The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is funding the reopening of Atticon and Apollon, the two emblematic Athens movie theaters. Atticon and Apollon were burnt down by protesters during riots that took place in May 2010, after it was announced that Greece was entering a bailout program that would entail harsh austerity measures.

President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Andreas Drakopoulos, recently gave a comprehensive account of the foundation’s work of the past twenty years, culminating in the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) which now houses, among others, the National Library and the Greek National Opera.

“It is better to give more and let people call us stupid than do injustice to some and appear arrogant,” Drakopoulos said from the National Library building, speaking of the countless donations of the foundation.

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

With the holidays just around the corner, now begins the wonderful season of Christmas bazaars and festivals!

We've created a single article so that you have one stop for all of the bazaars happening in Athens this season. If you know of a bazaar and it's not below, send us an email with detailed information at ideas@xpatathens.com.

Are you organizing a holiday or new year event and want to let everyone know about it? Create an XpatAthens Profile and upload your event today!

Join us and celebrate a day of fun, while doing some holiday shopping, sharing smiles and cat-stories with the family of Nine Lives! Let’s say goodbye to 2021 by helping cats in need.

Grab the chance to get your hands on the new 2022 Nine Lives calendars! A perfect Christmas gift for any cat lover. You will also find other seasonal goodies and selected Nine Lives merchandise.

All bazaar proceeds directly benefit stray cats in Athens through food & vet care.

Donations of cat food are welcomed with open paws!

When: December 4th, 2021
Time: 16:00 - 20:00
Where: Yoleni's Greek Gastronomy center, Solonos 9, Kolonaki

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"Friends Of The Child" Christmas Bazaar

The Charitable Association "The Friends of the Child", wanting to support children in need, will be holding its established International Christmas Bazaar. In a Christmas decorated space, locals and visitors will have the chance to purchase homemade sweets, Christmas decorations, clothes, books, toys and unique gifts.

Our goal is to support and secure all the required monthly needs for children until their adultness, whose families (single-parent or nuclear families) face financial and social problems. Specifically, “Friends of the Child” covers food, clothing, rents and bills for families in housing risk, psychological and counseling support, entertainment, and medical care. Children with health problems are a high priority for our social program.

When: December 4th & 5th, 2021
Time: 10:00 - 20:00
Where: Old OSY Depot

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St Paul's Anglican Church Christmas Bazaar 

After a Hiatus of two years St Paul’s famous Christmas Bazaar is back at a new venue.  Many beautiful stalls inside, everything from Books to Bric-a-brac, gifts, Preserves and Jewellery, as well as delicious refreshments.Don`t forget to try your luck at our Christmas raffle. Bring the kiddies along to see Father Christmas.Bring family and friends and spread the word!

When: December 5th, 2021
Time: 11:00 - 16:30
Where: Amphitheatre Foyer, Athens War Museum

Stay tuned for more!

While many of these are well-known bars and clubs, it’s always nice to be reminded that Athens’ has a buzzing nightlife. Many of these popular venues are in the city centre within walking distance of Syntagma Square. Here is an insider’s guide to the best bars and nightclubs in Athens!

Brettos

Best known for its lovely interior, with shelves of beautiful coloured bottles lit from behind, creating a warm glow, cosy Brettos has been on the go since 1909. The owners make their own liqueurs in more than 30 flavours, including cherry, lemon and mastiha, as well a classic ouzo. Take a stool at the bar for a convivial nightcap.

Address: Kidathineon 41, Plaka

Telephone: 210 323 2110

Hours: Daily 10:00-02:00
Website

A sound choice for after-hours drinking, young professionals come here for expertly shaken cocktails, served by barmen dressed in black with white aprons, plus an eclectic choice of music – think Rolling Stones, Waterboys, Klaus Nomi and Ella Fitzgerald. It’s small and often packed, with a long narrow polished wooden bar, walls decorated with oriental tiles and memorabilia, subtle lighting, plus a few tables out front.

Address: Voulis 7, Syntagma

Telephone: 210 321 9225

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-05:00 & Sunday 21:00-03:00
Facebook Page

Next to Monastiraki metro station, on the sixth floor of a small hotel, this rooftop cocktail bar is now one of Athens’ top after-dark venues. Outrageously popular with locals and visitors alike, it has a stylish open-air lounge terrace with amazing view of the floodlit Acropolis. Expect loud music and clubby atmosphere on Saturday nights, when you’ll probably have to queue for the lift (which only takes 3 people at a time). Alternatively, use the stairs. To avoid the crowds, come in the early evening for a sunset aperitif.

Address: Miaouli 2-4, Monastiraki

Telephone: 210 324 4244

Hours: Sunday-Thursday from 11:00-02:30 & Friday-Saturday 11:00-03:30
Website

To read this article in full, please visit: The Telegraph

For more suggestions on cocktail bars in Athens, see our 'Top 10 Cocktail Bars' article.

The Solidarity Cities initiative was recently announced at a press conference in Athens in October 2016, following a closed political session gathering 23 mayors and vice-mayors of the EUROCITIES network. The Mayor of Athens, Georgios Kaminis, and Vice-Mayor of Barcelona, Laïa Ortiz, presented to journalists the concept of the initiative and the main demands of European cities in terms of direct funding for refugee reception and integration, as well as better involvement from cities in the shaping of migration policy at the European and national level.

Solidarity Cities embodies a humanitarian response to the refugee situation, advocating a fairer sharing of responsibilities among EU member states. EUROCITIES published an open letter on World Refugee Day 2016, calling to refocus the debate on the refugee situation in Europe so as to reflect common European values of solidarity, humanity and dignity. Many cities are already taking steps to ensure the safe reception and passage of refugees through their territories, as described in the April 2016 report, ‘Refugee reception and integration in cities.'

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek News Agenda

 

Please click HERE for more information on Solidarity Cities.

Among the many languages offered on Facebook, Ancient Greek is now a choice.

 

When you save Ancient Greek as a language, from then on messages will be ‘Aγγέλματα’, Facebook will be asking you ‘Tί δοκείς;’, friend search will be ‘Φίλους ευρίσκειν’, the main page will be called ‘οίκος’, while under each post you will see the indication ‘Σχόλιον γράφειν.’

To change your language settings to Ancient Greek, go to Settings - Language - Select Your Language - Ancient Greek - Save Changes.

Source: Greek Reporter

Ancient Greeks, as well as other civilizations of that time, often attributed weather changes and natural phenomena to the gods. For example, lightning was a way for Zeus to show his anger, just as Thor in ancient Nordic mythology.

Ancient Greeks also believed in Poseidon, god of sea and earthquakes, Helios, god of sun, Selene, goddess of moon, Hephaestus, god of volcanoes, Chione, goddess of snow, Zeus, king of all gods and god of sky, thunder, lightning and rain. All occurrences of favorable or poor weather were thought to be a direct result of godly intervention.

The word “climate” stems from the Greek word “klima” meaning inclination and referring to the climate conditions created by the Sun’s angle. Moreover, ancient Greeks invented the term “meteorology,” the study of atmospheric disturbances. Aristotle is considered the founder of meteorology. He tried to explain the weather through the interaction of the four elements: earth, fire, air, and water. Aristotle’s student Theophrastus produced the first book on weather signs, listing observations used to forecast weather, many of which are still used to this day.

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

On September 27, 1960, six days after his twenty-sixth birthday, Cohen bought a house in Hydra for $1500, using a bequest from his recently deceased grandmother. This was a "big deal" in the words of one of his friends, a commitment to place and a world that was mysterious and unusual. Buying the house was a complicated act, needing the assistance of his friend Demetri Gassoumis as translator, adviser, and witness to the deed. Cohen later said that it was the smartest decision he ever made. The tree-story, ancient whitewashed building, with its five rooms on several levels, was run down and had no electricity, plumbing or running water. Yet it was a private space where he could work, either on the large riled terrace or in his music room on the third floor.

He knew he had been accepted by the community when he began receiving regular visits from the garbage man and his donkey. To a friend he explained that, “Having this house makes cities less frightening. I can always come back and get by. But I don't want to lose contact with the metropolitan experience.” Buying the house also gave him confidence, “The years are flying past and we all waste so much time wondering if we dare to do this or that. The thing is to leap, to try, to take a chance.”

It was a place of solitude, of plodding donkeys (even today no cars are allowed on the island; nor would they get very far if they were), cold water and kerosene lamps. In such primitive surroundings, amid the stunning beauties of the island and the glories of the Aegean, where fishermen still wrested a living from the sea and ferries scrabbled one from the land, Leonard found his peace, his sitting-down time, as he called it, where he could -as all pots must - recollect in tranquillity. Here he could live in virtually complete seclusion, at a fraction of the cost it would take in Northern Europe or Canada, where the people were unconcerned as to who you were or what you did; And where breathtaking vistas opened up for the seeing - both external and internal.

Leonard Cohen was a Canadian songwriter who died on November 7, 2016 at his home in Los Angeles, California. He was 82 years old. 

To read this article in full, please visit: Leonard Cohen Files

Skyros, located in the Sporades islands, is famous for its traditions - carved wooden furniture, delightful pottery, embroideries - and its miniature ponies! Skyros is also known all over Greece for its Carnival traditions, which may have their origin in Dionysiac revels.

This island can almost be considered two islands, its two halves being so different. Most of its 3,000 inhabitants live in the northern half, which is wooded and fertile, while the southern half is barren, mountainous and wild.

The island’s port, Linaria, midway between the two halves, has a number of good fish tavernas, while the best beaches are to the south-west and north-east, though the latter can be windblown. Those on the north-west are pine-shaded but stony.

To read this article in full, please visit: Hip Greece

Starting in 2017, Greek supermarkets will start charging for the use of plastic bags. The charge will be 5 to 10 euro cents.

This change for Greece comes after many EU countries have already implemented the charge for decades. The charge will hopefully encourage patrons to bring their own reusable bags as to cut down on plastic waste.

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

Nikos Polias, multi-times Panhellenic Marathon champion and record breaker, talks about his passion for running the classic route.

From an early age, running was an important part of my life. In the vacant lot in the neighborhood I grew up in and, later, on the track at Karaiskakis Stadium, in my hometown of Piraeus, running became more than a sport for me. It was a way to relax, to express myself as well as to socialize. I still have friends who used to be running buddies back then.

I tried my legs at sprinting for a while, but soon realized that my true potential lay in endurance running. Despite its difficulty, the Classic Marathon route enchanted me from the first time I ran it, back in 1993. It was my first marathon ever and I ended up a Greek champion, much to everyone’s surprise, including my own.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greece Is