The National Observatory of Athens on Wednesday announced the continuation of its collaboration with the “National Geographic” for the observation of Mars through telescopes, which will be used in the “Mars” documentary series.

At the Athens Observatory Visitor’s center, guests can observe the sky using the historic Doridis telescope on the Pnyx Hill, as well as through two portable telescopes that are available for the public, provided weather conditions allow.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

The holidays are an exciting time to try new restaurants and explore more of Athens! Here is a list of 7 new restaurants that have opened (or will open very soon!) in Athens. 

Vasilainas

Address: 13 Vrasida, Piraeus
Telephone: 693 720 0217
Website

The historical restaurant of Piraeus is now opening its doors in Athens on Vrasidas Street just behind the Hilton Hotel. The place will soon be ready and we will see the impressive roof (a grid of wine bottles with optical fibers), the results of the partnership of three talented young chefs, Manos Garnelis, Dimos Balopoulos and Nikos Vlachakis. Fish and meat will coexist on the new menu, with emphasis given to the fish menu. To get an idea, the menu will include scabecheoctopus, a grilled with mashed chickpea soup, spicy tomato salad, pasta with shrimp, smoked tomato and basil, and grilled grouper with mashed beetroot.

Ommu

 

Omu, which means parrot in Japanese, is the old 'Oozora' in Kifissia. The upper bar will gain a new style making an autonomous Bar-Restaurant. Gourmet streetfood by George Venieris, cocktails and "lives" that are not very common in Kifissia, give a different tone to this new concept. The taste proposals will include a not so clean cut ceviche and sashimi, hot dogs, burgers with caramelized buns, and funky pizzas including duckgonzola with duck and gorgonzola.

Food Mafia Sin City

 

Adress: Βουκουρεστίου 4
Telephone: 210 324 8062
Website

Food Mafia, which used to be in Glyfada, is now opening during the first week of December at Voukourestiou 4 in Athens. In cooperation with the pre-existing ground floor of the interwar building V4, Food Mafia Sin City invites people to taste Elias Skoulas style. At noon during the lunch menu, there will be a snack attack menu, inspired by his favorite American chef canteens. Customers must  try Papusas, corn pies of El Salvador and toast with foie gras and grilled peaches! The menu has the aesthetic of a cult 70's American magazine.

Big Kahuna

 

Address: 43 Salaminos St., Kerameikos

Telephone: 693 699 8428
Website

While Big Kahuna by Stefanos Stefanidis and Dimitris Balian is being prepared to open its doors, imagine a warehouse-workshop with a huge garage door, which will open and put you in a beach bar interior: floor like sand, tables in Caribbean style and  exotic plants. At Big Kahuna, the food is exotic with streetfood Hai materials. You may find ramen and fried rice in banana to Wagyu shark!

Ble Alepou Papantonis

 

Address: Kifissias Av. 158 & Thomas Economou 2, New Psychiko

Bright & simple is how the next business step by Kostas Papantonis is going to be called after Prime Grill, which closes its doors this year after several years of operation. The new project will open this December and will a have bar-restaurant character, placing emphasis on wine with several Greek and foreign labels.

Ventiri

The new grill that is currently being prepared by the team of Agora Select, is likely to open its doors over the holidays. In its culinary choices, you will may find pies in foil like the Moscow chicken pie with smoked cheese and colorful peppers, meat pie with ground beef, vegetables and mint, all of which are baked in the oven. You can find a wide variety of dishes from bisteka Fiorentina to black pig hot dogs with caramelized onions and Black Angus skirt.

Steak Frites

 

Address: Φιλελλήνων 18
Telephone: 215 500 3007
Website

At Steak Frites by ToyBox Legends, which will open in a neoclassical building on Filellinon street, the kitchen run by Kostas Tsigka suggests culinary proposals that complement pasta, risotto and lunchtime steak sandwiches.

Originally posted on athinorma.gr
Translated by XpatAthens

Princeton University's tradition of deep commitment to the humanities has long been connected to Greece and Hellenic culture, from antiquity to the present. This November 2016, the University added a formal home base for Princeton scholars in Greece with the opening of the Princeton University Athens Center for Research and Hellenic Studies.

‘This is the first time Princeton University has opened a research and scholarship center anywhere outside of the United States,’ said Eisgruber, Class of 1983. Acknowledging the ‘extraordinary generosity and vision’ of Seeger's gifts and the gifts of many alumni attending the reception, Eisgruber said that one of the reasons the University chose to establish the center in Athens is Princeton's ‘extraordinary humanistic tradition that finds its home here in Athens and in Greece.’

The center — located in the Stanley J. Seeger '52 House, a 1930s-era townhouse in downtown Athens renovated by Nasos Antachopoulos and Yannis Younis of Athens-based A6Architects — features conference facilities, a seminar room, offices, study spaces, informal common areas and a terrace with a view of the Parthenon in the distance. Situated down the street from Aristotle's Lyceum in a historic, diverse neighborhood, the center is close to libraries, museums and archaeological sites.

To read this article in full, please visit: Princeton University

Explore the museum without a home in Athens, discover a new restaurant, and learn how to make traditional Greek custard pie!

 

 

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Join the cause with initiatives and NPO's in Athens who are helping refugees. Athens Hotel Association will promote sustainable tourism, Hotel Grande Bretagne and King George recognized as best hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, and Greece remains the leading ship-owning country in the world!

 

 

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Stay informed wit these articles about the new plastic bag charge, SNF provided funding for 2 theatre’s to reopen, Christmas Bazaar’s in Athens, and general shopping hours!

 

 

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Discover the many different faces of Greece from filmmakers to musicians to bloggers with these interesting articles and interviews!

 

Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!

This old district in the heart of Athens, Greece near Monastiraki, has been enjoying a new breath of fresh air. Psirri is considered the low-key area to enjoy a night with friends! Here are a few of The Culture Trip’s favorite bars.

Industrial decor, great music, a relaxed vibe, and an array of great drinks and cocktails is what you get in Barrett. This newcomer in Psirri is a great place for late-morning coffee and homemade sweets or for after-work drinks with friends. Things get serious at night with various guest DJ sets exploring jazz, soul, and indie rock tunes. All in all, Barrett is the cool hangout spot we were all looking for in the capital city.

Address: Protogenous 11

Telephone: 210 321 8373
Website

With its resolutely alternative vibe, and its vast array of Russian beers, Cantina Social is a small joint with a minimalist interior, tasty cocktails, and a cozy atmosphere. The bar plays mostly indie music but will spontaneously revisit dance, Latin, and reggae hits. Most nights, black-and-white movies are projected onto the surrounding apartment buildings. The bar also hosts several exhibitions. If you want to give your nights out some edge, you know where to go.

Address: 6 Leokoriou

Telephone: 210 325 1668
Website

This new space is an all-day cafe/bar offering breakfast, lunch, and brunch options as well as extensive drink options at night. These include straight alcohols, cool cocktails, beers, and wine. The cafe is located on the ground floor of the Concierge Athens, which rents apartments and studios for long and short stays in the city. With its large doors always open, there is no doubt the Concierge Athens Café is a friendly and welcoming bar where residents and clients alike feel at home. Grab your favorite book and spend the afternoon there.

Address: 8 Agias Theklas

Telephone: 213 036 9266
Website

To read this article in full, please visit: The Culture Trip

Every year from December 25 to January 5, the village streets of Kozani, Greece light up with more than just christmas lights. They come alive with the ancient customs of the Momoeria where actors, musicians, and dancers fill the village streets and visit people’s homes in celebration of the new year.

Recently UNESCO has announced that is has inscribed the ancient custom of the Momoeria on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, making sure that this beautiful cultural tradition will be preserved for future generations to come.

The practice of Momoeria is to bless the village for the upcoming new year with prosperity, healthy offspring and a good harvest.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

This is an interview with Aphrodite Bouikidis, the founder of WorkFromSKG, an innovative campaign supporting work, entertainment, and networking in Thessaloniki. The interview is conducted by Michael Kiloumis.

M.K.: Aphrodite, in your own words how would you describe WorkFromSKG to someone not familiar with it?

A.B.: The city of Thessaloniki is also known as SKG by its airport code. Work From Thessaloniki, or WorkFromSKG, is about Thessaloniki as a place that is great for anyone that wants to mix tourism with work. The initiative is a network of local partners that are ready to welcome people who are visiting the city, and working remotely. These partners provide information about the city, available co-work spaces, people to meet, entertainment, local travel and even bike sharing on the campaign website.

M.K.: Can you tell us about the lifestyle of Thessaloniki residents?

A.B.: Thessaloniki has a friendly and lively population. It is the largest student town in Greece, so there are a lot of young people, adding vibrancy to the café culture, nightlife, and arts and music scene. People like being outside, meeting over coffee and meals, or spending time out in public spaces. The city was recognized as “A capital of cheap eats” by The New York Times in its 52 Places to Go in 2016, and according to National Geographic, it has more cafes per capita than any other European city.

The Waterfront is always full of people walking, running, biking, strolling. There are night half marathons, Santa Runs, and all kinds of sports, music and street arts festivals going on around the city, bringing international visitors to the mix.

M.K.: What someone should expect working in Thessaloniki?

A.B.: Lots of opportunities to meet people, and a local ecosystem of professionals, freelancers, and startups or organizations who are eager to meet and collaborate with fellow professionals. A city that feels like a campus – it is a 30 minute walk to cross the entire city center – with opportunities to enjoy culture, arts, and great beaches and nature within an hour’s drive of the city.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek TV