SOUTHEAST BRAZIL - Brazil - page 88

GAY & LESBIAN

Rio has a very active gay and
lesbian scene, much of which
simply blends into the every-
day life of the city. Among
the most traditional gay and
lesbian clubs are the upbeat
Le Boy and La Girl , at the
Ipanema end of Copacabana.
Dama de Ferro is as popular.
A good starting point is
Ipanema beach. The block
running back from the beach
also has a number of gay and
lesbian friendly bars.

A football match in progress at the Estádio do Maracanã

HELICOPTER TOURS Barra, such as the 18-screen

Cinemark . Smaller and older
theatres can be found in
Copacabana and Ipanema.
International films quickly
make their way into Brazil,
and unless they are aimed at
children, will be left in their
original language with sub-
titles added. At least one new
Brazilian film is released each
week, a few of which will go
on to international acclaim.
Independent world cinema
takes over the city each
September and October,
when the city's main film
festival, Festival do Rio,
holds public screenings.

EATING OUT

One of the most popular
tours with visitors to Rio, a
helicopter ride takes people
over the city and beaches,
or around Sugar Loaf and
Corcovado mountains.
Since 1991, Helisight has
been offering eight different
tours that vary from eight
minutes to an hour. The most
popular tours are those that
circle Corcovado and the
statue of Christ the Redeemer.
Helisight has modern
heliports at Dona Marta,
Morro da Urca, and the Lagoa.
It also operates from Pier
Maua when the cruise ships
are in. Prices are much less
than most people imagine.

For many Cariocas, eating
out (see p390-91) is an enter-
tainment in its own right.
Foreign visitors get the best
value from dining at the
churrascaria rodizios , the
large barbecue houses with
a fixed-price menu.
In Rio, trying traditional
Brazilian cuisine normally
means a feijoada (see p392) ,
a sumptuous feast usually
served for lunch on
Wednesday or Saturday.

THEATER

CLASSICAL MUSIC,
OPERA & DANCE

Theater in Rio de Janeiro is of
a high quality, but a majority
of the productions will be
in Portuguese. The main
theaters, generally small and
intimate, are found in Copa-
cabana, Ipanema, and Leblon.
In Centro, the Centro Cultural
Banco do Brasil is a major
venue. For listings, check O
Globo and Jornal do Brasil.

SOCCER

Rio de Janeiro has a healthy
and vibrant music, opera, and
dance scene that is currently
focused in the Theatro
Municipal in Centro. From
2010, however, it is likely
to share the spotlight with
the new Cidade da Música in
Barra. Small concerts and
recitals also use the Sala
Cecília Meireles in Lapa.
Rio has its own music,
opera, and dance companies,
but also attracts the very
best from the rest of Brazil
and the world.

The mecca of soccer-lovers,
Rio is world-renowned for its
abiding passion for the game.
Matches take place all through
the year, and are usually held
on Wednesday evenings or
Sunday afternoons. The city's
four big clubs are Flamengo,
Fluminense, Vasco da Gama,
and Botafogo.
Almost synonymous with
Brazil's legendary sport, the
Estádio do Maracanã is widely
acclaimed for hosting some
of the best soccer matches.

CINEMA

Brazil is one of the world's
biggest cinema-going markets.
However, the latest multiplex
operations all tend to be in

HORSE RACING

Unusual as it may seem to list
it among the entertainment
options, horse racing at the
Jóquei Club Brasileiro on the
Lagoa takes place four times a
week. On Monday and Friday
evenings, one can enjoy drinks
or dinner in the members'
stand, and watch the racing
go on under the floodlights.

An aerial view of the Helisight heliport at Morro da Urca