Special Souvenirs
I have always maintained that being a black sheep is not at all as unbearable as people claim. It even appears to be coming into fashion these days, you know, […]
Einar Ben
Located in an old wooden house in the centre of town, Einar Ben is easily one of the most conveniently situated restaurants in Reykjavík. The house itself is a historical [&hellip
Sour Grapes
Re: Myspace vs. Facebook I am an international student and an avid reader of the Grapevine, my only source to interesting icelandic news (or I should say news put in […]
An Enlightening Night
Kristín Magnús has been running her company Travelling Theatre for over 40 years, taking shows all over the U.S. and the U.K. and receiving solid reviews throughout. Since 1970,
Coffee, Buses and Laptops: A Good Mix?
Since the bus schedule as we know it in Reykjavík debuted in the fall of 2005, public transportation has been swamped with problems. Many have criticised the new plan and [&hellip
The Ghost Centre
“Seals are crazy about pregnant women,” the deep, solemn, man’s voice on the CD player whispers in my ear. I am nearing the end of the Ghost Centre tour in […]
“Translating” the “News”
Here in Iceland there is a phenomenon called ‘gúrkutíð’, which if translated directly from Icelandic means ‘cucumber season’. Every summer this label is applied when dis
Charity in the Land of Plenty
A colleague and dear friend of mine, who has worked for many years as a tour guide in Iceland, mentioned to me that every so often a curious tourist would […]
Gay Pride Celebrations Float On
The publication of this issue goes hand in hand with Iceland’s annual Gay Pride festivities, a merry tradition championing gay, lesbian and transgender rights since 1999. The cel
Gló
After a vigorous session of yoga, I can imagine that there are few things more satisfying than a ridiculously healthy meal. Ravaging a thick, bloody hamburger isn’t exactly appea
Q Bar
“Straight friendly” Q Bar is located in the middle of 101 Reykjavík. It has, in the six or so months since it took on its incarnation as a gay bar, […]
Vín og Skel
The statistical truth is that, in any capital city, for every three restaurants that show off with fancy décor, there is one that doesn’t need to. Vín og Skel, tucked […
Quest for the Icelandic Wool
I found the following assertion on one of the websites dedicated to the Icelandic wool: ‘Wool is cool.’ Unchallengeable, indeed. Wool is a source of Iceland’s national pride,
My Date With Jakobínarína
Jakobínarína is a band that in Iceland needs little introduction. Músíktilraunir winners and Airwaves protégés in 2005, Airwaves venue headliners in 2006, and most of them on
Kolaportið Flea Market
You know the saying – ‘one man’s junk is another man’s treasure’. That’s exactly the feel inside Kolaportið on any given weekend. Kolaportið, Reykjavík’s indoor fl
Sex, Lies and Soccer
It always starts the same. That peculiar unease. A muted recognition. The guilty glance from across a crowded room. Love comes in at the eye, Yeats said. Whether you’re Paris [&h
The Return of the Divine Mary
Part romance, part thriller, part theological speculation, The Return of the Divine Mary is a wonderfully eccentric, enchanting read. Traces of William Blake mingle with undertones
Musings in the Garden
Nico Muhly moves like his music. I mean this completely seriously. When he talks, his expressions follow his hands like foreshadow, embellishing his fast words and the sharp inflec
The Festival Where Everyone is a Superstar
While 10,000 Icelanders headed to the Westman Islands for the annual national celebration ‘Þjóðhátíð’ during last week’s Verslunarmannahelgi (The Merchants’ Holiday W
Escaping 101
For all its ambitions, Reykjavík barely qualifies as a city proper. And this is a good thing, as cities are often cold, grey structures that don’t allow for much adventurousness
Island Life: 24 hours on Grímsey
The Island Situated on the Arctic Circle north of Iceland, Grímsey is a small island home to just 95 people, but dozens of large bird colonies. The island is characterised [&helli