Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.06.2007, Side 2

0_REYKJAVÍK_GRAPEVINE_ISSUE 08_YEAR 05_JUNE 15_JUNE 8
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 / froken@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
Editorial Interns: Zoë Robert / zoe@grapevine.is
Chandler Fredrick / chandler@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 writers: Haukur Magnússon / haukur@grapevine.is
Ian Watson / www.ianwatson.org
Sales Director: Aðalsteinn Jörundsson / adalsteinn@grapevine.is
Distribution: Sæmundur Þ. Helgason / saemi@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: froken@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, 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.
As I write this, we are putting the finishing
touches on the issue you are now holding
before shipping it out to print. Coincidently,
it is June 13, and the date marks the four-year
anniversary of the Grapevine, as the first ever
issue of the Grapevine hit the streets Friday,
June 13 2003.
A funny thing happened yesterday. A
friend sent me an e-mail with the subject
line: The strength of street knowledge. OK,
it is not funny per se, but in my mind, the
subject line accurately portrays what the
Grapevine stands for, although N.W.A. might
have had something entirely different in mind
when writing that song. My point is this: the
Grapevine is a street paper and we try to keep
our ears to the ground to bring the info you
need to experience Reykjavík the way the locals
do. The strength of street knowledge, you
know. I would like to think that if Easy E were
alive today, he would appreciate the effort.
In this issue we focus on the lives of gays
in this city. As Haukur Magnússon’s article will
reveal, Iceland is in many ways an ideal place for
gay people. Gay people are generally accepted
in Icelandic society with a few exceptions. Gays
have the right to adopt children, to a legally
recognised union and most other rights that
other members of our society enjoy. The most
glaring omission is the right to a marriage
recognised by the Icelandic church. Toshiki
Toma, a pastor and a member of the Icelandic
Church society deals with this issue on our
pages.
Haukur Magnússon also spent hours upon
hours researching gay nightlife in the city. He
reports on his findings in our feature article,
entitled Gaykjavík! It is a curious report by all
accounts, and you would be wise to read it.
I would also like to direct your attention to
an interview with Jonathan Levine, Professor of
Urban Planning at the University of Michigan. I
believe his insight into the future of our city is
a good contribution to an ongoing debate.
Other than that, carefully read the listings
and keep the party going. After all, summer
is finally here.
The Strength of Street Knowledge
Opinions
05 On the Meaning of Life
An opinion by Magnús Björn Ólafsson
05 How Not to Be Icelandic
An opinion by Marvin Lee Dupree
Articles
06 Planning Reykjavik
An interview with Jonathan Levine
08 Street Art: Accepted in Galleries, Banned on the Streets
The paradoxical punishment and promotion of city graffiti
1 Don’t be Afraid, God is Guiding You!
The national church and homosexuality
14 L’Etranger in Downtown Reykjavik: “Waiting in Line is for Pussies”
An article by Marvin Lee Dupree
16 Kraum
Icelandic Design
Features
18 Celebrating 4 Years of the Reykjavík Grapevine
0 Gaykjavik!
Gay life in Reykjavik isn’t easy.
Music & Nightlife
40 CD Reviews
4 An Eclectic 5 Hours
Dance Theatre Competition
4 A Super-slow Evening
Reykjavík Morr Night
Travel
46 Four Days in Northern Poland
Zoe Robert’s travels from Berlin to Torun
50 The City’s Swimming Pools
5 Unexpectedly Awesome: A Trip to Árbærsafn
info.
B01 Listings
B06 Interview with Stephan Bodzin
B07 Fotografi Fine Photography
B10 Restaurant Reviews
B1 June 17 Celebration
B13 Cannibal Corpse
B15 Reykjavik Nights in London