Several Christmas events are scheduled for this weekend. One of those aims to get in on Guinness Book

Christmas Tree in front of Ibirapuera Park [photos: Thiago Fenolio/ Futura Press]

 

The scheduled events include premiere of the Christmas illuminations of the Ponte Estaiada (Cable-Stayed Bridge) and the main streets; Ibirapuera tree will be lit on Sunday (December 6th).

Starting today (December 4th), São Paulo will receive decorations on the main sights of the city to get into the Christmas mood. Among the highlights is the the Ponte Estaiada on the south region, which at night turns into a huge 'pine tree', up to a hundred meters high. The effect will be obtained by 35 thousand points of light. Tomorrow (December 5th), several routes will receive decoration. The Radial Leste will receive 1.5 thousand bright comets.

On Sunday (December 6th), the Ibirapuera's Christmas Tree will be lit, at 7pm. Reaching 75 meters, the structure is five meters higher than last year. There will be 15 minutes of fireworks on the event and a popular choir that will count with everyone present at that moment. The main goal is to enter the Guinness Book as the world's largest.

Also on Sunday, 38 poles on the Avenida Paulista will be lit helped by an allusive decoration party.

Tomorrow (Saturday), night rides will be set by buses driving tourists to the main attractions. Tickets can be purchased at the Tourist Information Center, on Avenida São João, 473.

Check out the program and organize yourself to be part of it:

December 4th
7h30pm: Coral in the lobby of the Hospital São Paulo, Avenida Paulista, 200
8pm: Inaugurating of the Ponte Estaiada (Cable-Stayed Bridge) decoration

December 5th
Nightfall: Inaugurating of the Vale do Anhangabaú decorations, on the Center
8pm: Opening of the tree floating tree at the Represa Guarapiranga (Guarapiranga's dam) — A bit far from the metropolitan region...
8h30pm: Christmas exhibitions at the Ipiranga Museum (from Thursday to Sunday)

December 6th
7pm: Lighting the Christmas tree in Ibirapuera Park, including fireworks
Nightfall: Premiere of the decorations of 38 posts in Paulista Avenue, which includes 3 giant Santa Claus and seven elves.

[source: destak]

Hot Hot is the best advice for those looking for a dance floor in Sao Paulo

At the entrance, a 20 meters tunnel separates the real world (the one where you are coming from), to the Hot Hot mood. A charming building abandoned two decades ago in the center of Sao Paulo, this night, inspires the new sensation of the city. Upstairs is the lounge, a large bar and bathrooms. A 70's style inspires the lounge, where a smooth sound invites to the warming-up.

At the underground, a spacious dance floor equipped with colored LEDs and a powerful sound system will not let anyone lack on enthusiasm. This night club is the right place for the I-feel-like-dancing people.

Service
Where: Hot Hot, Rua Santo Antônio, 570 — Bela Vista — São Paulo
When: Check out the program browsing the website link down here.
Phone: (11) 2985-8685
How much: The price ranges from R$ 20 to R$ 60, depending on where and when you buy. At the door is always more expensive.
Website: www.hothotsite.com.br/

Festival introduces delicious dishes from Thailand in Sao Paulo

Until next Sunday (November 6th) the Obá Restaurant brings typical smells, colors and flavors of the Thai Cuisine. The festival Kid Teung Muang Baht (missing in Thailand, in local language) is the traditional at Obá Restaurant and its current issue is open since August 26.

There are a wide variety of salads, snacks, sweets, baked and grilled dishes on the menu of the festival, prepared by Chef Hugo Delgado. The novelties are in some recipes using Noodles.

The new recipes
The Noodles are used in salad (R$ 24 if you prefer as appetizer and R$ 34 as main dish), and also used on the:

• Mee Krob (thin rice noodles with typical sweet and sour sauce, pork and shrimp, R$ 38); 
• Nar Gai Raat (rice noodles with chicken, broccoli and sauce consistent, R$ 35); 
• Kao Soi Neua Soup (Chiang Mai Curry soup of egg noodles with meat and coconut cream, R$ 36).

Besides the new recipes, the menu has other options, among them the traditional Pah Baht (fried rice noodles with shrimp, tofu and peanuts, R$ 37,50). For dessert, golden banana with coconut ice cream, rice pudding and sago pudding of tapioca.

Service  
Where: Obá Retaurant, Rua Dr. Melo Alves, 205 — Jardins — São Paulo 
When: November 26th to December 6th, for lunch and dinner. 
Phone: (11) 3086-4774 
How Much: about R$ 45 per person. 
Website: www.obarestaurante.com.br/

The Ibirapuera's Christmas decoration is getting ready

The 10 meters Star of the Ibirapuera's Christmas Tree was already installed. The tree, which is 75 meters high and 1 million micro bulbs, will be inaugurated this Sunday (November 6th) at 7pm.

Further the Tree, the Fountain inside the Park already had its first presentation last Tuesday night. Other decorated trees around the park were also lit. There are about 1.5 million lights adorning 220 trees.

[photo: luisa santosa]

Taxi Cab discount on weekend starts this Friday (November 4th) and already have 600 cars subscribed

About 600 taxi drivers have an interest in offering cheaper races. Price will be reduced by 30% on the night of Friday, Saturday and holidays.

After receiving results of a survey carried out with the population and taxi drivers, the City Council will release next November 4th (Friday) a program that offers 30% discount in the amount of the fare on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays from 8pm till 6am. The program aims to encourage the use of taxi instead of a car after consuming alcohol.

The service is only valid for registered vehicles, which will be identified with special stamps and a green light instead of the traditional white.

There are 35 thousand taxis in São Paulo and according to the City Council, about 600 taxi drivers have already shown interest in offering the discount.

A 30% reduction in the value of the night rate turns the price as same as during the daytime. The initial fare for taking a cab is R$ 3.50. During the day, each kilometer costs R$ 2.10 and overnight, the value rises to R$ 2.73. In the promotion period, the value remains at R$ 2.10.

The City Council set up 40 taxi points across the city, which are close to bars, restaurants and subway stations. Find out more on the list below by clicking on the link:

Central region
Rua Fernando de Albuquerque, close to the Rua Bela Cintra
Corner of Praça Franklin Roosevelt and Rua Nestor Pestana
Praça Dom Orione

Paulista's region
Alameda Itu, between Rua Augusta and Rua Padre João Manoel
Corner of Rua Bela Cintra and Rua Oscar Freire
Corner of Rua Melo Alves and Alameda Lorena
Corner of Alameda dos Arapanés and Av. Sabiá

Vila Madalena
Corner of Rua Fradique Coutinho and Rua Aspicuelta
Corner of Rua Fidalga and Rua Inácio Pereira da Rocha
Corner of Rua Wisard and Rua Harmonia

Related link: The City Council released a voluntary campaing offering 30% discount on taxi fare during the weekend

Truffaut in Sao Paulo for free

To remind the Brazil-France year there will be a series of Truffaut masterpieces shown at the Centro Cultural Sao Paulo. The entrance is free but the suggestion is to get there a bit earlier to get your ticket. There will be movies like Jules e Jim, Bed and Board, The Last Metro, Antoine and Colette, Missisipi Mermaid. They will all be in french with portuguese subtitles.

Service
Where: Centro Cultural Vergueiro, Rua Vergueiro 1000 - Sao Paulo
When: From December 1st  to 13th
How much: Free
Website: http://www.centrocultural.sp.gov.br/programacao_cinema.asp

Police Museum, all the crimes of the city

Do not eat, drink and get full of courage. By rigorously following these tips you'll be ready to visit the Museum of the Civil Police, which is not the place to recommend to weak or easily impressed people, You'll see pictures of suicides, murders, assaults, accidents and even autopsies. The museum places some restrictions — for example it is not possible to film or to take picture, neither to eat or drink inside the enclosure. There are also age restrictions: under 16 years shall enter accompanied by an adult.

The museum does not provide a counselor to explain more about some of the events and objects anyway the rest of the staff can give you some more details about the material. Tostart the visit, go to the smoothiest session of the Museum with objects and pictures about drugs and forgery. Gaming machines, the polygraph, also known as lie detector, pictures of old cars and miniature doors with signs of break-ins make up this section.

For those who want to experience more adrenaline, the images containing accidents with fatalities can be quite shocking. The famous building Joelma, which caught fire in 1974, won a photo gallery to show the visitor some of this sad story that marked that decade with his tragedy. Did you ever heard about the Red Light Bandit? Well he was arrested in 1967 for stealing 300 homes and killing four people. His nickname is due to the strange habit of switching all the lights off and to commit his crimes with only a lantern light red. He even got a movie. You'll find many of these real stories at the Police Musem, defenitely not for everyone!

Service
Where: Praça Professor Reinaldo Porchat, 219, Cidade Universitária - São Paulo
When: Tuesday to Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm
Phone: (11) 3039-3460
How much: For free