Banda Redonda

It will pass through all the most famous streets of the center of Sao Paulo, the bloco Banda Redonda is the option for February the 28th.

Service

Meeting point: Rua da Consolação corner with Avenida Ipiranga
When: meeting at 7pm, it starts at 9pm.
Year of foundation: 1974

Blocos for tomorrow: Vila Madalena and Tucuruvi

At Vila Madalena and Tucuruvi is where to have fun tomorrow, February 27th.

Cordão Carnavalesco Confraria do Pasmado (Vila Madalena)
Meeting Point: Praça Rafael Sapienza
When: afternoon
Year of foundation: 2003

Banda Grone’s (Tucuruvi)
Meeting point: Praça Lions Clube
When: meeting at 1 pm, it starts at 4 pm
T-shirt: R$ 25
Year of foundation: 1996

Bloco da Ressaca

On February 26 there will be also the parade of the bloco da Ressaca.

Service
Meeting point: Largo do Cambuci
When: meeting at 12h30pm, it starts at 2pm.
T-shirt: R$ 15, you can buy it at the restaurant Javali (Rua Luis Gama, 847)
Year of foundation: 1984
Website: http://www.oblocodaressaca.com.br

Pholia na Luz

February 26 and 27, here is the chance to take part to the parade Pholia na Luz, organized by the municipality, it puts together different bloco.

Service
Meeting point: Praça da Luz
When: From 3pm till you can
Website: www.pholia.com.br

Bloco Classe A

Here the information for the bloco Classe A, tomorrow February 26:

Service
Meeting point: Rua Sousa Lima, 295 (Barra Funda)
When: meeting at 12 pm, the parade starts at 3 pm
T-shirt: R$ 20, at the meeting point
Year of foundation: 1979

Finally, a great Pub Crawl Service in Sao Paulo. Check it out!

Welcome shot at the first pub

São Paulo is a huge city and offers as many options as your mind can create, but, there was something missing. Something that not everyone knows about, but irreplaceable for those already familiar with it. Amazingly, until the begin of this year, São Paulo wasn't able to offer a Pub Crawl service as those found in Europe. But now, it is fixed.

Those who already had a chance to come to São Paulo knows that the life can be hard if you don't know a little bit of Portuguese (as in anywhere else in Brazil). That's why insidesaopaulo came along. Despite São Paulo has plenty of features and places to go, there were not a sort of guidance about how to behave and most of all: how to party in Brazil. It's interesting to see how we, Brazilians, organize ourselves in order to pay bills inside bars, go out for a cigarette and also, how to approach and interact with local people. I mean, it's worth to have a help.

Pub Crawl SP fulfills a lack in touristic services in São Paulo: how could the biggest city of South America with a well-known gastronomy and nightlife not have a Pub Crawl service? That’s Pub Crawl spirit: bring people to have fun, meet new friends and explore the best of the city.

We from insidesaopaulo had a chance to try out this experience to say if it works or not. It definitely works! The Pub Crawl's staff is absolutely helpful and aware about any single detail. Everyone speaks fluently at least two languages, including: English, Spanish, Korean, French and Portuguese, off course. This staff has already traveled around the world and knows what means to be passing through a busy city.

How it works?
As I said above, not everyone knows this way of service, but this is the event's blueprint. Basically these guys have already organized about 4 different places to take a group for a visit. Each tour can bring a group of around 50 people (max.). There is a meeting point (you will find out with them as soon as you book it) where they serve free drink and food for at least one hour. After that the tour begins. Some nightclubs and bars in São Paulo charge for the entrance (it can range from R$ 15 to R$ 50 each) but you will get in for free. The tour ensures your entrance on the pubs, which means free admission to different bars and in anyone of them, you'll receive a complimentary welcome shot.

On the way to another pub

The tour offers security guards service and also a photographer to register all the moments of the night. There is also also a bus (if necessary) to take everyone to the next destination. The party ends in some of the best nightclubs of São Paulo. The price is R$ 50 in advance and R$ 60 without booking. Apart of the welcome party (where you will have as much food and drink as you want), it'll be necessary to buy all the drinks you will have during the night. It's worth because it would be at least double more expensive in order to visit the same places. Actually, it's priceless because the staff is absolutely kind and ready to help. It's also a way of meeting new people in the same situation as you are.

During the night, you can talk to overseas and Brazilians, and also, will meet plenty of local people on every pub. Insidesaopaulo deeply recommends this tour by the value for money of the service. Have a try and come back to say what you want.

Service
How to join: You can make your reservation directly at the website, call them or send an email.
Phone: +55 11 6020 4512 / +55 11 6020 4514 / +55 11 6020 4517
How much: R$ 50 in advance or R$ 60 without booking. It's cash only.
Website: www.pubcrawlsp.com/
When: Chech out the website

Blocos de rua - Carnival in the street of Sao Paulo

Not only in the Sambodromo is the Carnival in Brazil. During next days you have the possibility to take part in the famous "blocos de rua", groups of people playing drums, singing and celebrating the most important period of the year in this country. Every day a different option. Inside Sao Paulo will keep you informed so that you won't miss anything.

Tomorrow, February 25, there will be the parade of the bloco Bantantã in the Butanta district. Here all you need to know:

Service
Meeting point: Avenida Valdemar Ferreira, corner with Rua Desembargador Armando Fairbanks
Time: meeting from 4 pm, the parade begins at 9 pm.
T-shirt: R$ 10, plus three cans of beer or soda.
Year of foundation: 1979

Orquesta El Arranque

 

 

Since its formation in 1996, El Arranque has gained an excellent reputation as one of the most important tango orchestra of the world. The group is part of the vibrant tango scene in Buenos Aires, playing both in theaters and in the milongas (most popular dance hall in Buenos Aires).The presentation at the Ibirapuera Auditorium will occur next week end, on February18, 19 and 20.

In 2001 El Arranque performed a series of concerts with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at Lincoln Center in New York. The orchestra also made several presentations at the Buenos Aires Tango Festival and at the National Theatre Palais de Chaillot in Paris (in 2001 and 2006) as well as at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome (in 2006 and 2008).

Service
Where: Auditorio Ibirapuera
When: February 18 and 19 at 9 pm and February 20 at 7 pm
How much: R$ 30 and R$ 15
Website: http://www.orquestaelarranque.com.ar/

Ospitalità Italiana - Quality Approved

In the past February, 29 restaurants in Sao Paulo received the seal Ospitalità Italiana. This is an annual certificate promoted by the Italian-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture certifying the tradition of these establishments. 

Here some of the criteria for accreditation: menu written in Italian and also containing predominantly (51%) dishes and recipes from the country's tradition, have at least one team member who knows how to relate to the Italian customers, at least 20% of Italian wine in the menu. Participants must declare a commitment to disseminate and enhance the country's culture.

The Vinheria Percussi in Pinheiros, the Spadaccino in Vila Madalena, the Terraço Itália, city center, and Piselli, in Jardim Paulista, are some of the awarded restaurtants. The label was created in Italy in 2004,  this year 1115 restaurants in 46 countries were reviewed, but only 440 were approved.

Here the winner in Sao Paulo, all from the capital city except one restaurant which is in the city of Valinhos:

1. La Risotteria
Rua Pe. João Manuel, 1.156 - Cerqueira César . Phone: 3068-8605

2. Osteria del Pettirosso
Al. Lorena, 2.155 - Jardim Paulista . Phone: 3062-5338

3. Restaurante Piselli
R. Pe. João Manuel, 1.253 - Cerqueira César . Phone: 3081-6043.

4. Ristorante Taormina
Al. Itu, 251 - Jardim Paulista . Phone: 3253-6276

5. Il Fornaio d'Italia
R. Manuel Guedes, 160 - Jardim Europa . Phone: 3079-2473.

6. Così
R. Br. de Tatuí, 302 - Vila Buarque . Phone: 3826-5088.

7. Spadaccino
R. Mourato Coelho, 1.267 - Pinheiros . Phone: 3032-8605

8. Vicolo Nostro
R. Jataituba, 29 - Vila Gertrudes . Phone: 5561-5287

9. Tomatto
R. Mal. Deodoro, 497 - Santo Amaro . Phone: 5521-8387.

10. Tatini Restaurante
R. Batataes, 558 - Jardim Paulista Phone: 3885-7601

11. La Pergoletta
R. Itapura, 1.478 - Vila Gomes Cardim . Phone: 2092-3330

12. Cantina C...Que Sabe
R. Rui Barbosa, 192 - Bela Vista . Phone: 3289-2574

13. La Tambouille
Av. Nove de Julho, 5.925 - Jardim Paulista . Phone: 3079-6276

14. Magari Restaurante
R. Amauri, 234 - Jardim Europa . Phone: 3073-0234

15. Dona Carmela
R. Dr. César, 944 - Santana . Phone: 2283-2458.

16. Emporio Ravioli
R. Fidêncio Ramos, 18 - Vila Olímpia . Phone: 3846-2908.

17. Terraço Itália Restaurante
Av. Ipiranga, 344, 41º e 42º andares - República - Phone: 2189-2929

18. Zena Caffé
R. Peixoto Gomide, 1.901 - Jardim Paulista - Phone: 3081-2158

19. Friccò Ristorante
R. Cubatão, 837 - Vila Mariana. Phone: 5084-0480.

20. Ristorante Laura e Francesco
R. Martinho Leardine, 326 - Jardim Paiquere - Valinhos (SP). Telefone: (19) 3849-6714

21. Vinheria Percussi
R. Cônego Eugênio Leite, 523 - Pinheiros.  Phone: 3088-4920

22. Circolo Italiano San Paolo
Av. Ipiranga, 344, 1º andar - República - Phone: 2189-2900

23. Pasquale Cantina
R. Amália de Noronha, 167 - Pinheiros - Phone: 3081-0333

24. Rosmarino Restaurante
R. Henrique Monteiro, 44 - Pinheiros - Phone: 3819-3897

25. Picchi Restaurante
R. Jerônimo da Veiga, 36 - Jardim Europa - Phone: 3078-9119

26. La Piadina Cucina Italiana
R. Profº Atílio Innocenti, 911 - Vila Nova Conceição - Phone: 3926-5427

27. Olea Muzzarella Bar
R. Joaquim Antunes, 198 - Pinheiros, Phone: 3062-1535

28. Pecorino
Al. Joaquim Eugênio de Lima, 1706 | Jardim Paulista - Phone: 2339-2887

29. Il Sogno di Anarello
R. Il Sogno di Anarello, 58 - Vila Mariana - Sul. Phone: 5575-4266.

30. Due Cuochi Cucina
R. Manoel Guedes, 93 - Itaim Bibi - Oeste. Phone: 3078-8092

Tickets for metro and train increase again

From February 13 the price of metro's tickets increased from R$ 2,65 to R$ 2,90. The CPTM (urban train) suffered the same increase with the exception of Line 5, where the ticket costs now R$ 2,80.
If you use the prepaid card "bilhete único" you will have to pay R$ 4,49, for one metro trip plus up to three bus trip, instead of R$ 4,29.

Reteté Big Band

The Reteté Big Band makes a show at the Teatro da Vila, today February 14 at 9 pm. The audience decides how much to pay for the show. This is a good option if you love music and you want to pay fair for a good concert.

  
Conceived by the musicians Thiago Alves, Paulo Malheiros and Josué dos Santos in 2004, Reteté Big Band plays classics of jazz and original compositions.

Service
Where: Teatro da Vila, Rua Jerico 256  - Vila Madalena 
When: February 14th, at 9pm
How much: as much as you want
Website: www.teatrodavila.org.br/

Cindy Lauper sings in São Paulo this month

The icon singer from the 80´s, Cindy Lauper, will be playing in São Paulo in February. During the concerts she will present some of her biggest hits like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Time After Time and also her most recent album, completely dedicated to blues music. Memphis Blues, released in 2010, includes songs where Cindy Lauper duets with legends of the blues such as B. B. King, Allen Toussaint, Johnny Lang, An Peebles and also the Brazilian sax player Leo Gandelman.

Service:

When: February, 22 and23 , at 10PM
Where: Via Funchal - Rua Funchal, 65 - São Paulo
How much: Price ranges from R$150,00 to R$300,00.

Website: www.viafunchal.com.br

Free show of Manu Chao

Manu Chao, internationally known for the variety of musical styles such as reggae, hip hop, punk and rock, will make a free and unique show in the street in front of the Centro Cultural da Juventude (Cultural Center for Youth - CCJ). The presentation will take place next Sunday, February 13 from 3 pm. Before the show, at 2 pm, there will be Maracatu show. The event opens the celebrations for the 5-year anniversary of the CCJ, which will bring together a series of special programs distributed over 2011. We will keep you update!

Service
Where: Avenida Deputado Emílio Carlos, 3641 - Sao Paulo
When: February 13 at 3 pm
How much: For free
Website: http://ccjuve.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/

Beco do Batman - Batman's Alley: discover graffiti in Sao Paulo

The Vila Madalena neighbourhood is well known to receive on its walls many nice graffiti. We suggest you today a street where you will see some of the best graffiti of Sao Pulo. It is called beco do Batman (Batman's alley) and it is located in Rua Gonçalo Afonso. It worth to have a walk there and look at the colourful walls!!!

Free show this afternoon at Ibirapuera: Tiê

Have a walk at Ibirapuera this afternoon and take part to the free show of the delicate compositions of the singer Tiê. In the free concert the artist sings repertoire from his first job "Sweet Jardim"and some songs from the highly anticipated "A Coruja e o Coração ".

 Well received by the audiences and critics, "Sweet Jardim" was among the 50 best releases of the last decade. Tiê is currently is in production of new work that includes special collabration with Jorge Drexler, Marcelo Jeneci, Tulipa Ruiz, among others.

In March, the singer will take part to one of the largest independent music festivals in the world, SXSW in Austin, Texas.

Service
Where: Ibirapuera Park
When: Febrary 6 at 3 pm
How much: For free

Posters about Sao Paulo

Until the 27th of February at the Centro Cultural Maria Antônia there is an exhibition called "Um Cartaz para São Paulo" ("A Poster for São Paulo") , which is a tribute to the 457 years of the city. The theme this year is A Cidade e sua Memória (the city and its memory). Designers, architects and graphic artists present their ideas, opinions and interpretations about the city, its memory and the role of the poster in the urban environment. Their works also will push the public to think on matters about the city of São Paulo. Each artist display a poster printed on photographic paper 60 x 90 cm.

Some of the artists and designers are: Alécio Rossi, André Poppovic, André Stolarski, Caroline Gabriel Pedro, Delfin Cesário Jr, Eduardo Foresti, Filipe Negrão, Guilherme Vieira, Gustavo Garcia, Heloisa Etelvina, Henrique Nardi, Javier Ignacio Cifre, Jimmy Leroy, Juan Lo Bianco (AR), Marcelo Pallotta, Marco Ricci (IT), Miguel Palatino, Minoru Naruto e Maria Argentina Bibas, Mônica Schoenacker, Paulo Moretto, Paulo Von Poser, Ricardo Ohtake, Sandra Tucci e Zansky.


Service
Where: Centro Universitário Maria Antonia, Edifício Joaquim Nabuco, Rua Maria Antonia, 258, Vila Buarque
When: From Monday to Friday from 10 am to 9 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
How much: Free entrance
Website: http://www.usp.br/mariantonia/