Author: Zoë Vala Sands
Where Was It Shot? Flags Of Our Fathers
Apparently, the next best setting for Joe Rosenthal’s famous Iwo Jima photograph was our own volcanic island—specifically, on the Reykjanes…
The Name Blame Game: The Icelandic Patronymic Tradition Could Disappear Within Decades
When a local mom was inspired to name her daughter Blær after a character from Nobel Prize winner Halldór Laxness’…
The Costco Craze
The U.S. wholesale giant Costco opened in Iceland in May, taking advantage of the retail boom that has slowly grown…
Music News: Sama-sem, Hórmónar, Milkhouse
Milkhouse just released their first LP, ‘Painted Mirrors.’ The Indie dreampop band’s 12 new songs feature captivating lyrics in Icelandic…
Miss Iceland Competition Sparks Debate About Fatshaming And Feminism
The Miss Iceland Competition never fails to cause controversy in Iceland. Most recently, glamour model and IceQueen, Ásdís Rán, was…
Reykjavík’s Cocaine Underworld Reawakens
So far this year, customs agents at Keflavík International Airport have intercepted 20.7 kg of cocaine coming into Iceland, which…
Foreigners Keep Icelanders From Naming Their Horses Curse Words
Turns out those keeping Icelandic horses from living their best name-lives are foreign horse buyers. So says Jón Baldur Lorange,…
Faces Of Reykjavík: Tamara
Icelanders are sometimes said to be reserved. So we at Grapevine decided to do a few of our reserved countrymen…
The Magic Of The Night Shift: Anecdotes From A Sandholt Baker
As the town falls asleep, the streets fill up with the alluring smell of freshly baked pastries and bread. This…
Blast From The Past: Tommaborgari
In this issue’s Blast From The Past, we pay homage to Iceland’s first hamburger joint, Tommaborgari, founded by the forefather…
Faces Of Reykjavík: Húbert Óðinn Huntingdon Williams
You know what they say, there’s no better way to understand a city than by finding out what its locals…
Record Breaking Show, How To Become Icelandic In 60 Minutes, Performed For 500th Time
The hit comedy show ‘How To Become Icelandic in 60 Minutes’ will be performed for the 500th time on the…
Thomas Møller Olsen Brought To Court
Thomas Frederik Møller Olsen is being prosecuted by the Reykjanes District Court today, in a case that shook Iceland to…
Viking Row From Svalbard To Siglufjörður
The Icelandic rower Fiann Paul, and another eight of the world’s fastest rowers, are currently rowing from Svalbard to Iceland…
The Champion
Ever wonder what a day in the life of a champion looks like? Ari Bragi Kárason set the Icelandic record…
Hour Of The Wolf: A DJ Laying Asphalt
“Working in the night is not only working with a different routine—it’s like working a whole different economy altogether,” says…
Time For Pride
“I think I’ve cried every time,” says Eva María Þórarinsdóttir Lange, the six-time president of the Reykjavík Pride management team,…
New In Town: Jamie’s Italian
Hotel Borg’s lavish art deco architecture, filled with Italian paintings and colorful couches, is the perfect place to unwind with…
40 New Acts Added To Iceland Airwaves Lineup
Today, 40 new artists were added to the lineup of the Iceland Airwaves music festival. Among the new acts are:…
Iceland To Import Minke Whale Meat As Not Enough Are Hunted
Only 17 minke whales have been caught in Iceland so far this year, which means that whale meat will have…
Population of Iceland Increases to 344,000!
The number of people living in Iceland increased by 3,850 during the 2nd quarter of 2017, according to Statistics Iceland,…
Environment Minister Björt Ólafsdóttir Advertises Dress In Parliament
Björt Ólafsdóttir, Iceland’s Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, caused controversy after modelling a dress for the fashion brand Galvan…