Sao Paulo, the Brazilian charming biggest city

Sao Paulo, the Brazilian charming biggest city



This was our latest article publish at déjà vu Magazine for the May Issue. Touch here to read my new June article

By Anna Avalanche, Ananda Valeeva, Gisa Miles and Luiz Speedwell

Pictures from São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau (SPCVB) and Luiz Speedwell

As all big cities São Paulo has a particular soul made by millions of people all over the world that live there. If we needed to define it as a person we should say: São Paulo is beautiful, intellectual, cultural and modern. São Paulo is the second biggest city of Latin America and one of the most important and eclectic mega cities in the world. The city is the capital of the State of São Paulo, the most populous Brazilian state. It is also the richest city of Brazil. The name means Saint Paul in Portuguese, as it was founded in 1554, on the Catholic feast of the Conversion of Paul, the Apostle. Immortalized in a Caetano Veloso's song "Sampa" is the city famous nickname.




Although it is known as a city where you make and get money, this capital is one of the only cities that is able to mix with harmony, the modernity, history, culture, art, people from all over the world, gastronomy, diversity and all kinds of tourism.



The architecture of “Sampa” is amazing. The curves are a mix of tendencies of different periods in the history, since the art deco e art nouveau styles to the high-tech buildings of Berrini Avenue.




The big city has thousands of theatres, restaurants, bars, hotels, shopping malls, clubs, parks such as Ibirapuera, Burle Marx and so many other options for leisure and business. Every year about 10 million people come to Sao Paulo to make business, shopping and also to check what is going on about Culture. There are festivals throughout the year, including the Bienal art festival, two world-renowned fashion weeks, and various parades and marathons.



Sao Paulo is one of the most important places to see art in the world. It has unique masterpieces, created by the great masters of painting, photography, sculpture and all kinds of art you can imagine. MAM (Museum of Modern Art), which was projected by Oscar Niemeyer, the Pinacoteca of State and the Museum of Ipiranga are places where you find the whole history of Sao Paulo.



One of the most interesting qualities of this mega city is the people you can meet there. The city includes Portuguese, African, Japanese immigrants, Italian, Lebanese, German, Spanish, French, British, Indian, North American, Chinese and more making it one of the most culturally diverse cities south of the Equator line. People from everywhere are very welcome



This cultural mix makes the gastronomy very special in São Paulo. If you think about Thai to Greek food, you will have it. The city is considered one of the major gastronomy zones in the world. It has more than one thousand restaurants with typical food from all Brazilian regions and practically from all over the world.



Sao Paulo is a city of big numbers with more than 18 million people, 5 million cars, 500 helicopters (it is the second biggest fleet of the world; 17 of 20 biggest banks of world are also there. Tourists will find more than 500 hotels, 280 cinemas, 88 museums, 200 night clubs, 75 libraries, 72 shopping Malls and much more to enjoy culture and leisure. Just about 70 km from the Capital it is possible to visit gorgeous beaches, such as Maresias and Ubatuba or cozy farms and country cities, as Campos do Jordão, considered the Brazilian Switzerland. Those looking to travel to Sao Paulo can come for the Brazilian Carnival celebrations, or just spend time relaxing at a spot on the nearly 400 miles of its beautiful beaches.

Oh Gosh! Come to visit, and be sure you will return sooner than you imagined!

Special tanks to for Cristiane Rocha from São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau (SPCVB) - www.visitesaopaulo.com



This article has been sponsored by AA Trade Company, Cleary (128,128,0) http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cleary/128/128/0

For more pictures and information see:
English blog: http://annaavalanche.blogspot.com/
Portuguese blog: http://dejavu-intl-portuguese.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annaavalanche/

The Brazilian YaYa Quindins!

This was our latest article publish at déjà vu Magazine for the May Issue. Touch here to read my new June article strong

Enjoy!!!




By Anna Avalanche, Gisa Miles and Luiz Speedwell

Photography by Luiz Speedwell

Quindins by Gisa Miles



Who likes a sweet dessert? Everyone does! Brazilian as everyone likes it too! But looking by a dessert genuinely national, we realize that most favorite sweet is the Brazilian foreign origin, because of the many culinary contributions that we received in our colonization. But exist a dessert typical from Brazilian Northeast Region made chiefly from sugar, egg yolks, and ground coconut that everybody loves, even the foreigner when visit Brazil.


Iaiá – translated as YaYa, by the way, is a diminutive of sinhá (madam), which is an alteration for Lady. This small sweet pie was even a famous song title. "Os Quindins de Iaiá," sang by > Carmem Miranda , the Brazilian bombshell. Who knows Brazilian music will recognize this title from the famous Ary Barroso song (Brazilian composer, pianist, Academy Award-nominated and the Brazil's most successful songwriter in the first half of the 20th century).






Quindim, a popular coconut treat is often served small and individual, although it can also be made into one large ring custard. Quindim is baked in a water bath, and the coconut rises to the top while it's baking. The cakes are then flipped out of the molds to reveal their sparkly golden cap of custard. The coconut becomes the sweet chewy crust.



Ingredients:
• 8 tablespoons butter, plus 2 tablespoons melted butter for greasing the pans
• 1 1/3 cup sugar, plus more for dusting the pans
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 14 egg yolks plus 1 whole egg
• 1 teaspoon coconut flavoring
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 2/3 cups fresh or frozen finely grated coconut, unsweetened



Preparation:
1. With a pastry brush, paint melted butter inside all of the molds of 2 mini-muffin pans.
2. Sprinkle sugar liberally over all of the molds, then turn the pans over and tap out the excess.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and heat a pot of water on the stove.
4. Cream the butter with the sugar and the salt until fluffy.
5. Make sure the egg yolks and egg are at room temperature (you can warm them very briefly in the microwave if necessary). Add the eggs one at a time, blending well after each. The batter should be smooth. Stir in the coconut flavoring and the vanilla.
6. Fold in the fresh coconut. (If coconut is not finely grated, process it in a food processor or blender first).
7. Place each cupcake pan inside of a large pan with sides, like a roasting pan. Fill each mini cupcake mold almost full with batter.
8. Pour the hot water into the larger pan to a depth of about 3/4 of an inch, so that the muffin pan is sitting in a water bath, being careful not to let water splash into the batter. It sometimes helps to put the pans in the oven first, and then pour the water into the bottom pan, so that the water doesn't slosh around as you are moving the pans to the oven.
9. Bake custards for about 15 minutes, or until they are firm to the touch and light golden brown.
10. Let cool for 15 minutes on a rack. To remove custards, run a knife around the edge to loosen them from the pan and then gently flip them or lift them out. If they will not come out easily, chill them first.
11. Serve chilled.
Note: This recipe can be made in one standard muffin tin, to make 12 standard muffin size flans. It can also be made in a medium size (6 to 7 cup) ring mold.


Oh Gosh! It was delicious!

Special thanks to Gisa Miles for making us delicious Quindins.




This article has been sponsored by AA Trade Company, Cleary (128,128,0) http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cleary/128/128/0

For more pictures and information see:

English blog: http://annaavalanche.blogspot.com/
Portuguese blog: http://dejavu-intl-portuguese.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annaavalanche/

Reis do Brazil

REIS is TOP No 1 selected artist in Conexão Vivo. The voting is close now and she did it. Congrats to Reis and all her fans that voted. Comment added on 04/08/2009

If you want to know more about Reis access her personal page at Myspace http://www.myspace.com/aldobrizzi

Reis is in the Conexão Vivo competition, you still can vote.

Each band has set a page in VIVO portal and you can vote for REIS!

click on “vote neste perfil” and write the captcha code. Done! Very easy! (better with FireFox)

Your vote is very important to give Reis this great chance!

To know more about this great Brazilian singer read the article below. It was first published at Déjà vu Magazine for the April Issue. You can also find this article on the new AAT Deja Vu Magazine Interactive . To know how to get yours click here



Reis do Brazil a Real Singer in the Virtual World

By Anna Avalanche, Gisa Miles and Luiz Speedwell



Graça Reis or just Reis for her increasing number of admirers all over the world is graduated in singing by Bahia Federal University (UFB - Brazil) with music specialization in Berlin. In a period where talent, occasionally, is more important than academic education, at least in Brazil, Reis has both. Reis came from a musical background that was somewhat academic, but also brought personal experience and professional knowledge of Brazilian popular music. Also, she is gorgeous, sexy and has an extraordinary voice. Someone said “a voice of sugar with the strength of steel”.



Her biography is a mix of popular and erudite participation, sometimes accompanied by great popular and famous Brazilian musicians. In 2000 she had the main female role in the pop opera “Rei Brasil”, for the celebration of Brazilian 500th discovery anniversary, with an audience of 6,000 people on each performance at Salvador – Bahia.

In 2002 Reis perform “Brizzi do Brasil”, during two months at “Teatro XVIII”, in Salvador, featuring Caetano Veloso, Arnaldo Antunes, Virginia Rodrigues, Margareth Menezes and Zeca Baleiro, among others as special guests.

Regardless of her professional boyhood, Graça has also international experience with tours in many different countries. Reis live presence is ethereal and hypnotic with her live vocals expanded beyond melancholy female voice. She sings lyrics in English, Portuguese, Italian, French, with the charm of her Brazilian sexy voice. All her talent was crowned in 2004 as special guest in Manuel Paulo’s album (EMI).



2005 was her start shining year as a celebrity. That year she took the main role in “Mambo Mistico” a musical by Aldo Brizzi and Alfredo Arias produced by “Théâtre de Chaillot” – Paris. She also released in 2005 her debut album “Aço do Açúcar” (Sugar of Steel). The title is at the same time the album title and the band name. The band is from Salvador-Bahia and is formed by Reis; Alex Mesquita - guitars; Luizinho do Jêje, percussion; and by Aldo Brizzi on keyboard and electronics. Aldo is the main author of the group’s songs and producer of the project. Aço do Açúcar rehearsals are like a laboratory of experimentation of new esthetics mixing with elements of Brazilian, African, and European music forms and constantly seeks to transcend the difference between traditional sounds and mainstream pop influences. These result in a sophisticated music with the ability to provoke and satisfy.

From 2006 she works with Aldo Brizzi on the Reis project. That included Europe tours in Italy, France, Germany, UK (festival shows like Aterforum in Ferrara, GMEM in Marselha, Oxident in Berlim, Notting Hill Arts in London, Preguillac in France and La Palma in Roma).



In 2007 she sang in Egypt (Cairo Opera House) and presented the “Loving Glance” concert tour in Brazil; Chile, Bolivia and Europe. In 2008 she records her EP “Reis” lunched in Mexico and USA. This EP is pure electronic music produced by Aldo Brizzi with live vocals expanded beyond melancholy female voice by Reis. It develops into a wide range of electronic and electronic-influenced music and combines elements of trip hop, IDM, and classical into Brazilian blends such as Bossa Nova. Tempo varies from quite down tempo to very fast in break core-derived and drum’s bass styles. Melodies and harmonies create a rich and tense sound that emphasizes the erotic, mystic and poetic themes of the lyrics and their realities, stranger than dreams

She loves a new challenge and presented her pure natural and sophisticated voice also in the virtual worlds like Second Life. Reis multimedia concert is something out of this world, with video-art projected on screens and singer costumes design. Reis is Reis Alter in Second Life. Her presence in SL is uniqueness and open new horizons. A real life professional career extended and developed also in Second Life. In SL Reis Alter is often invited by prime venues such as Zurich Opera, La Scala Milano Theater, Slimmie's, Cairo Opera. The repertoire is the same intriguing blend of new trip hop and electronic of the Real Life Reis concerts.




If you are Reis fan or would like to hear her amazing voice go to her Second Life events below.

12 April – Sunday – 20:00 PM – Zurich Opera House


This article has been sponsored by AA Trade Company (http://aatcompany.blogspot.com/), and inside SL (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cleary/128/128/0), Cleary (128,128,0)

For more pictures and information see:
English blog: http://annaavalanche.blogspot.com/
Portuguese blog: http://dejavu-intl-portuguese.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annaavalanche/

Brazilian Carnival: Why Just Watch, When You Can Join the Parade?

By Anna Avalanche, Gisa Miles and Luiz Speedwell

This was our latest article publish at déjà vu Magazine for the April Issue. You can also find this article on the new AAT Deja Vu Magazine Interactive . To know how to get yours click here
Enjoy!!!




Brazil is internationally known for Carnival but there are more different carnival parties depending on the city and cultural influence. In small cities there are salons parties celebrations. Bigger cities like Salvador, Pernambuco, São Paulo and Rio offer different kind of music, dance and more popular participation (joining) in the carnival celebrations. Nevertheless it is almost impossible to remain as a mere spectator – everyone participates, everyone plays along and those who visit, become fans of these wonderful parties. Which is the best carnival parade in Brazil? Well the ones you visit, of course!



In Salvador, Bahia State, the Carnival effectively begins in December, with the opening of the celebrations by the Conceição Beach feast. But it is in February that the merry makers of all ages fill up the capital of Bahia, animated by sound trailers – large and colorfully decorated trucks equipped with powerful loud speakers, from where singers sing and make people dance.



In São Paulo, the Carnival had been formerly a party restricted to saloons. Overtime, it conquered the streets, following the influences of the Rio de Janeiro Samba Schools.



In the state of Pernambuco, we have the Olinda and Recife carnivals. Frevo dance emerged from this location, one of the most enticing rhythms of the nation. For a week, people go out on the streets in costumes and dance frenetically, next to traditional giant dolls and maracatus.




Rio de Janeiro- the joy of the carioca (Rio de Janeiro citizens) is contagious for those who visit Rio to participate in the Carnival – regardless of their origin. It calls on everyone to move their feet, let their arms loose, let their eyes shine and fully participate in this feast, the order is one: fun. Those who have seen it before come back for more. For first timers the impact is unforgettable. The Parade of the Samba Schools in Rio is one of the greatest shows on earth. It is like an opera, in which scenery and fantasy float past the public, the story being told with the song, the symbols, the costumes and the floats, which year by year become more creative. The parade usually starts around 8pm, and goes on through the night, sometimes lasting until dawn, though the rising sun softens the effect and the show is more spectacular at night.



What is the latest trend at Carnival in Rio de Janeiro? Tourists are no longer just watching the parade. Nowadays, tourists don costumes, join a samba school for the night, and fully participate in the festivities.



Yes! You can! Participate in the samba championship, in any school of your choice. You don't even need to know how to dance or anything of the sort. "All you need to do is to go out there and have fun".



Samba sensation form: Times archives



- Brazil’s carnival dates back to the 18th century and is a mix of Portuguese and African traditions. The first parade of samba schools was in 1928
- The top 12 samba schools parade in Rio’s Sambodromo stadium with up to 6,000 drummers, dancers and other participants. Each school has a queen, who leads the drums corps
- A panel of 40 judges grades each samba group in ten categories, from floats to costumes
- 700,000 visitors travelled to Rio de Janeiro for the carnival last year




This article has been sponsored by AA Trade Company, Cleary (128,128,0) http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cleary/128/128/0

For more pictures and information see:
English blog: http://annaavalanche.blogspot.com/
Portuguese blog: http://dejavu-intl-portuguese.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annaavalanche/

Carmen Miranda, honored on São Paulo Fashion Week

This article is published at Déjà vu Magazine in the March Issue. Enjoy!!!


By Anna Avalanche, Gisa Miles and Luiz Speedwell

Photography credit for Marcelo Soubhia - Agencia Fotosite (http://www.agenciafotosite.com.br/



Who was Carmen Miranda?




“The brazilian bombshell” as was known, marked the time with her way of singing, moving their hands and Ginger. Her communicable smile and outrageous outfits will always be remembered. Today, more than 50 years after his death, Carmen still is the best Braziliam symbol known in the world.



Although she was not Brazilian, Carmen was actually born in Portugal. Her family immigrated to Brazil when she was a child. An entertainer since her early days, she emerged as a popular singer and actress in Brazil during the late 1920s and early 1930s. In those days she was the most famous and beloved women in Brazil, an absolute record of selling the discs. Then Carmen was invited by the American entrepreneur Lee Schubert to embark with her band "Bando da Lua" to the United States in 1939.







When Carmen reached the port of New York, was an illustrious unknown to the American public. But just one month later, she won the Broadway and an extraordinary popularity. Her singing ability and comedic skills, her loud costumes, bubbling personality and thick accent quickly helped her become popular with the movie-going public. The success was so big that Carmen recorded her feet and hands in the hall of fame's and received a star of gold with her name on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard.






She performed more than 14 films from 1940 to 1953 until her untimely death in 1955 from a heart attack. Carmen represented strongly the unknown and exotic land, full of coconut trees, bananas and pineapple. She was really a symbol of the Brazilian soul and a national pride.






The influence of Carmen Miranda in fashion.
That decade was the heyday of Hollywood and Carmen Miranda, as one of the landmarks of that period. It was the first Brazilian to launch fashions, including the U.S. - the "Miranda look" which was adapted and used in the streets.







By having a short stature, wide hips and full breasts, Carmen wore the clothes to enhance her body, which was not anything special compared to the actresses of the time. The short stature was resolved with its famous platforms that left much more elegant. Embroidered skirts, blouses with flounces, shoulders out, gowns, jewelry and platforms shoes built a unique style. The success of Miranda look made all the luxury shops of Fifth Avenue in New York, replaced the creations of Dior and Chanel for their fantasies of Bahia, their shoes and turbans.











Even today many designers and celebrities seek inspiration in her style. Madonna said recently that her exotic clothes were inspired on Miranda style. So the universe of fashion, thanks to that great – “small woman” who recreated every season with her visual references. Her collection of platforms shoes and her films from the 40s inspired the avant-garde designers who develop their models with her sensuality and timeless style even now days.







Special thanks Marcelo Soubhia - Agencia Fotosite

This article has been sponsored by AA Trade Company, Cleary (128,128,0) http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cleary/128/128/0

For more pictures and information see:
English blog: http://annaavalanche.blogspot.com/
Portuguese blog: http://dejavu-intl-portuguese.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annaavalanche/

São Paulo Fashion Week - Carmen Miranda tribute

This was our article publish at déjà vu Magazine for the March Issue and has more pictures. Enjoy!!!

São Paulo Fashion Week - Carmen Miranda tribute
By Anna Avalanche, Gisa Miles and Luiz Speedwell

Photography credit for Marcelo Soubhia - Agencia Fotosite (http://www.agenciafotosite.com.br/)



São Paulo Fashion Week (SFW) is considered the most stylish Latin American fashion show. In its 26ª edition, between January 18 and 23, more than 40 designers and “griffes” presented the Brazilian trends to the autumn - winter 2009.
This edition came with “Brasileirismo” theme. It means the light and the happiness of Brazilian people represented in its various manifestations and celebrations. The joy and humor in those events reflect more than a feature of the Brazilian people, but a creative potential that often leaves its mark on catwalks. Also the week gave honor to the centennial birthday of the actress and singer Carmen Miranda, an icon of international “Brasileirismo”, who became a phenomenon in the American show business at early 1940s and 1950s. She was honored with huge billboards and exhibition of original pieces from Carmen Miranda Museum. See next article about Miranda.










The São Paulo Fashion Week is one of the most anticipated fashion events in Brazil. People are fascinated with beautiful models, such as Gisele Bündchen, fashion people, famous designers, photographers and celebrities.









In simple words what are the style shown at SFW 2009? Long and short dresses were predominant in all catwalks. Pants came with high waist and bell-bottom, like pantaloons. The black, the gray, and the pastel tones were unanimous. Designers work with geometric shapes, chess and stripes. Leather and fabric with metallic were also present. High boots and court shoe – escarpins – are trend for this winter (Brazilian). The predominant colors were wine, dark green, blue, and yellow mustard.



Other tendency for the winter is comfort. To people feel well, pants and dresses are wider and the materials used ensure that they don’t get stuck, rigid, without movement. The pieces made of woven wool, wool knitted and unbeatable sweatshirt came strong for this autumn-winter 2009, even in its traditional color, the gray-mix. The traditional clothes, blouses with a hood, with its forms extensive readings are revisited in contemporary fabrics and technology, capable of great warmth.









Some Brazilian notorious brands such as 2nd Floor, Forum, Colcci, Ellus, Forum, Iodice, Osklen, Triton, Maria Bonita, Cori, Carlota and famous fashion designers like Alexandre Herchcovitch, Fause Haten, Andre Lima, Fabia Bercsek, Isabela Capeto, Lino Villaventura, Wilson Ranieri, Samuel Cirnansck, Priscilla Darlot and Erica Ikezili among others were present at SFW 2009.



















Special thanks Marcelo Soubhia - Agencia Fotosite

This article has been sponsored by AA Trade Company, Cleary (128,128,0) http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cleary/128/128/0

For more pictures and information see:
English blog: http://annaavalanche.blogspot.com/
Portuguese blog: http://dejavu-intl-portuguese.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annaavalanche/