The Brazilian Millionaire of Breakfast at Tiffany's

Spanish actor Jose Luis de Villalonga, who appeared in over 60 movies including the 1961 classic "Breakfast at Tiffany's" has died yesterday at his home on the island of Mallorca. He was 87.

He played character Jose da Silva Pereira, the suave Brazilian millionaire, paramour of Audrey Hepburn's unforgettable Holly Golightly. Born into an aristocratic family in Madrid on January 9, 1920, Villalonga was also an accomplished author and journalist. Among his books is a respected biography of Spanish King Juan Carlos and another of interviews with Fellini. In Paris he worked for magazines like Paris Match, Vogue and Marie Claire and developed a reputation as a playboy amongst the jet-set crowd he belonged to. After he returned to Spain following Franco's death in 1975, Villalonga he worked for various media outlets including the Spanish version of adult entertainment magazine Playboy.
In Brazil, "Breakfast at Tiffany's", directed by Blake Edwards, was retitled "Bonequinha de Luxo" or roughly "Luxury Dolly".

Religion & Politics vs Artistic Freedom or Bin Laden as Jesus

In the 56 years since it was first awarded, the Blake Prize for Religious Art, In Sydney Australia, has not been noted for controversy. But this year's entries for the coveted £6,000 award have caused a chorus of outrage from Christians and Muslims alike. They include a portrait of Osama Bin Laden which, viewed from an angle, morphs into an image of Christ. And just for good measure there is a figure of the Virgin Mary, hands clasped in prayer, with an Islamic burqa concealing her upper body apart from the eyes.
While such exhibits might merely cause raised eyebrows if entered for Britain's always-controversial Turner Prize, the decision to place them on show at the National Art School in Sydney has caused deep upset in Australia, whose 20million population is predominantly Christian.
"The choice of such artwork is gratuitously offensive to the religious beliefs of many Australians," said Prime Minister John Howard. And Labour Opposition leader Kevin Rudd said: "I accept people can have artistic freedom, but I find this painting off, off in the extreme. I understand how people would be offended by it." Glynis Quinlan, spokesman for the Australian Christian Lobby, said: "It's really unfortunate that people take liberties with the Christian faith that they wouldn't dare take with other religions." She described the Bin Laden/Jesus picture as a "big mistake", adding: "Jesus brought a message of love and forgiveness that has nothing to do with terrorism."

Sydney artist Luke Sullivan, creator of the Virgin Mary entry, entitled "The Fourth Secret of Fatima", said his work was intended to pose the question of what was the future of religion.
Queensland lawyer Priscilla Bracks, who painted the Bin Laden portrait entitled "Bearded Orientals: Making the Empire Cross", said it was not meant to compare Jesus to the terror leader but was a commentary on the way Bin Laden had been treated in the media. She was concerned, she said, that Bin Laden would be unintentionally glorified in years to come.

In an astonishing defence, the chairman of the Blake Society, the Rev Rod Pattenden, denied that they were likely to cause harm because "the Christian community doesn't look at art a great deal". (!?)

As always, politicians being politicians. If a controversial subject is on the table (religion, gay weddings, abortion) it's always safer to play conservative and guarantee future votes.

The Blake Prize @ The National Art School in Sydney, via The Daily Mail.

Ultra Nate @ The Week Rio

The Baltimore-native singer Ultra Nate will be performing at Rio de Janeiro's new mega club The Week tomorrow night, Saturday September 01. She will be singing tracks from her 5Th album "Grime, Silk & Thunder". Her new single "Automatic" is a cover from the 1984 Pointer Sisters dance smash hit. The original song reached #5 in the Billboard charts by the way. Ultra is known for her huge dance-floor classics like "Free", "Found a Cure", "Joy" and "Desire", and anyone that has been to a decent club in the 16 years will recognize them within the first accords.

To watch the steamy homoerotic promo video (that you won't see at your local MTV), with a cameo of a very Leigh Bowery-looking being, click here.

A Cena Muda - Ipanema, Rio

This is "A Cena Muda", a vintage magazine news stand near General Osorio Square, in Ipanema neighborhood, here in Rio. I've always admired all the murals that are painted around the whole kiosk, though they are no longer in tip-top shape. The designs are a bit Dali-esque, specially the fish-headed being on the first image. "A Cena Muda", that opened in late 2003, specializes in magazines from the 19th century all the way up to the 1970's, but they also sell vintage post cards, period trading-cards and movie star photographs. There you will find 1940's Vogues, 1960's Playboys and hundreds of mid-century Brazilian publications like "O Cruzeiro" and "Manchete". They also publish reprints of Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Zefiro's erotic work, that was sold underground in the 50's-60's because of it's explicit and graphic nature. Their display windows are quite good too with thematic tableaux of magazine groupings of a single theme. During the Pan American Games in July they had all old Pele covers in their display. Earlier in the year it was all Chico Buarque's youth that adorned it's window. Their current window display is vintage girlie magazines grouped with naked Barbie dolls! Love it!

I read somewhere that they might be relocating in the next month or so, to a different spot in Ipanema. If so, I will let you know.

Bandage of the Heart

"The bandage is a universal sign of injury and healing. When worn over the heart, it can be a declaration of personal loss that is on the mend. More so, the "Bandage for the Heart" can be a declaration of support, for victims, casualties and survivals of tragedy. It can be given, as a "badge of honor", to those that have made it through hard times, or to the heroes among us who helped to guide them through."

By Alyssa Dee Krauss, a RISD graduate jewelry designer & artist. Available at her website, US$250.00 for the sterling silver/stainless steel/garnet version and US$1,100.00 for the 18 Karat gold/garnet version. Each bandage comes presented in it's own gauze wrapping.

Theo Fennell @ Royal Academy of Art

One of Britain’s most revered jewellers, Theo Fennell, is hosting an exhibition by arrangement with the Royal Academy of Art in London this September. The title of the exhibition is "Show Off!" and will consist of installations, dioramas, paintings, presentations and sculptures each showcasing a piece of Fennell’s jewellery.
The idea behind the exhibition is to herald a return to the halcyon days of jewellery, when our hardware was less status symbol or fashion tag and more precious, perennial and personal. Advocating jewellery and silverware made with skill and traditional craftsmanship, Fennell has conjured-up a series of extraordinary vignettes, both thought provoking and amusing and all the while, driving home the timeless qualities and attitudes our forebears felt about jewellery.
Fennell explains his venture:

‘So much jewellery nowadays is badly conceived and made – be it huge, expensive stones strung thoughtlessly together or ‘branded’ gee-gaws put together with no heart. I wanted to show that great craftsmanship is still alive and thriving and, if combined with emotion and design, jewellery can be something magical and engaging; something talismanic and precious to its owner in a lasting way, not at the ephemeral whim of fashion: it can be truly owned.’

Via Wallpaper.

Chic Wine Bottle @ MOMA Design Shop

A unique gift for the wine enthusiast, this bottle with a wine glass inside is meticulously hand crafted. It's mouth-blown in Romania from a single piece of glass, making no two identical.

Very simple and classical in design, with no color or patterns to distract from the silhouette.

Designed by Claudio Colucci. Available at the MOMA design shop for US$95.00. Love it!

Pitty Does Rihanna - Umbrella

Brazilian singer Pitty covers Rihanna's smash hit "Umbrella" at a live concert in Sorocaba, SP. Pitty adds in her rock'n'roll-chick attitude and does not disappoint! I find her very cool and love her overall attitude. She hails from Bahia, a place that has been producing Brazilian music deities for decades. She goes against the grain by not singing axe or regional folk stuff. Her musical style, and looks, have a much harder edge than the hippie-dippy Bahian vibe. Check out her official site too, great web design! Loved it!

Most Anticipated Murder in Brazil

Tonight Brazil will be tuned in on TV Globo's prime time soap "Paraiso Tropical" to watch the death of evil twin Tais, portrayed by the great Alessandra Negrini. Tais is the villainess that antagonizes the life of her twin sister Paula, and everyone else's that crosses her path in the popular soap. She has lied, stolen, murdered and kidnapped throughout the past months and many characters have plenty of reasons to do her off. She will be murdered tonight but the culprit will only be announced by month's end when "Paraiso Tropical" wraps up.

She will be found dead on the kitchen floor of her sister's apartment, with the stove's gas turned on. She goes in there to try to steal her sister's passport trying to flee the country but the safe's combination has been changed. Then the door bell rings! She peeks through the peep-hole and recognizing the person, and having no other alternative, lets him/her in. That's the end for the deceiving bitch. I'll keep you posted about this saga's end in the upcoming weeks.

Bush - A Pornographic Portrait in History

Artist Jonathen Yeo has created a collage portrait of US President George W. Bush by cutting up porn magazines. The Bush portrait, currently on display in London, has attracted the wrath of Republicans.

British artist Jonathan Yeo had every reason to be offended. The Bush Library in Texas had yet again rescinded a commission it had given him to paint a portrait of United States President George W. Bush. In the end, though, the artist decided to go ahead with his artistic portrayal of the 43rd president, even if he wasn't getting paid for it -- and created a portrait of Bush using a collage of pornographic images.
The tribute has not gone over well with Bush's supporters. A spokesman for Republicans Abroad International described the portrait as a "cheap stunt" in an interview with the British tabloid The Sun. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Republican Party in Bush's home state of Texas didn't find much humor in the portrait either. "This picture is very distasteful," he told the paper, adding angrily, "Why would anyone want to make a picture of our president from pornographic material?"

For his part, artist Yeo has reacted calmly to the furore over the smutty visage. "I did it for fun, not to offend," he told the paper, adding that he was "pleased with it."
The artwork, titled "Bush 2007," is currently being shown as part of an exhibition at London's Lazarides Gallery and is available in a limited edition run of 150 prints, each measuring 86 by 56 centimeters. Via Spiegel Online.

Ivete Sangalo's Latin GRAMMY Nominations

The 8TH Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be presented on October 08TH in Las Vegas and Brazilian Singer Ivete Sangalo has 3 reasons to be proud. She has received 3 nominations on this year's awards, 2 out of 8 specifically created for the Portuguese language. There are 49 categories in total. These are her bids:

Best Brazilian Contemporary Pop album for "Ivete no Maracanã - Multishow ao Vivo"

Best Brazilian Song for "Berimbau Metalizado"

Best Long Form Music Video for "Ivete no Maracanã - Multishow ao Vivo"

On the last nomination she will be competing with fellow Brazilian artist Chico Buarque and international Puerto Rican pop sensation Ricky Martin. Many other Brazilian artists are also on the run for "the golden gramophones" like Daniela Mercury, Gal Costa, Mart'nalia and Caetano Veloso in remainder categories. For a complete list click here.

Kehinde Wiley @ Cerealart

Kehinde Wiley is best known for his paintings which reference specific works by Titian and Tiepolo. He also incorporates into his paintings a range of art historical and vernacular styles, from the French Rococo to the contemporary urban street. Wiley describes his approach as 'interrogating the notion of the master painter, at once critical and complicit.' He makes figurative paintings that quote historical sources and position young black men within that field of power. His figures, sometimes larger than life size, are depicted in poses of power and spiritual awakening. For his limited edition busts Wiley puts his own spin on sacred and secular themes of the Renaissance and Baroque, giving new meaning to codes of gesture and dress, and provoking a reconsideration of stereotypes about masculinity, race and class in our society today.
The first bust is a Bernini-influenced, Baroque-style work positioning a young man dressed in contemporary urban street attire styled as a 17th-century monarch. The second portrays a strong, athletic young man dressed in street attire, holding a book, sceptre and a cognac bottle.
Available at Cerealart, from US$ 1,200-1,400, cast marble dust and resin, editions of 250 each.

(Click images to enlarge)

My birthday is still a few months away but add that to my wish list please!

Damien Hirst's $100 Million Dollar Skull

UK's wealthiest artist, Damien Hirst, has found a buyer for his US$100 million diamond encrusted skull sculpture that had been on the market since early June. "For the Love of God" is a life-size cast of a human skull in platinum and covered by 8,601 pave-set diamonds weighing 1,106.18 carats. The single large diamond in the middle of the forehead is reportedly worth US$4.2 million alone. Hirst financed the project himself, and estimates it cost between 10 and 15 million. Hirst has had a good record in the past with sales of his controversial conceptual artwork. One of his most iconic pieces, the shark-in-a-tank piece "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" (1991) sold in 2004 for a reported £7 million.
I find Hirst's work very intriguing and fascinating. I had visited the original Saatchi Gallery in London a few years back when most of the "Sensation" artwork was still together under the same roof. I remember vividly his "pickled" pieces and they were thought-provoking even if you didn't care for conceptual art. His work deals with issues of life and death and I saw beauty and serenity in the same pieces that many found gross or ridiculous. Most of the pieces, that had been acquired for "pennies" before the artists became art-world stars, were sold off and a new gallery is scheduled to open in November 2007.

New Look

Just updated the blog to a cleaner layout. It was getting too busy for my taste, too many colors and graphics. I tend to be a "maximalist" at heart but I felt I had to edit down here a bit. This is a work in progress and the blog's look might change a bit still but the content will stay the same. All fluff! ;-)
My best,

M.

Road Trip - (Part 3) - South Of The Border

This is the final chapter of my road trip saga and it will be dedicated to a roadside "distraction" called South of The Border. On day-two of my driving drama, as I left lovely Emporia, VA on the wee hours of the morning (actually 8 AM), I kept seeing these colorful billboards mile after mile on I-95 South. I must have driven by 40 of them at least, no exaggeration. They were all very colorful, with a sassy sombrero-wearing Mexican cartoon guy as mascot, announcing different attractions for this place that I couldn't make out what it was. The signs were done in 1950's style and would state: "(Miniature golf, Camping, Barbecue, Arcade, Accommodations, etc) at South of The Border, in (50, 47, 44, 41, etc) miles!" What was it? I thought it was an amusement park at first, then a restaurant, but how come they had EVERYTHING there!? I just had to check it out as I very intrigued and already fascinated by the Mexican dude. I could tell the place had to be very kitschy and camp by the way the ads were done. I love all that Americana stuff and was dieing to buy a T-shirt or a souvenir there.

SoTB is located in Dilon, South Carolina, a 350 acre roadside attraction with 20 shops, 6 theme restaurants, a motel, 2 gas stations, convention center and dozens of really weird concrete statues, including a collection of Pedros, the cartoon mascot with the sombrero. The statues were amazingly odd, but in a cool I-wanna-hug-you way. It was mix of dinosaurs, flamingos, African animals, giant golf balls and sea creatures. And some were done as a blue rhinoceros or a green horned-rabbit, not much connection to reality. Love that stuff! I was only disappointed by the shops that missed their niche clientele (me) as the stuff they sold was not too cool. They need a good graphic artist to design some hip T-shirts and some take-me-home tchotchka. I found a cool Pedro coin bank but at $15.00 or so was not worth the price. They also had a pet-rest room, a fenced in area with a mock dog house, for the puppies. As Booboo was with me he got to enjoy the stop as well. It was still early in the day and the place was not mobbed yet so I got to walk around and take some pictures. I wished I had more time to explore but I still had many more hours driving to get to Miami and had to leave.

By the way, there are 175 billboards in total, from Philadelphia all the way to Daytona, Fl passing through Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. There is no way you'd miss them on the road!

Road Trip (part 1) and (part 2) can be found here.

Dita Von Teese @ Harper's Bazaar Nippon

She did it again! Burlesque Goddess Dita Von Teese is the cover girl for Japanese Harper's Bazaar September issue and she's prettier than ever. She is a vision of beauty and grace throughout the spread and I just get deeper & deeper in love with her!!

Von Teese is also a M.A.C. cosmetics Viva Glam spokes person, along Debbie Harry, Eve and Lisa Marie Presley. Dita, you are HOT!!

Marc Jacobs - Guest Editor @ Visionaire

Louis Vuitton lovers will have a unique temptation this fall. The next issue of Visionaire magazine will be guest edited by Marc Jacobs. The issue will feature photos of the famously fashionable (Drew Barrymore, Selma Blair, Lil' Kim, Scarlett Johansson, Stephanie Seymour, Gisele Bündchen et al.) by noted fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. The biggest draw for the 192-page edition will probably be that it comes in a limited-edition Louis Vuitton gold Monogram Miroir case. You can get yours starting October 1 for US$375.00

Via The Luxist.

Bar Do Pirata - Downtown Rio

This small dive, or botequim as we say here, is located on Rua do Ouvidor, near Rua do Comercio's corner in downtown Rio. Every time I walk around the city center I come across small hidden treasures like Bar do Pirata. I love all the murals and attention to detail that one can find even in a hole in-the-wall place like this. The bar is minuscule but even so somewhat tidy and organized. The owner told me that people ask to take pictures in there all the time and welcomed my request on the spot. Love the mix of religious & superstition icons on the top shelf (click to enlarge). Not too sure what the half filled champagne glass does but it probably wards off evil eye or brings good fortune. The clenched fist is called a figa and used as a protection tool as well.

The New Collectibles @ The New York Times

This chunky citrine and white gold ring is by paulista designer Simone Coste. She carves Brazilian stones into one-of-a-kind wearable sculptures.

Ring $4,545. At Barneys New York.

The blue rooster-feather cuff, $2,310, is from the Louis Vuitton runway show.

All photos by Jens Mortensen. To view more images from The New York Times click here.

Banshee Girl @ New York Times

"Channeling Siouxie Sioux in Punk Neon and Leather".

Via The New York Times Sunday magazine.

All photos by Alexei Hay. Fashion editor: Anne Christensen.

For credits click here.

I LOVE the green mohair sweater by Gaultier!!!

Le Freak, C'est Chic @ New York Times

"Mutant materials offer creature conforts". Via The New York Times Sunday magazine. All photos by Matthias Vriens. Fashion editor: Elisabeth Stewart. For fashion credits go here.

To view larger images just click on the pics.

Dita Von Teese Does Italy

The always-flawless Dita Von Teese continued her reign on Sunday as the hottest broad at the 8Th annual Summer Jamboree Festival in Senigillia, Italy. What better place for the ex-Mrs Marilyn Manson than that? The retro festival that takes place yearly, was held in Senigallia, Italy and featured performances from swing and 40s style bands. The Burlesque queen looked like she could have stepped straight of the screen from a 40s movie and was truly beautiful, with her make-up flawless as usual, a hairstyle that screamed Betty Grable and her chic black outfit was very 40s femme fatale. Later in the night Dita got right into the spirit of the Jamboree and danced with some Italian locals.

Senigallia revisits 1950s America during this week-long festival. More than 30 free concerts and 100 artists, dance classes and a huge Hawaiian-style party on the beach attract a lively crowd every year. In 2007 the line-up included besides Von Teese, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others.

Who would want to look like Paris/Britney/Lindsay when there is Dita to emulate??

Sandra Bernhard on Paris & Paula

Comedy Goddess and social commentator Sandra Bernhard has been a favorite of mine for many many years. She knows her stuff and isn't shy to say what she thinks. I had to post her two-cents on a few "celebrities" of the moment:

"You have to be like Paula Abdul and fall all over yourself and pretend you're strung out on something and behave like a freak. I've got too much dignity. I mean, how much fame do your really need? I mean when Paris Hilton and all these sorts of people can be famous now? I don't think it's necessary."

Broke Back Rant in "Knocked Up"

Hillarious rant on "Brokeback Mountain" in the movie "Knocked Up". Too good not to share!

Matell Sues Over Porno-Barbie

Toy maker Mattel Inc. went to court last week to declare that the name of its clean-cut Barbie dolls doesn't belong on a "model's" pornographic Web site. In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Mattel said the Web site for an adult entertainer named China Barbie has tried to benefit from Mattel's success with the 48-year-old line of dolls. China Barbie's site says she's a "cordial young lady" who sat behind the desks of some of the world's leading investment banking firms and advertising agencies in New York before getting into porn. It says her filmography includes "Me Luv You Long Time," "Ethnic Cheerleaders 8" and "Passport to Paradise." The lawsuit said Global China Networks used a domain name containing the word "barbie" in a "bad faith attempt to profit from Mattel's Barbie trademarks" and had damaged Mattel's good name. Mattel wants the site shut down and US$100,000 in damages.

If they only knew the stuff I used to do to my sister's Barbies...

Dolores O'Riordan in Sao Paulo

Dolores O'Riordan, the unforgetable voice from The Cranberries, will be performing in Sao Paulo tomorrow August 28TH @ Via Funchal. The 35 year old Irish singer will be performing songs from her latest solo album "Are You Listening?" that came out this past May in Brazil. For tickets and info click here.

Pornochanchada - Brazilian Sexploitation Movies of the 70's

Pornochanchada is the name given to a genre of soft-core sexploitation films produced in Brazil that was popular during the 1970's dictatorship era. Its name combined pornô (porno) and chanchada (light comedy).
Pornochanchadas were generally in line with "sex comedies" produced in other countries, but also featured some Brazilian peculiarities. Actresses like Sonia Braga, Sandra Brea and Vera Fischer, to name a few, have appeared in many pornochanchadas in it's heyday. After the end of the pornochanchada era, they moved to soap operas and/or more mainstream genres of cinema. Some even became respected actresses!

In spite of strict censorship by the government at the time, since pornochanchadas were not critical of the government and did not depict explicit sex, state-run film company Embrafilme was usually eager to prop them. Producers became increasingly dependent on pornochanchadas to compete with American films and to guarantee immediate returns. With the prevalence of the genre, the term began to be indiscriminately applied to various types of films that focused on sexual relationships. Most Brazilian movies of the time were heavy on nudity and sex scenes, even if not publicized as pornochanchadas. By the mid-1980's, with the availability of hard-core porn through video-cassettes, the genre suffered a considerable decline. After the end of the military government in 1985, repressive measures on cinema were lifted, marking a virtual end for pornochanchada. I picked a few of my favorite posters to show here, but there were too many great ones to choose from, so I decided to do a "4-part series" on the subject. I will do weekly posts and share with "my readers" a little bit of this part of Brazilian culture sadly long gone.

Joao Pinheiro Sings Sade

I had the pleasure to watch the concert of Brazilian singer Joao Pinheiro this past Saturday night, along with my friend Ton Hyll, at the Horse's Neck Pub here in Rio. Joao's show was based on his CD of reinterpretations of the music of Nigerian Goddess Sade Adu. He infused Brazilian rythms like samba, xote, bossa nova and ciranda to construct a new identity to Sade's classic hits, to a pleasantly successful result. His versions of "Your Love is King" and "Smooth Operator" were quite touching, specially when night time Copacabana Beach is your window view. I was introduced to him during intermission and he is quite a nice guy too! You can hear a few of his songs at Joao's MySpace page and CDs are available here. Loved it!

Your Blog Tee

Reality check, anyone? That's how I feel after spending hours on end surfing the net looking for cool things to post. No funny comments on this one, OK? Available for US$22.00 @ One Horse Shy.

Britney, Mariah, Pete, Amy, Gwen & Homer

• Britney has a new song out. My ears are already bleeding!
  
• Mariah, put some clothes on! My eyes are bleeding too!
  
• Pete Doherty's cat tested positive for cocaine. Bad kitty!
  
• Amy, oh Amy... The future looks grim. Ditch that husband please, NOW!
  
• Gwen Stefani had to cover up the goods in Malaysia. Too much Harajuku showing.
  
• Saw the Simpson's movie. Sorry, didn't love it. I really wanted to...
  

Tom Ford by Terry Richardson

New Tom Ford ad by American photographer Terry Richardson. Not too sure in which media it will be seen but I have a hunch that bus stops and Good Housekeeping are out of the question.

Prada @ Neiman Marcus

Neiman Marcus first opened its doors on September 10, 1907 - that's 100 years of great shopping to celebrate. NM is doing so in typical style with exclusive offerings from their top designers, including handbags. Miuccia Prada marks the occasion with this classic clutch in a rich cherry leather. It's a simple fold-over with a magnetic snap closure and features a gold embossed luggage tag hanging from a slim leather strap. They are also available in nude or black leather, for US$995.00. For ordering or just dreaming click here.

In other pricey bags news, this is the newest & VERY exclusive Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork handbag, one of only 24 in the world and 5 in North America. We hear (tacky) Beyonce already has one. The first Tribute Patchwork was out in March 2007, and since then it's been making quite a (bad) name for itself. As one of the most expensive handbags in the world, the Tribute Patchwork has become this summer's ultimate fashion-victim status bag. Priced at US$52,500, or the price of a two-bedroom condo in Copacabana, it's made from choice parts of 14 other Louis Vuitton bags. It easily overshadows the competition... Ugly? No, FUGLY!

Favorite Classic Album Covers - Volume 1

What can I say? I'm a product of the 80's and that was the decade that produced some of the best music and original fashion in history, in my humble & biased opinion. These chicks here rocked! They were tough, talented and born with enough attitude to turn the "Britneys" of today into dust with a single glance of the eye. Annie, Pat, Joan and Nina are women you don't mess with and these album covers prove they were not here to play. These are just a few of my favorites and not the final list, as I have plenty more in storage. Suggestions will be gladly welcomed!

Cool Shop in Rio - Farm

Farm is a successful Brazilian women's wear label based in Rio and their new flagship store opened in Ipanema this past July, after months of renovations. The window-less space is divided in 3 floors of mirrored walls housing all their different lines, including their new home collection. Their changing rooms are equipped with MP3 players so you can choose your personal soundtrack as you try on your selections. They even have beach umbrellas & chairs for rent, as the shop is just 2 blocks from the sands of Ipanema Beach. You can also have your Havaianas sandals customized and eat some Biscoito Globo while waiting to pay at the counter. Farm started very small with a stand on Babilonia Feira Hype and they now own 8 stores in Rio de Janeiro alone. The architectural project, by Bel Lobo, is stunning and made me very intrigued to step in to take a look around. The giant metal mesh mimicking the weave of a wicker chair is amazingly beautiful and covers the whole front of the shop. By the way, Farm is meant to stand for Farme de Amoedo, a well known street in Ipanema and evoking of the carioca spirit.

Vintage Elevator @ CCC Rio

I was visiting an exposition this week at Centro Cultural dos Correios when I spotted this charming early-1920's working elevator. The show itself was pretty forgettable but this old lift was what kept me in awe and made my visit worthwhile. There is even an uniformed attendant to take you through the different floors, very old world. Unfortunately here in Brazil, specially in Rio, we are deprived of this type of cultural heritage as many old buildings were demolished to make way for "progress". Probably most Europeans wouldn't think much of it, specially in Paris where elevators like this are quite common, but I was delighted to find this beauty in my hometown.

Iguatemi Filme Fashion - Sao Paulo

The third edition of Iguatemi Filme Fashion started today in Sao Paulo, until August 30Th. The festival explores the relationship between fashion and movies, by featuring films that have been heavily influenced by fashion and style. We have to agree that a good costume designer can make an OK movie an instant classic, right? This year the festival will be divided in three segments. Brazilian Cinema, selecting 15 movies with outstanding wardrobes. There is also the Competitive Showing awarding Brazilian productions in 8 different categories and at last the Panorama Internacional, exhibiting the best of current fashion "in motion". These will definitely be the hottest tickets in the festival with showings of "Lagerfeld Confidential", "You Wear It Well" and a Bruce Weber retrospective with 4 movies, 6 shorts plus music videos & commercials. "You Wear It Well" will be a festival-within-the-festival, first shown in Los Angeles in 2006. The brain-child of fashion journalist Diane Pernet, it will include 18 short DVD movies directed by fashion elite like Jeremy Scott, Nick Knight, Ruben Toledo and Maison Martin Margiela. Little-Pumpkin's fave, Brazilian photographer Marcelo Krasilcic , will be showing two shorts there as well. Fashionistas get in line...NOW!

Jack Russell Pillow Cover @ The Conran Shop

This cool Jack Russell pillow cover is a cotton/rayon mix, woven in a tapestry-effect finish. I love the vintage look, something that my aunt would have needle-pointed for me when I was kid, and it's perfect for a hipster's bachelor pad. The size is 18"x18", made in France and available at Conran's for US$59.00, cushion not included. Wonder if they make these with pugs too...

Cool Shop in Rio - Addict

I love all the graphics and visual merchandising of carioca label Addict . It's shop is located near a very busy intersection of Baixo Leblon in Rio and I often walk by to admire it's look. They sell basically street-wear, inspired by skateboarding and graffiti art, along with cans of spray paint and cool toys. They have a slouchy casualness that appeals to hipsters & alternative types and it's the perfect option instead of the T-shirt/board-short combo so common in Rio. Besides this store front they also have a kiosk on Sao Conrado Fashion Mall.
Pay them a visit @ Rua Aristides Spindola, 64 Leblon.

Cool Signs - Hotel Verlaine, Rio

I just love this sign for Hotel Verlaine that I found in downtown Rio the other day. The mascot chick is clearly a working girl, no doubt about it. She is wearing a red mini dress, red pumps and a French-whore beret. She smokes her fags through a long cigarette holder and her heavy lidded eyes say it all: "Wanna a date big boy?" The sign claims "Maximum in Status", humm... The cherry on top is that this sign is the tip of a street lamp, right on the intersection of two streets in a bohemian neighborhood. Could it be more cliche? If Aunt Gladys and Uncle Vern were coming to Rio on vacation, the Hotel Verlaine would not be my first choice for accommodations, unless they want to experience a fun-filled, action-packed holiday.

Mark James @ Colette Paris

This limited edition of 99 pieces only is by UK artist Mark James and it's available at Colette in Paris, the coolest shop around. It's 7"5 tall and for 100 Euros you can take one home.
Mark James and his take on this toy:
If 99% is shit then what's the 1%?
"It's up to you, one mans shit is another mans gold. 99% is an observation on modern life. It's not a dig at the toy scene or any other scene as some people may think, it's about society as a whole, the obsession with useless celebrities, politics, tabloids, fast food, reality shows, I could go on, but generally 99% is shit! It can be taken as a positive or a negative message, I prefer the positive, once you except 99% is shit, you can move on and enjoy life, lower your expectations."

REtalhar 2007 @ CCBB Rio

I went back to the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil today, for the second time, to see their amazing new exposition REtalhar 2007. I've been wanting to post something about this show for a while but they do not allow pictures in there and I simply couldn't find any good images online until today. I even asked the first time around if I could take some snap shots of the pieces and they said no way. Copyright protection, I was told. But wait a minute, they allow pictures at the MOMA, the Met, the Louvre and even in those snotty Chelsea art galleries for God's sake! But here in Rio I haven't been too camera-happy on any museums or galleries, simply no photographs inside... I must confess that today I even hung my camera around my neck to try to snick a pic there but I was too chicken to break the law.

This is the third edition of REtalhar, the collaboration between artists/designers/creative types and the work of Coopa-Roca , a co-op of 150 inner city seamstresses and artisans of the Rocinha neighborhood in Rio. Their work allows female residents to improve their quality of life, by increasing their income without neglecting their childcare and family duties. In this edition the projects of 20 designers were executed by Coopa-Roca after their original drawings and the results were breathtaking. Fashion designers Alexandre Herchcovitch, Lenny Niemeyer, Oskar Metsavaht, Carlos Miele and artists Luis Zerbini, Pedro Lobo and Sass Brown are among the chosen few. The space is beautifully set out, with soft lighting and cool room dividers made out of thin ribbons, attached floor-to-ceiling. The works are a mix of sculptures, clothing, accessories, video & art installations and photographs. Of my personal favorites I pick jeweler Antonio Bernardo, with his golden crochet gloves adorned with a sewn in ring of semi-precious stones. The gloves are shown inside the building's original pitch black safe vault, atop a black pedestal and lit by a single blade of light. Very dramatic. My other favorite is the work of artist Ernesto Neto, a sculpture of a cube of pipes covered in sheer white net, organic and contemporary at the same time. There are tunnel-like orifices that pierce the work, like entrails or intestines I might say. But the piece is light, ruffly and finished with lingerie edgings, like a pair of panties. Very cool!

REtalhar goes until September 16Th and I highly recommend it to anyone who might be visiting Rio between now and then.

Shot In Sicily by Michael Roberts

Vanity Fair's fashion director Michael Roberts has a new book of photographs out next month called "Shot In Sicily", taken over 20 years. It will be published by Karl Lagerfeld's 7L printing company. He is a renaissance man and his many talents include writing, illustrating and styling besides photography. He was interviewed by Cathy Horyn for The New York Times this weekend and he talks about his passion for the arts and the current state of fashion. To read the full interview click here.

Time (Si Gan) - Korean For Crazy

I watched a very intriguing Korean movie last night called "Time", at Espaco de Cinema, here in Rio. Here is the brief synopsis of the film, according to me:

"Seh-hee is an over-the-top crazy-jealous bitch. She's been dating her loving boyfriend Ji-woo for over two years but she feels that they are cooling off. She throws herself in jealous fits in public places, making scenes for no justifiable reasons but based on her own insecurities. She questions her looks and often compares herself to others, though she is average pretty. After one of these crazy rants, Ji-woo has had enough for the night and goes home, leaving her at her place. That's the last he sees of her. She changes her phone number, quits her job and moves out, leaving no signs of her whereabouts. Six months later, after major face-altering plastic surgery, she becomes See-hee and this new woman has a mission. She wants Ji-woo to love her new self, as the old one was just not good enough. But Ji-woo still loves Seh-hee and hasn't lost hope to find his true love again."

And that's when the movie gets good! Expect graphic & bloody surgery close-ups, a couple of plot twists and really wacky behaviors from the main characters. By watching this movie I drew a few conclusions about the Korean young crowd, that are nothing but cynicism on my part. Here it goes:

1. Koreans never work, though they can afford great apartments, big cars and lots of major plastic surgery.
   
2. They argue loudly in small cafes and public places.


3. They like to throw punches around too, specially in tiny restaurants or cafes. No one minds.
   
4. Korean girls are very forward when they want a guy.
   
5. Korean guys won't take a change of mind if you had agreed to have sex in the first place.


6. They keep live birds in glass cages in the lobby of their subway stations.
   
7. Getting a completely new face via plastic surgery is common and offered in a walk-in basis.
   
8. They mistreat their help, specially if they are waitresses or hostesses.
   
9. It's OK to barge into an ongoing surgery room. The nurses and doctors don't seem to mind.
10. Korean guys are gorgeous. Just two uglies in the whole movie.
11. They love sculpture parks.

To watch the movie trailer click here, with English subtitles.

Dener - The First Brazilian Couturier

In 1960's Brazil, fashion designers, or costureiros as we called them, were still hidden from sight inside their ateliers sewing pretty dresses to the society ladies. Dener Pamplona was the pioneer couturier who first created a real identity for Brazilian fashion, equaling it to the high levels of the European couture designers of the time. He changed it all with his big persona, a character he created himself, full of affectations and mannerisms big enough to match his talent. He was a high society staple, was a judge on a top rated TV talent show and a self-promoting faux aristocrat that enchanted Brazil with his sharp tongue and quick wit.

This month Editora Cosac Naif is reprinting Dener's 1972 autobiography "Dener-O Luxo", then at 36 years of age. It includes several images of the designer throughout his career, many hilarious and sharp quotes about rivals and politicians of the time, plus his how-to-live-life advices and accounts of his eccentricities and clients. This intimate memoir is also peppered with French words and expressions, very chic at the time, and gives an idea of his over the top grandesse and talent for fiction, as most passages cannot be verified. Dener would wake up at 2 PM, go to work from 4-8, then call his butler Pierre (nee Pedro) at home to shut all drapes and light up candles and lamps before his return. Dener a-b-h-o-r-r-e-d over head lighting. He once threw one of his fabulous parties and wanted exotic birds for the decor. In lack of those he had white doves covered in oil paint and adorned with extra plumes e sparkles. All died but one. He was ambiguous about his sexuality and even married a 16 year-old society girl in 1965 and fathered two kids. When asked about being gay he would answer vaguely "I like pretty people".

He lived large, spent large and drank large. He died in 1978, at age 42, of cirrhosis of the liver.

A true Brazilian diva.

Sao Paulo Tee @ Palmer Cash

Whenever I think of Sao Paulo, images of sunsets and seagulls are the first things that come to mind. Men's tee US$23.97 at Palmer Cash.

Love it!!

Adam McEwen @ Artbrat

Adam McEwen 's Untitled (Sorry) and Untitled (Closed), 2002-2003.
These are 4 miniature store signs that I wish I had in hand when I worked in retail. Love the "Sorry we're sorry"! They cost US$35.00 and are available at Artbrat.

Tim Festival in Brazil

It was announced today the line up for the upcoming Tim Music Festival, in Brazil, from October 25-31. The list includes my faves Bjork (the Goddess) and Anthony & The Johnsons, who I had the pleasure of watching live in Boston last year at The Paradise. Another 39 acts will be performing in the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Vitoria and Curitiba. The Killers, Cat Power and Arctic Monkeys, to name a few, are also scheduled to be there. Actress Juliette Lewis will be present as well with her band Juliette and The Licks. I think she rocks! The will also be parties thrown by fashion designer Alexandre Herchcovitch and club kid Johnny Luxo in Sao Paulo on Friday the 26Th and Rio on Saturday the 27Th. For a complete list of dates, times, hows and what-nots click here.

Gucci, Dior and Louis Vuitton Cakes

These faboo cake creations come from London's The Cake Fairy and they are 100% eatable and all the very realistic details are made from sugar paste. Imagine showing up at you loved one's b-day party with one of these confections?? Also the perfect gift for that fashionista friend of yours that has everything and only cares about designer labels. Unfortunately they are only available in London and cannot be shipped outside of the UK. But at around £130 they are much less expensive than that US$2,000 price tag that a real Louis Vuitton would set you back. Love it!

Annie Lennox - Dark Road

Goddess Annie Lennox has just realeased the first single "Dark Road" from her upcoming album "Songs of Mass Destruction". It will be released on October 2 but you can already pre-order it from Amazon.com for only US$9.99. The video is also available on the site and it's a must watch for all Annie Lennox's fans. Click here to watch it.

Road Trip (Part 2) - Reste Motel

A few images of the oh-so-lovely Reste Motel in Emporia, Virginia, right off 495 South. Just to freshen up your mind I had mentioned it here before on part 1 of my road saga. These pictures illustrate a bit of the charming surroundings of my road side accommodations. You can see the rusty sign with it's vague hint of 1960's Americana and the door of my room, # 132, all red gloss like a cheap hooker. Love the missing tip of the number 3! To top it off I included a photo of my fancy paper bath mat, with it's sophisticated swan motif. Swans mate for life but at the Reste Motel they mate for the night (or by the hour). I am glad that there was a warning not to use the paper mats in the shower or bathtub, otherwise I would never have guessed it. If you are planning a vacation in Emporia I highly recommend the Reste (US$22.95 a night!!) and I even included some info for your ease. Enjoy!

Reste' Motel, 3190 Sussex Dr, Emporia, VA 23847 (804-535-8505)

More David Rothwell

Mini Moni - Lucky Cha Cha Cha

Super kawaii!! Super cute in Japanese!! I am not too sure what is this all about but I love this saccharine-sweet Japanese girl group Mini Moni. I can only make out "under the moonlight" somewhere in the song and that's where it ends. Totally addictive and cavity inducing.

More Mini Moni

You you haven't gotten enough of "Lucky Cha Cha Cha" there is also a close-up version of the super kawaii Japanese girl group's video. I just wonder how little kids must respond to all the color and cuteness? It does it for me!

Activism Brazilian Style

"The Amazon is 100% Brazilian. Period!!" This banner can be seen in Cinelandia, downtown Rio, in front of Camara Dos Deputados.

" Over crowded classrooms hinder quality teaching." At the same spot there was a peaceful demonstration by the teacher's syndicate as well.

Crashing Statues

Carioca Corner Store - Santa Teresa

This quitanda was found in the charming carioca neighborhood of Santa Teresa. Decorated with typical Portuguese style tiles this page from the past evokes sweet childhood memories from good old days. Brooms, buckets, bananas & booze all under the same roof. Love it!

The Song of Summer - Rihanna

Rihanna has claimed Summer 2007 as her own. Her smash hit "Umbrella" is one of the most played songs of the season and she shows that she is here to stay. The 19 year-old was born in Barbados and her new album " Good Girls Gone Bad" is already her 3rd US release. Besides being very talented it doesn't hurt that she is also stunningly beautiful. Watch her live performance via AOL Live Sessions and tell me what you think.

Marcelo Krasilcic's Pillow Talk

New York-based Brazilian photographer Marcelo Krasilcic was born in Sao Paulo to a family of of carpenters, furniture sellers and interior designers hence his current sofa cushions fetish. I came across his personal blog by chance while clicking "next" on Blogger's header and I was instantaneously grabbed on the spot. The sense of playfulness and simplicity of his images evoke faded old family pictures, something taken back in early childhood, forgotten in drawers or boxes and suddenly rediscovered during a move or spring cleaning. Even some of the more homoerotic images feel naive and un-posed, as if you walked in someone's intimacy and no one cared. One can't help but smile and be taken into these portraits, wishing you were there laughing and having fun. Being silly and young again.

To view the full series click on this post's header. To see more of Marcelo's work and bio just click here.

Dover Street Market, London

In London, Dover Street Market debuts the store's new look accompanying the Fall season's new collections. This Comme des Garcons concept store besides it's signature line also has in-store corners of brands like Undercover, Lanvin by Alber Elbaz, Martin Margiela and John Galliano among others, spread throughout it's 4 floors. Several designers were invited to create their personal visions for their merchandise display and the results are breathtaking and inspirational to say the least. Rei Kawabubo, fashion uttermost visionary and CDG founder/designer has upped the level once more to what a concept store is supposed to be and look like. I often pity the dismal attempts of some Brazilian retailers to be "avant-garde & concept-y" by simply carbon copying Colette in Paris or 10 Corso Como in Milan. Just throw in some CDs, stack some artsy books, spread some action figures around and a few gadgets in a glass case and...voila, concept store!

Greato-fu Oyako Son @ Kidrobot

This is a new soft vinyl addition to the To-Fu Oyako family, standing at 8" tall. Sometimes the To-Fu Son is happy, sometimes sad, but either way definitely super limited - only 250 of this figure exist and will be available exclusively through Kidrobot stores or on the Web for US$59.95. Love it, love it, love it! There is definitely room in my life for another toy!

Road Trip (Part 1)

This past October I took a torturous road trip from Boston to Miami, along with my pal Booboo. This treacherous drive that was supposed to take 18 hours turned out to be a never ending driving nightmare. I believe I drove over 26 hours to get there, getting stuck in every single major traffic jam on the East coast. After the first 12 hours or so I had to get some rest and ended up at the not-so-lovely and restful Reste Motel somewhere in Virginia. Keep it in mind that I needed pet-friendly accommodations because of the pooch and I couldn't be so choosy. The place was a dump and I felt like a character in one of those American road movies that you drive up to your room door. I did peek through the shades several times through the night whenever I got spooked by a weird noise, waiting for the serial killer to show up or the hit man with the silencer on his gun. I recalled that betrayal movie "Grifters" with Annette Bening, Anjelica Huston and John Cusack and wasn't really the greatest image to have in mind at that particular place. "Pulp Fiction" also had some bloody shooting death at a road side motel just like the Reste. I double locked the door and propped a chair against it, just in case. Flipping through the TV channels I almost choked coming across hardcore porn on my screen. I am not a prude, believe me, but that was not what I expected to see so readily available. The motel attendant either just assumed I wanted to watch porn & masturbate or couldn't care less about it to have it blocked. Keep it in mind that the following morning I saw kids and families leaving the motel on their way back to the long highways. I hope their porn channels were not live too. All pictures taken at the Reste Motel, October 10 2006.

Vintage Fusca

This cool vintage VW bug was parked in front of MAM last week. I drove a tan one in the mid 80's that was lent by an aunt of mine who never drove it. We call them fuscas in Brazil. Mine didn't even come close to this flawless time capsule that I found on the street. Mine had a moldy smell as it was kept in a damp underground garage and was upholstered in vinyl. Check out the white leather interior! When I saw it I wondered who owned it... A museum curator, or an art collector, maybe a rock'n'roller or a young architect? For sure someone hip and happening and NEVER the aging, balding baby boomer with the chain-smoking mistress. This guy or girl was a cool cat! And I was jealous.

Zandra Rhodes @ The New York Times

Great article on Zandra Rhodes in the Style section of the New York Times posted online today. The creator of the haute-punk look in 1970's London is having a major fashion comeback. Click on the post's title to check it out!

More Street Art in Rio

This work-in-progress portrait of Harry Potter was spotted in downtown Rio the other day. I thought it wasn't actually too bad of a rendition of actor Daniel Radcliffe and deserved a mention. In other news, now one can even buy ecstasy with the Harry Potter logo imprinted on it, as this sample that was apprehended by police in Brooklyn, NY shows. Supposedly the stash came from Europe along with other 400,000 ecstasy pills and were being distributed in NYC. Now that's what I call a collector's item!

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/hpotter1.html

What's your Landscape?

In Rio, at Centro de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, a new photo show debuted this past Tuesday entitled "Qual e a Sua Paisagem?" displaying 50 works by 24 Brazilians photographers, inspired by their own view of urban landscapes. I went there to support my very talented friend Marcio Mitkay that was also showing at CAU, along with Marcos Bonisson e Patricia Gouveia to name a few. The works are a personal view of snapshots of urban living, from the abstract to the surrealistic. There is also a great video installation in a large movie screen showing a cloud of beach balls being tossed up in the air in a very crowded carioca beach day. The 1879 building that houses CAU was once a private residence, then a school from the early XX century to the mid 70's. In 1985 it was declared a historic landmark and 10 years later a pristine renovation brought it back to it's original glamour. The show goes until October 07 2007 and is located at Rua Sao Clemente 117 in Botafogo neighborhood.

http://www2.rio.rj.gov.br/smu/paginas/cau.asp

Carioca Street Vendor

Jose Resende @ Galeria Paulo Fernandes

On the corners of Rua do Rosario and Rua Visconde de Itaborai, in downtown Rio, you will find large scale works by Brazilian artist Jose Resende, displayed right outside avant-garde Galeria Paulo Fernandes. The steel sculptures are very striking and powerful and caught my eye from a block's distance. The diminutive gallery is very unique in itself, with tall exposed stone walls and just a single choice metal sculpture prominently displayed in the middle. The scent of eucalyptus, reminiscing of a sauna, is in a intriguing contrast to the cool temperature inside.

You can see more of Resende's work by clicking this post's header and the gallery is located at Rua do Rosario, 38.

Sex on The Streets

One can't help to notice, when walking around anywhere around Rio, the sheer amount of sexploitation that is rubbed on your face at every moment of the day. This cool character above is advertising a sex shop on a very busy intersection of downtown earlier today. Besides selling the usual dildos and vibrators, they also home deliver! By the way the guy is on stilts so you can't really miss him.




Most newsstands also display an enormous amount of nudie magazines with quite scandalous covers for American standards, mostly straight stuff. In Brazil you can buy hardcore porn and DVDs in plain sight next to your daily papers and M&Ms. They also prop these card board displays against their stands advertising the new issues of the fancier girlie publications, like Playboy. The brunette is a bimbo on a TV parody show, you know those that just stand there in bikinis, all smiles and no lines. The blond is a new semi-celebrity famous for being "the hick" on Brazilian Big Brother, but because of her big booty she supposedly earned US$350,000 to drop her panties for Playboy.

David Rothwell's Photopia

The first time I recall seeing David Rothwell's work was in the mid 90's in London. I have a good friend there that I visited regularly at the time that was a bartender at a popular pub. I remember collecting these really cool fliers from Heaven nightclub, that I still keep, that featured these striking images of men. A futuristic Tom of Finland I might say was what my memory of the time recalls, but sophisticated and classy, never raunchy or vulgar. I even remember a small art show at this bar called Kudos with David's work on the walls, that at the time I probably couldn't afford. I have kept a link to his website in my favorite's list for years now and decided to pay him a small homage here in my humble blog.

Madonna Turns 49

Pop goddess Madonna celebrates her 49TH birthday tomorrow, August 16Th. British newspaper "The Sun" says she is planning a live concert at NYC's Central Park in 2008 in celebration of her big 5-O. Madonna also has a new album in the works that is tentatively scheduled to debut in December. Happy birthday from a huge fan that has actually touched your hand (tip of your index finger) when you played Boston last August. You also put the mike to my face when you were doing "Hung Up". Remember me???

Hazardous Runways

I feel a little mean by posting this video on the blog but it's delicious to watch anyway!

Tropicalia @ MAM

The Museum of Modern Art, MAM, in Rio de Janeiro just debuted it's new presentation "Tropicalia-Uma Revolucao Na Cultura Brasileira" and features works by avant-garde Brazilian artists of the 60's Helio Oiticica, Lygia Clark and Glauber Rocha to name a few. It covers the time between 1967-1972, when the Tropicalismo movement bloomed, and includes samples of paintings, sculptures, music, photography, theatre, graphic arts and fashions of the period. There are several TV sets playing period movies and live performances by the likes of Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. Part of this show had travelled to museums in Chicago, NYC, London and Berlin before arriving in Rio, which added several more pieces to the exhibit to complete the full Tropicalismo view. The show extends until September 3oTH 2007.

Momix - Opus Cactus

Momix - Opus Cactus

I went to see the Momix dance troupe this past Sunday at Citibank Hall here in Rio. They performed their two-act "Opus Cactus" and I must say I was mesmerized by their technique and creativity. The last time I saw them perform live was at Teatro Municipal in Rio in the late 80's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR6mdwEeouY

Chris Meloni Likes Horses

Law & Order SVU's star Chris Meloni was seen at the Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge at the Hamptons, NY this past Saturday. Just a shameless plug for the leading actor of one of my favorite TV dramas. Kudos for the polo stick as a great photo prop.

Chilling out in Dubai

Dubai has just inaugurated CHILLOUT, it's first ice bar. All walls, plates, glasses and furniture, including sofas and chairs are made of solid ice. Though the weather outside is in the usually above 100 degrees Fahrenheit the bar is kept cool enough so it's furnishings will not melt.

Brooke Astor 1902-2007

American socialite and philanthropist Brooke Astor died today in NYC at 105 years of age from complications of pneumonia. I had followed her saga through articles I had read in Vanity Fair and New York magazine this past couple of years. The articles claimed that the society doyenne, because of her advanced age and mental state, was being neglected by her son and gold-digging new wife. Accustomed to a lifetime of luxury and comfort, she had been confined to a few rooms of her grand NYC apartment, deprived of the company of her beloved dogs and denied access to friends and pamperings. Even some of her precious jewels and esteemed artwork had gone missing without her knowledge, according to the magazines. Recently Anette De La Renta, wife of Oscar, had been court appointed as her caregiver, being a long time friend and one of the whistle blowers to the whole neglect scandal.

Brazilian Beauties

I shot these two girls right before the start of the opening ceremony of the Pan American games at Maracana Stadium in Rio on this past July 13Th. They were part of the cast of thousands of volunteers that took part in the big festivity and they looked so thrilled to be there.

Beware Of The Dog

There is something about some signs that really catch my eye. Maybe it's the dog's picture or the color scheme but I really like this one I found in the Santa Teresa neighborhood in Rio.

Street Art

I took these shots this past July when I was returning home on a late Sunday afternoon. I noticed these large group of "youngsters" graffiting the walls of two public schools on the intersection of Lagoa & Humaita neighborhoods in Rio. I had to pull over and inquire about it as I'm a big fan of street art. They told me that they were invited by the schools, and supplied with spray paint, to refresh the murals around the building walls. I assumed that the schools rather have beautiful detailed street art adorning their walls than simply tagged by vandals with ugly scribbles. I must say that I often see great street art here in Rio and I applaud the schools decision.

Ilha Fiscal

I found this sign while visiting Ilha Fiscal, in Rio, this past Friday, August 10Th. The contrast of this very modern-ish every-day sign against this 1889's small castle caught my eye. It was attached to one of the smaller buildings, a power station next to the main construction. The guided tour was a bit boring to my taste and I was disappointed with the place itself. After hearing so much about the island where was held the last ball of the Portuguese Empire in Brazil I must confess that I expected something like Versailles, full of gilt and mirrors. I am not a fan of Gothic architecture or stone walls and the whole look inside was quite plain and furnished with just replicas of period furniture. I will say that the parquet floors and the stained glass windows were quite beautiful and well done. The place is well kept, was renovated in the late 80's and the guides were quite courteous and informative. It was worth the trip but it would not be on my top 10 list of things to see in Rio.

Portuguese http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/riotur/pt/atracao/?CodAtr=1519

English http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/central-and-south-america/brazil/rio-de-janeiro/attraction-detail.html?vid=1154654622237