Pizzaria Braz, one of the best in Sao Paulo.

Sao Paulo is well known for its Pizzarias. I just realized we did not comment about any of the, so I am giving here a great suggestion: Pizzaria Braz. In reality there are different in the city but the one we always go is in Higienopolis, an elegant neighborhood. The history of the Pizzaria Braz is old, even if the one in Higienopolis just opened in 2001. The pizza arrived in Sao Paulo at the beginning of the century. At the time, it was prepared in homes in the neighborhood of Brás. The name of this pizza house was chosen in homage to this traditional Italian Neighborhood. The menu of Bras has more then 20 options, the starters are really tasty but keep some space for the delicious pizza. The ingredients are all fresh and of first quality. The atmosphere is cool, sometimes you’ll have to wait a while to get a free table but you can still have a beer and some snack of calabresa bread on the bar. The suggestion is to go during the week. Nobody will get disappointed.

If some of you already know Pizzaria Braz please let us know (on the comments) if you also think this is one of the best of the city or which one could be better!!!

Service
Where: Rua Sergipe, 406 - Higienópolis — São Paulo - SP
When: Every day from 6.30 pm
How much: medium price.
Website: http://www.casabraz.com.br/home.html?loja_id=22

Elefante Branco Exhibition

A large house in the suburb Jardim Europa is completely filled by the work of artists and thinkers in order to establish dialogues. Since the exposure is not a collective gallery, freedom is full, the same diversity, and art is a platform for experimentation, time and space changed. It has paintings, photography, sculpture, performance and everything about it. The best way to see what this exhibition is about, try to visit their website. [giovana piedade by B-Coolt]

Service
Where: Rua França 117, Jardim Europa — São Paulo - SP
When: July 5th to 26th, from 2pm till 8pm. Closed on Mondays.
How much: For free.
Website: http://elefantebranco2009.wordpress.com/

Drosophila pub

A great place to have a beer — close to the Paulista Avenue —, is the Pub called Drosophila. It's a 'tasty', light "lounge" with music (not live), food and a very different mood, full of objects addressing a creative decoration in a different way of using colors and pictures (as you can see by the pictures of toilet signs). Very good! The sandwich menu is a feature, but the suggestion is the 'frango com gengibre' (ginger chicken) and mango shutney sauce. A Heineken costs R$ 5. The price is average R$ 18 for a dish.

Service

Where: Rua Pedro Taques, 8o, Consolação — São Paulo

Phone: (11) 3120 5535

How much: R$ 15 to get in and R$ 20 to get in plus a consummation voucher.

Travelling on a Couch

For those who like to travel, want to come to São Paulo or maintain contact with people from around the world and do not care to sleep on a little couch, the advise is to get inside the network Couch Surfing. This is a virtual community that offers an opportunity to meet people from around the world and if you like, visit cities worldwide sleeping on someone else couch. To participate you must sign up creating a profile with information not only about you, but also about your couch, where his new friends will sleep. It is a way to have a good and cheap trip, and with access to places that only the locals know. In Brazil there are already over 16 thousand couchs available. Come to try one of the Paulista's couches!

Japan Festival 2009 — Sao Paulo

The 12th edition of the Festival do Japão (Japan Festival) will be in the Centro de Exposições Imigrantes on the July 17th, 18th and 19th of 2009 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Considered one of the biggest Japanese Culture event in the world, and the largest in Latin America, the Japanese Festival will present musical shows, cultural attractions, typical dances, food, exhibitions and special activities for children.

The Festival celebrates the 101st anniversary of the Japanese immigration to Brazil and this edition includes concerts, the presentation of Japanese folk dance groups, taiko (Japanese drums) community, and Japanese singers presentation.

On Saturday the 18th, the highlight is the 7th edition of the Miss Festival of Japan, led by Kendo Yama.

Service

Where: Centro de Exposições Imigrantes - Rodovia dos Imigrantes, Km 1,5 — São Paulo
When: July 17th (Friday, from 12pm till 9pm), 18th (Saturday, from 10am till 9pm) and 19th (Sunday, from 10am till 6pm) .

Phone: (11) 3277-8569
Website: www.festivaldojapao.com

How much: R$ 7. Free entry for under 8 and above 65 years old. Currently, tickets are available at the following places:

Liberdade – Kenren / Festival do Japão
Rua São Joaquim, 381, sala 35, Liberdade - (11) 3277-8569

Liberdade – Bunkyo / Sociedade Brasileira de Cultura Japonesa e de Assistência Social
Rua São Joaquim, 381, Térreo, Liberdade - (11) 3208-1755

Liberdade – Gunma Kenjinkai do Brasil
Rua São Joaquim, 526, Liberdade - (11) 3341-8085

Liberdade – Haikai Disc Laser
R. Galvão Bueno, 224, Liberdade – (11) 3277-7267

Liberdade - Associação Okinawa Kenjin do Brasil
Rua Tomás de Lima, 72 Liberdade – (11) 3106-8823

Liberdade - Associação Shizuoka Kenjin do Brasil
Rua Vergueiro, 193, Liberdade – (11) 3209-0685

Paulista - Emporium Oriental
Av. Paulista, 523, metrô Brigadeiro – (11) 3285-4952

Saúde – Enman Conveniência
Av. Jabaquara, 1588, metrô Saúde – (11) 5581-6505

Vila Mariana – Akita Clinic Estética
R. Rio Grande, 303, Vila Mariana – (11) 5571-8863

Vila Mariana – Associação Centro Social Tochigi do Brasil
R. Capitão Cavalcanti, 56 (metrô Vila Mariana) – (11) 5549-6572

Vila Mariana – Associação Nara Kenjin-Kai do Brasil
R. Lins de Vasconcelos, 3390 (metrô Vila Mariana) – (11) 5539-2686

Acaraje for everyone!

Acarajé, abará, moquecas, carne-seca, carne-de-sol, quiabada, escondidinho, bobó de camarão, baião de dois, cuzcuz...

At the restaurant Rota do Acarajé, it's possible to find a slice of the state of Bahia. It's a restaurant that looks like a bar and offers delicious dishes prepared by the Chief Cook Diva. A smily lady that cooks one of the best Bahian recipes ever: the Acarajé. It's a dish that looks like a cookie, filled with shrimp and pepper and it's possible to eat using hands or can be served in a plate.

Service

Where: Rua Martim Francisco, 529 — Santa Cecília — São Paulo
When: Tuesday to Saturday, from 11am till 11pm; Sunday and holiday, from 12am till 9pm.

Phone: (11) 3668-6222

How much: Around R$ 25 per person.
Website: www.rotadoacaraje.com.br/

Interesting bookshop

For those who are searching for a good book in São Paulo, Livraria Cultura is great a advice to find what you want. The biggest store is located at the Conjunto Nacional since 1969, on Avenida Paulista, it's spread over three floors. The staff is expert and all the attendants speak English to help find your book. Besides, there are nearly 2.5 thousand titles shared over all the shops of the chain (around 150 thousand in each store). It's possible to find Brazilian and international magazines, CDs and DVDs.

The Livraria Cultura is one of the best bookstores in the country and has four units in the city of São Paulo and another four in other Brazilian cities (Campinas, Recife, Porto Alegre and Brasilia). By the end of the year, plans to open a Fortaleza, in Ceara State. It worths a visit!

Service
Where: Conjunto Nacional, Av. Paulista, 2073 Jardins - São Paulo - SP
When: Monday to Saturday, from 9am till 10pm. Sunday and Holidays, from 12pm till 8pm.
Phone: (11) 3170-4033 / Fax.: (11) 3285-4457
Website: www.livrariacultura.com.br