Reykjavík Grapevine - 14.07.2017, Síða 32

Best Of Reykjavík 32The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 12 — 2017
SELECTION
FROM BEST OF
REYKJAVÍK
2017
Best Secondhand Shop
Spúútnik
Laugavegur 28b and Kringlan
With our previous winner
Kólaportið increasingly turn-
ing into a market for cheap
imported goods rather than
interesting secondhand jum-
ble, vintage clothing paradise
Spúútnik moves into first place.
This well-curated clothing em-
porium is more like a second-
hand boutique than a charity
shop, and has all the clothing
sorted by colour, style and size
for easy browsing. “It’s expen-
sive,” said the panel, “but it’s all
imported stuff you won’t find
anywhere else. They’re particu-
lar with the selection—after
sorting through maybe sixty
shirts, they’ll be determine
that just one is good enough to
go onto the shop floor.”
Best Art Gallery
i8
Tryggvagata 16
The i8 gallery shows a rich
mixture of Icelandic and in-
ternational artists, focussing
largely on work with a concep-
tual edge. Their strong monthly
programme is always on point,
showing a constant stream
of engaging work that con-
founds expectations, pushes
at boundaries, and surprises
with its wit and humour. They
win for the third year run-
ning, despite a recent resur-
gence in the downtown Reykja-
vík gallery scene. Good job, i8!
gpv.is/bestof
Get to know Iceland
“You might see MPs. Or drunks puking in
the trash. Or drunk MPs.”
CITY GUIDE
Dum, Duh-Dum, Duh-
Dum, PARKLIFE
Where to chill in the theoretical summer sun
Words JOHN ROGERS Photos ART BICNICK
Wanna crack open a brewski and
sit in the sun? Us too. Weather
permitting, here are a few green
and leafy places to do just that.
Austurvöllur
Posthússtræti
Austurvöllur isn’t so much a roll-
ing, lush park as a flat square of
grass in the city centre. Neverthe-
less it’s still a popular spot on sum-
mer days, when there’s sometimes
live music to see. It’s right opposite
Parliament, and also lined with
bars, so you might see famous MPs
walking past, or drunks puking
into a trash can. Or even puking
drunk MPs. Maybe.
Hljómskálagarður
Sóleyjargata
Located on the banks of Tjörnin—
the city pond—Hljómskálagarður
is quite secluded considering its
downtown location. There are
pathways, picnic tables, playing
areas, sculptures galore, benches
by the water, and plenty of tucked-
away spots to get a bit of privacy.
Öskjuhlíð
Bústaðavegur
This large wooded area is on the
same hill as Perlan, the glass-
domed visitor centre visible from
downtown. There are loads of
trails, and you might find yourself
wandering through a large rabbit-
infested graveyard, a geothermal
area, WWII-era bunkers, or the
remains of one of the larping so-
ciety’s most recent elves vs. aliens
adventures. Nauthólsvík, the man-
made beach and sea swimming
area, is nearby.
Einar Jónsson Museum
Eiríksgata
This small walled garden is a bit of
a forgotten park. It’s on the grounds
of the Einar Jónsson Museum, and
filled with his large stone sculptures,
inspired by history and mythology. If
you want a bit of shade, you can go in
the museum and see Einar’s work, and
his perfectly preserved apartment.
Arnarhóll
Lækjargata
You might have seen this small
city-centre hill on TV last year
when Icelanders greeted their
England-conquering footballing
heroes as they returned from Euro
2016. In the winter, it’s crisscrossed
with sled trails in the snow, but
in summer, it’s full of sunbathers
looking out across Harpa and the
old harbour area.
Laugardalur
Engjavegur
A ten-minute walk from eastern
edge of 101 lies Laugardalur. This
sprawling park is home to the Lau-
gardalslaug swimming pool, the na-
tional sports stadium, a petting zoo
and playing area, a botanical garden,
and the lovely Café Flóra, where you
can sip tea in a verdant greenhouse.
Heiðmörk
Elliðavatn
Right on the far edge of the city
is Heiðmörk, a wilderness area on
the Elliðavatn lake. You’ll need a
car, but the trip will reveal public
barbecues, pine forests with hik-
ing trails, and the crumbling and
beautiful Rauðhólar volcano cra-
ters.
Klambratún
Miklabraut
This large park is just on the edge
of downtown, so it might be a bit
less busy. It can be quite glorious in
the summer, with people playing
football, throwing around frisbies,
and barbecuing. The Kjavalstaðir
art museum is nearby if you want a
drink, or to hide from the huge fire-
ball in the sky amongst some old
paintings.
Arnarhóll
THE NEW
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