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XpatAthens

Thursday, 03 February 2022 14:30

Athens Big Band - JAZZ TIME!

The Big Band of the Municipality of Athens, accompanied by some of the leading artists of the Greek jazz scene, Dimitris Tsakas and Filippos Pappas playing the saxophone and Dimitris Papadopoulos playing trumpet, present an evening dedicated to the sounds of jazz music!

The sound of blues and traditional jazz meets orchestrators such as Sammy Nestico, Frank Mantooth, John LaBarbera and Michael Abene in an evening full of swing, energy but also exotic sounds and lyricism, in the unique way that only jazz can combine and offer!
Monday, 07 March 2022 14:23

Maluma & Eleni Foureira Live In Athens

One year after his scheduled first appearance in Greece, the superstar MALUMA announces the new dates of his WORLD TOUR and makes an appointment with his audience in Athens in March 2022!

The hottest artist of the world music scene, the Colombian superstar MALUMA will finally come to Greece and promises to upset us in a show like we have never seen before!

The all-time - favorite performer has cemented himself during last year among the most successful artists in the world, giving us another personal album, with which he has conquered the top of the charts and a collaboration with The Weeknd, an EP with 7 songs and 7 hot video clips, mega hits, collaborations with famous artists and very soon she will star in a movie next to the wonderful Jennifer Lopez!

Stay tuned for more announcements for the hottest concert you've ever experienced!
Thursday, 03 February 2022 14:11

Athens Half Marathon 2022

SEGAS (the Hellenic Athletics Federation) and the City of Athens/OPANDA begin the grand effort to “restart” the road race events in Greece and return to a social lifestyle, starting with the staging of the Athens Half Marathon event on March 20th, 2022, supported by the Region of Attica, and Event Grand Sponsor ERGO Insurance.

The 2022 Athens Half Marathon event will apply all safety rules and regulations of the National Public Health Organization, and abide by the “Road Races Staging Health Protocol” that shall be regularly reviewed in accordance with the indications by the relevant Health Committee of the Ministry of Sports.


According to the current Health Protocol, only runners with a valid* COVID-19 Vaccination or Recovery Certificate until the day of the race can participate at the 2022 Athens Half Marathon event.

The Official Registration Period for the 2022 Athens Half Marathon event will begin on Friday 28 January and will be concluded on 1st March at the latest.

Runners who successfully complete the registration process until 15 February at noon, will receive a personalized race bib (their name will be printed on the bib number). Such a service is not available for those to register or settle their registration fee after that date, as well as for those who make any changes on their confirmed registration after 15 February.

Just a stone’s throw away from the historic city center with stunning views of the Acropolis, Hard Rock Cafe Athens is a must-see for both visitors and locals alike. From a lazy Sunday brunch to a romantic dinner, Hard Rock Cafe is always a great option!

We are excited to announce that all XpatAthens readers are entitled to an exclusive 20% OFF discount on HRC Athens’ menu, excluding drinks. Scroll down to download your own PDF VIP Card and be sure to present it to HRC's staff. HRC will also be happy to provide you with a paper copy upon your request.

So grab your family or friends and get ready to enjoy mouthwatering, fresh, high-quality food, which includes a selection of starters and salads, as well as delicious Legendary burgers, steaks, and many more!

Upon visiting, make sure not to miss Hard Rock's iconic collection of memorabilia which adorns the walls of Hard Rock Café Athens!

Important Notes About This Promotion:
1. The offer is available from Monday to Sunday until the 30th of December 2022.
2. The offer excludes limited edition items like alcohol, charity and other itmes for sale.
3. The offer cannot be combined with any other discount or promotional offer or seasonal menus like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother’s Day, etc.

Download your PDF copy of the HRC Athens VIP Card here


 

Thursday, 03 February 2022 13:29

The World Class Wines Of Attica

Attica, the peninsula surrounded by the Aegean Sea where Athens stands, is a region of many surprises. Look around if you’re landing at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport and you’ll notice some of the 29,000 acres of vineyards, where 32 wineries produce world-class labels.

Fascinatingly enough, the culture of winemaking in Greece has existed in the region for around three and a half thousand years and in mythology, the God Dionysus traveled across Attica offering wine. Wine has always been an important gastronomic and cultural staple of the Greek diet and lifestyle, as proven by archaeological finds of amphorae and kylixes (cups) that wine was transported and consumed in.

The dry, warm climate and abundant sunshine in Attica through most of the year certainly help – both in the production of wine and in providing the perfect opportunity to visit wineries to taste and shop local varieties in 30 to 60 minutes of travel from the centre of town. Attica also produces honey, pistachio nuts, and prized black figs in season.

The areas of Kapandriti, Koropi, Pikermi, Spata, Pallini, and Stamata are where you’ll find the wineries of Attica, where the famous Savvatiano and Roditis, as well as Retsina, made from Savvatiano wine with added pine resins. “Savatiano is like drinking the Greek summer,” said global wine expert Tara Thomas to Wine & Spirit magazine, “fruity, complete in taste, easy to drink, with the scents of citrus and green apple popping out of the glass; a world-class grape.”

More modern varieties include Malagouzia, Assyrtiko, Fileri, Cabernet Sauvignon, Agiorgitiko, Athiri, Vilana, Merlot, Robola, White Muscat, Muscat of Hamburg and Muscat of Alexandria. GCT spoke with leading oenologist Nico Manessis to get some top tips on the most highly recommended Attica wineries to visit. Manessis is a leading expert on the wines of his native Greece. He authored the pioneering ‘The Greek Wine Guide’ and the’ Illustrated Greek Wine book. His travels on the wine routes continue chronicling developments which are published in his excellent and informative website Greek Wine World.

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com
Monday, 12 February 2024 07:00

Best Places For A Soup In Athens

Craving a large bowl of soup on a cold winter's night? These restaurants in Athens serve warm, appetizing, and hearty soups, guaranteed to satisfy even the most demanding guests!





1. Salero

Salero
@salero_restaurant

In downtown Athens, in the Exarcheia neighborhood, you will find Salero, a modern restaurant serving a variety of culinary delights from Mediterranean cuisine. One of the menu’s highlights is definitely the pumpkin veloute with croutons, grated parmesan, and freshly ground pepper. For adventurous eaters, there is also a delicious version with green apple and roasted almonds.

Location:
Valtetsiou 51, Exarchia
Telephone: 210 3813358

2. Blue Bamboo

Blue Bamboo

@bluebamboothai

Ethnic cuisine lovers will certainly appreciate this cozy Thai restaurant in Ano Petralona where you can find exotic, aromatic soups - some of them quite spicy - that will make you feel like you are in Bangkok. A spicy shrimp soup, a spicy soup with coconut milk, galangal, lime leaves, and chicken, an aromatic soup with beef and rice noodles, and many more dishes wait for you to discover them!

Location:
Kidantidon 24, Athina
Telephone: 21 03423124

3. Chau’s

Chaus
Courtesy of: Chau’s Vietnamese Restaurant

Chau’s is a Vietnamese restaurant in Ilioupoli, serving authentic, freshly-made Asian food. The Pho soups are not to be missed. One sip - a spoonful of warmth and comfort - is enough to transport you directly to the busy streets of Vietnam.

Location:
Agiou Konstantinou 66, Ilioupoli
Telephone:
21 09706312

4. Chez Lucien

Chez Lucien
Courtesy of: Chez Lucien

A charming French bistro-restaurant in Ano Petralona, Chez Lucien offers authentic Parisian food. Among the must-try dishes is the classic French onion soup with a cheezy crust and croutons. Onion soup is one of the most popular French dishes, with a rich history dating as far back as Roman times.

Location:
Troon 32, Petralona
Telephone: 21 0341 0590

5. Vrasto

Vrasto

@to_vrasto

The family-owned tavern “To Vrasto”, in the northern suburb of Chalandri, offers home-cooked, traditional, simple yet rich in flavor Greek dishes that will take you on a trip down memory lane. “To Vrasto”, meaning stew in Greek, got its name from the tavern’s most famous dish, the classic beef stew with beef, potatoes, carrots, and celery in broth (consommé). The menu is designed around a selection of classic dishes and daily specials that change according to the availability of fresh seasonal ingredients.

Location:
Rodon 3, Chalandri
Telephone: 21 0681 3776
Robert De Niro will soon be in Greece, as a major motion picture featuring the Hollywood star will be shot in the northern Greek region of Drama, cementing the country as an international filming destination for cinema and television.

The action film, which is called “After Exile,” tells the story of a fraught relationship between a father and his son, who has just been released from prison, as they try to steer a relative away from a life of crime. De Niro will play the father, while actor Shia LaBeouf will play his son.

It is unclear whether the entire film will be shot in Greece or only a few scenes, but the filming in Greece is set to begin in Spring, likely at the end of March or early April.

Robert De Niro film “After Exile” to be shot in Greece

Local businesses and hotels in Drama, which is located in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, are expecting around 300 people, including cast and crew, to descend on the region in Spring for filming.

This is not the only movie to be filmed in Greece recently. Hollywood film “The Expendables 4” was filmed in Thessaloniki in November. A set has been constructed on the east side of the city where the cast and crew filmed their scenes over the course of the two weeks.

The city hosted several of Hollywood’s brightest stars, with Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Megan Fox, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Tony Jaa, and Andy Garcia all participating in the Thessaloniki filming. Franchise creator Sylvester Stallone also participated in the shoot, although it was the last time he worked on the series.

De Niro has also personally invested in Greece, with a Nobu Hotel that will open on the island of Santorini this Spring.

Nobu is a rising name in terms of luxury hotels, but it is already well known in the dining world as an international chain of high-end sushi restaurants.

The business Nobu Hospitality was born out of a collaboration between the restaurant’s head chef, Nobu Matsuhisa, Actor De Niro, and businessman Meir Teper.

While Nobu began with luxury restaurants in the US, the company soon expanded, opening up luxury restaurants across the world in cities like Mexico City, Beijing, and Istanbul.

After success in the restaurant business, the business expanded into hotels in 2013. Their latest project, in Santorini, Greece, will be the 26th Nobu Hotel in the world, and the tenth in Europe.

Located in the village of Imerovigli, which provides some of the most beautiful views of the entire island, the Nobu Hotel will also feature a signature Nobu Restaurant, luxury spa, and fitness center. 
 
Originally published on: greekreporter.com
Friday, 28 January 2022 07:00

A Gift That Is Not For Everyone

A gift is usually something we offer to another person not because they asked for it but because we wanted to. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a gift is the act, right, or power of giving. It’s something we voluntarily give to another person without expecting a return.

This past week we’ve had extreme weather conditions including way too much snow in Athens. “What a gift this was,” said a friend of mine. “We were given a 3-day gift.” This got me thinking. We couldn’t drive anywhere, had to stay inside, schools were closed, kids had a blast playing with the snow – something they rarely see in Athens. Yes, it was definitely a wonderful, fun gift for some. For those of us who were healthy and didn’t need to get to the doctor or worse yet to the hospital. For those of us who had a roof over our heads and didn’t need to look for shelter. For those of us who had heat, electricity, and water. For those of us who had food on our plates. For those of us who had our loved ones nearby. Yes, for all of us it was an amazing gift!

But how about the others? How about the people whose houses were left without electricity or heat for long hours even days? How about the elderly or sick who live alone and had no help? How about those motorists who were stranded in the snow for more than 8 hours on the Athens’ ring road? I bet these people will not have fond memories of the extreme weather conditions. And I bet it’ll be hard for them to consider snow as a gift. Quite the opposite.

So while enjoying our gifts, whatever they may be for each one of us, let’s keep a few things in mind:

First and foremost, let’s remember to be grateful for what we have.

Let’s not forget that nothing is a given.

And let’s recognize that there are always two sides to a coin.

Originally published on: itsmylife.gr


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If there’s a topic you’re interested in and would like to learn more about you may contact me via email. For more information about me and my work check the XpatAthens Directory or visit my website. Because this is your life!

Experience a different Saturday morning! Visit the Acropolis Museum and discover with the archaeologists the hidden stories of 20+1 masterpieces, which themselves chose for you.

Myths and fables, folklores and traditions, historical milestones and human stories transform into art and weave a vivid experience during an outstanding walk in the Museum’s Galleries.



USEFUL INFORMATION:
English: Every Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
Greek: every Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Duration: 90 minutes
Registration: Refer to the Information Desk on the day of the tour. Limited to 30 visitors. First-in first-served.
Health protection measures: It is necessary to wear a protective mask (not provided by the Museum) and to use the whisper guide system headsets (provided by the Museum).

Thursday, 27 January 2022 07:00

Traditional Greek Winter Dishes

Greek cuisine is humble and simple, with a focus on fresh, healthy, and tasty ingredients, including vegetables and herbs, and that applies both to light and heartier dishes.

Since it is rather cold outside, here is a small list of traditional Greek winter staple dishes you should definitely try!



Fasolada

Fasolada
@toxwrioudaki

Fasolada is a traditional Greek bean soup – a very easy-to-make vegetarian recipe. This thick soup is traditionally made with white beans cooked with olive oil, onions, carrots, tomatoes, and celery. An all-time classic Greek winter staple, perfect for warming the body!

Meatball Soup - Giouvarlakia

Giouvarlakia
@aikaterineapostolake

Another Greek comfort food, giouvarlakia is the ideal dish to keep you warm. It's a tasty meatball soup finished off with the infamous egg-lemon sauce (avgolemono) and complemented with vegetables of your liking. If you want to experiment a little bit, you can also try out the alternative version with tomato sauce. 

Spetsofai 

Spetsofai
@agnomarket_meat

Yet another wintertime favorite, Spetsofai is a traditional dish originating from Pelion, the scenic mountain village of Thessaly. Made with country sausages and peppers cooked in a thick tomato sauce, this delicious dish is perfectly paired with feta cheese and a slice of bread to dip in the sauce. Eggplants are used in the original recipe, and in some areas, hot paprika and red hot chili peppers are used instead of ordinary peppers. It's a must-try, regardless of which version you make.

Chicken Soup - Kotosoupa

Kotosoupa
@olivemagazine_gr

Kotosoupa avgolemono (chicken soup with egg-lemon sauce), another Greek winter classic, is commonly served on cold days. It's very easy to cook; it's just chicken soup with rice and a lot of egg-lemon sauce. Not to mention that it is also used as a remedy to treat the common cold!

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