Itinerary: Iceland

The Republic of Iceland, 4,300 miles away, has invaded L.A. for the week. No, this is not the Viking invasion of old, the kind that came with pillaging. This time, people from the North Atlantic nation, which has a population of fewer than 300,000, are coming to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of the Americas.

Columbus, schlumbus. The Icelanders are here to remind everyone that they were the first Europeans to get to North America--and they did it 1,000 years ago. It’s widely held that Leif Ericsson (Leif the Lucky) was sailing to Greenland from Norway when he went off course and wound up in a place he called Vinland, likely Nova Scotia. In analyzing the epic poems of the Norse Vikings, called the sagas, some think Leif was beat there by Bjarni Herjulfsson. Either way, Icelanders are celebrating with a 70-city tour. This weekend they’re in L.A.

Thursday

Grab an early dinner at Theodore’s Restaurant (in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., [323] 466-7000, Ext. 8125), which features Icelandic cuisine on a special menu through Tuesday. What’s Icelandic cuisine? It’s heavy on seafood, but also organic lamb.

Then head to the Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood Blvd., [323] 466-FILM. $15) for the U.S. premiere of “Angels of the Universe” at 7 p.m. This latest film by Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, based on Einar Mar Gudmundsson’s novel, is about a talented schizophrenic and his fellow inmates at a mental institution. (See Screening Room, Page 36.) Afterward, there’s a reception for the president of Iceland, Olafur Grimsson, and music from the Bjorn Thoroddsen Trio with Egill Olafsson.

Friday

Iceland has nurtured some of the most interesting artists since the early ‘80s. Bjork may be the most famous, but the Sugarcubes and more recently GusGus have also achieved success in the United States.

Some of the country’s top bands will be playing at the El Rey Theatre (5515 Wilshire Blvd., [323] 936-4790), including DJ Herb Legowitz from GusGus. Also on the bill: hip-hop band Quarashi, lo-fi pop group Snowblow Duo and Maus, recently voted band of the year at the Icelandic Music Awards. Tickets available through Ticketmaster, (213) 480-3232, for $20.

At the Egyptian, a double-bill of documentaries--”Rock in Reykjavik” (1982) and “Pop in Reykjavik” (1998)--explores the music scene in Iceland. “Rock” follows 19 bands, including a 16-year-old Bjork and the early Sugarcubes. “Pop” is a tour of “the world’s most desperate night life,” as it’s described by club personality Paul Oscar.

Saturday

The Iceland Naturally Family Festival (Cal Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. [805] 492-2411) offers Icelandic food and music, plus the puppet show “The World’s Smallest Giant.” Performed by Hallveig Thorlacius, it includes several characters from Icelandic folk tales, and is designed for kids 5 to 8. The puppet show will also be performed Sunday at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. at the Children’s Museum (310 N. Main St., downtown L.A. [213] 687-8800).

Sunday

“The Saga of Gudridur” is a one-woman show starring Tristan Gribban about Leif Ericsson’s sister-in-law. Her adventurous life included trans-atlantic voyages and a pilgrimage to meet the pope. It’s Sunday and Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Egyptian’s Arena Theatre (1625 N. Las Palmas Ave. [323] 464-1222. $15).