The Biggest Little Pride in the World
As the controversy over gay rights continues to seethe over heatedly and caustically in the United States, like freshly expulsed volcanic lava from Mt. Hekla, here in Iceland coole
Happily Ever After
On July 2, 2008, Katrín Þóra Víðisdóttir and Erla Björk Pálmadóttir became the first same-sex couple to be officially blessed by an Icelandic church, at Melstaðarkirkja i
Contributing to International Welfare
A few years ago, the Icelandic government decided to contribute to international peacemaking and established an organisation known as The Iceland Crisis Response Unit, ICRU . Its a
Investigating The Icelander
Dublin-based artist Fergal McCarthy is currently staying in Reykjavík for a one-month artist residency. Grapevine met him at his studio, drank coffee and learnt about his two proj
Three Years of Fashion
Last weekend, designer shop The Naked Ape celebrated its three-year anniversary. Owned by designer Sara María Eyþórsdóttir, the shop has made its mark in the fashion industry f
The 2 Birds Have Flown
When I tried to catch up with him I realised he was stationed in Denmark so a phone call would have to do. When a female-ish voice answered me, my […]
Re-establishing 101 Reykjavík
It hardly went unnoticed this spring when Reykjavík’s controversial mayor, Ólafur F. Magnússon, appointed musician-slash-jack of all trades Jakob Frímann Magnússon (no relat
Conservation Volunteers
You might not realise when hiking in Skaftafell or climbing Mt. Esja that the trails you are walking on were all built by The Environment Agency Conservation Volunteers. Every summ
The Sweaty Musical Armpit
This summer marks the advent of two exciting releases from two of the scene’s youngest and most promising rock bands. The sophomore release from Mammút, whose 2006 debut corresp
The Artists Have Come Home to Roost
A 10-year reunion of three artists at Kling & Bang GalleryOn July 4, three visual artists will open an exhibition in Kling&Bang Gallery on Laugarvegur 23. This exhibition i
Everyone’s Invited!
Galtarviti is the name of an abandoned lighthouse on the outskirts of the West Fjords. It’s just as remote as it sounds: it can only be reached via a four-hour […]
Re-envisioning Reykjavík’s Transit System
“See, in 1994 or 5, the city of Reykjavík had 430 cars for every thousand inhabitants. Today, there are over 700 cars for every thousand inhabitants. This means that instead [&h
Eco-ethics
In 1990 you wrote an essay entitled “Ethics of Nature”, where you argue that looking at nature from an anthropocentric viewpoint is unethical, and that man’s ration
Riding in Reykjavik
First off, was your decision influenced by environmental reasons or health reasons? I wanted to lose weight and get into shape, but I was very busy and was looking for […]
Shit, Piss, Vomit and Blood. And Cum
That Hugleikur Dagsson interviewCartoonist Hugleikur Dagsson needs no introduction to regular readers of the Grapevine, as he used to contribute regularly to the magazine in the pa
Wanted: Musicans to Support
Tell me a little about this new fund. The Aurora Foundation is a charity fund that was set up by Ólafur Ólafsson and his wife Ingibjörg Kristjánsdóttir one year ago. […
Scenes from the Road: Einar Kárason
On Cars “I consider myself very lucky to have witnessed both the rise and fall of the petrol fuel age,” says author Einar Kárason behind the wheel of his Chrysler […]
Anti-racists Unite
For how long has the Anti-Racist Movement been operating? Since September 2006. That’s when we got permission to found the organisation and decided to try and see how people woul
Young American Radio Sweetheart
The Sound of Young America initially started as college radio show in Santa Cruz. During the early days of the podcast revolution, host Jesse Thorne, America’s favourite radio sw
Lyrical Savages
Actress Brynhildur Guðjónsdóttir is a long-time veteran of the Reykjavík stage. Having frequently crossed thespian-media to star in premier films as well as television and thea