Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
largest and most famous
festival is Rock in Rio, though
this is not an annual event.
Over the years, Rio has
offered a number of shows
that primarily target the visitor
who might want a quick,
though somewhat over-
simplified, version of the vast
range of Brazilian culture.
The glitziest show to outlast
them all takes place daily at
Leblon's
Plataforma 1
. The
kitschy variety show features
samba
,
bossa nova
, and
other Brazilian sounds.
The Pe de Moleque group playing at the Carioca da Gema bar in Lapa
SAMBA, BOSSA NOVA
& GAFIEIRA
BARS & CLUBS
For those who wish to learn
the basics of dance, there are
a number of schools in Rio.
The Centro Cultural Carioca
offers beginner classes for
samba
,
forró
, and
gafieira
.
Rio enchants visitors with
its unique range of bars and
clubs. Bars go through every
degree of sophistication, from
periodically-changing hot
spots, to those specializing
in
cachaça
and
caipirinhas
,
such as the popular
Academia
da Cachaça
in Leblon and
Barra. Enhancing the variety
are several pub-like venues,
the most famous of which is
Lord Jim
in Ipanema, while
sophisticated bars in the top
hotels offer a more formal
elegance. Then there are the
traditional
botequins
, or the
corner bars, with plenty to
eat and drink, well into the
early hours.
Bar Luiz
in
Centro,
Lamas
in Flamengo,
Cervantes
in Copacabana,
Hipódromo
in Gavea, and
Bar Lagoa
on the Lagoa,
have been drawing a
steady clientele. Favored
by visitors,
Garota de Ipanema
was where Tom Jobim and
Vinícius de Moraes are said
to have seen the girl who
inspired them to write the
song “A Garota de Ipanema.”
Trendy
Barril 1800
, an
Ipanema landmark, attracts
local celebs and tourists alike
with its great atmosphere.
The line between bars,
DJ bars, and clubs can get
blurred in Rio, with a surfeit
of bars offering dancing and
music as the night goes on.
The “in” venues change
extremely quickly in terms
of popularity and name.
Therefore, it is always a
good idea to ask a resident
or the concierge at the hotel
about the places that may
be currently in vogue.
Most visitors to Rio will hope
to catch a little live music
and dance action when they
are in town. While the big
Brazilian acts will be found at
Canecão and Claro Hall, there
will also be a lot of artistes
performing in smaller, more
intimate venues, many of
which are also bars and clubs.
On Ipanema Beach, Rio's
most popular and successful
music bar
Mistura Fina
has
offered an eclectic mix of
jazz, instrumental, and MPB
(see pp32-3)
for over 25
years. Many top names started
their careers here and still
return to perform.
Fans of
bossa nova
flock to
Vinícius
in Ipanema and
Bar
do Tom
in Leblon. Celebrated
for its outstanding music and
a lively bar, the tiny
Bip Bip
in Copacabana is a well-
frequented haven for MPB.
Since the end of the 1990s,
the reinvigorated nightlife in
the city center has given a
special boost to
samba
and
choro
(an upbeat waltz or
polka). Lapa remains the
main hub, with places such
as
Carioca da Gema
,
Dama da
Noite
, and
Rio Scenarium
.
Close by, in Praça Tiradentes,
the
Centro Cultural Carioca
is
known to host Brazilian music.
Even when the center of
Rio was not in fashion, two
clubs prospered there and
still hold sway as the city's
authentic ballrooms, or
gafieiras
.
Estudantina
, in
Praça Tiradentes, dates from
1928, while the 1918
Cordão
da Bola Preta
in Lapa is the
oldest carnival
bloco
.
SAMBA SCHOOLS
The number of shows and
opportunities increase the
closer it gets to Carnaval
(see pp64-5)
, with the “high
season” for
samba
from
December through February.
However, those who are not
visiting the city during this
time can watch the
samba
schools in action. Any good
hotel will be able to organize
a visit to the
League of Samba
Schools (LIESA)
as part of the
schools' own official tours, or
to the technical rehearsals that
take place at the Sambódromo.
The
samba
schools are also
known to host programs fea-
turing performances and other
events at the
Cidade do
Samba
, which opened in
Centro in early 2006.
People dancing to a live
gafieira
show in Rio Scenarium
