What we can learn from the #MeToo movement • Non-binary people in the vaccine lottery • Study the blade with HEMA! • KristÍn Þorkelsdóttir, the woman who designed Iceland • Possimiste, our favourite alien song- stress • Down to Earth at the Sky Lagoon • Ragnar Kjartansson talks 'Death Is Elsewhere' • Buy AMC! Two months into the Geldingadalir eruption, scientists are eager to decode its secrets COVER ART: Photographer: Art Bicnick The photo was taken at Fagradalsfjall, Iceland's newest volcano, just weeks after it began erupting. 10: Believe #MeToo 12-13: Ragnar "Paints" 23: Magma Masters 06: Moderna Odds Be 14: New Spots! 27: Regn Teaches Us Ever In Your Favour 20: Kristín Þorkelsdóttir Non-Binary Realness 08: The x_Emo_God_x Talks Her Life's Work 28: Soul Tacos First When the Grape- completely new. Everything from a EDITORIAL v i n e ’ s p h o t o lava tornado in the lava stream, to the editor Art Bicnick dramatic weather transforming the and I first visited area into something that even the best the Geldingadalir CGI in Hollywood could never recreate. volcano on March But the volcano also has some 2 0 t h w e w er e answers to provide and secrets to The Ever speechless. On unlock. In our feature about the scien- an Icelandic scale, the volcanic activ- tists researching the volcano on page ity was small and it was incredible how 10, it's evident that we have a scientific close we could safely get to the erup- goldmine on our hands, making this Changing tion. We realised instantly that this was eruption even more spectacular. If it’s a historic event. There hadn’t been an true, as scientists have considered, that eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula the eruption is a shield volcano, it's an for around 800 years and not a single event that hasn’t happened in Iceland Volcano volcano had erupted so close to the for thousands of years. What’s more, capital area in modern times. To add to that would mean it could go on erupt- the dramatics, history tells us we can ing for years to come, although scien- expect over 20 volcanoes to erupt on tists are not convinced that will be the the peninsula in the next two to four case. Nonetheless, this is an interest- centuries. ing re-beginning of volcanic activity on Our biggest surprise has been how the Reykjanes peninsula. Maybe it will diverse and ever changing the erup- even turn the economy around after the tion has been. At first there was a small shock of COVID-19, proving once again fissure that became quite big. Then we the power of Icelandic nature. had three different fissures at the same time. They grew to eight fissures that Valur Grettisson finally turned into a graceful, beauti- Editor-in-chief ful fire geyser with a lava fountain shooting up to 300 metres, reminding Icelanders of our famous Geysir. How can one not be in awe witness- ing such raw power? For me and Art, it has been an adventure every time we visit the volcano, just to see something John Pearson is a Rey- Hannah Jane Cohen is Pollý is a hard-work- Alina Maurer is a Catharine Fulton is a Art Bicnick is an Andie Sophia Fontaine Brittnee Kiner is an Valur Grettisson is kjavík resident who based out of Iceland ing journalist by day media studies intern writer and editor who international man has lived in Iceland American political an award-winning combines writing with by way of New York. and an enthusiastic at the Grapevine. She has been involved of mystery. He since 1999 and has science student– journalist, author professional back- She's known for her ball-catcher by studied all things with the Grapevine moves like a shadow been reporting since turned temporary and playwright. He grounds in music, love of Willa Ford, night. A four-year-old Icelandic at HÍ and for many years, from through the subcul- 2003. They were the resident of Iceland, has been writing for broadcasting, scuba David Foster Wallace, dachshund mix with can finally distin- being our online tures and soirees first foreign-born seeking asylum from Icelandic media since diving, engineering and other such an IQ of a five-year- guish Marvel’s Thor news editor to sta% of Reykjavík, never member of the the quagmire of US 2005. He was also a and underwater "intellectuals." Her old human, Pollý has from the real Þór. journalist. She is still, o$en ghosting Icelandic Parliament, politics. Riding her theatre critic and photography. He loves visionary work is been the o"cial A$er a year’s break now our beloved the scene in a pu% an experience they horse-drawn wagon one of the hosts of puns, alliteration and known for expand- Chief Of Morale at in Germany she came copywriter. Outside of blue smoke—the recommend for from the Oklahoma the cultural program, lists that have three ing the definitions of the Grapevine for back to Iceland due of dealing with our exhaust fumes of the anyone who wants prairies, she found 'Djöflaeyjan' on RÚV. things in them. emotion, introspec- eight months and is to missing the ocean writers turning in elusive, well-travelled to experience a refuge on an Atlantic Valur is not to be tion, and above all a regular contribu- and Icelandic ice work late, she also Bicnick Mini. workplace where island. A rock climber confused with the else, taste. Hannah is tor to the Grape- cream. She loves has two extremely colleagues work tire- from the plains, she's dreadful football club also the current Drag vine Newscast on pretzels, clay art and cute kids. lessly to undermine got a serious so$ that bears the same King of Iceland, HANS. YouTube. Woof. boiling in hot tubs. each other. spot for ice cream. name. ARTISAN BAKERY & COFFEE HOUSE OPEN EVERYDAY 6.30 - 21.00 LAUGAVEGUR 36 · 101 REYKJAVIK Made for life In the Westfjords of Iceland, what we call “downtown” others might refer to as “the Arctic.” Call it what you will. We just live here. Shop at 66north.com Keeping Iceland warm since 1926 Follow us on Instagram @66north The Reykjavík Grapevine 4 First Issue 06— 2021 Say cheese! others, as has the legality of deport- ing anyone to Greece. ÚTL has been What Are Icelanders on the defensive over these actions, so it remains to be seen if sustained Talkin! About? public criticism and protests will have any effect on their policies. Whole lotta bannin! !oin’ on In brighter news, tourism is back! Words: Andie Sophia Fontaine Photos: Art Bicnick & AdobeStock Relaxed pandemic restrictions and THE HOME the massive vaccination rollout in the US and other countries—not to NEWS Infection rates for the tion. All that is moot now—just in mention here at home—has tour- coronavirus have been time for the start of Iceland’s tradi- ism operators very optimistic. It is OF ICELANDIC low and a recent easing of restric- tional tourist high season. predicted that some 700,000 tour- tions has allowed Icelanders to ists will visit Iceland this year. A far forgo wearing a mask in a great Any time the Directorate of Immi- cry from the 2 million who would SEAFOOD many situations, including visit- gration (ÚTL) makes the news, visit the country each year at the ing grocery stores, restaurants you can bet that it’s not going to peak of the tourism boom, but as a and cafés. This has prompted a be good. Such has been the case for country with an economy so heav- AND LAMB very obvious divide in the public the past couple weeks now, after it ily reliant on tourism, it’s certainly discourse, between people who are came to light that ÚTL was evict- better than nothing. thrilled to visit Bónus bare-faced ing refugees from shelters for not APOTEK Kitchen+Bar is a casual-smart and those who are still concerned taking a pre-deportation PCR test. about unintentionally spreading 14 refugees, most of them from restaurant located in one of Reykjavíks the virus to vulnerable and as-yet- Palestine, are currently homeless, most historical buildings. unvaccinated compatriots and will cut off from food stipends (asylum continue to mask up for the fore- seekers are not legally permitted to We specialize in fresh seafood seeable future. We certainly would work) and denied health care. The and local ingredients not take a position one way or the legality of this has been questioned other and wouldn’t dream of ques- by the Icelandic Red Cross, amongst prepared with a modern twist. tioning the wisdom of our health authorities, but it should go with- out saying that continuing to wear a mask, at the very least, certainly isn’t going to hurt anyone. Let no one mask-shame you. APOTEK KITCHEN+BAR Austurstræti 16 101 Reykjavík apotek.is Speaking of the pandemic, quar- antine hotels are now a thing of the past. No more will new or returning arrivals to Iceland have to sequester themselves at a hotel, barring special circumstances. Readers may recall the very public legal battle that arose around these hotels, replete with lawyers making grand statements that compared the scheme to North Korea, culmi- nating in a court battle that forced Parliament to review the legisla- It's ain't mask but it's honest work PUBLISHER LISTINGS DIRECTOR PHOTOGRAPHERS CONTACT US: or in part without the Hilmar Steinn Hannah Jane Cohen Andrea Ludovice —» Editorial written permission of the publishers. The Grétarsson [email protected] Emilía Karen +354 540 3600 [email protected] Reykjavík Grapevine Published by [email protected] Ægisdóttir is distributed COPY EDITOR —» Advertising around Reykjavík, Fröken ehf.