Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.08.2007, Side 2

0_REYKJAVÍK_GRAPEVINE_ISSUE 1_YEAR 05_AUGUST 10_AUGUST 3
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Vesturgata 5, 101 Reykjavík
www.grapevine.is
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Published by Fröken ehf.
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The Reykjavík Grapevine Staff
Publisher: Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson / publisher@grapevine.is
Editor: Sveinn Birkir Björnsson / birkir@grapevine.is
Assistant Editors: Steinunn Jakobsdóttir / steinunn@grapevine.is
Haukur Magnússon / haukur@grapevine.is
Editorial Interns: Zoë Robert / zoe@grapevine.is
Chandler Fredrick / chandler@grapevine.is
Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir / vala@grapevine.is
Marketing Director: Jón Trausti Sigurðarson / jontrausti@grapevine.is
Support Manager: Oddur Óskar Kjartansson / oddur@grapevine.is
Art Director: Gunnar Þorvaldsson / gunni@grapevine.is
Photographer: Gunnlaugur Arnar Sigurðsson / gulli@grapevine.is
Contributing writer: Ian Watson / www.ianwatson.org
Sales Director: Aðalsteinn Jörundsson / adalsteinn@grapevine.is
Distribution: Sæmundur Þ. Helgason / saemi@grapevine.is
Proofreader: Jim Rice
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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, Kárahnjúkar 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 sponsored. (No articles in the Reykjavík
Grapevine are pay-for articles. The opinions expressed are the writers’ own, not
the advertisers’).
Printed by Prentsmiðja Morgunblaðsins printing press in 30.000 copies.
It’s hard to deny that public drinking in Iceland
becomes more visible over the summer when
the 24-hour daylight motivates youngsters
and adults alike to party like crazy at various
gatherings in the capital and the countryside.
Usually these parties go on smoothly, but as we
have witnessed since forever, drunken locals
gathering en masse can have some serious
consequences. It’s hard to deny that fact either.
Recent news reports on ear-biting girls and
groups of intoxicated young adults on drugs
beating each other up in downtown Reykjavík
on weekends have raised questions among
many of the country’s residents who have
become fed up with the intolerable violent be-
haviour and shabbiness in the late-night capital.
They demand action. Whether the situation is
any worse today than decades ago has been
the subject of heated debate, but in this issue
of the Grapevine, Dr. Þórarinn Tyrfingsson tries
to shed some light on the drinking problem
and drug-abuse in the country.
For the past few years, one weekend in
particular has been heavily associated with
immense alcohol use and under-aged drink-
ing. This is the annual three-day travel-holiday
Verlunarmannahelgin, featuring celebrations in
almost every small town around the country.
During this particular weekend, three coura-
geous Grapevine representatives set out for
the journey into the unknown and drove the
ring road – and plus some – trying to find
the greatest outdoor festivals and national
celebrations on the island. They came back
exhausted, and a little bit shocked but with
loads of photos to share with you readers.
There are more celebrations ahead. The
preparations for the joyful gay parade is in
full swing as the annual Gay Pride festival is
just around the corner. This Saturday, gays,
lesbians and transgendered as well as ap-
proximately 50,000 pedestrians will fill the
streets of downtown Reykjavík to support
gay-rights and have a good time while doing
so. Be sure not to miss out on that, or on
Haukur S. Magnússon’s article on the float
preparation. If looking for some more midday
fun, you should also check out our Reykjavík
Culture Night extra in this issue, offering a full
schedule on all of the diverse culture-oriented
happenings taking place on August 18. The
fact that approximately 100,000 people make
their way downtown during that one day to
watch a firework display should at least be
something of interest. Just be sure to make a
run for it before the groups of drunken’ locals
take over the streets.
Steinunn Jakobsdóttir, Assistant Editor
From the Editor’s Chair
Opinions
10 The Heroes of Our Fictions
An opinion by Magnús Björn Ólafsson
1 “Translating” the “News”
An opinion by Marvin Lee Dupree
14 Coffee, Buses and Laptops: A Good Mix?
An opinion by Helga Þórey Jónsdóttir
Articles
06 On Icelanders and their Alcohol
An Interview with Dr. Þórarinn Tyrfingsson
08 Strippers Claims Disclosed
Exploring strippers allegations of club misconduct
16 Charity in the Land of Plenty
Poverty as taboo in Iceland
18 Gay Pride Celebrations Float On
The fabulous floats of Gay Pride
38 It’s a Lonely Old Town
Street Performers (Or Lack Thereof) in Reykjavík
Features
0 It’s Not the Journey, It’s the Destination
Touring Verslunarmannahelgi
Music & Nightlife
6 Musings in the Garden
Nico Muhly at 12 Tónar
6 Nei! I Rape Not!
Nei! concert at Grand Rokk
7 CD Reviews
8 The Festival Where Everyone is a Superstar
Innipúkinn 2007
Outside Reykjavík
31 Escaping 101
3 Island Life: 4 Hours on Grímsey
36 The Ghost Centre in Stokkseyri
info.
B1 Listings
B6 Hekla Dögg Interview
B7 Greenlight Film Festival
B10 Food Reviews
B13 Jakobínarína Interview
B14 Shopping
The Reykjavík Grapevine Visits Grímsey Island • Gay Pride Warm-up
Jakobínarína Interview • The Many Faces of Verslunarmannahelgin
Issue 12 // Aug 10 - Aug 23 2007+ info. A Complete City Guide and Listings: Map, Dining, Music, Arts and Events
CULTURE NIGHT
FULL SCHEDULE
Island Life
Not so Lonely at All
Cover photo by:
Gulli
On cover:
A Grímsey basketball court
Cover photo by:
Gulli
Art Direction by:
Gunnar Þorvaldsson