‘Taste of Iceland in Boston’ Returns with More Events Than Ever Before, March 16-20, 2017

Bostonians can immerse themselves in Icelandic culture during this five-day festival of Icelandic food, music, film, art and literature.

Presented by Iceland Naturally, the annual Taste of Iceland festival returns to Boston with a series of (mostly free!) cultural events March 16-20, 2017. (Graphic: Business Wire)

BOSTON--()--Taste of Iceland, an annual festival that celebrates Iceland’s vibrant culture, returns to Boston with a series of events from March 16-20, 2017. Presented by Iceland Naturally, the five-day festival highlights the best of Icelandic food, music, art and more giving Bostonians a taste Icelandic culture. This year’s events include a special Icelandic menu at The Merchant; the Reykjavik Calling Concert at The Middle East; an Icelandic film screening at The Brattle Theatre, an Icelandic literature presentation by the First Lady of Iceland at WBUR; and a discussion of Icelandic visual arts at The Kingston Gallery at SoWa.

Icelandic Menu at The Merchant
March 17-20 | 4-11PM Daily | The Merchant | 60 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
Icelandic chef Siggi Helga of Grillið restaurant will fly to Boston with a number of fresh Icelandic ingredients to collaborate with local Boston chef Steve Brady of The Merchant. Known for his innovative style, chef Siggi will bring Icelandic cuisine to The Merchant’s kitchen and work with chef Brady to create an authentic and fresh dinner menu. Brennivin’s 2015 cocktail champion, mixologist Kári Sigurðsson, will also make the flight from Iceland to join the Merchant’s bar manager, Bryan Ames, in mixing unique cocktails featuring Iceland’s favorite vodka, Reyka Vodka, and aquavit, Brennivin, to pair perfectly with your dinner. For reservations call (617) 482-6060 or reserve online here.

Reykjavik Calling Concert
March 18 | 8PM | The Middle East | 472 - 480 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139
The annual Reykjavik Calling concert, sponsored by WERS, returns to The Middle East. This year’s lineup features Icelandic bands Fufanu, who just dropped their new album Sports, and Mammut, winner of the 2014 Icelandic Music Awards’ Album of The Year and Song of the Year, along with local Boston band The Dirty Dottys, winner of Best Pop Act at the New England Music Awards. Admission is free and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 8:00 p.m.; show begins at 9:00 p.m. Must be 18+. RSVP

The Write Stuff: How Iceland Inspires Lovers of the Written Word
March 16 | 5:30PM | WBUR | 890 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
This Icelandic literature event, sponsored by WBUR, celebrates Iceland’s robust storytelling culture with a 30-minute presentation from author and Iceland’s First Lady, Eliza Reid. A Reykjavik-based writer and editor, Reid co-founded the Iceland Writers Retreat, an annual gathering for published and aspiring writers. After her presentation on how Iceland inspires lovers of the written word, Reid will answer questions, lead a discussion with attendees, and share details of the Iceland Writers Retreat coming up on April 5-9, 2017; tickets are still available! While immersing themselves in Icelandic literature, guests will also enjoy Icelandic bites and cocktails prepared by chef Siggi and mixologist Kári, respectively. Admission is free; registration is required. RSVP

Shortfish: Iceland’s Premier Short Film Festival
March 19 | 12PM | The Brattle Theatre | 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Enjoy an afternoon of Icelandic short films and popcorn at The Brattle Theater in Harvard Square. The screening will feature six short films from the 2016 Shortfish competition (the short film division of Iceland’s premier film festival, Stockfish). The winner of the 2016 Shortfish competition, Like it’s up to you by Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir, will be among the shorts screened. The program will run for approximately 75-minutes with each short running between five and twenty minutes. There are no restrictions on these films, however, they are not recommended for children. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.; program starts at noon. Admission is free and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVP

The Icelandic Art Center Presents: Iceland’s Thriving Contemporary Visual Arts Scene
March 17 | 5:30PM | The Kingston Gallery at SoWa | 450 Harrison Avenue, No. 43, Boston, MA 02218
Join Björg Stefánsdóttir, director of the Icelandic Art Center, for a 60-minute presentation and discussion on Icelandic visual arts. Björg will offer insight into how Iceland (with a population of 340,000) is able to maintain a thriving contemporary art scene and spread Icelandic art across the world through its artist-driven community and The Icelandic Art Center. Admission is free and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVP

Media Reception
March 15 | 6PM
A media reception will be held on Wednesday, March 15 for members of the press who would like to preview the festival and meet with Icelandic guests before the events kick off on March 16. Interested media should email iceland@bigfishpr.com for event details.

Win an Icelandic Prize!
At each Taste of Iceland in Boston event you attend, make sure to grab an event pin from the entrance of the venue for your chance to be entered into a drawing for an Icelandic prize! Enter by tweeting a picture of all your buttons to @IcelandNatural with the hashtag #TOIBostonChallenge by March 21. The more events you attend, the more buttons you collect and the greater your chances of winning!

Stay up-to-date on Taste of Iceland in Boston by following @IcelandNatural and #TasteofIceland on Twitter and Instagram, ‘Liking’ Iceland Naturally on Facebook and RSVPing to the Facebook event. Can’t make it to the concert on Saturday night? Iceland Naturally will be streaming the show via Facebook Live - tune in at 9 p.m. ET!

To learn more about Taste of Iceland in Boston, visit www.icelandnaturally.com.

About Taste of Iceland in Boston
Taste of Iceland in Boston is presented by Iceland Naturally in cooperation with Icelandair, Reyka Vodka, Blue Lagoon, Visit Reykjavik, Icelandic Glacial, Promote Iceland, Ölgerðin Egill Skallagrímsson, Icelandic Provisions, Brennivin, Iceland Airwaves, WERS, The Merchant, The Middle East, The Brattle Theatre, WBUR The Kingston Gallery and SoWa.

About Iceland Naturally
Iceland Naturally is a cooperative marketing organization that promotes the services, products and culture of Iceland. Through events, promotions and online marketing initiatives, Iceland Naturally introduces Iceland’s creativity and natural wonders to North Americans. The group is comprised of Iceland’s top companies and organizations: Icelandair, Icelandic Group, Reyka Vodka, City of Reykjavik, Icelandic Glacial Water, Blue Lagoon, Keflavik International Airport (KEF), Landsvirkjun, Ölgerðin Egill Skallagrímsson, Promote IcelandIcelandic Provisions and the Government of Iceland.

Contacts

BIGfish Communications for Iceland Naturally
Meredith Chiricosta, 202-609-7622
iceland@bigfishpr.com

Release Summary

Taste of Iceland returns to Boston with a series of events from March 16-20, 2017. Presented by Iceland Naturally, the five-day festival highlights the best of Icelandic food, music, art & more.

Contacts

BIGfish Communications for Iceland Naturally
Meredith Chiricosta, 202-609-7622
iceland@bigfishpr.com