The allure of summer

Inga Jessen·
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[dropcap size=small]I[/dropcap]f you’re the type that likes music, arts and festivals of all sorts as long as they’re hip and cool then May is certainly the month to be in Iceland. But take note, by mid-May the sun is visible 24 hours a day so make sure to bring eye-shades along with you. Unless of course your OK with sleeping surrounded by daylight. And pack some warm clothes, cause in Iceland sunny doesn’t necessarily mean that the weather’s going to be hot.

Eve Online Fanfest. 1st – 3rd of May.
Into computer games? Then you’re one lucky…! Because EVE Online Fanfest 2014 is being held in Reykjavik’s concert hall, Harpa the first three days of this month and there are still tickets available! Why not set your inner geek free, meet the creators of EVE online, make new friends and basically have loads of fun. Just make sure to follow dress code which is: “Whatever you want”.
More info and tickets here.

Lay Low Concert. 3rd of May. Time: 9.30pm. At Café Rosenberg, Klapparstígur 27, 101 Reykjavík.
Our wonderful musician and one of Iceland’s best known gay artist, Lay Low (Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir) will be honoring us with her presence and performing songs from her new album Talking About the Weather at Café Rosenberg. Note that this is  a small venue, so if you’re keen on going, we advise you to hurry and buy tickets!
Go to ticket sale here.

A BDSM film event. The 4th of May. Time: Starts at 20pm, finishes at 24pm. Where: Cinema Paradise (i. Bíó Paradís), Hverfisgata 54 (groundfloor), 101 Reykjavík.
Erotic fetishes, fantasies, role-playing, crossdressing and guilty pleasures are the subjects of a special short film event hosted by the BDSM group and Cinema Paradise (i. Bíó Paradís). Featuring seven short films, many of which have received several awards, from four different countries. Films include transvestite dramedy Miss D and House for Sale whose main antagonist has chosen to embody both genders.
Entrance fee: 1.400 ISK. Box office opens 30 minutes before first screening. Tickets also available online.

The Eurovision Song Contest. 6th – 10th of May.

Believe it or not, Icelanders love The Eurovision Song Contest. And by that we mean LOOOVE it. So if you’re lucky enough to be here on said dates try getting into one of the Eurovision parties – it shouldn’t be a big problem as they will be thrown all over town. Now, just to be clear on this the semi finals start on the 6th of May when Iceland will be competing for a place in the finals with this year’s song No Prejudice. The finals are on Saturday the 10th. If you’re not used to watching the contest, you might be surprised of how popular it is in Iceland. And how much fun we have.

KIKI the only queer bar/club in town will be throwing Eurorvision parties on the nights of both the semi finals and finals. All further info on Facebook.

Icelandic Crafts and Design. 15th – 19th of May. Opening hours: 15th: 4-7pm, 16th-19th: 10am-6pm.
may4Where? Reykjavik City Hall (i. Ráðhús Reykjavíkur), Tjarnargata, 101 Reykjavík.
Icelandic talented designers come together in an annual fair at Reykjavik City Hall. Trout flies, clothes, shoes, Icelandic salts, and lamps are among what you can find, where everything is Icelandic design. Entrance is free. We highly recommend the Icelandic Crafts and Design fair.
More info here.

Reykjavik Music Mess. 24th – 26th of May.
may5Why not seize the opportunity to see local and foreign bands at this über cool independent music festival. Last year bands such as Mammút, Sykur and Bloodgroup took part in the festival, so no doubt there will be some cool artists showcasing their talent this year. The schedule has not yet been released, but you can follow-up on Facebook or simply visit the festival’s website for upcoming info.

Reykjavik Arts Festival. 22nd of May – 5th of June.
We’re certain that you’ll have a hard time choosing from events when you see the fully packed schedule of both Icelandic and international artistry at this year’s Reykjavik Arts Festival. Including Der Klang der Offenbarung de Göttlichen – a powerful peace, or a theater without actors, driven by an amazing music by Kjartan Sveinsson, with sets created by renowned artist Ragnar Kjartansson and only a fraction of what the fest has to offer.

Festival of the Sea. 31st of May- 1st of June.
The Festival of the Sea is an annual event in Iceland called “Sjómannadagurinn” in Icelandic (yeah, good luck pronouncing it). It’s basically a fun celebration, a good reminder of the importance of the sea and its sailors. The festival takes place at the Reykjavik harbour, Grandagarður, where you’ll be able to see various kinds of fish and other sea creatures, visit Videy Island in a ferry, see aerobatic airplane stunts, enjoy music and so much more.

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Inga Jessen

Born and raised in Reykjavik, editor of FreeCityTravel and loves everything that starts with "travelling."

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Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

      Our creative flavors are carefully crafted by meticulous chocolate makers. The cacao beans are roasted, winnowed, ground, and refined into melty-smooth chocolate.

      Omnom’s process is one of constant exploration, invention, and experimentation. If it doesn’t please us, if something isn’t absolutely delicious, there’s no reason to be doing it. So, we always start with our taste buds and follow our instincts. Our team searches for the finest ingredients in the world and new ways to improve chocolate. This obsession with knowing where our ingredients come from has led us around the corner to dairy farms in the Icelandic countryside and all the way to rainforest cacao farms of Nicaragua.

      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

        Our unique position at the center of the capital markets allows us to see firsthand how these values have redefined corporate culture and success, deepening and accelerating our own commitment to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, as we strive to create more equitable opportunities to help people of all backgrounds reach their full potential. Most notably, we published our diversity statistics for the first time in 2020. These metrics serve as a quantitative assessment of where we are today and help determine what strategies we need to adopt to enhance diversity in the workplace. We recognize that we have much work to do, but we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects the communities in which we live, allows all employees to be their true, authentic selves and fosters individual growth and achievement.

        As we move forward together, we will continue advancing diverse ideas and perspectives that help fulfill the promise of a more inclusive and prosperous world. We aim to set the pace for rethinking capital markets and economies anywhere and everywhere. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
        comes from 2.000 meters within the earth where seawater and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of porous lava and searing heat. Propelled by extreme pressure, the water ascends to the earth’s surface, emerging enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the elements that endow Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater with its radiant, healing properties.

        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
        geothermal lagoons, a subterranean spa, a renowned line of skin care, a thriving research center, and a wealth of spa and refreshment facilities.

        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

        The bank’s vision is to be exemplary and its role is to be a trusted financial partner.

        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        “Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

          Macland is located at Laugavegur 23 (101, Downtown Reykjavik)
          For all your Apple needs. We are here.

          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

          Contact Us


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          Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.