Lake Sevan has long been the summer escape for Armenian families, a place for lazy beach days, splashing kids, and picnics that stretch into golden evenings. Now, the lake is heating up in a new way, with sailing, water sports, sun-drenched cafes, open-air cultural events, and eco-tourism drawing a fresh wave of visitors.

In the aftermath of the Soviet collapse, Armenia’s music scene underwent a dramatic transformation. From the rise of rabiz and estrada to experimental fusion and underground influences, Tamara Khachatryan explores how hardship, freedom and cultural upheaval reshaped the country’s post-Soviet musical identity.

From family kitchens to Yerevan’s cafe culture, coffee has shaped Armenian daily life for generations. Blending personal memory with social history, Tamara Khachatryan traces how “soorj” became ritual, identity and one of the country’s most enduring shared pleasures.

What does “fun” mean for a generation shaped by screens, routine and constant pressure? Moving between personal introspection and cross-generational conversations, Tamara Khachatryan questions whether fun has diminished, or simply evolved into something less visible, but no less real.

In Armenia, while men navigate the harmful habit of smoking with relative freedom, young women are faced with judgment, surveillance and social scrutiny. Tamara Khachatryan examines how gendered expectations shape who is shamed, who is ignored and how societal norms enforce control.

From unlocked doors to unspoken rules, Armenians mark the New Year with seven days of relentless hospitality. Tamara Khachatryan explores the rituals, pressures and quiet negotiations behind a tradition where guests are sacred, and routine is everything.