The Eastern Mediterranean is special because of those who call it home. They are the ones you will find here. We will take the time to speak with them, listen to them and bring their stories to life.
Filmmaker reflects on his inside glimpse of Lebanese elite
Perched on a mountaintop overlooking Beirut skyscrapers and the glistening Mediterranean, the Torbay family sits on their patio brainstorming how to market spaghetti as a fast food item at their mall near the Syrian border…
An Inside Look Into Greek Olive Oil: Part II
Having studied in Italy and honed her olive oil tasting skills there, Cristina is well placed to reflect on the differences between the Greek and Italian olive oil industries. “I believe Messinia is the Tuscany of Greece so I tell people this story,” she says setting the scene for her lesson, “In the 15th century, Lorenzo de Medici did an agreement that established the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for olive oil and wine products from Tuscany…
Tech on the Med: Greek startups learn to swim
Lucy Xu left her job working in the New York City startup scene after visiting Greece for the first time on a solo trip in 2016. Telling Levendeia how she fell in love with the culture and lifestyle she confessed, “I was determined to find a way back.” …
An Inside Look Into Greek Olive Oil: Part I
Greece produces on average around 300,000 metric tons of olive oil per year. It is the world’s third largest producer of olive oil, behind only Spain and Italy. Not only is the product the country’s fourth largest export by value, but it is integrally linked to Greece’s heritage, culture, and cuisine…
The Greek Village Drink Gaining Ground
When 24 year old Athenian Katerina Dimitratou plans for a night out with her friends tsipouro is her drink of choice. “I go for tsipouro because you can drink a lot without any accident,” she told Levendeia facetiously. “Young tourists I meet in Greece prefer ouzo, but Greeks of the same age they prefer tsipouro.” …
Rumi café in historic Jordanian neighborhood
Ayman Taqatqa, owner of Rumi Café in the hip L’weibdeh neighborhood of Amman has been staring at desolate bistro tables and chairs for months now. But make no mistake about it, desolate is not normally how one would describe Rumi Café…
Thessaloniki restauranteurs taking Greek products global
Following in the footsteps of businessmen from his country, Thomas Douzis emanates a certain creative flexibility common in Greece and the Mediterranean…
Startups with serious style
Nestled amongst the art nouveau and neoclassical buildings on the humming Meşrutiyet Caddesi of Pera Istanbul lies Cornedor Erkek Kuaförü...
Transportation runs through the heart of Istanbul
With a population exceeding 15 million people stretched across two continents and an urban landscape bisected by one of the world's busiest international shipping lanes, navigating the city of Istanbul can be a daunting task…
Beirut hotelier reinvents family estate
Beirut is no stranger to tasteful boutique hotels. Villa Clara, the distinctive blue french colonial period building in the boho neighborhood of Mar Mikhael comes to mind. So too does Hotel Albergo…
A Mediterranean Enclave in New York
On a busy Saturday afternoon in August moped riders donning djellabas buzzed the streets and languages from across the Balkans could be heard at lunch tables. If anything, the changes to the neighborhood have only added another layer to its distinct Eastern Mediterranean make up…