30th Biennial of Art - Sao Paulo. Don't miss it!

Art of Iñaki Bonillas from Mexico

One of the most important exhibitions on earth about contemporary art is spread on 25 thousand squared meters in Sao Paulo. There are about 3 thousand pieces signed by 111 artists from over 30 different countries, selected by the Venezuelan Luis Pérez-Oramas and his team. Click here to check few of the options and go visit it!

Service
What: 30th Bienal de São Paulo
Where: Parque do Ibirapuera, Gate 3
When: September 7th to December 9th, from 9 am till 7 pm (entrance is only allowed till 6 pm). Wednesday and Friday, from 9 am till 10 pm (entrance is only allowed till 9 pm). Closed on Monday.
Price: For Free
Website: http://www.bienal.org.br/30Bienal/

youPIX: a festival focused on Internet culture - August 17 to 19

From August 17 to 19, the Biennale of Sao Paulo will host the ninth edition of youPIX, a festival focused on Internet culture.

The program brings together famous people from the cyber world and will host workshops on the Internet. The event will host names such as Christopher Poole, more commonly known as Moot, who created the mural 4chan, as well as Gilberto Gil and Rafinhas Bastos.

Service
What: youPIX Festival
Where: Biennale of Sao Paulo - Parque do Ibirapuera
When: August 17 to 19
Price: For free
Website: http://youpix.com.br/destaquedodia/programacao-youpix-ago2011/

Monumento às Bandeiras is an important sculpture of São Paulo

Monumento às Bandeiras sculpture, located in front of the Parque do Ibirapuera

The Monumento às Bandeiras (literally 'monument to the flags'), found on the insidesaopaulo logo, is fifty meters long and sixteen meters high, was unveiled in 1954 as part of the opening of Ibirapuera Park as part of São Paulo's 4th centennial celebration.

The massive sculpture pays tribute to the bandeirantes ('those who follow the flags'), the explores who helped create São Paulo's culture. The monument reflects the diversity for which Brazil is so well known, depicting Portuguese settlers alongside black and indigenous men (and some women) working together to pull the a canoe, a familiar scene in their ubiquitous river expeditions.

The monument is a granite sculpture designed by Victor Brecheret located opposite the Palácio Nove de Julho Legislative Assembly and close to Ibirapuera Park.

Service
What: Monumento às Bandeiras
Where: Praça Armando Salles de Oliveira
When: Whenever you want
Price: For free

Bourbon Street Fest in Sao Paulo this weekend (July 29 and 30 for free)

Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys will play for free at 5h30 pm on Saturday

In its 9th edition the festival brings a week of free concerts at Ibirapuera Park and at the Bourbon Street Music Club.

This year the groups wil show the rich panorama of jazz from New Orleans. Between the artist of this year: Delfeayo Marsalis Sextet, John Mooney and Bluesiana, Ladies of Soul, Cythia Girtley, The Dirty Dozen, Amanda Shaw, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas.

Service  
What: Bourbon Street Fest 
Where: Ibirapuera park and Bourbon Street Music Club
When: July 29 to August 7
Price: For free in the park, different prices at the club
Website:http://www.bourbonstreetfest.com.br/

Who wants to ride a bicycle?

Bicycles to rent at Ibirapuera Park

The Parks Ibirapuera and Villa-Lobos, offer the option of bicycle rentals that cost around R$5 per hour. To rent them, a Brazilian ID (RG) or some kind of identification is required as collateral. The payment is made when you bring back the bicycle.

At Ibirapuera Park, the price is R$5 per hour (at gate 3). You can rent bicycles for adults and children, as well as bikes that accommodate the elderly and the disabled. The company's name is Flavio Bikes.

At Park Villa-Lobos, Green Bike Rental is at the main gate, and the price per hour varies from R$6 to R$10, depending on the type of the bicycle. There are options for bicycles without gears, with gears, for children and with stylish designs. You can also rent skates and skateboards for as little as R$5 and tandem bikes (two adults and one child) R$13 (half hour). The service is fast in both parks.

The trick is to check the bikes because sometimes the bicycles are broken. Just be aware and have fun!

Exhibition of Candido Portinari in Sao Paulo

The Museum of Modern Art (MAM), will host from Friday 15 the exhibition "No Ateliê de Portinari: 1920-45", of about 90 works.

Who is the museum will have the opportunity to see works such as “Estivador” (1934), “Domingo no Morro”, (1935) e “Marinha” (1927). The artist, who studied in France, is one of the greatest modernist painters of Brazil. His focal topic was the social work. In his works he highlights the characteristics of Brazilian people, the rural life of people and migration from the Northeast of the country.

Service  
What: No Ateliê de Portinari: 1920-45
Where:  MAM, Parque do Ibirapuera, av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/nº - Parque do Ibirapuera, São Paulo
When: from July 15, from 10 am to 5 pm
Price: R$ 5,50
Phone: +55 (11) 5085 1300
Website: http://www.mam.org.br/

Viveiro Manequinho Lopes, a place dedicated to nature at Ibirapuera Park

The Manequinho Lopes is a kind of nursery responsible to grows tree seedlings for use throughout the city. Today it is also the exhibition space of the Municipal Secretary of Culture.

It is located near gate 7A and is open to the public for pictures and tours to observe the work of the nursery. It is well worth a visit!

Service
What: Viveiro Manequinho Lopes - Ibirapuera
Where: Parque do Ibirapuera
When: Monday to Friday, from 7 am till 7 pm.

Price: R$ 00
Phone: +55 (11) 3887-7728
Website: www.parquedoibirapuera.com/

The BMW Jazz Festival in Sao Paulo

The BMW Jazz Festival in Sao Paulo is close. The four main attractions of the event - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Wayne Shorter, Joshua Redman and Marcus Miller - will perform in Sao Paulo between 10 and 12 June at the Ibirapuera Auditorium.

Tickets cost R$ 100 and go on sale on Tuesday (10), from 11am on the site www.ticketsforfun.com.br by telephone at 4003-5588 and the Ibirapuera Auditorium box office.

The saxophonist Wayne Shorter and singer Sharon Jones, along with her ​​band The Dap Kings, are the main attractions of the event, which will also feature a tribute to Miles Davis performed by the composer and bassist Marcus Miller. The BMW Jazz Festival also holds workshops and free programming at the external area of the Ibirapuera Auditorium.

Day 10/06 (Friday), from 21h:

• Billy Harper Quintet
• Joshua Redman Trio
• Wayne Shorter Quartet

Day 11/06 (Saturday), from 21h:

• Zion Harmonizers
• Letieres Leite & Orkestra Rumpilezz
• Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Day 12/06 (Sunday), from 21h:

• Tord Gustavsen Trio
• Renaud Garcia-Fons
• Marcus Miller - Tutu Revisited

Concerts in the park and external audience of Ibirapuera Auditorium (free admission on June 12th Sunday):
10 am - Funk Off Brass Band Parade
5h30 pm - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
7 pm - Outdoor Cinema BMW: presentation of the film "Jazz on a Summer's Day"

Service

What: BMW Jazz Festival

Where: Auditorio Ibirapuera

When: June 10 to 12

Price: R$ 100

Phone: 0800 707 3578 (call made from Brazil)

Website: www.bmw.com.br 

Tickets: www.ticketsforfun.com.br

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

Introducing: Oca at Parque do Ibirapuera

Designed by Oscar Niemeyer in 1951, the Pavilhão Lucas Nogueira Garcez, popularly known as "Oca" (it means house in the indian language), is an exhibition site located inside Ibirapuera Park.

Designed to be part of the original architectural Ibirapuera Park, it was built to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the City in 1954.

Recently this building has been used to host high profile exhibitions such as the paintings of Picasso and the Warriors of Xi'an (Chinese terracotta sculptures).

Service
Where: Parque do Ibirapuera
How much: It's up to the event

Ibirapuera Park is 56 years old

On the weekend of August 21st and 22nd, the Ibirapuera Park celebrates 56 years of life. As one of the most beautiful green areas of the city of São Paulo will host show the group Funk Como Le Gusta, and workshops, meetings, photography, among other activities.

The birthday theme of this year is Life, Motion and Coexistence (Vida, Movimento e Convivência), which summarizes the welcoming function of park for the people of Sao Paulo. In parallel, several actions will be in activity - children's entertainment, a climbing wall, trampoline, circus troupe, Yoga. Throughout the day, the park will provide a structure with places for cyclists to park their bikes. The exhibition "Árvore de Ideias" (Tree of Ideas), which interacts with the public through the collection of ideas on how preserving the environment, is happening both days - Saturday and Sunday, from 10am.

This is a good option to do something "green" during this week end in Sao Paulo. Have fun!

Inline Roller Skate at Ibirapuera Park. It's possible to practice and learn a lot about it

If you are an inline Roller Skate mad, there is a place to be in Sao Paulo. The Ibirapuera Park has a huge and flat floor under the Grande Marquise (the great marquee) inside the park.

There is a group practicing regularly every weekend and they are welcoming with beginners. As you can see on the video above, they are really skillful and bring their own devices to practice for several hours. According to them, it's possible to practice even when the marquee is crowed.

Learning
No worries if you are a beginner. Even if it can seem hard to integrate with this skillful team, they can reserve some cones and teach something for those interested to learn.

But if you want to have some classes of inline roller skate, you can seek for Corvo (Crow). He is famous around there for helping people to learn some quick tricks. Despite not speaking any English, he already has taught some foreigners. "Body language is enough" according to him. The price must be arranged with him. A good deal is possible, if you apply bargain skills. Give a step at Ibirapuera Park if you are up to learn or practice a little bit of this interesting sport.

Other Options
Ibirapuera Park is also famous for hosting lots of sport meetings, not only on weekends. Every day there are plenty of groups practicing any sort of technique, ranging from Yoga to Capoeira. Go over there and try to find what better fits your fitness mood.

 Capoeira practicing at Ibirapuera Park

Celebration for Adoniran Barbosa, a national icon of samba

The event will celebrate the centenary of the national icon of the samba. The artists on stage will sing classics songs like Trem das Onze.

The next April 25th the city of Sao Paulo will host a big celebration in honor of one of the leading names of music of Sao Paulo. Adoniran Barbosa, who would have turned 100 years in 2010 will be remembered by artists like Arnaldo Antunes, Demônios da Garoa e Jair Rodrigues, among others, on a show with free entry on the stage outside of the Ibirapuera Auditorium. The event starts at 11am. If you have just moved to Brazil or you are traveling around our country this is a good event in order to get to know better Brazilian culture and a big traditional artist.

Service
When: April 25th, from 11 am
Where: Parque Ibirapuera, in front of the Auditorium
How Much: For free

Orquestra Jazz Sinfonica in Ibirapuera

For all those who love jazz and want to go to a great concert this week end we suggest the Orquestra Jazz Sinfonica (Jazz Symphonic Orchestra) that exploring little-known areas of music, can be consider as the creator of a new Brazilian symphony. It is this objective that guides the work of its artistic direction. The Orquestra Jazz Sinfonica always surprised by the renewed ability of its members to overcome the structural musical challenges. Since February 2009 the Jazz Orchestra is administered by the Social Cultural:  Associação Paulista dos Amigos da Arte (Sao Paulo Association of Friends of Art) - APAA.

They will play this week end at the Auditorio Ibirapuera to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Orchestra, but keep following their program because they do several exhibitions, usually once or twice a month.

Service
Where: Auditorio Ibirapuera, Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/nº - Sao Paulo

When: March 26th and 27th at 9 pm
How much: From R$ 15 to R$ 30
Website: http://www.apaacultural.org.br/jazzsinfonica/

Libyan Art Exposition at the Museu Afro Brasil

The Afro Brazil Museum (Museu Afro Brasil) and the Gaddafi International Foundation for Charitable Associations, under the leadership of architect and artist Saif El Islam El Gaddafi, son of the Libyan leader present "The Desert is Not Silent" - a selection of the finest pieces of the archaeological heritage and contemporary art from Libya.

Visitors can admire archaeological Greek-Roman and Islamic pieces in the form of sculptures, mosaics and objects of everyday life. The exhibition brings together 28 valuable archaeological items and 51 paintings. The public will have the opportunity to experience the variety and richness of the historical past of Libya and some of its contemporary art.

The show is traveling and has been displayed in 10 major cities in the world: Paris, Berlin, London, Rome, Milan, Geneva, Vienna, Madrid, Tokyo and Montreal.

Service
Where: Museu Afro Brasil, Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/nº - Ibirapuera - São Paulo
When: From March 9th to April 18th. Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Website: http://www.museuafrobrasil.com.br/index_01.asp

Last days of the Little Prince at Ibirapuera Park

For those who love the Little Prince, there the opportunity to visit a special exposition set in the Oca, in the Ibirapuera Park. The aim of the organizers is to provide family leisure, contemplation, reflection and especially the message of love for the environment, through ethical, ecological and social work contained in The Little Prince. Saint-Exupéry was a man of action, and also a visionary writer, who already argued in the 1930s and 40s, the themes of sustainability and biodiversity.

The Little Prince exposition will give visitors the opportunity to discover the beauty of the world and will be a transforming and positive experience, showing that we can enjoy ourselves, consume and move in a conscious manner, without losing the respect for people and the planet. Very interesting, not to miss but hurry up, it will be in Sao Paulo just untill December the 20th!

Service
Where: Oca, Avenida Pedro Alvares Cabral — Parque do Ibirapuera — São Paulo
When: Every day untill December the 20th
How much: R$ 18 and R$ 9 (students)

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]

There is a Polar Bear inside the Ibirapuera Park

Polar Bear placed beside the Ibirapuera's Auditorium
 

A Polar Bear, 12 meters high was inflated at Ibirapuera Park last Saturday and it will be there for two months. The proposal is to grab attention for the problem of global warming on the eve of the climate conference in Copenhagen, this December.

The campaign also suggests the use of "cool roofs": painting roofs and tiles using white color. It makes the roof capture less heat from the sun and helps reducing the local temperature and power consumption, less need for air conditioning.

Dinner in the Sky

A dinner can always be a great event, imagine to do it at 50 meters from the ground! For those interested in the adventure or in the menu, Sao Paulo receives a unique opportunity. It is the Dinner in the Sky, an event held in São Paulo between November 5th and 14th. The celebration of the gastronomic heights has happened in 30 countries already. There were more than 700 dinners in tourist cities such as Paris, Dubai, London and Las Vegas. 

The table, developed in Belgium, will be installed in the Municipal Sports Club Modelódromo Ibirapuera. Participants will have a wonderful view of the Ibirapuera Park. On the menu, creations of different chefs like Fred Frank, Emmanuel Bassoleil, Sergio Torres, Flavio Myamura, among others. For those who are afraid of heights, there will be one table on the ground. The space was created by designer Alessandro Jordan who turned five shipping containers in a lounge where the dinner will be served.

Service
Where: Parque do Ibirapuera
When: November 3d to 14th, Tuesday to Thursday, at 8 pm and 10 pm
How Much: R$ 600
Website: www.dinnerinthesky.com/

Okupe Hostel is a great value for money in Sao Paulo

Okupe is a brand new hostel in Sao Paulo (opened July 2009) and it means a great value for money for backpackers. The owners are backpackers that decided to settle down and open this brand new Hostel aiming to offer other travelers inside Sao Paulo, the same memorable experiences they once had abroad.

Located 5 minutes away (walking) from Vila Mariana Metro Station (Blue Line) and also around 10 minutes from Ana Rosa Metro Station (Green Line), the Hostel is surrounded by shops and bars. But one of the main benefits of its location is the Ibirapuera Park and Avenida Paulista (it's possible to reach both walking). The reception is 24 hours opened.

Services and Staff
Among the services, Okupe offers for free: computers, Wi-Fi, breakfast, linen, towels, TV and Nintendo Wii. The staff is really well rated at Hostelworld website and they are prepared to provide tips and suggestions of exciting events, pubs, restaurants and night spots in São Paulo.

The structure
The Hostel offers a good structure for travelers, such as: 6 clean, safe, and spacious dorm rooms with free lockers - divided into en suite dorm., male, female and mixed room. A large and well equipped guest kitchen where is served the breakfast. There is a BBQ area and TV lounge with WII, Wi-Fi Zone covering the hostel area and a spacious beautiful backyard. Computers are available for the guests.

For further staying
For those aiming to stay longer than few days, Okupe offers rooms for renting with prices ranging from R$ 350 to R$ 1.400 per month (depends on the location). They currently offer special deals for the travelers. It's certanly one of the best value for money places in town. Check it out!

Service
Where: Rua Sud Mennucci, 159 — Vila Mariana — São Paulo
When: Anytime
Phone: (11) 2638-5196
How much: R$ 50 for person for the private room (for 2), R$ 39 for a 6 people shared room and R$ 25 to R$ 35 for a 8 people shared room.
Website: www.okupe.com.br/