Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.07.2012, Síða 61

What’s up, Ryan?
Hi there! Well, I am just enjoying the
summer. I just got back from playing
a beautiful festival in the Westfjörds,
as well as two other trips to Poland
and Lithuania. So everything is really,
really good.
The album I released came out in
November of 2011 in the U.S., and
was released here in Iceland around
the New Year. I am really happy with
how everything is going with it, and
am also happy with the development
of the project. It has taken all kinds of
shapes and forms over the past few
months.
My days tend to differ, so I guess I can
just tell you what I did this morning. I
woke up early, around 8 a.m. and had
a coffee and Cheerios. I cleaned my
place up a bit and did some laundry.
The weather was beautiful out
today, so I decided to ride my bike
downtown and run a few errands. It
was so nice that I decided to stop by
KEX and have a summer beer out on
the back patio.
Next I headed to the forest on the
other side of Miklabraut to go for a bit
of a walk and enjoy the sun. The forest
is really nice and relaxing. There are
usually rabbits running around and it
is fun just to take random small paths
and see where you end up. I am still
very much like a little kid, even though
I am 30. I still can't resist jumping off
of stuff and over things.
Then I returned to my place and
decided to run close by and have a
bite to eat at Vitabar.
As of right now, Low Roar has nothing
booked in Reykjavík, but I do plan
on putting on a proper Low Roar
show at some point in late July or
early August. Those days are usually
spent running around and thinking
a lot about how the show is going to
go and what I need to do. Low Roar
will be leaving to play a festival in
Lithuania at the end of August. That
should be fun.
Since it is a Tuesday , I will most likely
relax inside in the evening and watch
a movie or something cosy before
heading off to bed. But if it was a little
later in the week, I would most likely
be interested in heading to the happy
hour at the Danish Pub and then
seeing where the night takes me from
there...Bakkus, Kaffibarinn or Boston
are great spots.
Smekkleysa
The legendary Smekkleysa (or: Bad Taste)
label has been a key player in the Icelandic
music scene since the eighties, releasing
milestone records by the Sugarcubes, Sigur
Rós and countless others. Their Laugavegur
record store is an excellent resource for
stocking up on hard-to-find Icelandic music
items, as well as cutting-edge international
releases.
Laugavegur 35
11Eymundsson Bookstore
Eymundsson is a chain with several outlets
but the one on Skólavörðustígur is the best
in town. The premises are equipped with a
coffee shop, tables and sofas to lounge in
and the all-glass exterior lets in a lot of light,
which is good for reading real books, not
Facebooks.
Skólavörðustígur 11
10
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Coach
Terminal
Nordic House
Culture Center
University
of Iceland
National
museum
National
library
Austur-
völlur
Icelandic
Parliament
Reykjavík
Domestic
Airport
Hlemmur
Bus Terminal
Sundhöllin
Swimming
Pool
Laugardals
Swimming
Pool
Sigurjón
Art
Museum
Viðey
ferry
Cruise
harbour
Zoo and
family park
Camping
site
Kringlan
Shopping
Mall
Laugardalshöll
Sports hall
The
Tower
City
Hall
The Einar
Jónsson
Museum
Hallgríms
kirkja
Church
National
Theatre
Culture
House
Central
Bank
Main
Tourist
Info
Reykjavík
Art
Museum
Maritime
Museum
Old
Harbour
Area
Harpa
Concert
Hall
Tjörnin
Klambratún
Park
Öskjuhlíð
Laugardalur
Nauthólsvík
Perlan
University of Reykjavík
Kjarvalsstaðir
National
Museum
Hótel Loftleiðir
Hljómskáli
Park
Vesturbæjar
Swimming
Pool
National
Gallery
of Iceland
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
6 7 8 9 10
9 8
7 11
Kolaportið
Reykjavík’s massive indoor flea market is a
wonderful place to get lost for a few hours,
rummaging through stall upon stall of
potential treasures. There are heaps of used
clothing, knitwear and other yard-sale type
goods from decades of yore, and a large
food section with fish, meats and baked
goods.
Tryggvagata 19
12
Public phones
There aren’t many public payphones in the
city centre. The tourist information centre
at Aðalstræti 2, City Hall, Kolaportið, en-
trance at Landsbankinn and in Lækjargata.
Prepaid international phone cards are
recommended for int’l callers.
Internet Access
Most cafés offer free wireless internet ac-
cess. Computers with internet connections
are available to use at:
Ráðhúskaffi City Hall, Tjarnargata 11
Ground Zero, Frakkastígur 8, near
Laugavegur 45
The Reykjavík City Library, Tryggvagata 15
The National and University Library, Arn-
grímsgata 3
Tourist Information Centre, Aðalstræti 2
Icelandic Travel Market, Bankastræti 2
Reykjavík Backpackers, Laugavegur 28
Swimming Pools
There are several swimming pools in Reyk-
javík. The one in 101 Reykjavík, Sundhöll
Reykjavíkur, is an indoor one, located at
Barónsstígur. That pool features a nice
sunbathing area and some outdoor hot
tubs. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday
from 06:30–22:00, Friday from 06:30–20:00,
Saturday from 08:00–16:00, and Sunday
from 10:00–18:00.
Public Toilets
Public toilets in the centre can be found
inside the green poster covered towers
located, for example, at Hlemmur, Ingólfs-
tortorg, by Hallgrímskirkja, by Reykjavík Art
Museum, Lækjargata and by Eymundsson
on Skólavörðustígur. Toilets can also be
found inside the Reykjavík City Hall and the
Reykjavík Library.
NEW IN TOWN
For a map of outside downtown Reykjavík
visit www.grapevine.is or the Icelandic
phonebook website www.ja.is
#
EATING
#
ADS
E
C
#
DRINKING
#
SHOPPING
LEGEND 13
LuNCH >
AFTERNOON >
MID-DAY >
HEAT OF THE NIGHT >
A Day In The Life
Ryan Karazija, a.k.a. Low Roar
EARLY MORNING >
LÍFgRÆNT
Lækjartorg
Well it's not new, but it's back! LÍFgRÆNT, a small
organic food stand, has returned to Lækjartorg for
the rest of the summer. They're committed to sell-
ing only organic and wild-grown products: fruits,
vegetables, jams, breads and more. Most of the
food has been grown locally in farms near Reyk-
javík – the kale from Mosfellsbær is crunchy and
delicious – but LÍFgRÆNT also imports organic
fruits from warmer climes. They're open everyday
except Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00