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Beating The Blank Page
Creative writers can find community at the University of Iceland’s writing salon Breaking the fourth wall for a moment here, I can tell you, dear reader, that the blank page is the enemy. If you have ever felt the desire to put…
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Reaching New Heights And Feeling Boulder
Unleash Your Inner Spider-Monkey at Klifurhúsið There is something sort of primal about looking up at a big rock, or cliffside, or a tree and thinking to yourself “I could climb that.” That’s when impulse control typically kicks in. I myself have…
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Acrobatics With Attitude: Pole Troupe SEIÐR Bring The Drama, The Comedy, And The Sexy
Back in 2020 a group of pole dance students and instructors came together with a newly awakened thirst for performance. The resulting troupe performs pole arts and dance live on stage, using the pole, hoops (aka lyras), aerial silks, and even actual…
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Fight Like A Knight: Historical European Martial Arts in Reykjavík
About three times a week, the clang of heavy blades fills the halls of Laugardalsvöllur as the local knights of Reykjavík, also known as HEMA club members, don their fencing gear and train to fight with longswords, rapiers, sabres and more. Readers…
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On The Fringes : Learn To Fight, And Have Fun Doing It
The first rule about Combat Arts? You don’t talk about Combat Arts… no wait, that’s ridiculous, because it’s exactly what I’m about to do. I mean, what better way to get the blood pumping and feel safer in your own body? My…
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Horotropes: The Fates and the Furious
Racers, start your engines! This is it! The big race you’ve been training for, the one that’ll clear your family’s name and win you the money you need to pay back that mafia boss. Not to mention solidifying your status as Devil…
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Fire Up Your Lightsaber and Become One With the Force!
The local force wielders present their Saber Academy for enthusiastic Padawans Do me a favor and imagine this intro flying off into a galaxy far, far away: Lightsabers! Not just a popular toy or “an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.”…
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This One’s For The Horse Girlies!
Saddle Up and Enjoy the Ride at Hestasnilld Giddyup and take the reins, it’s time to talk about horses! Iceland famously has its own breed of small but sturdy equines and many sites will offer tours on horseback to make you feel…
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Look Alive, People: It’s time to go out and play
Role playing games of all sorts have made their way into the public consciousness in the last decade or two. Most people have, at the very least, heard of the concept of inhabiting a character online, around a table or even fully…
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I’ve Got No Strings To Hold Me Down!
Ever wondered what the office of the god of creation might look like? After paying a visit to Pilkington Props, I am starting to think there might be a lot of foam, machinery and “body” parts involved. But how do these elements…
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Get That High Fantasy Bling
Émilie Colliar crafts wearable treasure for all your cosplay needs Ever wanted to feel like a wood elf or Westeros royalty while going out for groceries or meeting friends? Boy, do I have good news for you! Something shiny caught my eye…
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These Are The Days Of Your Lives
You have some nerve showing your face around here — may as well read your horoscope Previously on Horotropes: After a season full of romance and blackmail during the family reunion arc, the Zodiacs are now ready to face a barrage of…
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Give’Em The Old Razzle Dazzle
And a 5, 6, 7, 8… will you hit your mark or fall flat? The curtain rises. The stage is set. Adler, Fosse, Sondheim, they roll in their graves. I don’t see this production going smoothly. Musical fans are rabid, not even…
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Horrortropes: Wild West Woes
Slap some bacon on a biscuit and let’s go! We’re burnin’ daylight! WOOOoooOOOooOOOOO. Waaaa waaa waaaaaa. Welcome to Reykjavik, the most rootin’ tootin’ town this side’o the Westfjords. So saddle up, we’re seein’ what lies on the tracks. Spoiler alert, its Pisces.…
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Horrortropes: The End is Noir
Horoscopes can’t be all bad, but these come the closest Case-4-24, it’s been sitting on your desk for a while. You take a slow drag from a cheap cigarette and wipe some stray ash from the dossier. Time to crack this bad…
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Austentatious Predictions on Love
Will you swoon or sink in the month ahead? It’s all in the stars. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single star sign in possession of good fortune must be in want of romantic advice. As experts of love, here’s…
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Nocking It Out Of The Park At Iceland’s Archery Club
Who hasn’t at one point dreamt of dramatically pulling back their bowstring and hitting that impossible mark in the far-off distance, much to the adulation of peers and spectators? In my ongoing exploration of Reykjavík’s engaging endeavors against ennui I have set…
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Horrortropes: Fantastical Fortunes
Don’t fear your fortune (or do, it’s up to you) The Dark Lord Skuggamyrkur’s armies are beating down the forces of light. We are on the brink of collapse. In our moment of desperation, we turn to the Oracle of the Sun.…
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Calling All The Muses
Crafting comedy and crossing creative streams with Sindri Sparkle A poet, a painter and a drag queen walk onto the stage. Sounds like a set-up to an artistic joke until I fix the grammatical error: the poet, painter and drag queen walks…
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Everyone’s Crazy For Crochet
Slow Down And Try Not To Lose The Thread I thought I’d go easy on myself and my readers in this edition of my quest for happy hobbies and intriguing interests. Find something nice, something cosy, you know? I noticed a bunch…
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For The Love Of All Things Medieval
Sword nerds unite at the Society for Creative Anachronism Hear Ye, Hear Ye! I bear thee news of much rejoicing for a new column graces these fine parchment pages, questing for the most notorious of folks and their realms of knowledge and…
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Well, You Asked: A Bumpy Road Ahead
The Grapevine’s finest answer your most pressing questions Why are speed bumps the most terrible thing in Iceland? They might drag the driver’s attention away from their phone screen for even a second when they realise, if ever so briefly, that they…
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Well, You Asked: We’re Not Very Picky Around Here
The Grapevine’s finest answer your most pressing questions What is a food that even an Icelander won’t eat? Your Mo…nah. I can do better. So, Icelanders will put a lot in their mouths — perhaps some things they shouldn’t. A lot of…
