Boston, MA (June 22, 2007) – Boston plays host to Iceland, our coolest neighbors to the north, on Thursday, July 5 – Monday, July 9, for “A Taste of Iceland,” a five-day cultural event that includes Icelandic personalities, culinary delights, music, a film festival, and Icelandic products. (www.icelandtouristboard.com ) Iceland Naturally (www.icelandnaturally.com), in cooperation with Iceland Tourist Board, Reyka Vodka, Icelandair, Icelandic Seafood USA, and Iceland Spring Water is offering Bostonians the next best thing to being there, as well as a chance to win a free trip to Iceland from Icelandair.

Highlights of “A Taste of Iceland” include:

Icelandic Chef, Hakon Mar Orvarsson, Bronze Medal Winner of the Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Contest Cooks with Executive Chef Tom Holloway at the Rustic Kitchen,July 5 – 9 at 210 Stuart St. Boston) A specially designed menu - fusing Icelandic tradition with innovative insights of the celebrity guest chef, who dazzles diners at his esteemed Vox restaurant in Iceland with Boston’s hippest award winning restaurant - will feature fresh seafood and native products flown in daily from Iceland, all prepared in the Viking Kitchen Studio. A recent review of Orvarsson’s culinary expertise provides a scrumptious preview of his signature “Taste of Iceland.” He is known for working wonders with Iceland’s sublime trout, herring, and lobster. But nothing beats his foie gras terrine,stewed figs, marinated oyster mushrooms, buttery brioche, and 25-year old balsamic vinegar. That’s a combination that will vanquish any Viking or Red Sox fan’s appetite! (www.rustickitchen.biz)

Carberry’s Icelandic Bakery and Coffee House (74 Prospect Street) Featuring as its “Taste of Boston” - six traditional Icelandic confections from July 5-8. Hekla, a scrumptious named after a volcano in Iceland. Owner and master baker, Agust”Gusti” Gunnarsson, came directly from Iceland and founded Carberry’s in 1993. Gusti welcomes the opportunity to familiarize Americans with his native cuisine Hakon the Chef will provide his savory insights into the art of making Icelandic grand sandwiches with 100% Icelandic ingredients for the Ivy League Taste of Boston!

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Icelandic music sensation Benni Hemm Hemm Concert, Friday, July 6, Doors open 9PM at Middle East (472/490 Mass Ave. Cambridge). With performances in Europe, Japan and the U.S., Benni Hemm Hemm provides a provocative musical taste of Iceland with his diverse talents described as “an energetic and evocative feel-good take on folk.” Known for his “cynical lyrics that make him shine,” this talented quirky Icelander’s “I Can Love You in a Wheelchair Baby” has captivated audiences around the globe. He is, as one critic wrote, “the heartthrob of Icelanders with his take on country pop.” Benni’s deep voice and guitar strumming style is complimented by an eccentric hearty brass band of nine musicians that leave audiences with a mind altering/pleasing experience! (For exact time of performance see www.bennihemmhemm.com.) Call TICKETMASTER for more information.

DJezus, (a.k.a. DJ Baldur, Baldur Hedinsson) (Thursday, July 5, 11:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. Middlesexlounge (315 Cambridge St, Cambridge) Saturday, July 7, 9p.m. -1 a.m., River Gods Bar and Restaurant (125 River St. Cambridge). Icelandic native, Boston resident, and 2007 winner of “The Best DJ in Boston” award by the Boston Phoenix, DJezus mesmerizes his fans here and abroad with his unmatchable “minimal tech house” and “electro house” beat. DJezus who characterizes his music as authentic “new rave” with a solid beat and beautiful melody views Boston as on the perfect track in furthering his art of spin: “The city is learning to both enjoy and dance to quality music while adding its own East Coast twist.”

Baldur mixes his acumen in music with study of applied mathematics and neuroscience at Boston University. In Beantown for only two years, the Icelander has risen to the top of his “spinning” class, and has collaborated with Rahul Quila, DJ Die Young, Skink, Nylonic, Davis Day and Mistaker, among others.

Baldur will return home for a special performance at the “Iceland Airwaves Festival” in Reykjavik, in October. (www.icelandairwaves.com) (See www.myspace.com/baldur)

Icelandic Film Festival Kendall Square Landmark, July 5, 7pm. Two screenings of Iceland’s hottest films will be featured at this special screening. The festival opens with "Salt," a feature about a young woman from the east coast of Iceland who embarks on a road trip odyssey with her sister''''''''''''''''s boyfriend. Shot by American, Bradley Rust Gray, and filmed entirely in Iceland, using all-Icelandic actors, “Salt” provides an enticing cinerama of the iconic Icelandic countryside.

At 9 pm, "Cold Hearts Revisited: Short Film and Music Videos from Iceland” that premiered recently in New York. This fresh batch of films and videos from the vibrant Icelandic creative community features irreverent faux pop songs and edible instruments to escapist fantasies that encapsulate the enchanting and inventive spirit of this small island nation. This cinematic “Taste of Iceland” arrives in Boston fresh from its spring screenings in the Big Apple. (See http://www.packagedeals.org/events/cold_hearts_revisited.html) and April. http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Boston/KendallSquareCinema.htm

Win a Trip to Iceland From Boston ! For those Bostonians who want more than “A Taste” - register to win a free trip to Iceland on Icelandair just by visiting www.icelandnaturally.com. This includes roundtrip airfare for two, two nights in a 4 star hotel in Reykjavik complete with a sensational sightseeing tour!

Also, register for a free trip on Icelandair to the Airwaves Music Festival in Reykjavik in October! (www.icelandairwaves.com)

“From Iceland with Love” Cocktail Party - featuring Icelandic vodka, fish, cheese, skyr and products. The Martini Society July 7, at 8PM, (9 W. Broadway, Suite 220, Boston). Replace the summer sizzle with a Reyka swizzle. The Martini Society of Boston’s James Bond “To Iceland With Love” benefit for a Schweitzer Foundation scholarship. Reyka Vodka is the cool, crisp signature ingredient in a special “Taste of Iceland Martini” to premiere at this gathering of Boston’s best and brightest, who will complement their libations with tantalizing fresh fish from Iceland’s crystal clear waters. A silent auction featuring Icelandic products enables everyone to prolong the delicious memories of this celebrity event. (www.martinisociety.com)

Iceland Fast Facts

Iceland, officially, The Republic of Iceland has its roots in Viking and Norse traditions. It is virtually unpolluted and located in the mid-Atlantic, closer to Boston than Los Angeles, with a population of 300,000. It is the world’s fifth and second in terms of gross domestic product per capita and human development respectively. The capital is Reykjavik. It is the oldest parliament in the world, dating back to 930 AD.

Because Iceland is volcanically active, geothermal energy provides Iceland with a natural alternative to fossil fuel and its leadership in this important environmental issue is recognized worldwide. Fishing, Ecotourism, biotechnology, and software are major industries that drive the robust Icelandic economy. Icelanders hold world records for Cocoa Puffs consumption, credit card spending and Internet usage. Singer, Bjork hails from this super cool country.

More facts and information? www.icelandtouristboard.com

Why Iceland?

It’s closer than you think, and more fun than you’ve ever dreamed of. With flight time from Boston to only a jet lag-free 4.5 hours, you’re adventure is ready to begin. Beautiful fiords, verdant green vegetation sizzling hot springs, spectacular glaciers, and over 10,000 waterfalls make up this geographic heaven on earth.

There is nothing chilly about Iceland but its name. The people welcome visitors with open arms, and the average winter temperature in Reykjavik is warmer than in New York City, thanks to the Gulf Stream. Language is not a barrier because virtually everyone speaks fluent English – and, it is considered one of the safest countries in the world to visit.

It’s cozy and charming, but offers enough entertainment and activities that even the fidgetiest of travelers can enjoy. If its Shopping, dining or high end services you are looking for, or if its wild nature, the 2 worlds are only a 15 minute cab ride apart.

OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

By entering this ongoing competition online you agree to receive email newsletters from Iceland Naturally and the Iceland Tourist Board. The newsletter offers information on special activities, news, and events occurring in Iceland. Subscription to the newsletter is permission-based. You can unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. No purchase or other consideration necessary to enter. The information obtained through your registration will not be sold or distributed in any way to a third party.

Drawing and Notification: Every quarter a winner is selected from all eligible entries in a random drawing. Winners will be notified by e-mail. In the event of noncompliance, an alternate winner will be selected.

The Adventure Trip To Iceland prize includes:

NOT included:

All other expenses, including but not limited to meals, additional accommodation, travel insurance, incidental expenses, and domestic flights to Icelandair’s gateways in North America, tips, transfers, and taxes will be the responsibility of the prize winners. No substitution or transfer of prizes is permitted. Prize is not redeemable for cash or exchange. Winner is responsible for obtaining and paying for visas, shots, passports or other documents if required.

A designated Icelandair contact will be responsible for booking of travel arrangements and selection of vendors. Winner must book with Icelandair Holidays at least 30 days prior to departure. If winner is unable to travel in accordance with Icelandair’s specifications, the prize will be forfeited.

Travel period must be within one-year form date of prize letter. Travel not permitted between May 20 and September 05 and December 15 to January 05. Travel is subject to air seat (s) and hotel availability.

Eligibility: The Icelandic Adventure Sweepstakes is open only to United States and Canadian residents. All contest entrants must be 18 years of age or older to enter and to be eligible to win. Void where prohibited. Employees of Iceland Naturally, Icelandair and the Icelandic Tourist Board and all of their parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies and their advertising and promotional agencies and the immediate family (spouse, parent, sibling and children, regardless of where they live) or members of their same households (whether related or not) of such employees and directors are not eligible.