Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny was expected in Athens on Thursday for a meeting with Greece's government leader Antonis Samaras. The two are expected to discuss recent developments in the eurozone and the key priorities in the remaining weeks of Ireland’s EU presidency which wraps up in the end of June. Greece is scheduled to take over the EU's rotating six-month presidency in January.   more »

It appeared on Wednesday that the fate of a contentious anti-racism bill will have to be determined by the leaders of the three parties in the fragile coalition after the government’s general secretary, Panayiotis Baltakos, refuted reports that the bill had gained approval in principle by a parliamentary committee.   more »

15 municipal police officers on bicycles will be patrolling major pedestrian streets in downtown Athens, including Ermou St, Aiolou St, Dionysiou Areopagitou St, Apostolou Pavlou St and the district of Plaka   more »

Greece’s Ombudsman, Calliope Spanou, has written to Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias, condemning the detention of unaccompanied minors in detention centers for undocumented migrants as “unacceptable.” She called for children to be held in reception facilities for “only as much time as is necessary to record their personal details before they are transferred to special hostels or reunited with relatives.”   more »

Doctors at public hospitals in Athens and Piraeus are expected to walk off the job from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday in protest at an appeal by the management of Evangelismos Hospital against compensation claims by specialized doctors at the Polykliniki clinic, whose back-pay demands have already been settled by a court.   more »

Donate for a cause… Look deep inside your closet! Do you have a few wonderful bags that you just don’t carry anymore? Do you want them to go to a good home? At the same time, would you like to support your favourite charity or cause? We can help! Select the gently used handbags that you’d like to donate: bring them with you to our showroom, or call us to pick them up. Select the charity, cause or institution that you would like to help. Once we sell the ba...   more »

Here we feature all the community notices we receive about community events, meet-ups, courses (usually free) that are coming up, mainly around Athens but also around Greece. Join fellow expats, and take part in the rich and varied events happening all around you. Send us your community announcements at events@xpatathens.com.   more »

Chicago in the 20s, Europe in the 40s, ruffled skirts, dancing atmosphere and above all love for swing were the inspiration behind the Swink Project. The exhibition takes its name from the synthesis of the words swing and ink and is aiming to combine the swing culture with the applied arts. Twenty eight graphic design companies and freelancers get inspired by music and design art posters that will be exposed in ten rooms of metamatic:taf. Each participatin...   more »

Join the American Women of Greece Organisation (AWOG) for a fun-filled half-day cruise! You'll get a taste of the luxury passenger experience on the luxurious Navigator of the Seas while raising money for charity. There will also be a lottery drawing on board with many amazing gifts, including an electric motor bike! Book now as reservations must be made by Monday May 20th at the latest!   more »

A seminar IN ENGLISH on domestic violence is scheduled for Thursday, May 30th at the Cultural Center of the University of Indianapolis Athens Campus. The seminar will have presenters from several agencies and organizations offering information about how to recognize incidence, what assistance can be offered to a spouse or child living in an abusive situation and if necessary, the appropriate steps for re-patriation for non-Greek nationals. The Seminar is ...   more »

This project is located in the ever desirable Agios Dimitrios/Lagonisi borders. 1km from the sea and perched on the side of the hill this structure enjoys a fantastic view across the countryside to the sea beyond. This property, in need of internal completion will make a truly breathtaking home.   more »

Neo Irakleio luxury apartment with a modern design, 160 sq. m. on the 3rd floor. Built in 2009, it has 3 bedrooms with oak floors, large closets one of which is a master bedroom with shower, 2 bathrooms and a WC with Italian made furniture and sinks. The apartment has a large living room with fireplace and kitchen with fitted cooker. There are 2 A/C inverters, screens, electric shutters, a security door and nice views. Heating is autonomous and there is so...   more »

XpatProperty is a service-oriented organization whose focus is to provide clients with professional, timely, and honest services with regard to their property needs in Greece.   more »

Hilton area, penthouse maisonette (6th and 7th floors) 110 square meters, with parking. Architect owned and designed. Located outside Athens ring road, 3 minutes walk to Evangelismos metro station, convenient access to Attiki Odos highway.   more »

Sitting on top of a hill with amazing views of the coast and beaches this immaculately presented villa would make an incredible home or getaway. The villa measures 270m2 and sit on a landscaped plot of 927m2. This villa gives a real feel of being away from it but is only a 25 minutes drive to the airport and motorway.   more »

On May 23rd the Athens Concert Hall presents the theatrical play by James Graham "This House", transmitted from the National Theatre of London, with English subtitles. It’s 1974 and the corridors of Westminster ring with the sound of infighting and backbiting as Britain’s political parties battle to change the future of the nation, whatever it takes. It’s a time when a staggering number of politicians die, and age-old traditions and allegiances are thrown ...   more »

The basic goal of "Gastronomy Days" (www.imeres-gastronomias.gr) is to form an original source of collocation of various elements, which constitute the heterogeneous canvas of contemporary Greek gastronomy: producers, creators, chefs, agencies, entrepreneurs, policy designers and so forth; which is worth viewing as a discrete cultural event, but also as a vehicle for cultural and economic rebirth for our land.   more »

Already recognized around the world for his poetic and mature playing, 18-year-old Jan Lisiecki has received several awards, including the 2010 Révélations Radio-Canada Musique and the 2011 Jeune Soliste des Radios Francophones. He has signed an exclusive recording agreement with Deutsche Grammophon at age 15 and his debut recording will feature Mozart's Piano Concertos no. 20, K. 466 and no. 21, K. 467 under Maestro Christian Zacharias with the Kammerorch...   more »

On Thursday May 30th CCT presents an acoustic concert of Indian classical music "Ragas" with the composer and sitar player Dimitris Roumeliotis and "Ichor". It is a concert with compositions rich in improvisation, based on Ragas - the pieces of Indian classical music. In their music in addition to Indian music it is prominent the influence of Greek and Mediterranean musical tradition.   more »

After the American Civil War, General Ezra Mannon returns to his New England home. But the house of Mannon, with its dark history and unhealthy psychology, hides many open wounds. The pathological love of Ezra’s wife Christine for her son Orin, her difficult relationship with her daughter Lavinia and the arrival of an outsider mean that there will be no end to the cycle of hatred, revenge and destructive love that has already blighted the family in the pas...   more »

Lamb kleftiko is one of the most popular traditional Greek dishes and you will be hard put on a Greek island holiday to find a decent taverna that does not include lamb kleftiko on the menu. Lamb kleftiko is basically lamb cooked slowly in a parcel of vegetables. Again, as with most Greek meat recipes, it is the slow cooking that makes all the difference. The great thing about lamb kleftiko is that it is so easy to prepare but looks so impressive on the pl...   more »

If you're looking for a fine and distinguished restaurant with a sophisticated classic look and feel, and a cosy and casual atmosphere, this is the place to be. According to restaurant guides it's one of the best restaurants in the city. The interior is comfortable and tastefully decorated. The restaurant is located in a historic building that dates back to the 19th century and the closest 'point of interest': Ethnikon kai Kapodistriakon Panepistimion Ath...   more »

Corn breads are very common in Greece, especially in the middle and northern parts where corn was traditionally cultivated. This is a recipe from Roumeli and is a cross between a bread and a pie. It is very easy to make, but the final result is nothing short from perfect. Tender leeks are gently sauteed in olive oil and then mixed with the corn meal, water, eggs and feta cheese to create a wonderful and filling bread. We had it alongside some nice creamy s...   more »

Much has been written lately on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. Recent research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that for people at high risk, the diet could cut the number of heart attacks or strokes by 30 per cent. The large list of Mediterranean-friendly ingredients – including olive oil, beans, peas, lentils, fish, nuts, fruit and vegetables, sheep and goat cheese – provide plenty of choices for meal planning. And the diet...   more »

With a phyllo and nut topping drenched in a cinnamon and cognac flavored syrup, this cheesecake takes its inspiration from traditional baklava. Phyllo is also used as the pastry in place of the usual cheesecake cookie crust, and completely encases the honey sweetened filling. Try not to skimp on using cognac or a good brandy. You can normally purchase a small 50ml size from liquor stores if you don’t want to make a larger investment. Baklava cheesecake is ...   more »

Dimitsana (Δημητσάνα) is well known in Greece as a popular winter destination but is certainly not on the radar of the majority of foreign tourists. It is located 3 hours by car from Athens in the Peloponnesian district of Arkadia and at an altitude of 1000 meters, which means it can see a fair bit of snow during the winter months. Dimitsana’s stone built houses, lovely mountain scenery and its history as the engine of the Greek independence movement in th...   more »

Just over two hours from Athens toward Patras is the picturesque mountain resort town of Kalavryta. Located among the incredible, and notable mountain ranges of Mount Erymanthos in the west and Aroania or Chelmos in the southeast, Kalavryta is well-known among ski enthusiasts, but offers a beautiful natural environment all-year-around. Kalavryta is perfect for a day-trip or easy weekend get-away from Athens.   more »

Stemnitsa is one of the most beautiful towns in southern Greece, wondrously perched 1050 meters above sea level amid a forest of fir and chestnut trees. It is built on the archaeological site of ancient Ypsous and was under the rule of the town of Gortynia. In later years (7th-10th century AD) the name of Ypsous has changed to Stemnitsa due to the installation of a Slavic population in the general area. For centuries the stone village was one of the Balkan...   more »

One of the must-sees of the Peloponnese peninsula is the ancient fortress of Mycenae. Once home to Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, this archaeological site launched the "Mycenean Period" where its residents and leaders dominated Greece, Crete, and the islands of the Aegean. It is located about 90 km south-west of Athens, in the north-eastern Peloponnese. Argos is 11 km to the south; Corinth, 48 km to the north. From the hill on which the palace was located one...   more »

Mount Olympus is where life blends with mythology and the idealized archetypes with the aspects of the multi-faceted human psyche. Any climb to Mount Olympus starts from the town of Litochoro. Traditionally regarded as the imaginary abode of the Greek gods, it inspires respect not only by virtue of its height (the highest peak cuts the sky at 2,919 meters), but primarily by its divine mystery. It is here that Zeus mounted his throne, Hades remorselessly ru...   more »