XpatAthens

XpatAthens

Friday, 14 February 2025 16:19

Valentine's Day At Mona Athens

On February 15 & 16 we celebrate love at Monaโ€™s Living room during the closing week of CAFE SOCIETY pop-up brunch with esteemed guests.

Savour a gourmet plant-based menu by Justine Pruvot, enjoy exquisite natural wines by Tanini Agapi Mou and explore a one-of-a-kind selection of vintage fashion curated by L'on Space. Vinyls sets by Chris Kontos (15/2) & Leonidas Danezos (16/2), to create a tender atmosphere.

Open Doors | First Come, First Loved ๐Ÿนโ™ฅ๏ธ
Downtempo Paintings and Feel Life Music are thrilled to present a one-of-a-kind event featuring a true legend of contemporary electronic music: ๐Ž ๐“ ๐“!!

After years, Ott. returns to Athens and Greece with an extraordinary performance, presenting his breathtaking new album, Hiraeth! Joining him on this sonic adventure are Kukan dUb Lagan, Sygnals, and Daoine Sidhe!

Prepare for a magical journey through sound, soul, and emotions โ€“ this is an experience you donโ€™t want to miss!

๐˜ผ ๐™‰๐™ž๐™œ๐™๐™ฉ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™ˆ๐™–๐™œ๐™ž๐™˜ ๐˜ผ๐™ฌ๐™–๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™จ!

๐˜ฟ๐™ค๐™ฌ๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ข๐™ฅ๐™ค ๐™‹๐™–๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ๐™จ ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™š๐™จ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ ๐˜ฟ๐™Š๐™๐™Ž. - ๐™๐™ง๐™—๐™–๐™ฃ ๐˜ฟ๐™ž๐™จ๐™˜๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง๐™ž๐™š๐™จ

๐Ÿ“… SATURDAY, 15.02.2025
๐ŸŽต ๐Ž๐“๐“ | ๐Š๐ฎ๐ค๐š๐ง ๐ƒ๐ฎ๐› ๐‹๐š๐ ๐š๐ง | ๐’๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐š๐ฅ๐ฌ | ๐ƒ๐š๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ž ๐’๐ข๐๐ก๐ž
๐ŸŽฅ Live visuals by Tomakti + Andreaslam
๐Ÿ“ Location: GAZARTE / Ground Stage
๐Ÿ•ค Door: 21:30
โณ End: 03:00

๐ŸŽŸ TICKETS
  • EARLY BIRD โ‚ฌ18.00 // SOLD OUT
  • PHASE 1 โ‚ฌ22.00 // NOW ON SALE
  • PHASE 2 / DOOR โ‚ฌ25.00
๐Ž๐“๐“
๐Š๐ฎ๐ค๐š๐ง ๐ƒ๐ฎ๐› ๐‹๐š๐ ๐š๐ง
๐—ฆ๐—ฌ๐—š๐—ก๐—”๐—Ÿ๐—ฆ
๐ƒ๐€๐Ž๐ˆ๐๐„ ๐’๐ˆ๐ƒ๐‡๐„
๐ŸŽฅ Live visuals by Tomakti + Andreaslam
Prepare for an amazing, mind-blowing & unforgettable visual experience.

Check the event's teaser video HERE!


Join the Athens English Comedy Club on Sunday, February 16th, for an open mic night! 

It'll be a mix of everything. A potluck of comedy. Colourful, comedic, chaos!

MC: Odysseas Deniz รœrem

Headliner: Visiting comedian Oumer Teyeb, all the way from Montreal!

Experienced and new comedians trying out their best new jokes. Some of them will be good, some of them will be great, and some will never see the light of day again. It's up to you!

Founded in 2019, the Athens English Comedy Club is the first, and only, purely English comedy club in Greece!

In the last 5+ years, the Athens English Comedy Club has hosted lineup shows, open mic shows, online competitions, and comedy workshops, with *130* local and international comedians from *28 countries*

Date: Sunday, February 16th 
Time: 21:00 (Doors open 20:40)
Tickets:โ‚ฌ8-10
Duration: 1h30 + interval

Recommended for ages 16+

Address: ELIART Theater - Konstantinoupoleos 127 (closest to Kerameikos and Metaxourgeio metro stations).

The theatre is wheelchair accessible.

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uV8fHDWXcJM7YJr78 

Info: 6987994689 // athensenglishcomedyclub@gmail.com 


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sign up to our newsletter for direct-to-email updates and exclusive ticket offers!: http://eepurl.com/it6PzQ

Follow us on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athensenglishcomedyclub 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athensenglishcomedyclub/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Englishcomedygr
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AthensEnglishComedyClub
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@athensenglishcomedyclub

Come and laugh! Nay! Come and chortle. Or better yet, guffaw!

Duration: 20 February โ€“ 8 March 2025
Hours: Thursday โ€“ Saturday, 17.00 -20.00
Opening: Thursday, 20 February, 18.00
 
For the first exhibition of 2025, FokiaNou Art Space presents a group show entitled โ€œAthens Old and Newโ€. This follows a tradition where since 2018, FokiaNouโ€™s first show of the year has been a group show with theme of Athens. In response to an open call, 18 artists will participate with works in various media, responding to the theme of rapid and massive changes going on in Athens at present. 

From the current building boom to infrastructure โ€œimprovementsโ€, the growth in mass tourism to less tangible shifts in the local culture, the changes create the circumstances for reflection on how the city once was. The exhibition captures this particular moment in time, contributing to a creative dialogue and prompting the public to reflect on their relationship with the city and its constant transformation.

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Participating artists: Maria Bourbou, Mary Cox, Panagiotis Ferentinos, Maria Gavriil, Spyros Kamperis, Dwra Konsta, Vani Koronaki, Maria Claudia Litsas, Despoina Pantazi, Eleni Papanikolaou,Vicky Samouilidou, Efi Seitanidou, Stella Sevastopoulos, Vassiliki Spyrou, Geeta Roopnarine, Aristidis Theodorou, Marianne Wie, Kiveli Zachariou.

Curated by: Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris

eleni papanikolaou

FokiaNou Art Space is an artist-run project space in the intimacy of a small apartment in an old building in the center of Athens. The space encourages collaborative creative efforts between Greek and foreign artists, thereby promoting and supporting the local art community. The space hosts exhibitions, workshops and projects under the direction of two artists, Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris,
and celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2024.

vasiliki spyrou
THEATRE OF THE NO, Athensโ€™ first English-speaking theatre,  presents an extraordinary tribute to the legendary Charlie Parker, performed by  Gilad Atzmon Quartet. This electrifying event, takes place on Saturday 1st March at  22:30, offering an unforgettable evening of jazz that reimagines Parkerโ€™s timeless sound with a contemporary twist.

Far more than a nostalgic tribute, this performance is a celebration of Parkerโ€™s enduring legacy and the very essence of jazz itself.  Charlie โ€œBirdโ€ Parker, together with Dizzy Gillespie, revolutionized the sound of jazz, pioneering the Bebop movement and transforming Afro-American music into high art. His influence elevated jazz beyond the ballroom, establishing it as the classical music of America.

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At the helm of this tribute is Gilad Atzmon, a world-renowned saxophonist and jazz visionary. Known for his ability to channel the energy and soul of jazzโ€™s Golden Era, he brings a fresh and dynamic approach to Parkerโ€™s music. Atzmonโ€™s 2008 album, "In Loving Memory of America" (ENJA Records), was both a best-seller and an award-winning tribute to Parker, widely praised by music lovers and critics alike. His fresh approach captures the virtuosity, soul, and electrifying energy that made Birdโ€™s music both groundbreaking and deeply moving.

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PRESS QUOTES ON ATZMONโ€™S PARKER TRIBUTE:

โ€œGilad Atzmon combines thrilling jazz musicianship with a maverick political intelligence.โ€ โ€“ The Guardian

โ€œOne of the finest alto players around. Gilad pays his respects to Bird. Itโ€™s striking how similar Giladโ€™s sweet, open-throated sound is to Parkerโ€™s, but as youโ€™d expect from the fiery philosopher-turned-Blockhead, this is no mere tribute album.โ€ โ€“ BBC Music Magazine

โ€œMaybe because heโ€™s such a wild card himself, saxophonist Atzmon plays Charlie Parker with a perfect mix of bluster and vulnerability.โ€ โ€“ The Independent

โ€œAtzmon is surely the hardest-gigging man in British jazz... the music here is subtle, ambiguous, often beautiful โ€“ and features a saxophonist playing deep from the heart.โ€ โ€“ The Times

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INFO

Gilad Atzmon: tenor sax
Michalis Tsiftsis: electric guitar
Giorgos Pantazopoulos:  bass
Sera Bellos: drums
Videos:
Credits

Poster Design: Sotiria Bramou
Social Media: Kallia Gerakianaki
P.R. & Communication: Eleftheria Sakareli
Date & Time:  Saturday 1st March at  22:30
Bar Available: Beer 3โ‚ฌ, Drinks 6-8โ‚ฌ
THEATRE OF THE NO: Konstantinou Palaiologou 3, Athens ฮ™ +30 6946851001
(opposite the Athens City Hall)

Website & Social Media


Thursday, 27 February 2025 12:56

Carnival At The SNFCC

Sunday, March 2 at Stavros Niarchos Park is all about celebration! ๐ŸŽ‰ Live music, percussion parades, a DJ set, workshops for all ages, costumes, games, and dancing will set the stage for an unforgettable Sunday.

๐ŸŽง DJ Palov kicks things off with an eclectic mix of jazz, funk, hip hop, reggae, and dub before passing the baton to Los Petralonicos and Daniela Bolano, whose fusion of Latin, swing, jazz, and traditional sounds will get everyone moving. Meanwhile, the dynamic percussion group Bloco Swingueira will electrify the park with Brazilian beats and carnival energy.

Meet the Artists

๐ŸŽถ Los Petralonicos

Blending the psychedelic sounds of the Amazon with Latin swing and jazz, Los Petralonicos take audiences on a musical journey full of energy and nostalgia. Their signature mix of Cumbia Psicodรฉlica and Chicha Peruana invites the crowd to become part of the performance, turning every show into a lively, immersive experience.

๐ŸŽ›๏ธ DJ Palov

A true musical explorer, DJ Palov transforms each set into a rhythmic adventure. Fusing Latin, cumbia, afro, jazz, funk, hip hop, reggae, and dub, he unearths global sounds that make every performance unique. Whether spinning at major European festivals alongside artists like Quantic and Bonobo or digging through rare vinyl collections, heโ€™s always pushing the boundaries of music.

๐Ÿฅ Bloco Swingueira

Pure carnival energy! Since 2014, Bloco Swingueira has been bringing the beats of Brazil to Athens with their infectious samba afro and samba reggae rhythms. A staple of SNFCCโ€™s Carnival celebrations, their high-energy performances and workshops create an atmosphere of pure joy.

Schedule of Events

๐Ÿ“ 11:30โ€“12:00 | Bloco Swingueira Parade | Starting point: Canal
๐ŸŽง 12:00โ€“13:30 | DJ Palov | Great Lawn
๐Ÿฅ 12:40โ€“13:00 | Bloco Swingueira Show | Starting point: Canal
๐ŸŽถ 13:30โ€“15:00 | Los Petralonicos | Great Lawn

Get ready for a day filled with music, movement, and celebration! โœจ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿ•บ
Thursday, 27 February 2025 11:00

Clean Monday At The SNFCC

The SNFCC welcomes Clean Monday with a vibrant celebration of Greek music and dance! On Monday, March 3, we embrace the arrival of Lent and spring with a spectacular traditional festival.

From 12:00 to 15:00, ethnomusicologist Lambros Liavas curates and presents a rich mosaic of Greek musical and dance traditions on the Great Lawn, inviting everyone to take part in this cherished cultural gathering.

With extensive expertise in Greek folk musicโ€”gained through academic research and firsthand experiences across the countryโ€”Lambros Liavas guides us through the time-honored farewell to the Carnival season. Expect an exciting fusion of carnival mimic dances with kalamatiano, kangelia, tsamiko, Macedonian syrto, Thracian zonaradiko, Constantinopolitan hasapiko, Smyrnaic karsilama, Cretan pentozali, and island balos dances.

Leading the musical ensemble is the dynamic duo of Alexandros Arkadopoulos (clarinet, flute) and Giannis Pavlopoulos (violin, vocals), accompanied by accordion virtuoso Thanos Stavridis and trumpeter Tasos Valkanis, who adds a lively Macedonian brass flair. Also contributing to the rhythm and melody are Iordanis Kouzinopoulos on laouto and vocals, and Manousos Klapakis on percussion.
Joining them are six remarkable young vocalistsโ€”graduates of the NKUA Postgraduate Program in Ethnomusicology and Musical Practice: Sevastiani Vletsi, Emmeleia Damanaki, Marianthi-Ippolyti Katsari, Chrysi Tzavla, Dimitra Tsagkaraki, and Varvara Tsiviki. The event also features Pontic lyra player Ilias Avramidis and Cretan lyra player Manolis Bountalakis, adding their own regional flair to the celebration.

Bringing the festivities to life, the dance troupes of the Folk Society โ€œXoropaideiaโ€ (led by Vasilis Karfis and Maria Ziaka) and the Pontic Association โ€œArgonafte Komninoiโ€ (under the direction of Kostas Savvinidis) invite everyone to join hands and dance together in a joyful celebration of tradition!


The multi-award-winning documentary by Tzeli Hadjidimitriou in a special screening at Danaos, with the director in attendance

With Greek Subtitles.

CLICK HERE to watch the official trailer!

The first feature-length documentary by Tzeli Hadjidimitriou will be presented in a special screening on Friday, March 7, at 21:30 at Danaos Cinema. Following the screening, there will be a discussion with the director.
 
Synopsis

In the 1970s, lesbians from around the world began arriving in a small village on the Greek island of Lesvos. As tensions with the locals grew, filmmaker Tzeli Hadjidimitriouโ€”a native of Lesvos and a lesbian herselfโ€”tells a 40+ year story of love, community, conflicts, and the quest for acceptance.

This could be any beautiful town on any picturesque Greek island. But it isn't. Eresos, a village with a current population of 1,581, carries a unique historical and cultural significance. Connected to the ancient poet Sappho, Eresos has, for decades, been a beacon and a utopia for the global lesbian community.

For over 40 years, lesbians from around the world have gathered here in search of love, freedom, and a sense of belonging. But their relationship with the local community has not always been smooth. Who defines the true meaning of the word Lesbian? And how ready can a small society be to embrace a complete shift from the heteronormative modelโ€”let alone become a symbol of it?

Filmmaker, photographer, and author Tzeli Hadjidimitriou carries the identity of a Lesvian both in the literal and cultural sense. With Lesvia, her debut feature-length documentary, she delivers a powerful record of Eresosโ€™ transformation from the 1970s to today, preserving an essential piece of LGBTQ+ history. The film brings to life the story of a place and a community through rare archival footage, diaries, photographs, videos, and interviews with the people who have shaped its identity over the years.

Lesvia premiered in the International Competition section of the 26th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, where it received a Special Mention (Mermaid Award) and the Hellenic Film Center Award for Best Debut Greek Director. The documentary also won the Jury Prize and the Audience Award at Festival ร‰crans Mixtes in Lyon and has been showcased and awarded at numerous international festivals over the past year. Highlights include: Audience Award โ€“ Wicked Queer: Bostonโ€™s LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Best Feature Film โ€“ Zinegoak Film Festival, Festival Favorites & Directorโ€™s Choice Awards โ€“ Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Best Feature Film (DOK International Jury Story) โ€“ Zinegoak Film Festival & Special Mention โ€“ Queer Porto.

Directorโ€™s Note

I was born and raised on the island of Lesvos, whose light, people, and landscapes have always inspired me. In all my previous work, I have sought to capture the spirit of Lesvos and its people. With Lesvia, my first feature film, I wanted to take the stage as a proud member of the lesbian community and tell the story of how this unique community was formed.

The film is the result of ten years of work, during which I collected material and conducted in-depth conversations with dozens of members of the lesbian community and locals from Eresos. I hope I have given everyone the space to be their authentic selves.

Eresos itselfโ€”this breathtaking volcanic landscape with its endless beach, blue waters, and unique light that once inspired Sapphoโ€”is one of the central characters of the film. Its image, shifting through different seasons, intertwines with my own personal story. In this sense, Lesvia is both a personal and a collective narrative. It is not just my story, but the story of hundreds of lesbians who have fought to carve out a space where they can exist freely and safely. A space where the lesbian community continues to evolve and expand, offering an undeniable and secure haven for self-expression.

About the Director

Tzeli Hadjidimitriou was born and raised in Lesvos. She is an award-winning filmmaker, visual artist, and author. Her photography has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in Australia, China, Italy, Turkey, and Greece and has been published in numerous photobooks. She developed a passion for cinema through workshops with Michelangelo Antonioni and later studied Cinematography in Rome. Since 1990, she has been filming, photographing, and documenting the lives of Lesvosโ€™ residents.

Her book A Girlโ€™s Guide to Lesbos (2012) was the first guide to document the lesbian history of Eresos and its connection to the ancient poet Sappho.

She is a founding member of Anemos Dimirourgias, a creative initiative based in Athens that produces works exploring gender, sexuality, and cultural diversity through film, documentaries, photography, visual arts, and symposia. Lesvia is her first feature-length documentary.

About CineDoc


CLICK HERE to view the CineDoc 2024-2025 Program in Greek!

CineDoc selectively screens and distributes award-winning Greek and foreign documentaries as part of the Cinedoc Festival. The screenings are organized in cooperation with the French Institute of GreeceDanaos Cinema, the Thessaloniki Film FestivalCineDoc Volos, the Municipality of Volos, "Simeio" Cultural Space in Rethymno, the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF), and Thalassa Foundation. The screenings aim to encourage dialogue and inspire collective actions around themes such as the environment, gender equality, inclusivity, education, history, etc.

Additionally, it collaborates regularly with cultural institutions, universities, agencies, and organizations (e.g., the Gennadius Library, Harokopio University, SAE Athens, European University Cyprus, Megaron Music Hall, Piraeus Bank Cultural Foundation, etc.) and participates in conferences, festivals, and cultural events, organizing special screenings (e.g., Irida Visions, The Future of Retail, Ocean Film Festival, Piraeus Port Film Festival, Athens Pride - Athens, Europride - Thessaloniki, Come as You Are Festival - Larissa, Limassol Documentary Festival โ€“ Cyprus, etc.).

CineDoc constantly expands its network through the organization of documentary screenings under the CineDoc Island initiative, both in the islands (Cyclades, Sporades, Ionian, and Dodecanese) and the rest of Greece, in collaboration with local organizations and cinema clubs. The screenings are held under the patronage and financial support of the Ministry of Culture. 

For More Information: https://www.cinedoc.gr  | cinedocanemon@gmail.com




Friday, 28 February 2025 01:39

Oenorama 2025

If wine is your cup of tea, Oenorama is the place to be!

Greeceโ€™s largest and most important wine show returns to the Zappeion Megaron from March 7 to 10, bringing together thousands of wine lovers to explore over 2,500 wines from 375 winemakers across Greece and beyond.

Since 1994, Oenorama has been the meeting point for Greek wine pioneers, from industry legends to experimental producers working with indigenous yeasts, rare Greek varietals, and natural vinification techniques.

All of Greeceโ€™s wine regions and grape varieties will be showcased, along with a selection of imported wines. Thirteen Cypriot wineries will also present their emerging labels made from native grapes.
Tasters will focus on fresh white and rosรฉ wines from the 2024 vintage, as well as older reds. At the Oenorama Tasting Gallery, a walk-around, self-serve space, visitors can discover recent releases and legacy wines that have shaped the Greek Wine Renaissance.

More than just a tasting, Oenorama is a deep dive into Greek wine, offering both professionals and enthusiasts the chance to experience its latest trends and innovations.

๐Ÿ“… When: March 7-10, 2025
๐Ÿ•’ Times: Friday: 17:00 - 21:00 Saturday - Monday: 10:00 - 14:00 & 15:00 - 19:00


THEATRE OF THE NO, Athens' first English-speaking theatre, presents the award-winning dark comedy โ€œBIG BOYSโ€, by acclaimed American playwright Rich Orloff, under the direction of Yoel Wulfhart.

A fast-paced, razor-sharp satire, this contemporary play humorously and sarcastically exposes the dark side of workplace competition and the human need for validation and dominance. Offering a hilarious and incisive exploration of power, ambition, and male desire, the play premieres on Friday, March 7th, and runs every Friday and Monday at 20:00.

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A power game on the edge of absurdity.

This two-character comedy delves into the absurd and often dark dynamic between a self-satisfied, grandiose, and amoral boss and his insecure, ethical, yet deeply unhappy assistant. Set within the confines of a single office, the play becomes a battleground where power, ambition, and morality collide in a high-stakes game of manipulation and survival.

With surreal touches and influences from the Vaudeville theatrical genre, the play evokes the subversive comedies of the Marx Brothers, with razor-sharp dialogue and situations that flirt with chaos, creating an explosive effect. Featuring razor-sharp dialogue and chaotic situations that create an explosive mix of laughter and deeper reflection.

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The play, awarded at the InterPlay International Play Festival and with the Auricle Award, has been successfully staged in the U.S. and across Europe. The Athens production marks the 12th global presentation of the play, which recently premiered in Finland.

About the Playwright: Rich Orloff is internationally recognized for his sharp comedies. His works, including Funny as a Crutch, The Naked Truth, and Romantic Fools, have been performed over 120 times worldwide, from New York to Madrid and even Antarctica.

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Production Details

Playwright: Rich Orloff
Director: Yoel Wulfhart
Assistant Director - Stage Manager: David Rawstron
Assistant Director B: Nikos Fytas
Music by Philippos Peristeris
Lighting Designer: Fernanda Balcells

Cast

Victor: Konstantinos Fragkos
Norman: Giannis Oichaliotis
Norman: Konstantinos Michail (performing on: 28/3, 31/3, 25/4, 28/4)

Credits

Photography: Nikos Pagonakis
Video: Nikos Pagonakis, Nikos Fytas
Poster design: Sotiria Bramou
Set-Custom Designer: Panagiota Lafazani
Social Media:Kallia Gerakianaki
PR & Communication: Eleftheria Sakareli
Production: Fail Better Productions

Performance Dates: 7th March โ€“ 23nd May
Every Friday & Monday at 20:00 No performances on: 18/4, 21/4, 2/5 & 9/5

Notes: The play is performed in English.

The theatre also offers a bar with affordable prices (beer 3โ‚ฌ, drinks 6-8โ‚ฌ)

Tickets: 15โ‚ฌ
Limited deal: 20 tickets available at 5โ‚ฌ at the box office (arrival by 19:00 required)
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