Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.07.2012, Síða 28

28
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 10 — 2012
BEST PLACE TO SHOP FOR
TOURISTY STUFF: GEYSIR
Downtown Reykjavík is starting to feel
like some sort of Disneyland puffin
mall, what with all the numerous new
stores that cater exclusively to tourists
in dire need of puffin or volcano related
souvenirs. It’s understandable, though,
because all you wonderful travellers
need to bring back items for your loved
ones and—who are we kidding—puffins
and volcanoes are the most interesting
things Iceland has going for it. Tourist
shops are necessary, and it is thus im-
portant to commend those that go an
ambitious route in serving up the cov-
eted trinkets and stuffed dolls.
All decked out in salvaged wood
and decorated with found photo-
graphs from Iceland’s past, Geysir on
Skólavörðustígur does a commendable
job of catering to tourists in a taste-
ful, yet quirky manner. Locally crafted
goods, lopi sweaters and everything
you’ll need to hike across the island can
all be found there—seek out Vík Prjóns-
dóttir’s playful line of woollen goods for
an example of current local design.
(2011: Geysir
2010: Handprjónasambandið
2009: Handprjónasambandið)
BEST PLACE TO STOCK UP
ON LOCAL DESIGN: KRAUM
Representing over 200 local designers
and artists, Kraum offers an expertly
curated, collection of the best things
currently being envisioned and crafted
by locals. The wide variety of items on
offer (“their collection is GARGAN-
TUAN”) can be hard to navigate, but
the expert staff ensures no one leaves
without finding what they need.
(2010: Kraum
2011: Kraum)
BEST PLACE TO STOCK UP
ON LOCAL FASHION DE-
SIGN: KIOSK
Last year we said: “Run by a collective
of young Icelandic fashion designers,
Kiosk is such a welcoming addition we
felt the shop deserves its own category.
Kiosk is a co-op shop and serves as a
first step for young local designers to
sell their creations. It’s not only the cool
designer wear and accessories that
make the shop a great pick, but since
the designers take shifts behind the
counter you can always guarantee to
meet a young new talent.” We couldn’t
agree more for this year, and Kiosk has
expanded since last year so there’s
even more fresh talent to check out.
(2011: Kiosk)
BEST BOOKSTORE: MáL OG
MENNING
After several years of humiliation, Mál
og menning—once Reykjavík’s favourite
bookstore—seems to have finally gotten
its shit together in a big way. Aside from
building up a respectable (for Iceland)
stock of literature and magazines and
hosting various fine literary events
(readings, discussions, etc), they have
opened an art gallery on their top floor
in conjunction with the crew from Ha-
varí and generally seem in good spirits.
This is great news for downtown Reyk-
javík!
Runner-up: Útúrdúr remains awesome
with its selection of 'zines, art books
and other curiosities.
(2011: Eymundsson, Austurstræti
2010: Eymundsson, Skólavörðustígur)
BEST PLACE TO GET
A TRENDY HAIRCUT:
RAUðHETTA OG úLFURINN
Rauðhetta og úlfurinn are an enduring
favourite when it comes to supplying
the good people of Reykjavík with their
trendy haircuts—which is odd because
trends keep changing and fashion is
notoriously fickle. “I can always count
on excellent service at Rauðhetta og
úlfurinn, they make me look good every
time,” one reader noted.
(2011: Barber Theater
2010: Rauðhetta og úlfurinn)
BEST SECOND HAND SHOP:
Fatamarkaðurinn by Hlemmur seems to
be pretty popular these days. “Clothes
at Nostalgia and Spúútnik have been
pre-selected so they tend to be cool-
er, but they are more expensive. If
you’re willing to put in the work, Fa-
tamarkaðurinn is can be pretty great,”
one of our second hand shoppers ex-
plained.
Runners-up: Nostalgia and Spúútnik
BEST SHOP FOR ‘HIGH
FASHION’: KRONKRON
Those with a fashion fetish will tell you
that KronKron offers “the only proper
selection of current international de-
signers in Reykjavík,” with one even
remarking: “I would have no idea what
I’d do without them! They are the only
ones actively importing new clothes!”
Go there for clothes by labels such as
Marc Jacobs, Wood Wood and Vivi-
enne Westwood, shoes by Eley Kishi-
moto and Sonia Rykiel and of course
the storeowners’ newly launched label
KRONbyKRONKRON. Of course it all
comes with a price, but we are told
tourists can get tax-free rebates of the
stuff, which ultimately renders it pretty
cheap.
(2011: KronKron)
BEST HABERDASHERY:
HERRAFATAVERzLUN KOR-
MáKS & SKJALDAR
Located directly under Laugavegur’s
Bónus outlet, Herrafataverzlun Kor-
máks & Skjaldar is an enduring hipster
mall of a store, where discerning Reyk-
javík gentlemen go to get decked out in
proper Don Draper gear or disguised as
English lords out for a fox hunt. Selling
everything from shoes and undergar-
ments to suits and overcoats, HK&S
even host a proper barber in the cor-
ner who gives a mean shave and/or a
haircut.
(2011: Herrafataverzlun Kormáks &
Skjaldar
2010: Herrafataverzlun Kormáks &
Skjaldar)
BEST PLACE TO SHOP OR-
GANIC: FRú LAUGA
The couple that runs Frú Lauga shop
from farmers from all over the country
and everything in the store is labelled
so customers knows exactly what they
are eating and where it comes from.
Need we say more?
(2011: Frú Lauga)
BEST RECORD STORE:
LUCKY RECORDS
Lucky Records offers scores of hard-
to-find vinyl and first editions of rare
Icelandic and international LPs. “This
is where I send my visiting music geek
friends,” remarked one reader while
another noted that the store is “world
class! I found a battered 7" of ‘Kind
Midas Touch’ by The Hollies for 1 EUR
and a pile of old electro boogie stuff.”
(New category)
MOST WELCOME ADDI-
TION: 20Bé
Starting its life as a travelling pop-up
shop, 20bé has found a permanent
home on Laugavegur, where its three
designer/artist owners sell their wares,
host parties for friends and passers-by
and promote local art through regu-
lar shows. “Helicopter’s dresses alone
make 20bé a great stop on a stroll
down Laugavegur, but I always find
something fun or interesting when I go
there.”
(2011: Jet Korine
2010: Fiskmarkaðurinn við gömlu
höfnina)
BEST HABERDASHERY: HERRAFATAVERZLUN KORMÁKS & SKJALDAR
BEST PLACE TO STOCK UP ON LOCAL DESIGN: KRAUM