Life 101
My existence in Reykjavík is almost entirely confined to 101, the downtown postal code where I live, work, eat, drink, sleep and hang out. It’s where I do practically everything
Sour Grapes & Stuff
Most Awesome Letter of the Issue I am so irritated, furious, incensed, etc about something that I have to vent. I am a former employee of one of the aluminum […]
The Only Way Is Forward
Here in Iceland interest in the American Presidential Election is considerable. As one of the world’s leading nations, we look to America for our future. America’s gove
Awkwardly Awesome!
A not so authentic seagull “ca-caw, ca-caw” steals my attention as I wait outside a whale watching tour office at the Reykjavík Harbour. I initially write it off as a [&hellip
The BBC Has A Heart-To-Heart With A Bruised Nation
This month Peter Day of the BBC World Service attempts to get to the bottom of Iceland’s so-hailed miracle economic recovery. Interviewing Icelandic officials, businessmen, write
Andri Snær Magnason: The First Capitalist-Realist Poet?
For a wily writer who has always known his market, Andri Snær Magnason is late again. Three weeks have passed since his publisher’s deadline for the manuscript of his next [
Shine A Light
A media organisation called Associated Whistle-blowing Press has just launched a site called Ljost.is (ljóst is Icelandic for “clear” or “illuminated”). Its objectives are
Does Icelandic Music Need More Support?
When the crowds gather in Reykjavík for this year’s Iceland Airwaves, Alþingi may not be the first item on their sight-seeing ‘to do’ list. But a handful of Members of [&he
Oley, Oley, Oley, Oley!
On Thursday night, Iceland secured its place in the UEFA Women’s Championship finals next summer with a 3-2 victory over Ukraine. A record number of people to attend a women̵
Anyone Can Be The One
Though she’s never been to Iceland, artist Tracey Moberly can relate to the residents of Reykjavík. In 1999, Tracey co-opened the Foundry in an old two-story bank building in Sh
Please, Please, Please Stop Calling It “Crowdsourced”
We had a pretty historic election here last Saturday that has received a considerable amount of international attention. In case you missed it, Iceland had a referendum on whether
The Discovery of Amsterdam (or Reykjavík)
Since I arrived in Reykjavík nearly a month ago, I’ve penned about 50 to-do lists. This isn’t because I have so much to do; I really don’t. Nor is it […]
Iceland’s Article 36
Long before the Miss World crown was a mere glint in her eye, Linda Pétursdóttir was unafraid of speaking up. When she was ten years old, her family moved to […]
The Battle Of Iceland
This coming Saturday a referendum will be held in Iceland. The people can say yes, we think we need a new constitution, or no, we think the old one is […]
Farewell Jóhanna
Iceland’s incumbent Prime Minister and longest serving active Member of Parliament Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir announced her retirement from politics at the end of September. In a
So What’s This Icelandic Drug Smuggling Ring I Keep Hearing About?
Which one do you mean? There is the most recent one in Denmark. The Icelandic gang was caught with 35 kilos of amphetamines, and half a kilo of ecstasy. According […]
Peace Light Pollution
So it has come around again. This week saw Yoko Ono-Lennon return to this fair isle to relight the Imagine Peace Tower on Viðey in the memory of her late […]
The Other, Other Red Meat
When I inevitably return back to the States, the first thing my friends and family will ask me about will be what sort of “adventures” I got up to. Californians […]
Where Has The Love Gone?
Music pounds from a handmade, wooden DJ booth, friends congregate on a set of vibrantly painted picnic tables and local artists fry up Icelandic pylsa on a small, stone grill. [&he
Not So Fast
Laugavegsreitir’s Project Manager Hannes Frímann Sigurðsson paints a slightly different picture. Hannes does not deny that they’re going through with plans to develop the are
Whoops-a-daisy, I Fell Down!
You’ve probably noticed it too. Icelanders who go downtown after midnight on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night tend to drink like college freshmen who aim to become dead drunk