Reykjavík Grapevine - 04.07.2008, Blaðsíða 34

34 | REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 09—2008
Borgartun 10-12
105 Reykjavík
Tel: 411 11 11
www.velferdarsvid.is
velferd@reykjavik.is
Housing benefits are intended for residents of Reykjavik as a financial aid to those who rent in
the general market.
Application service is provided at the city’s 6 service centers and it’s also possible to apply
electronically through www.rafraen.reykjavik.is. Applicants shall have reach 18 years of age,
hold a legal residence in Reykjavik and be able to show a signed rental contract that has been
registered at the district magistrade.
For further information contact you nearest service center, either directly or through
tel: 4 11 11 11
• Vesturgarður, service centre for the residents of Vesturbaer district, Hjardarhagi 45-47, tel. 411-1700
• Hlíðar, service centre for the residents of the city centre and the district of Hlidar, Skulagata 21, tel. 411-1600
• Laugardalur and Háaleiti, service centre for the residents of the districts of Laugardalur and Haaleiti, Sidumuli 39,
tel. 411-1500
• Breidholt, service centre for the residents of Breidholt, Alfabakka 12, tel. 411-1300
• Árbær and Grafarholt, service centre for the residents of the districts of Arbaer and Grafarholt, Baejarhals 1,
tel. 411-1200
• Miðgarður, service centre for the residents of Grafarvogur and Kjalarnes, Langarima 21, tel. 411-1400
HOUSING
BENEFITS
RENT BENEFITS
DESTINATIONS By SigurÐur kJartan kriStinSSon — pHoto By tHoMaS HuMery
Summer festivals in the countryside
In the summertime the countryside seems to morph into a cultural utopia, at least when
you look upon the limited cultural activities in these rural areas during the winter.
The actual reason for this happening is somewhat of a mystery but nevertheless it is
indeed factual. Some of them have great PR, but many of them don’t. And so we decided to
make a smart index of the vast selection to make your travelling decisions a little easier.
Eistnaflug
(e. Flight of the Testes)
in Neskaupstaður July 10–13
Distance from Reykjavík: 715 km
This metal festival in the East fjords has
gained more and more popularity over
the last few years. It started out as a paro-
dy to the family festival Neistaflug (Flight
of the Sparks) in the same squadron town
in the East fjords, and partially still is. In
its earlier years the line-up only included
a few metal garage bands and the camp-
site was mostly inhabited with underage,
murky groupies, dreaming of their cherry
finally being popped by one of the rug-
ged metal heads, but today Icelandic rock
idols such as HAM will make an appear-
ance. Even the morbid black metal leg-
ends in Mayhem begged to be included,
but that unfortunately didn’t work out. So
whether you love the barbarous sounds of
metal or simply wish to have a dash of cul-
tural shock, Grapevine recommends this
roughest country festival of the East.
Tickets and more info at www.eistnaflug.
The Icelandic Jockey
Tournament
in Hella July 4–6
Distance from Reykjavík: 93 km
The Icelandic horse riding culture has
been immensely important to natives
over the ages and at this every-other-year
tournament all the jockeys unite in a big
celebration. The sport of horse-riding has
changed from being the only travelling
option for Icelanders into being this lux-
ury sport which it is still today. Therefore
the bulk of Icelandic celebrities and ty-
coons tend this tournament, which has a
reputation of being the booziest of all Ice-
landic country festivals. Some say it really
doesn’t matter if you’re into horses at all,
you should simply attend if you long for a
nutty and extremely long-lasting party.
For more info see: www.south.is
LungA
Art Festival
in Seyðisfjörður July 14–20
Distance from Reykjavík: 681 km
The young artists of Iceland chronically
seem to be coming more and more cre-
ative and prolific and this Art Festival in
Seyðisfjörður is both dedicated to and
operated by those promising youngsters.
The festival is partitioned into three parts.
Firstly the workshops during the day,
where experienced artists mentor the
younger ones where hopefully their tal-
ents bloom; secondly, the various turn-ups
during the latter part of the day which can
vary from lectures from Icelandic Acad-
emy of Arts students to performances by
the Icelandic Accordion Association. Last
but not least, it is the harvest festival and
the prime concert where the Kimi artists
Borko, Morðingjar, Reykjavík! and Benni
Hemm Hemm entertain the crowd.
More info at www.lunga.is
Irish Days
in Akranes July 4–6
Distance from Reykjavík: 49 km
Everyone has heard the myth that Ice-
landers are in fact descendents from Ire-
land and not Norway, and this energetic
festival in Akranes is a refuge for all the
followers of that theory. Irish folk-music is
played the entire weekend, and all of the
Icelandic supplies of Guinness beer in the
whole country are unavoidably emptied,
followed by an election of the most Irish
Icelander. For more info see:
www.irskirdagar.is
Bræðslan
in Borgarfjörður Eystri July 28
Distance from Reykjavík: 724 km
A very extraordinary music festival in this
remote area has a certain charm and has
attracted musicians such as Belle & Sebas-
tian. This year the festival doesn’t boast of
any international music high-flyers, but
nevertheless the line-up of Icelandic per-
formers is bullet-proof. Rockstar: Superno-
va idol Magni Ásgeirsson will be there as
well as mellow and enigmatic rising star
Lay Low. Tickets and more info at
www.midi.is.
Folk Music Festival
in Siglufjörður July 2-6
Distance from Reykjavík: 386 km
This music festival attracts several mu-
sic devotees but as the name suggests a
wide variety of folk music is presented.
But don’t assume too early, the line-up
doesn’t only include Icelandic folk music
but also Scandinavian and even Balkan.
The artists are also from miscellaneous
nationalities but you can find the fetching
Icelandic singer Ragnheiður Gröndal as
well as Susanne Lundeng, a famous Nor-
wegian violin player. For more info see:
www.siglo.is
lunGa festival in seyÐisfJÖrÐur