Moscow City Ballet

What can I say about the Moscow City Ballet? I think that just the name by itself is enough to let your mind to be invaded by adjectives starting from "excellent". Sordid statement would be redundant to say that is one of the best companies in the world of classical dance. What can we expect from its founder, choreographer and ex-first former dancer of the Bolshoi Victor Smirnov-Golovanov? What to expect from a classical ballet company of the highest level representing nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, and Cinderella? Everything and a little more. [Laura Zigaurre by B-Coolt]

Service
Where: Teatro Municipal, pça. Ramos de Azevedo, s/n, Centro
When: Monday and Tuesday at 9pm
How much: from de R$50 to R$150

Russian day on Latin America

Do not swallow Hollywood? Do you think that Bollywood produces only crap? You also have no patience for Iranian films? Here is the solution. Good chance to see a film never seen before. One of the oldest and most important in history, the Russian film had set standards and also influenced filmmakers throughout the world. Faap brings to São Paulo this exhibition but the focus is to show Faap is this new film production pad with vodka. There are nine films produced since 2002. It has animation, documentary and fiction in feature-length film. All of grace and unique "accent". [Giovana mercy by B-Coolt]

Service
Where: Faap, rua Alagoas, 903, Higienópolis

When: Till Nov. 30th. Check the program
How much: For free

28th Biennale of Art in Sao Paulo

From last Sunday until December the 6th, the Ibirapuera Park will host the 28th Biennial of Art of Sao Paulo. A toboggan was installed outside of the Biennial, created by Belgian artist Carsten Holler, the work takes visitors from the higher floors to the ground floor. It is one of the highlights of the event. On the first floor there is an area of support services for the visitors and two artistic projects like the "Talisman" of the American Paul Ramirez Jonas. On the third floor there are works that address aspects of the history of the Biennale of Sao Paulo, a library and a room for conferences. The second floor will be empty. In addition to the works and installations, at the Biennale there will also be music shows, among the highlights we have to mention the New York band Fischerspooner which played the first night and the group Los Super Elegant, of Los Angeles, which will play on November the 25th and the 27th at 8 p.m. Entries for the presentations will be distributed two hours before them.
Services
Where: Ibirapuera Park
When: Oct.26th till Dec. 6th; from 10am to 10pm
How much: For free
Website: http://www.28bienalsaopaulo.org.br/

Sunday at the Liberdade!

Liberdade (Freedom) is a district of the central region of Sao Paulo. It is the largest stronghold of the Japanese community in the city, which also represents the largest Japanese community in the world, outside of Japan. The cultural influence can be felt on the streets thanks to the typically Oriental fixtures (where even the signs of establishments are written in Japanese) and the thematic exhibitions which take place periodically.

History: The famous neighborhood has been the scene of many battles in the history of the capital. The name Liberdade comes from the time of the abolition of slavery.
In the early years of the 20th century, the neighborhood began to change. June the 18th of 1908, at the port of Santos, a ship called Kasato Maru is bringing the first 782 Japanese immigrants to Brazil. They left the port of Kobe on April the 28th to "make America", which at the time meant planting coffee in the interior of Sao Paulo. Many of them did not accustome to that slavery routine and returned to the capital. In the following decades, more than 30 crowded ships arrived in Santos, Liberdade was sheltering several of them.
The development was inevitable and the neighborhood acquired Oriental characteristics over the years. Other Asians moved there, such as Chinese and Koreans. Today, Liberdade is one of the biggest tourist attraction neighborhoods of the capital, with its decorated and colorful streets.

Every Sunday you can have lunch at the typical japanese market, it's pretty cheap and funny!
Easy to reach, the district is served by Line 1 (Blue) of the Metro of Sao Paulo, Liberdade station. The market is just out there!
If you prefere something more confortable there are many restaurants all around, it's nice to have a walk and just choose one.
A good option is the Nandemoya, which is a "por Kilo" serving Japanese food. You can see the kitchen and the cookers always preparing fresh sushy behind a window. Big choice, cheap prices, lots of fun with the japanese karaoke!

Service
Where: Nandemoya, Rua Américo de Campos, 9
When: whenever you want, but on Sunday is the best!

International Forum Boom SP Design

During the next two weeks, a series of events aims to transform the city into the Latin America main center for design and creativity. Among more than 40 events, part of the official KM.MM.M - Viver Design em SP, is the Internacional Forum Boom SP Design, that will put together some of the main professionals in the international scene in a discussion with entrepreneurs and students. The goal is to present ideas and diferent point of views on the influence of design in new forms of consumption and behavior. A plurality of design is among us. Enjoy! [Laura Zigaurre by B-Coolt]

Service

Where: Shopping Iguatemi

When: Oct. 23th and 24th

How much: from R$ 400 to R$ 1.500

Website: KM.MM.M - Viver Design em SP

Design living Sao Paulo

Inside the KM.MM.M - Viver Design em SP, Karim Rashid, designer, born in Cairo and raised in Canada, present in Art and Design in a Global World an overview of his work, acclaimed worldwide. But not just for it the award-winning designer, has landed in São Paulo! He is also one of the speakers of the International Forum, which will discuss with other aces such as Arne Fifteen, Brent White, Chico Bicalho and Andre Cruz. [Julia Reina by B-Coolt]

Service
Where: Instituto Tomie Othake, av. Faria Lima, 201, Pinheiros

When: Till Jan. 4th

How much: For free

32nd International Film Festival in Sao Paulo! Don't miss it!

The 32nd edition of the International Film Festival in São Paulo, traditional event in the film calendar of the country, happens between October 17th and 30th. This year it brings a selection of 454 films from 75 countries and it maintains its goal to reflect the diversity of the current film production, bringing together films from all over the world to allow an open and pluralistic vision of reality and new aesthetic experiences.
The show also features the works of filmmakers devoted city, either in International Perspective section, or in retrospectives and special presentations. Discussions, lectures, exhibitions, concerts and a long list of international guests in São Paulo complete the program.
The festival shows, in a special session, the world premiere of "Garapa" by José Padilha. "Garapa" is the third documentary feature-length film of director of the "Tropa de Elite", which also signed "Bus 174" and "Estamera". The film tackles the issue of hunger in the world from a microscopic perspective, the approaching of those who live with the problem.

Service

Where: The films of the 32nd Festival will be projected in 22 rooms, distributed in 16 places of view.

When: From Monday to Thursday; From Oct. 17th till 30th

How much: R$ 14 and R$ 7 (student); From Friday to Sunday R$18 and R$ 9 (student).

Website: http://mostra.org/

Impulse

To idealize the collective impetus composed by sheets and books of 24 artists, the curator Marcio Renée wanted to explore the potential of plastic notes, drafts and projects that can be inside a notebook. The "artist's notebook", which might or might not be properly a notebook, gets this name because of the semantic approximation of the surface where the artists organize their visual references, and their annotations of their works projects. These objects represent only a portion of the record of the creative process and reveal details often absent from the final work. Inspire yourself. [Camila Pompeu by B-Coolt]

Service
Where: Rua Augusta, 2.052, Cerqueira César
When: Wednesday to Saturday from 4pm to 8pm till Dec. 20th
How much: For free
Website: http://www.emmathomas.com.br/

Airlines operating from Sao Paulo airports

Cumbica's Airport - Guarulhos, São Paulo (Photo: Fábio Laranjeira)

The following airlines operate from the São Paulo airports:
Aero Mexico: http://www.aeromexico.com/
Aero Sur: http://www.aerosur.com/
Aerolineas Argentinas: http://www.aerolineas.com.ar/
Air Canada: http://www.aircanada.com/
Air China: http://www.airchina.com.cn/
Air France: http://www.airfrance.com/
Air Minas: http://www.airminas.com.br/
Alitalia: http://www.alitalia.com/
American Airlines: http://www.aa.com/
Avianca: http://www.avianca.com/
BRA: http://www.voebra.com.br/
British Airways: http://www.britishairways.com/
Continental: http://www.continental.com/
Copa Airlines: http://www.copaair.com/
Delta Airlines: http://www.delta.com/
Emirates: http://www.emirates.com/
Gol: http://www.voegol.com.br/
Iberia: http://www.iberia.com/
Japan Airlines: http://www.jal.com/
Klm: http://www.klm.com/
Lan Chile: http://www.lanchile.com/
Lan Express: http://www.lan.com/
Lan Peru: http://www.lan.com/
Lloyd Aereo Boliviano: http://www.labairlines.com.bo/
Lufthansa: http://www.lufthansa.com/
Ocean Air: http://www.oceanair.com.br/
Passaredo: http://www.voepassaredo.com.br/
Pluna: http://www.flypluna.com/
South African: http://www.flysaa.com/
Swissair: http://www.swiss.com/
Taca Peru: http://www.taca.com/
TAM: http://www.tam.com.br/
TAP Air Portugal: http://www.flytap.com/
United Airlines: http://www.united.com/
Varig: http://www.varig.com/

Useful information about Sao Paulo

Business Hours
The standard business hours are from 9 A.M to 6 P.M. Banks are open from 10A.M to 4 P.M. Shopping centres are usually open from 10 A.M to 10 P.M, Monday through to Saturday; and on Sundays from 2 P.M to 6 P.M. Pubs andrestaurants have flexible hours. Some restaurants only open at lunch-time and others are open all day long. There are also those which remain open all night, even during the week. We advise you to phone ahead if in doubt.

Customs & Immigration
At immigration, non-Brazilian nationals must have their passport, visa (if required) and any other immigration formalities checked.
Like most airports, in Brazil there are different lines for national passport holders and foreign visitors. Foreign passport holders should make sure they get their passports stamped and that they retain half of the immigration form they fill in on arrival. Visitors who miss getting their passport stamped or who lose the form will have to get clearance from the Federal Police to leave the country and may have to pay a fine.

Electrical Current
In São Paulo, the current is 127 volts (60 cycles) but many of the larger hotels also offer 220 volts. If in doubt, check with the front desk of the hotel or the owner of the house or apartment. Transformers to boost the current from 110 volts to 220 volts are available in most electrical supply stores.
For most electric appliances, Brazil uses a two-round-pinned socket.

Foreign Exchange / Currency
The Brazilian monetary unit is the real (R$) (plural, reais). There are 100 centavos to the real.
Most major international credit cards are accepted in Brazil. Credit card receipts from stores and restaurants will be priced in reais although you will be billed in the currency of your own country, the official exchangerate having been taken into consideration.
The official exchange rate is published daily in the newspapers and can also be obtained at Brazil’s Central Bank website.
The US dollar is by far the most widely accepted foreign currency in Brazil. There is also an extensive network of ATMs at which some foreign cash cardscan be used, although you should check with your bank before departure thatyour card can be used overseas.
The Santander website offers a list of agencies where money can be exchanged.

Internet
Most hotels in Brazil offer web access and there are cyber-cafes in many ofthe main shopping centres.

Phone calls / Long-distance calls
Phone cards are sold in pubs and news stands. For long-distance calls, dial zero + telephone operator number + city code + telephone number. To make international calls, dial zero + telephone operator number + country code +city code + telephone number. Brazil’s country code is 55. São Paulo’s area code is 11.

Time Zone
São Paulo is in the same time zone as Brasília (minus three hours inrelation to Greenwich). The daylight savings time begins in October and end sin February. In the daylight saving time clocks are adjusted forward onehour. 24-hour services In this non-stop city 24-hour services include much more than chemists and locksmiths. Many supermarkets, flower shops and even fitness centres and convenience stores are also open. The following website (in Portuguese) provides a list of some of these 24-hour establishments: http://www.emsampa.com.br/page30.htm.

Source: www.gpbrasil.com.br

Stylish fashion great deal

Plent of hangers stuffed with clothes from Marc by Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Emporio Armani, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, Christian Dior, Diesel, Ronaldo Fraga, Reinaldo Lourenco, Maria Garcia and lots of brands are amoung the Fifth Sacolão de Estlilo, sponsored by the blog Oficina de Estilo. Perfect to update your wardrobe paying much cheaper than the official stores. One of those really tiny leather jackets, for example, is around R$ 120. [Fernanda Paola by B-Coolt]

Service

Where: rua Melo Alves, 184, Jardins
When: Friday from 10am to 7pm; Saturday and Sunday, from 11am to 5pm
How much: AS much as you wanna buy. It's just on cash.

ExpoSticker at Aquário Eastpak

The Aquário Eastpak (the backpackers paradise) has changed and it's much more fun. Featuring works by 170 artists from 25 different countries, the ExpoSticker arrives there after a long chosen process of the "sticker artists" through the Internet. Amateurs may also participate with their creations, just come and apply your sticker in a space reserved for new talents. [Julia Reina by B-Coolt]

Service

Where: Aquário Eastpak, rua Augusta, 2.685, Jardins

When: till Nov. 14th

How much: For free

Intel brings F1 simulator to Sao Paulo

BMW Sauber driven by Robert Kubica

Inside a 100 square meters of the Shopping Villa-Lobos there will be an official F1 car replica of a BMW Sauber Team. The car driven by the Polish pilot Robert Kubica will be together with an Intel speed simulator unprecedented in Brazil.
For the first time, Intel, the sponsor of the BMW Sauber, brings the Grand Prix simulator in actual size. It plays with fidelity the experience of driving a car race through a 42" screen with images of the circuits. It also produces the vibration caused by the movement of the car.
In addition to this' toy ', fans can also play the R-Factor Game, an exclusive game produced for Intel. There are six mini-cockpits, with Intel Centrino notebooks placed as a departure grid.
The 1/1 F1 car replica of the BMW Sauber will be outlined inside the Shopping Villa-Lobos. It was produced in Germany, where is made the car driven by Polish Robert Kubica.

Service
Where: Av. das Nações Unidas, 4.777 – Alto de Pinheiros São Paulo - SP
When: From Oct. 16th till Nov. 1st during the malls working time (Monday to Saturday from 10am to 10pm. Sunday from 2pm to 10pm)
How much: For free
Website: http://www.shoppingvilla-lobos.com.br/Novidades/novidade.asp?COD=825

Introducing: Copan

Symbolizing the modern urban center on the Old City, the Copan building is the São Paulo's largest structure of reinforced concrete. That is an Oscar Niemeyer's project from 1951.

The building has 120.000 square meters of built area and 1160 apartments. About five thousand people are residents on the 32 floors that reach 115 meters in height. On the ground floor, there is a mini-mall with about 70 shops including restaurants, video rental, music store and barber shop. Check it out by yourself. It's amazing!

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Service
Where: Avenida Ipiranga, 200 — República

Papiers à la Mode

Faap opens the exhibition of 60 dresses made of two kinds of paper by the plastic artist Isabellede Borchgrave. Through these dresses, Papiers à la Mode tells the history of fashion over the past 300 years. The exhibition includes costumes, ornaments, shoes, hats, handbags and shawls, made only of paper, in real size

Service

Where: Rua Alagoas, 903 – Higienópolis01242-902 São Paulo SP

Phone: +55 11 3662-7198

Place: Brazilian Art Museum – FAAP

When: From Tuesday to Friday – 10 AM to 20 PM

Saturdays, Sundays and holidays – 1 PM to 5 PM

From Oct. 12th to Dec. 14th, 2008

How much: For free

Website: http://www.faap.br/museu/index.htm

T-shirt for fun

There is a T-shirt shop inside Sao Paulo that is legendary. These guys make their own collection in a such home brand style showing how great is good ideas merged with nice material.
The T-shirts are made with a heavy duty cotton and the stamps never release. What means: The T-shirt will stay forever on your wardrobe. It's perfect to increase your collection if you are such a manic for it.

Untill the end of October, they are offering a discount if bought via internet. Have a check on their website and see which one fits better on you!

Service
Where: R. Wisard, 285 Vila Madalena Sao Paulo - SP
Phone: +55 11 3031.7057
When: whenever you want
How much: R$ 49,00 + freight
Website: http://www.usemumps.com/
Blog: mumpsmania.blogspot.com

Here and There, of Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey

The British Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey working together for eighteen years, and since then using natural materials in support of his works, overputting the forces of nature, fantasy and renewal.

Part of it are the ice sculptures in place in Cape Farewell in the Arctic. Now, as part of the Mostra SESC de Artes 08, (SESC 08 Exhibition of Arts), they exhibit their work in Brazil. Using a base of large panels of grass, the artists exhibiting pictures of Brazilians living in London. Bringing the discussion to stay and the image in an alive basement. [Jorge Colombo by B-Coolt]

Service
Where: Sesc 24 de Maio, rua Dom José de Barros, 178 - Centre
When: from midday to 6pm. till Oct. 17th
How much: For free

Trade in Sao Paulo grows 2.1% in August

The trade of Sao Paulo's metropolitan region has registered 2,1% of growth in sales last August, in comparison with the same month last year. This is the 29th consecutive increase of the index, which accumulates high of 4.8% this year compared with the same period of 2007 following the evaluation of Fecomercio-SP (Sao Paulo Trade Federation). In this assessing, the indices show that São Paulo is still worth the supply of credit and the recovery of income and employment, which stimulates consumption. The expectation, however, is that this framework undergoes changes in the medium term because of the influence of international crisis, considering the Fecomercio-SP.

The highest elevations are in the sector of clothing, fabrics and shoes, with high of 17%, registering the 25th consecutive months of discharge.

The segment of Stores Building Materials ranks second place in sales, with increases of 16.6% in August. Then the automobile sector, with a high of 14.3%. They also reported growth in August, on the same basis of comparison, the sectors of Furniture and Decoration Stores (6,3%), Pharmacy and Perfumeries (5,9%) and Appliances and Electronics Stores (2,4%).

Supermarkets already showed a decrease of 6,5%. According to Fecomercio-SP, the result had influence the increase in prices of commodities (raw materials) by seasonal factors. It also recorded negative performance of the Departments Stores (-8,7%) and the Stores Autoparts & Accessories (-28,5%).

Source: Agência Estado

Vertical Women by Luiz Paulo Baravelli

"They are angelic, innocent, unrelated, sensual, dressed, naked, contemplative, shy and repressed, each in their own way," says artist and Wesley Duke Lee's disciple. But who are they anyway? They are women of Luiz Paulo Baravelli, appearing in 15 unpublished works. Each one represents an universe in particular, are very different things... each has its specific personality and life. But are women and vertical. Underlining: Baravelli uses live models and also clippings from magazines and projections in real size to study the composition of each one of their works. [Fernando Aguiar by B-Coolt]

Service

Where: AC Galeria de Arte. R. José Maria Lisboa, 1008 - Jardins

When: Monday to Friday, from 10am to 7pm; Sat. from 10am to 2pm till Oct. 30th

How much: free

King Crab Festival

Even those who doesn't handle really well the hammer will enjoy this festival. Weighing up average 12 kg and with a paw up to 1 meter in length, the King Crab from Alaska, is already available on the table. Put your fork and knife up to try it's smooth meat. Easy, huh? Leave your napkin behind! It's meat has the consistency of a shrimp, and the taste is amazing. It's prepared in steam, served with butter sauce and aromatic herbs.

Enjoy it! Otherwise, only next year! [Julia Reina by B-Coolt]

Service
Where: Restaurante Red Angus

Av. Henrique Schaumann, 251, Pinheiros

When: till November

How much: Not specified

Soccer Museum inside Sao Paulo

Soccer Museum at Pacaembu Stadium

The Soccer Museum was inaugurated in Sao Paulo. It's inside Pacaembu Stadium, that has opened its doors to the public last week. Budgeted at R$32.5 million, the museum entered into a broad audiovisual collection to tell the history of football and its importance in Brazilian society. It's place, which is under the Pacaembu bleachers, is divided into three main areas (Emotion, History and Fun).

There are 15 rooms and the museum is not just about what happens inside the field. The intention is also to show the trajectory of Brazil intertwined with its most popular sport. "It's not a place just about football. It is also a tribute to the sense that this sport awakens in people, "says the curator Leonel Kaz.

Following the Museum of the Portuguese language style, the Soccer Museum also wants to prioritize interaction with the public. In it, visitors can discover the power of their kick or play foosball with teams in different tactical schemes.

Photo: globoesporte.com