LETTERS
From: sasa@networldtrading.com To: editor@grapevine.is Subject: Augen auf! (So sieht es aus!) www.oliver-klas.de www.buergerbewegungen.de www.moschee-wertheim.de www.auslaendergewa
PEACHES: Somewhere between attitude and Tourette´s
The terms “Canadian” and “schoolteacher” don’t usually go with “porno-sexy hip-hop rocker.” Then again, one usually doesn’t associate “banking conglomerate” wit
A Blend of Entertainment and Pleasure
The late John S. Wilson, who wrote about music for the New York Times for half a century, used an interesting test procedure for measuring the quality of restaurants. His […
Top 8 Books
The problem with lists is that I don´t want to choose between these works because they are so different and they fascinate me for different reasons. The list, in fact, […]
Apathy is a Myth
A workshop on non-violent civil disobedience hosted by Milan Rai and Emily Johns, two long-time political activists from England, took place at MÍR cinema on Vatnsstígur. The inc
SHOULD THE KING HAVE A CROWN?
Some background is needed. The position of president is best defined as a paradox. The role was created at the same time that the country had fought for and gained […]
BALDUR ÁGÚSTSSON
Baldur started his career as a wireless operator on board a fishing boat, and moved on to become an air traffic controller at Reykjavík city airport. Meanwhile, he also set [&hell
ÓLAFUR RAGNAR GRÍMSSON
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the current head of State, elected to the office in 1996 with 40.6% of the vote. His second term was uncontested in 2000. But how would […]
THE BAND THAT ROCKED THE PRESIDENT’S HOUSE
“We kind of kept our clothes on,” says Trabant drummer Doddi about the band’s performance this winter at Bessastaðir, the president’s house. “Though Ragnar did open his
ICELANDERS ON DISPLAY
Taken over a period of two years, the compilation is a small sample from the book titled “Icelanders” (or Íslendingar) by photographer Sigurgeir Sigurjónsson and author Unnur
Giving Away Great Art
5ta herdeildin is playing their second gig of the day. A talented four-piece, lo-fi, folk-influenced, genre-defying band, 5ta play in front of the globe in the pit of City Hall, [&
CAN A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP BE SALVAGED?
Most of the film is set within the mind of the protagonist, played by Jim Carrey, on the night the erasing takes place. It is sort of a film length […]
THE FUTURE´S SO WHITE
This year, though, the weather was sunny if not calm. The rays fell down as the wind blew the flags to full erection, symbolising a vibrant and stormy, but hopefully […]
“Is this paper clip art?”
Upon entering the shop I was surrounded by chunks of lava that you could pick up on your way to the airport. There were abstract landscape paintings that were perfect […]
Standing Still
Name? Birgir Örn Thoroddsen Where are you from? Err…. I’m from the City of Árbær. What are you doing? I’m going to the opening of Paul McCarthys & Jason Rhoads’s [&h
SPEEDING IN THE CAR WASH
I was hired on the spot by the twin brothers who ran the place. Brothers One and Two explained the deal to me, each in turn. I swiveled my head […]
A PUNK ROCK GUITARIST GROWS UP
They would have been surprised that I found Michael Pollock, guitarist for Utangarðsmenn and returning solo artist, at the city library. We talked briefly and agreed to conduct an
BEERMAN´S ODE TO JOY
Then his girlfriend moved in. Turned out she was an avid piano player too. Back in the good old days, I would wait until he wore himself out on repeated […]
ÁSTÞÓR MAGNÚSSON:
Ástþór Magnússon is mounting his third campaign for President now. He first appeared in 1996 when he ran and secured 2.8% of the vote. In 2000 he ran again but […]
GUESTS OR GHOSTS?
Several people owned and lived in Höfði over the next 50 years, among them one of Iceland’s most revered poets and entrepreneurs, Einar Benediktsson. From 1938 to 1951 it house