Happy 450th Birthday Rio!

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Critical Divide

On 1 March 2015 the city of Rio de Janeiro celebrated the 450th anniversary of its founding. The date relates to the first time the Portuguese really made an effort to set up a colony in Rio after driving out the French.

The Portuguese Government had first ordered the Governor General of Brazil, Mem de Sá, then resident in Bahia, to expel the French colony in 1560. His fleet entered the harbour of Rio on 21 February 1560, and in just two days he had taken control of the settlement. His job done, Mem de Sá returned to Bahia but without taking the precaution of establishing his own garrison. With Mem de Sá’s departure, the French returned, this time to set up camp on the mainland close to what is today Catete.

It would not be until 1565 that the Portuguese returned to Rio under the command of the Governor General’s nephew, Estácio de Sá, who landed on 1 March of that year (the date of the 450th anniversary) just west of Sugar Loaf. A bitter two-year struggle then ensued with the French defeated by the arrival of Mem de Sá himself on 18 January 1567. Two days later, on 20 January, Estácio de Sá was mortally wounded by an Indian arrow while in combat with the French settlers and their native allies. With the death of his nephew, Mem de Sá moved the site of the new town to Morro do Castelo, an area in front of what is today Santos Dumont Airport.

For a full history of Rio de Janeiro CLICK HERE

Beija-Flor wins carnival 2015

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Critical Divide

Beija-Flor (the humming bird) is the champion samba school of Rio’s 2015 carnival with a samba that was based on the historic links between Equatorial Guinea and Brazil. It was one of three schools to choose Brazil’s relationship with Africa as its theme. Viradouro, which also chose Africa, came last and was relegated.

It is Beija-Flor’s 13^th carnival title, the first since 2011.

Salgueiro was runner up with a theme that looked at the tastes and customs of the neighbouring state of Minas Gerais, while in third came Grande Rio who had as its theme cards.

Grande Rio tied on points with Portela, which looked at 450 years of Rio surreal, and last year’s champion, Unidos da Tijuca, that had a theme based around Switzerland and one of the great characters of carnival, Clovis Bornay.

In a closely fought contest the full results were:

Beija-Flor (269.9 points out of 270)
Salgueiro (269.5)
Grande Rio (269.0)
Portela (269.0)
Unidos da Tijuca (269.0)
Imperatriz Leopoldinense (268.9)
Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel (268.5)
São Clemente (268.4)
União da Ilha do Governador (267.2)
Mangueira (267.1)
Unidos de Vila Isabel (266.2)
Viradouro (263.7)

Vinicius and Tom are the names chosen for Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic mascots

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Critical Divide

The Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots have been named. The Olympic mascot will be called Vinicius and the Paralympic mascot will be called Tom. The names were chosen by a public vote with 323, 327 votes cast.

The names, which received 44 per cent of valid votes, pay tribute to the great Brazilian musicians and composers Vinicius de Moraes and Tom Jobim. The duo were a key part of the group that created Bossa Nova. Together, Vinicius and Tom wrote The Girl from Ipanema, one of the most-played songs of all time, and many other bossa nova classics..

Vinicius and Tom were chosen ahead of the other two shortlisted pairs of names: Oba and Eba, and Tiba Tuque and Esquindim.

Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman said the public had chosen names that reflect the character of the Rio 2016 Games. “The names of Vinicius and Tom are recognised worldwide as a synonym for excellence, which is in line with what we want to achieve with the Rio 2016 Games,” he said. “In addition to representing the Brazilian fauna and flora, our mascots also connect to the best of our music. We are certain that they will be an inspiration to the youth.”

The origin of the Rio 2016 mascots blends fiction and reality. According to the “legend”, on 2 October 2009, when Rio de Janeiro was elected to host the Games, the great explosion of joy amongst Brazilians was felt by nature and from this energy the mascots were born.

Vinicius, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games mascot, represents all of the different animals in Brazil. He combines the agility of cats, the sway of monkeys and the grace of birds. He can stretch his arms and legs as much as he wants and has a very acute sense of smell and amazing powers of hearing.

Tom, the Paralympic mascot, is a fusion of plants found in Brazilian forests. He is energised by photosynthesis and can pull any object from his head of leaves. He is always growing and overcoming obstacles, and believes there is no challenge that cannot be solved.

2016 Olympic and Paralympic mascots unveiled in Rio

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Critical Divide

The Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots have been unveiled. Inspired by Brazil’s fauna and flora, the duo feature various pop culture influences, along with elements of animation and computer game characters.

“The Rio 2016 mascots represent the diversity of our culture, of our people,” said Beth Lula, the Rio 2016 brand director. “They represent our joy, our way of being. Both of them are magical creatures with super powers and relate naturally with the young audience, who we want to engage with our event so much.”

The Olympic mascot represents all of the different animals in Brazil. He combines the agility of cats, the sway of monkeys and the grace of birds. He can stretch his arms and legs as much as he wants. The Paralympic mascot is a fusion of plants found in Brazilian forests. He is energised by photosynthesis and can pull any object from his head of leaves. He is always growing and overcoming obstacles.

Both mascots have their own Facebook and Twitter profiles and share a special website with fun activities for kids.

“The mascots are one of the most important symbols of the Games because they create an emotional link with the public, especially children, and are genuine ambassadors for the event,” added Lula.

What is not known yet, is their names. A poll is already open and the public can vote for their choice from a shortlist of three pairs of names: one for the Olympic mascot, the other for the Paralympic mascot, respectively. The choices are Oba and Eba, Tiba Tuque and Esquindim, and Vinicius and Tom. You can find out more about these names, and vote for your choice by Clicking Here The winning names will be announced on 14 December 2014.

The mascots were created by Birdo Produções, a São Paulo-based design and animation company that has won numerous international awards.

Brazil’s 50 top restaurants

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Critical Divide

To mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of the Brazil Guide in the Guia Quadro Rodas series, the publisher, Abril, has come up with a list of what it considers to be the 50 top restaurants in Brazil for 2015.

Nearly half, or 24 in total, are located in São Paulo, and eight are in Rio, but the list does cover the country from north to south.

1 – D.O.M. / São Paulo – SP

Rua Barão de Capanema, 549 – Cerqueira César

(11) 3088-0761

2 – MANÍ / São Paulo – SP

Rua Joaquim Antunes, 210 – Jardim Paulistano

(11) 3085-4148

3 –  FASANO / São Paulo – SP

Rua Vitório Fasano, 88 – Cerqueira César

(11) 3062-4000

4 – ROBERTA SUDBRACK / Rio de Janeiro – RJ

Avenida Lineu de Paula Machado, 916 – Jardim Botânico

(21) 3874-0139

5 - DUE CUOCHI CUCINA ITAIM / São Paulo – SP

Rua Manuel Guedes, 93 – Itaim Bibi

(11) 3078-8092

6 – TRE BICCHIERI / São Paulo – SP

Rua General Mena Barreto, 765 – Itaim Bibi

(11) 3885-4004

7 – MAHALO / Cuiabá – MT

Rua Pres. Castello Branco, 359 – Quilombo

(65) 3028-7700

8 –  FASANO AL MARE / Rio de Janeiro – RJ

Avenida Vieira Souto, 80 – Ipanema

(21) 3202-4030

9 – FLORIANO SPIESS COZINHA DE AUTOR / Porto Alegre – RS

Praça do Japão, 155 – Bela Vista

(51) 3237-7601

10 – EPICE / São Paulo – SP

Rua Haddock Lobo, 1002 – Cerqueira César

(11) 3062-0866

11 –  SKYE / São Paulo – SP

Avenida Brigadeiro Luís Antônio, 4700 – Jardim Paulista

(11) 3055-4702

12 – A BELA SINTRA / São Paulo – SP

Rua Bela Cintra, 2325 – Jardim Paulista

(11) 3891-1090

13 – ORO / Rio de Janeiro – RJ

Rua Frei Leandro, 20 – Jardim Botânico

(21) 2266-7591

14 – OLYMPE / Rio de Janeiro – RJ

Rua Custódio Serrão, 62 – Jardim Botânico

(21) 2539-4542

15 –  TRATTORIA / São Paulo – SP

Rua Iguatemi, s/n – Itaim Bibi

(11) 3167-3322

16 – DUE CUOCHI CUCINA SHOPPING CIDADE JARDIM / São Paulo – SP

Shopping Cidade Jardim – Avenida Magalhães de Castro, 12000 – Cidade Jardim

(11) 3758-2731

17 –  DUE CUOCHI CUCINA MORUMBI / São Paulo – SP

Morumbi Corporate – Henri Dunant, 1383, – Sto. Amaro

(11) 3957-9580

18 – GERO / São Paulo – SP

Rua Haddock Lobo, 1629 – Cerqueira César

(11) 3064-0005

19 – AMADEUS / São Paulo – SP

Rua Haddock Lobo, 807 – Cerqueira César

(11) 3061-2859

20 – ATTIMO / São Paulo – SP

Rua Diogo Jácome, 341 – Vila Nova Conceição

(11) 5054-9999

21 –  LE BATEAU IVRE / Porto Alegre – RS

Rua Tito Lívio Zambecari, 805 – Mont Serrat

(51) 3330-7351

22 – KINOSHITA / São Paulo – SP

Rua Jacques Félix, 405 – Vila Nova Conceição

(11) 3849-6940

23 –  JUN SAKAMOTO / São Paulo – SP

Rua Lisboa, 55 – Pinheiros

(11) 3088-6019

24 – VECCHIO TORINO / São Paulo – SP

Rua Tavares Cabral, 119 – Pinheiros

(11) 3816-0592

25 – VECCHIO SOGNO / Belo Horizonte – MG

Rua Martim de Carvalho, 75 – Santo Agostinho

(31) 3292-5251

26 –  ICI BISTRÔ / São Paulo – SP

Rua Pará, 36 – Higienópolis

(11) 3259-6896

27 – GIRARROSTO / São Paulo – SP

Avenida Cidade Jardim, 56 – Jardim Europa

(11) 3062-6000

28 – DONA IRENE / Teresópolis – RJ

Rua Ten. Luís Meireles, 1800 – Bom Retiro

(21) 2742-2901

29 – PARIGI / São Paulo – SP

Rua Amauri, 275 – Itaim Bibi

(11) 3167-1575

30 – ANTIQUARIUS / Rio de Janeiro – RJ

Rua Aristides Espínola, 19 – Leblon

(21) 2294-1049

31 – MOCOTÓ / São Paulo – SP

Avenida Nossa Senhora do Loreto, 1100 – Vila Medeiros

(11) 2951-3056

32 – GUARAMARE / Guarapari – ES

Avenida Meaípe, 716 – Enseada Azul) – 7 km

(27) 3272-1300

33 – REMANSO DO BOSQUE / Belém – PA

Avenida Rômulo Maiorana, 2350 – Marco

(91) 3347-2829

34 – ANGATU / Tiradentes – MG

Rua Santíssima Trindade, 81 – Santíssima Trindade

(32) 3355-1391

35 –  FLOR DE SAL BISTRÔ / Ribeirão Preto – SP

Rua Floriano Peixoto, 1463 – Boulevard

(16) 3421-4963

36 –  DALÍ CAMÕES / Brasília – DF

Setor Hoteleiro Sul, Qd. 6, Bl. B (Hotel Brasil 21 Convention)

(61) 3039-8156

37 – PROVENCE COTTAGE & BISTRÔ / Monte Verde – MG

Rua Cedrus Libani, 384 – Centro

(35) 3438-1467

38 – ESQUINA MOCOTÓ / São Paulo – SP

Avenida Nossa Senhora do Loreto, 1108 – Vila Medeiros

(11) 2949-7049

39 – TRINDADE / Belo Horizonte – MG

Rua Alvarenga Peixoto, 388 – Lourdes

(31) 2512-4479

40 – SUR / Maceió – AL

Rua Professora Maria Esther da Costa Barros, 306 – Stella Maris

(82) 9808-9090

41 –  LASAI / Rio de Janeiro – RJ

Rua Conde de Irajá, 191 – Botafogo

(21) 3449-1834

42 – WIELLA BISTRÔ / Recife – PE

Shopping da Decoração – Avenida Engenheiro Domingos Ferreira, 1274, – Boa Viagem

(81) 3463-3108

43 –  KITANDA BRASIL / Tiradentes – MG

Rua Padroeiro Santo Antônio, 240 – Cascalho

(32) 3355-1560

44 –  TAYPÁ / Brasília – DF

Setor de Habitações Individuais Sul, Quadra 17, Shopping Fashion Park – Lago Sul

(61) 3248-0403

45 –  IRAJÁ / Rio de Janeiro – RJ

Rua Comandante de Irajá, 109 – Botafogo

(21) 2246-1395

46 – LE PRÉ-CATELAN / Rio de Janeiro – RJ

Avenida Atlântica, 4240, Nível E – Copacabana

(21) 2525-1160

47 – GLOUTON / Belo Horizonte – MG

Rua Bárbara Heliodora, 59 – Lourdes

(31) 3292-4237

48 –  ARTURITO / São Paulo – SP

Rua Artur de Azevedo, 542 – Pinheiros

(11) 3063-4951

49 – PONTE NOVA / Recife – PE

Rua do Cupim, 172 – Graças

(81) 3327-7226

50 – CHEF VIVI / São Paulo – SP

Rua Girassol, 833 – Vila Madalena

(11) 3031-0079

More athletes book their spot in Rio for 2016

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Critical Divide

In recent weeks the USA women’s basketball team has booked its place at the Rio Olympics alongside the USA men’s team. Both won their respective world championships.

Also through are the Colombia women’s football team who qualified by coming second to Brazil in the Copa America. The women’s football tournament at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be contested by 12 teams. In addition to Brazil and Colombia, there will be three European teams, two from Africa, two from Asia, two from North and Central America and one from Oceania. Places will be allocated according to the results of continental qualifying competitions.

The first two hockey teams have also won their places at the Rio Olympic Games, with India’s men and the Republic of Korea’s women confirming their berths by winning the gold medals at the recent Asian Games, in Incheon, the Republic of Korea.

The men’s and women’s hockey tournaments will each feature 12 teams. Five berths in each gender will be obtained through continental tournaments, such as the Asian Games, while six will be won through the 2014/2015 Hockey World League. The 12th spots are reserved for Brazil if the host nation’s teams achieve performance criteria set by the International Hockey Federation.

Five more countries have confirmed their places in the shooting competition following the world championships when 27 nations booked their spots. The Shooting Championship of the Americas, held in Guadalajara, México, has confirmed a further 11 places. Cuba claimed the largest number of berths by winning five events, while the USA took three spots. The Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Ecuador won one place each.

China was top of the shots at 51st International Shooting Sport Federation World Championship in September 2014, winning nine berths for the first Olympic Games in South America. Germany, the Republic of Korea, Italy and Russia each claimed five spots, while France and Slovakia secured three places.

The other nations to win places at Rio 2016 were Australia, Belarus, Spain, USA, Great Britain, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine and Vietnam (two each), Bulgaria, Chinese Taipei, People’s Democratic Republic of Korea, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Slovenia, Hungary, India, Czech Republic and Turkey.

Sailing has delivered the largest bulk of Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers yet, as 138 places – more than half of the sport’s total for the event – were won at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander, Spain.

New Zealand, Great Britain and France finished as the top-performing nations, all claiming berths in each of the 10 Olympic classes. A total of 39 countries won places in Brazil.

The other 36 nations that won Rio 2016 places were: Denmark (7), the Netherlands (7), Italy (7), Australia (6), Spain (5), the USA (5), Russia (5), Sweden (5), Austria (4), China (4), Croatia (4), Finland (4), Norway (4), Germany (3), Ireland (3), Japan (3), Poland (3), Portugal (2), Lithuania (2), Israel (2), Argentina (2), Cyprus (2), Belgium (2), Canada (2), Slovenia (2), Greece (2), Switzerland (2), Belarus, Estonia, Guatemala, Hungary, the Virgin Islands, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Singapore and Tunisia.

In total, 274 boats will compete in Guanabara Bay at the Olympic Games. In addition to the 138 that qualified in Santander, a further 47 will win their places at the 2015 world championships and 75 at continental qualifiers held in 2015 and 2016. Brazil will be allocated 10 places and the remaining four spots will be by invitation by the International Sailing Federation.

Rio’s best restaurants in 2014

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Critical Divide

Weekly news magazine, Veja, has published its annual list of the best restaurants and bars in Rio de Janiero. The choice is made both by a specially chosen jury of experts as well as the votes of the readers of Veja Rio.

Here is Veja’s selection with the official jury choice listed first, and the public’s choice second. You will note they do not always agree!

RESTAURANTS

Asian: Mee / Sawasdee Bistrô

Brazilian: Roberta Sudbrack / Aprazível (photo)

Buffet: Celeiro / Ráscal

Cheap and Cheerful: Botequim / Gutessen Café e Restaurante

Contemporary: Laguiole / Quadrucci

Dessert: Oro / Demi-glace

French: Olympe (photo) / CT Brasserie

Italian: Gero / CT Trattorie

Japanese: Sushi Leblon / Manekineko

Meat: Giuseppe Grill / Outback Steakhouse

Meat – Barbecue Rodízio: Fogo de Chão / Fogo de Chão

Pizza: Capricciosa / Bráz

Seadfood: Satyricon / Satyricon

Special set Menu: Irajá / Irajá

Also voted for were:

Chef of the Year: Pedro de Artagão (Irajá) / Claude Troisgros (Olympe, CT Boucherie, CT Trattorie, CT Brassserie)

Upcoming Chef: Rafael Costa e Silva, (Lasai) / Fred Barroso (Le Vin Bistrô)

Restaurateur of the Year: Marcelo Torres (Best Fork) / Claude Troisgros (Grupo Troisgros)

Cecília Aldaz, of Oro was voted sommelier of the year; Aprazível had the best wine list; Bazzar was elected best wine bar; and the best wine store was Mistral.

BARS

Balcony / Stand Up: Adega Pérola / Adega Pérola

Beer / Chope: Botto Bar / Botto Bar (photo)

Beer List: Delirium / Aconchego Carioca

“Bolinhos”: Aconchego Carioca / Aconchego Carioca

Boteco: Momo / Aconchego Carioca

Drinks List: Paris Bar / Complex Esquina 111

Food: Cachambeer / Adelos

Gastrobar: Pipo / Complex Esquina 111

For couples: Bar Veloso /Complex Esquina 111

Music: Godofredo Rio / Botto Bar

View: Bar do Alto / Bar Urca (photo)

FOOD

Bread: La Bicyclette / Boulangerie Guerin

Breakfast: Empório Jardim / Empório Jardim

“Brigadeiro” (sweets): Fabiana D’Angelo / Colher de Pau

Cake: Café Sorelle / The Bakers

Chocolate: Q / Kopenhagen

“Coxinha” (croquettes): Da Gema / Confeitaria Colombo (photo)

Éclair: Guerin / Kurt

Hamburger: Comuna / Reserva T.T. Burger

Ice Cream: Vero / Venchi

Juices: Jaeé / BB Lanches

Rio 2016 announces ticket prices for Olympic Games

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Critical Divide

Ticket prices for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games have been announced – and more than half of them will be sold at accessible prices in order to ensure that the event is open to everyone. About 7.5 million tickets will be issued and approximately 3.8 million of these will be available for 70 Brazilian reais (US$30) or less. For the price ranges (in Brazilian reais) for all sports and ceremonies CLICK HERE. Or click on the images below.

Currently (16 September), R$10 is worth about US$4.30, €3.30 or £2.60.

There will be tickets for 717 sports sessions, covering all 28 Olympic sports, plus the opening and closing ceremonies. The range of prices the organizers say is designed to make tickets as affordable as possible, with the goal of ensuring that the local Brazilian population has the opportunity to attend events. The cheapest ticket will be priced at 40 Brazilian reais (less than US$20).

The full Rio 2016 Olympic Games Ticket Sales Programme will be unveiled in November 2014, along with the competition schedule and details on how the public can buy tickets.
The next step on the spectator’s journey towards participating in the first Olympic Games to be staged in South America will come in November. Fans from all over the world will be able to register on the ticket sales website and indicate which sports are of interest to them. They will then receive tailored news and information on these sports and athletes, as well as other events around the Games, as anticipation builds towards 2016.

Brazilian residents will be able to enter the first of two draws for tickets in March 2015. Non-Brazilian residents will be able to apply to buy tickets in their own territories in the first half of 2015 (details will be announced on the ticket sales website at a later date) and then again in January 2016, in the worldwide first-come-first-served online sales phase.

Rio Olympic Village takes shape

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Critical Divide

As these photos show, the Olympic Village for the 2106 Olympic and Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro is starting to take shape.

The Village is being built on what was the city’s motor racing circuit in Barra da Tijuca (top photo). The circuit held its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1978, and then held the Brazilian Grand Prix every year between 1981 and 1990.

The new space will not only house the athletes village but also a number of the sports.