Author: Valur Grettisson
Just Sayings: “Of Seint Í Rassinn Gripið”
Here’s one idiom that suddenly became inflammatory because of #MeToo. It literally means “too late to grab that ass.” I…
How Iceland Celebrated Halloween Before There Even Was Halloween
Halloween nears, and from the hearts of all the old Norse, you’re welcome. The holiday has its roots in old…
37 Murders In Iceland Over Past 20 Years
There have been 37 murders committed in Iceland in the past twenty years, according to Minister of Justice Áslaug Arna…
Grapevine Playlist 18: The Soul Of The Beat
by Hannah Jane Cohen, Valur Grettisson and Lea Müller
Moses Hightower – Lyftutónlist The Icelandic kings of soul, Moses Hightower, are back—with a vengeance, but with a piece of…
Icelandic Executions: Punishing The Weak
When looking at the gruesome history of Icelandic executions, one detail stands out, and it’s unfortunately one that is echoed…
Just Sayings: Rassgat í bala
Ever been so broke that you didn’t even own your own butt in a tub? Introducing the most colourful term…
Hlynur Pálmason’s ‘A White, White Day’ Heads to the Oscars
It’s official: Hlynur Pálmason’s ‘A White, White Day’ will be Iceland’s contribution to the 2020 Academy Awards. The film, Hlynur’s…
The Pepsi League
The sore losers in FC Valur want to extend the football season in Iceland, but it’s around five months today….
Frosti Gringó: Binging Bukowski While Battling Evil Forces
Frosti “Gringó” Runólfsson is a well-known musician and filmmaker in Iceland as well as a larger-than-life figure. He is also…
Get Your RIFF On!: The Grapevine Picks
by Lea Müller, Valur Grettisson, Andie Sophia Fontaine and Hannah Jane Cohen
Cinephiles assemble! RIFF, The Reykjavík International Film Festival is back and will be bringing some much needed visual content to…
Just Sayings: Að Tefla Við Páfann
“Að Tefla Við Páfann” is probably the first idiom that many Icelandic kids learn. It literally means “playing chess with…
The Sailor’s Guide To Icelandic Superstitions: Sea-Faring Edition
So you want to be a sailor, eh, matey? Well, not so fast. There are a few ground rules we…
The World Is Like Inflight Smoking
Think about it like this: the world is like inflight smoking. You remember that time? Probably not, unless you were…
Ásbyrgi: In The Footsteps Of Sleipnir
There are few places in Iceland that Icelanders love as much as Ásbyrgi. The myth says that the unique area…
Music News: Tangerine Dream, Airwaves, & Björk
by Valur Grettisson, Sam O'Donnell and Lea Müller
One of the biggest icons of electronic music, Tangerine Dream, has painted stadium-sized soundscapes for no less than half a…
From Hair To Eternity – The City’s Best Hair Salons
by Sam O'Donnell and Valur Grettisson
Unless you plan on looking like Tom Hanks in Castaway your whole life, at some point, you’ll need a haircut….
Artist Playlist: Obscene Bass And Crazy Drummers
Elvar Smári Júlíusson made a splash two years ago with his debut album ‘Ljóstillífun’, released under his artist name Án….
Grapevine Playlist: Sin Fang, gugusar And Björk vs Fever Ray
Alexander Jarl – Marbella Alexander Jarl announces himself in classic Jason Derulo-Style and then takes us on a trip to…
Editorial: The Race For A New Airline
Iceland is still trying to recover from the very expected bankruptcy of WOW air earlier this year. The summer high…
Just Sayings: “Heimskt er heimaalið barn”
This saying is pretty basic. In English, it means ‘a homeschooled child is a stupid child.’ Sounds rough, but this…
Food Of Iceland: Hamburgers
Although Icelanders consider shark meat their country’s traditional cuisine, in reality, the truly traditional Icelandic food is the old-fashioned, fat…
How Does One Become Lord Pusswhip?
by Valur Grettisson and Þórður Ingi Jónsson
Þórður Ingi Jónsson, or Lord Pusswhip, is definitely an oddball when it comes to music. He is one of the…
Grapevine Playlist: ZÖE, Stefán Elí, PORT & More!
ZÖE – Summer Funeral Zöe will be the perfect medicine for those who once loved Evanescence but maybe won’t admit…