Ske - #15 (English version)

Perfect Day SKE plans your perfect day in Reykjavík, peek inside for further details. #15

On the Reykjavík Marathon A satirical, first-person account of a rather difficult 10 K

Ske.is 28.08 2015—03.09 2015

Your free copy Your guide to what’s going on in iceland

“Both of us dabble on the fringes.”

SKE Speaks with Margrét Bjarnadóttir and Friðgeir Einarsson, participants in the Reykjavík Dance Festival

Ske

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A “Perfect” Day Pt. 15 There is no such thing as perfect. A thing cannot be perfect. But when a thing is sufficiently wonderful we may refer to it as perfect for the sake of emphasis – such a thing is customary. A few days ago, we experienced a day that was wonderful enough to predispose us towards exaggeration, and we are confident that if any traveler were to follow in our footsteps, then they too would feel the same. It was, in all honesty, a perfect day.

1.

Whales of Iceland

Tussauds’ 10:00

On Exercise I am always exercising. I am always wiping the glorious sweat from my brow. I am always hauling my ill-smelling luggage to and from the gymnasium. I am always doing these things because my most trusted ally and companion – my body – has begun to betray me. He has begun to renege on our agreement from when we were teenagers. When we were teenagers, we agreed that I would occasionally transplant my idle behind from the lawn chair – and offer up a sacrifice of brief physical exertion – and in exchange he would assist me in my consecutive, senseless debauchery. Back then, my body did not mind how many cheeseburgers, milkshakes or donuts I ingested, but merely destroyed all of the evidence at once. And if he was unable to immediately expend all of the calories, then he would distribute the remainder evenly – so as to make them imperceptible to the outside eye. When we were teenagers, my body and I would strut through the world like a duet of expert magicians. We were the Penn and Teller of disappearing calories; the Siegfried and Roy of lightning-quick metabolism. We had the whole world fooled. I was the model of dietary restraint and wholesomeness – and my body the sexual envy of the neighborhood #JoeManganiello. But now those days have past. My body has begun to age; has fallen on the habit of laziness; and has decided that he shall no longer countenance my occasional, bare-minimum motions. Today, he requires not only that I cut back on my ingestion of unctuous fast food but also that I increase twofold my daily regimen of exercise. And I cannot help but comply. Why? Because I am held hostage by a most fearsome negotiator: a negotiator who comprehends and exploits my most vulnerable weakness; my Achilles heel; my tragic flaw; my hamartia. I am referring here to my vanity. If I refuse to satisfy his demands then he has threatened to expose my intemperance with a conspicuous bulge in my midsection. And I, being the superficial, narcissistic, overweening motherfu#$er that I am – cannot bear the imperfection that such a protrusion would signify. Fu#$ you, body.

Fu#$ you ... Oh, yeah: The Reykjavík Dance Festival and the Lókal Theater Festival – don’t miss it.

Housed within an expansive warehouse building in downtown Reykjavík is the country’s most popular wax museum, sort of.I say sort of because unlike Madame Tussauds’, the subjects of this particular museum are neither made from wax nor are they shaped in the image of famous celebrities or historical figures. Instead, the stars of the exhibition are of a kind of plastic and are made in the likeness of the planet’s largest creatures: whales. These mighty mammals are suspended from the museum’s ceiling, and every day scores of visitors walk underneath them, admiring their majesty and stateliness. Besides housing 23 lifesized models of different species of whales and dolphins, Whales of Iceland (which is the museum’s name) also accommodates a coffeehouse that features various biscuits, bread and snacks. SKE recommends kicking the day of at the museum and enlightening yourself about Iceland’s gentle giants. Tickets cost only 2,900 ISK for adults and 1,500 ISK for children under the age of 16.

2. Valdís Voltaire 10:45

Voltaire once said that ice-cream was exquisite.

Immediately afterwards, he followed his remark with an earnest lament that ice-cream wasn’t illegal. Presumably, Voltaire lamented ice-cream’s lawfulness on account of its unfavorable effect on his midsection. But Voltaire was not a fat man. His portraits suggest that he rarely indulged himself in the luxury of exquisite ice-cream. I suspect, however, that Voltaire’s belly would have looked different if he lived in contemporary Reykjavík.

If Voltaire ever visited the ice-cream parlor Valdís then he would have been unable to adhere to his self-discipline. He would have been an obese and lazy philosopher, who would have made a lessser mark on the world – and a greater mark on the seat of his armchair. Valdís is located just around the corner from the Whales of Iceland museum and it offers a wide variety of tasty ice-cream served in homemade waffle cones. Ever since it opened, Valdís has been jam-packed with customers, especially during summers. SKE recommends anything with licorice.

3.

The Old Harbor

Café Haiti 11:30

Ske Editors: ritstjorn@ske.is Advertisement: auglysingar@ske.is Editorial & Interview translation: Ragnar Tómas Hall­gríms­son Inter ­view: Atli Sigþórsson Inter­viewee: Margrét Bjarnadóttir and Friðgeir Einarsson Photographs: Allan Sigurðsson Streets of Reykja­vík: Birta Rán Printing: Ísafoldarprentsmiðja Layout: Greta Þorkelsdóttir Design: Hlynur Ingólfsson, Gebo ehf.

After acquiring a cone of ice-cream, SKE suggest walking in the direction of Reykjavík’s old harbor.

There are plenty of things to be done in the old harbor. If we were to make a suggestion as to the particularity of that activity then we would suggest a visit to Café Haiti for a fresh brew. Café Haiti was founded in 2008 by Elda Thorisson-Faurelien and her husband Methúsalem Þórisson. Originally, their coffeehouse was situated in a small location on Tryggvata. But in 2010 they moved

their establishment to the harbor. As suggested by the establishment’s name, Café Haiti imports its beans from Haiti. They then roasts the beans every morning in order to ensure their freshness.

SKE knows of many dedicated fans of Café Haiti.

There is one gentleman in particular who visits Café Haiti on a near daily basis. He says that the charm of the place owes not only to the balance and smoothness of the coffee, but to the pleasant, ineffable charm of its two propietors. SKE agrees.

(It has also something to do with a vague, subconscious association with the Fugees. #Fugee-La #Wyclef

4. Vesturbæjarlaug

West-Side!

13:30 Last week, SKE interviewed the mayor of Reykjavík. He observed that there is no better place to get acquainted with Icelanders than in the hot pots (hot-tubs). It was a truthful remark. If you are to acquaint yourself with Icelanders, then there are several pools to choose from – among them Vesturbæjarlaugin (west-side swimming pool). Vesturbæjarlaugin is about a 20-minute walk from the city center and it features a swimming pool, four hot-pots, a sauna and a steam bath. Last year, an Icelandic news website sought the opinion of several swimming pool enthusiasts in order to determine the best swimming pool in Iceland. According to the survey, Vesturbæjarlaugin was ranked number one. Apparently, it is ranked number one because of its size, location, atmosphere and history. SKE suggests engaging the locals in conversation and lounging in the steam bath.

5. Grillmarkaðurinn Beef 18:00

Grillmarkaðurinn is one of Iceland’s most popular restaurants. Everyone and their grandmother has dined their. If you are unfamiliar with Grilmarkaðurinn then we shall enlighten you: Grillmarkaðurinn is an Icelandic restaurant in decor, style and ingredients. Furthermore, it cooperates with Icelandic farmers in order to ensure local, quality ingredients. The restaurant is located on the corner of Lækjargata and Austurstræti (downtown) and the original building was constructed in 1920. In olden days, the building housed a movie theater called Nýja Bíó (New Theater), which screened movies until 1987 – when the theater was turned into a night club that burned down in 1998. The building was then razed and rebuilt and Grillmarkaðurinn was opened in 2011. SKE suggests booking a table in advance and recommends the beef carpaccio as an appetizer; the beef fillet as an entrée, with some curly fries on the side; and a bottle of Muga Reserva if your wallet is robust enough. Cheers!

You’re in for a perfect day.

A GEOTHERMAL ENERGY EXHIBITION

WORTH A VISIT

Stop by the Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant and see how they harness the geothermal energy.

Experienced guides are on-hand to provide informative presentations backed by multimedia shows about sustainable green energy as a global energy source and the geology of Iceland.

Origin of the Geothermal energy – The production process – An illustrated guide to Hellisheiði – The earth core Exclusive collection of minerals and stones. An excellent hiking and outdoor destination - we provide information on hiking around the Hengill area. Enjoy our coffee shop and browse through a selection of educational material in the souvenires corner.

Hönnun: adalheiduro@simnet.is

Open daily from 9:00 – 17:00. We are about 20 minutes drive from Reykjavík on Route 1 towards Hveragerði.

More information: www.orkusyn.is Tel + 354 412 5800 e-mail: orkusyn@orkusyn.is Gps 64°02”248’- 21°24”079´

Music

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Júníus Meyvant Áki Ásgeirsson Áki Ásgeirsson hails from Garður, Rosmhvalanes. Through the years he has composed live music, electronic music, interactive installations and videos. This Friday, he will perform at Mengi.

The program features various kinds of electronic music.

290° for electronic airplane brakes 241° electronica derived

from photographs

from Fönfjörður by the

Scoresby Channel 313° for two tubas, stones,

vocals and a sinus

producer 264° for vocals, a smoke

machine and a MIDI controlled organ 240° for vocals and

a computer 296° for a bicycle and

electronic sounds

What: Electronica, Experimental, Instrumental Where: Mengi (Óðinsgata 2) When: Saturday, August 29th, 21:00 Price: 2,000 ISK mengi.net

Retro Stefson Retro Stefson will be throwing a free concert at Kex Hostel this Saturday. Retro Stefson is known for its rhythmic, dancefriendly music and they will be going all out for this concert.

Retro Stefson has been amusing itself and others since elementary school. The band was founded in Austurbæjarskóli as an in-school project. Today, it is one of Iceland's tightest, most popular bands.

Júníus Meyvant will be performing at Græni Hatturinn. Júníus Meyvant is the alias of Unnar Gísli Sigmundsson from Vestmanneyjar. Júníus' music is a kind of mature, emotional folk-pop that is simultaneously timeless but familiar. His amiable arrangements make one feel as if lying underneath a thick wool coverlet by the fireside in some mountain cabin, or, at other times, lying at a blazing beach on the southern shores. Icelanders were introduced to Júníus in 2014 with his single Color Decay. The song was received favorably and received considerable air play and for several weeks it sat atop the chart of Rás 2's most popular songs (Vinsældarlisti Rás 2). The song also drew the attention of KEXP in Seattle with the program director, Kevin Cole picking the song as the best song of 2014.

What: Soul, Arctic Soul, Icelandic When: Thursday, September 3rd, 21:00 Where: Græni Hatturinn (Akureyri) Price: 2,500 ISK midi.is

What: Dance, Pop, Fun Where: Kex Hostel (Skúlagata 28) When: Saturday, August 29th, 21:00–23:00 Price: Free

Melodica Reykjavík Festival 2015 The music festival Melodica Reykjavík honors the work of Icelandic and foreign composers. This year, the festival will be held at Loft Hostel on Bankastræti and in Café Rosenberg on Klapparstígur. The festival will feature around 20 local and foreign musicians.

Program:

Friday Café Rosenberg 21:00 Svavar Knútur 21:30 Torben Stock (DE) 22:10 Bram Van Langen (NL)

Jónas Sen This Friday, August 28th, Jónas Sen will perform at Mengi. Jónas Sen has an MA degree in Music Performance Studies from the City University in London. He also has an MA degree in Arts Managements from the University of Bifröst. He also studied in Paris under the private tutelage of pianist Monique Deschaussées. Jónas is a composer, pianist, music arranger, critic and TV host. He was the keyboard player in Björk's band on her world tours in 2007 and 2008. More recently he has been a guest performer in several of Björk's Biophilia shows. Björk and Jónas arranged all the Biophilia songs for keyboard instruments, which was released on the iPad and iPhone versions of Biophilia.

Jónas has composed music for some of Gabríela Friðriksdóttir's videos. He also hosted many TV programs about music in Iceland.

These include 12 programs about Icelandic instrumentalists (Tíu fingur), broadcast in 2006, and eight programs about Icelandic singers (Átta raddir), which were broadcast in 2011. His latest TV programs (Tónspor) featured composers and choreographers and were a joint venture of the Reykjavík Arts Festival and the Icelandic Broadcasting Corporation.

What: T.B.A. Where: Mengi (Óðinsgata 2) When: Friday, August 28th, 21:00 Price: 2,000 ISK mengi.net

A&E Sounds Microgroove Session will be held for the sixth time this Friday. A&E Sounds recently produced an album that is set to be released on vinyl. In order to celebrate their release, A&E Sounds will be throwing a concert and a party. Mr. Sævar Markússon will be following the concert with a DJ set.

What: Alternative, Hard-To-Define Where: Boston (Laugavegur 28b) When: Friday, August 28th, 20:00 Price: Free

Saturday Loft Hostel 16:00 Eggert Einar Nielson 16:40 Rebekka Sif 17:20 Sveinn Guðmundsson 18: 00 Mantra 18:40 Helgi Valur 19:20 Torben Stock (DE) 20:00 Hello Piedpiper (DE) 20:40 Poems for Jamiro (DE) Sunday Loft Hostel 16:00 Friday Night Idols 16:40 Anna Helga 17:20 Simon Vestarr 18:00 One Bad Day 18:40 Owls of the

Swamp (AU)

23:00 23:50 00:40

Hello Piedpiper (DE) Poems for Jamiro (DE) Spaceships are Cool (UK)

Café Rosenberg 21:30 Lori Kelley (US) 22:10 Meadows Ever

Bleeding (SE) 23:00 Ava (NO) 23:50 Charlie Rauh (US) 00:30 Hemúllinn

19:20 Næmi 20:00 Insol 20:40 Hinemoa 21:20 Meadows Ever

Bleeding (SE) 22:00 Myrra Ros

What: Many different kinds of music Where: Loft Hostel and Café Rosenberg When: Friday, August 28th–Sunday, August 30th Price: Free (Donations Accepted)

Explore the wonders of

WESTMAN ISLANDS

with Viking Tours and Grey Line

Gray Line: Pompey Of The North tour The Gray Line Iceland Vestmannaeyjar-Pompeii of the North tours offers round trip transportation with complimentary pick up and drop off for all major hotels and guesthouses in Reykjavik.

Included in the tour is the ferry boat, a guided natural history bus tour around Heimaey Island as well as a boat tour around all the major islands that comprise the Westman Islands.

Lunch is also included at the restaurant Gott.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the extraordinary history and bird life of the Westman Islands with Gray Line Iceland. www.grayline.is

WESTMAN ISLANDS

Phone +354-488-4884 www.vikingtours.is

www.facebook.com/VikingToursHeimaey

A4 auglyﾌ《ing.indd 1

27/07/15 13:37

Music

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Í Túninu Heima (Concert)

Herra Hnetu­smjör

The town festival of Mosfellsbær, Í túninu heima, will take place this weekend from Friday, August 28th to Sunday, August 30th. The festival will host a series of diverse cultural events all over Mosfellsbær: concerts, visual arts exhibitions, flea markets and sporting events, among others.

The high point of the festival is a large concert taking place on the town square on Saturday. The concert features many big names from the Icelandic music scene along with local bands. For additional information visit the town's website or the event page on Facebook.

Icelandic emcee Herra Hnetu­ smjör will be throwing a concert to celebrate the release of his debut album Flottur Strákur.

There will be free beer; a DJ set

by DJ Spegill; and Herra Hnetu­ smjör will give a live performance. Be there.

Who: Páll Óskar, María Ólafs, Friðrik Dór, Matti Matt and More What: Icelandic pop music Where: Mosfellsbær (Town Square) When: Saturday, August 29th, 21:00 Price: Free mos.is

Container

What: Hip-Hop, Rap, New School When: Monday, August 31st, 21:00–01:00 Where: Prikið (Bankastræti 12) Price: Free

Rythmatik and Casio Fatso

Next Tuesday, September 1st the FALK collective will be hosting a techno feast at Paloma. The headliner of the night will be Container, a young, up-and-coming techno star from the US. This will be Container's first concert in an 8-week tour of Europe to introduce his album LP. The Hidden People and ULTRAORTHODOX will be opening for Container.

The opening acts are no slouches. ULTRAORTHODOX (Arnar Már Ólafsson) recently released his debut album Vital Organs, which FALK released last June. It received rave reviews from the online magazine The Quietus, which referred to the album as an, "incredible debut". Following ULTRAORTHODOX are Kári Guðmundsson and Siggi Jack, who go by the name of The Hidden People. The duo has been involved in the Icelandic dance scene under different names. Today, they collaborate in the production of hard-hitting techno tunes.

The Concert is organized by the FALK collective (Fuck Art Let's Kill), which has, since 2008, worked diligently on behalf of experimental music enthusiasts. "We are super excited to have Container perform," Baldur Björnsson aka KRAKKBOTT, member of FALK, says. "Ren is becoming known for creating an insane atmosphere on the dance floor and his newest release has been one of the best albums of the year. This will be a sweaty and lively night at Paloma.

It's going to be crazy."

Most people are familiar with Rhythmatik, the reigning champions of the Reykjavík Music Experiments and allround nice guys. There song Sleepyhead is in heavy rotation on the radio and they have been performing all over the country.

Casio Fatso recently released the album The World from my Bed, which has received favorable reviews. Casio Fatso is determined to perform diligently to the end of 2015 with the aim of introducing their music to concert guests.

Who: Container, ULTRAORTHODOX, The Hidden People What: Techno, Minimal Techno, Noise, Bass Noir, Where: Paloma When: Tuesday, September 1st, 21:00 Price: 1,500 ISK www.falkworld.bandcamp.com

What: Indie Rock, Modnine Rock Where: Dillon (Laugavegur 30) When: Sunday, August 30th, 22:00 Price: 500 ISK

Þorsteinn Freyr Sigurðsson and Antónía Hevesi Hafnarborg's winter concert series commences with a performance by tenor Þorsteinn Freyr Sigurðsson. Þorsteinn will be performing alongside of the pianist Antónía Hevesi and together they will perform emotional Italian arias for concert guests. Among the arias that the two will be performing is the beautiful Una Furtiva Lagrima from the opera L'elisir D'amore by Donizetti along with arias from the operas Cosi Fan Tutte and Don Giovanni by W.A. Mozart.

What: Italian Arias Where: Hafnarborg When: Tuesday, September 1st, 12:00 Price: Free

Reggae Festival This Sunday at Gamla Bíó, reggae artist Rocky Dawuni will be performing alongside of his band. Warm-up will be in the hands of Amaba Dama.

Rocky Dawuni is an internationally respected musician. He employs music as a tool to fight against human rights' abuses; to get his message across; and to connect people from different cultures.

Rocky Dawuni is a Ghanaian activist who fights for peace and human rights in Africa. He is also a United Nations ambassador and a spokesperson for several non-profit organizations.

Rocky Dawuni is inspired by artists such as Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Michael Franti, K'naan and Matisyahu. He has released six albums, the latest of which, Branches of the Same Tree, was released in March of this year. Rocky was recently chosen as one of Africa's top ten artists by CNN. He has performed with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Jason Mraz, Janelle Monae and John Legend. His music has been featured in TV shows like E.R., Weeds and Dexter, as well as in video games like Fifa.

Prior to the concert, a family festival will be held that features Amaba Dama.

Who: Rocky Dawuni and Amaba Dama What: Reggae, Afrobeat, Soul Where: Gamla Bíó (Ingólfsstræti 2a) When: Sunday, August 30th, 15:00 / 21:00 Price: 1,000 ISK (family festival free for children under the age of 11) 3,500 (Rocky Dawuni) midi.is

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What’s happening

“Just dancing without saying anything is beginning to make a comeback.”

Interview: Ragnar Tómas Hallgrímsson Photographs: Allan Sigurðsson

Margrét Bjarnadóttir

Between August 25th and August 30th, the Reykjavík Dance Festival will take place in Reykjavík in collaboration with the Lókal International Theater Festival. In anticipation of these two events, SKE spoke to two artists participating in the festival: Margrét Bjarnadóttir, choreographer, and Friðgeir Einarsson, artiste. It would probably be more truthful to refer to them both as artists, given that each of them has worked in different media of art, or, better yet, on the margins between arts, where they have been busy blurring the lines.

Margrét Bjarnadóttir: I work mainly in dance and visual arts. I’ve been on a break from dance for some time and have been focusing more on writing and visual art. But the Reykjavík Dance Festival convinced me to choreograph the festival’s opening performance. I’m not actually composing a standalone choreography, but rather something that suits the occasion. It’s a kind of opening act, composed especially for the time and the place.

SKE: Kind of like an opening ceremony for the Olympics?

Margrét: Yes, exactly. It’s a mix between that and a priest delivering a sermon. It’s a one-woman show. Although I haven’t fully decided what I’ll be doing.

SKE: So you’re still working on it?

Margrét: Yes. I’m trying to get a feel for the atmosphere so that I can react to it.

SKE: I noticed that you’re carrying drumsticks. Will they play a part in your opening performance?

Margrét: Yes, I started drumming last winter. I took lessons. It’s sort of the next art form that I want to explore – that I want to gain insight into – music, that is. I don’t play any instruments. It’s an old dream of mine, learning to play the drums.

Friðgeir Einarsson: But you’re going to play the drums for the opening ceremony?

Margrét: Yes, I think so. I’m going to count down to the festival with my drumsticks.

“It’s an old dream of mine, learning to play the drums.”

SKE: You were once quoted as saying, some time ago, that if you were a musical instrument then you’d be a cello wishing it was a drum set.

Margrét: That’s just something I wrote in my diary as a –Margrét teenager, or when I was around twenty. It described me pretty well at the time. But things have changed a bit since then. I’m more of a drum kit today. And maybe that’s why I was able to take this step – to learn to play the drums.

SKE: Excellent.

Friðgeir: Should I tell you about myself now?

Margrét: Try to top that!

Friðgeir: I might as well leave. I can’t top that. No way. I’ve been working in the theater arts – alongside of writing and doing other kinds of art – for the past

years. I’ve been working a lot independently. For the past years I’ve been working with the troupe Kriðpleir. Kriðpleir, at its core, is comprised of me, Ragnar Ísleifur Bragason, Árni Vilhjálmsson and Bjarni Jónsson. Together we’ve done three performances and found a kind of voice or form. But we’ve reached the point where we’re ready to do something new and we are going through this sort of crisis. The piece that we’re going to perform during the festival is called Crisis Meeting. It revolves around our desire to mature and evolve, both as individuals in real life and on the stage. We invite the audience to observe this process.

SKE: And you’ve staged these performances?

Friðgeir: Yes, we’ve sometimes called these performances lecture-dramas, or even lecture-plays. They’re lectures about subjects that we’re thinking about but with a storyline. And the characters have to fight their own personal demons in order for the message to get across.

The characters in the plays have the same names as us, the actors, but are living in this kind of alternate reality in which their interactions and interactive patterns are slightly less healthy and more exaggerated than our interactions in reality. And therefore more interesting. They live more interesting lives but are less happy. We’ve been working with these characters for three years and they’ve started to stagnate.

“They live more interesting lives but are less happy.”

– Friðgeir

Margrét: And are they starting to

change?

Friðgeir: They would like to change, and yes, they are changing.

SKE: Would it no longer be correct to refer to dance as rhythmic movement to music?

Margrét: No, not at all. I believe there’s even a performance in the festival that addresses this idea exactly. It’s about a return to just dancing to music. In the piece, the performers dance to a techno album, in its entirety: to all of the beats and to every single sound on the album.

Friðgeir: That kind of thing is becoming popular again, right?

Margrét: I think so. There’s been so much dialogue in choreography but now there seems to be this back-to-the-basics trend. Just dancing without saying anything is beginning to make a comeback.

Friðgeir: Is it, perhaps, a kind of rejection of irony?

Margrét: Well, yes, I don’t know. I actually think that both can be ironic – or

“Just dancing without saying anything is beginning to make a comeback.”

un-ironic.

Friðgeir: When we met and started collaborating there was this ongoing trend of transferring everything onto the stage: like me, horses and all kinds of nonsense that had nothing to do with dance in any obvious way.

Margrét: Dance needed that. But today it’s as if its – Margrét getting rid of all the frills and becoming more stripped down.

It had become too confusing for people; they no longer understood what dance was. But, well, actually, everything is allowed. I’ve been reviewing the festival’s program and it’s very interesting and the foreign artists are very exciting.

SKE: Do you consider yourself a dancer, Friðgeir?

Friðgeir: No, I don’t. There was a time, a few years ago, when I worked with a lot of independent groups and dancers. I participated in projects that featured both actors and dancers, e.g. Húmanimal, which Margrét participated in as well. They would often mistake me for a dancer. People would come up to me during cocktail parties and try to talk to me about dance-related subjects.

“They would often mistake me for a dancer.

People would Margrét: For many come up to years people thought you were a me during dancer. And so you stopped socializing cocktail with me. parties and Friðgeir: Yes, I stopped working try to talk with Margrét and Saga (an Iceland to me about dancer). I really miss those people but it was inevitadanceble. No, I’m joking.

I actually thought related it was pretty funny at first but then I subjects.”

began to feel that it was unfair towards real dancers – towards people with the talent, experience and education to refer to themselves as dancers.

–Friðgeir

Margrét: I agree with Friðgeir. I don’t refer to myself as a dancer. It would be disrespectful to refer to myself as a dancer towards people who have more talent and ability as dancers and who work as dancers. Even though I’m an

10

What’s happening

educated choreographer, I never intended to become, and am not, a dancer.

I acknowledge a clear difference between the two. Even though I dance, just like Friðgeir in his performances. Or move my body in some way.

Friðgeir: Even though you were awarded a prestigious prize as dancer of the year?

“I suppose we’re similar in that way.

We both need more than one medium in order to express ourselves.”

– Margrét

Margrét: Yes, even though its engraved on a golden statue. I’m not a dancer. Even though I studied ballet for 13 years, I’m not a dancer.

SKE: Both of you seem quite fluid in your creativity.

You work within so many different genres of art.

Margrét: I suppose we’re similar in that way. We both need more than one medium in order to express ourselves.

Friðgeir: Yes, exactly.

Margrét: But besides that, we have nothing in common.

Friðgeir: I used to think that writing was my calling. Then somehow I got involved with acting, because it was more fun than writing. Then I enrolled in a program called Theory and Execution at the Iceland Academy of the Arts, which is called Theater and Performance Making today. I didn’t really learn anything specific, that is to say, I didn’t learn how to become an actor, a director or a writer. I was destined to become a kind of artistic bastard. Or dabbler. A dabbler on the fringes.

“I was destined to become a kind of artistic bastard. Or dabbler. A dabbler on the fringes.”

– Friðgeir

Margrét: This is becoming a bit awkward, because everything that you’ve said is true for me also. Writing was my first calling.

Then, because in some way it just wasn’t enough; because in some way it was too restrictive to focus only on writing – I studied choreography. In order to use writing and visual arts in that capacity. Both of us dabble on the fringes.

Friðgeir: Is that phrase descriptive enough?

Margrét: No, that’s actually a hopeless phrase. It’ very bad.

Friðgeir: It’s this kind of humble brag, to refer to oneself as a dabbler on the fringes. Someone could misunderstand us. What would the un-ironic people call it? Fringe superstar?

Margrét: Rainbow superstar?

Friðgeir: Yes.

“Now the Reykjavík Dance Festival and the Lókal Inter­ national Theater Festival have merged their programs, which is logical.”

Margrét: And now the Reykjavík Dance Festival and the Lókal International Theater Festival have merged their programs, which is logical.

They’ve taken place at the same time in the past and there has often been a lot of collaboration between the two festivals. And the pieces that were shown in one festival could just as well have belonged to the other festival.

Friðgeir: Both of them are really interesting. It’s pointless for them to be competing with each other. Lókal often featured experimental plays in large theaters. It gave the audience – Margrét a window into the world of contemporary theater arts in Europe, the US and elsewhere.

SKE: There seems to be a lot of life in this experimental art world, or progressive art world, or whatever you call it. It’s quite lively.

Margrét: Yes, as the name would suggest, there’s been more experimentation going on there – and I’m referring here to dance. It’s there that we’ve seen the greatest evolution.

Friðgeir: When I was starting in the theater arts and I was trying to acquaint myself with what was going on abroad, I learned that the greatest growth, the greatest excitement, was taking place in the field of dance.

Margrét: Yes, Húmanimal was a kind of experiment in that direction. Now, I forgot to humble brag.

SKE: Both of you partcipated in Húmanimal, right?

Margrét: Yes, and we’ve collaborated on a couple of projects together. We were part of a group called My Friends and I. Húmanimal was our first performance, followed by Verði þér að góðu (loosely translated as Enjoy, as in enjoy your meal).

Friðgeir: Then we did Ókyrrð (Unrest) with Ragnar Ísleifur, our friend.

Margrét: And then The Island.

Friðgeir: Yes, we we’re always collaborating. Now, we no longer socialize.

Margrét: Because Friðgeir doesn’t want to be associated with dance. But I’m no longer a dancer so we can start socializing again.

On that beautiful note we say goodbye.

The interview has long since evolved into something else entirely. It has beceome a conversation. SKE thanks Margrét and Friðgeir for the conversation and wishes them, and others attending the festival, happy acting and dancing.

In our souvenir shop you will find Icelandic design inspired by the Northern Lights Designs by: Dimmblá Stál í stál - Jens Volcap Olason paintings Gingó hönnun Svandís Kandís and more Free coffee & tea at our store

Maritime museum CCP

Hotel Marina

The Northern Light Center

Visit us and experience our multimedia exhibition It's only a ten-minute walk from the city center

The old harbour Harpan Music hall Reykjavík Art museum Kolaportið fleemarket

www.aurorareykjavik.is

Grandagarður 2 - 101 Reykjavík Open every day from 09:00 - 21:00

Exhibitions

12

What’s happening

A! Performance Arts Festival

Ekkisens Presents

Hústaka II

The A! Performance Arts Festival will be held for the first time between September 3rd and September 6th in Akureyri. The organizers of the festival aim to make A! into an annual festival. The festival is organized by the Akureyri Art Museum, by the Lókal International Theater Festival, the Reykjavík Dance Festival, Akureyri Culture Society and the Icelandic Art Center with support from the Visual Arts Fund.

A wide variety of performance artists and stage performers will participate in A!, including Magnús Pálsson, Anna Richardsdóttir, Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Snorri Ásmundsson, Þóra Sólveig Bergsteinsdóttir, Marta Nordal, Freyja Reynisdóttir & Brák Jónsdóttir, Örn Ingi Gíslason, Hekla Björt Helgadóttir, Choreography Rvk and Kriðpleir.

A! will take place in various venues in Akureyri and will extend all the way to Hjalteyri. Performance art pieces will be taking place on church steps; on a cargo bay in Oddeyri; in the factory in Hjalteyri; and a few pieces will be taking place in the Hof Cultural House and at the Akureyri Art Museum. There will also be an offvenue program running at Listagil and elsewhere, and at the same time the video installation festival Heim will take place.

The program to the A! Performance Festival will be released at the end of August and will mark the end of the Arts Summer festival that has been ongoing since the beginning of June in Akureyri. All of the events during A! will be free.

A group of artists will be exhibiting at Ekkisens' Hústaka (meaning squat, as in squatter) exhibition in the two-storey 100-year old building on Bergstaðastræti 25. This will be the second exhibition in Ekkisens' Hústaka series and around 20 artists from various genres of art have announced their participation. The first exhibition took place in a dilapidated old building in Stöðvarfjörður. The aim of the exhibition series is to promote a kind of sustainability among visual artists and also to stimulate creativity. The exhibition will open this Saturday, and light refreshments will be offered during the opening.

Where: Akureyri When: September 3rd – September 6th Price: Free www.listak.is

Where: Bergstaðastræti 25 When: Saturday, August 29th,17:00 Price: Free

Opening

Grrrrrrrls Reykjavík Dance Festival and Lókal Grrrrrrrls is a powerful choreography by Ásrún Magnúsdóttir, winner of the DV Culture Awards in 2014. Concerned with what female solidarity can mean for a group of teenage girls today, Ásrún searches for answers among a crew of real-life dancing teenage girls. What does it mean for these girls to speak as one and what should they say? What does it mean for them to stand together and how should they stand? What does it mean for them to be together, to back one another up, to be all for one and one for all? Dancing through all of these question and some more, Grrrrrls looks to provide some answers.

Where: Gamla Bíó (Ingólfsstræti 12) When: Saturday, August 29th, 15:00 and 19:00 Price: 2,900 ISK midi.is

First Works Reykjavík Dance Festival / Lókal Fyrstu Verk (First Works) is a series of works by up-and-coming theater performers. All of the works will be shown at Smiðjan by Sölvhólsgata and at other venues advertised on Reykjavík Dance Festival's website.

Welcome to

Einar Ben In the heart of Reykjavik

BRÍET

FAME

The choreographer Anna Kolfinna Kuran has – alongside of a group of artists – composed a piece thatis dedicated to the Icelandic suffragette Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir. 100 years ago, Bríet fought a brave battle for women's rights in Iceland and her biography lies at the heart of the choreography, along with her accomplishments as a women's rights fighter. Texts, movements, music and storiesform an exciting whole and inspire the audience to contemplate man's ability to have an impact on his immediate environment.

"No one means anything because no one is brave enough to mean anything and if anyone intended to mean anything then no one would understand because everyone would think he was kidding."

Where: Smiðjan (Sölvhólsgata) When: Friday, August 28th, 17:00 Price: 2,200 ISK midi.is

Veltusund 1 Ingólfstorg

einarben.is

tel: 511 5090

einarben @einarben.is

Frami (Fame) is a new stage piece by Björn Leó Brynjarsson that revolves around the desire of an artist after he has found success in the modern world and in his fight against himself.

TAKATAKA – the Group who is staging the piece – looks to draw the audience into an allconsuming experience where acting with text and narration are mixed with experiments with classical acting, physical presence and motion.

Where: Smiðjan (Sölvhólsgata) When: Saturday, August 29th, 17:00 Price: 2,200 ISK midi.is

Q&A

14

Q&A with IMMO Rapper, social worker and father figure Name? Aliases? Nicknames?

What are you listening to these days?

IMMO, Baba.

The Weeknd's Beauty Behind the Madness

Age? 30 cent

If you could rap over a beat from any producer, who'd you pick?

Occupation?

J.Dilla or Kanye West Project manager at the Icelandic Red Cross What's On Your Mind These Days?

My daughter; the fact that my parental leave is over and she's now in kindergarten. Especially considering the fact that I feel like she was born 15 minutes ago.

We hear you're a rather capable chef.

What's your favorite Restaurant in Reykjavík?

Ostabúðin on Skólavörðustígur or Snaps on Þórsgata.

Favorite TV show?

One Tree Hill

You've been recording and performing with Cheddy Carter? What's next for Cheddy?

Favorite Film?

Saw I & II.

Janet, EP and Iceland Airwaves 2015.

We're releasing a new song called Janet, which should be out on Youtube by the time you're reading this. We're also releasing an EP on Spotify in September. Then we will be performing at the Iceland Airwaves 2015.

What Do You Recommend Tourists Do In Iceland?

Get local and spend as much money as you can.

What's Best in Life?

Being a father.

Podcasts Recommendation of the Week:

The House at Eyrarbakki

THE HOUSE AT EYRARBAKKI Árnessýsla folk museum is located in Húsið, the House, historical home of the Danish merchants built in 1765. Húsið is one of the oldest houses in Iceland and a beautiful monument of Eyrarbakki´s time as the biggest trading place on the south coast.

Today one can enjoy exhibitions about the story and culture of the region, famous piano, shawl made out of human hair and the kings pot, are among items. Húsið prides itself with warm and homelike atmosphere.

99% Invisible "99% Invisible is a podcast about design, architecture and the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world" 99percentinvisible.org Each episode is masterfully produced. Also, Roman Mars has one of the most radio-friendly voices imaginable. The podcast is downloaded over 3 million times each month and it routinely ranks in the top 20 podcasts in the world.

Check out episode #159: The Calendar. It's lovely.

"99% Invisible…is completely wonderful and entertaining and beautifully produced…"

-Ira Glass, This American Life

Opening hours: May 1st - September 30th daily 11.00-18.00 or by an agreement Tel: +354 483 1504 & +354 483 1082 | husid@husid.com | www.husid.com

Gelato

Gelato is the italian word for icecream. Perlan makes it’s own italian gelato for you to enjoy with the spectacular view overseeing the city in any direction.

C

A

F

É

Blue Lagoon

Snowmobile on the top of a glacier

The Golden Circle 6 times daily

Book your tour now! iceland@grayline.is | +354 540 1313 | grayline.is

South Coast & Waterfalls

Paragliding on the South Coast

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

24 HOUR BOOKING SERVICE Book now at www.grayline.is or call +354 540 1313 Sales Office, Hafnarstræti 20, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Food tips

18

Snaps Culture Night

SKE stumbled into Kringlan last Saturday afternoon. As we wandered through the veritable sea of enthused shoppers, we remembered something – we remembered that Te & Kaffi had recently renovated their coffeehouse on Kringlan’s star-plaza (3Rd floor). And so we decided to drop by for a jolt of black lightning (aka coffee). Our first observation concerned the establishment’s size: it had grown considerably and was now capable of accommodating around 50 people – and yet the atmosphere was inviting and cozy. It was the perfect place to sit down to some coffee and a muffin (made by the Muffin Bakery). Besides the establishment's spatial expansion and improved decor, the coffeehouse also offered high-quality coffee and tea-related products from such brands as Hario, Chemex, Keep Cup and Beehouse. Those of you who have tried the coffee from Te & Kaffi know that it rarely disappoints. SKE certainly knows. Why not sip some coffee and read our magazine while you're at it?

A restaurant is like a person. It is judged by similar criteria. Generally, we approve of a person if her personality is pleasant; if her character is admirable; and if she gives generously of herself without asking for too much in exchange. Likewise, we like a restaurant if its atmosphere is friendly; if its food is good; and if its menu is not too pricey. Being a man given to poetic and whimsical musings, I sometimes wonder what kind of people restaurants would make if they were transformed into human beings by way of some otherworldly sorcery.If I were to indulge in this kind of thinking towards the restaurant Snaps, then I think it could be described something like this: She is a young French woman, currently residing in Iceland, who possesses numerous loyal friends and who boasts not only a good taste in music but is also admired for her character. Furthermore, she is quite beautiful. What I mean by that analogy is this: Snaps is a French bistro, located on Þórsgata, which has gradually established itself as a brunch- and dinner favorite among the people of Reykjavík, and whose atmosphere is lively and filled with good music and whose menu is not too pricey. Anyhow, all imaginative musings aside, SKE visited Snaps last Saturday – during the annual Culture Night in Reykjavík city – for an evening of food and drinks.

We ordered two glasses of the house wine and the beef fillet with Bernaise as our entree. The wine was decent and affordable, and the beef was delicious. We shall not go into the details of our evening for they were considerably blurred by the alcohol. All in all, however, we will say that we kind of like this Snaps gal. Mmmhhhhmmmm!

Words: Sverrir

Words: Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass

Te & Kaffi Renovations

Gourmet Experience

- Steaks and Style at Argentina Steakhouse Barónsstíg 11 - 101 Reykjavík Tel: 551 9555 argentina.is

WHY

ERVE DO WE S BURGERS, SS HAM A L C T S R N WINGS E FI K C I H US C DELICIO ILLER RIBS? &K

SIMPLY,

ETTER B S ´ T I E BECAUS

Design

20

Bergdís Aberg Beautiful, crocheted necklace perfect for the summer.

Aníta Berglind Einarsdóttir (aberg) designs handcrocheted jewelry and accesories. www.kaupstadur.is

Mosi

Wool Scarf

Tulipop Mosi piggy bank. Mosi supports UNICEF. Tulipop was created by two good friends, Signý Kolbeinsdóttir and Helga Árnadóttir. The aim of Tulipop is to design creative and beautiful products for children, which also appeal to people of all ages. www.tulipop.is

Volki Wool scarf made from 100% pure Icelandic wool.

Volki is the art- and design studio of Olga Hrafnsdóttir and Elísabet Jónsdóttir. Volki focuses on Icelandic materials and Icelandic production. www.hrim.is

Eagle Inga María Brynjarsdóttir Phone case for iPhone and Samsung.

Inga María Brynjarsdóttir was born in 1980. She graduated from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2004. www.muses.is

REYKJAVÍK CENTRUM

Gardenparty Sveinbjörg 100% Turqoise Wool blanket made from high-quality fine wool that doesn't prickle.

Sveinbjörg was founded in 2007 by artist Sveinbjörg Hallgrímsdóttir. Sveinbjörg's design is inspired by nature. design.sveinbjorg.is

Elegant bistro menu Service with a smile Cozy atmosphere Great location

Kollur Varma

www.cafeparis.is

Well-made wool sweater (available in gray and white / blue and white).

Varma is the clothing brand of Glófi, Iceland's largest producer of wool products. www.varma.is

A VIBRANT URBAN MARKET HEALTHY LIVING IN THE HEART OF REYKJAVÍK A visit to LIFANDI Markaður organic grocery is a truly sensory experience.

The shop´s inviting atmosphere is enhanced by warm textured wood, the scent of exotic spices and the gentle icker of candles in the rastaurant. Judging by the rush at lunchtime, LIFANDI Markaður is very popular with locals seeking fresh and wholesome fare, served with a smile.

EAT LIKE A LOCAL Shopping in LIFANDI Markaður will invariably make you hungry, so it´s a good thing that the grocery portion of the store is partnered with a casually chic restaurant which prides itself on using the highest quality raw ingredients available. The reasonably - priced menu changes daily, and chefs are encouraged to improvise so that each dish incorporates the freshest foods on hand that day. Every menu includes an enticing vegan or vegetarian option as well as meat or sh dishes, and ingredients are listed so that anyone with allergies or intolerances can enjoy their meal without worry. For folks on the run , LIFANDI Markaður provides delicious sandwiches, wraps, and energy bars, as well as hot takeout meals, all ready in biodegradable or compostable packaging. Even the takeout utensils and smoothie cups are made of corn plastic, so eating on the go can be fast, avourful, and environmentally friendly

NEWLY OPENED BREAKFAST BAR On weekdays from 7:15 to 10:00 am, LIFANDI Markaður offers several scrumptious breakfast options including greek yogurt with fruit, chia pudding, and scrambled or poached eggs along with grilled tomatoes, halloumi cheese and fresh sourdough bred, baked inhouse daily. An organic oatmeal buffet is also on hand, with all sorts of tasty toppings. A power breakfast wouldn´t be complete without LIFANDI Markaður´s own Green Thunder smoothie, packed with mango, spinach and an energising burst of ginger. Open until 8:00 pm during the week, LIFANDI Markaður´s wonderful staff promise their clientele exciting and nutririous choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. choi

THE TRAVELLER´S ONE STOP SHOP Centrally located in Reykjavík at Borgartún 24 and walking distance from downtown, LIFANDI Markaður provides tourists and locals alike with one of the widest varierties of certiLI -ed organic and ethically sourced products in Iceland. Whether stocking up on supplies for your holiday apartment or grabbing food to take on the road, travellers can be sure to nd an impressive range of the highest quality natural products - everything from fresh produce and baked goods to cosmetics, baby food and bulk organic nuts and dried fruit. Foodies will appreciate the many locally produced Icelandic specialties which include organic lamb, birch and angelica teas, lupin-infused juices, sea salts and creamy cheeses. Visitors to Reykjavík will discover that maintaining a healthy lifestyle away from home is easy at LIFANDI Markaður - the “ living market” for people who really like to live well. - MJA

Things to do

22

Standup Comedy & Joshua Ledet They Live Movie Night Hugleikur Dagsson and Jóhann Ævar Grímsson’s Avengers Theater series returns following a summer hiatus. In order to honor the memory of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, who passed away not too long ago, the Avengers will be screening John Carpenter’s classic They Live.

Bubblegum will become flavorless; fights will become more epic; and your worldview will shift during this first Avengers flick of the fall.

Where: Húrra When: Tuesday, September 1st, 20:00 Price: Free

Saturday night will be a night to remember at Gaukurinn. The evening will commence with standup comedy (performed in English). Comedians Greipur Hjaltason, Snjólaug Lúðvíksdóttir, Bylgja Babýlons and Darren Foreman will take the stage. Master of Ceremonies will be Gísli Jóhann.Following the hilarious comedy show, the amazing Joshua Ledet (US) will perform. Joshua Ledet is known for his, “soaring, church-bred brand of old-school soul music”. In 2012, he placed third in American Idol. Joshua is currently working on his first album, which will feature original songs. Happy Hour will be between 20:00 to 22:00 (large Thule beer for 500 ISK).

Í Túninu Heima The annual family festival in Mosfellsbær Í túninu heima, will take place this weekend from August 28th to August 30th. The festival will feature a wide variety of cultural events: concerts; visual arts exhibitions; flea markets; sporting events and more. In honor of the festival, the town is decorated and the various neighborhoods in Mosfellsbær are assigned different colors. The high point of the festival is a grand concert on the town square on Saturday.

Where: Mosfellsbær When: Friday, August 28th–Sunday, August 30th Price: Free

Where: Gaukurinn When: Saturday, August 29th, 20:00 Price: 1,500

Radio Iceland One Station for the Nation Radio Iceland is a brand new station that broadcasts in English. This is what makes it so special. In fact, regulations in Iceland needed to be changed for such a broadcast to be legal. This makes Radio Iceland a watershed in Icelandic broadcasting.

The language spoken is English but the music is exclusively Icelandic. Radio Iceland interviews artists and people at the forefront of their fields; keeps you informed on what is going on in the country or in the city you're staying in; and updates you on the weather and road conditions every hour.

Radio Iceland also features different shows and content with a rotating cast of interesting hosts: a little bit of everything for everyone. All hosts have their personalities and are allowed to express themselves freely on air: no other radio station in the country is so permissive, which means that every time you tune in – you're in for a treat!

Radio Iceland is a brand-new station that started broadcasting in February of this year, but its increasing popularity at home and abroad suggests that by the end of this year it will be the leading station in the country.

You can listen to Radio Iceland in your car or directly on its webpage: radioicelandfm.is

Búrið Food Festival Iceland’s largest artisan food market returns! This Saturday, the Búrið food market becomes the Búrið food festival, in which over 45 fishermen, farmers and small-time producers from all over the country come together under one roof, bringing with them an incredible array of fresh local produce. You will find an eclectic mix of traditional foods steeped in Icelandic history, alongside innovative and inspired new products that cannot be found anywhere else. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to speak directly to these pioneering food heroes who are leading resurgence in fantastic, creative and well made local food products.

Where: Harpa When: Saturday, August 29th, 11:00–17:00 Price: 1,000 ISK (Free for children under 16)

Hvalfjarðardagar 2015 Hvalfjarðardagar (Hvalfjörður Days) will be held in the Hvalfjörður countryside between August 28th and August 30th. The festival will feature a diverse program of events, including a photography competition, a storytelling event hosted by the Borgarfjörður Museum Library, a country grill at Fannhlíð, the Hvalfjörður run (5 km, 7 km and 14 km), free admission to the swimming pool at Hlaðir, a visit to a farm, a rural market at Þórisstaðir, a concert, a poetry recital, yoga, hikes and more.

Where: Hvalfjörður When: Friday, August 28th–Sunday, August 30th Price: Free www.hvalfjardarsveit.is

Ske

24

On the Reykjavík Marathon Originally Published in August of Last Year The Reykjavík Marathon is a degrading event; an awful and undignified occurrence; a grand spectacle of human regression – of which only the lowliest of men take part. Consider the facts: in order to participate, a man is forced to become his own conveyance and must transport himself 10, 21 or 42 kilometers – all by the meager and insufficient horsepower of his human legs.

In other words, man is to devolve into a preindustrial animal and stampede through town like a common wildebeest. Last year, I promised myself that I would not stoop; that I would sleep late; that during the race I would drive 42 kilometers in a seat immoderately reclined and expend gasoline in copious amounts. All out of spite. But within two days of the deplorable event I caved; and registered; and awoke at dawn; and arrived at the scene of the extravaganza in close-fitting garments, and was scoffed at by more reasonably dressed men. My fiancé, who had accompanied me out of pity, bade me farewell with an unconvincing kiss suggestive of embarrassment. I then took my place among the human herd, cowering, and awaited the report of the starter pistol. Tick … Tick … Tick …

Bang! The debasing spectacle commenced – and I trotted like a drunk buffalo to the decidedly unnatural sound of 80s rock music. What follows is a brief summary of the ten milestones of the race. Kilometer 1: not winded and somewhat confident; Kilometer 2: slightly more winded and, therefore, slightly less confident; Kilometer 3: advent of ominous blister on the bottom of my left foot; Kilometer 4: complete loss of confidence due to the unfortunate combination of breathlessness and painful blister; Kilometer 5: nearly choked myself to death in an attempt to drink Powerade while simultaneously running and respiring; Kilometer 6: various children pass me with mocking and airy steps; Kilometer 7: earnest contemplation of surrender; Kilometer 8: earnest denial of the possibility of surrender due to oversized ego; Kilometer 9: vivid visions of pearly gates and bare-breasted angels – running counter to my deep-seated atheism; Kilometer 10: I, a manifestation of living death, stumbling over the finish line with ungainly steps. I then retrieved my medal, tossed it into the trash, and spent a dizzying and somewhat emotional hour searching for my fiancé, who was so mortified by the whole thing that she had started running up Laugavegur like an uncomfortable cheetah. Next year, I shall not trade my dignity for my health, but remain fat, self-respecting and idle.

This year, the author did not run. But only because of an untimely back injury. The author actually loves the Reykjavík Marathon.

Happy Hour!

You know what time it is Prikið, Bankastræti 12

All weekdays from 16:00–20:00 Beer–500 ISK

Vegamót, Vegamótastígur 4

Thursday till Saturday from 22:00–01:00 Beer: 750 ISK Wine: 750 ISK

Stofan Café, Aðalstræti 7 All days from 17:00–20:00 Beer: 750 ISK Wine: 950 ISK

Kaldi Bar, Laugavegur 20B All days from 16:00- 19:00 Beer: 650 ISK

Hlemmur Square, Laugavegur 105 All days from 17:00–21:00 Beer: 600 ISK Wine: 600 ISK

Slippbarinn, Mýrargata 2 All days from 15:00–18:00 Beer: 500 ISK Wine: 500 ISK

Public House, Laugavegur 24 All days from 14:00–19:00 50% off draft beer and wine

Smurstöðin Restaurant, Austurbakki 2 All days from 16:00–18:00 Beer: 500 ISK Wine: 600 ISK

Barber Bar, Laugavegur 66-68 All days from 16:00–19:00 Beer: 650 ISK Wine: 650 ISK

Loftið, Austurstræti 9

All days from 16:00–23:00 2 for 1

26

Fashion Una Valrún

Fashion design student

Síta Valrún Artist & stylist

Sif Baldursdóttir is the founder and designer of Kyrja. She founded Kyrja in 2012.

Kyrja at Capsule The Icelandic clothing brand Kyrja has quickly made a name for itself within the Icelandic fashion scene. Kyrja's design is characterized by refined, Scandinavian minimalism; interesting details; and a passionate love affair with the color black. It is also worth mentioning that Kyrja's choice of material is appealing and of good quality; Kyrja uses a lot of natural materials such as mohair, silk velvet and bamboo.

In early October, the fashion and sales event Capsule will take place in Paris. Capsule is one of the most respected trade shows in the world and it is also held in New York and Las Vegas. Kyrja was the only Icelandic label to be invited to participate in the event, being one of hundreds of applicants to be admitted. At Capsule, Kyrja hopes to establish connections with buyers employed in warehouses and in retail – thereby expanding the label into foreign markets.

565 6000 / somi.is

Eat Out in Iceland.

Check out our menu Enjoy Sómi sandwiches and wraps on your travels, Iceland’s favourite take-away!

Fresh every day!

28

streetsofreykjavik.com

Streets of ReykjavĂ­k

EXPERIENCE The Golden Circle Treat yourself to Iceland’s most popular pizza.

Call us at 58 12345, we deliver right to your room!

TEL. 58 12345

Cinema

30

Jurassic World

Amy

Hitman: Agent 47

Magic Mike Xxl

Ant-Man

Laugarásbíó | Álfabakki

Háskólabíó

IMDB 7,3 Rottentomatoes 71%

IMDB 8,0 Rottentomatoes 97%

Smárabíó | Sambíóin Egilshöll | Háskólabíó | Sambíóin Keflavík | Borgarbíó

Álfabakki | Kringlubíó | Sambíóin Egilshöll | Sambíóin Akureyri | Sambíóin Keflavík

Laugarásbíó | Álfabakki | Kringlu­bíó | Sambíóin Egilshöll | Sambíóin Akureyri | Sambíóin Keflavík

IMDB 6,2 Rottentomatoes: 6%

IMDB 6,3 Rottentomatoes: 64%

Imdb: 7,9 Rottentomatoes: 79%

She’s Funny That Way

1001 Grams

Southpaw

The Gift

Trainwreck

Smárabíó | Laugarásbíó

Bíó Paradís

Smárabíó | Háskólabíó | Borgarbíó

Laugarásbíó | Sambíóin Keflavík | Sambíóin Akureyri

Smárabíó | Laugarásbíó

Imdb: 6,2 Rottentomatoes: 36%

Imdb: 6,6 Rottentomatoes: 87%

Imdb: 7,8 Rottentomatoes: 59%

Imdb: 7,6 Rottentomatoes: 95%

Imdb: 6,8 Rottentomatoes: 85%

The Gallows

Minions

Háskólabíó

Álfabakki

Imdb: 6,9 Rottentomatoes: 56%

Imdb: 4,4 Rottentomatoes: 16%

Álfabakka | Kringlubíó Smárabíó | Laugarásbíó | Háskólabíó | Álfabakki | Borgarbíó

Paper Towns

Imdb: 8,6 Rottentomatoes: 54%

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