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35°F / 2°C
(Partly Cloudy. Chilly.)
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Imagine sub-zero temperatures, frost bitten nights and blizzards blowing up snow to last a lifetime! And you wonder how do Icelanders manage to keep their heads above the snow and entertain themselves? Well, they don’t just get by with the zany strobe lights of nightclubs thriving on drinks served round the clock! The Icelandic government and literati has nurtured the arts and cultural scene of Reykjavik with care. Most of the theatre and dance companies are all relatively new, established in the 1950s and 60s. Open air museums are frequented often during sparkling summers. So you see, fiery snowflakes can’t really dampen the Icelandic spirit!
Art
For a peek at retro Icelandic and international art, stop at the National Gallery of Iceland, but if you are in a funky mood then the Bad Taste Gallery will inject you with enough sass and spunk! Go to the Gallerí Lana Matusa Art Ceramic Studio for traditional Icelandic ceramic art. The authentic lava artifacts of elves and trolls tell a different story altogether!
Cinema
With Haskolabio
and Laugarasbio, there is no dearth of onscreen entertainment in Reykjavik. The former is located in a university campus and is packed always with students. Hollywood blockbusters rule here with a sprinkling of European cinema thrown in for the avid movie fan. All the three venues boast state-of-the-art sound systems and comfortable seating arrangements. At the Red Rock Cinema film shows on volcanoes are held on all 365 days of the year.
Dance
Anybody and everybody will point towards the Icelandic Dance Company in case you want to get rid of your two left feet. Folk Icelandic dances and jazz ballet are the mainstays of this organization. It is the most respected of all the dance institutions in Iceland and offers with children's dance programs too. Tap, spin, swirl or whirl, it’s your choice!
Museums
A visit to the renovated National Museum of Iceland gives you a thorough chronicle of the history of Iceland, right from the medieval to modern times. But for a taste of the real Iceland, step into the farm fresh environs of Arbaer Museum. This open air museum houses homes built in the 1800s. Moreover, you can feast your eyes on the pretty Icelandic lasses attired in traditional costumes. And don’t let the old sweet shops lure you too much! The Ásgrímur Jónsson Collection is a myriad of beatific landscapes painted by Iceland’s pioneer painter Jónsson. Folk images of this cold country are depicted in watercolors. Meanwhile check out more than 1.5 million photographs, negatives and prints, which are a part of the Reykjavík Museum of Photography Photographic exhibitions of local as well as international shutterbugs are organized in this creative space.
Music
Classical
Do you know who takes care of your dose of classical music? It is the
Icelandic Symphony Orchestra! Apart from the arias and Mozart interludes, you may tune yourself to lilting melodies of classic Icelandic sagas. This symphony travels extensively with a rich repertoire and has shared the stage with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, Yehudi Menuhin and André Previn. The Icelandic Opera shows off with musical interpretations of Mozart’s 'The Marriage of Figaro', the Humperdinck classic 'Hansel and Gretel' and Puccini’s Carmen and many more…
Nightclubs
Like every city Reykjavik throbs with its very bohemian brand of nocturnal life. Hip hop, rock, house and lounge music all dwell together at these venues. Party animals seek refuge in the Thorvaldsen Bar for wild theme nights. To be dressed to kill is the mantra as the night lives on. Another zone for the party bats is Kaffi Reykjavik, where everyone hits the icy interiors of the Ice Bar to what else? Beat the party heat!
Coffee Culture
Need a good break from the hectic partying? Then head to the several coffee houses in the city to drink or just inhale the intoxicating ‘Kaffi’. At Laugarbakkar the caffeine is contagious and so are the lively musical performances. For coffee more easy on your wallet, it’s Kofi Tomasar Fraenda. This venue attracts the hip teen crowd but you could squeeze yourself in!
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