Maximum: because whatever it is that you’re thinking, you’ll find it here to the maximum. Joy, food, spirituality, beauty, traffic, stress, materialism, trouble...you ask for it and Istanbul will deliver it! Maximum.

Scrappy. You’ve got to be resourceful, fast, and sly to stay alive in that jungle.

Historically it’s been the Beyoglu district—a neighborhood which sits on the northern side of the Golden Horn. It’s a vibrant place which was home to many artists. It has beautiful architecture, amazing restaurants, and nightlife. Some of the oldest gathering places of Sufism and some of the most prominent churches all intermingle in Beyoglu. For me though, it’s the Bosphorus strip and all the little neighborhoods that line the waterfront. They have a few things in common: a central mosque or church in what loosely resembles a neighborhood center. A few cafes for tea, coffee, backgammon and breakfast, plus a bakery, a casual seafood restaurant and a few giant old plane trees. Kanlica, Anadolu Hisari, Pashabahce, Ortakoy, Rumeli Hisari, Arnavutkoy, Sariyer.

Riding the ferries with a good stash of desserts I picked up from Eminonu...one of the oldest neighborhoods with some OG shops. (Right next to the grand bazaar!) I rode those ferries all through 6-11th grade. Early in the morning, you can feed the seagulls chasing the ferries (not cool for wildlife but those things are not wild...haven’t been for a long time) they’ll catch the sesame ring breads in mid-air. Sunset from the ferries! OMG. Best view of Istanbul. You can see the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and so many other iconic places, depending on what line you’re riding. I strongly recommend grabbing outdoor seating on the ferry.

Concerts. All these old churches and cisterns are often home to very prestigious concert series. Basilica Cistern, Hagia Irene. I saw my teachers from the conservatory perform in these places. Magical.

Seagulls. And the pre-dawn Call to Prayer -- but only if it’s a good muezzin (singer). This sound even inspired me to compose an instrumental piano piece a while back titled “Call to Prayer.” I’m not a particularly religious person, but the Call to Prayer can be a very enchanting thing to wake up to.

Roasted chestnuts from a street vendor in winter. They’ll serve it in small paper bags, which you can put in the inside pocket of your jacket — so that you also get warm while you eat them one by one.

Raki (a clear brandy made of distilled grapes, flavored with anise). No doubt. Have lots of appetizers with it. Sip it, don’t slam it. No need to order an entrée. Just many tiny bites of meze (appetizers) and tiny sips spread over a long night of conversation with good company.

It’s really hard to pick just one! There are just so many styles—from traditional sufi, to Turkish rock, Western Classical, Turkish classical, even jazz. It’s an extremely versatile city with a long history in everything. Like I said earlier, you can find whatever you’re looking for in Istanbul.

It’s a beta version. I’m still working on it.