Casa 579

David Guetta heads New Year’s Eve “Reveillon @ Copacabana” line-up!

2011-12-12T21:01:00.004-02:00

Finally. finally...the acts for New Years Eve at the world-famous Copacabana Beach Party have been confirmed with an interesting mix of Brazilian and International stars such as Beth Carvalho , top international DJ David Guetta and Samba School champions Beija-flor and Unidos da Tijuca. Here’s the line-up:
Main stage in front of Hotel Copacabana Palace
20:30 – Beth Carvalho
22:00 – O Rappa
00:00 – Fireworks Display!
00:20 – Latino
02:00 – DJ David Guetta
03:30 – Beija-flor Samba School

Stage 1 in front of Rua Santa Clara
19:00 – Baia
20:30 – Sargento Pimenta
22:15 – Moraes Moreira
00:00 – Fireworks Display!
00:20 – Blitz
00:15 – Unidos Tijuca and Mangueira Samba Schools
For more information about New Year, what to do and what to wear...check-out our blog post “Christmas and New Year in Rio de Janeiro”.

We’ll be dancing with David (Guetta) in front of the Main Stage....see you there!

Is Rio ready for Carnival 2012

2011-11-25T19:47:00.005-02:00

Rio’s Carnival is always getting bigger and better and every year you can expect something new and this year it’s not only the Samba Schools that will be bringing something new to Carnival! This year the Sambadrome (“Sambódromo” in portuguese), where the Rio Carnival Parade takes place has been undergoing reconstruction and will be modernized in time for Carnival 2012 so everyone is waiting with bated breath to see if it really will be ready in time for one of the biggest shows on earth! The Sambodrome in Rio, originally designed by the world-famous architect Oscar Niemeyer in 1984, is the biggest stage on earth with every year each Samba School (and there are more than 70 in Rio!) taking 3-5,000 people down the Sambadrome “avenida” and up to 90,000 spectators watching the famous parades. The Sambadrome has never been as Oscar Niemeyer originally planned with some sectors having a restricted view and as it is to be used in the 2016 Olympics for the final of the Marathon big changes are needed to make it more symmetrical and increase capacity.

The plan is to accommodate an additional 18,000 people and have all sectors with unrestricted views of the avenida. Four new main buildings are under construction for sectors 2, 4, 6 and 8 with seats for all budgets: grandstands, open boxes or “frisas”, and luxury suites called “camarotes” (which sell for R$20,000-R$50,000 each!). Smaller buildings between the big grandstands blocks are being built for comfortable luxury suites with capacity of 60 people in each one of them.
So, the big question now is: Will the new stage be ready for Carnival 2012?! The Project Managers still maintain that the new Sambodrome will be finished in December 2011 and that it will be ready for visitors by January 8th, 2012 when the first Samba Schools take to the avenida for the start of the technical rehearsals in the run up to Carnival. Let’s hope they are right. It will be a momentous occasion as not only is December 15th Oscar Niemeyer’s birthday but having redesigned the Sambadrome at age 104, this celebration will be a special one for sure!

Christmas and New Year in Rio de Janeiro

2011-11-17T16:54:00.020-02:00

In December, the city of Rio de Janeiro is filled with lights and Christmas decorations. The Cariocas – the Brazilians from Rio de Janeiro – enjoy their shopping and the colorful lights along the beaches and the unique decorations on the shopping malls attract not only children but also tourists from all over the world…. Also, for most Brazilians, Christmas time means family time. A time to get together and celebrate this special holiday. So don’t expect the biggest and loudest parties here in the “cidade maravilhosa”. But don’t worry, Rio is still a very special place to stay for Christmas. Where else would you find a floating Christmas tree?? In fact, a Christmas tree, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, that is the world’s largest floating Christmas tree, at 85-metres high and with over 3million electric bulbs?? Definitely only here in Rio de Janeiro.

On the other hand New Year (known as “Reveillon”) , isn’t quiet at all. New Year is the second largest event in Rio de Janeiro after the famous Carnival. The biggest New Year celebrations take place at the famous Copacabana beach where millions of people celebrate together and watch the amazing fireworks show that welcomes in the New Year. Be prepared for crowds of people ready for the biggest party of the year…cariocas and tourists…all together waiting for 2012…an experience you should experience at least once in a lifetime. Oh and the best thing about it is…it’s completely free! There are many stages set up along the beach, each with different acts with the biggest and best being in front of the Hotel Copacabana Palace. Acts already confirmed for this year are: Beth Carvalho, Seu Jorge and Latino with plenty more to come! The next big question is what to wear? It has always been tradition to dress in white but these days people wear other colours too and the meaning of the colour you wear that night means much more than you might think. It’s what you are wishing for the coming year… Gold brings wealth and luck… Green is for trust and hope… Pink of course for ladies…it brings you hope and true love… Orange will bring you happiness… Red for love, romance and elegance Blue is the color of calm and trust Yellow for creativity, intelligence and a lot a lot a lot of happiness… And last but not least…white…the color of prosperity and harmony

For those who prefer to see in 2012 a bit more exclusively….Here just some of the special parties going on:

Sugar Loaf Mountain: http://www.reveillonpaodeacucar.com.br

Hotel Intercontinental: http://www.reveilloncarioca.com.br

Jockey Club: http://www.reveillondocostabrava.com.br

Wherever you will celebrate the last day of the old year and the first of the new...Casa 579 already wishes you a good one and all the best for the year to come!

Miles Davis in RJ

2011-09-03T18:11:00.001-03:00

You might have seen him live a few decades ago, or you might be the owner of the complete collections of his records, or you might just have heard the name Miles Davis, it doesn’t matter, it’s worth spending a couple of hours to take a look at his life: a musician finding his way through the world holding a trumpet down, a black man fighting for the rights of his race, a man trying to express himself using the most honest language there is: music. The exposition “Queremos Miles” brings together a big collection of photographs, videos, documentaries, instruments, clothes and music sheets that belonged to the artist and gives you a review of his life since the days he arrived on the scene until the latest stages of his career, when he was exploring both with the sound and the colour of his outfits.

The exposition is being held at the Centro Cultural do Branco do Brasil (CCBB), in the heart of the city, 25 minutes away from Casa 579, and makes a great stop on your way to visit the Teatro Munucipal, the Museo de Belas Artes, the Candelaria Church and other pieces of Rio’s architectonic richness .The CCBB is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 9pm, there is no cost to the expositions and you can even catch a concert for free if you take a look at the schedule once you are there (you can also find a brochure with the CCBB’s monthly activities here in casa 579).

Cow Parade 2011

2011-08-30T19:40:00.002-03:00

The cow parade returns to Rio this year, with 60 cows having been selected to be exhibited all over the city from the 28^th September until the 27^th November.

The cow parade is one of the largest and most successful public art events in the world. Life-size fibreglass cows are decorated by local artists and those selected are distributed in public places throughout the city such as subway stations and parks. After being exposed for many months they are auctioned, and the money given to charity. Since 1999 the cow parade has been staged in many cities throughout the world, including London, New York and Tokyo. More than 5000 artists have participated in the Cow parade, and over $22 million raised for charity. The average event has between 75 and 150 cows.

The cow has been chosen as it is a universally loved animal, representing different things to different people around the world. For the purpose of art, the cow has been chosen as the representative animal because of its range and flexibility. The three forms; standing, grazing and lying, provide angles and curves to produce unique works of art. Artists have included both amateurs and professionals. Famous artists who have created cows have included Oliviero Toscani and designer Vivienne Westwood.

Prince cancels concert

2011-08-24T22:21:00.003-03:00

Prince has cancelled his appearance at the Back2Black festival this weekend. Jorge Ben Jor will be playing instead.

Rio’s Back2Black music festival August 26-28

2011-08-23T21:19:00.002-03:00

Rio’s Back2Black music festival takes place on the 26^th, 27^th and 28^th August, with headlining acts Macy Gray, Prince, and Seu Jorge. The African music and cultural festival aims to show how African influences have affected contemporary Brazilian culture, with one of the four stages being dedicated entirely to Afro-Brazilian artists. The festival will combine concerts, debates and exhibitions across three days, taking place at the old train station Leopoldina. Tickets for the event are on sale now and start from R$100 for the 26^th and 28^th, and R$250 to see Prince on the 27^th. A ticket for all three days costs R$450.

Beach Snacks in Rio de Janeiro

2011-05-24T21:12:00.006-03:00

In the next instalment in our series of blog entries on eating and drinking in Rio de Janeiro, we bring you a run-down of the outdoor treats to be found on and around the South Zone beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. The beaches are awash with food and drink vendors touting their wares, and at just four or five Brazilian real a piece, they’ll keep you going from morning to sundown. So, pick a spot, rent yourself a deckchair and parasol and settle in for the day safe in the knowledge that there will be no shortage of snacks coming your way.

Acai: This rainforest berry, frozen and blended and often served with honey, granola and fruits is a Brazilian, body- conscious staple. It is packed with all sorts of vitamins and minerals and is deliciously refreshing on a hot day. Vendors run in with trays and sell it fast before it melts!

Coconut Milk: Fresh juice straight from the coconut, it doesn’t get much more tropical than that. Be sure to ask them to cut it open for you when you’re done so you can scoop out the soft white coconut flesh afterwards.

Globo Biscuits: Freshly cooked every day, these light and crispy, donut-shaped snacks are a Rio institution. They come in sweet or savoury flavours and are quite addictive.

Toasted cheese (Qeijo quenche): With their ingenious portable bbqs, once these guys stoke up the embers and the smell of slowly toasting cheese with olive oil and oregano starts to come your way you’ll probably be helpless to refuse.

Mate & Limon: The Mate and Limon vendors might just have the heaviest load of the lot. Usually dressed in Leon Mate orange outfits with two large silver barrels slung on each shoulder they serve up large cups of ice cold mate and lemon. You get to choose one or the other or a blend of the two.

Empadas: These delicious, buttery little pastries come in various flavours, including shrimp (camarao), chicken (frango) and meat (carne).

Kibis: This Arabic snack is a blend of spiced meat covered in breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Another Rio favourite - vendors walk the sands dressed all in white, complete with headgear.

Tapioca pancakes: You’ll have to stroll up to the beach-front walkway for this one, but it’s worth the effort. Vendors offer a range of flavours, and you can choose from cheese, meat, vegetables, banana and cinnamon or cheese with guava paste.

Corn on the cob: Another beach-front walkway treat, hot and buttery corn on the cob, perfect at dusk with a beer to wash it down.

Children are welcome in the City of God

2011-05-17T19:05:00.004-03:00

(PHOTO: City of God, 2002)

Never thought you´d consider taking your kids to the city made infamous by the 2002 Brazilian cult film City of God? Well now’s the time to think again. A far cry from the city of dust, drugs and death where Rocket, Benny, Lil Dice and Lil Ze grew up, Rio de Janeiro is a friendly, welcoming place where kids are worshiped and treated as though they were little gods.

So when you’re strolling along Copacabana beach, chugging on the train up to the statue of Christ or floating above the city on the cable car to Sugar Loaf mountain and a stranger comes bounding towards you... don’t run! They’re not trying to mug you, they just want to show their adoration for your little one by stroking his arm or tickling her toes and saying things like ‘Que fofinho’ (How cute), ‘Ola princessa’ (Hello princess) or ‘Como vai nene?’ (How’s it going baby?).

(PHOTO: Casa 579 Receptionist and daughter exploring Rio)

The respect and love that Brazilians show for children is reason alone to bring the family to Brazil, as a parent it’s lovely to experience sympathetic smiles and gracious offers of help instead of looks of disdain and silent reproaches when your child cries in public. Coupled with the fact that you don’t have to wait in queues for the Metro or in the bank if you have a child under 2, makes Brazil the perfect destination for a family with young children. And the wealth of beautiful, calm beaches within a few hours bus ride of Rio itself, where you can let the youngsters run riot, eating sand and splashing in the warm waters, whilst you sip on a cold caipirinha and swallow down some tasty prawns, is an absolute bonus.

So don’t let the frightening image of Rio portrayed in the movies or written about in the guidebooks deter you from bringing your tribe to Brazil, a wave of warm smiles and animated hellos await all of you in Rio de Janeiro, the city of kids.

(PHOTO: Preferential and Priority service by law for those over 60, pregnant women, disabled people, and women with babies)

THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN AND AROUND RIO

CAPOEIRA: Kids in Brazil start Capoeira as soon as they can walk and yours can give it a go too with professor Falcao (Falcon) at Pequininos Creche e Escola in Laranjeiras (a short kombi van ride from Casa 579). Falcao is fantastic with kids and ensures that everyone gets a go regardless of their experience or level. Classes run on Wednesday and Friday mornings with the youngest ones starting at 1000am.

QUILO (KILO) RESTAURANTS: Travelling with kids can be stressful as they get hungry and irritated and you don’t have anything to feed them. Kilo restaurants (as in pay by the kilo for what you put on your plate) offer food that is healthy, reasonably priced and ready immediately with something to please even the fussiest of eaters. Walk in, each of you piles what you want on your plates, weigh them and you’ve got the whole family fed and watered within minutes.

THE BOTANICAL GARDENS: Wide open spaces, grass, plants, water and the occasional animal, plus a great play area with sand and slides makes this a great day out with children. Kids under 7 are free and the rest of the family pays just $R5 per person leaving money over for an ice cream outside the playground.

THE BONDE: Santa Teresa’s famous train is a winner with kids. It’s bumpy, stop-start motion makes it more like a theme park ride than a serious mode of transport. Not to mention the amazing views and the thrill of going over the famous Lapa arches, making it fun for all the family.

(PHOTO: Casa 579 guest Lydia enjoying Acai)

ACAI: To try Acai (an incredibly yummy, protein packed Brazilian slush puppy-like snack) take your kids to Cultivate Brasil just down the road from Casa 579 in Largo dos Guimaraes, the centre of Santa Teresa. Kids can make all the mess they want with this sweet, black slush and the staff will happily clean up after them. They also have a high chair for babies.

BUZIOS: A 2 hour and 40 minute bus ride north of Rio with 23 beaches at your disposal. Try Turtle beach (Praia Tartaruga) if you’ve got little ones. Its tranquil, clear and tepid waters make it a stress free beach day. Food and drinks are sold on the beach so you don’t have to worry about packing a picnic.

PARATY: A half day boat trip in calm waters won’t upset small stomachs and a couple of stops at pristine beaches will give the bucket and spade a good workout. As Paraty is four and a half hours south of Rio a side trip here can be combined with a visit to Ilha Grande.

ILHA GRANDE: On Ilha Grande get the baby carrier out and hike to Lopez Mendez. Although the waves can often be big they break quite a way off shore and the beach’s abundant shade, luke-warm water and friendly surf instructors make it worth the walk. Kids can start surf lessons from 4 years old (on the shore not in the water) for just R$20 per hour.

Eating & Drinking in Rio

2011-05-07T15:48:00.004-03:00

We get a lot of questions at Casa 579 about where to eat good or cheap (or good and cheap) in Rio de Janeiro, so we’ve decided to begin what will be a regular series of posts in answer to just that question.

Brazil’s rich cultural mix over the centuries means that it’s been influenced by the cooking styles and flavours of Africa, Japan, Germany, Portugal, the Middle East and beyond, and though Rio doesn’t have its own distinctive cuisine it picks some of the best from around the country and serves them up via its many bars, restaurants and street and beach vendors across the city. We’re going to pick some of our favourite places and bites and share them with you here - first up some of our favourite spots for coffee and cake.

Cafecito Bar & Cafe

Just down the road from the pousada in Largo Guimaraes (the centre of Santa Teresa) Cafecito has a great covered terrace and is a good spot for watching people stroll by on a weekend afternoon. They serve up hefty portions of cake, especially good are the chocolate options served with vanilla ice cream, and decent coffee. They also have a good selection of interesting ciabatta sandwiches with meats and cheeses, and a nice range of drinks, including beers and some pretty good caipis. The atmosphere is laidback but lively with an international waiting staff and clientele. The decor too is interesting with wooden tables, artwork from the next door shop and plenty of greenery. With free Wi-Fi as well it’s one of our all round favourites for wiling away a few hours, both with friends or solo.

Rua Paschoal Carlos Magno, 121. www.elcafecitocafeebar.blogspot.com

Moviola Livraria

The winning combination of good coffee and good books puts this bistro-cum-book shop high on our list. Located down the hill from the pousada in Larenjeiras, an authentic Rio neighbourhood less visited by tourists, it’s a good option if you feel like browsing an eclectic selection of book, DVDs, music and magazines. Nicely laid out and well-lit with wooden floors and free Wi-Fi it’s an excellent place to hang-out of an afternoon. The bistro serves gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, beers and wines and some seriously good desserts.

Rua das Laranjeiras 280, Lojas B e C. www.moviolalivraria.com.br

Cafeina

Cafeina is the place to go if you’re in need of a high quality sugar hit, and with five or six branches dotted around Zona Sul, you’ll luckily never be too far away from one. The branch in Ipanema is handily located just a few blocks from the beach and the main square (General Osorio). It’s on a busy street with outdoor seating and is great for watching the bikini and speedo clad world go by. More importantly, the cakes, coffees, breakfasts, snacks and sandwiches are all top-notch. We recommend you get up from your table and go and have a look in the glass-fronted cake cabinet – guaranteed you won’t come back empty handed. The Petit Gateaux deserves a special mention – a perfectly cooked chocolate sponge, with an oozing warm chocolate filling served with ice cream - but then you can’t really go wrong here.

Rua Farme de Amoedo, 43 (Ipanema branch). Check this link for details for other branches: www.cafeina.biz/paginas_conteudo/nossas_lojas.aspx

Dancing in the Street: Carnival Blocos

2011-03-04T14:11:00.006-03:00

With names like, "Ta Cheio de Maluco Ai (Full of crazies there)" and "Me Beija que sou cineasta (Kiss me because I am a Filmmaker)" the Rio Carnival Blocos are street parties like none other in the world. The first documented Bloco in Rio was in the late 19th century when neighborhood musicians banded together playing instruments and singing songs in the street as an alternative to the more formal carnival parades which they found dull and expensive. Modern day Blocos maintain the same spirit of spontaneity and community. Musicians and revellers, often from the same neighborhood, join together singing musical anthems and dancing the street with an open invitation for all to join. This year hundreds of Blocos both small and large are parading day and night all throughout Rio.

Here is a clip from Bloco de Preta in Impanema:

The team at Casa 579 has listed some of the most popular and most recommended upcoming Blocos below:

4 March- Friday

Bloco Carmelitas- located in Santa Teresa
Concentra mas não Sai- located in Laranjeiras

5 March- Saturday

Bloco Ceu na Terra- located in Santa Teresa
Cordao da Bola Preta - located in Centro
Carioca da Gema- located in Lapa
Aconteceu- located in Santa Teresa
Barbas- located in Botofongo
Empolga as 9- located in Copacabana
Dois pra La Dois pra Ca- located in Botofongo
Banda de Impanema-located in Impanema

6 March- Sunday

Cordao do Boitata- located in Centro
Bangalaflumenga- located in Jardim Botanico
Simpatia e Quase Amor-located in Impanema
Que Merda e Essa- located in Impanema

7 March- Monday

Volta Alice- located in Laranjeiras
Aconteceu- located in Santa Teresa
Afroreggae- located in Impanema

8 March-Tuesday

Bloco Carmelitas- located in Santa Teresa
Rio Maracatu- located in Impanema
Afoxé Filhos de Ghandi

- located in Copacabana

banda da Ipanema- located in Impanema

12 March- Saturday

Banda da Ipanema- located in Impanema

13 March- Sunday

Monobloco- located in Centro

Sambadrome is now open for Carnival 2011!

2011-01-09T19:45:00.007-02:00

New Years Eve has come and gone. Which means it’s time now for Cariocas to start to seriously prepare for the biggest celebration of the year: Carnival. Of course, Carnival preparations are a year-round activity here in Rio. Almost as soon as one year’s celebration comes to a close, the city begins gearing up for the following year’s merriment. Now, less than two months away from the main event of 2011, we have entered into the final stages of readying: technical rehearsals. These rehearsals (called ‘ensaios’ in Portuguese) offer a unique preview of the full-on show (including costumes, full bateria, theme song, and more), and are held in the headquarters of Rio’s Carnival: the Sambadrome.

Sambadrome, ready and waiting for visiters

Each school is scheduled for two ensaios over the two months leading up to Carnival- which will be held this year from March 1-7th. Best of all, these events are free to attend! From here on out each weekend through the end of February will feature ensaios of two or three area samba schools each evening. Tonight, we kick off the series with the schools of Rocinha, Sao Clemente, and Salgueiro. Performances commence at 7 or 8pm, and wrap up around midnight. (See the schedule below for more details on times and dates.) As the shows are free to attend, it is a advisable to arrive early to find a space to enjoy the entertainment. If you come through Rio in the next two months, but won’t be able to stay for Carnival, definitely make your way to the Sambadrome to revel in the pre-Carnival glory of the ensaio!

Picture from the inaguration of Sambadrome, 1984

ENSIAO SCHEDULE-

January

09/01 (Sunday)
Rocinha (19h)
São Clemente (20h)
Salgueiro (22h)

15/01 (Saturday)
Alegria da Zona Sul (19h)
Viradouro (20h)
Imperatriz (22h)

16/01 (Sunday)
Cubango (19h)
Mocidade (20h)
Unidos da Tijuca (22h)

22/01 (Saturday)
Pilares (20h)
União da Ilha (22h)

23/01 (Sunday)
Renascer (19h)
Grande Rio (20h)
Mangueira (22h)

29/01 (Saturday)
Porto da Pedra (20h)
Portela (22h)
30/01 (Sunday)
Santa Cruz (19h)
Beija-Flor (20h)
Vila Isabel (22h)

February

06/02- (Sunday)
Império Serrano (19h)
Império da Tijuca (20h)
Salgueiro (22h)

12/02- (Saturday)
São Clemente (20h)
União da Ilha (22h)

13/02- (Sunday)
Estácio (19h)
Mocidade (20h)
Mangueira (21h)

19/02- (Saturday)
Porto da Pedra (19h);
Portela (22h)

20/02- (Sunday)
Inocentes (19h)
Vila Isabel (20h)
Grande Rio (22h)

26/02- (Saturday)
Imperatriz (20h)
Beija-Flor (22h)

27/02- (Sunday)
Unidos da Tijuca (22h)

Saying goodbye to 2010 in Rio de Janeiro

2010-12-26T19:58:00.010-02:00

In Rio de Janeiro, the New Years Eve celebrations are grandiose. Let’s take a look at the who, what, where, and hows of this major party, second in Brazil only to Carnival.

The party: The main center of action is the beaches of Copacabana, where over two million people congregate to ring in the New Year. It's officially the largest NYE party in the world! This year's party theme is "The Golden Decade," in recognition of the international events which will be hosted in Brazil in the coming years. Entertainment begins around 8pm, with a variety of musical genres. Whether you desire traditional samba or DJs spinning beats, you will find it at one of the four stages lining Copacabana. At midnight partygoers will experience a short blackout, followed by intense illumination; fireworks will splash the skies over the ocean, the colourful show will last for twenty minutes.

Preparation and tradition: Dressing in white is a New Year’s tradition across Brazil, a practiced rooted in Afro-Brazilian religion. Wear comfortable shoes, keeping in mind you will most likely be on your feet most of the night, and there may be broken glass on the streets following the celebrations. Bringing a bottle of champagne is also appropriate. Often the bottle is shaken and sprayed over the heads of fellow partiers. Do not be disgruntled if you end up wet and messy as a result of this New Year’s ritual, this is an auspicious blessing. On that theme, another traditional practice of the Brazilian Reveillion (New Year’s Eve) is offering gifts to the goddess of the sea, Iemanja. You may see little boats decked with presents or flowers being floated into the ocean, all offerings to the deity. Devotees of Candomble, Umbanda, and other Afro-Brazilian religions refer to the entire event as Festa de Iemanja- Iemanja’s Party, and begin preparations days before. Priestesses lead ceremonies and offer consultations on the sands of the beach, and groups surround alters laden with candles and cachaca while drums beat out rhythms appeasing to the gods.

Transportation: The best way to get to and from the festivities is the metro. Tickets are available for purchase at selected metro stations (Largo do Machado and Carioca are the most convenient to Casa 579). Get your tickets in advance. After midnight, linger on the beach or head to a nearby club and continue your celebrations for awhile, allowing the traffic to calm before heading back to bed and breakfast.

Oh Christmas Tree, Big Brazilian Christmas Tree...

2010-12-03T22:22:00.009-02:00

On Saturday beginning at 8pm in the baseball field of Canterbury Park the people of Rio will celebrate the 15^th annual Christmas tree in Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. The supersized Christmas tree is the largest in the world. Construction of the spectacle began in September, and twelve hundred people have participated in the creation of this year’s edition.

2009's Lagoa Christmas Tree

The inauguration of the tree is the third largest event in Rio, following behind Carnival and New Year’s Eve. This year’s theme for the celebration is “A History of Reunion.” Artists participating in Saturday’s event include musicians Milton Nascimento, Simone, and Ivan Lins, and dancers Carlinhos de Jesus and Ana Botafogo. Actor Edson Celulari will be returning to serve once again as the master of ceremonies. If you can’t make it to Saturday’s celebrations, you still have a chance to bask in the glory of the grandiose Christmas display. The tree will be accessible up until the day of the kings, January sixth.

Milton Nascimento

Ana Botafogo

How to get there: Buy a special pass at the Metro station allowing you to ride the Metro Na Superficie. The ticket will cost R$2.80 and you will receive two transit cards: one covering the Metro line, and another for the bus (called the Metro Na Superficie) from the metro station Praca General Osorio to Lagoa. Take the Metro towards Zona Sul (southbound) to Praca General Osorio, and from there take the Metro Na Superficie bus to Lagoa.

To return: catch the Metro Na Superficie in Lagoa. You can buy the pass on the bus to cover both the bus and the Metro. Get off the bus at the Metro station, and transfer to a train towards Zona Norte (north).