Under the Open Sky

The June issue of SALT explores how tradition and reinvention meet across culture, style and taste. We look at the growing comeback of film photography through the lens of Yerevan’s photo labs, feature a visual story of open-air ballet performances in Tumanyan Park, visit Hummus Kimchi, a restaurant blending Jewish and Korean cuisines, and talk to Syrian- and Lebanese-Armenian hairdressers who are raising the bar in Yerevan’s beauty scene. Plus, a photo essay captures the energy and atmosphere of Yerevan Wine Days.

Cover photo by Gibran Caroline Boyce.

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Discovering the Soul of Yerevan Wine Days

Yerevan Wine Days has grown from a modest gathering to a full-blown street festival spanning central Yerevan. A sober writer navigates the music, dance and wine-soaked joy, reflecting on celebration, community and the simple power of shared delight.

It’s Not Just the Food, It’s Also the Hair

Lebanese and Syrian Armenian hairdressers are not only shaping tastes in Armenia’s dining scene but also redefining its beauty industry, blending global techniques with Middle Eastern hospitality to deliver premium service, creativity, and warmth in Yerevan’s top salons.

Hummus Kimchi SALT

Hummus Kimchi: An Unlikely Garage Fusion

In a quiet Yerevan garage, a multicultural family reimagines identity, space and cuisine. Hummus Kimchi fuses cultural heritage with urban renewal, offering a fresh look at community, creativity, and culinary storytelling in a post-Soviet cityscape.

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Toes, Tutus and Twilight: Yerevan’s Ballet Fest

Yerevan Ballet Fest returned to Tumanyan Park, transforming the heart of the city into an open-air stage. With performances by the Bolshoi, Mariinsky, and local companies, the week-long festival brought world-class ballet to thousands under the summer sky.

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Fragile in Nature, Strong in Form: Analog Photography in Yerevan

Amid a digital age, film photography finds new life in Yerevan. This personal journey through snowy streets, underground labs, and passionate communities reveals how analog photography reemerged through creativity, limitation and human connection.