Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.12.2018, Síða 26

BEST OF REYKJAVÍK
Best Place To
Take The kids
Whales Of Iceland
Fiskislóð 23-25
This vast, hangar-like display
is populated by life-sized plas-
tic whales, with information
plaques and flat-screen devices
containing information about
the different species. Kids abso-
lutely adore the place, and there’s
plenty of room for them to run
around between the replica be-
hemoths. “Once you’ve seen this
place, you’ve seen it,” said the
panel, from the grown-up per-
spective: “But still, our kids keep
demanding we go back.”
Runners-up:

Hraðastaðir
Mosfellsdalur
For real-life animals, kids can’t
get enough of the Hraðastaðir
petting zoo in Mosfellsdalur.
“It’s a hidden gem,” said the
panel. “It’s a small petting zoo
where the guests can hang out
with bunnies and kittens. There
are also horses, pigs and even a
fox.” It's just 600 ISK to enter,
and free for kids under two.
Laugardalslaug
Sundlaugarvegur 30
For families, Laugardalslaug is
the swimming pool of dreams.
There are hot pots for the adults
to lounge in while their kids run
around between the various
play pools, features and slides.
If they’re still not tired out, the
Laugardalur park is nearby.
Fiiiiiive
Goooooold
Riiiings
Christmassy goings-on in
Reykjavík City
Words: John Rogers & Hannah Jane Cohen Photos: Art Bicnick
Reykjavík is a cosy and festive
place to be at Christmas, from the
decoration-festooned downtown
streets to pop-up markets, special
concerts and a city-centre skating
rink at Ingólfstorg. Here are some
recommended events to ease you
into the holiday spirit.
Heiðmörk Christmas Fair
& Market
December Weekends -
Heiðmörk - 11:00-17:00 - Free!
There are few gatherings more Christ-
massy than this annual get together,
deep in the pine forested park of
Heiðmörk. There people can buy hand-
made crafts, foods and gifts, take in
readings and musical performances,
cut their own Christmas tree at
Hólmsheiði, and generally soak in the
wonderful Christmas atmosphere. JR
Christmas Zine & Print Fair
December 9th - IÐNÓ -
10:30-17:30 - Free!
Remember flannel, riot grrrls, and
DIY anarchy? While the dream of
the ‘90s might be over, zine culture
is still going strong. Check out a
Christmas selection of Reyjavík’s
finest at what is bound to be the
only Christmas event in the country
that’ll get you politically, artistically
and spiritually fulfilled, all while
supporting local creators. Cool
schmool! HJC
Ég er Grýla
December 9th-January 13th - The
Nordic House - 10:00-17:00 daily -
Free!
Icelandic mythology is pretty bleak,
and that includes during Christmas,
when a series of nasty dwarves
come to terrorise locals, a giant
cat devours kids who don’t receive
new clothes, and the ringleader of
all this macabre Christmas horror,
Grýla the ogress, kidnaps children
in a sack and eats them. All of this
is, of course, great and grisly fuel
for artists: check out how Grýla has
been represented over the years at
this exhibition. JR
Ice Skating In Ingólfstorg
Until December 24th - Ingólfstorg -
12:00-22:00 - Free! (990 ISK to rent
skates)
‘I, Tonya’ was inspiring, so here’s a
chance to channel your own twirling
saboteur with a jaunt around Ingólfs-
torg’s skating rink. Bring your lover
or your mother and get those cheeks
ruddy as you try to prove that you
could have been an Olympic skater,
had your parents only believed in
you. HJC
Prins Jóló
December 15th - Gamla Bíó - 20:00 -
3,990 ISK
For non-Icelandic speakers, Prins
Póló can be a bit bemusing—both
his lyrics and banter draw uproari-
ous laughter from the audience,
leaving útlendingar feeling as if
they’ve wandered into a stranger’s
wedding reception. The tunes,
however, work in any language—this
Prins is a king of earworm indie-pop
gems. JR
Ho, Ho, Ho, and more Hos
December 7th, 15th & 22nd - Various
Venues
While Eurovision might be “Gay
Christmas,” there’ll be a number of
drag events around the city this
month. Don’t miss Drag-Súgur’s
Christmas extravaganza at Gauku-
rinn on December 7th at 21:00, and
Kiki Queer Bar’s three ‘Out Of Control’
holiday hoe-downs on December
7th, 15th, and 22nd at 21:00. PS: Un-
like Santa, our queens don't stop at
three hos. HJC
Bagdad brothers & Teitur
Jóló Party
Dec 27th - IÐNÓ - 20:00 - Free!
If you’re feeling bloated from big
meals and done with rewatching
Home Alone movies, it’s time to
reemerge into society. Teitur and
bagdad brothers released album-
of-the-year contenders in 2018, and
both have a warm, fuzzy, feel-good
vibes, so this double-header con-
cert will get you out of your arm-
chair without bursting that pleasant
Christmas mood. JR
26The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 21— 2018
The glowing Christmas cat shits child bones and used lightbulbs
Best of Reykjavík
Open 11:30-22:00
saegreif inn. is
Geirsgata 8 • 101 Reykjavík • Tel. 553 1500 • seabaron8@gmail.com
An absolute
must-try!
Saegreifinn restaurant (Sea Baron) is like none other
in Iceland; a world famous lobster soup and a diverse
fish selection.