Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.08.2014, Page 4

I saw the May 27th issue of the Grape-
vine during a recent visit to your coun-
try, and, if they don't know it or cel-
ebrate it, your readers and countryman
should cherish your newspaper. It is a
national treasure.
The art direction for your piece on
Mayor Jon Gnass was outstanding, al-
though you should have credited Jerzy
Kosinski who wrote "Being There," so
your readers could be reminded from
whence the wordplay and photoplay
came.
I read the paper from cover to cover and
enjoyed every page. I learned why the
biplanes were flying above the harbor
during my stay, the skinny on the Wolf
-- who is still a scum -- and the provaca-
tive movie review. I even read and en-
joyed the ads.
Keep up the outstanding work.
John Morrissey
Des Moines, IA USA
Dear John-
Thank you for your thoughtful letter and
kind words—it’s always nice to get some
positive feedback and we’re glad that you
got something out of our paper while you
were in town.
We’re also pleased you liked our cover—
we thought it was pretty cool. Our editor
did note that it was inspired by the 1979
film “Being There” in her editorial. How-
ever, you’re right, we didn’t mention that
Jerzy Kosinski wrote the book that the
film was based on, nor that he co-wrote
the screenplay, and we should have!
So, John, we’re giving ourselves a literary
appreciation task for August (and encour-
age any of our readers to do the same…
virtual book club!): read Jerzy Kosinski’s
“Being There.” Thanks for the nudge.
Bibliophilically,
The Grapevine
SOUR GRAPES!!!

We stopped in Við Höfnina today for the lunch buffet. We were
told that it cost 1690 ISK. A little pricey, but my husband had it
anyway. I did not as I did not want to pay that much. My hus-
band a few minutes later (after we were done) talked to a friend
of ours that lives here in Dalvik. He told us that the regular price
for the buffet is 1390 ISK. So I went back to the restaurant and
asked the girl that waited on us if they had two prices. Regulars
and tourists. She said that no, it was not a tourist price but a price
for 'regulars' and for those that only stop maybe once or so. I told
her that those are considered tourist prices. We are both Icelan-
dic citizens and have a cabin here in Dalvik. We are here almost
every weekend but don't feel the need to go to a restaurant to eat
out. Today was just to try something different. I informed her
that we would be telling our friends and we have company com-
ing up here to stay for the Fish Days festival in a couple weeks
and we would tell them to NOT eat here. She said she was sorry
but there was nothing she could do and that was that. We will
never go here again.
So be aware-they charge prices for 'regulars' and higher for
'tourists or visitors'.
Dear Weekend Dalvíkurs-
In the words of several Grapeviners after they read your message:
Daaaamn! That is not cool.
We called the restaurant to check on this. We asked (in English)
what the lunchtime buffet price was and were told that the price
is 1,690 ISK. We asked if they ever charged a cheaper rate—1,390
ISK, hypothetically—and they said no.
Perhaps they felt remorseful after the incident with you and are
changing their ways and charging the same price for everyone,
“regulars” or not. However, the restaurant’s (Icelandic) website in-
dicates that a single meal from the lunch menu does, in fact, cost
1,390 ISK. So obviously, something’s fishy.
We don’t go to Dalvík often, but we’ll be cautious about where we
buffet the next time we’re there. Thanks for the head’s up.
Frugally,
The Grapevine
Say your piece, voice your
opinion, send your letters to:
letters@grapevine.is
Sour
grapes
& stuff
Most Awesome Letter of the Issue

MOST AWESOME LETTER
FREE ICELANDIC GOURMET FEAST!
There's prize for all your MOST AWESOME LETTERS. And it’s a scorcher!
No, really! It's a goddamn scorcher is what it is! Whoever sends us THE MOST
AWESOME LETTER this issue will receive A FRIGGIN GOURMET FEAST FOR
TWO at TAPAS BARINN. Did you hear that? Write in and complain about
something (in an admirable way), win a gourmet feast at one of Reykjavík's
best? THIS IS THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY IS WHAT IT IS! What's in a 'lobster
feast'? Well, one has to assume that it has lobster-a-plenty. Is there more?
Probably, but still... Gourmet feast? Wow! DON’T PANIC if your letter wasn’t
picked AWESOME LETTER. There's always next month! Now, if you're in the
market for free goodies next month, write us some sort of letter.
Give us your worst: letters@grapevine.is