Brasil

TODAY’S JEWISH MUSICIANS in Rio believe in connecting religions and cultures through music. Leonardo Fuks, a shofar player and trumpeter, recalls that Yiddish Avenue, where he used to live, was also referred to as Little Africa, with Jews and African Brazilians living side by side. His father and uncles attended samba performances that took place on the adjacent streets. Fuks is now a member of a group of about 20 musicians called Rancho Carnival Praça Onze (Klezmer Carioca) that entered the Carnival scene of Rio de Janeiro in 2013.

Read more on contemporary Brazilian Jewish music in our article at Jewish Currents.

JEWISH BRAZILIAN LINKS IN PORTUGUESE

Pletz– secular Jewish news portal.

Midrash, cultural center in Leblon, Rio.

Hillel Rio Blog.

Kosher Map – Hasidic/Orthodox news and kosher links.

Conexão Israel – liberal Brazilian bloggers site on Israel

Bombas e Flores em Jerusalém – liberal Brazilian blog on the events in Israel (not active since 2013).

RIO DE JANEIRO

News

The Rio Times, in English

O Globo, Rio edition, in Portuguese

Business and general news in English – O Valor

Rio Real Blog, in Portuguese

City Guides

Rio for Partiers

The New Rio – Rio Real

Guide to the city center in Wiki Travel

Best Views of Rio, per Time Out Rio

Events listings

Time Out, in English

Official city guide, in English

The Rio Times guide, in English

La Na Lapa, guide to Lapa (mostly Samba), in Portuguese.

Boa Diversao, in Portuguese

Music venues

Pedra do Sal – Authentic Samba party on Mondays at the birth of Samba in the city center.

Main rock venue – Circo Voador.

Casa Rosa – popular local music venue in Laranjeiras (pretty and hilly residential neighborhood). Also various classes (i.e. Samba, Orixa dances, percussion).

Bar Simplesmente – jazz jams Monday nights, decent bar food (Lapa).

A Feira de São Cristóvão – Authentic Forro venue and weekly festival (Centro).

Quint Avant – experimental rock/jazz events (mostly in Audio Rebel club at Botafogo).

lapa 40º – popular student dance and music venue in Lapa.

Mangueira, one of the main Samba schools with weekly rehearsals for Carnaval starting in November.

Lista amiga – parties listings with discounts.

Funk music portal

Food

culinary backstreets (Rio food blog). 2 of our favorite eateries reviewed there: Adega Pérola (Portuguese) and Tacacá do Norte (Amazonian)

Local food reviews site.

Lodging

Inexpensive recommended hotel in the city center, close to all the nightlife.
Best bets per Time Out, Rio

Best beaches

Joatinga Beach is only 30 minutes away from Ipanema by cab (ask for Clube Costa Brava), but it feels very remote and secluded. Arrive in the morning, as tide covers it by mid-day.

Joatinga

It is located right by Costa Brava club, in the middle of the Joá highway (Rodovia Joa), linking São Conrado to Barra da Tijuca.

Praia Itapebussus in Rio das Ostras (3-4 hours by bus from Rio de Janeiro).

Recommended clean and very inexpensive place to stay in the area is Villa Mellancia, talk to Rosana Furman, or her mom (they love practicing Hebrew!).

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