Reykjavík Grapevine - 16.08.2013, Síða 4

Dear Grapevine,
I have visited Reykjavik every year for the past 4 years. I
love this city, but there is one thing that I despise. Every time I
walk by Svarta Kaffið , I get a sharp pain in my stomach. Their
signage, depicting a minstrel-esque character as their mascot, is
pretty damn offensive. How can people feel OK about patroniz-
ing this establishment? Not cool, Reykjavik, not cool.
Peace,
Lizanne
USA
Dear Lizanne,
Ugh. Dude… we know. It’s rough, yeah? Yours is not
the first letter we get about it! This place reminds us of that
part in Ghost World where Enid finds the old racist Cook’s
Chicken poster and brings it into her art class as a statement
that the world is just as racist but it’s more white-washed and
hidden away now.
This place basically never bothered to cover up their
bigotry. It’s so blatantly stupid that it makes one wonder if
they don’t even realise how fucked up their “mascot” is. Are
they trying to be post-racial? What is even going on? On the
plus side, it’s right out there in the open for people to see and
make the choice about whether or not to patronise such an
establishment. Like with the Ghost World premise, other
places might harbour the same (or worse) attitudes but have
maybe just learned to cover it up and be “politically correct”
to the naked eye. It is complicated and maddening.
Maybe next time you come back you should go in there
and take them to task about it, since you feel very strongly.
Then you can swing by our offices and get your prize. Come
back soon!
Love,
The Grapevine
Say your piece, voice your opinion, send
your letters to: letters@grapevine.is
Sour grapes & stuff
MOST AWESOME LETTER
The Hamburger Factory Reykjavík
Höfðatorg Tower. Groundfloor.
Opening hours:
Sun.-Wed. 11.00 – 22.00
Thu.-Sat. 11.00 – 24.00
Reservations:
Tel: 575 7575
fabrikkan@fabrikkan.is
www.fabrikkan.is
BE SQUARE
AND BE THERE
Gullfoss and Geysir are surely a must-see in Iceland,
but neither is something you eat. That's why we have
15 brilliant and creative hamburgers at
the Hamburger Factory.
Located on the groundfloor of the highest tower
of Reykjavík, and on the groundfloor of the historic
Hotel Kea in Akureyri, the Hamburger Factory has
been packed with burger-craving customers since it's
opening in april 2010. Among the regulars is Iceland's
best known fisherman, Eric Clapton.
Attention: Our hamburger buns are not round.
They are square. Does it taste better? You tell us.
HOW TO GET THERE
SOME TIPS ON HOW TO GET TO US WHILE LOOKING COOL AND LOCAL
From that point on you are in good hands.
Be there or be square!
“Íslenska Hamborgarafabrikkan, takk”
(„The Icelandic Hamburger Factory, please“)
This is what you say to the taxi driver
or when asking locals for directions:
“Sælar! Hvað er að frétta”
(Hello! What‘s up)
When you arrive you tell the waiter:
“Ég er þokkalega svangur,
get ég fengið hamborgara”
(I‘m quite hungry, can I get a hamburger)
The Hamburger Factory Akureyri
Kea Hotel. Groundfloor.
The Hamburger Factory
has two restaurants in Iceland.
Good morning or afternoon
we are Rick and Sally , live in Atlan-
ta Ga., USA. 3 weeks ago we attended
an estate sale.
The estate sale was for 2 sisters that
passed away and they were from New
York City. The entire contents of the
estate sale had been in storage for over
45 years.
We purchased several items and one
the items, thru some google research
are commemorative spoons made in
1926 by a gold smith from Iceland
named
Ari B. Bjornsson.
These spoon were commissioned
by the Icelandic government for the
1000th Anniversary of the Icelandic
Alpingi from 930 to 1930.
We are not sure of the historic value
nor the value in general of these spoons.
We have reach a dead end in trying
to get information about the commemo-
rative spoons which appear to be his-
toric.
Can you provide a contact of any-
one who can help us , any information
would be helpful. we are really trying
to find out the historic value , and
would like for someone at the national
museum to get in touch with us. You
are more that welcome to print the story
and we would entertain any inquiries.
Thanks for your time
Rick and Sally
Rick and Sally, you lucky devils
you!
Sounds like you are sitting on
a goldmine, probably. We aren’t
much of the commemorative spoon
experts around our offices – our
staffers are into thimbles, teacups,
bottled sailships and Elvis-on-vel-
vet paintings, but not spoons! But
those sound really great and prob-
ably have a cool story attached.
Unfortunately we couldn’t find
any info about this Ari B. Björns-
son character, probably because
he’s has his estate sold off too
if you know what we mean, but
hopefully someone reading this
has some helpful information. If
anyone does, they should write us
at grapevine@grapevine.is and we
will send them your way!
Take care,
The Grapevine
hello! your magazine is awesome! Coming to Iceland at the
end of September and wanted some more hints and tips
on bars and clubs in reykjavik ? Any info would be great!
Vikram Khagram
Check out our Bar Guide. It's in our back issues and
on the front page of our website. Also, download our
Appy Hour app. It’ll help you get super shitfaced when
you’re here.
Sjáumst!
The Grapevine

MOST AWESOME LETTER
TWO FREE PAIRS OF WOOLLEN SOCKS!
Yes, this lovely prize will keep your feet warm and cosy throughout your stay in Iceland and
in any subsequent places you might go that sometimes get cold. And these aren’t just any
old woollen socks either, these are the colourful, wonderful, extra-long kind from Geysir.
Congratulations to this issue's MOST AWESOME LETTER. Drop us a line at letters@
grapevine.is to find out how to collect those free socks! And if you’re in the market for some
socks come next issue, why not write us a wonderful reader letter to that same address.
Like Axl Rose said: “It’s so easy!”
4The Reykjavík Grapevine