KIKI queer bar.

Reykjavík’s Queer Bars Open Again

Renovated Kiki Queer Bar and Gaukurinn Welcome Guests Again.

Since the government-mandated closing of all bars in mid-March, many establishments have had their doors shuttered. When the gathering bans went into effect and social distancing became the new norm, bars and clubs were the first to close. After all, it is difficult to maintain the proper distance from strangers in confined spaces and we’re all more likely to forget hand washing after a few drinks.
As of now, bars and restaurants can only stay open until 23:00, which means most locals are starting their nights out downtown earlier and hosting afterparties away from Laugavegur. Deprived of any late-night dancing and in-person drag shows for the past three months, everyone is itching to get back out into audiences and onto the dancefloor.
Two establishments home to much of Iceland’s queer culture, Kiki Queer Bar and Gaukurinn, have both renovated and improved their spaces to welcome everyone home again. GayIceland chatted with the teams at both bars to get the inside scoop on what’s new.

KIKI

Árni Grétar, manager of KIKI.

Saturday night’s re-opening party at Kiki showed off everything from a freshly painted interior with stellar flamingo wallpaper to seven new, bright neon signs. “Kiki went a bit back to it’s campy, kitschy roots focusing on tropical fun, but in a more classy way. It’s mostly a cosmetic surgery that took place, giving Kiki a more vibrant feel to the place,” says Árni Grétar Jóhannsson, Kiki’s manager and one of its owners.

Each window of the bar’s main floor has been adorned with photo prints of Reykjavík’s best-known queens from Gloria Hole to Faye Knus. On the outside, each window has been painted a different color of the rainbow.

All night Saturday an open bar served Kiki-signature beer brewed and bottled by Ölvisholt Brugghús. Gin and tonics, Breezers, and the like were served up in new Kiki branded dance floor approved cups. The house itself got a shiny new roof and all the floors were cleaned and resurfaced.

“We were one of the first places to close when the pandemic was rising, we considered it to be the right thing to do since Kiki is a place of hardcore partying, so we could never fulfill the 2-meter rule properly,” says Árni.

“Kiki went a bit back to it’s campy, kitschy roots focusing on tropical fun, but in a more classy way.”

Even before COVID-19, business for Kiki was starting to change. “We have to face a new reality. People were already heading out earlier, which is a challenge for a late-night club like Kiki. Changes like these are just challenges we have to face and tackle. There are no rules that say you can’t sing, dance and party at 8 o’clock in the evening!

Our biggest enemy right now might just be the sun. Getting Icelanders inside if the weather is good might be a challenge, but we’ll just have to make our program even more fun!”

Next up on that program is classic Kiki parties during the next few months, from Kikioki on Thursdays and Drag Party on Fridays to Dance Party on Saturdays.

For Árni concepts like theme-nights, monthly Out of Control Drag Shows, and even a Christmas Party are in the cards …

GAUKURINN

Re-opening tomorrow, Friday, July 10th, Gaukurinn has it’s own renovations to show off. From 19:00 to 23:00 a free entry party will showcase a DJ set from Mighty Bear with free drinks from Víking Brugghús for some of the first guests. Manager Sólveig Johnsen (aka drag king Milo de Mix) says the re-opening will start with the party and a concert booked for July 11th, Pearl Jam vs. Nirvana tribute show.

Manager Sólveig Johnsen (aka drag king Milo de Mix).

Gaukurinn as a business was struggling pre-COVID with terrible storms in January and February wiping out crowds that would normally come out for shows. Closed for three months after that, Gaukurinn was nearly pushed to the edge of closing for good. “It’s the staff of Gaukurinn and the community we’ve built that are really bringing it back. The business is getting next to nothing in terms of support from the city. It’s very hard for us to get answers about government loans or other assistance, like we’re waiting in limbo. The city puts great ideas out there for discussion about financial aid, but the talks go nowhere,” says Sólveig.

Even without the aid, Gaukurinn has gotten a well-deserved makeover. The floors have been cleaned and resurfaced and the booth in the entry area has been taken out. A cozy couch area will replace the space just past it. “We’ve spent the last few weeks in our painting clothes just renovating as much as we can for next to 0 kr.,” says Sólveig.

“It’s the staff of Gaukurinn and the community we’ve built that are really bringing it back. The business is getting next to nothing in terms of support from the city.”

For now, the restaurant Veganæs will not be a part of the re-opening. Even though it’s within Gaukurinn’s building, their business is a separate entity that needs its own evaluation. Sólveig says “It’s a small businesses like Gaukurinn and Veganæs up against the large real estate companies that own many properties downtown. We’re not at the same table or even on the same playing field as our landlords. We’re a small business that can easily go under, while they own hundreds of properties.”

Gaukurinn has been the home of drag shows and all kind sof wonderful queer events. Photo courtesy of Lovísa Sigurjónsdóttir.

Gaukurinn remains one of the last vestiges for independent concerts and drag shows in Reykjavik. With places like Húrra closed and taken over by sports bars, the pickings are getting slim for venues of Gaukurinn’s size. Sólveig says: “Gaukurinn is one of a kind and we have our crew of regulars. We’re constantly making the space the way we want and really letting that shine.”

Acts coming back online in the next few weeks will include pub quizzes, karaoke, Soulflow Comedy, drag shows for pride and singer-songwriter nights. Gaukurinn will also be hosting Hinsegin Ladies Night on the 17th of July.

At the end of the day, Sólveig says “we could all just sit at home in a constant state of panic, but at some point, we just have to go for it and make the best of a bad situation. I’m more optimistic than most people. It’s also good to note you’re very much not invited if you’ve been feeling sick or showing COVID symptoms. None of us want another 20 person gathering ban.”

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

—————-

Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

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


          PGlmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lmdvb2dsZS5jb20vbWFwcy9lbWJlZD9wYj0hMW0xNCExbTEyITFtMyExZDI3ODQyLjM0NzA2NDA3OTU4ITJkLTIxLjkwMDg1MDg1NzkxODQyITNkNjQuMTQxNzA3ODE2NzAyMDEhMm0zITFmMCEyZjAhM2YwITNtMiExaTEwMjQhMmk3NjghNGYxMy4xITVlMCEzbTIhMXNlbiEycyE0djE0MzMzMzc5MTUyMjYiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDAlIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEwMCUiIGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyPSIwIiBzdHlsZT0iYm9yZGVyOjAiPjwvaWZyYW1lPg==
          Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.