Author: Sveinn Birkir Björnsson
There is no Such Thing as a Safe Bet in Filmmaking
Arnaldur Indriðason, Iceland’s best-selling contemporary author; Ingvar E. Sigurðsson, Iceland’s most successful and popular actor; and Baltasar Kormákur, Iceland’s most…
Faulty Logic, Half-truths and Innuendos
“The issue of immigration as such needs to be discussed. We need to decide how we prepare Icelandic society to…
Sugarcubes Reconnect and Eventually Triumph
Some artists are only discovered posthumously. So it seems to have been with the Sugarcubes who returned to perform a…
Happy 50th Anniversary
I bet you are thinking that this title refers to our cover model Bubbi Morthens. You are wrong, although it…
Whaler Down
This November marks the 20th anniversary of the sinking of the whaleboats Hvalur 6 and Hvalur 7 in Reykjavík harbour…
The Real Face of Icelandic Music
How would you go about explaining Bubbi Morthens to an outsider? Lets start with a few facts. He is the…
War is a Priority Consideration – Peace a Secondary
Professor Kit Christensen of Bemidji State University in Minnesota holds a doctorate in philosophy from Purdue University. His main academic…
Yes, He Was the Most Strongest Man in the Universe!
I was writing this masterpiece of an editorial, then the blackout hit and I lost all my data…. I am…
Culture of Constant Change
Ten months ago, Róbert Marshall was selected to oversee an exciting experiment for 365 Media. The largest media company in…
Coffee for the Coffee Enthusiast
The company Kaffitár (i.e. Coffeetear – reflecting the Icelandic habit of asking for ‘a tear’ of coffee) was established in…
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…
Vulgar Display of Re-arrangements
So, Nick Cave had returned to Iceland. Again. As I entered the stadium and saw the assembly of VIPs, celebrities,…
The Times They Are A-Changing
In the two weeks I have been on the job as the editor of the Reykjavík Grapevine, I have repeatedly…
Nick Cave’s Love Affair with Iceland Continues
In October 1986, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds visited Iceland. The visit has long since entered the annals of…
Indian Mango
The recently established Indian Mango, located on a Laugavegur side street, is probably the best addition to the Icelandic restaurant…
Good Intentions Fall Short
In the terminology of “the industry” (read: the entertainment industry), the phrase “to pull a spinal” is reserved for situations…
The Grapevine Guide to the World Cup
Following the FIFA World Cup is an experience rivalled only by the Open Bar and the Mile High Club. Sure,…
Dancing Pigs and Drunken Detectives
“I can’t believe we’re overlooking the most famous restaurant in Reykjavík,” says Ian Rankin, as we sit down. It takes…
A Day In the Sun
“When we get to the airport we’ll make a 15 minute stop to make sure everyone can use the bathroom….
Ask Not What Immigration Can Do For You, Ask What You Can Do For Immigration
The Grapevine has long been a strong advocate of the immigrant population in Iceland. We have brought you news from…
The World Cup could not have come at a better time.
The former Prime Minister and leader of the Progressive party, decided walk away from politics, leaving the rest of his…
The Journalist is More Than a Civic Instrument
Mark Kramer is a journalist and a scholar. He is the writer-in-residence and the director of the Nieman Program on…
Breaking the Chains
The seminal hardcore band I Adapt have been at the forefront of the Icelandic hardcore scene for over five years….
Blackspot Sneaker
The union-made, earth-friendly, anti-sweatshop, cruelty-free and pro-grassroots sneaker. Blackspot sneakers are made from organic hemp, vegetarian leather and recycled tire…
Reading Light Clip
A tiny little spotlight with a clip that you stick on your book cover. It provides just enough light for…