The Mission is the Goal
“I didn’t pick Iceland. I was assigned it,” says Elder William Ferrell, 22, a native of Utah and a missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose [&he
Connecting Through Music
Musician Will Oldham – sometimes known as Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – has in the past decade or so proved to be an unusually prolific and important voice in contemporary music,
Guantánamo Detainees Released Into Captivity
After three years in military captivity, Rhuhel Ahmed and Asif Iqbal are touring the globe to present Michael Winterbottom’s documentary film, The Road to Guantánamo. It tells t
Best of Kárahnjúkar
As the Kárahnjúkar power plant inches closer to completion, opposition against the project increases. The Reykjavík Grapevine has compiled the major events that have shaped the
The Right to Remain Silent
It’s Tuesday night at a quarter to ten and my family and I are strolling down Laugavegur, one of the busiest streets in downtown Reykjavík. My entourage consists of my […
Independent and Persistent Nation Seeks Political Leaders
Recently I heard someone say that retired politicians were their own partys’ worst nightmares. In the case of Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson, this might be accurate. Hannibalsson has
A Staple of Downtown Shopping
There are certain constants that Iceland has to offer its visitors, places that tourist boards and magazines alike have labelled as must-sees, places like Hallgrímskirkja, the Blu
SOUR GRAPES
ATTN: Bart Cameron editor of Grapevine. Please publish the following letter in whole online and in your next paper, in a conspicuous spot. I was surprised and outraged to see [&hel
An Unnatural State Of Affairs
Magnús Þorkell Bernharðsson is a professor of history at Williams College, visiting his native country to teach a course at the University of Iceland. Debates rage worldwide on
“Don’t Make Iceland a Caricature of American Capitalism”
Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson is one of Iceland’s most experienced politicians. The former leader of the Social Democrat Party was a Member of Parliament from 1982-1998 and served as
Give Me Consensus or Give Me Death!
A society of absolute consensus could be desirable. Imagine the convenience of walking into a record store that only stocked your favourite releases by your favourite artists. Or w
Icelandic Whaling: But Is It Science?
While the debate surrounding Iceland’s decision to persist in scientific whaling rages on, Iceland’s plans for commercial whale meat sales, both domestically and for export, re
Old Habits Die Hard
As Reykjavík’s oldest shopping street, Laugavegur, has evolved over the years; old shops have closed while new ones spring up constantly, but locals have always been able to cou
SOUR GRAPES
Dear Reykjavík Grapevine editor/journalists. On the back page of Fréttablaðið on the 3rd of September Mr. Davíð Þór Jónsson writes an article which in my opinion he rightf
A Witness to the Execution
Television reporter and aviation-enthusiast, Ómar Ragnarsson recently published an open letter in Morgunblaðið where he invited local V.I.P.s on a guided tour of the area affect
Halló Akureyri!
How To Make a Small Town Sweat Downtown Akureyri, just past midnight – I found the fast food stand Nætursalan already packed. In a single huddle, leaning against the glass [&hel
Look Out, Reykjavík!
If you read the last issue of the Grapevine, well, you’re probably not alone. Ever since I arrived in Iceland (admittedly, only just over a week ago) I have been […]
A Building As Honoured As Its Inhabitants
The oldest secondary school in Iceland, Menntaskólinn in Reykjavík (MR), which is perched on the small hill by Lækjargata, won’t go unnoticed when you walk through the city ce
“Beware the Óvissuferð”
For the past few months I have been chronicling my immigration to Iceland, and the cluster-fuck that it has been, right here in the Grapevine. Lately, though, things have started [
A Cult Called KR
“I try to attend all games, it doesn’t matter who they are playing. You see, this place is my second home and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in […]
Reality Check
I flew to America on a Tuesday, pretty much due to bad timing. Tuesday, in Iceland, is Rock Star: Supernova night, when we find out who’s likeliest to get voted […]