Brazilian street art: the creative genius of Carlos Dias

Sad for those who missed it, but Brazil's most important museum, the MASP in São Paulo, had a great street art exhibition on, which ended early February. I went and instantly fell in love with the work of Carlos Dias, which reminded me of that other great street artist I've always loved: Basquiat. Check it out:

210 Diner: haute burger craze arrives in São Paulo

São Paulo is never far behind as far as trends are concerned. It has its speakeasies (Sub Astor is the best one), its tecnoemotional restaurant (D.O.M.), and now, right on the heels of NY, a pig-centric high-end burger joint.







It's called 210 Diner and it's owned by chef Benny Novak, the same guy behind the excellent Tappo Trattoria.

On the menu:


- Burgers
- Baby Back Ribs
- House-smoked Bacon with maple syrup
- Eggs Benedict

- Grilled meats like Rib Eye, Porter House, NY Strip, Skirt Steak.
- Matze Ball Soup
- Philli Steak Sandwich
- Tuna Melt Sandwich
- Onion rings and chicken wings


Devil’s food cake
Red Velvet Cake
Cookies
Apple Pie
Cheesecake





Diner 210: Rua Pará, 210, Higienópolis, tel. 3661-1219

And more of chef Benny Novak on this blog:
Tappo Trattoria, a great little Italian in the Jardins district

Livraria da Vila, in the Jardins district of São Paulo: beautiful architecture!

Isay Weinfeld: remember this name. He is the number one architect in Brazil, today. And very prolific: in recent years he's designed countless mansions, stores and restaurants. He's most famous for his work for the Fasano group (including the Fasano hotel), but I am particularly enamoured with his project of the bookstore Livraria da Vila, an outpost of the original flagship in Vila Madalena.

The newer Livraria da Vila, in the heart of the posh Jardins district, is nothing short of stunning.

Pivoting doors contain, in the interior, bookshelves. The solid, concrete rectangular box contains 3 levels, and oval and square cutouts reveal glimpses of the other floors as one stands on the ground floor.

Bookshelves are purposely assymetrical and heavily loaded, mimmicking a used book store. Comfy indigo-covered couches are a nice break from the formality of the architecture.




Nas duas laterais do longo retângulo, paredes repletas de estantes de livros, cuidadosamente desalinhadas. Aqui e ali, sofás revestidos de tecido jeans, e recortes inesperados, revelando geometrias de impacto.






Oh, and I guess I've got to tell you about the books! Fear not: there are thousands of great finds in English, French, you name it. It is quite possibly the best bookstore in town.






Livraria da Vila: Al. Lorena, 1731, tel. (55-11) 3062-1063

São Paulo Fashion Week: Gloria Coelho's runway show

Great show, at the Iguatemi shopping mall, with a very high celeb quotient. Here are a few pics I took...

Mariana Ximenes, a soap opera star

Gloria's looks

and one of my faves

Actress Bruna Lombardi (the blonde) congratulating Gloria, in the backstage.

Gloria Coelho and Bruna Lombardi

Vestido era Jetsons

More Gloria...

And here, a video of the whole show:

Gloria Coelho: Rua Bela Cintra, 2173, Jardins, São Paulo, tel. (55-11) 3085-6671

São Paulo's Fashion Week just ended, and on a very high note. Bigger and better each year, it was praised by the international media, including The New York Times's  T Magazine blog. They said:


"São Paulo fashion week is still coming into its own, but it certainly gives good show. From a slew of supermodels to unmarked after-parties, the cool quotient held its own against the more traditional fashion capitals. This season’s model check saw Lara Stone walking for Forum Tufi Duek, Brazil’s prodigal son Jesus Luz doing an awkward catwalk turn for Ellus, Alessandra Ambrosio filling in for Gisele at Colcci, Isabeli Fontana opening for Alexandre Herchcovitch and Chanel Iman at Rosa Cha.

Off the runway there was plenty of action as well. Jesus Luz D.J.’d at the week’s biggest bash, for Ellus, at São Paulo’s newest nightspot, Lion’s Club, and Alexander Herchcovitch had a post-show party at Bar Secreto, an unassuming two-story bungalow that houses all manner of decadence.

(...) 


All in all, it’s not a stretch to imagine a near-future when São Paolo fashion week is as important a part of the fashion circuit as, say, London. Add one more fashion capital to your global itinerary!"

Hotel Fasano, in São Paulo: a video

by Karin Dauch, photos by Alexandra Forbes

I’m on the NY-SP shuttle quite often. A room away from home which is not only consecutively but consistently excellent, deserves to be called a second home.

It’s not always that I stay at my favorite, Fasano, but every time I do, I am always pleased to see the welcoming concierge, helpful staff, thoughtful waiters and automatic upgrades for repeat customers. And of course, you can’t beat the location, positioned in the heart of Jardins, the most charming neighborhood of this bustling metropolis. Restaurants (Dalva & Dito, Antiquarius, Arabia) are walking distance, not to mention the best stores lined up on nice to stroll streets (Louis Vuitton and Cartier are on the adjacent block.)

When I last visited less than a month ago, I made a little movie that captures the soul of this modern classic paulistano...

Hotel Fasano: Rua Vittorio Fasano, 88, Jardins, São Paulo, tel. 3896-4000

Escapada a Sao Paulo: consejos del conserje en el nuevo hotel Sheraton Sao Paulo World Trade Center.(PREGUNTELE AL CONSERJE): An article from: Latin Trade