XpatAthens

XpatAthens

Monday, 28 April 2025 21:19

Tango Acropolis 2025

An Official Tango Competition will take place in Athens from May 22 to 25, as part of the prestigious International Tango Acropolis 2025 festival.

In the heart of culture and art, Athens becomes a vibrant meeting point where the universal language of Tangoconnects dancers from around the world. Participants are invited to experience the magic, energy, and warm hospitality of the city.

The competition is open to both Professional and Amateur dancers in two exciting categories:
  • Tango de Pista

  • Tango Escenario

Cash prizes of up to €2,000 will be awarded to the winning couples in each category.

To register, please CLICK HERE!


Event Program

Competition

  • Thursday, May 22
    Qualifiers
    🕛 12:00–13:30: Registration & Descriptions
    🕝 14:30: Competition Start
    📍 Open to the public | Free Entrance

  • Friday, May 23
    Semifinals
    🕐 13:00
    📍 Open to the public | Free Entrance

  • Saturday, May 24
    Finals
    🕗 20:00
    📍 Open to the public | Entrance €17
    (Ticket includes entry to the Milonga after the finals!)

Seminars
A series of open seminars by top Tango maestros:

Milongas
Three special nights of Milonga:

  • Thursday, May 22
    Opening Practica with Naima & Lucas
    🎶 TJ Dimitris Megalokonomos
    📍 PLYFA Venue
    Event Info

  • Friday, May 23
    Grand Tango Night – Baile de los Maestros
    🎶 TJ Iv Manos
    📍 Sarogleio Megaro
    Event Info

  • Saturday, May 24
    After Finals Celebration Milonga
    🕙 22:00–01:00
    📍 PLYFA Venue

The Athens Singers and orchestra reprise a very well-received performance of Misa a Buenos Aires, by Martín Palmeri.

Mr. Palmeri has created this tango mass by using both his experience as a choir director and his work arranging Argentinian tango music. Starting with the form of a classical Roman Catholic mass, including lyrics in Latin, he adds the rhythms and attributes of tango. The end result is a piece that is both spiritual and exciting. Don't be surprised if you find your foot tapping to the rhythm!

The concert will be held on Friday, 23rd of May at 8:30PM at The War Museum Amphitheatre, conveniently located across from the Evangelismos Metro station.


Monday, 28 April 2025 19:44

Street Wisdom - Athens Walk & Workshop

 
📅 May 23, at 17:30
📍 Outside the Thision subway
 
⁉️ Get up, get out, get clarity and find inspiration and new direction in this wonderful and often (let's face it) disorienting world.
 
❤️ ​Join Elpida Trizi for a 2 hour in-person Street Wisdom Walkshop. Elpida can accommodate both Greek and English participants. For anyone who loves wandering and not only!

What is Street Wisdom?


Street Wisdom is a simple, yet powerful practice that combines mindfulness, neuroscience, and creativity to unlock your imagination and bring clarity.

By turning every street into a source of inspiration, this walkshop takes participants on a journey to calm the mind, spark new ideas, and discover fresh answers to personal questions—all while enjoying the health benefits of walking outdoors.

What happens during the Walkshop?
  • Tune Up: Warm-up micro-walks guided by Elpida to heighten awareness.
  • The Quest: A longer, solo walk where participants "ask the streets" a question and uncover insights.
  • Share: Return as a group to reflect on and discuss discoveries. It’s an easy, enjoyable, and potentially transformative experience! 
Why join?

Tap into creativity and clarity. Reconnect with yourself and your surroundings. It’s completely free!

How to join?

Sign up and commit to showing up. These walkshops are volunteer-led, and hosts dedicate time and energy to create these unique experiences. Your presence ensures the effort is honored.

Stay Streetwise

While Street Wisdom is designed to elevate awareness and inspire, remember to stay mindful of your surroundings as you explore.


Take this opportunity to experience mindfulness on the move.
REGISTER TODAY and let the streets surprise you! 


Monday, 23 June 2025 19:06

Plásmata: Bodies, Dreams, & Data

Onassis Stegi returns to Pedion tou Areos with “Plásmata: Bodies, Dreams, and Data” – a large-scale digital art exhibition exploring the body in all its forms: human, non-human, collective, and planetary. Until July 10, visitors can experience 25 international artworks, an artificial moon powered by solar batteries, and a glowing 22-meter red planet that highlights urgent questions around identity, technology, and the future of our world.

Following last year’s “You and AI”, this exhibition takes a new route through lesser-known corners of the park. Starting from the statue of King Constantine I and stretching to the Alsos Theater, “Plásmata” encourages exploration, curiosity, and reflection. Visitors will encounter mirrored techno-temples, LED works, digital pavilions, a humanoid dispensing medicine in an abandoned pharmacy, and dreamlike projections by disembodied AIs.

The exhibition poses powerful questions:
  • What kind of bodies do machines imagine?

  • Where does the digital self begin and the physical one end?

  • How do disability, gender, and labor intersect in the digital age?

  • What happens when technology reshapes our identity—or our planet?

Once a military ground, now a collective urban space, Pedion tou Areos becomes the perfect backdrop to rethink the body as a site of politics, pleasure, pain, and possibility. “Plásmata” invites us to get lost—and found—through its surreal, thought-provoking journey into what we are and what we’re becoming.
On Saturday, May 24, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, This is Loco transforms once again into a lush green haven! 🌱 In collaboration with Sanopwleio, this special pop-up event brings over 200 small indoor plants and 100 unique pots, perfect for finding the ideal green companion for your space.

Come by to meet us, chat about plants, and discover your next leafy roommate over a coffee!

Sanopwleio is a family-run business based in Anixi, Attica, active since 1985. Originally focused on selling animal feed (hence the name “Sanopwleio” from sanos, meaning hay), the business has grown over the years to include seasonal garden plants, small pet supplies, and, most recently, a curated selection of indoor plants and pots. Their latest focus aims to help people bring calm and joy into their everyday lives—especially during challenging times—through the presence of nature at home.

Whether you're a seasoned plant lover or just getting started, this event is the perfect place to get inspired and green up your space. See you there! 🌿✨
Whether you are starting, elevating into or mastering your art of abundance, join us for an experience filled with inspiration, empowerment, and high-vibe feminine energy!
 
This workshop has been mindfully designed to support women. Together, we’ll explore powerful mindset techniques that shape our relationship with abundance, uncovering how our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions influence personal success (#herstory). Through reflection and connection, we’ll cultivate a mindset that invites prosperity in all its forms.

Expect practical takeaways, deep insights, and a supportive space to elevate your mindset and fuel your journey.

Innerbloom is about supporting women on their entrepreneurial journeys. We create a nurturing, open and transformative space where we empower women to grow their ideas into thriving, sustainable ventures. We’re all about realizing your individual freedom—of thought, creativity, productivity, and abundance! Innerbloom is a sister brand to XpatAthens.
 
Wellness Retreats Greece is a newly launched initiative, born from the vision of two women passionate about well-being and mindful living. More than just a platform, it is a growing community that curates and facilitates transformative experiences—retreats, workshops, and wellness gatherings designed to inspire, heal, and connect.

 HOW TO BOOK
 
To secure your reservation - €25 / person - choose one of the following methods of payment:
 
> Online Payment: By credit or debit card using our secure digital payments option via VIVA Wallet here.
 
> Bank Transfer: Alpha Bank: GR4701402920292002002014139.
 
> Email us for additional information: innerbloomgreece@gmail.com.

Space is limited. Booking confirmation is required for attendance.  
Friday, 16 May 2025 10:18

Mona Supper Club

Mona’s Supper Club series returns this May with a special two-night culinary pop-up event that brings the soulful rhythm of Istanbul to the heart of Monastiraki.

On May 27 and 28 at 20:00, the downtown concept hotel — which has pioneered cross-cultural pop-up events in its award-winning spaces — will host Cenk Debensason and Debora Ipekel, the powerhouse duo behind Arkestra, Istanbul’s Michelin-starred restaurant and listening bar.

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Renowned for their imaginative approach to dining and sonic curation, Cenk and Debora, life and business partners, are the heart and soul of Arkestra — a dynamic space that merges food, music, and exciting design. For two evenings only, Mona transforms into an extension of their world: refined, playful, and rooted in creative synergy. 

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As one of the first restaurants in Turkey to receive a Michelin star, Arkestra has become Istanbul’s most exciting nights out — offering exceptional food and refined ambiance, all wrapped in a sense of laid-back fun. This spirit mirrors the journey of head chef Cenk Debensason: Turkish-born, French-trained, and U.S.-seasoned. Shaped by culinary legends like Alain Senderens and Gary Danko, Cenk’s path spans fine dining in San Francisco to a sold-out supper club in Los Angeles. His dishes blend classical technique with global flair, telling a story of tradition, travel, and personal expression.

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At Mona, assisted by the team from Minu Athens, Cenk will present a bespoke menu that captures Arkestra’s genre-defying spirit and deep respect for local produce. As he puts it: “I’ll bring Arkestra’s playful yet refined approach to cooking, inspired by the sheer simplicity of Greek ingredients.” Debora, co-founder and acclaimed music curator, will complement the evening with an all-vinyl DJ set, channeling the eclectic grooves of Arkestra’s legendary Listening Room. 

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With only 50 seats available per evening, guests will experience a family style tasting menu, fine natural wines, and immersive sonic journeys. Set in Mona’s atmospheric Living Room, the event is a sensorial immersion that fuses Athens and Istanbul — kitchens, cultures, and turntables — where the local scene gathers to connect and break bread. 

As one of the city’s most anticipated supper clubs, Mona is powered by creative studio House of Shila’s mission to foster cultural dialogue and cross-disciplinary exchange, spotlighting talent from the local to the global. In doing so, Mona continues to shape Athens’ evolving culinary landscape as a true celebration of creative expression.

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ABOUT ARKESTRA

Opened in 2022, Arkestra is a Michelin-starred restaurant, listening room, and cocktail bar based in a 1960s villa in Istanbul. The brainchild of chef Cenk Debensason and music curator Debora Ipekel, Arkestra is an ever-evolving sensory destination where seasonal produce meets French technique, and sound is as central as flavor. From small plates at the bistro Ritmo to legendary DJ sets upstairs, Arkestra is a place to eat, meet, and move.

ABOUT CENK DEBENSASON

Cenk Debensason, born in Turkey is the co-founder and Head Chef at Arkestra. His career started in France training in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management from the Institute Paul Bocuse in Lyon before touring the world to nurture his skills. He learned from some of the best restaurants such as Alain Senderens, Château de Bagnols, Maison Clovis, and Gary Danko. Cenk launched a pop-up dinner series in Los Angeles in 2013: ‘The Cartoonist’ before returning to his hometown of Istanbul in 2016. Before opening Arkestra, Cenk was head chef of cult favourite Petra and a culinary consultant for two years, whilst hosting a summer pop-up restaurant in Bodrum with partner Debora Ipekel. In 2022, Debensason and Ipekel opened Arkestra.

ABOUT DEBORA IPEKEL

Prior to moving to Istanbul and opening Arkestra, Debora was fully immersed in London’s vibrant music industry, working as an events programmer for Boiler Room and planning parties which spanned the globe. Opening a place of her own that merged food, music, drink and culture was always an overriding ambition, after a youth spent working in a London record store and DJing at bars, restaurants and clubs around Europe. Today sees her host a monthly show on NTS Radio, playing her genre defying picks, as well as running her record label Zel Zele.

ABOUT HOUSE OF SHILA & MONA SUPPER CLUBS

House of Shila (HOS) is a creative studio in pursuit of aesthetic pleasures. HOS creates distinctively designed spaces that act as laboratories of experiential storytelling — from boutique hotels like Mona and Shila to curated pop-up events, art residencies, publishing, and concept experiences. With locations in Athens, New York, and Skopelos Island, HOS connects a global community of artists, designers, chefs, and entrepreneurs, championing sensual beauty, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange.

Mona Supper Club is an ongoing dining series founded and curated by House of Shila, spotlighting global chefs paired with local culinary talent and in dialogue with Athens’ creative scene, Each gathering invites a chef to take over Mona’s Living Room to create their own gastronomic. Mona’s Supper Clubs have emerged as highly sought-after social events offering a taste of ephemeral brilliance, where old and new friends come together to connect.


Visit Mona's Webiste HERE or Book Tickets HERE


Saturday, 17 May 2025 14:25

JEROME KALUTA LIVE at SOUL SKG

Jerome Kaluta, the Afrogreco performer, together with 6 musicians are coming for the first time in Thessaloniki for an unforgettable Open Air Live on Friday 30 May, at the terrace of the spot in town, Soul Skg!

If you love a pure disco and funk vibes, you will exprerience an evening full of rhythm, energy and groove, where all time classics embraces the ukulele and Jerome's original pieces, in a unique party!

Through the sound of Brass and Percussion we will dance to songs from the 80's 90's RNB-DISCO, James Brown, Ray Charles, Salt n Pepa and many more legendary artists with all time classic hits, always with the inexhaustible energy that Jerome brings to the stage!

Jerome is accompanied by:

Ioanna Kallitsantsi : Voice 
Nikos Anastasiadis - Drums 
Odysseas Apostolopoulos - Keyboards/Vocals 
Michalis Karagiannis - Guitar 
Viktor Kouloubis - Bass 
Stelios Michas-Englezos - Trombone 
Yiannis Papaioannou - Sound Engineer (FOH) 
Victoria Papadopoulou - Production Management / Afrogreco Entertainment 
Photography - Giota Efremidou Artwork: Silly Rabbit Creative 
Video trailer: Petros Skoutas | Gorilla Cinematography 
Media Relations : Tzina Fountoulaki - Alexandros Karamalikis

Note: The ticket is for entry to the venue (bar) only. For seating reservations, call: 6942 635296
Friday, 02 May 2025 11:05

Otro Mundo Gathering 2025

Otro Mundo Gathering is back for another year! A unique electronic music festival during the Holy Spirit long weekend – June 6, 7 & 8, 2025 – just outside Athens, right by the sea, with a sandy beach and crystal-clear waters.

A magical setting, made for dancing and connecting!

The festival’s vision is built on four pillars:

1. Electronic Music
2. Mind, Body & Soul Workshops
3. Immersive Performances
4. Artisanal Bazaar

1. Electronic Music

The music explores various shades of the electronic spectrum, including World Electronica, Downtempo, House, Techno, and Minimal Tech.

One of the highlights of this year’s festival is the appearance of Mira (@mira_kater), one of the most influential artists in Berlin’s underground scene! Mira performs across the globe – from Berlin’s legendary clubs to the desert of Burning Man – and through her “Mira Invites” events in cities like New York, Lisbon, London, Mexico City, and Los Cabos.

Her participation in Otro Mundo Gathering 2025 is made possible through our collaboration with the Down Tempo Paintings – DTP (@dtp.events_athens) collective.

The second highlight is the showcase by Athenian label Revolt, one of the most respected collectives in the underground electronic music scene in Athens. Revolt (@revoltathens) has built its reputation by pushing the boundaries of electronic music – with talented artists and explosive gigs in Athens and abroad. Full Music Line up:

Betsu (Rofd)
Clubkid (Slam)
Gus (Revolt)
Ms. Lefki
Liou (Revolt)
Maarkk (Full Circle)
Marsha (DHAthens)
Mira (Kater, Berlin)
Nausicaä (Revolt)
Nikolas Gale
Rootie (Kuttura-Kuttura)
Sai.ph (Revolt)
The Dreamer (Purple Nights)
Useless Co
Zorz pool (Kollektiv Unknown)

2. Mind, Body & Soul Workshops

Throughout the day, through practices of connection and self-awareness, we explore our inner world. These sessions take place from morning to afternoon and are included in the ticket price at no extra cost.

There is a wide variety of activities such as: Sound Healing, Breathwork, Kundalini Activation Process, Shiatsu/Kali Prana Massage, Reiki, Cacao Ceremony & Ecstatic Dance, Music & Yoga, 5Rhythms,
Tarot & Astrology Readings, Live Drawing Workshop

3. Immersive Performances

Surprise performances filled with movement, light, and expression. Art meets the moment, and together we become part of it.
 
4. Artisanal Bazaar

A marketplace of creators who make with their hands and their hearts. Exchanges, encounters, small acts of magic.

Let’s create “A World Together.”




A Site-Specific Series of Artistic Room Takeovers at Mona Athens, Launching June 6th
Two Artists. Two Rooms. Three Months of Living Art.

This summer, House of Shila unveils SPACE REIMAGINED—a new, immersive series of artist-led room transformations at Mona, its acclaimed boutique hotel and cultural hub in downtown Athens.

For its inaugural edition, contemporary artists Elise Wouters and Angeliki Stamatakou were invited to inhabit and radically reimagine the very hotel rooms they resided in during their artistic residencies. Each was given a blank slate—physically and conceptually—to create an experience that blurs the boundaries between art installation, storytelling, and hospitality.

Launching on June 6th, 2025, the time-sensitive interventions (on view through September) unfold across Mona’s signature penthouses, offering guests a deeply personal and tactile encounter with living art—available for both exploration and acquisition.

Curated and produced by House of Shila, SPACE REIMAGINED is inspired by the playful concept of rearranging space through the eyes of an artist—rooms become extensions of personal worlds, charged with narrative, texture, and memory.

This launch coincides with the debut of Mona’s rooftop—a members-only hideaway offering curated wines, soundscapes, and sweeping views of Athens.

Mona Suite by Elise Wouters

London-based Belgian film photographer Elise Wouters has transformed Mona’s Suite into a meditative space of memory, femininity, and poetic introspection. Her installation unfolds as a sensory dialogue between image, word, and texture.

Rooted in repeated stays at Mona’s Suite, Wouters’ contribution features hand-painted silver prints of her analogue self-portraits, printed on delicate washi paper and installed against the room’s textural backdrops—aged patinas, gauze curtains, and painterly walls. Her work explores impermanence, vulnerability, and the traces of lived moments.

“I’m always in communication with the past,” says Wouters. “That’s how memory works—you return to a moment, and by returning, it changes. That’s the beauty.”

Guests will find handwritten love letters, found postcards, and a curated selection of her annotated books—offering intimate access into her creative world.

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“There’s always a dialogue between photography and writing. I photograph what I can’t say, and I write about the photos I didn’t take.”

In collaboration with Parisian lingerie label Mavelle, Wouters and House of Shila have co-designed an exclusive limited-edition silk dress, available at Mona and online via the House of Shila e-shop.

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Penthouse 16 by Angeliki Stamatakou

Greek sculptor Angeliki Stamatakou reimagines Penthouse 16 as a dreamlike sanctuary where ritual meets sculpture and natural light sculpts the mood. Her space is one of emotional resonance—raw, grounded, and intuitive.

“Taking over a room is about changing how a guest feels,” says Stamatakou. “They live with my work, not just pass by it. It becomes part of their experience.”

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Drawing from subconscious landscapes and organic formations, her sculptural interventions feel both ancient and otherworldly. 

Black clay mirrors—her first works in this medium—anchor the suite alongside a signature sculptural coffee table, lighting elements, and mysterious non-functional forms that feel unearthed rather than made.

“They’re like fossils formed over millennia—objects out of time and place.”

A curated playlist composed by the artist completes the atmosphere, enriching the spatial experience with sound and deepening its emotional layers.

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Opening Night & Rooftop Launch
June 6, 2025 | 19:00–23:00

On opening night, both transformed penthouses will be open to the public. Guests are invited to explore the installations, meet the artists, and acquire select pieces, available for a limited time.

The evening culminates with Mona’s first rooftop party of the summer, featuring guest DJs and curated natural wines.

The rooftop remains open to members throughout the season, Thursday to Saturday. New member applications are available here.

SPACES REIMAGINED continues from June through September 2025, with the installations accessible to guests staying in Mona Suite and Penthouse 16. Select works will also be available for purchase via the House of Shila e-shop.

This marks the first of an ongoing residency series—an invitation to reimagine hospitality through the lens of contemporary art and collaboration.

About House of Shila

House of Shila (HOS) is a creative studio in the pursuit of aesthetic pleasures. HOS creates distinctively designed spaces, serving as laboratories of experiential storytelling. Dedicated to all things sensually beautiful, our work is multi-disciplinary spanning from boutique hotels (Mona and Shila), design, creative direction, curated pop-up events and publishing. HOS runs an artist-in-residence programme and members club between its locations in Athens and New York. Collaborating with creatives from around the world, we are driven by a desire to showcase inspired work that unites a community of artists, designers, and entrepreneurs, while supporting talent at all stages.
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