The President in Iceland likes to think he has absolute power. Luckily, the position is largely ceremonial.
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Icelandic band Sigur Rós performed their new single 'Kveikur' on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show on NBC yesterday evening.
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Watch an audio slideshow of how traditional Icelandic rhubarb stew is made. Rhubarb is one of the few vegetables that grows effortlessly in Iceland and for that reason it used to be a highly-valued addition to the traditional diet of fish and lamb.
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Negotiations with the representatives of a Swiss investment company on the construction of a hotel next to the Harpa concert and conference center in the Reykjavík harbor area are well underway.
Harpa. Photo by Geir Ólafsson.
A Marriott hotel will be built there, becoming the country’s most expensive hotel with 270 luxurious rooms. The hotel, which will be at least four-star, is scheduled to open in 2015. The investment is estimated to cost approximately EUR 60 million (ISK 10 billion, USD 75 million) including the lot, Fréttablaðið reports.
For comparison, the value of the building facilitating Hilton Reykjavík Nordica is around ISK 3.5 billion (USD 27 million, EUR 22 million) including the lot.
According to Pétur J. Eiríksson, chairman of Austurhafnir, negotiations have taken place in the past days and are going well. It is hoped that agreements can be signed shortly.
The American hotel chain Marriott will operate the hotel under its brand name but the building will be owned by the Swiss company which made the highest bid to the lot next to Harpa, ISK 1.8 billion (USD 14 million, EUR 9 million).
ESA
This year, Iceland Review celebrates its 50th anniversary. In ‘Cover Story’, the magazine’s first editor, Haraldur J. Hamar, recalls its history and discusses the work of its first designer, Gísli B. Björnsson. The issue is packed with colorful articles, ranging from notable artists and athletes to memorable coffee and pancakes at the Reykjavík wharf. Click here to subscribe to Iceland Review and here to look at a selection of pages from the current issue.
REVIEWS
The 11th Reykjavík Shorts & Docs. Catch it while it lasts!
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Artist couple Nína Ivanova and Ómar Smári Kristinsson explain why they decided to settle in the West Fjords’ capital.
Reykjavík Queer Choir’s annual spring concert takes place on Friday, May 24.
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