taksim-square-istanbul1.jpg

Gezi Park Stays, Turkish Court Rules

Istanbul’s Gezi Park is currently safe from being demolished to make way for a re-development scheme pushed by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. In early June, a court ruled in favor of the project’s opponents, when anti-government protests were at their peak, but the ruling was only recently released.

Eggplant-and-Tomato-Gratin.jpg

Baked Eggplant Slices in Tomato Sauce, Vegewarian RECIPE

  Umm…remind me, what’s vegewarian again? It’s enjoying plenty of  sustainable, local, and delicious vegetarian foods, with meat dishes only once in a while. As summer climbs towards its peak hot weather, hefty eggplants and tomatoes make a natural partnership in savory dishes like this one. Using the blender, the sauce takes little effort, and […]

Middle-East-postcards.jpg

Embracing Analog: Postcards From the Middle East

Here in Amman, Jordan, personal mail gets delivered painfully slow to post office boxes rarely filled.  My banking and bill-paying happens online and does anyone receive letters anymore? Recall those handwritten messages slipped into envelopes and slapped with a pretty stamp? There’s a paradox afoot that might bring them back from extinction.

Abu-Dhabi-Urban-Oasis1.jpg

First Green-Roofed Urban Oasis Planned for Abu Dhabi

Albeit better than neighboring Dubai’s skyline of what renowned architect Frank Gehry calls “cheap” and “anonymous” architecture, Abu Dhabi has grown into a dense urban environment with precious few green spaces.  The municipality aims to rectify that, however, starting with a 19,000 square foot green-roofed “urban oasis.”

Gaza-Fisherman.jpg

If Gaza Goes Dry, Where Will All the People Go?

The United Nations has warned that the Gaza Strip, the small slice of land bordering Egypt and Israel that has been the scene of so much political tension, could be “uninhabitable” as soon as 2016 if serious action isn’t taken to address a chronic water shortage, The Independent reports. If that happens, where will its […]