salon's mobile stage system will enable diverse forms of performance.
February Events
The Tiger Lillies
Saturday, February 13, 22.00
Doors open: 21.00
Standing 40 TL Student 25 TL
An intriguing carnival, a peculiar experience: The Tiger Lillies blend Gypsy music and opera in their unique, dark, and sardonic style. Fronted by Martyn Jacques with his accordion and angelic/demonic vocals, the band includes Adrian Huge on drums and Adrian Stout on double bass. With their music defying any singular description, The Tiger Lillies provide a performance of raw passion: a must-see.
Mısırlı Ahmet Trio
Friday, February 19, 21.00
Doors open: 20.30
Seated 40 TL, 30 TL Student 25 TL
Enriching his music with treasures from diverse cultures, Ahmet Yıldırım (known as Mısırlı Ahmet) has gained fame all around the world for his rhythmical expertise and unique darbuka solos. With Zeki Çağlar Namlı on bağlama and Ercan Irmak on reed flute, Mısırlı Ahmet Trio will perform Yıldırım's project "The Search" and fill up Salon with true world music.
Murat Gülsoy - Yekta Kopan - Ayfer Tunç
Monday, February 22, 20.00
Doors open: 19.00
Lasts 60'.
Free of charge.
Salon welcomes Murat Gülsoy, Yekta Kopan and Ayfer Tunç for a series of literature readings, for the following four months. The seminars will be held in Turkish without translation.
Volkan Hürsever Trio
Thursday, February 25, 21.00
Doors open: 20.30
Seated 35 TL, 25 TL Student/Standing 20 TL
Three prominent names from Turkey's jazz scene, Volkan Hürsever on double bass, Burçin Büke on piano, and Volkan Öktem on drums, came together for the album Hediye, released in 2009. Acclaimed for their exciting improvisations, Volkan Hürsever Trio expresses that through their projects they achieve "the pleasure of making good music," and awaits its audience at Salon, to share this bliss.
Aydın Esen & Randy K.
Saturday, February 27, 21.00
Doors open: 20.30
Seated 40 TL, 30 TL
Student/Standing 25 TL
Aydın Esen has not only enchanted his audience but also outstanding musicians like Chick Corea, who has pronounced Esen as the world's best pianist in 2000. Aydın Esen Group will present a night of jazzy variations on Debussy, Ravel, Satie, and Copland.
Pegasus to Launch Flights to Paris
Turkey’s leading private airlines company; Pegasus will launch flights to French capital of Paris in March 2010. According to the announcement of Pegasus Airlines, flights from Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Paris Orly Airport would start on March 12.
Istanbul-Paris fares will start from 49.99 euros and Paris-Istanbul fares will have starting fare of 79.99 euros. Paris flights will depart from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport every day at 10:35 and depart from Paris at 14:00.
Pegasus Airlines was established in 1990 as a joint venture between Aer Lingus, Silkar Investment and Net Holding in Istanbul. Pegasus operated its first flight in May 1990. Pegasus currently has scheduled and charter flights to more than 100 different destinations in 17 countries.
Istanbul Modern To Become Venue of
Photography Exhibition "Time Within Us"
A photography exhibition "Time Within Us" is opened at the Istanbul Modern Photography Gallery on January 27.
The exhibition consists of 151 photographs taken by 15 Turkish, Russian and Greek photographers.
The photographs were selected by three curators, Engin Ozendes from the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Olga Sviblova from the Moscow House of Photography, and Vangelis Ioakimidis from the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography.
The exhibition will remain open till May 16. It will also be displayed during the Moscow International Photography Biennial in March and the Thessaloniki International Photography Biennial in April.
Founded in 2004, Istanbul Modern is one of the first private museums to organize modern and contemporary art exhibitions in Turkey and it occupies a large site on the shores of the Istanbul Strait (Bosphorus), encompassing 8,000 square meters.
The museum offers a wide array of services in a multifaceted venue, including permanent and temporary exhibition galleries, photography gallery, library, cinema centre, cafe and a design store. The museum also offers video, educational and social programs. It was presented with a special award by the European Museum Forum (EMF) due to its innovative approach.
Jalpak Votes Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul
As Europe’s Best Hotel
Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul was voted The Best Hotel in Europe for the period April 2008 - April 2009 by passengers of JALPAK, Japan's most prestigious travel agency.
Being Japan's travel agency specialized in overseas travel, JALPAK has 32 offices in 36 cities of 17 countries. JALPAK, having almost 1,000 clients throughout the world, has elected Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul as Europe's best hotel.
Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul offers accommodation opportunities by its 600 guest rooms and suites with a comfort ranging from a standard room to a magnificent Presidential Suite. Amrita Spa & Wellness, providing service within the hotel and proving that it is one of the best spa centres of the world through its "Leading Spas" certificate, is very rich with its treatment options and possibilities by its indoor-outdoor swimming-pool, 14 treatment rooms and modern fitness centre. The hotel's 28 multi-functional meeting rooms, ensure a comfortable atmosphere to the business world. Ten selective restaurants and bars appealing to various tastes, offer their guests delicious selections of international cuisines.
