Greek Tastes in Istanbul is the first of several Turkish-Greek Kitchens Weeks which are organized jointly by the Armada, the St. George Lycabettus Hotel in Athens and Ms Sula Bozis. The aim of this activity is to find out the similarities and differences in both neighboring countries' gastronomic cultures. Greek Tastes in Istanbul was launched with a press conference, followed by a lunch and gala dinner at the Armada Hotel in Istanbul, on Wednesday, April 13. The Greek-Turkish Association Defni/Defne was a participant at yesterday's event. Yannis Soulis, one of the contemporary representatives of Greek rebetiko music tradition and his Turkish wife Görkem Ökten gave a wonderful concert during the gala dinner. The performance of the Zoğrafyan (Armenian) High School Rebetiko Dance Class was received with a great ovation. Sula Bozis, on her part, explained that the Greek dishes were prepared and served under the supervision of St. George Lycabettus' Chef John Douros and Sous Chef Thanassis Stathoulas. All the guests broke into applause as they were overwhelmed by the tastes of those delicious dishes. Sissy Nika, the Communications Manager of the Hotel St. Giorge Lycabettus invited the guests to Athens for the second step of the activity which will be held in November. Among the guests who attended in the Dinner were Mr. Alexis Alexandris, Chief Consulate of Greece to Istanbul, Mr. Kostas Katslglannis, Undersecretary to the Greek Minister of Tourism, the Board and members of the Turkish-Greek Association, press representatives, Mr. Başar Sabuncu, Ms. Zuhal Olcay, representatives of Istanbul arts circles and friends of the Armada.
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Vasil from Beykoz (a Bosphorous village), could never forget the minted fish-ball which his granfather used to prepare out of large bonito... By taking the name of tarator, the traditional skordolia of Byzance decorated the fried obergine... Stifado which is cooked out of meat, shallot and green olive was one of the top dishes of a dining table with laundry strached, whiter than white linen cloth. Spoon deserts, especially the white desert with jasmin occupied very favorable position among others... 1
Armada Hotel from Istanbul, St. George Lycabettus Hotel2 from Athens and Ms. Sula Bozis who collected the culinary culture and lifestyle of the Greek-orthodox community of Istanbul where she was born and grown, in her book Istanbul Tastes are starting a cultural activity that will be repeated every year. The first of the co-activities which will be held both in Istanbul and Athens mutually and last one week, will be organized in Armada Hotel during April 13 - April 17, 2005. The Greek dishes from Sula Bozis' repertoir will be prepared under the supervision of Chef John Douros and Thanassis Stathoulias (Sous Chef) of St. George Lykabettus Hotel and presented to the taste of the Istanbulians. In turn, Armada Hotel will be in Athens, at the St. George Lycabettus by November 2005 with the Turkish chefs and food... | ||||||||||||||
The Greek Tastes in Istanbul at the Armada Hotel will be served along with the Rembetiko concerts by Yannis Saulis and Görkem Saulis. Here are some samples:
(1) İSTANBUL TASTES, Sula Bozis, History Foundation, İstanbul, October 2000 http://www.tarihvakfi.org.tr/yayinlar/ayrinti.asp?ID=114 (2) For further information about St. George Lykabettus Hotel: http://www.sglycabettus.gr/ | ||||||||||||||
03 March 2005
Greek Tastes In Istanbul, April 13 - 17 2005 - Armada Hotel
04 January 2005
Wireless Internet Connection Plus Turkish Coffee!
After having equipped the meeting rooms and the Business Centre with ADSL-1024 Kbps Internet connection, Armada also provided wireless Internet with the same speed within the Lobby for the convenience of its guests. While communicating with their own lap-tops, Armada guests are enjoying to have a cup of traditional Turkish Coffee under the astonishing glances of the Red-eared sliders, a turtle family from Missisipi those have been living within the Marble Pool for years...
22 November 2004
The Dream Segments By Turgut Salgar
The Dream Segments exhibition, consisting of photo-digital compositions by Turgut Salgar at the Armada Lobby, will be open as of today until January 10, 2005.
“Sultanahmedian” by birth and choice. Being very lightsensitive, he also has insight to cultural layers and levels. He chooses to express his opinions and feelings in pedimentos.Turgut Salgar
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(To see the larger ones please click on the photos)
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Information:
Turgut Salgar
tsalgar@hotmail.com
Tel/Fax: 212 - 231 43 59
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A Group of French Students visiting Armada...
Their hobby is Oriental Dance!
When they saw the environment, they were dressed up and kindly danced both during the inauguration of the Exhibition, as well as the interval of the Rembetiko program...
25 October 2004
Eagean Nights At Armada With Yannis And Görkem Saoulis
Yannis Saoulis, one of the contemporary representatives of Greece’s rebetiko music tradition and his Turkish wife Görkem Okten will give concerts to Istanbul citizens and guests from all around the world at Armada on each Wednesday night… They have been dealing with promoting, producing and publishing Greek rebetika, folk and Turkish classical, folk music for years.
A dinner menu consisting of samples from Aegean kitchen will accompany Armada Concerts…
Yannis Saoulis was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, on May 1st 1962. At the age of 14 he buys his first bouzouki and teaches himself to play. At the age of 18 he plays and sings professionally. From 1981 to 1986 he studies music theory and oboe at the National conservatory of Thessaloniki. At the same time, he works as a musician and singer. In 1986, he immigrates to Holland, to study Philosophy at the University of Utrecht and the University of Amsterdam, Dept. of Political Sciences.
In 1991, he takes private classes in singing. During his stay abroad he performs professionally in concerts, social events etc. in Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. He works with Nikos Ignatiadis (who also lives in Holland at that time) both in concerts and publishing. He participates in many recordings (especially with the baritone Pieter Vis) of Greek repertoire.
In 1992, he starts his own label under the name of IAN Productions and works at his own studio. In 1995, he forms the group Yannis Saoulis & ensemble with which he performs the rebetiko, Greek folk music and music from Asia Minor in concerts, publishing and for the Dutch media (Radio and TV stations), receiving excellent reviews for his work on rebetiko from the Dutch, Belgian, French and British press. In 1997, Yannis Saoulis returns to Thessaloniki. His activities here include recording in his studio and representing Sony DADC in Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. He also starts a new label named Anatoliki Pili (Eastern Gate) which focuses on traditional music from Eastern Mediterranean cultures. Public performances with Greek and Turkish musicians are held in Istanbul, Thessaloniki and Athens.
Discography
· Souvenirs from Greece. Instrumentals arr. By Nikos Ignatiadis.
· Giannis view of Greek music. Contemporary Greek songs.
· In Bethlehem Stad. Instrumental arrangements for bouzouki and organ recorded in Tiel Cathedral.
· San Magemeno. A collection of rebetiko, songs from Asia Minor and own compositions.
· Anatoliki Pili. Vocal and instrumental improvisations on own and others' compositions.
· Ta Paralimnitika. Kyriakou Pelagia and the Mesogios ensemble - Traditional Cypriot songs. Produced by Yannis Saoulis.
· Ta Paralimnitika II. Kyriakou Pelagia and the Mesogios ensemble - Traditional Cypriot songs. Produced by Yannis Saoulis.
· Kayikci. Music from and inspired by the movie Kayikci.
In print
· Exodos. A tribute to Asia Minor with own compositions
· Ta Paralimnitika III. Kyriakou Pelagia and the Mesogios ensemble- Traditional Cypriot songs. Produced by Yannis Saoulis
· Ta Lyrika. Arrangements on compositions of Mikis Theodorakis.
· Zivania. A collection of folk, rebetiko and songs from Asia Minor performed by men's or women's choir.
· Poetry from both sides of the Aegean Sea. Narrations.
For more information please visit: http://www.easterngate.net/ and http://www.rebetiko.org/
For reservation please call Armada Sales Team:
Armada Hotel: 0212- 455 44 55
Zerrin Kelebek - zkelebek@armadahotel.com.tr
Yasin Ocakoğlu - yocakoglu@armadahotel.com.tr
Nihan Murat - nmurat@armadahotel.com.tr
28 September 2004
81st Republic Day Ball
A reproduction of traditional celebration plate: Long Live Republic!
The 81st Republic Day will be celebrated with a traditional Ball at The Armada on October 29th, 2004.
The Ball will begin with a coctail party at the Lobby which will start at 20:00 and finish at 20:30. Then the guests will have Gala Dinner at the Ahirkapi Restaurant . Live music by the Republic Orchestra and Tango will be the main features of the night.
15 August 2004
Armada Starts The Tango Season With Tango Passion...
Tango Passion; passionate tango or passion of tango... Omer Ocampo and his partner Monica Romero, the top dancers of the worldly renowned tango group; Tango Passion of Argentine, will be performing at Armada on September 19, 2004, Sunday night .
Monica Romero was born in Buenos Aires, the daughter of famous artist Estela Raval and singer and musician Rycardo Romero. She studied jazz and modern dance, studying and performing with prestigious choreographers and dancers such as Nuri Cid, Beatriz and Victor Ferrari and Moira Chapman. In 1984 she reached a turning point in her career when she met Omar Ocampo. They married and established 'Los Ocampo.' Omar Ocampo was born in Entre Rios and started his professional dance career at an early age, dancing with the Ballet Folklorico Nacional of Santiago Ayala, 'El Chucaro' and Norma Viola for 11 years. Omar Ocampo is the best folk dancer of Argentina and is a judge of the 'Danzas Argentinas Competition.' They've been travelling together performing the tango around the world since 1988.
On the same night, Armada's ever-dancing tango masters Ümit İris and Seval Uğur Mutlu will also perform and show the audience that this body language is also well-spoken in Turkey too!
For more about Los Ocampo, check out their website:
http://www.losocampo.com.ar/
04 May 2004
Traditional Spring Festival On Ahirkapi Street
Keep A Wish & Join The Traditional Open Festival: “Hidrellez 2004” on May 5th evening...
According to the cultural tradition, the Anatolian people used to celebrate spring with a festival called Hidrellez or the festivity of spring on each May´s 5th day. It is said that, whatever you wish for that night comes true! So, after a gray winter the Armada Hotel is organizing a semi-contemporary Hidrellez-2004 and inviting all of Istanbul’s citizens to come and participate. The activities begin on Ahirkapi Street which Armada is on and will spread to the adjacent streets, Wednesday evening (5th of May). All the traditional spring foods and drinks (both the traditional ones and the brewery) will be sold through the street-buffets, while the local musicians perform gypsy and Balkan music. This year, in addition to the individual wishes, some white ribbons symbolizing peace will be attached on the traditional Nahil´s... The Ahirkapi Great Roman Orchestra which is consisting of the neighboring musician groups of Ahirkapi community will perform its third great street concert along with the guest performers... Küçük Hasan from Lüleburgaz a zurna genius and the drum master Tamer Kum and his group will also be the guest musicians of the night! And… Last but not the least, The “Macedon Koçani Orkestar” will join and perform along with the others during whole evening… As the weather may be rainy take your raincoat and join the festival!
PROGRAM: (19:00-24:30)
19.00- Opening the Hidrellez-2004 at Ahırkapi Street
Street concerts by the local musicians... Spring foods by the portable street-shops: Döner kepab, meatball, kokoreç, fish in bread, rice, pastry, baklava, icecream, dried-nuts, etc. etc... Lemonade, scherbet, brewery, all other sorts of drinks...
21:30 - Concert- Ahirkapi Great Roman Orchestra, Guest performers (Kocani Orkestar)
24.00 - Attaching the Hidrellez 2004 Wishes to the traditioal Nahil (wish-trees), Traditional street fires… Do not miss this wonderful opportunity! Keep a wish and join in the festival!
30 April 2004
International Dance Day Celebration
Being one of the Armada traditions, The International Dance Day was celebrated at the Armada on April 29th, 2004 with the participation of tango, milonga, salsa groups...
On the other hand, the documentary by Gunes Karabuda; The Story of Tango which was taken in Argentina, La Boca was also played...Below, a shot from the Dance Day celebration; Ms. Seval Ugur Mutlu reading the UNESCO's 2004 Dance day Message:
Seval Uğur Mutlu... (Below the opening dance with Ümit İris)
A couple from the Salsa group at the Lobby...
This year the following UNESCO message was read:
Year 2004 - International Dance Day Message By Stephen PAGE
Dance is the original most ancient form of human expression. Through the body and physical language, dance has a powerful connection with the emotional and spiritual worlds. In traditional Aboriginal culture, dance is the core, like a kind of sacred medicine. Dance is grounded, connected to the spirit of Mother Earth. Unless you surrender to the dance you can't hunt quietly. It is an integral part of human existence. When I create a new dance work I ask the dancers to swallow and digest the traditional seed, to sense the innate code within so that we can transform the traditional essence to the contemporary world. Dance is the universal language. It represents human identity and a celebration of the human spirit. Dance is the artistic heart of kinship. It is a sacred universal remedy.