Rio de Janeiro Int’l Film Festival

Festival do Rio is our city’s cinema festival.  In its 13rd edition,  there will be over 350 films from 60 nationalities being shown in the city from the 6th to the 20th of  October. It has something for everyone, from the famous Almodóvar to Dario Argento’s horror.

Among the highlights: “La piel que habito” by Pedro Almodóvar, “Restless” by Gus VanSant, “George Harrison”, by Martin Scorsese, “Dark horse”, by Todd Solondz, “Separation” (winner of the Bear Berlin 2011), by Asghar Farhadi, “4:44 – Last Day on Earth” by Abel Ferrara, “We need to talk about Kevin” by Lynne Ramsay.

So far, I’ve seen Gun Hill Road, by Rashaad Ernesto Green; 3, by Tom Tykwer; Odna Voyna, by Vera Glagoleva; and The Devil’s Duble, by  Lee Tamahori, excellent choices by now, specially this last one.

Take a look at the whole film guide over here:
http://2011.festivaldorio.com.br/en/programacao/

If any of you intend to watch one of the festival’s movies at Estação Vivo Gávea, i’m working there in some of the days, so see you there!

Havaianas

Havaianas is the ultimate footwear to parade in carioca beaches . These rubber sandals almost stick in your feet, ’cause you don’t want to wear anything else anymore. It’s cheap, stylish and comfortable.

It is really easy to find a pair of them, they are sold all over the city: in supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies and fashion stores. Prices differ a lot depending on the model and also on the place where you buy them – the official stores are always the most expensive. 

 Here you go a list of places I think stand out as selling points with wider selections and the best prices:

Kikarnes
R. Visconde de Pirajá 224 – Ipanema 2523-3625. A small supermarket with a big selection of Havaianas.

MG Bazar
R. Figueiredo de Magalhães 414 – Copacabana 2548-1664. Probably the most well stocked Havaiana store in Rio de Janeiro.

There are other two locations that I cant list right now but as soon as I get the adress, you’ll have them all. One of them is at Leblon, close to Shopping Leblon, the other is at Ipanema, at Farme de Amoedo St.

Cinema Jóia this Tuesday

This Tuesday at Cinema Jóia, there will be the last screening of the documentary Estrada Real da Cachaça (Royal Road of Cachaça), it will be at 21pm.

Directed by Peter Uranus, the film seeks a reunion with the national reality through the most famous Brazilian drink, cachaça. It is a historical investigation, anthropological, socio-economic and poetic looking over the so-called Estrada Real (Royal Road). Estrada Real da Cachaça proposes the revival of an ancient route in order to map the presence of this liquor in Brazilian culture. The cachaça is produced throughout the Brazilian territory, but the state of Minas Gerais is best known for its quality. The reason is related to the gold rush in the eighteenth century, which meant that settlers were Portuguese and Brazilians into the country accompanied by the drink.

I believe, tought it is in Portuguese, it’s worth watching this documentary because of its beauty in content and photography.

Av. Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, 680, subsolo / lj H – Copacabana

 

Nesta terça-feira, no Cinema Jóia, haverá a última exibição do documentário Estrada Real da Cachaça, às 21h.

Dirigido por Peter Urano, o filme busca um reencontro com a realidade nacional através da bebida mais famosa do Brasil, a cachaça. É uma investigação histórica, antropológica, sócio-econômica e poética, um olhar sobre a chamada Estrada Real. É proposto a revitalização de uma antiga rota, a fim de mapear a presença desta bebida na cultura brasileira. A cachaça é produzida em todo o território brasileiro, mas o estado de Minas Gerais é mais conhecido por sua qualidade. A razão está relacionada com a corrida do ouro no século XVIII.

Pão de queijo and mate

Not typical from Rio, but from Brazil in general, pão de queijo is a tiny bread made of cheese that looks more like a biscuit. You can find it in many cafes around Rio. It is cheap and reeeeeally tasty. It goes really well with this sort of tea, called mate, or with a cup of coffee or chocolate.

These two fast food chains, Mega Matte and Rei do Mate, are famous on the business. Everybody stops there for a quick coffee break. Rei do Mate offers a big cup of pão de queijo, which comes with twelve units, it costs around R$5,00. In Mega Matte you can find many flavours of mate, it’s difficult to choose one best.

Where will you find Rei do Mate:

Ipanema
R. Visconde de Pirajá, 281 – lj B

 

Botafogo
Praia de Botafogo, 406 lj A 2

 

Botafogo 2

R. Voluntários da Pátria, 212 lj E

 

Where you will find Mega Matte:

Copacabana

R Figueiredo Magalhães
Nº 226

 

Jardim Botânico

R Jardim Botânico
Nº 216 Lj A

 

Ipanema

R Visconde de Pirajá
Nº 605 Lj C

Quick stop for a Israeli snack

Every day, when I’m coming home, I get off the bus and feel a delicious smell coming from the Israeli cafeteria in front of it, Pitta’s. I decided, then, to give it  a try today and I didn’t regret at all.
I wasn’t sure about what I should take but the waitress came to me very kindly and asked me if I’d like to try the Falafel – made of bean cake fried chickpeas, but very crisp – and that’s how I decided on the Falafel sandwich. You, customer, decide how to make your own sandwich, as in Subway, there are many a variety of salad and pastes – eggplant, chickpeas and sesames.
The size was more than OK, I was very satisfied after that. And the price as well, R$8,00.

If you want soemthing quicker, there is the kebab, the esfiha and the burek. You should also try the Syrian sweets made of varied nuts (R$ 3.00 each).

R. Barata Ribeiro, 458 loja C – Copacabana

Lost and starving in Copacabana

You’re in Copacabana and want to find something good to eat?

So, let’s start with Cervantes. This is definitely a must! They’re famous for its sandwiches which are very, very  stuffed, and there are so many options that it is a difficult issue to choose between all of them. It is a great option for you who is coming back from a night out, ’cause it’s open all night long. Tue-Sun, 12pm-4am. http://www.restaurantecervantes.com.br/

Rua Barata Ribeiro, 7 ljB  – Copacabana

Next stop, Pavão Azul. It’s a informal bar, in a very brasilian style. Their tidbits made them very famous and it’s a good deal to get there early to get a table and better service. You should try the pataniscas de bacalhau, made of codfish, also, the pastéis de camarão (shrimp). And don’t forget the beer, stupidly cold, as we usually say here. Tue-Sun 16pm-12am.

 Rua Barata Ribeiro, 348 ljB – Copacabana

The last, but not least, for today is Toca do Siri. If your loonking for typical brasilian food it is a good place to go. Delicious dishes, good service and, A-HA, caipirinhas! Casquinha de siri (crab), caldo de sururu (mussels), and of course, the acarajé, that’s the good request.

Rua Raul Pompéia, 6 – Copacabana