International Istanbul Biennial, Sep 8 - Nov 4

The 10th International Istanbul Biennial, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSEV), will be open in the city from September 8th until November 4th, 2007. This years Biennial will be under the curatorship of Hou Hanru, currently Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs at San Francisco Art Institute.

The title of The 10th International Istanbul Biennial is “Not Only Possible, But Also Necessary - Optimism in the age of global war”. The venues of the Biennial will be Antrepo 3 in Karakoy, IMC (Istanbul Textile Traders' Market) in Unkapani near the Golden Horn, AKM (Ataturk Cultural Center) in Taksim Square, and Santralistanbul in Sutluce - Eyup.

Cow Parade in Istanbul until October 31st

190 cow sculptures, designed by artists under sponsorship of Turkish dairy company SUTAS, were introduced at the "CowParade Istanbul" festival, organized by Sisli Municipality.

Many Turkish celebrities have designed cow sculptures for the CowParade, the 55th of which will be held in Istanbul. Earlier the event took place in several cities including Paris, New York and Monaco. The sculptures will be on display at Ataturk Airport, and in several neighborhoods as Ortakoy, Bebek and Sultanahmet till October 31st, 2007.

After the exhibition is over, the cow sculptures will be auctioned and the income will be donated to Mother Child Education Foundation (ACEV), and Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA).

Istanbul is Europe's 3rd best city

According to U.S. Travel & Leisure review, Istanbul is ranked the third best city of Europe. The review has carried out a survey in its last issue about the best cities and hotels in the world and Europe, and Florence was chosen as the best city of Europe, than Rome the second, and Istanbul the 3rd in the poll. Istanbul has also been chosen as the 8th among the best cities of the world, and it also obtained the most exotic city title among world's best 10 cities as well.

According to the same survey, Four Seasons Hotel at Istanbul's old Sultanahmet neighborhood was chosen as the best hotel in Europe. The hotel was converted from an old prison into a luxurious hotel right in the heart of the old city.

Candidate for 2010 World Indoor Athletics Championship

Istanbul becomes a candidae to host 2010 World Indoor Championships in Athletics. Another candidate is Qatar's capital Doha and both cities will make presentations in November 2007 in Monaco for the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations).

Sabiha Gokcen Airport privatised

Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul's second international airport located on the Asian part of the city, is privatised. New buildings and annexxes are planned to be built to raise its passenger capacity.

Glass blowing courses, August 12 - 25

You can learn glass making in Istanbul. The two-week intensive courses between August 12-25 will be held at the Glass Furnace (Cam Ocagi in Turkish) for the glassblowing, beadmaking and fusing & kilncasting.