Care for an ouzaki? Like so many words in Greek, ouzo is often referred to affectionately in the diminutive, which makes it even more seductive and appealing. Just a ‘little’ drink, nothing pretentious or serious about it, an ouzaki can be an excuse to pause in the middle or end of a busy day for a chat with friends or a cardinal feature of a summer holiday on an Greek island. Whatever you call it, sharing a carafe or miniature bottle of ouzo is an essential Greek experience.

Around Athens you will find dozens of eateries known as mezedopolia - places that specialise in these little dishes - whose menus run to several pages. Instead of ordering a three-course meal, you can set your imagination free and make a meal of as many dishes as you can manage. Don’t forget though. They are meant to be shared, not gobbled by one person. The sharing adds to the camaraderie.

Here are some of our favourite mezedopolia (also known as ouzeris) in the Athens area.

Athinaikon


Photo Credit: Eleni Veziri 

One of the oldest mezedopolia in Athens, this is a place to come for its décor alone. Although it’s only been in its present location since the mid 1980s, it has the atmosphere of the original establishment which opened in 1932. Wonderful tiled floors, period photographs, a splendid painting of Athinas Street with no cars, shiny marble tables and gleaming wooden chairs create the perfect setting for browsing through its six-page, leather-bound menu. Justly famous for its seafood meze—shrimp croquettes, home-made lakerda (cured tuna), skate with garlic sauce—it also features tempting treats from Anatolia such as pita (pie) with pastourma (spicy cured beef) or saganaki (fried cheese and sausage) Constantinople-style and intriguing items like "Drunkard’s delicacy". Surround yourselves with as many dishes as the table will hold and work your way through them slowly while you sip your ouzo of choice. Don’t under any circumstances come here on your own.

Address: 2 Themistokleous, Omonia, Historic Centre
Telephone: 210 383 8485

To Ouzeri tou Laki

Photo Credit: Eleni Veziri 

To many Greeks and foreigners, ouzo and a table of mezedes are best enjoyed by the sea, watching boats come and go. In Athens, Lakis’ ouzeri is about as close as you can get to having that experience, though the surroundings are landlocked. A kaiki (fishing boat) rudder stands by the entrance, a ship’s wheel hangs on one wall, nautical motifs decorate others, and the ceiling lights resemble seashells. An open refrigerator displays an exciting array of fresh fish and seafood, brought in daily from Kymi and Skyros. You can choose your own fish to complement unusual dishes such as chickpea fritters, mackerel with caramelized onions and sardine moussaka. Many customers are regulars, sipping from 16 different brands of ouzo and toasting the sign opposite the entrance: “All the world is a madhouse, but this is the headquarters.”

Address: 16 Elpidos, Victoria Square
Telephone: 210 8213776

Hohlidaki


Photo Credit: Eleni Veziri

Most mezedopolia have a generous selection of ouzo brands, but Hohlidaki probably holds the record with 130 in their collection. The bottles are arranged on and above the counter that separates the cosy, funky dining area, with its vintage posters, photos and ancient (functioning) jukebox, from the kitchen. It might take a while to taste them all, but the menu offers so many appetisers, you’ll find it hard to choose. Not only does this 30-year-old ouzeri serve scores of standard delicacies, it also changes its menu at least twice a year to focus on a specific region of Greece. Last time we were there, it featured dishes from the Ionian islands—lentils and eel from Lefkada, baked eggplant from Zakynthos, Corfiot sofrito, and Cephalonian meat pie. Eating here is always a gastronomic adventure, a way of exploring foods you would ordinarily have to travel extensively to savour.

Address: 31 Adrianiou, Neo Psychiko
Telephone: 210 674 6661

To read this article in full, please visit: thisisathens.org

 

Back-to-school anxiety is normal and understandable. Many kids may feel anxious about going back to school after a long summer break. Others may feel nervous about starting school for the first time.

Regardless of what the case may be, parents can help ease the transition back to school by being able to recognize the symptoms of stress and anxiety and implementing some creative strategies.

Reasons Kids Might Be Stressed or Anxious

COVID-Related Concerns

For students who spent months out of traditional in-person classrooms due to the COVID-19 pandemic, going back to school may feel extra intimidating or even scary. 

 

Every decent taverna in Greece has a category on their menu called alifes or spreads in English. It usually includes popular choices such as tzatziki, skordalia, taramosalata, tyrokafteri, melitzanosalata, and more. These dishes serve either as mezes, to be paired with a variety of other small plates for the main meal, or as dips, which we normally order as an appetizer to start the meal.

Here's an easy-to-make and really versatile recipe for melitzanosalata that pairs great with a variety of dishes, from fish to pasta and even more!

5 medium eggplants 

3 spring onions, finely chopped 

1 garlic clove, minced 

60 ml lemon juice 

2 tbsp chopped celery stalk 

2 tbsp chopped fresh mint 

2 tbsp chopped parsley 

1 tbsp Greek yogurt 

1 tbsp red bell pepper, diced 

1 tbsp green bell pepper, diced 

2 tbsp chopped green olives 

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil + extra to serve 

1 tsp ground cumin 

Salt 

Freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Instructions

• Wash the eggplants and pat dry. Pierce them with a fork all over and place them on a baking tray on the top shelf. Broil for 30 minutes, then flip them and broil them for another 20 minutes, until they go very soft and the skin turns wrinkly and charred.

• Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for 15-30 minutes. Once cooled down and easy to hold, carefully scoop out the softened eggplant from the charred skin using a spoon and discard most of the seeds.

• Place on a colander, add salt, and allow the insides to strain for at least 10-15 minutes. Gently press them with your hands to remove any excess water and finely chop them or pulse them using a food processor.

• Place the eggplant into a bowl and add in the chopped scallions and garlic, the peppers, the olives, the yogurt, and the herbs. Mix well. Gradually add in the olive oil, and then add the lemon juice, cumin, some pepper and adjust the salt if necessary. Mix well with a spoon. Transfer into a bowl, drizzle with some extra olive oil and serve.

Tip 1: Roast the eggplant until its skin is charred, in order to give the dip its smoky flavor.

Tip 2: Let the eggplant strain well before you blitz it.

For more tips and details, please visit: culinarybackstreets.com

Sculptures, from small figurines to larger-than-life statues, have been a continuous hallmark of Greek art from antiquity to modern times—most famously the friezes from the Temple of Zeus and the Parthenon. These imposing artworks honored benefactors, commemorated events, and told stories. Others were decorative, created for the sheer joy of their beauty. Today, the ancient masterpieces are to be found in museums, but the streets of modern Athens resemble public art galleries, offering a dynamic display of the conventional and the quirky for anyone who seeks them out.

Photo Credit: Thomas Gravanis 

The sculpture’s monumental size reflects the international star power of its creator, Chryssa—one of a handful of contemporary Greek artists to have shown at the Guggenheim, Philadelphia’s Institute of Contemporary Art, the Paris’s Musee d’Arte Moderne, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Featuring a trademark mix of neon, stainless steel, and plexiglass, this figure-eight sculpture is as hard to decipher as much of Chryssa’s work, forcing the viewer to pause and ponder. The twisted figure depicts the agony of the mythical queen, who murdered husband Agamemnon for sacrificing their daughter Iphigenia—or perhaps in a fit of jealousy over Cassandra. Of course, you don’t need to get into knots over what the sculpture means to enjoy its clean lines and flowing form.

Location: Athens Concert Hall grounds, Vas. Sofias and Kokkali streets

Work on the long-anticipated renovation of the lower part of Syntagma Square has finally begun, 17 years since the original plan.

The project foresees the widening of the sidewalks near the start of the pedestrian Ermou Street and the creation of a new public space that will serve as an entrance point to the capital’s commercial and historical core. Approximately 1,000 square meters of space will be freed up for pedestrians. 

The plan also stipulates the planting of 28 tall trees, visible pedestrian crossings, pergolas for shade as well as modern lighting systems. Interventions facilitating the disabled will also be included.

A Led Zeppelin concert celebration under the Acropolis!  Their greatest hits performed live with a rock band, symphony orchestra and three other astonishing singers from London’s West End! 

As part of their world tour and directly from London’s West End, with sold-out shows at the world-famous Palladium, "Led Zeppelin Symphonic" comes to Athens for two incomparable nights at the Herodium Theater, on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 September, at 9:00 p.m!

Three dynamic rock singers come together on stage with an unbeatable rock band accompanied by symphonic orchestration all under the direction of the famous conductor Richard Sidwell - the man behind "Queen Symphonic", the amazing global success that enchanted the Greek public, in 2 sold out performances at the Herodium Theater!

With all the regulations and measures in place to protect the health of spectators, it's time to revel again at an amazing concert under the Parthenon!!!

For more than 9 years, Plisskën Festival has consistently proved itself to be one of Greece’s leading Festivals and proudly returns to Technopolis this year on September 11 & 12! 

Exceptional programming has seen some of the world’s most iconic artists, alongside the best alternative and up and coming talent including legendary headliners Giorgio Moroder, Floating Points, Quantic, Jungle, The Black Madonna, Hunee, Peter Bjorn and John, Tinariwen, Mogwai, Mulatu Astatke, Death in Vegas, La Femme, Mac deMarco, Forest Swords, David August, Liars, Fuck Buttons, Nicola Cruz, Sama’, Afrodeutsche, Ellen Allien, Optimo, Tuxedomoon, Son Lux, Swans, Andy Stott, Debonair and many more.

Aside from a line-up celebrating a broad mix of styles and quality, Plisskën also continues to push the boundaries of their environmental and social ethos.

Wanting to be more environmentally conscious,they have been awarded the ‘Commended’ rating from the Greener Festival Awards global governing body for 2 consecutive years.

And The Lab, an annual series of workshops organised by Plisskën, takes place in Athens prior to the festival.  Through a number of theoretical and practical seminars hosted by professionals in their respective fields, The Lab participants get the chance to learn about all of the elements that comprise putting on a festival.

Plisskën is considered as the most innovative and exciting multi-genre festival of the Summer. Our Ethos is about providing a meaningful and enjoyable music experience with respect to all its counterparts whether they be of human or environmental nature!

On the occasion of this year’s August Full Moon, the Acropolis Museum will offer to its visitors the opportunity to enjoy the Museum exhibits as follows:
 
On Saturday 21 August 2021, the Museum exhibition areas will remain open from 8am to 8pm with free entry to all visitors, on the occasion of the Museum’s participation in the "Greece 2021" initiative.

The Museum second floor restaurant will be open until 12 midnight and visitors will be able to enjoy the moon from the terrace for dinner/drinks (telephone reservations on +30 210 9000915).
 
On Sunday 22 August 2021, the Museum exhibition areas will remain open from 8am to 10pm. The second floor restaurant will be open during the same hours.

• English: 6 p.m. (2 simultaneous talks)
• Greek: 8 p.m. (2 simultaneous talks)
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Participation: Limited to 10 visitors per session. For registration, please refer to the Information Desk at the Museum entrance on the same day. First-in first-served.
• Health protection measures: It is necessary to wear a mask (not provided by the Museum) and to use the whisper guide system headsets (provided by the Museum).
• Cost: The general admission fee to the Museum is required (10 euro).

Morning Saturday and Sunday gallery talks, "Marathon - Salamis. In traces of myth and history" and "Walking in the ancient neighbourhood of the Acropolis Museum" will be held as usual.