intersection 10.5.09

Brazilian Dossier

Some ways to celebrate the choice of Rio for the 2016 Olympics and the Brazilian spirit close to home.

Rock
Os Mutantes, a São Paulo band that formed in the 1960s, has been

broken up longer than they were together, yet Kurt Cobain, Beck, the Flaming Lips, and David Byrne, among others, have been avid supporters. They started performing again, with a personnel shuffle, in 2006 and released their first album in 35 years last month. They'll be at Webster Hall this Thursday with DeLeon. Go, mutants!

Dance

Rio's Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker has earned international kudos for its contemporary dances featuring dramatic infusions of various visual elements. They'll be tearing up City Center from October 22nd-25th. Tickets are $25-$60.

Food and Drink

In addition to the W. 46th Street holdouts and several churrascarias around town, there are also wonderful, idiosyncratic places to capture the spirit of Brazil. Among them, the boteco (local bar) Beco in Williamsburg (caipirinhas, made with Leblon, are $10). Also in the nabe, the botequim (bistro) Miss Favela, where there's often live music. At Zebu Grill, 305 E. 92nd [1st/2nd] 212.426.7500, you can have feijoada, the national dish, a hearty stew of beef, pork, and black beans. Tucked away on Elizabeth Street, BarBossa, 232 Eliz [Houston/Prince] 212.625.2340, does some nice contemporary riffs with Brazilian ingredients. And if it's ingredients you need, try one of the two Rio Bonito markets in Astoria, 32-86 47th St. [34 Av.] 718.728.4300 and 36th Ave. [33rd St.].

Brazilian Music

SOB's of course, plus Monday nights at Cafe Wha?, 115 MacDougal [W. 3rd/Bleecker] 212.254. where Brazooka never fails to rev up the house. Then there's that warm breeze, New York native Susan Pereira and her group Sabor Brasil. No immediate NYC dates, but have a listen here.

Samba

A Friday night to remember: Open Rehearsal (Fridays, 7-9pm) at Samba New York in the Chelsea Studios, 151 W. 26th [6th/7th]. Drummers with some samba experience are welcome, as are dancers of all levels. It's $10, email for more info.

Classical

The Americas Society presents the Quarteto Radamés Gnattali, one of Brazil's top string quartets, on Wednesday, 7pm. It will be a tribute to Villa Lobos, on the 50th anniversary of his death. Tickets are free.

Martial Arts

Difficult to encapsulate, capoeira is a fascinating combo of movement, music, games, acrobatics, and ritual. You can takes classes at João Grande, 104 W. 14th [6th/7th] 212.989.6975, and at Omulu, which meets at a couple of different locations downtown.