photo courtesy of Flickr Commons

I recently read an article about the effect hosting the Olympic Games would have had on New York if it had indeed won its candidacy.

According to the article, if we had, the Jets would probably be sharing a stadium with the Mets rather than the Giants. The Knicks, now the basketball team for the athletic capital of the world, would probably have won the Lebron James sweepstakes and would have a few championship rings.

As you can see, it’d have had a huge impact on New York. It’d have impacted the athletic culture of the city as well as its traffic, economy, government, everything.

The Olympics, like the World Cup, has a huge effect on its hosting country. But it’s not easy to be elected to be the host. Cities have to map out specific and effective plans on how they’ll build and afford a mass of new buildings and venues. They have to cite why, how, who, what, and where the games will be played. It’s exhausting. It takes planning and it takes luck. But given the past London Olympics, and the great stories that happened there, it’s certainly worth it.

What cities will be hosting the upcoming Olympics?

2014 Winter Olympics – Sochi, Russian Federation

The 2014 Olympics will be the first time the Russian Federation hosts the winter Games. According to the Olympic.org, Sochi will be one of the most compact Olympic competitions in history. There will only be a 30-minute drive between the coastal area of the Games in Sochi, which will host the ice games, and the mountain area of the Games in the Krasnaya Polyana Mountains.

Having won their bid to host, Sochi will build an array of new venues and centers. These include a 40,000-seat Olympic stadium and apartments for about 2,600 imminent athletes and coaches. The budget for the Games is $18 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Sochi beat finalists Salzburg, Austria and PyeongChang, Korea for the hosting rights.

2016 Summer Olympics – Rio Di Janeiro, Brazil

With the recent ending of the 2012 London Olympics, Brazil is gearing up for the next edition of the Summer Games.

Voted as the winner in 2009, Rio beat rival cities Chicago, Madrid, and Tokyo.

The Games require 34 athletic venues when they begin, and Rio already has 18 operational facilities that can serve. According to Olympic.org, eight of those facilities will be permanently altered, seven facilities will be temporary and deconstructed upon the Games’s end.

2018 Winter Olympics – PyeongChang, Republic of Korea

Having lost its bid for the 2014 Winter Games, PyeongChang submitted a bid for 2018. On July 6, 2011 PyeongChang won its bid ahead of Munich and Annecy, France.

Construction for the Games will begin within the year.

2020 Summer Olympics

A host city hasn’t been selected yet but the three finalists are Istanbul, Tokyo, and Madrid.

Let the Games begin.

-Nick Gallinelli

By Megan McGibney

It is said the world’s three greatest cuisines are French, Chinese and Turkish. While Downtown has plenty of the first two, it could use more of the latter.

Luckily, Soho is set to get a Turkish eatery of its very own Nov. 15, when the Midtown hotspot Pera Mediterranean Brasserie opens its Downtown version: Pera SoHo. The award-winning restaurant known for its elegant décor and softly lit dining rooms intends to provide this fashion-centric district with some of Turkey’s finest cultural dishes.

“I think it’s proven to be a great concept,” said owner Burak Karacam of his eateries. “Whether it’s the décor or the music that’s soft to people’s ears, it’s a very refreshing take on eastern Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine.”

Karacam hails from the country’s capitol, and the restaurants derive their name from one of Istanbul’s more eclectic neighborhoods. Since the 17th century, the place has been home to many non-Islamic cultures, including Italian, Greek, Jewish, Armenian and French. It was in Pera that these groups resided and set up their businesses, and it is at Karacam’s restaurants that a blend of eastern Mediterranean cuisine comes to life.

Pera’s menu mainly consists of Mediterranean staples like olive oil, zucchini, eggplant, beans, seafood and lamb. Dessert fans may mourn the lack of cake, but will rejoice at Pera’s selection of puddings and baklava.

Pera SoHo,designed by DYAMI architects with décor overseen by Karacam himself, will include a lounge area up front with a doorway leading to a garden, which will be open to patrons beginning in April. In addition, during the warmer months, private parties can go to the rooftop and watch the sun set before going downstairs to sup in a dining room that can seat 105. Karacam chose 54 Thompson Pl. for Pera SoHo because of the lack of neighboring tall buildings and the chance to be on the cutting edge of dining habits.

“I think Soho is making a comeback in terms of dining,” he said.

When it comes to making Pera SoHo different from its Midtown relative, Karacam is contemplating whether to make a quarter or a third of its menu different. The Downtown kitchen will be headed by the Turkish/American duo of Metin Calisir and Nathan Crouser.

As for the possibility of more Peras, Karacam said, “It’s not something we are against, but currently the focus is on getting this one up and running and reaching its potential.” After that, Karacam will look around for a new place for New Yorkers to experience one of the world’s greatest cuisines.

Istanbul native Burak Karacam in front of his yet to be opened Pera SoHo. phOTO BY Megan McGibney. Pera’s Downtown location will be similar to its uptown haunt, located on Madison Avenue. PHOTO courtsey of Pera Mediterranean Brasserie