By Diana Farr Louis What do a shop that sells 20 types of olives, an underground river, an Ottoman gate, a Roman loo, and a virtual reality lab have in common? They all lie within ten minutes of Monastiraki Square and are among the places featured in this new guide to Athens. Along with other eclectic sights and sites, they form part o...
Read moreSome say each glass of wine is unique. In its history, consistency, and the nuances of taste and smell, nothing can or will ever be quite the same. Eleni Kefalopoulou shares this singularity with her literary subject, as well as the setting in which she writes about the ancient and globally popular beverage. Her book, “Mount Athos Wine: The History...
Read moreWho said brunches aren’t an elegant affair? The Winter Garden ups the ante in the weekend brunch game with a setting that’s hard to match, discreet service and a truly delectable menu. The city’s preferred meeting point, the Winter Garden at the iconic Hotel Grande Bretagne, adds to its allure with an appealing weekend brunch ...
Read moreSteve Lazarides on the ever-elusive Banksy’s most shocking stunt yet With the staged self-destruction of his own 1.4 million dollar painting at an auction, Banksy shocked the world yet again and cemented his status as one of the most fascinating and unpredictable artists of our time. Back in May 2010 Athens Insider spoke with...
Read moreFrom Shakespeare, rock n’ roll history, Mexican muralists, French street culture, Jewish relics, craft beer exhibitions, wine fests and so much more. National Theatre Live: King Lear WHAT: British icon Ian McKellan graces the screen with his acclaimed performance of King Lear in the Shakespeare play of the same name. The moving...
Read moreWhen you hear the phrase rock and roll, the image that appears in your mind is probably one that Richard Bellia took. Born with the gift of artistry, Bellia has used his eye for passion and talent to photograph dozens of iconic rock musicians in a groundbreaking career spanning almost 40 years. Richard Bellia’s legendary career as a photo...
Read moreWHAT: Athens has much to be proud of when it comes to local entrepreneurs, and this two day ‘nomadic marketplace’ celebrates just that. The Meet Market is the perfect place to discover authentic Greek designers, artists, and businesses, not to mention a plethora of street food, live music, children’s activities, and interactive games with take-home...
Read moreWHAT: Andreas Lolis, sculptor virtuoso, is a master of transformation. An unorthodox artist, he turns even the most mundane, abandoned objects into impressive statues. Lolis’ exhibit “Prosaic Origins,” curated by Nayia Yiakoumaki, will feature sculptures fashioned from cardboard boxes, ladders and planks of wood as part of NEON’s CITY PROJECT 2018....
Read moreWhat would a city taste like? Would such a terroir be an amalgam of those of the more definable neighbourhoods that surround it? So would Exarcheia taste different from Kifissia or Kolonaki, and the taste of Athens be a sum of its parts? Or might it have a distinctive quality that—for different reasons—represents a break from expectations? ...
Read moreWHAT: Dr. Nissim Levis lived during a unique moment in history: the last years of the Ottoman Empire and the following years of turmoil and transition as the world changed forever; including the small Greek town of Ioannina, where Levis lived and photographed his society evolving around him. His photographs and family heirlooms reveal an equal part...
Read moreWHAT: Ever wondered how humans developed our innate ability to think and create? A contemplative examination of intelligence itself from French artist Mathilde Rosier promises to be a reflective philosophical journey. “Where is intelligence?” Rosier questions, “A new thinking is flourishing at the crossroad of poetry, science and philosophy, questi...
Read moreKarine Ancellin meets Sofka Zinovieff, whose latest book, Putney, set in Britain and Greece, walks into the uncomfortable centre of the #MeToo storm while questioning the free-spirited interpretation of consent and control in the ‘70s. A compelling novel by Bloomsbury, Putney has received critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. ...
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