In São Paulo this Thursday with nothing to do?

INC Dicas Launch Party "São Paulo Comes Alive"

The International Newcomer's Club was one of the first groups I joined, it is where I met some of my closest friends here in São Paulo and I feel very indebted to the ladies who vounteer their time to run this club. It is specifically for people who have just arrived in town and are looking to meet people, find out information and the one awesome thing you can buy is their "Dicas" / tips book. It has listed anything and everything you could possibly needs from dentists to schools, to restaurants and plumbers. Each company or service must be recommended by 2 different members to be included in the Dicas book.

Next Saturday they are having a party to launch the release of the next edition of the Dicas. See information below.

Dicas Launch Party

"São Paulo Comes Alive!"

On Saturday, September 14th, INC will celebrate the launch of the 11th edition of the Dicas city guide to São Paulo. Copies of the Dicas are spread throughout the city by our members, (relocation) companies and (international) schools. Congratulations in becoming an essential part of this handbook for newcomers to São Paulo and having your company or service recommended by one or more of our members! If you are curious to see the book, interested to buy it, or you'd like to join the party - send us an email!

We invite all newcomers, expats and others to join us at this party for a fun evening filled with food, drinks and caipirinhas, DJ performances, live music and décor… as if you are in the streets of São Paulo! And have a chance to win great prizes in the Charity Raffle while supporting the children at Vila Acalanto Orphanage.

Tickets can be bought via dicaslaunchparty@newcomers-sp.com.br.

When: Saturday, 14th of September, 20h00

Where: Esporte Clube Sírio, Av. Indianópolis 1192, Moema

Tickets: R$150
For more information: www.newcomers-sp.com.br

Children Activity in São Paulo: Maratona Infantil

We were one of 3 expat families playing in Vila Nova praçinha this morning, being tut-tutted by all the dog walkers, and grannies walking around. I know it's cold but we all come from countries with very cold months and it's not in our mindset to stay locked up inside when the temperature drops. The kids were bundled up and ran around in circles, drank hot chocolate and ate pao de queijos!

When you first arrive you think there is nothing for your children to do here in São Paulo apart from Parque Ibirapuera and hang out in shopping malls. We discovered Maratona Infantil, a free children's programme run by Museu da Imagem e do Som in Jardin Europa. We were lunching (though according to our Brazilian friends, we were "brunching" even though it was 3pm in the afternoon) at Chez Mis one of my favourite restaurants in town and there was a circus performance, popcorn lady, clowns and just lots of open space for kids

Apparently it's once a month and they have a whole day programmed for children and it's FREE! So we sat and drank our jugs of sangria, while one of us swapped in and out with the kids outside.

The next ones are on 25 August and 22 September (anniversary edition).

Museu da Imagem e do Som
Av Europa, 158, JD Europa
01449-000
T 11-2117 4777 

Insider Guide to São Paulo

CNN has just published their Insider Guide to São Paulo which includes one of our start-ups, SP Night Market. We're very proud to be included alongside some top names like Daslu and Hotel Unique!

Just to add to some of our newly found favourite "secret" spots in town:

Picnic Gastronomia - an oasis in a sea of well, São Paulo. We hosted our last SP Night Connect event here and the food is based around Brazilian country home cooking. Everyone misses a little of mama's cooking. What blew me away was Chef Julia's tapioca starter. I would never choose to eat tapioca, it reminds me of (what I imagine to be) snot BUT she has created a amazing little square of tapioca, covered in sesame seeds and served with a sweet chilli sauce. They also have WIFI.

São Roque - Valley of Wines. I had no idea that there were wineries in São Paulo! About an hour drive into the countryside (just past Embu) is a Roteiro de Vinhos which houses a dozen or so local wineries and restaurants. A great day trip (though don't expect too much of the wine...) for the family but go out of season. June and July are peak season for travelling into the interior.

I love to online shop. I like being efficient. Sonoma - Vinho e Gastronomia have an ever changing selection of delicious, heavily discounted wines. You order online and the wine is delivered in 2 days, if not in 1!

soul.set is celebrating 2 years this Sunday!

One of my favourite things to do on a Sunday afternoon here is head over to Lapa and hang out at soul.set. They are celebrating their 2 year anniversary this Sunday!

They're giving SP Night Social R5 discount / person! You can rsvp at soulset@spnightmarket.com.

A pure networking event - Wednesday 24th April, 8pm

Some people hate networking. Others love it. Even though I'm one of those who love getting out and meeting new people, I still don't like the actual term "network" - I think because traditionally, the idea of networking was going out to meet people who could benefit you. I think now networking has become a whole range of things, especially when you have just moved to a new country. It becomes just not just about business, but connecting with people who have similar ideals, lifestyles and beliefs as you. Finding friends, finding your soulmate, finding drinking buddies or if you're lucky you find one person that fits all, hah! But unless you are one of those social butterflies, with no shame or has no qualms of approaching a stranger, sober and saying hello - it can be an uncomfortable and strainful evening trying to find someone interesting to talk to.

Internation events use to be great for networking when I first arrived in town over 3 years ago. I really enjoyed their events and met some of my closest friends through the events and the online forums. Everyone went there for the same reason, to meet people for all different types of reasons. Now it's just turned into one big meat market... I can't talk to man without them assuming I'm hitting on them, or talk to another woman because I'm a woman and irrelevant in her focus for the evening. Not my cup of tea!

So the team from SPNM have come up with SP Night Connect which is pure networking. They help you meet people in a much more relaxed environment, introduce you to people and you get to have a few drinks at the same time. When you confirm your attendance, you fill out a questionnaire so they know what you are looking for and they will actively work that evening to make sure you meet people that you need to meet. It's productive, efficient and you won't leave the evening thinking - what a waste of time!

The next one is on Wednesday 24th April, hosted by PJ Clarkes in Itaim from 8pm onwards. The group will be diverse and dynamic, and if you end up sitting to someone you already know (and don't like), give one of the organisers a nudge so they can move you to another table. It costs R75 per person which includes a welcome drink, and three rounds of appetisers as you sit at each round of introduction and conversation.

Click here for more information.

Mini cupcakes at SP Night Market this Saturday

We will be bring back the mini cupcakes this Saturday 13th April afternoon at SP Night Market. We also have guest check Roxana Picado Reider who is bringing her delicious chocolate chip cookies and brownies! Come stop by and have a taster, check out the beers from Cevejaria Nacional, eat some ceviche, listen to some groovy musicians, buy some hats and of course eat cupcakes - and they are so small you can literally eat dozens!

SP Night Market is on this Saturday 13th April from 2-7pm at Escola Sao Paulo, Rua Augusta 2239.

Mommy & Me Class

Just an advert for one of my friends here who is running a Mommy & Me Class. If you have babies under the age of 12 months she runs once a week classes. It's a great opporuntity to meet other mother's / babies same age, and share a glass of wine (this is why she's my friend : )


Hello Mummies and Daddies- Little Peanut is starting a special 4-week mini session next week for babies ages 8 - 12 months. Each week there will be a new theme.
Week 1 - Indoor Beach Party
Week 2 - Mush & Gush (Arts and Crafts) - Take home a keepsake of your baby's hand and feet
Week 3 - Outdoor Explore
Week 4 - Taste Test (try 4 of my favorite finger foods that your baby will be eating as he/she get more adventurous with textures and flavors) and take home recipe cards-- also share your favorite baby foods with one another

email me at dorrit@littlepeanutsp.com for more information
visit www.littlepeanutsp.com to learn more about Little Peanut Mommy and Me

CEAGESP

I've been to CEAGESP before on Tuesday and Friday mornings for the flower market (amazing, really worth the time to go especially if you want to decorate your apartment / house!) It's located close to Parque de Vila Lobos, a little north of Pinheiros. I've always known they have a weekend market as well but have just never managed to get there.

Well we flew in on Saturday night from our holidays, jetlagged, woke up at 4am so thought, what better time go to and check out the market! 

Where the flower market usually is under the giant covered area, is replaced with dozens (i'm tempted to say hundreds) of stands selling fruit and vegetable, meats, fish, nuts, pastels (a palmito pastel and a coconut water is always a great mid-morning snack!), spices and herbs. It was SO much cheaper than my normal feira. For example, I bought small 10 mexican avocados for R3 (all together, not each!). I'm going to try and make this my regular week shop for fruit and vegetables, another option for a family outing in Sao Paulo AND it was not crowded either, this was at 8am on Sunday morning. 

What to do in Sao Paulo

The new food fair, Feirinha Gastronomica has started every Sunday in Vila Madalena, Rua Girassol 309 from 11am - 7pm. They have essentially set up a stands in an empty parking lot. There is a maximum of 230 people at a time and so, even though we arrived at 11:30am there was already a queue. It is the one good reason to take children so you can skip this queue...

I had a tostada from Oba Restaurant for R15, always delicious but trying to eat it one handed, hold my drink and look after a 3 year old was not easy! There was prawn ceviche from the Costa Ricans (R10) and disgusting cupcakes (of course I'm biaised, but even my daughter or dog wouldn't eat them) and our favourite Sabores da mi Tierra from Colombia, who also sold at our last beloved SP Night Market.

Don't expect to hang out and have a lazy lunch there. Today was hot and stifling, with nowhere to sit so I think we were in there for a maximum of 15 minutes.  As today was only their second edition, I would hope that once it becomes more "normal" rather than novelty it will be a much more pleasurable experience.

And for those of you who like a little bit of sunday dancing in the train, you have to go to soul.set festa. Great for people watching - the fabulous, the dancers, the other people-watchers. The venue was a business park near Lapa - a little bit of a pain to get to if you don't have a car. Very well organised event with valet, security, drink bar, temaki bar... and an outdoor DJ set. soul.set founder DJ Leonardo Ruas was fab today. The event runs from 3-10pm on a Sunday, once a month. Highly recommended. Earlier in the session at this venue would be ok for children as there are grassy areas for them to run around in.  Don't go if you don't like dancing!