The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 4 — 2013
2
Editorial | Anna Andersen
WELCOME TO OUR GARGANTUAN ELECTION GUIDE ISSUE!
TOURIST OF THE YEAR
E
Y
OUR
ER
Missing
FA C
E H
that we’ve managed to include all of the parties running in the upcoming elections, but we can be fairly certain that the few missing ones won’t collect enough signatures of support by April 12 to make it onto the ballot come April 27. Heck, at least one of the parties was trying to collect signatures from the makeup artists at our cover shoot. It really wasn’t until I stood there at that cover shoot, on the day before print, that I started to appreciate the fact that all of these parties were running and what that meant. A wonderful feeling came over me as I watched all of these would be leaders or representatives proudly posing for our cover photo. If the polls are anything to go by, few will go on to get a seat at the table, but this seemingly obvious fact didn't prevent them from caring and feeling empowered enough to create a party and make their ideas heard. And even if they don’t go on to gain any seats, their ideas are worth considering as the nation attempts to rebuild after the crash. Now, dear voter, it’s time for you to do your part. Turn to page 14 to see our Election Guide, which will hopefully help you make heads or tails of it all. If you’re not a voter, you should still turn to page 14 and enjoy some insight into Iceland’s political climate today.
Issue 1 × 2013 January 11 - February 7
Your Free Copy
We are now officially accepting nominations for “Tourist of the year 2013.” Please submit your nominations to editor@grapevine.is to be considered. We will read them, post them to our website and print the best one come next January. Note: To be eligible, the tourist (this can be you) must have visited Iceland in 2013.
T M HE US G IC RA AW PE V AR IN DS E
ANNA’S 23RD EDITORIAL Little did we know what we were getting ourselves into when we set out to make an “Election Guide” this issue. For at least a decade now, the same four political parties have been running for parliament. Although there have always been some wildcard parties, and there was an influx of them in the 2009 post-crash election, never before have there been this many vying for seats in parliament. We did our best to keep track as the parties popped up left and right, but we were often confused about how many there were and whether or not we should be taking them all seriously. It didn’t help that one of them, Flokkur heimilanna (“The Household’s Party”), announced itself on April Fools’ Day. At that point we had already sent a rather lengthy questionnaire to 20 parties and we wanted to believe that any new party was a joke. It turns out, however, that they are no less serious about running than the other 12 or 13 parties that had responded to our questionnaire, each of them with unique ideas on how Iceland should be run. In the end, we can’t be completely certain
WILL YOU BE GRAPEVINE’S ‘TOURIST OF THE YEAR 2013’?
See more soon on www.touristoftheyear.is
TRACK OF THE ISSUE
FUN TRIVIA QUESTION! Taken from the educational trivia game Instant Iceland Q: Who was the only wartime leader to visit Iceland during World War II?
A B C
Nóra – Kólbítur
Winston Churchill Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler
Download for FREE at www.grapevine.is
As the old saying goes, families that play together stay together and Iceland is a pretty family-friendly place! Sibling-based bands sure are darling, too. We took one of our favourites out on a date for this issue (See On A Date With Retro Stefson on page 44) and now we’re very privileged to be giving you a track by a band with a brother & sister at its core. The similarity ends there though! Nóra have been coming into their own for a while and rapidly maturing since their debut album in 2010. This track off their brand new album ‘Himinbrim’, released on March 24, creeps and crackles its way in and eventually builds to booming heights of broodiness. Take a listen and you know, maybe buy their album? Do it!
Turn to page 31 for the answer!
Hafnarstræti 15, 101 Reykjavík www.grapevine.is grapevine@grapevine.is Published by Fröken ehf. www.froken.is Member of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association www.saf.is Printed by Landsprent ehf. in 25.000 copies. Editor In Chief: Haukur S Magnússon / haukur@grapevine.is Managing Editor: Anna Andersen / anna@grapevine.is Editorial: +354 540 3600 / editor@grapevine.is Advertising: +354 540 3605 / ads@grapevine.is +354 40 3610 Publisher: Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson / hilmar@grapevine.is +354 540 3601 / publisher@grapevine.is
Contributing Writers: Snorri Páll Jónsson Úlfhildarson Kári Túliníus Catherine Fulton Róbert Marshall Svandís Svavarsdóttir Mark Asch Brikir Fjalar Viðarsson Bob Cluness John Rogers Elli Thor Magnússon Anna Millward Journalist & Listings editor: Rebecca Louder / rebecca@grapevine.is Sigurður Kjartan Kristinsson/ sigurdur@grapevine.is Editorial Interns: John Wilkins/ johnwilkins@grapevine.is Puja Matta / puja@grapevine.is On-line News Editor Catharine Fulton / press@grapevine.is Art Director Hörður Kristbjörnsson / hoddi@grapevine.is Design: Guðmundur Úlfarsson / giu@grapevine.is Photographer: Alísa Kalyanova / www. alisakalyanova.com
Cover by: Döðlur
Music Manager: Bob Cluness / bob@grapevine.is
Photo by: Baldur Kristjáns
Sales Director: Aðalsteinn Jörundsson / adalsteinn@grapevine.is Helgi Þór Harðarson / helgi@grapevine.is
Make up: Harpa Káradóttir: Rakel Ásgeirsdóttir
Distribution manager: distribution@grapevine.is Proofreader: Jim Rice Listings: listings@grapevine.is
VOTE FOR PEDRO An unprecedented number of political parties plan on running in the upcoming parliamentary elections, from seasoned class leaders like The Independence Party and the Left-Greens to fresh-faced newcomers like "Dawn" and "The Rainbow Party" (!). But who should we trust to lead Icelanders into prosperity and create a fair, just society for all? In an attempt to figure it out, we went and made a massive election guide for y'all to pore over. Check it out! Page 14.
Issue 4 • 2013 • April 5 - May 9
SEE BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO FROM THE COVER SHOOT AT WWW.GRAPEVINE.IS
Submissions inquiries: editor@grapevine.is Subscription inquiries: +354 540 3605 / subscribe@grapevine.is General inquiries: grapevine@grapevine.is Founders: Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson, Hörður Kristbjörnsson, Jón Trausti Sigurðarson, Oddur Óskar Kjartansson, Valur Gunnarsson
Assistance: Hulda Halldóra Tryggvadóttir Special thanks: Kex Hostel Hjörtur Hjartarson
The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18 times a year by Fröken ltd. Monthly from November through April, and fortnightly from May til October. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers. The Reykjavík Grapevine is distributed around Reykjavík, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Seyðisfjörður, Borgarnes, Keflavík, Ísafjörður and at key locations along road #1, and all major tourist attractions and tourist information centres in the country. You may not like it, but at least it's not sponsored (no articles in the Reykjavík Grapevine are pay-for articles. The opinions expressed are the writers’ own, not the advertisers’).
GEOTHERMAL STEAM ROOMS
Be in your element
THERMAL BATHS SAUNA
Visit the Laugarvatn Fontana wellness centre. Relax in steam rooms over a natural hot spring and open air thermal baths. Afterwards try local delicacies in our café. Ask us how the locals at Laugarvatn use the steam baths!
The perfect rest stop between Thingvellir and Geysir Opening hours: Weekdays 13-21 and Weekends 11-21
Make sure your Golden Circle tour completes the geothermal experience
www.fontana.is