Reykjavík Grapevine - 23.05.2008, Blaðsíða 2

02 | Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 06 2008 | Year 6 | May 23 – June 05
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Vesturgata 5, 101 Reykjavík
www.grapevine.is
grapevine@grapevine.is
www.myspace.com/reykjavikgrapevine
Published by Fröken ehf.
Editorial:
+354 540 3600 / editor@grapevine.is
Advertising:
+354 540 3605 / ads@grapevine.is
Publisher:
+354 540 3601 / publisher@grapevine.is
The Reykjavík Grapevine Staff
Publisher:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson
publisher@grapevine.is
Editor:
Sveinn Birkir Björnsson / birkir@grapevine.is
Assistant Editor:
Steinunn Jakobsdóttir / steinunn@grapevine.is
Contributing Writers:
Haukur Magnússon / haukur@grapevine.is
Ian Watson / www.ianwatson.org
Páll Hilmarsson / pallih@gmail.com
Editorial Intern:
Sigurður Kjartan Kristinsson
Art Director:
Gunnar Þorvaldsson / gunni@grapevine.is
Photographer:
Gunnlaugur Arnar Sigurðsson (GAS)
gulli@grapevine.is
Marketing Director:
Jón Trausti Sigurðarson / jontrausti@grapevine.is
Sales Director:
Aðalsteinn Jörundsson / adalsteinn@grapevine.is
Distribution:
Þórir Gunnar Jónsson / thorir@grapevine.is
Proofreader:
Jim Rice
Press releases:
listings@grapevine.is
Submissions inquiries:
editor@grapevine.is
Subscription inquiries:
+354 540 3605 / subscribe@grapevine.is
General inquiries:
grapevine@grapevine.is
The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18 times
a year by Fröken ltd. Monthly from November
through April, and fortnightly from May til
October. Nothing in this magazine may be
reproduced in whole or in part without the
written permission of the publishers. Although
the magazine has endeavoured to ensure that
all information inside the magazine is correct,
prices and details may be subject to change. The
Reykjavík Grapevine can be found in Reykjavík,
Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Selfoss, Keflavík, Ísafjörður
and at key locations around road #1 and at all
major tourist attractions and tourist information
centres.
You may not like it, but at least it's not spon-
sored. (No articles in the Reykjavík Grapevine
are pay-for articles. The opinions expressed are
the writers’ own, not the advertisers’).
Printed by Landsprent ehf. in 30.000 copies.
Cover photo by:
GAS
Ish 6 is here and summer is underway. Rejoice.
There are some changes in preparation here,
our five-year anniversary is just around the corner,
and that’s going to be a huge celebration. We will
use that opportunity to launch a new website and
a new look for the magazine, so keep an eye out
for a new Grapevine in the coming weeks.
This issue we focus on the demise of down-
town Reykjavík. There is a great disagreement
over how this city should develop its centre, and
the victim of this battle is the city it self. We can
not afford to waste time, allowing the centre to de-
teriorate any further while we wonder if this house
should be torn down or that house should be re-
built. The most important thing is to bring life to
the city centre, and that is impossible when every
third house or so, is boarded up and vacant. Bring
life to the city.
We encourage you to check out the Reyk-
javík Art Festival. There is an abundance of inter-
esting exhibitions and live concerts to enjoy in the
coming weeks. Soak yourself in culture and be in-
spired. Do something that you have wanted to do
for a long time but always put off. Write that novel,
fix up that bike, do the dishes. Be inspired.
To our foreign guests I have this to say. There
is a recession in Iceland. Make sure you spend
you Euros and Dollars and Pounds to support the
local economy. It has gotten to the point where
local communities no longer feel they can offer
refugees from Iraq improved conditions from the
refugee camps the are escaping. This is obviously
a very dire situation. We need you currency.
And finally, it is the Icelandic goat. It needs
to be put on the endangered species list. Trust me
on this one. It is unique, pure of race and there are
only 400 animals left. Support the goat.
From the Editor’s Chair
Opinion
One Reporter’s Opinion 08
An opinion by Haukur Magnússon
Aussie Adventures in Iceland! 08
A column by Iris Goemans
Articles
Where do These People Come From? 06
Interview with Magnús Þór Hafsteinsson of the liberal party
Icelandic Heroes of Foreign Literature 10
Andrew Clarke studies Icelanders in world literature
Bob Dylan’s Glasnost 12
Dylan is visiting us for the second time. Rejoice!
My Morning with Martha Schwartz 13
Aluminium can be seductive and dangerous
Concert Reviews 18
Amiina / Valgeir Sigurðsson / Ólafur Arnalds
CD Reviews 19
Kick Off!
The premier soccer league is on! 20
A Tale of Two Countries 22
Iceland and Estonia are closer than you think
Floating on Murky Waters 25
Blue Lagoon
Features
Pretty Vacant 14
The city center is looking pretty vacant
Smiðjustígur 4a: An Artistic Shelter 16
A new artist safe-haven recently opened downtown
Outside Reykjavík
Dead Cars Society 26
Egilsstaðir is home to a sizeable car graveyard
Destination: Skaftafell 27
Trekking in Skaftafell national park
info.
Listings B2
Food Reviews B10
Food Not Private-Jets B13
Sissa’s School of Photography B14
Dreams of the Sublime and Nowhere B15