XpatAthens
Celebrate 44 Years Of Thanksgiving In Athens With The Daughters Of Penelope Hesperus 359
Join us for an elegant afternoon of fine dining, warm fellowship, and giving back. Enjoy a full buffet luncheon, vibrant community spirit, and lively DJ entertainment, all while supporting those in need this holiday season.
We look forward to celebrating together and making a meaningful impact in our community!
👉 RSVP / Info: hesperus359@yahoo.com
European Beach Volley Finals In Crete For The First Time!

“It was our pleasure and honor to host at TUI Magic Life Candia Maris, a member of the Metaxa Hospitality Group, one of the biggest beach volleyball events in the world, the CEV Beach Volley European Cup Final 2025. The hotel’s modern facilities, along with the professionalism, experience, and dedication of all our people, fully met the high demands of a top-tier sporting event. This year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Metaxa Hospitality Group, and in this important year, we are especially pleased to have strengthened the foundation for Crete to emerge as an international, high-standard sports tourism destination. We would like to express our warm thanks to the co-organizers — the Region of Crete, the Hellenic Volleyball Federation, and the Municipality of Malevizi — for their excellent collaboration and trust. The success of this institution demonstrates what we can achieve when we join forces to promote Greece as an international destination for sporting experiences.”


- Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis, Regional Governor of Crete, was honored by Mr. Andreas Metaxas, Chief Executive Officer of Metaxa Hospitality Group.
- Mr. Menelaos Bokeas, Mayor of Malevizi, was honored by Mr. Serafeim Karouzakis, General Manager of TUI Magic Life Candia Maris.
- Mr. George Gkagkalis, Head of Beach Volleyball at the European Volleyball Confederation, received an award from Ms. Maria Papadaki, Board Member of the Hellenic Volleyball Federation and member of the Beach Volley Committee.
- Mr. George Karampetsos, President of the Hellenic Volleyball Federation, was honored by Mr. Nikolaos Syrigonakis, Deputy Regional Governor of Crete in the Heraklion Regional Unit.
- Finally, Mr. Alekos Paraskevopoulos, Beach Volleyball Coordinator of the Hellenic Volleyball Federation, received an award from Ms. Faye Papaioannou, Senior Marketing & PR Manager of Metaxa Hospitality Group.
From Los Angeles To Santorini: Chargers Bring Flag Football To Greece

- Youth ages 11–13 had the opportunity to participate in a flag football camp hosted by the Los Angeles Chargers, learning the fundamentals of the sport in a fun and safe environment.
- Teen participants aged 13 and older took part in a second flag football camp, where they developed their skills and deepened their understanding of the game under the guidance of Chargers ambassadors.
- An exhibition game featuring Chargers legend Melvin Gordon, Greek-American former NFL linebacker and two-time Super Bowl XLII participant Niko Koutouvides, Greek-Swedish football player and coach Melina Malaxos, members of Aegean Elite, Greece’s premier American football team, as well as official staff from the Los Angeles Chargers, showcasing the energy, excitement, and teamwork that defines flag football.

- On Sunday, October 12, Greek media representatives, VIP guests and NFL fans gathered for a special watch party as the Chargers beat the Miami Dolphins 29-27 live on COSMOTE TV

- Christos Dimas, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of Greece
- Vasiliki Koutsoukou, Secretary General for Tourism Policy (on behalf of Minister Olga Kefalogianni)
- Isidoros Kouvelos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Commit tee
- Nikos Zorzos, Mayor of Thira
- Representatives from Deree – The American College of Greece
Cinedoc Presents: Lo
When director Thanasis Vasileiou returns to his childhood apartment after his mother’s death, he confronts secrets that weigh not only on his family’s history but also on the history of modern Greece. Thus begins a journey—a personal diary—through the invisible traces connecting the city and its people to their past.
A deeply personal film, cinematographically minimalist and emotionally profound, exploring the ways emotional memory intersects with collective memory, addressing trauma, the silence felt as guilt, love, and ultimately acceptance.
The documentary premiered at the 27th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, winning the EKKOMED Award for Best Debut Director (Greek Program), as well as the Grand Prix “Golden Wreath of Megisti” and the “Odysseas” Award for Best Documentary by a Greek Diaspora Director at the 10th Beyond Borders – International Documentary Festival of Kastellorizo.
From November 13, Lo will be released in Athens, screening daily at Danaos Cinema. Screenings will include Q&A sessions with the creators and guest experts, including historians and members of the academic community. Screenings will also take place in Larissa (Nov 21), Volos (Nov 22), Thessaloniki (Dec 10), and Rethymno (Dec 13), with the presence of director Thanasis Vasileiou. Additional screenings across Greece will be announced soon through the CineDoc network.
The film is nominated for the Audience Award in Athens, Volos, and Rethymno.
Director’s Note
When I returned from France to my empty childhood apartment in Athens after my mother’s death, I felt like an intruder. Everything that had remained in the shadows for decades was now mine. I discovered debts I hadn’t known about. I uncovered lies that shook me. How do we inherit our parents’ mistakes? How do we empty their home?
Amid the fear of losing a space that held my last memories with my mother—and an entire childhood—I began filming the now-empty surfaces with my phone. I was essentially rediscovering forgotten gestures from the past, as I had worked as a cameraman for over ten years before leaving Greece for France. Putting myself behind a lens again stirred time and reconnected me with the heritage of the past. For me, “filming” became synonymous with “remembering.”
Fragments of family memory, silenced for years, began to cautiously surface. Some led me to the dark years of the dictatorship. How can cinema give shape to a past that resists through silence?
Screening Program
Screenings are supported by the French Institute and Unifrance, while the distribution of the documentary in Greek cinemas is supported by the Hellenic Film Center, Audiovisual Media & Creation (E.K.K.O.M.E.D.) – Creative Greece.
ATHENS – French Institute (Sina 31, Athens)
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (avant-première)
Doors: 19:00 | Start: 19:30
Tickets
Opening remarks by Athena Kartalou, Director General of Cinema, EKKOMED. Presence of director Thanasis Vasileiou and the team, followed by Q&A. Wine reception at the French Institute bistro.
ATHENS – Danaos Cinema (Kifisias 109, Ampelokipoi)
Daily from Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 18:20
Tickets
Special Q&A sessions at Danaos Cinema:
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Nov 13: with the filmmakers, hosted by Depy Vrettou (ERT radio producer)
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Nov 14: with the filmmakers, hosted by Thodoris Chondrogiannos (Reporters United)
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Nov 15: with the filmmakers and Tasos Sakellaropoulos, historian, Benaki Museum Archives
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Nov 16: with the filmmakers, hosted by Kostas Kostakos (Old Boy), film critic (elculture.gr)
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Nov 17: with the filmmakers and historian Tasoula Vervenioti
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Nov 18: with the filmmakers and Christos Dermentzopoulos, Professor, Dept. of Communication, Media & Culture, Panteion University
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Nov 19: with the filmmakers and Vangelis Karamanolakis, Professor of Modern & Contemporary History (NKUA)
LARISSA – Chatzigiannio Cultural Center
Friday, Nov 21, 20:00 – Presence of director Thanasis Vasileiou
VOLOS – New Ionia Cultural Center
Saturday, Nov 22, 20:00 – Presence of director Thanasis Vasileiou
Tickets: ENTEKA – Digital Prints | Info: https://www.facebook.com/CineDocVolos
THESSALONIKI – Limani, “Stavros Tornes” Hall
Wednesday, Dec 10, 19:00 – Presence of director Thanasis Vasileiou
Tickets
RETHYMNO – “Simeio” Cultural Space
Saturday, Dec 13, 20:00 – Presence of director Thanasis Vasileiou
Tickets: Box office | Info: https://bleproductions.gr/simeio/
Parallel Activities
Masterclass with director Thanasis Vasileiou in Athens and Volos
and VR screening at Danaos Cinema
As part of Lo screenings, audiences in Athens and Volos can participate in parallel events. During Danaos Cinema screenings, CineDoc attendees can access the VR documentary 548 Days Without My Name by Yolanda Markopoulou (2024, 14’) with ticket purchase. The director will also conduct two masterclasses in Athens and Volos.
VR Screening at Danaos Cinema Foyer
548 Days Without My Name by Yolanda Markopoulou (2024, 14’)
The screening is part of a new CineDoc VR series, inaugurated this year with 548 Days Without My Name (Nov ‘25) and The Exploding Girl by Caroline Poggi & Jonathan Vinel, co-produced with Greek company Byrd (Feb ‘26).
With a Lo ticket, festival-goers can watch the VR film. Reservation required HERE!
Screening dates: Nov 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 | 18:00–21:00
Synopsis:
In 1943, 10-year-old Rozina writes her diary from hiding in a small apartment in central Thessaloniki, using the false name Roula Karakotsou. This was her only way to escape the Nazis, spending 548 days of anonymous life in silence. Viewers experience her story through her child’s perspective while she remains in hiding.
Based on the book 548 Days Under Another Name: Thessaloniki 1943 / Memories of War by Rozina Asser Pardo.
Produced by the Jewish Museum of Greece in collaboration with Wonder Immersive.
Implemented under the Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” (ESPA 2014–2020), co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), EU.
Official participation: FIPADOC 2025, TiDF27
Masterclasses in Athens & Volos
Heritage, Rupture, Self-Portrait. Stages of Creating the Documentary LO (2025)
Thanasis Vasileiou, director and Professor of Film Studies at Université de Poitiers, gives masterclasses in Athens and Volos, exploring the making of Lo, a personal and reflective documentary on memory, the inheritance of silence, and recent political history. Through the management and concealment of personal narratives, the film examines heritage as both rupture and material for a cinematic self-portrait.
Schedule:
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Athens | Wed, Nov 19, 13:30–15:30 | Lycurgos Stavrakos School, 28th October 65, Athens 10433 | Free entry, first-come-first-served
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Volos | Fri, Nov 21, 9:30 | a) University of Thessaly – Dept. of Culture + Creative Media & Industries b) 2nd Model Gymnasium of Volos
Audience Awards – E.K.K.O.M.E.D.
CineDoc introduces local Audience Awards in Athens, Volos, and Rethymno through the Votemo platform. Lo is nominated in Athens and Volos. Audience members vote online via QR code during screenings; voting remains open 24 hours after the screening. Awards sponsored by Hellenic Film Center, E.K.K.O.M.E.D. – Creative Greece. Ceremony in April 2026.
Director Biography
Thanasis Vasileiou is a director and screenwriter based in Poitiers, France, where he teaches film theory and practice as Associate Professor of Film Studies (Université de Poitiers). His short films Traces (2017) and Our Last Week (2016) were screened and awarded at international film festivals. Lo is his first feature-length film.
About StudioBauhaus
StudioBauhaus, founded in Athens in 2014 by producer Konstantinos Vasilaros and director Orfeas Peretzis, specializes in production and co-production of feature films and documentaries, emphasizing original storytelling and international collaborations. Award-winning films include Agia Emy (Special Mention, Locarno Film Festival; 2 Independent Spirit Award nominations) and Milk Teeth (Venice Film Festival world premiere). Recently completed Riviera by Orfeas Peretzis (São Paulo Festival world premiere; awards at Thessaloniki and Cottbus Festivals). The company continues developing film and TV projects and participates as co-producer in international productions.
Top 5 Cozy, Character-Filled Cinemas In Athens
The air is getting crisp, the city smells like rain on warm pavement, and Athens has officially entered its coziest season. While it's tempting to pull up a blanket, light a candle, and let Netflix automatically play the next episode, autumn in Athens has a better alternative: the city’s charming, small-scale cinemas.
These theaters are more than places to watch a film — they’re community hangouts, cultural landmarks, and secret escapes from the fast pace of the city. Grab a warm drink, your favorite sweater, and explore the Top 5 Cinemas in Athens that prove movie nights are better outside the living room.
1. Astor

📍 Stoa Korai, Panepistimio
A legendary underground cinema, operating since the 30s, with a cult following, Astor is known for its curated selection of indie films, retrospectives, and classic screenings. The vibe is warm, nostalgic, and slightly retro — the kind of place where you can watch Casablanca on a Tuesday and a silent film accompanied by live music on a Thursday.
✨ Best for: cinephiles, date nights with an “old-school romantic” twist.
2. Trianon Cinema

📍 Patission / Victoria Square
A true Athenian classic and one of the few cinemas focusing on international film festivals, documentaries, and art films. Occasionally, Trianon doubles as a live performance venue or a cultural space for talks and special screenings. The façade alone screams vintage cinema magic.
✨ Best for: film festivals, premieres, artsy crowd energy.
3. Danaos Cinema

📍 Amphitheas Avenue, Fix
A modern but charming independent cinema known for showing the best European cinema releases. Danaos regularly participates in Athens’ film festivals and hosts Q&As and special events with filmmakers. The seating is comfortable, the sound is great, and the atmosphere still feels personal.
✨ Best for: those who want the film quality of a big-chain cinema without the mall energy.
4. Foivos

📍 Ethnikis Antistaseos 3, Peristeri
Built in 1953, Foivos is a true neighborhood treasure. Foivos feels like cinema therapy — intimate hall, relaxed atmosphere, affordable tickets, and an audience that genuinely cares about movies. If you want to feel like a local, this is your spot.
✨ Best for: heartfelt indie experiences & cozy autumn walks afterward.
5. Studio New Star Art Cinema

📍 Stavropoulou 33, Athens
A historic arthouse venue that champions world cinema, independent productions, rare films, and retrospectives you won’t find anywhere else. If you love the kind of movies that don’t hit mainstream theaters, Studio will feel like home.
✨ Best for: discovering films you didn’t know you needed.
November At Technopolis
05–06.11 || Athens Bar Show 2025
As every year, since 2010 when it first began, the Athens Bar Show will once again be a “celebration” of the bartending industry, hospitality, dining, and distillates. Dozens of exhibitors and thousands of professionals from around the world, talks, events, tastings, as well as appearances by famous names from the Greek and international bartending “industry” await the visitors of the two-day exhibition. Try products, find solutions for your own bar, attend seminars and talks by distinguished professionals, and get inspired by what’s happening right now in the best bars in the world.
This year, for the 12th time, the Christmas Factory opens its gates again, bringing the magic of Christmas to the heart of the city! The new Christmas town—named by the children themselves, “Bright City”—invites young and old to experience the magic of the game “Find Your Star.” Ten missions, ten stars, and a bright path filled with smiles, light, and love. Santa Claus and the elves light up the world differently this year—not only the city, but also all our hearts. Because the light wins… and Christmas begins from within us!
Tel: 210 3460981 | Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday 10:00–18:00 | Email: shop@athens-technopolis.gr
Crete Becomes The Meeting Point For 12 Countries At CEV Beach Volley European Cup Final


Greek Phrases That Sound Hilariously Confusing In English
Here are some of the most iconic examples.
What it really means: “Let me tell you something surprising.”
Greeks instruct people to listen… in order to see. The phrase mixes senses (hearing and sight) into one idiomatic expression that means: “Wait till you hear what happened.” To a non-Greek speaker, it sounds like a glitch in human anatomy.
2. «Δεν έχω ξαναπάει ποτέ»
Literal translation: “I have never been again, ever.”
What it really means: “I have never been before.”
Grammatically, it's a paradox. The combination of “ξανα–” (again) and “ποτέ” (never/ever) suggests the speaker has never been somewhere again, which implies they were there once, but also that they've never been at all.
In reality, Greeks use it to strongly emphasize that they have never visited a place before.
3. «Δεν τρέχει τίποτα»
Literal: “Nothing is running.”
Meaning: “It’s fine / no problem / no big deal.”
In English, the phrase sounds like we’re reporting the status of a piece of software: “Nothing is running.” In Greek, it's emotional reassurance.
4. «Καλά κρασιά»
Literal translation: “Good wines.”
Meaning: “Yeah, sure… as if.” / “Let’s not kid ourselves.”
It has nothing to do with actual wine. It’s used when someone is being unrealistic or when a situation is going nowhere. Imagine replying to someone’s complex plan with “Good wines.” It’s the Greek “dream on.”
5. «Ό,τι να ’ναι»
Literal translation: “Whatever it may be.”
Meaning: “This is nonsense / chaotic / makes no sense.”
Used to evaluate situations, behavior, or decisions that are totally irrational. The tone usually implies dramatic disappointment, a very Greek thing if you ask us.
6. «Πάμε καλά;»
Literal translation: “Are we going well?”
Meaning: “Are you serious?” or “Is this for real?”
A polite-ish way to express disbelief… usually accompanied by a raised eyebrow and slight exasperation.
7. «Τέλος πάντων»
Literal translation: “The end of everything.”
Meaning: “Anyway / never mind / let’s move on.”
Greek drama in two words. Perfect for dismissing minor annoyances or just adding flair to any conversation.
Piano Lessons By Experienced Professional
Lessons are tailored to each student’s level and goals, with a focus on steady progress and practical results. Sessions take place at the studio on Astydamantos 22 in Pagrati.
More information: davidjohnsonpianist.blogspot.gr