Ohhhh yummy yummy! The annual festival of everything Icelandic returns October 11–14. Catch all the details HERE or visit the Events page.

Some highlights:

Author Andri Snær Magnason (The Blue Planet, Lovestar), a favorite of the SRSCA Book Club, will be at Elliott Bay Book Co, Oct. 12., 7pm. Presented by Seattle City of Literature.

Shortfish, Short Film Festival at the Nordic Museum, Oct. 14, 2–4pm.

DINNER! 4-course prix fixe menu and signature cocktails at Cuoco, $80. Oct. 11-14. Interested in dining but don't have anyone to dine with? Adam and Justin Allan-Spencer are arranging a group dinner on the 12, 13, or 14th. If you are interested in joining the party, email Justin at justin@justinallan.com

The following evening, Lowely (DK) and Sóley (ÍS) filled the Museum’s Grand Osberg Hall with their dreamy melodies. Sóley was charming, delighting the audience with her banter and her delicate lullabies suitable for ghosts. The entire audience took to the floor, sitting crossölegged, after she joked, “standing at concerts is hard. Please don’t get up. Sit down and enjoy the show.” She debuted a new song, which she promises will be on her forthcoming album, something she described as an “accordion drone album about the apocalypse.”  

Our thanks to the programming staff at the Nordic Museum and their army of volunteers for making these shows possible.

Need an excuse to visit Iceland? Do you run really, really long distances? Sign up for the Reykjavik Marathon and sprint your way through our beautiful sister city. SRSCA board member Alica visited Iceland for the first time to run the marathon.

Register before 16 May and save 20%! Info and registration HERE!

Photo by Helgi Halldórsson, Reykjavík, Iceland

After nearly two decades of planning, the Nordic Museum opened their new, architecturally smashing location last weekend, becoming an instant landmark and anchor on the western end of Market.  An avalanche of amazing activities made this a hard-to-forget event. Here are just some of the highlights:

On Friday, May 4, Icelandic President Guðni Jóhannesson addressed the World Affairs Council, discussing Iceland’s leadership role in gender equality, steps Iceland is taking to become carbon neutral, and Iceland’s oceanic stewardship efforts. As he warmed to the crowd, Mr. Jóhannesson cracked jokes and amiably answered challenging questions from the crowd.

Following the public event, the SRSCA Board presented Mr. Jóhannesson with a welcome gift containing books about Seattle, an enviable collection of Fran’s Chocolates, and a scarf supporting the Seattle Sounders. The President joked that he hoped we would support the Iceland football team as they take on the world in the upcoming World Cup; we couldn’t resist the Viking Clap chant: “Hú!”

On Saturday, May 5, the Nordic Museum opened their doors to the public with a fanfare-filled ribbon cutting. President Jóhannesson opened the ceremony (read his opening remarks HERE). Her Royal Highness Mary the Crown Princess of Denmark, representatives from all the Nordic countries, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin, the Secretary General from the Nordic Council of Ministers, and others joined the opening remarks.

We were on hand Saturday and Sunday to share information about traveling to Iceland. We talked to many people curious about traveling to the stunning country; thanks to IcelandAir and Iceland Naturally for the bountiful swag and our friends at the Iceland Club of Greater Seattle who co-hosted the table. Thank you too to the volunteers who helped share their love of Iceland.

On Saturday evening, the Great Fjord Hall shook with the rocking sounds of the opening night concert. Spry Baby in Vain (DK), thoughtful Mikko Joensuu (FI), hard-driving Mammút (IS), and dark-rock powerhouse Chelsea Wolf (US) broke in the pin-drop-tested-acoustical-delight Osberg Great Hall with a riotous thunderclap of gorgeous noise. What a way to open a Museum!

On Sunday, the operatic quartet Raddir Reykjavíkur (Voices of Reykjavik), filled Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in north Ballard with their exquisite voices. Icelandic Men’s Chorus (Karlakórinn Fóstbræður), who traveled to Seattle for the opening at the special request of President Jóhannesson, performed their “This Shining Light” concert. The audience was treated to traditional songs in Icelandic, Old Norse, Swedish, Finish and Norwegian. Their reputation as one of Europe’s finest choruses is well deserved. Both groups performed at the Museum on Saturday.

Gleðilegt sumar! Happy First Day of Summer!

According to Icelandic tradition, the first day of summer is celebrated the third Thursday of April, not the day of the solstice as celebrated in mainland Europe and the Americas.

Iceland really only experiences two seasons (summer and winter). A runic calendar described and illustrated in the 1643 book "Fasti Danici," shows the year divided into two halves -- summer and winter. The Sagas typically describe the ages of people and animals in terms of "winters."

More about the old Iceland calendar can be found here: https://thornews.com/2015/09/27/the-viking-calendar/