Pre-Carnival in SP: Our favorite "Blocos"

The Carnival season is about to go into full throttle and if you want to start your pre-Rio or Salvador warm-up in São Paulo, you should go party at some of the countless block parties/mini-parades that are about to start.

The Blocos below are the authors favorites - there are many more you can choose from, all of which have their own character and are probably worth a visit. But if you are not in the mood for lenghty research, you will certainly not go wrong with the list below.

The authors personal favorite is Bloco Casa Comigo on Feb 1st - not only because it is simply a great party, but also because it was the authors first Bloco ever and as such, still holds some sentimental value. 

Without further ado:

31.01., 12 noon,  BLOCO UNIDOS DA RESSACA DO DIABO

Rua Major Maragliano 421 - V. Mariana

Facebook Event link

01.02., 12 noon,  BLOCO CASA COMIGO
Rua Beatriz - Vila Beatriz

The wedding drum call 

Who said you can only get married quickly in Vegas?

Traffic Jam V02

Facebook Event link

07.02., 10:30am, BANGALAFUMENGA EM SP
Av. Paulo VI - Sumaré

Bloco happiness

Is there a better way to spend a Saturday morning!

Facebook Event Link


08.02., 10:30am, CONFRARIA DO PASMADO

Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 64 - Pinheiros 

Full house

Facebook Event link

Veja São Paulo has compiled a comprehensive list of blocos, which you can view here.

São Paulo is officially the most expensive city in Brazil

• 
  
• Below is a list of the most expensive (and least expensive) cities to live in in Brazil right now. 
• The data, provided by custodevida.com.br ranks each city with a number score, and unsurprisingly, São Pualo is top of the heap! Next most expensive are Santos, also in São Paulo state, followed by Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Niteroi. 

The calculations are based on user submitted feedback and use a rolling 18month average to work out variations over time and keep up to date.

• Check out the full listing:
  
  1. 173 São Paulo - SP
• 2. 148 Santos - SP
• 3. 145 Rio de Janeiro - RJ
• 4. 144 Brasília - DF
• 5. 140 Niterói - RJ
• 6. 135 Santa Maria - RS
• 7. 128 Curitiba - PR
• 8. 124 Jundiaí - SP
• 9. 122 Parauapebas - PA
• 10. 122 São Bernardo do Campo - SP
• 11. 121 Campinas - SP
• 12. 119 Praia Grande - SP
• 13. 119 Rio Grande - RS
• 14. 115 Guarulhos - SP
• 15. 110 Florianópolis - SC
• 16. 110 Itajaí - SC
• 17. 106 Porto Alegre - RS
• 18. 106 Ribeirão Preto - SP
• 19. 104 Rio Branco - AC
• 20. 104 São José dos Campos - SP
• 21. 103 Petrópolis - RJ
• 22. 102 Joinville - SC
• 23. 102 Sorocaba - SP
• 24. 100 Belo Horizonte - MG
• 25. 100 Guarujá - SP
• 26. 100 Manaus - AM
• 27. 99 Bragança Paulista - SP
• 28. 99 Jaú - SP
• 29. 99 Piracicaba - SP
• 30. 99 Taguatinga - DF
• 31. 97 Sete Lagoas - MG
• 32. 97 Uberaba - MG
• 33. 96 Cascavel - PR
• 34. 96 Palmas - TO
• 35. 95 Recife - PE
• 36. 95 São Luís - MA
• 37. 94 Belém - PA
• 38. 94 Cuiabá - MT
• 39. 94 Jaraguá do Sul - SC
• 40. 94 Vila Velha - ES
• 41. 93 Nova Friburgo - RJ
• 42. 93 Porto Velho - RO
• 43. 93 Salvador - BA
• 44. 92 Limeira - SP
• 45. 92 Vitória - ES
• 46. 92 Volta Redonda - RJ
• 47. 91 Maringá - PR
• 48. 89 Botucatu - SP
• 49. 89 Goiânia - GO
• 50. 89 Maceió - AL
• 51. 88 Franca - SP
• 52. 87 Araraquara - SP
• 53. 86 Americana - SP
• 54. 86 Bauru - SP
• 55. 86 Londrina - PR
• 56. 86 Sinop - MT
• 57. 86 São Carlos - SP
• 58. 85 São José do Rio Preto - SP
• 59. 83 Taubaté - SP
• 60. 81 Blumenau - SC
• 61. 80 Pelotas - RS
• 62. 80 Presidente Prudente - SP
• 63. 79 Campo Grande - MS
• 64. 79 Natal - RN
• 65. 79 Poços de Caldas - MG
• 66. 78 Juiz de Fora - MG
• 67. 76 Itajubá - MG
• 68. 75 Aracaju - SE
• 69. 75 Boa Vista - RR
• 70. 75 Foz do Iguaçu - PR
• 71. 75 Macapá - AP
• 72. 74 Divinópolis - MG
• 73. 74 Ponta Grossa - PR
• 74. 74 Rondonópolis - MT
• 75. 74 Uberlândia - MG
• 76. 73 Teresina - PI
• 77. 73 Viçosa - MG
• 78. 71 Fortaleza - CE
• 79. 70 Caxias do Sul - RS
• 80. 70 Governador Valadares - MG
• 81. 68 Vitória da Conquista - BA
• 82. 67 Montes Claros - MG
• 83. 64 Anápolis - GO
• 84. 64 Campina Grande - PB
• 85. 64 Ipatinga - MG
• 86. 63 João Pessoa - PB
• 87. 62 Feira de Santana - BA
• 88. 58 Mossoró - RN
• 89. 57 Juazeiro do Norte - CE

Identidade SP creates a logo for every São Paulo neighbourhood

You may not have noticed before but although the city has a coat of arms, the neighbourhoods of São Paulo do not. Or at least, they didn't until now.

Identidade SP have now created a logo design for each and every São Paulo neighbourhood. The initiative aims to creatively, rediscover the city through neighbourhood pride and etymology.  It has its inspiration in Pedro Campos, a graphic designer and photographer who dared to wonder what the name of his neighbourhood (Butantã) actually meant back in 2009. Once he had discovered its meaning he wanted to reflect it in a logo.

Soon he began researching other neighbourhoods and creating an emblem for each one as well as a simple webpage sharing information about its history and naming. Sé was the first neighbourhood quickly followed by Santa Ifigênia, Moema, Santo Amaro, Jaçanã, Pinheiros, Itaim Bibi, Higienópolis, Mooca, Canindé, Liberdade, Cambuci, Casa Verde, Pacaembu, Limão e Vila Madalena.

Pedro and his wife now curate the project and look after the Facebook fanpage. They still have a lot of work ahead of them (there are no less than 450 different neighbouorhoods in São Paulo) but even so plan to give a more practical use to the newly created logos. This year they will create souvenirs and clothing branded with the neighbourhood badges so you can wear your neighbourhood with pride.

Check out some of the designs already done:

VIDEO: São Paulo Food Porn - Best Chopp in SP!

There is only one cure against the scolding heat of São Paulo right now: Chopp. The guys at Bar Original in Moema are continuously voted as having the best Chopp in São Paulo.

The author of this blog post may be a bit biased as being a Moema resident, but the honors should not be surprising. After all, the same guys that that bring you one of the best Pizzas (Pizza Bráz) and one of the best burgers in town (Lanchonete da Cidade), also own Bar Original.

The place is as São Paulo as it can get and one of the many reasons one can only but love this city. Apart from drafting Brahma Chopp to absolute perfection, you are sure to not stand around empty handed for long, as the waiting staff are ridiculously fast in making sure to supply you with another one. If you are ever in the neighbourhood give them a try!

Check out their 15-year anniversary trailer:

Online presence:

Bar Original http://www.baroriginal.com.br/
Pizza Bráz http://www.brazpizzaria.com.br/home
Lanchonete da Cidade http://www.lanchonetedacidade.com.br/

Learn Thai Yoga Massage in São Paulo

The traditional healing techniques of ancient Thailand may seem a long way away and indeed they are. But this February you can learn the secrets of Thai traditional massage right here in São Paulo and even get certified as a Level 2 practitioner.

Barbara Santos is a Brazilian therapist who lives and works in Thailand. In 2012 she founded Espaço Nibbana, a holistic therapy institution through which she aims to raise awareness of traditional Eastern therapies and in particular Thai Massage.

Although she now resides in Asia where she can live and breathe the traditional art of healing through massage, she regularly returns to hold seminars and encourage other therapists to delve deeper into Eastern holistic practices.

Thai Yoga Massage courses are coming to São Paulo

In February this year she will be returning to her homeland to teach some of her learnings via intensive weekend courses. Her schedule only allows for 3 Brazilian cities one of which, of course, is Sampa. In São Paulo, the course will be held at Casa Jaya in Pinheiros. Full details are available here or directly on Espaco Nibbana.

A great opportunity for those who wish to learn how to give a great professional and traditional massage!

Photo of the Day: SP by night

Post by Discovering São Paulo.