The A Taste of Iceland cultural celebration is coming to Toronto with a variety of public events, including Icelandic culinary promotions, free live musical performances, an Icelandic art show and a free film festival! Like” us on Facebook, follow @IcelandNatural on Twitter and use the #TasteofIceland hashtag for up-to-date news and information on A Taste of Iceland in Toronto. Click here to watch a video about A Taste of Iceland on the official Tumblr.
Icelandic Menu, March 21-24, The Drake Hotel
Icelandic Guest chef Chef Hákon Már Örvarsson, Bocuse d’Or recipient and World Culinary Cup winner, will collaborate with Toronto’s Chef Darren Glew, chef at the Drake Hotel, to create a special Icelandic menu. Sourcing the freshest ingredients straight from Iceland, the chefs will collaborate to offer a unique, four-course prix-fixe menu ($45) focused on authentic Icelandic delicacies, available from March 21 to 24.
Mixologist Aaron Gaulke has created a signature cocktail ($9) to accompany the menu. Named “Sons and Daughters,” the cocktail features Reyka Vodka, aquavit, lemon juice, caraway seeds, muddled thyme and sea-buckthorn syrup.
Reykjavik Calling, Saturday, March 23, The Hoxton, FREE, 19+
Reykjavik Calling celebrates music emerging from the cities of Toronto and Reykjavik. This event should not be missed, as four Toronto-area artists will be paired with four Icelandic counterparts to encourage collaboration on their performances, resulting in an evening of never-before-heard musical partnerships. Presented by Canadian Music Week, the free concert will feature performances from the following Iceland/Toronto duos:
Apparat Organ Quartet(Iceland)
Soley Stefansdottir (Iceland) & Revelstoke (Toronto)
Ásgeir Trausti (Iceland) & Cai.ro (Toronto)
Admission is free and doors open at 6:30 p.m.; must be 19+ to enter. For more information, visit www.thehoxton.ca.
Iceland Airwaves Showcase, Friday, March 22, The Drake Hotel, $10, 19+
Inspired by the Iceland’s renowned music festival of the same name and presented by Canadian Music Week, this not-to-be-missed concert will feature the best of the country’s musical talent. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; admission is 19+.
Endless Dark
Ásgeir Trausti
Sóley Stefansdottir
Apparat Organ Quartet
Apparat Organ Quartet will also perform Wednesday, March 20 at The Garrison at 10 p.m., and Endless Dark hits the stage Thursday, March 21 at Hard Luck Bar at midnight.
Icelandic Film Festival, Thursday, March 21- Cineplex Odeon Varsity Cinemas (55 Bloor St. W.), FREE
Film lovers will get a glimpse into life on the island and its music scene through the festival’s Icelandic Film Festival. For one day only, enjoy free screenings of three Icelandic hit films at Cineplex Odeon Varsity Cinemas. Admission is free.
Jitters (93 min) – 6:30 p.m. – Gabriel is 16, gay and confused. Along with few of his closest friends, he is trying to figure out who he is and where he stands in an ever-changing and complicated world. Directed by Baldvin Z, the award-winning Jitters features a score from Olafur Arnalds.
- Grandma Lo-Fi (65 min) 8:10 p.m. – Shot mostly on Super-8 and 16mm film, Grandma Lo-Fi was created over a period of eight years by three musicians debuting as directors, capturing the most creative period in the life of Sigriour Nielsdottir. Grandma Lo-Fi is a cinematic tribute to an amazing musician and her boundless creativity.
- Backyard (70 min) – 9:15 p.m. – A DIY backyard concert turns into one of the most exciting and intimate music events of the year. Backyard features some of the most celebrated bands coming out of Reykjavík right now, including Múm, FM Belfast, Hjaltalín and Sin Fang Bous.
Art Exhibit, Drake Hotel – Lobby & Dining Room, March 20, FREE
The Drake Hotel will host an installation by Icelandic artist Davið Örn Halldórsson in cooperation with the Icelandic Cultural Centre and the Drake’s current exhibition Pattern Recognition. Halldórsson will create site-specific paintings for the front lobby in his vibrant multilayered style. He is a graduate of the Icelandic Academy of the Arts. (March 21)
In addition, a lightbox installation from Paul Butler will be featured in the Drake Dining Room. Butler is a highly regarded artist from Winnipeg, whose work has been featured in the Nuna Now Icelandic cultural festival. This piece features beautiful arctic scenes with a conceptual twist; the people and animals have been cut out to reveal the fluorescent tubes that light the piece. (March 20-25)
Concert: Valgeir Sigurðsson with Prince Nifty + Michelle McAdorey at the Monarch Tavern, March 21Enjoy a feature piano + electronics performance from special Icelandic guest Valgeir Sigurðsson. Best known for producing works by Bjork, Feist, CocoRosie, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and mum, Valgeir is co-founder of the Bedroom Community record label as well as Iceland’s top recording facility Greenhouse Studios. Sigurðsson is touring North America in support of his third solo recording, Architecture of Loss, a masterwork of minimalist classical electronica. Click here for more information. (Thursday, March 21 at the Monarch Tavern – $12 advance or $15 at the door – 19+) Presented by Wavelength Music Series
Win A Trip to Iceland Airwaves
To celebrate Icelandair’s service from Toronto to Reykjavik, Iceland Naturally is offering a chance to win a trip for two to Reykjavik on Icelandair! Click the tab at the top of this page and enter your email address and zip code for your chance to win. For more information about Iceland Airwaves, visit www.icelandairwaves.is.
About A Taste of Iceland
A Taste of Iceland is presented by Iceland Naturally, in cooperation with Icelandair, Reyka Vodka, 66° North, Blue Lagoon, Icelandic Glacial Water, Promote Iceland, Icelandic Group, Islandsbanki, City of Reykjavik, Keflavik International Airport (KEF), Landsvirkjun,Fjardarlax, the Government of Iceland, Drake Hotel, Arctic Salmon and Icelandic Brand Seafood.
About Iceland Naturally
Iceland Naturally is a cooperative marketing organization that promotes the tourism, services, products and culture of Iceland. It represents the true essence of Iceland, its creativity and spectacular natural wonders. The group is comprised of Icelandair, Icelandic USA, Inc., Islandsbanki, Reyka Vodka, City of Reykjavik, Icelandic Glacial Water, 66° NORTH, Blue Lagoon, Keflavik International Airport (KEF), Landsvirkjun, Fjardarlax,Promote Iceland and the Government of Iceland. For more information, please visit www.icelandnaturally.com.
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