Brasil
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
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 PortugueseMusic 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.
Food
culinary backstreets (Rio food blog). 2 of our favorite eateries reviewed there: Adega Pérola (Portuguese) and Tacacá do Norte (Amazonian)
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.
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!).
Praia do Santo Antonio, Ilha Grande (3 hours from Rio + ferry).
Hip(ster) hotel in the jungle (Atlantic rainforest), the most exotic room has no walls – you sleep in the mosquito net. Recommended.
Beaches near Paraty (The Rio Times, 2017)
Map of Brazil by Rio for Partiers:
Miscellaneous
Burle Marx, UNESCO-recognized beautiful park 1 hour south of the city
Rio Gringa blog
Rio 101, Moon guide.
Map of the center, Moon guide.
Diving in the city
São Paulo
Time Out Sao Paulo, in English
Total Sao Paulo – locally produced English language city guide
desmonta – experimental music listings
LEARNING PORTUGUESE
Semantica Portuguese (Learn Portuguese with videos of real-life situations)
Ticún Brasil 