Archive for April, 2009

Art vs. Design

Posted in Art on April 9, 2009 by Sinan

What is the difference between art and design?
In my opinion:
Art is subjective and unique. It is personalized at a level where each individual is given the right to consider a piece of work art and no one can prove him/her otherwise. It is one-of-a-kind and is not mass produced. It is constructed with an established train of thoughts although it does not require a long process of planning ahead. Art reflects on the individual.

Design is objective. It has to apply to a greater crowd rather than a single individual. It is created to solve a problem or an inefficiency. It requires great planning ahead and can be mass produced to balance between supply and demand.

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artandseek

Posted in Art, City Life on April 9, 2009 by Sinan

artandseek-logo

I finally made one of my dreams a reality. I am a strong believer that there are certain subjects that feeds each individual’s source of life. These subjects are an alternative source of energy. They provide a break, an escape from the solid realities of life. Those subjects have been art, music and food for me so far. The interest in art became absolute with artandseek, while the others are mostly in dormant phase so far.

I co-founded artandseek in July 2008 to provide emerging artists like myself a platform where they can display and sell artworks to a private community solely focused in art. It started serving members as an exclusive online art auction house, giving its community the opportunity to also promote art events around the globe. Joining artandseek (www.artandseek.com) is completely free and the only source of revenue for it is the 15% commission charged on the artworks sold through the site.

Throughout college I have taken several art classes to advance on the art genes I have most probably received from my mother. Only then did it become apparent that I needed a platform outside the classes to better weigh and price my work. I have been approached several times by friends for selling my work. I rejected the proposals each time believing there wasn’t a sufficient crowd to objectively price the art pieces. I desperately searched online for a comprehensive and slightly exclusive art site I could become a member of. All my attempts were failures. Most of the sites were overcrowded and they were choked with millions of tools, making it hard to navigate through the pages. Outside the online community, galleries were too expensive with 30-40% commissions for an artist who is not well-known with works raging USD 500-1,000. Auction houses would not go near any artists unless they were already known worldwide and have proved to be a good return on capital in their own niche market. My own art portfolio has not gone beyond 25 pieces, but I strongly believed that other emerging artists must have had the same problems I had.

With the push of my business partner we took the first steps of artandseek in March 2007. The construction of an online auction house has been much harder than I have imagined. The name evolved from the idea that emerging artists are like players of hide&seek who are hiding, but eventually want to come out. The name “artandseek” was the perfect mix between the idea and the focus. We found it extremely difficult to narrow down ideas when there were no limits on the tools we could put on the site. So many tools were first introduced and then taken out. We decided to make the site slightly exclusive to overcome the overpopulation issue I faced on the other art sites. Exclusivity would also make our users feel a little special for being part of a community who are well-rounded in art. artandseek was to be a community for art, not a social networking site. Making prospective users fill out a short mandatory application would confirm the interest in art and the site.

There are still so many things to be learned and challenges we face on artandseek. Still it has given me that alternative source of energy I have been yearning for. It has been a break, an escape from all the things we have to (not want to) make happen. I hope I can soon construct similar projects in music and food.

If you are interested I would love to make you a part of it. Check it out at www.artandseek.com

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The Self-Proclaimed Monarchy

Posted in City Life, Debates, Ideas, etc. on April 9, 2009 by Sinan

crown

Humankind has always been selfish and territorial. We are the most intelligent creatures on Earth, but we are also very fragile. The power of nature over and the influence of another being on us contradicts with our survival instincts.

Unlike other creatures on Earth survival has a totally different meaning for humans. Survival for us is not just staying alive. It is taking control, making the life around us obey us. That is why we have never actually been content. We have never been satisfied with the things we are blessed with. Like a Pepsi commercial we have never stopped “asking for more”. That is why the questions that start with “What if”s have haunted all of us since our creation. Unfortunately this obsession got even stronger with the introduction of personalized technology in our lives. This technology has pushed us into individualism and turned our lives into self-proclaimed monarchies. We are no longer as patient. We are no longer as giving. We reached a point where we can no longer shelter anyone else in our private kingdoms. Relationships started to fall apart while marriages end up in divorces.

Walkman and its new generation cousins, the MP3 players are one of the best examples to such personalized technology. They have brought two things to our lives. First they brought more control in the sense that their users no longer had to put up with radio stations where there is almost no control over the songs played. Second they influenced individualism, allowing users to put on their earphones in any setting they wanted. Face to face interaction has been minimized. Computers and the Internet are other examples to this technology. New age computers have minimized our tolerance to patience by addicting us to “command and control”. Requests started to be fulfilled with just the push of a button. Discussions and enduring efforts are no longer required. The Internet tied us to a chair and brought the world to us. We no longer go to the supermarket to pick the freshest food. We no longer go to the shops to pick clothes or furniture. We are stuck behind closed doors, standing in front of a screen. Outgoing no longer. We are fully-equipped and self-sufficient kings of our own kingdoms with our only companions, the technological devices.

Most of us try hard to break the habit. We push ourselves to find a person to share it all with. Yet most of the time most of us fail. We slowly start to realize that the technological advances we created to serve us have turned us into the servants. They became our favorite companions. They made us believe that we only have room for ourselves inside our little self-proclaimed kingdoms. As Apple has ingeniously summarized it for all of us: We all became addicted to “I” and let go of “we”.

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Pandora.com

Posted in Debates, Ideas, etc., Music on April 7, 2009 by Sinan

Pandora

Most of us have been avoiding the radio stations since the introduction of MP3 players. Like many I have been content with being in control of my own music and leaving annoying commercials and chatty DJs aside. Knowing what the next song will be in my MP3 gives me a satisfaction I have never found with Power and Kiss FM types. Yet like everything else in life there comes a time when we get tired of our own selections and look for ways to diversify the portfolio and re-enhance the interest. When it comes to music, this is where Pandora.com steps in. It is one of the best online radio stations I have come across for a long time. I have heard rumors about its great functionality, but wasn’t too keen on making a final decision until I tried the revolutionary radio station myself. Pandora is commercial and DJ-free. It gives you the option to personalize your own stations and unlike your MP3 player it leaves room for unpredictability. Not knowing what’s next has been one of the biggest thrills for humankind for centuries. We like surprises, but we would love to make sure that it is a surprise we like. So if you are tired of your own playlists and want to download some new music, give Pandora a try. I am sure you won’t regret it.

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Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding

Posted in New York City, Restaurants, Drinks & Food on April 6, 2009 by Sinan

Magnolia

I have never been a fan of the cupcakes at the famous Magnolia Bakery, but I have to admit that it has one of the best banana puddings in the world. It is definitely worth the long wait. If you haven’t tried yet, grab your shoes and run out to the West Village or the Uptown store.

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Eat in Istanbul

Posted in Istanbul, Restaurants, Drinks & Food on April 3, 2009 by Sinan

silverware

Don’t miss these great restaurants during your stay in Istanbul. Reservations are always recommended.

Ulus 29

Ulus 29 is set on one the highest hilltops in Istanbul above the Bosphorus. Go for dinner. Keep in mind that like many other restaurants in the city, Ulus 29 usually rents out another location during summer to benefit from the warm weather right next to the Bosphorus. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounge, the dinning room and the nightclub give you one of the best views in the city with the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge winking at you with its traffic lights. If you can, go a little earlier than your reservation and have a drink at the lounge. Recommended food: Kasarli Pide (Turkish-style pizza with cheese baked in the oven) and Iskender (diced meat cubes served over bread and yogurt with warm tomato dressing on top). Recommended wine: Okuzgozu (Turkish Red Wine). Web: www.group-29.com

Kiyi

Simply the best seafood in town. The right wing of  the ground floor is the most crowded and is known to be occupied by the regulars of the place. The seafood is always fresh and you can choose your fish from the cooler located on the ground floor. There is no bar so go at the time of your reservation. Recommended food: APPETIZER: Karides guvec, Ciger, Octopus, Feta Cheese, Red Pepers; MAIN COURSE: Levrek or Kalkan for fish; Chocolate Souffle for desert. Web: www.kiyi.com.tr

Borsa Restaurants

Famous for its focus on Turkish food. It has two locations. Borsa is known to have more of a corporate client list, especially during lunch time. Expect to eat delicious Turkish food with less music and entertainment. Recommended food: Manti (Turkish ravioli with meat and yogurt), Lahmacun (Turkish pizza with meat, parsley, lemon and tomato (baked in the oven)), Iskender, Hunkar Begendi (meat chunks served over warm mashed eggplant). Web: www.borsarestaurant.com

Kosebasi at Reina

This spot is open only during the summer months. It is one of the few restaurants inside Reina which is one of the most well-known outdoor nightclubs in Istanbul. The club is located right next to the Bosphorus. Kosebasi is famous for its char grilled meat dishes. The small meat chops called “Cop Sis” are always a favorite, so are the “Adana Kofte”, “Suzme Yogurt”, “Findik Lahmacun”, “Patlicanli Pide” and “Gavurdagi”. Don’t forget to eat “Dondurmali Irmik” for desert. Web: www.kosebasi.com

Hunkar

If you are in Nisantasi and looking to get delicious Turkish home cooked meal, Hunkar is the place to go. It welcomes mostly businessman during lunchtime, and offers an extensive selection of food at the open buffet. “Hunkar Begendi” which is broiled beef chunks served over rice and mashed eggplant is a favorite. Don’t try anything but the warm “Irmik Helvasi” (one of the best in Istanbul) with vanilla ice cream and Turkish Coffee for desert. Address: Mim Kemal Öke Sokak No :21

Dolce

Dolce White Chocolate Cake

This hidden small gem in Kurucesme is run by one of the best caterers in Turkey. She also keeps a small cafe for guests to enjoy the best brownies and chocolate souffle in the city. It is best when you enjoy them in the afternoon with a turkish coffee. Looking directly at the Bosphorus from a high floor-to-ceiling window, Cafe Di Dolce makes visitors feel like they are back in their cozy living room. Every detail here is the work of an extremely talented and pefectionist owner. Besides the deserts at the cafe, birthday/occasional cakes are taken by order only and are strongly recommended. Everything from the flavor to the cookies placed on the top can be personalized. The ingredients are seasonal. If you are in during the peach ripening, choose nothing else but white chocolate and fresh slices of peach inside. Web: www.alladolce.com

Passion

Passion Cafe Cheesecake

A romantic cafe/restaurant located in Yenikoy. The working fireplace inside keeps the place cozy during winter and the terrace outside is great for summer. Dinner especially recommended for couples. The cheesecakes are one of the best in the city. Address: Köybaşı Cad. No: 78 Yeniköy İstanbul

Bebek Balikci

The most well-known seafood restaurant located in Bebek. Summers are great on the porch which sits right on the top of the Bosphorus with an amazing view of the Asian side. Web: www.bebekbalikci.net

Lucca Bar

Lucca Istanbul

Located right across from Bebek Balikci in Bebek, this bar/restaurant is famous for evening happy hours starting on Thursdays until Sundays. Web: www.luccastyle.com

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