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Lava, Water And Everything In Between: Finding Fire And Ice On The Southern Coast
The words “Fire & Ice” might conjure up thoughts of a certain, off-the-radar HBO show, but on a chilly Reykjavík morning, the phrase took on a whole new meaning for me. At first light, I downed a coffee and zipped up my…
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Hidden Iceland’s Golden Circle: One Ring To Rule Them All
What are the components of a perfect Golden Circle tour? Hidden Iceland, a company founded by three friends, may have perfected the formula—they show their customers the Iceland they’d show a visiting family member. With a maximum of 12 people per tour,…
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Kvartýra №49 Brings Post-Soviet Streetwear To Iceland
Tucked away from the ubiquitous puffin stores and coffee shops of Laugavegur, there’s an oasis at the end of a bright yellow alleyway. There, behind the main drag, is a fish processing centre turned bauhaus artists’ space that today houses a hidden…
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Well You Asked: Hotdogs And Hot Air Baloons
Any tips on how to quickly determine if a familiar face in public (e.g. at the grocery store, pool, restaurant or on the street) is an actual acquaintance or just a famous person? I can’t count the number of times I nearly…
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World’s First Open Sea Beluga Whale Sanctuary To Open In Iceland
Two beluga whales are set to make a journey from China to Klettsvík bay, in Iceland’s Westman Islands this month. The archipelago will house the first open sea beluga whale sanctuary in the world, but some are wary about transporting these whales…
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Ask A Marine Ecologist: What Is The Importance Of Whale Poop For The Ocean?
So much of Iceland’s history and a great deal of current controversy revolves around the largest animals on the planet—whales. But did you know that a pound of “whale poop” could be worth 7,000 USD? We asked Joe Roman, a visiting Fulbright…
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Grapevine Playlist: New Music From Kristín Anna, Högni, MIMRA & More
Like a sudden flurry of shooting stars entering your house through an open window, here are the latest cosmic emissions from the scene—it’s your weekly new music update. Kristín Anna – I Must Be The Devil Kristín Anna Valtysdóttir, the artist formerly…
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Ísafjörður Never Goes South: The award-winning Westfjords festival Aldrei Fór Ég Suður Is back
Since 2004, April means one thing for the people of the Westfjords: the Aldrei Fór Ég Suður music festival. Named after the Bubbi Morthens song of the same name, the name translates to “I never went south.” The festival is in Ísafjörður,…
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Ask A Medieval Historian: Who Wrote Njáls Saga?
Njáls Saga is one the longest of the forty Icelandic sagas written between the 13th and 14th centuries. Many Icelanders can track their heritage to the characters in the sagas. In Icelandic, the word ‘saga’ means both ‘history’ and ‘story’ and the…
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VIDEO: Justin Bieber Not To Blame For Closing Of The Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Earlier today, Grammy Award-winning musician Justin Bieber announced his hiatus from music. Could the shame of mistreating Iceland’s environment be weighing him down? Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, one of the most treasured nature spots of Iceland, is closed to the public until June 1.…
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The Kickstarter Of DesignMarch: DesignTalks Is Here To Spark A Conversation
We may not realise it, but design is in everything we do. The clothes we wear, the beds we sleep on, the food we opt for at a convenience store—everything we see and touch has been crafted by someone else. DesignTalks kicks…
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More Than Minimalism & Wood: ‘Now Nordic’ Redefines Design Notions
In recent years, millennial trendsetters have gushed over everything Nordic on social media. Bookstores have found a niche of selling Nordic design and style books. This begs the question: What makes Nordic design so inviting? The origins ‘Now Nordic’ seeks to answer…
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Artist Of The Year: Eygló Harðardóttir Reflects On Her Career
Eygló Harðardóttir’s art is difficult to classify in one word. A mixed media visual artist, she has worked with wood, glass, and more; explored the features of masks; and made sculptures for bar guests to play with while drinking. Her latest exhibition,…
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Memories Of War: An Interview With Booker Nominee Mazen Maarouf
The first feeling Mazen Maarouf felt when he learned he was nominated for the Man Booker International Prize was panic. “I was happy,” he says, recalling midnight on March 13th—a night when he got hardly any sleep. “But my happiness materialised in…
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Yellow Weather Alert In Iceland Tomorrow
Strong winds of up to 28m/s are expected to hit East Iceland tomorrow, March 22. This comes from the latest alert from the Icelandic Met Office. This yellow alert was released for Northeast Iceland, East Iceland, Eastfjords and Southeast Iceland. The weather…
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Orange And Yellow Alerts For Iceland Today
An orange alert has been issued for South Iceland, Southeast Iceland and Central Highlands. Severe gale-force winds or storms can be expected, with winds up to 30 m/s and gusts near mountains potentially exceeding 40 m/s. Traveling is not advised. Please remain…
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Perfect Day: Face Of The Downtown Scene Skaði Gives Us The Scoop
For Skaði Þórðardóttir, an Icelandic music producer and performer, a perfect day is between 10-15ºC in Autumn, a season that symbolizes new beginnings for Skaði. This is how she’d spend her perfect day. First thing in the morning I would wake up…
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Ask A Textile Historian: What Is The Story Of The Icelandic Sweater?
Wearing this sweater is the proof you need for the world to know that you were in Iceland. An Icelandic lopi sweater is an indicator of quality, style, and survival in colder climates. Given its relatively short history, the sweater has gained…
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Throw Some Glitter, You’ll Be Fine: Gloria Hole Brings Alaska To Iceland
Hjálmar Poulsen—or, as the world knows him best, Miss Gloria Hole—first performed as a drag artist for the guests of her 12th birthday party. Keen to celebrate her 25th year with a bang, Miss Gloria is now preparing for her biggest show…
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Tölting Through Time: How To Ride Like A Viking
Hundreds of thousands of people come to Iceland with a singular purpose: to meet one of the island’s most interesting creatures. It’s not the trolls, the hidden folk, or the elves—it’s the humble Icelandic horse. Famed for their calm and friendly demeanor,…
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Caught Between Two Cultures: María Thelma On Navigating The Film Industry
“You’ve got to be really good at being bad,” says María Thelma Smáradóttir. Over the course of 10 years of studying and auditions, María has experienced her fair share of rejections. But hearing thousands of no’s for every callback only developed her…
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Vigur Island For Sale, Locals Urge The Government To Bid
The island of Vigur, in Ísafjarðardjúp fjord, is on the market and locals want the Icelandic government to buy it. Ísafjarðarbær council is concerned that private buyers would make the island inaccessible to the public. The island in the Westfjords is 45…
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Icelandic Sagas Delivered In 75 Minutes
So here’s the thing, I’m new to Iceland. And while I’m thoroughly enjoying Iceland’s rich art and music scene, there are days when all I want is to be transported back in history. Specifically, between the 9th and 11th centuries, or the…
