Icelandic Films: The Final Member

Some go to see art. Some go to see monuments. And some... well, they go to see "members"

A new documentary, The Final Member coming in a few weeks is about the Icelandic Phallological Museum located in Husavik, Iceland. The film is set to be screen at the Alamo Drafthouse in Younkers from April 18th - 24th. It will also be available on VOD starting on the 18th.

The film follows Sigur∂ur "Siggi" Hjartarson, founder and curator of the museum as he looks for the holy grail piece of his collection, a human phallus. 

Take a glance at the preview...

Summary from the film's website, The Final Member

Paris has the Louvre, London has the Tate Modern, and New York the Metropolitan Museum. But Husavik, Iceland—a diminutive village on the fringe of the Arctic Circle—boasts the world’s only museum devoted exclusively to painstakingly preserved male genitalia. Founded and curated by Sigurður “Siggi” Hjartarson, the Icelandic Phallological Museum houses four decades worth of mammalian members, from a petite field mouse to the colossal sperm whale, and every “thing” in between. Lamentably, Siggi’s collection lacks the holy grail of phallic phantasmagoria: a human specimen. Siggi’s world changes dramatically when he receives generous offers from an elderly Icelandic Casanova and an eccentric American. However, as the competition for eternal penile preservation heats up between the two men, Siggi soon discovers that this process is more complicated than it initially appeared.In their debut feature film, Jonah Bekhor and Zach Math follow Siggi on his dogged, often emotional quest to complete his exhibition in a peculiar, yet startlingly relatable, story of self-fulfillment and the value of personal legacies (both big and small).

Skál Restaurant - Iceland in New York City

Looking to get a taste of Iceland in New York City? If you're like me and looking to get a taste of the country you love so much, you're always on the lookout for new places that represent Iceland and the nordic region. Then hit up Skál in Chinatown. 

I recently had the pleasure of dining here and it was one of the best meals I've had in a while.


The interior is reminiscent of a cozy, Icelandic cottage with blue and white painted walls with a map of Iceland hanging over the bar.

The menu is fairly small, focusing on fish and meat. Below are two of the entrees - Duck Breast with Sunchoke and Rosted Sea Bream with pickled Cauliflower.

You're able to wash your meal down with interesting cocktails or even an Icelandic beer on draught.

To top it all off, Skál is a great deal for the price. I went there to celebrate a birthday and for two people who ordered several appetizers, drinks, two entreés and desserts, it came to under $200 before tip.

My menu recommendations are:

Crisped Pig Skin with salmon roe emulsion and malt vinegar

Charred Broccoli

Roasted Sea Bream (pictured above)

And their two "interesting" desserts are definitely not to be missed.
A Beet compote mixed with Skyr, Sorrel granita and roasted Radicchio (left)
A Winesap Apple and Oat crumble covered in a meringue with lemon thyme and ground cardamom. (right)

I highly recommend you check Skál out. What are you waiting for? GO NOW!

You can read more about Skál:
New York Times review - Following Nordic Tracks - Hungry City: Skal in Chinatown
Skál and Other Nordic-Inspired New York Restaurants - A Nordic Quest in New York

The Burger Joint / Hamborgarabúllan

I had been in Reykjavik for a total of seven hours. Dawn and sunset had already occurred. I was exhausted from the overnight flight and starving. I was finally warm having switched out of my ill-thought adidas and into freshly bought hiking boots and looking to get warm on the inside as well. 

This is I came across a small, warmly-lit "restaurant" located in the middle of a traffic triangle. It was like a snowy oasis. The sign outside said...

"Burgerjoint."

I knew I was home.  

I went inside, talked to the friendly staff and ordered their recommended angus burger with a side of fries. It was decent-sized (I could have eaten two), juicy and DELICIOUS. Then a thought came to my mind... "This is better than Shake Shack."

I am a burger aficionado and I love me some Shake Shake. The small, crispy patty with lettuce and tomato has satisfied my cravings more times than I can count but... this BEATS Shake Shack. 

Burgerjoint has several locations around Reykjavik but I went to the one on Geirsgata. Check it out!

If you've had burgers from both places, do you agree that Burgerjoint is better? I'd love to hear your opinions.  

Review of The Blue Lagoon / Bláa Loní∂

What's the first thing you think of about Iceland? 

Ok... After Björk?  

Is it this?

This is the Blue Lagoon. 

Originally a waste run-off pool created by a geothermal energy power plant, it was discovered to have healing properties and built into a full-scale spa destination. Just think of it as a a better-for-you, upscale East River. 

When planning to go, I would recommend hitting it up either on your way in or way out of town. It was very convenient to catch a bus from the city center of Reykjavik, head to the Lagoon, spend a few hours there and then proceed to Keflavik airport, or vice-versa. 

A few highlights of my Blue Lagoon experience are:

Exclusive Lounge

Picture thanks to NYCFlyer75

If you plan to hit up the Blue Lagoon, you have the option to go for the Exclusive Lounge or go with the general public area. Yes, the lounge price is a bit steep, but it all comes down to the experience you want while you're there. 
Do you want an Equinox experience or a New York Sports Club experience?

The lounge comes with private rooms, drinks, fruit, private lounge and, most importantly on those many snowy, cold Icelandic days, a private enclosed entrance to the Blue Lagoon. You will find no more than 12 couples to make it even more exclusive. Also, it comes with an attendant who will take care of any issues/questions/spa & restaurant reservations you may have. While I was there, Omar(seen right) was my attendant. He was very friendly, funny and helpful. 


Lava
After spending several hours in the warm water of the lagoon, you will definitely work up an appetite. It seemed most people decided to go for the Blue Café. This reminded me of a quick food kiosk you'll find at La Guardia or JFK. I would highly recommend taking a bit longer and hitting up Lava, the full-service restaurant. I went for the sushi platter. I've never had such great tasting sushi. It was amazing. 




Silica Massage for Back
I opted to go for another splurge and scheduled a Silica Massage for Back while I was there. I greeted the masseuse and she led me to a separate section of the lagoon and had me lie on a floating rubber mat. It was a nice massage although interesting to have part of your body in the warm water and the other part exposed to the cold, arctic weather. I definitely enjoyed the massage but can't say that it stood out from any other ones I've received. With the Euro coming close to USD, I'd probably skip this the next time around. 

To sum things up, I highly recommend experiencing the Blue Lagoon. Just remember, it is a tourist destination and you are a captive audience so things will be expensive; you'll get what you pay for. 

For this excursion, save up, and splurge on the exclusive lounge and meal at Lava. 

Welcome To My Blog / Velkomin á bloggið mitt

Columbus, Ohio:
Population: 809,798
Area: 223.1 sq. miles

Wilmington, Delaware(New Castle County):
Population: 546, 076
Area: 494 sq. miles

New York City
Population: 8,337,000 
Area: 468.5 sq. miles

Iceland
Population: 321,857
Area: 39,770 sq. miles

One of these things is not like the other. I'll give you one guess...

I was born in Columbus, Ohio. I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and I currently live in New York City. All of these are fairly dense urban or suburban centers. I'm the first to admit that I'm a city boy; I once neared panic-attack-levels of anxiety driving through the wilderness of coastal Oregon. 

So how would you explain falling in love with Iceland, a misunderstood country of 321,857 people with close to half located in the capital city of Reykjavik? 
Could it be their famous musicians, Björk and Sigur Rós? 
Their landscape being featured in movies and television shows like Game of Thrones? 
Our shared love of Huldufólk, or Hidden People?
Or possibly love of fermented shark chased with a shot of Black Death?

Answer: It's a little bit of everything. As judged by the clichéd nickname of the country, The Land of Fire and Ice, Iceland is a land of opposites. Most people end with that cursory depiction. Similarly, on the surface, New York City and Iceland appear to have nothing in common. While there are quire a few differences between the two, there is also quite a bit that connects the two cultures. 

This blog will explore the differences, similarities and everything in between. I hope you find it informative, enjoyable and helps you in your exploration of Iceland.