Lucas Saves His Franchise and Reminds Us What’s Missing in Pop Cinema
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is imperfect and silly at times, but it still captures most of the magic in the original three Star Wars movies. What […]
Hotel Loftleiðir
Reason we like it: The only indoor hotel pool in Reykjavík has been celebrated by locals for decades. With tasteful ornamental interior design, the small pool and hot tub is [&hel
Nauthólsvík
Reason we like it: One of the more absurd beaches in the world, Nauthólsvík features imported yellow sand, hot water pumped into the ocean, and various seldom-used volleyball cou
Maria Full of Grace: Coming to America Gets an Update
In a year plagued by bloated, soulless, computer driven movie-star disaster epics, along comes a movie so human and powerful it can melt paint. Maria Full of Grace, the first-time
Tips
GETTING THERE: Carcassonne is 460 miles southwest of Paris, about a seven-hour drive, and 60 miles southeast of Toulouse, about an hour’s drive or a 50-minute train ride (a round
What the Hell is Going on with . . .The Progressive Party
Lately the Progressive Party has been reminding me of one of my ex-girlfriends: attractive, sometimes charming and often imaginative, but prone to sending mixed messages and unclea
MOUNTAIN BIKINGFrance
By Day 5, I am well acquainted with my gravity demons. They hover in my ear, taunting me: “Weakling!” They mooch free rides in my backpack and weigh me down. […]
AKUREYRI
In the winter and summer, we get a little jealous of residents of Akureyri, Iceland’s second city. The town of just over 10,000 inhabitants is so picturesque and cosy, while [&he
Crying WolfThe Myth of an Illegal Immigrant Problem
The immigration problem looks to be extremely difficult and threatening in the way all things evil are difficult and threatening: it is vague and unspecific. When asked about the e
Eurovision Guru Páll Óskar Gets to the Bottom of the International Competition
Páll Óskar, singer, performer, and DJ competed for Iceland in Eurovision 1997. He is a huge fan of the competition and knows everything there is to know about this event. [&helli
TOURING THE RING ROAD
The Grapevine asked Harris Schaer, University of Iceland physics graduate student and alternative energy researcher, to tour the Ring Road and give us his take on the experience. B
RANGÁ for a Night or Weekend
If you’ve come to Iceland to relax and have found the Reykjavík nightlife a little overwhelming; or even if you live in the capital and need a quick retreat, you […]
ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSYApril 27 Grand Rokk, supported by Brain Police
But Alabama Thunderpussy, or The Pussy as we have taken to calling them, are well-travelled rockers, and they kept lock-step timing throughout the whole show. Despite the testoster
A Foreigner’s Guide to What to Wear Outside:Into the Great Wide Open
It used to be an unfortunate rule of fashion that you simply cannot look good and stay warm at the same time: you can either bundle up and get laughed […]
GK Reykjavík – Power Souvenirs
Viking boat key chains are frightening. Troll t-shirts are spooky. But GK Reykjavík offers young professionals the power souvenir: business and casual wear that will intimidate th
GRAPEVINE’S PURCHASES THAT JUSTIFY EXISTENCE
1 Fanny packs. In the UK they’re called “bum bags” (do NOT call them “fanny packs” in the UK) and in Iceland they’re called “pungur” (literally, “testicles”), b
Gallerí Gel
“I liked the atmosphere of our old location,” says owner Anna S. Pálsdóttir. “People would come upstairs and do more than get a haircut; they’d be browsing through clothe
Cheaper Calls Abroad
Buy a phone card. Three companies, Atlassími (www.atlassimi.is), Heimsfrelsi (www.heimsfrelsi.is), and Digital Frelsi (www.phone.is) sell pre-paid calling cards. The per-minute ra
Being a Woman in the World of Pope Benedict XVI
The world watched as Benedict XVI was inaugerated on the 24th of April. Many cheered and applauded the new pope, while others mourned. Liberal Catholics, women’s rights groups, g
West fjords Wisdom: SUMMERTIME BLUES
It’s summer. Time to pick up your acoustic guitar, pop the beer bottle, twist the cap and march towards nature’s most secluded locations for serenades, misogyny, and punk rock