Cities become the places they are through the people who live in them and give them a distinctive character. Jale Sancak embarks on a quest to find these people. She interviews individuals on the streets, meets with local figures, architects, and civil engineers, street vendors, and the originals from 17 Istanbul neighborhoods. She wanders through the narrow alleys inhabited by the stranded, the illegal, the outcasts, and the impoverished. She strolls along the glittering avenues of the booming city of Istanbul. She searches for traces of the past, the neighborhood myths and legends, and observes the transformation of the vibrant metropolis. With a light touch and a hint of melancholy, she conjures sketches full of life and historical details.