The Whelk Invades Reykjavik

posted June 2, 2012 11:06 AM | |

Fri June 22 at 9:00 PM, Stofan Cafe

Ingolfstorg, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland (Map & Directions)

Oh ho ho! Just in time for Independence Day!

Yeah, I'm totally down.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 12:20 AM on June 3, 2012

Of course!
posted by Kattullus at 2:32 AM on June 3, 2012

Sure thing. Weekend meetup at some bar or other, maybe?
posted by Zero Gravitas at 7:03 AM on June 4, 2012

I defer location to the locals.
posted by The Whelk at 8:24 AM on June 4, 2012

I'm up for it. There are a couple of birthday celebrations I have to attend (including my own) but I'll definitely swing by if I'm free.
posted by aldurtregi at 12:52 PM on June 4, 2012

Friday the 22nd seems like a good day. Stofan is nice and has a couple of decent beers on tap.
posted by Kattullus at 12:56 PM on June 4, 2012

Stofan is also a place where you can have an actual conversation while drinking. It's a good place to start the night.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:12 PM on June 4, 2012

Well that sounds lovely and looks like its well within my walking range. Would the esteemed Icelandic Mefites like any gifts or treasure from Gotham? We put peanut butter inside chocolate here and other such monstrosities.
posted by The Whelk at 3:06 PM on June 4, 2012

Oh god. I can't think of a single thing I miss from the States that you could bring on an airplane. Unless some sort of amnesty has been granted to transporting Banquet frozen microwavable fried chicken on an airplane. You're the guest, man, no need to bring anything.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 3:39 PM on June 4, 2012

Hey, if you can just put this off for 6 weeks, I can attend!
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:14 AM on June 8, 2012

So around what time is good for everyone?
posted by The Whelk at 7:43 AM on June 11, 2012

Any time after 8PM here.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 5:28 PM on June 11, 2012

I am making a giant sad face at my monitor that I cannot be at this exceedingly-cool-sounding meetup. Whelk please bring a cardboard cutout of me and make him say nice things
posted by Greg Nog at 9:42 AM on June 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

The one with the kilt or the shirtless one?
posted by The Whelk at 9:51 AM on June 12, 2012

You know, let's go with the leather-vest-and-horseshoe-crab-facial-tattoo model.
posted by Greg Nog at 9:59 AM on June 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

My favorite!
posted by The Whelk at 10:18 AM on June 12, 2012

Photos will be taken, Greg, no worries. There may even be video, if I can find my lariat and fez. But definitely photos.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 11:09 AM on June 12, 2012

Oh please, oh please, oh please tell me this is still happening! I´m in Iceland (from San Francisco) until July 1st. I don´t know how I managed to forget about IRL after all my hours of searching old AskMe´s about Iceland!! Hi Guys!
posted by JuliaIglesias at 7:52 AM on June 14, 2012

Hey there! Sure, come on by. If you're in Reykjavík, look us up, the more the merrier.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 4:11 PM on June 14, 2012

I'll be there, definitely. Ooh this is so exciting. As I'm already here, I can bring no gifts, but I have a lot of time on my hands, so if you need work done around the house or something....
posted by JuliaIglesias at 6:13 AM on June 15, 2012

I just packed my bags and thought of this post.
posted by The Whelk at 10:53 PM on June 16, 2012

I should pack more sweaters..
posted by The Whelk at 10:57 PM on June 16, 2012

A word of advice: when you do arrive, do not buy bottled water. It's completely unnecessary. For one, the bottled water and the tap water are from the same source, and for another, the tap water is delicious and clean.

Also, don't bother with an umbrella. It's too windy. It seldom throws down buckets of rain here; it mostly ranges between mist and drizzle. A rain parka or even just a hat will do fine.

Also also, bars close at 1AM on weekdays, but stay open until ridiculous hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bon voyage!
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 4:08 AM on June 17, 2012

Good to know.
posted by The Whelk at 6:11 AM on June 17, 2012

Ridiculous hours is right. I had to leave my hostel because it was hosting a party for Tom Cruise. So I went out with some other homeless hostelers. Then I left the (in no way closing down) bar last night at 3:30am. Then I went to get a hotdog. And then I met Bam Margera at the hotdog stand. Weird city, this.
posted by JuliaIglesias at 10:02 AM on June 17, 2012

My plane is named after a volcano!
posted by The Whelk at 10:16 AM on June 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

Good sign!
posted by JuliaIglesias at 11:16 AM on June 17, 2012

I had to leave my hostel because it was hosting a party for Tom Cruise.

If it makes you feel any better, Mr. Cruise will be heading north in a couple days and living there for the summer, for the filming of Oblivion. He'll also be celebrating his 50th birthday in Akureyri. I'm guessing he's excited about their being volcanoes here. No word on if he's brought his own hydrogen bomb.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 4:21 AM on June 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oof, already have the first fashion emergency, anyone know where to find a decent pair of men's jeans in the capital? I ...broke mine.
posted by The Whelk at 8:34 AM on June 18, 2012

The Red Cross, on Laugavegur 20, would be my budget recommendation. On the higher end, there's plenty of menswear stores on this street.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 9:39 AM on June 18, 2012

Wait, wrong address. That's Laugarvegur 12 or 12b.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 9:41 AM on June 18, 2012

Laugavegur 12 or 12b, rather.

OK, I'm letting the other local take over here, as I clearly can't spell.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 9:42 AM on June 18, 2012

THe red cross was a bust, so I got to spend a really extravagant amount at a store up the street. I did however find a Harris tweed jacket that fit me like a dream but was vetoed by the So for the sin of having leather patches.


Sigh.
posted by The Whelk at 1:00 PM on June 18, 2012

I'm currently tending bar at Bar 22. It's on the corner of Klapparstigur and Laugavegur, and has giant Guiness stickers covering the windows. By all means, pop on by!
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:02 PM on June 18, 2012

If the life blood returns to my feet and jet lag doesn't whiplash too might, I might.
posted by The Whelk at 1:21 PM on June 18, 2012

Well I'll be here every evening this week from 8PM until 1AM, and be seeing you Friday, so it's totally your call. Just thought I'd make the offer if you happened to be in the neighborhood.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 1:22 PM on June 18, 2012

Okay on my way, you have a better name cause I'm not seeing any bar calld bar 22.......at least not in google.
posted by The Whelk at 2:34 PM on June 18, 2012

It's right on Klapparstigur and Laugavegur - little green place with giant Guiness stickers in the windows.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:44 PM on June 18, 2012

Awroit! The Whelk is here!
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 3:58 PM on June 18, 2012

Heading out in ten.

I will be wearing A Shirt.
posted by The Whelk at 1:51 PM on June 22, 2012

Walking out the door and down the hill right now. I'll be at Stofan in like five minutes.

I'll be wearing wearing a shirt, too. Not making any promises about shoes.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 2:01 PM on June 22, 2012

Oh man Greg Nog is so missing out.
posted by The Whelk at 4:29 PM on June 22, 2012

Alright, I was the lamer who ended up being the first one who went home, so I guess it's on me to post the photos I have. I mean, if that's cool with everyone else.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 5:40 PM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh man Greg Nog is so missing out.

DONT YOU THINK I KNOW THAT
posted by Greg Nog at 8:33 PM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

That was a blast everyone, but keep quiet about the journey to the crystal cave of secrets, we don't want Greg getting more jealous.
posted by The Whelk at 3:47 AM on June 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

Grah! I'm going to be arriving in Reykjavik on the very day the Whelk is leaving. Alas.
posted by ursus_comiter at 3:50 AM on June 23, 2012

I'm leaving town tomorrow morning and won't be back until July 1st. Will you still be here, ursus_comiter?
posted by Kattullus at 3:33 PM on June 23, 2012

I'm going to be on an archaeological excavation at the tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula until late July. We'll probably be heading in to Reykjavik on the weekends once in a while.
posted by ursus_comiter at 4:17 PM on June 23, 2012

See now the meetup baton is in your court, mixed metaphorically speaking.

Also, hey photos! There where enough freaking cameras there.
posted by The Whelk at 4:25 PM on June 23, 2012

Here's the best photos from my camera.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 8:25 AM on June 24, 2012

I am giving the world's most half hearted cheer there.
posted by The Whelk at 8:31 AM on June 24, 2012

I posted a new meetup Icelanders.
posted by ursus_comiter at 6:25 AM on July 1, 2012