Reykjavík
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Hlemmur The Food Market?
As Reykjavík takes control of downtown bus station Hlemmur, the mayor speculates that it could take the form of a food market. In his weekly newsletter, Reykjavík mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson discussed, amongst other things, the fact that the city will be…
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Skólavörðustígur To Become Giant Waterslide
The downtown street of Skólavörðustígur will have its continuous slope put to better use this July, when it is temporarily converted to a 200m waterslide. DV reports that students from the University of Reykjavík received the green light from City Council for…
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Insufferable German Hipster Creates Reykjavík Videography
A German hipster has put together a short video, wherein he shares his thoughts about Reykjavík. Spoilers: he is less than pleased. The video, which can be seen below, runs a little over a minute and can be best thought of as…
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Police Confirm: You Can Photograph And Record Them In Public
Capital area police have confirmed that, despite the word of one officer, it is actually legal to photograph or video record the police in a public setting. In a Facebook status from capital area police, they clarify the legal position of the…
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Tour Buses Breaking City Guidelines
Despite city guidelines to the contrary, tour buses continue to drive and park in crowded, narrow residential streets. RÚV reports that blues musician Halldór Bragason, who lives in the downtown Reykjavík 101 postal code, has been frustrated with how tour buses continue…
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It’s Official: Laugavegur To Be Closed For Four Months
Reykjavík City Hall has reached a compromise, and downtown’s main drag will now be (virutally) car-free for four months. RÚV reports that after fierce opposition from opposition parties to the majority’s initial plan to close Laugavegur for five months, City Hall passed…
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Photos From Multicultural Day
Hundreds attended yesterday’s Multilcultural Day, celebrating the diversity of Reykjavík’s many residents. Iceland’s capital is home to over 160 nationalities, and a great many of them were represented at the event, which began with a march from Hallgrímskirkja to City Hall. Inside,…
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Multicultural Day This Saturday!
This Saturday, the city of Reykjavík will celebrate the diversity of its residents with the Multicultural Day festival. According to the programme of events, the fun begins with a march down Skólavörðustígur from Hallgrímskirkja at 13:00, culminating in numerous activities at Reykjavík…
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Nasa To Open Again
Famed nightclub Nasa has come out of limbo and will open again soon. Vísir reports that the club is to be taken under the wing of local celebrity Ásgeir Kolbeinsson, well known to Reykjavík residents as almost iconic of the city’s nightclub…
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City Hall Minority Objects To Closing Laugavegur
The opposition parties of Reykjavík City Hall contend five months is far too long to close Laugavegur from car traffic. RÚV reports that a proposal from the Planning and Environmental Council for the City of Reykjavík is being hotly contested in City…
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Vast Majority Of Icelanders Like Tourists
Almost 98% of Icelanders polled on the subject have a positive opinion of tourists in their country, including those who live in areas particularly dense with tourists. Kjarninn reports that, according to a poll conducted by Maskína, only 2.3% of respondents in…
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Reykjavík Shop Gives Away Food To Stop Waste
Small supermarket, Kjöt and Fiskur, on Bergstaðastræti in central Reykjavík, has taken to giving away food products for free on their sell-by-date, reports RÚV. The reason? Owner, Pavel Ermolinski, said that it made his soul feel better, knowing he wasn’t throwing away…
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BEYOND NORMAL THINKING: The Possibilities And Impossibilities Of Kaupthinking
By Snorri Páll Jónsson Úlfhildarson A popular 19th century murder-ballad entitled “Banks Of The Ohio” relays a story of the enamored Willy, who takes his love for a walk “down besides where the water floats.” Lyrical details vary between performers, but most…
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ATMs Emptied Over Easter
Tourism, Easter closings, and confirmation season all converged on a single weekend, emptying most of downtown Reykjavík’s bank machines of any cash. If you were downtown last weekend and wanted to take out cash, you were probably out of luck. RÚV reports…
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Domestic Violence Survivor May Be Deported
An American citizen who divorced her Icelandic ex-husband now faces deportation for “not having enough ties to the country”. “My life is here, and there is nothing for me in the US,” she told us. In September 2011, American citizen Amanda Wood…
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Objects To Closing Laugavegur For Five Months
A representative for some merchants on Reykjavík’s main shopping street objects to a proposal to close Laugavegur from May to October 1. Vísir reports that Hjálmar Sveinsson, chairperson of the Planning and Environmental Council for the City of Reykjavík, has proposed that…
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Plans For Keflavík-Reykjavík Train Drawn Up
The train station for the proposed rail between Keflavík and Reykjavík has been drawn up, taking the dream one step closer to reality. MBL reports that the station is a part of the so-called “master plan” to develop Keflavík International Airport to…
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Eagle Spotted Over Reykjavík
Some capital area residents were treated to a rare sight this morning, when a white-tailed eagle was spotted flying over Reykjavík. While most Reykjavík residents are quite accustomed to seeing seagulls, ravens and (especially this time of year) pink-footed geese in the…
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Whales Of Iceland: Eye-To-Eye With The Giants
Upon entering the newly opened Whales of Iceland exhibition, we are greeted by a life-size orca hanging from the ceiling. As we venture further into the blue-lit room, it’s as if we are underwater. Whales of all sizes seem to be eying…
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Dill Chef Gunnar Karl Makes His Own Salt, Is Inspiring: We Observed
Chef Gunnar Gíslason drives nearly an hour out of Reykjavík to a small bay on Hvalfjörður. As he puts on his fishing hip waders, they crinkle and crack in the cold. The snow falls sideways through the air due to the wind…
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Reykjavík Blues Festival Street Party
This year The Reykjavík Blues Festival celebrates the 100th Birthdays of Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters. The festival starts with a street party for the festival’s ”Blues Day”–playing blues to the folks just bumming around Skólavörðustígur. This year’s headliners are legendary: Bob…
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So What’s This Jailing Of Bankers I Keep Hearing About?
For several years, the internet has been teeming with stories of how Iceland sent their bankers to jail. They are, largely, not true. While a handful of bankers have received jail sentences in the years since the 2008 financial crash, their sentences…
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Total Solar Eclipse Tomorrow Should Be Visible
Tomorrow morning’s total solar eclipse should be fully visible in Iceland, at least in the capital area. Shortly thereafter, the groundbreaking of the Ásatrú temple will commence. MBL reports that tomorrow morning’s weather forecast is particularly favourable for viewing the total solar…