Jetsettersblog

The Greater Washington metro area will be hosting “A Taste of Iceland” from Feb. 24 through 27. The multi-day event will feature Icelandic music, cuisine, film and culture throughout Washington, D.C., and Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.

The Mid-Atlantic region’s “Taste of Iceland” is designed to promote the country in advance of Icelandair’s first non-stop service to Iceland out of Washington Dulles International Airport on May 17.

Area residents will have the chance to sample dining from two of Iceland’s celebrity chefs, live musical performances by one of Reykjavik’s up-and-coming bands and the latest film release out of Iceland.

“A Taste of Iceland” is presented in part by Iceland Naturally (www.icelandnaturally.com), a partnership that includes Icelandic USA Inc., Icelandair, 66 North, The Blue Lagoon, Reyka Vodka, Icelandic Glacial Water, Islandsbanki, the City of Reykjavik, Keflavik Airport, Landsvirkjun and Promote Iceland.

Iceland Naturally, a combined council of Icelandic brands, displays Iceland through products that include pure glacial water, clean and renewable energy, sustainable fresh fish and travel experiences.

Sif Gustavsson, marketing director for Visit Iceland, said, “2010 was a banner year for Icelandic tourism, increasing the number of North American visitors by 17 percent, and we look forward to 2011 following suit.”

The week’s events will be hosted by DC Coast, Sushi Rock, Yellowfin, The Windup Space and The Charles Theater.

Highlights for “A Taste of Iceland” include For a Minor Reflection (FaMR), the Icelandic band comprised of four 21-year-olds, in three, free live shows on Feb. 24 and 25, 10 p.m. at Sushi Rock (www.sushirockdc.com) and on Feb. 26 at 10 p.m. at The Windup Space (www.thewindupspace.com); guest chef, Hakon Mar Ovarsson from Feb. 24 through Feb. 27 will put Icelandic cuisine on display at DC Coast Restaurant (www.dccoast.com ); and Chef Victor Orn Andresson, head chef at Blue Lagoon’s Lava Restaurant, just outside of Reykjavik, will be lending his cooking expertise to Yellowfin in Annapolis when he visits from Feb. 24 through 27 (www.yellowfinrestaurant.com).

Patrons of DC Coast, Yellowfin, Sushi Rock, The Windup Space and The Charles Theater will have an opportunity to enter a sweepstakes to win a trip to Reykjavik, Iceland.

The winner of the “Nightlife in Reykjavik” package will receive roundtrip air transportation from Washington, D.C. (IAD), three nights’ hotel accommodation in Reykjavik, Scandinavian buffet breakfasts, roundtrip airport/hotel transfer, “Let’s Talk Iceland” show at Restaurant Reykjavik, three-course dinner with admission to Ice Bar at Restaurant Reykjavik, “Taste the Saga” tour of Egills Brewery and a Blue Lagoon visit.

For more information on the sweepstakes, visit www.icelandnaturally.com/winatrip_nightlife.

Area movie goers will also have the opportunity to view the award-winning film, “Mr. Bjarnfredarson,” starring Jon Gnarr, comedian and mayor of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik.

A special screening of the movie will be held at The Charles Theater in Baltimore (www.thecharles.com ) on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. The screening will be open to the public and will be free of charge. The television adaptation follows an over-educated know-it-all, who has just been released from jail for murder.

The movie combines humor, compassion and visual style. For more information, visit www.icelandnaturally.com