Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.04.2013, Page 2

We are now officially accepting nomina-
tions for “Tourist of the year 2013.” Please
submit your nominations to editor@grape-
vine.is to be considered. We will read them,
post them to our website and print the best
one come next January.
Note: To be eligible, the tourist (this can be
you) must have visited Iceland in 2013.
See more soon on www.touristoftheyear.is
Issue 4 • 2013 • April 5 - May 9
VOTE
FOR
PEDRO
An unprecedented number of political parties plan on running in the upcoming parliamentary
elections, from seasoned class leaders like The Independence Party and the Left-Greens to fresh-faced
newcomers like "Dawn" and "The Rainbow Party" (!). But who should we trust to lead Icelanders into
prosperity and create a fair, just society for all? In an attempt to figure it out, we went and
made a massive election guide for y'all to pore over. Check it out! Page 14.
SEE BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO FROM
THE COVER SHOOT AT WWW.GRAPEVINE.IS

× 2013
January 11
- February 7
Issue 1
Missing
Your Free Copy
TOURIST OF THE YEAR
TH
E G
RA
PE
VI
NE
M
US
IC
AW
AR
DS

Hafnarstræti 15, 101 Reykjavík
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Editor In Chief:
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Editorial | Anna Andersen
TRACK OF THE ISSUE
As the old saying goes, families that play
together stay together and Iceland is a
pretty family-friendly place! Sibling-based
bands sure are darling, too. We took one of
our favourites out on a date for this issue
(See On A Date With Retro Stefson on page
44) and now we’re very privileged to be
giving you a track by a band with a brother
& sister at its core. The similarity ends
there though! Nóra have been coming into
their own for a while and rapidly maturing
since their debut album in 2010. This track
off their brand new album ‘Himinbrim’,
released on March 24, creeps and crackles
its way in and eventually builds to booming
heights of broodiness. Take a listen and you
know, maybe buy their album? Do it!
Nóra – Kólbítur
Download for FREE at www.grapevine.is
WELCOME TO OUR GARGANTUAN
ELECTION GUIDE ISSUE!
ANNA’S 23RD EDITORIAL
WILL YOU BE
GRAPEVINE’S
‘TOURIST OF
THE YEAR 2013’?Little did we know
what we were getting
ourselves into when
we set out to make an
“Election Guide” this
issue. For at least a
decade now, the same
four political parties
have been running for
parliament. Although there have always been
some wildcard parties, and there was an influx
of them in the 2009 post-crash election, never
before have there been this many vying for
seats in parliament.
We did our best to keep track as the par-
ties popped up left and right, but we were of-
ten confused about how many there were and
whether or not we should be taking them all
seriously. It didn’t help that one of them, Flok-
kur heimilanna (“The Household’s Party”), an-
nounced itself on April Fools’ Day.
At that point we had already sent a rather
lengthy questionnaire to 20 parties and we
wanted to believe that any new party was a
joke. It turns out, however, that they are no less
serious about running than the other 12 or 13
parties that had responded to our question-
naire, each of them with unique ideas on how
Iceland should be run.
In the end, we can’t be completely certain
that we’ve managed to include all of the par-
ties running in the upcoming elections, but we
can be fairly certain that the few missing ones
won’t collect enough signatures of support by
April 12 to make it onto the ballot come April
27. Heck, at least one of the parties was trying
to collect signatures from the makeup artists at
our cover shoot.
It really wasn’t until I stood there at that
cover shoot, on the day before print, that I
started to appreciate the fact that all of these
parties were running and what that meant. A
wonderful feeling came over me as I watched
all of these would be leaders or representatives
proudly posing for our cover photo.
If the polls are anything to go by, few will go
on to get a seat at the table, but this seemingly
obvious fact didn't prevent them from caring
and feeling empowered enough to create a
party and make their ideas heard. And even if
they don’t go on to gain any seats, their ideas
are worth considering as the nation attempts to
rebuild after the crash.
Now, dear voter, it’s time for you to do your
part. Turn to page 14 to see our Election Guide,
which will hopefully help you make heads or
tails of it all. If you’re not a voter, you should
still turn to page 14 and enjoy some insight into
Iceland’s political climate today.
Cover by:
Döðlur
Photo by:
Baldur Kristjáns
Make up:
Harpa Káradóttir:
Rakel Ásgeirsdóttir
Assistance:
Hulda Halldóra Tryggvadóttir
Special thanks:
Kex Hostel
Hjörtur Hjartarson
2
Contributing Writers:
Snorri Páll Jónsson Úlfhildarson
Kári Túliníus
Catherine Fulton
Róbert Marshall
Svandís Svavarsdóttir
Mark Asch
Brikir Fjalar Viðarsson
Bob Cluness
John Rogers
Elli Thor Magnússon
Anna Millward
Journalist & Listings editor:
Rebecca Louder / rebecca@grapevine.is
Sigurður Kjartan Kristinsson/ sigurdur@grapevine.is
Editorial Interns:
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Puja Matta / puja@grapevine.is
On-line News Editor
Catharine Fulton / press@grapevine.is
Art Director
Hörður Kristbjörnsson / hoddi@grapevine.is
Design:
Guðmundur Úlfarsson / giu@grapevine.is
Photographer:
Alísa Kalyanova / www. alisakalyanova.com
Music Manager:
Bob Cluness / bob@grapevine.is
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Jim Rice
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Founders:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson,
Hörður Kristbjörnsson,
Jón Trausti Sigurðarson,
Oddur Óskar Kjartansson,
Valur Gunnarsson
The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18 times a year by Fröken ltd.
Monthly from November through April, and fortnightly from May
til October. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole
or in part without the written permission of the publishers. The
Reykjavík Grapevine is distributed around Reykjavík, Akureyri,
Egilsstaðir, Seyðisfjörður, Borgarnes, Keflavík, Ísafjörður and at
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You may not like it, but at least it's not sponsored (no arti-
cles in the Reykjavík Grapevine are pay-for articles. The opinions
expressed are the writers’ own, not the advertisers’).
The Reykjavík Grapevine Issue 4 — 2013
YO
UR F
A
CE HE
R
E
FUN TRIVIA QUESTION!
Taken from the educational trivia game Instant Iceland
Q: Who was the only wartime leader to visit Iceland during World War II?
A Winston Churchill
B Franklin Roosevelt
C Adolf Hitler
Turn to page 31 for the answer!
www.fontana.is
Be in your
element
GEOTHERMAL
STEAM ROOMS
THERMAL
BATHS
SAUNA
The perfect rest stop between Thingvellir and Geysir
Opening hours: Weekdays 13-21 and Weekends 11-21
Make sure your Golden Circle tour completes the geothermal experience
Visit the Laugarvatn Fontana wellness centre. Relax in steam rooms over a natural
hot spring and open air thermal baths. Afterwards try local delicacies in our café.
Ask us how the locals at Laugarvatn use the steam baths!