From the Editor’s Chair
This turned out to be the most difficult issue of the Grapevine that I have ever worked on. As I write this, it is eight in the morning, and I’ve […]
The Fallacy of Excess:
How did I get started in the business? As most musicians know, the bass player is the most economic thinking person in the band; they hardly practice and girls can’t […]
Icelandic Heroes of the Silver Screen
Peter Ronson One Hollywood box-office smash and then retirement, Peter Ronson aka Pétur Rögnvaldsson was the ultimate one hit wonder. He landed a role in the big budget Journey t
Amiina
Let’s start with the obvious first question. What’s going on with Amiina? María: There are plenty of things. Too many really. We’re finishing a movie soundtrack and will soo
Unexpectedly Awesome
Chances are that your handy rough guide doesn’t mention this. From the road, it appears that someone has transplanted colourful buildings from the city centre and placed them in
Striking Gold
How likely is it that a foreigner moves to Iceland, builds a sufficient amount of capital, starts a business and becomes a success? In my opinion, it’s not that likely […]
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 […]
Sour Grapes Issue 04 2008
Dear ladies and gentlemen, a friend told me Iceland girls look like fairies. Do they? Kindest regards, Yacine Azzouz Dear Azzouz, Do you mean fairies as in gay, or fairies [&hellip
The Hugest Small Rock Fest in the World
It was almost 3am and the festival was coming to an end. The youngest in the audience had gone home to rest but excited party people had taken their places. […]
From the Editor’s Chair
A friend suggested that I try and write something a little more optimistic on this page. I’ll try, but these are desperate times. But, summer is just around the corner. […
The Underground Kids of Ukraine
“The girl injecting herself in the video was notorious on the streets of Odessa. She was an amazing girl. One of the toughest I’ve ever known. Her dad killed her […]
A Postcard from America
Greetings from America! The weather is lovely here! About 4°C and sunny with just a bit of wind, and the Current Threat Level is only at yellow, according to the […]
The Reykjavik Baby Mafia
“WAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! WAAAAAAAHHHHH!” This is the background soundtrack that echoes and resounds in my eardrums. I hear it sometimes, like now, as I sip my deliciously sweet Swiss
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. […
Sour Grapes Issue 03 2008
Dear Madam/Sir, I am a 49-year-old Sri Lankan bank employee interested in exchanging ideas through correspondence with a likeminded Icelander. With a view to having my pen pal requ
Remembering Bobby Fisher – II
The Circus Comes to Town The arrival of Bobby Fischer as an Icelandic citizen on March 24th 2005 was a strange affair. Firstly there were the circumstances of Parliament granting [
102 Reykjavík:
Vatnsmýri – An Introduction Vatnsmýri is a 150 hectare area which is currently occupied by the Reykjavík domestic Airport. Located a few minutes walk from the commotion of the
From the Editor’s Chair
We have just survived February, the coldest, darkest month of the year. Every time we escape this gruelling period alive, and relatively unscathed, it is cause for celebration. So,
Drink Again!
For years, the most popular television show in Iceland has been a quiz show between the secondary schools in the country, called Gettu Betur (Guess Again). It has been around [&hel
Grapevine Easter Beer Guide
One Friday after work, The Grapevine team gathered together, along with friends and beneficiaries, to sample this year.s Páskabjór (Easter Beer). Although a representative from t
Sparing the Rod
When I was 9 years old my mother put me in jail. She did it after my brothers and sisters and I tried our luck at the five finger discount. […]