Reykjavík Grapevine - 16.07.2010, Page 16

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16
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 10 — 2010
Special | Best Of Reykjavík: Shopping
Oh, us. We spent all that time compiling
a nifty BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2010 list
for our last issue. We put a lot of work into
it, compiling letters, interviewing folks
and throwing meetings and elections.
We then detailed our massive findings in
four categories: “Dining and grubbing,”
“Activities,” “Drinking and nightlife” and
“Shopping and commerce.”
Then we forgot to put the “Shopping
and commerce” bit into the actual paper.
Yep, it wasn’t in there. Nothing about
shopping or commerce. We just... plain
forgot to put it in there. Boy, is our face
red!
ANYWAY. Here it is now, in case you
were wondering about our findings in the
“Shopping and commerce” category, and
you haven’t bothered looking for them at
our website – here they are.
Best place to shop for
touristy stuff:
Handprjónasambandið
There are now a lot more tourist shops
around in Reykjavík than when we
researched this category last year. The
fact remains unchanged, however, that
Handprjónasambandið offers the most
authentic, useful and plain nice Iceland-
memorabilia out there (unless you’ve got
a thing for stuffed puffin and volcanic
ash-in-a-bag). Handprjónasambandið
sells the ultra-traditional, always-stylish
hand-knit sweater, as well as a plethora
of other hand-knit items (their name
does translate as “The hand knitting
association,” so go figure). They sorta
rule, we think
Runners-up: The more trendalicious
of you might make your way to the
Farmers Market store. They also sell a lot
of knitwear, but with a stylish, modern
twist (“their sweaters look really cool”).
(2009: Handprjónasambandið)
Best place to get a trendy
haircut:
Rauðhetta og úlfurinn
Rauðhetta og úlfurinn are pretty much
verging on institution territory when it
comes to trendy haircuts. In fact, that’s
what some of your write-ins suggested,
as in: “they are Iceland’s hairdressing
institution, especially since the place is
ancient in ‘fashion years.’ It’s unusual for
any place to keep their stature for so long
in the fickle word of fashion, but they
keep doing it.” It comes with a price, of
course.
Runners-up: There were many
nominations for all sorts of “unofficial”
hairdressing joints that we didn’t really
feel comfortable recommending (we
don’t want to get anyone arrested for
“unauthorised hairstyling” or anything).
But you should seek them out if you’re
into it. Some folks also mentioned
Slippurinn as a fresh new place to shed
them locks.
(2009: Rauðhetta og úlfurinn)
Best place to shop second-
hand:
The Salvation Army store
A veritable treasure chest for those that
don’t mind digging around a little for
their threads, the Salvation Army store
has a lot of nice variety “that you can sink
yourself into for hours on end,” as well
as “unbeatable prices,” and a nice central
location.
Runners-up: The Red Cross stores all
have some very nice items on offer, it’s
for a great cause and a lot of folks were
rooting for them to get the prize. Maybe
next year?
(New category)
Best place to shop for high
fashion:
KronKron
KronKron have been supplying the
fashion conscious crowd with high-end
designer wear for many years now. Well
stocked with a plethora of interesting
and innovative international brands and
designers that can make you look all
sophisticated and world-weary at the drop
of a hat, they’ve managed to “constantly
stay ahead of the curve.” Oh, it comes at a
price, but beauty is pain and all.
Runners-up: In the same league,
GK caters to a “slightly older crowd,”
but they’ve been doing it with style and
panache for a very long time.
(New category)
Best haberdashery:
Herrafataverzlun Kormáks &
Skjaldar
There really never was any doubt as to
who would score the title here. Shopping
at Herrafataverzlun Kormáks & Skjaldar
is always a fun and interesting experience,
the store clerks are knowledgeable and
helpful and you can walk out looking like
a Mad Men extra (note: they are probably
the reason why so many local dudes walk
around looking like Mad Men extras).
(New category)
Best place to shop organic:
yggdrasill
Even though they moved location, from
Skólavörðustígur to Rauðarárstígur,
Yggdrasill are still the reigning kings of
this category. They’ve got pretty much
everything you need for some healthy
and/or “health conscious” living in
Iceland in stock – except for willpower.
(2009: Yggdrasill)
Most welcome addition:
Fiskmarkaðurinn við gömlu höfnina
We have no idea if this place is going to
stick around for winter, but we want to
give it a large BIG UP while they’re here
anyway. Fiskmarkaðurinn við gömlu
höfnina (“The fish market by the old
harbour”) is open every Saturday from
10-17, and they are, well, a fish market.
You can buy fresh fish, processed fish and
all sorts of other stuff there, mostly fish-
related. It really is one of those places that
has been sorely lacking in Reykjavík up
until now, and we are hoping they’re not
going anywhere.
Runner-up: Frú Lauga is another
equally welcome addition to the Reykjavík
foodie scene.
(New category)
Best place to stock up on
local design:
Kraum
There are surprisingly many shops
around specialising in all sorts of
Icelandic design items. They are all pretty
nice (the stores’ appeal will depend a lot
on your tastes and likes) but Kraum still
received the most nominations and votes
in this category, with folks citing that
“the range of items and sheer number
of designers represented puts them
in a league above everyone else in this
market,” as one reader remarked It also
probably doesn’t hurt that they’re located
in the oldest house in Reykjavík (built
in 1762 – which means it isn’t really that
old).
(New category)
Most fun shop:
Havarí/útúrdúr
The Havarí/Útúrdúr complex on
Austurstræti has certainly brought a
lot of fun and character to Reykjavík
commerce since they opened for business
late last year. Originally conceived as a
one off, meant to run only past Xmas,
the music and art book complex won
enough hearts in a short enough time to
justify becoming a permanent addition
to Reykjavík’s shopping landscape. As
one reader noted, this is probably in no
small part due to their “inventiveness
and carefree spirit – they regularly stage
concerts and display art there, and the
poster of the week series is also really
cool.”
They are also a fine place to score free
drinks from time to time, due to the
frequent rate of their openings and
concerts.
(New category)
Best bookstore:
Eymundsson Skólavörðustígur
Eymundsson Skólavörðustígur seems to
be everyone favourite place to shop for
new books in Reykjavík, and we have to
agree (even though we wish they’d place
less emphasis on their café and more on
the actual selling of books).
As you guys pointed out, “they sport the
best or at least most interesting selection
of English language literature in town,”
and “their staff is very knowledgeable and
friendly.” Too bad they don’t have their
original location any more.
(New category)
SHOPPING
AND
COMMERC
E
BEST OF
THE
REYKJAVÍK
2010