Ottoman military band will perform in Turkic Cultures and Children's Festival in Houston . Ottoman military bands are thought to be the oldest variety of military marching band in the world. Though they are often known by the mahtar; mehter in Ottoman Turkish in the West, that word, properly speaking, refers only to a single musician in the band. In Ottoman, the band was generally known as mehterân, though those bands used in the retinue of a vizier or prince were generally known as mehterhane, meaning roughly, "a gathering of mehters", In modern Turkish, the band as a whole is often termed mehter takımı ("group of mehters").

Date: September 8-9, 2007 Days: Saturday and Sunday Time: 1 pm - 10pm

Location: City Hall - Herman Square, Houston, TX

Houston Turkish Festival, Turkevi, Turkish Cultural Center

Raindrop Turkevi College Station chapter has organized a graduation dinner for students who has graduated from PhD or Master Programs of TAMU (Texas A&M University). Members of IDSA had a great night with TAMU PhD. and Master Students which will be one of the unforgettable nights in Bryan. That is not because of chig kofte (raw meatball) but the atmosphere. These graduation dinners are good to reunite before summer holiday and also farewell to the ones leaving Bryan due to changes in their academic or business lives. At the end of the party, graduates thanked Raindrop Turkevi to be with them and organize such an event on their happy days.

Raindrop Turkevi congratulates all new graduates and wishes them happy life here and hereafter. (June, 18, 2007, College Station)

Houston Turkish Festival, Turkevi, Turkish Cultural Center

Raindrop Turkevi in Austin hosted a group of Asian students. Students had the opportunity to socialize with each other while enjoying home made Turkish food. After the dinner, catered by the Turkish American Women Association (TAWA), Mr. Sari gave a presentation about Turkey and Istanbul while group enjoyed traditional Turkish coffee prepare by a TAWA volunteer. Various games including table tennis concluded the night.

Mr. Sari, a Raindrop volunteer said after the event that ‘We, as a Raindrop Turkevi, are glad to share Turkish culture with people from different parts of the world. Event was a good chance for students to discover Turkey and Turkish culture. Organizing events such as this are very crucial for dialog and understanding each other. I believe that this event has helped us to enhance our friendship". Also, Mr. Sari added that the Raindrop Turkevi will continue organizing such events which will help to improve relations among societies. (July 18, 2007, Austin, TX)

Houston Turkish Festival, Turkevi, Turkish Cultural Center

Raindrop Turkevi has opened up its new branch in Bryan/College Station area. Bryan Mayor Marc Conlee, College Station Mayor Ben White, The CEO of Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce Royce Hickman, Texas State Representative Fred Brown's Assistant, local church and religous leaders attended to the Grand Opening. The new Raindrop Turkevi Branch will serve to the community in Suite 114 at 4021 east 29th street Bryan Texas 77802.

Houston Turkish Festival, Turkevi, Turkish Cultural Center

Turkish artist Yalcin Gokdag exhibits his work in Houston, Texas.

Date and Time: June 28 – July 27

Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm, closed on weekends.

Location: Level 1 of Williams Tower, located at 2800 Post Oak Boulevard, bounded by Post Oak Boulevard, West Alabama, McCue and Hidalgo Streets.

Entrance fee: Free, open to public

Sponsored by: Turkish Consulate – Houston, Turkish Cultural Foundation, Williams Tower Art Gallery

Houston Turkish Festival, Turkevi, Turkish Cultural Center

Raindrop Turkevi not only sponsored Young Turkmen Scholars I. Symposium but also hosted at its Dallas office. First day of the Symposium started with opening speech of Mr. Kakajan Komurov, PhD. candidate at UTSW. Mr. Komurov has presented his paper about stating a purpose to life. He mentioned that setting a target which is unreachable but walking on that path while you are trying to reach. He issued being professional on each individuals branch. Mr. Komurov stated that you should be so self sacrificed to your area so your death should be the first agenda of that day in the world press. (June, 16-17, Dallas, Texas)

Houston Turkish Festival, Turkevi, Turkish Cultural Center

(June 4,2007,HOUSTON,TEXAS)

Houston Turkish Festival, Turkevi, Turkish Cultural Center

Cultural Center Opens in Bryan 

A center promoting peace around the world has found a home in Bryan. The Cultural Center for Raindrop Foundation and Institute of Interfaith Dialog opened its doors Monday at 4031 East 29th Street. The Raindrop Foundation is a a non-profit organization established in Houston in 2000 promoting cultural activities and offering educational courses to adults and children. The Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID) is a non-profit organization whose primary goal is to help bring together communities of different faiths in order to promote compassion, cooperation, partnership and community service through interfaith dialog and conversation. (June, 6, 2007, College Station)

College Station Center Aims to Bring Cultures Together 

A new venue opening Monday in College Station is part of one man's lifelong goal to increase communication between people of different cultures and religions. Local Turkish businessman Fercan Kalkan said he has dedicated his life to bringing people from Turkey and the United States closer to understanding their differences and their similarities. "It is my belief that only if the Turkish people invest in the U.S. and Americans invest in Turkish people will we understand each other better," said Kalkan, who leads annual trips for local business leaders to Turkey. "The only way I can improve the cooperation is if we see each other's cultures and countries." Kalkan's newest venture is the Cultural Center, which offers space to people of all faiths and cultures wanting to engage in dialogue and learn about different beliefs. (June, 4, College Station, Texas)

Houston Turkish Festival, Turkevi, Turkish Cultural Center

     Every year students from all over the world go to Turkey and contest in nine categories to get the 1^st place. This year 100 countries are represented in 5^th International Turkish Olympiads. As it is known Raindrop Turkevi has hosted 1^st Statewide Turkish Olympiads in Houston on March, 31, 2007. Winners of the Olympiad were sent to Turkey to represent USA and also compete with other students from all over the world in nine categories. Texan girl Katherine Schalagal from San Antonio is competing in singing contest and has been chosen for first 10 in semi-finals. However, only five will be on the stage in finals. A criterion to be chosen for the last five is to get more SMS than others. Hence, please support our contester, and help her to represent USA in Olympiads, which will be held on June, 2, 2007. To support her, you need to contact with your relatives or aquintances in Turkey and ask them to support Katherine Schlagal. If she can get enough votes,  USA will be represented in the singing contest of 5^th Turkish Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey on June, 2, 2007. (May 29, 2007,HOUSTON,TEXAS)