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Ragnarök Isn’t Here Yet
On the edge of a break, Skálmöld guitarist Þráinn reflects on an eventful decade At the start of 2020, after ten wildly successful years in the limelight, the infamous Icelandic metal band Skálmöld (meaning ‘Age Of The Sword’) will rest for an…
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Police Warn About Icy Roads
Early this morning, the capital area police department released a warning about dangerous road conditions. The icy roads are especially slippery in residential areas, and walking and cycling paths should also be approached with caution, Vísir reports. Over the night, city employees…
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The Vasulka Effect – The Importance Of Having Fun
‘The Vasulka Effect’ is a heartwarming documentary about the lives of the legendary video artists Steina and Woody Vasulka, who are often referred to as the grandparents of the “YouTube generation.” The film, mainly narrated by Steina, begins in the late 50s…
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Green Choices: Greta’s Dream Day In Reykjavík
Unless you’ve chosen to deem the life’s work of thousands of scientific experts to be “fake news,” you’re likely a bit terrified about the climate emergency. And that’s okay. While watching Greta Thunberg sail around the world might give you comfort, you…
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Mandi Pizza Replaces Nonnabiti
Syrian restaurant chain Mandi plans to open a pizza place in Hafnarstræti, where Nonnabiti was located for the previous 27 years. Two months have passed since the legendary downtown location Nonnabiti closed, which at the time came as a shock to Reykjavík’s…
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Icelandair To Increase Automation and Equality
Icelandair plans to increase automation and gender equality, Bogi Nils Bogason, CEO of Icelandair and Managing Director Elísabet Helgadóttir said in an interview with Vísir. The Automation Process “The passenger will do much more by himself in the future”, Bogi says, and…
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Pancake Thieves Take Advantage Of Kind Pancake Bakers
Strangers are taking more than their fair share of free pancakes, which are offered at the gas station N1 in Hvolsvöllur, much to the annoyance of the managers. The witnesses Every morning, the station makes pancakes from ten litres of dough. The…
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Here Comes The Sun (And the Cold)
After a stormy start to the week, the weather has calmed down significantly. The rest of the week looks very promising, with lastingly sunny but cold days over the weekend. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to soak in…
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Horror-Scopes: PISCES IS KING
In HorrorScopes, the Grapevine’s dedicated team of amateur astrologists breaks down your upcoming weeks based on shit like Venus. Aries How do crickets know if they’ve told a good joke? Just some food for thought for your next bathroom session. Taurus Things…
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Airwaves 2019 Tuned In: Episode 2 Of Your Airwaves Daily Podcast Has Arrived
The first day of Iceland Airwaves was a blast! While our six fantastic reporters are out and about to keep you updated on the highlights of the festival, we’re honoured to have with us American radio host and DJ Tim Pogo. He’ll…
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No (Of)fence Bra
Some things simply cannot be explained by science, like what would happen if a person fell into a black hole or why it takes more genes to make a tomato than a human. The bra fence in Southern Iceland along the main…
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New App Seeks To Help You Find The Northern Lights
Ever drove around the countryside for hours desperately searching for the Northern Lights? We have. But fear no more, for a new app has arrived, Hello, Aurora, which will help you find that elusive green squiggle. The data The application was created…
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Increasing Number Of Unlicensed Flights In Iceland
In recent years, Icelandic air traffic has seen an increase in unlicensed flights, especially around the time of the annual national festival Þjóðhátíð. The consequences for these unauthorised operators can be severe, Vísir reports. Check beforehand The Icelandic flight industry has been…
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Hatari To Support Klausturgate Whistleblower Bára Halldórsdóttir
Whistleblower Bára Halldórsdóttir, who recorded the infamous conversation between members of the Central Party and People’s Party at the bar Klaustur last year, can now count on support from Iceland’s world-famous Eurovision contestant Hatari. The band has announced that they will contribute…
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Halldór Eldjárn: Finding Stillness In This Hectic World
Eldjárn—the Icelandic word for “fireiron”—suggests a sort of burning rage, but Halldór Eldjárn evokes anything but. Taking a seat at the Grapevine office, the computer scientist-cum-musician, calm and centered, carefully observes his surroundings. Halldór just dropped his solo album ‘Poco Apollo’ in…
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Artist Playlist: A Dreamy Autumn with Elín Sif
This autumn is a busy time for young singer-songwriter Elín Sif, best known for her up-beat indie-pop tune “Make You Feel Better.” She’s about to drop her debut album as well as play her first Iceland Airwaves gig. Nevertheless, Elín Sif carved…
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Giving The Women Of Icelandic History A Voice: The Reykjavík Feminist Walking Tour
On a chilly Wednesday evening, I stand at the foot of Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason’s statue in front of Alþingi, shivering in unison with six strangers as the wind picks up. We cast knowing smiles at each other, fumbling with our hats in…
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Ask A Scientist: What Actually Happened During The Turkish Raid Of 1627?
One of the most infamous events in Icelandic history is the Tyrkjaránið (The Turkish Raid) of 1627. Although it‘s commonly associated with modern-day Turkey, the raiders in question were in reality from Algiers, part of the Ottoman empire. We reached out to…
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Catholic Congregation in Iceland Growing Rapidly
Since the turn of the century, the Catholic congregation in traditionally Lutheran Iceland has grown rapidly, mainly due to immigration. In 1994, Catholics accounted for 1% of the population, but as immigration accelerated in the 21st century, fueled by Iceland’s fast economic…
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Grapevine Playlist 18: The Soul Of The Beat
Moses Hightower – Lyftutónlist The Icelandic kings of soul, Moses Hightower, are back—with a vengeance, but with a piece of elevator-music (that’s the literal translation of the title of the song). The title doesn’t promise much, but it’s actually some quality music…
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Well, You Asked: I’ll Tell You A Story Of Rock Bottom
What is the best age to hit rock bottom? I’m glad you asked! Frankly though, is there ever a good time to hit rock bottom? With “best” being the superlative form of “good,” you’re grammatically implying that in your opinion, there exist…
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The Icelandic Ghost Manual: Don’t Disturb The Dead, Or Else
Anyone remotely interested in Icelandic folklore knows how to behave around hidden people, elves and trolls: avoid contact altogether. But there exists another, lesser-known species, which is just as wicked as the folk living in the barren rocks. Welcome to the world…
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Ask An Expert: Why Can Icelanders Still Read Their Medieval Manuscripts?
Icelanders are famous for still being able to read their medieval manuscripts. But why is this? We reached out to doctor of Icelandic literature, Dr. Arngrímur Vídalín, for answers: “There are several reasons why Icelanders can still read their oldest literature,” he…
