cool hits the spot

My friend B. was in town this week, so last night we went to have dinner at Spot.

This used to be B.'s favourite restaurant in São Paulo before he moved away. Now, he says, "it's gotten tiring".

Truth be said, Spot is where the cool crop of São Paulo come to be seen. During São Paulo Fashion Week, Spot is one of the places where the fashion crowds gather. Last night was the second time I went to Spot (the first time was also with B.), and on both visits I saw someone famous. Or semi-famous. On the first occasion I saw this girl I had seen on some magazine, but to this day have no idea who she was. And last night I saw Marília Gabriela, one of Brazil's top TV personalities.

(images via here)

As we sat at the bar waiting for our table, other people who arrived after us were quickly seated. This is a place where it pays to be someone, or to know the maître d'. Even though it took a little while for us to be seated, the staff was always cordial. The waiters, it must be said, are divine. According to B., Spot likes to hire aspiring actors/models so... you get the picture.

Although B. is over the Spot "in crowd", he says that the good food is what keeps him coming for more. And it is good food. On my first visit, I ate the penne pasta with prosciutto and melon, which was tasty and light. Last night I chose the sicilian lemon risotto with leeks, also very flavourful.

Spot is not a restaurant I frequently go to, but once in a while, it's fun to be too cool for school.

"this mythological symbol of Fame is really a good girl"

(image via here)

I am a Madonna fan, loyal and true.

And this is one of the best articles I have read about her, written by Liz Smith.

Read it here.

do you know what this is?

(image via Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh)

It's a fucking ugly chandelier, that's what.

the people's car

One day, I am going to own a VW Beetle. Style on wheels.

(image via here)

(image via here)

(image via here)

(image via here)

(image via here)

monkey business

To celebrate Halloween, myself, the Sister, plus our friend L. will be watching some scary movies.

We each chose one film. I chose Carrie. L. chose The Strangers. The Sister chose Link.

I am not sure about the last one. It's about an animal researcher's assistant (Elisabeth Shue) who lives with an orangutan called Link. Apparently, Link gets a little pissed off and becomes somewhat possessive of his roommate. The Sister - who, by the way, has seen this film before and probably wants to see this again because she is sick in the head - said that there is a shower scene where Link stares at Elisabeth Shue while she undresses.

I shit you not.

(image via here)

Like I said, I am not sure about this one.

a late night snack

Tonight (better yet, last night) I went to see the Brazilian band Satanique Samba Trio. They hail from Brasília and my friend Munha is the bass player, as well as the mastermind behind this unique group. Take a look at their myspace. It'll give you a fright.

After the gig my friend and I were starving. It was already past 11 p.m. The first place that pops into our head? Galeria dos Pães, naturally.

(image via here)

Galeria dos Pães (roughly translates to "bread gallery") is one of São Paulo's growing number of 24 hr bakeries. In fact, it is also a deli and restaurant that serves snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner around the clock.

Downstairs is the deli and the sandwich bar. Their grilled cheese is my favourite. Upstairs, at night, they serve their soup buffet. My friend had the spinach soup, whereas I chose cheese and white wine soup (also a favourite. I'm into cheese.).

(image via globo.com)

The buffet also serves a large variety of breads, cheeses, deli meats, fruit salad, fruit juices and dessert. The best thing is that, being a buffet, you can eat like there is no tomorrow. And no one will judge you.

Galeria dos Pães is a popular pit stop for those who are on their way home after a night out. The first time I went there, I had been dancing my ass off all night with my best friend E. It was 4 a.m., and I could eat a horse. So E. took me to Galeria dos Pães. Not only was the food great, but the atmosphere was lively with all kinds of people recounting their escapades. And there's nothing like devouring a grilled cheese sandwich after a night of dancing. I fell for Galeria dos Pães at first sight, and at first taste.

It had me at "hello, come in and help yourself to all the bread you can stuff in your mouth in one go."

a note to the internet

(image via we heart it)

You are being such a bitch today.

Thank you.

mug lovin'

I have a small, growing mug collection. Because we currently live in such a tiny flat, the Sister has prohibited me from adding to my modest collection. There's no more room for your stupid mugs, she says.

Well, when we move to the larger flat, I am displaying my mugs in all their glory.

I like all sorts of mugs. But I don't have any vintage mugs, which I think would add that extra cool factor to my existing collection. These would do the trick:

(image via here)

(image via here)

(image via the style files)

bored to death, season 1, episode 3

"Lives don't change. We simply become more comfortable with our core misery. Which is a form of happiness."

- the Jungian therapist.

so far ...

(image via we heart it)

... my saturday has consisted of me getting stuck in the lift for twenty minutes.

better than chocolate

There's always someone who says "there's nothing better than chocolate".

Yes, there is. Potato chips.

Here are my top five:

5. Cebolitos. These intense onion flavoured rings are a Brazilian classic. Not everyone can take them, because they kind of make you ill after you've had a whole bag. Which is kind of the fun of it.

(image via here)

4. Cheetos Crunchy. It's bold, it's crunchy, and it makes your fingers yellow.

(image via here)

3. Fandangos. Another Brazilian classic. It's made of corn, but tastes like ham. You heard right, ham.

(image via here)

2. Skips. Now for a British classic. The ad for this prawn cocktail flavoured snack used to say that it "melts in your mouth". It really does.

(image via here)

1. Kettle Chips, Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar. This is a sophisticated chip that has a primitive yet satisfying crunch. From the beautiful simplicity of the sea salt, to the elegance of the balsamic vinegar, this is a potato chip in its finest form.

(image via here)

well, you know. more or less.

(image via we heart it)

a note to john cusack

(image via here)

I'd like to sit on your lap.

Thank you.

pretty smelly feet

When I was a little girl, I wore tennis shoes everyday, all day. I also had an occasional aversion to socks. Which, as much as it pains me to admit it, resulted in a foot odour so offensive that it attracted vultures.

One day my mother said enough is enough and made me sprinkle talcum powder inside my tennis shoes. The foul smell subsided, but my sweaty feet would make this white paste out of the powder... but that's not the point.

The point is that I used Granado talcum powder:

Granado was founded in 1870 in Rio de Janeiro. It is Brazil's oldest pharmacy specialising in personal hygiene products made out of plant and vegetable extracts found in the country. At one point, due to their high quality standards, Granado was granted the title of "Official Pharmacy of the Brazilian Royal Family".

And the formula of their talcum powder, which was developed in 1903 making it Granado's oldest product, remains unaltered to this day. Amazing.

This product has followed me throughout my life. But it was only today, while at the supermarket, that I realised how damn good looking they are.

These are some of their soaps...

... their body lotion ...

... and their moisturizing butter.

(images via Granado)

Best of all, this is the ad campaign for their Pink line of products:

(image via here)

You can easily find most of their products in supermarkets, or buy them through their website. But their stores are so charming that they are worth a visit. Below is the Granado pharmacy in Rio de Janeiro, and you can also visit their store here in São Paulo.

(image via Granado)

Like I said, too damn pretty.

dog lovers of the world unite

Last night the Sister and I watched the most horrifying and eye-opening documentary. It's called Pedigree Dogs Exposed, a BBC One documentary that examines the serious health issues faced by pedigree dogs in the UK as a result of inbreeding.

It is shocking to see how dog breeds have changed over the years through competitive breeding, solely for cosmetic purposes.

(image via here)

Spread the word. It's about time we educate ourselves about this very serious issue.

Watch Pedigree Dogs Exposed here.

butter and style

One of the best things to have for breakfast here in Brazil is bread with butter. Simple as that. You go into any bakery and ask for "pão com manteiga" (or bread with butter), plus a coffee, and they will serve you something that looks very much like this:

(image via here)

For this breakfast to work, you have to have good butter. And this, my friend, is good butter.

(image via here)

This is Aviação (or aviation), a brand that has been around since 1920. It is one of the most traditional brands of butter in Brazil, and also the most stylish. They come in these vintage inspired orange tins, maintaining their logo from the 1940s.

Butter that tastes and looks good.

a side note on birds

Birds are the most frightening of all animals. However, I do enjoy bird themed decorations, as witnessed in the post bellow, and even on this illustration of Hitchcock's The Birds.

(image via here)

I am both terrified and attracted to it.

this is a complaint

I have not been able to find decent and/or attractive bedding here in São Paulo.

When I moved here last year, I needed some new bedding. Stores such as m martan, Casa Almeida, and Zêlo were my first stops, and then I went on a search in other street stores. I was surprised to see that bedding here is either overpriced if you want good quality, reasonably priced but without enough variety in colours/patterns, or available in a lower price range, with better design but of bad quality.

I ended up buying an aubergine duvet cover from Casa Almeida, which I got for a good price. But less than a year later, and after a few machine washes, it did not prove to be of decent quality. The zipper at the bottom of the duvet cover has completely torn off and the colour has washed out. This has pissed me off.

I believe in investing in a product to get a better quality and design, especially for the long term.

I just haven't found something that is worth investing in.

Ideally, if I found something like this...

(image via DwellStudio)

(image via marimekko)

... I'd be much obliged.

a note to my doorman

You're a creepy son of a bitch.

Thank you.

breakfast from the french gods

This is Blés D'Or, so far my favourite place to have breakfast/brunch in São Paulo.

(image via here)

This absolutely charming French bakery located in Moema, is headed by Parisian chef Didier Niepceron. They serve an impressive spread for their breakfast. Anything and everything you could desire is laid out in front of you, on an antique style wooden table. Croissants, small quiches, freshly baked breads, crepes with scrumptious chocolate pastes, scrambled eggs, ratatouille, a variety of jams (from raspberry to papaya), cakes, fruit juices ... It's one thing to have variety, but quality? It has it in spades. Everything I have tasted there has yet to let me down.

I usually have the scrambled eggs with ratatouille, the chocolate croissant with an almond crust, the regular croissant with the raspberry or tarte tatin apple jam, the bite-size goat cheese and tomato quiche, some fruit juice, and a café au lait. And I'm not even consuming half the table here.

This is a place that is very relaxed, where you can go with friends, family, or take the newspaper with you. Chef Didier is usually around when I go for breakfast on the weekends, and he is equally relaxed and welcoming to all his customers (and not bad to look at. I'm just saying.). The only thing you have to keep in mind is that during the weekends the place gets packed for breakfast and brunch.

But, seriously, what is waiting in line for a while when you will be delighting in a breakfast so good you'll want to die of happiness afterwards?

hey, mr. dj

This is Brazilian rapper Marcelo D2 with "Desabafo". I can see this song being played in some London club.

It includes a sample from this great song "Deixa eu dizer", by Brazilian singer Claudia, from 1973.

jesus's pink dream

Are you familiar with the Brazilian soft drink Guaraná? If you are not, learn about it here. It is my favourite soft drink of all time. But this is even better, for its sheer fabulousness.

This is Guaraná Jesus, the best-selling soft drink in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, supposedly outselling Coca-Cola.

(image from here)

This is why it is probably the best soft drink in the world (at least top ten):

(1) it's bright pink;

(2) it's called Jesus Guaraná after the man who created it (not the famous Jesus) who, legend has it, was an atheist;

(3) its slogans are: "o sonho cor de rosa" (pink dream); "fé no seu estômago" (faith in your stomach); and, my personal favourite, "abençõe sua sede" (bless your thirst).

I have heard that because Guaraná Jesus is not easily found outside Maranhão, and due to its evident style (you can't beat a fluorescent beverage), it is garnering a cool factor amongst hipsters.

Personally, I have yet to try the pink concoction, but I will certainly be on the lookout. The traditional Guaraná Antártica tastes sweet and refreshing, drawing its taste from the guaraná fruit the drink is derived from. But Guaraná Jesus is apparently overtly sweet, with hints of cinnamon and clover, and quite unpleasant.

But, jesus, does it look good.

three things

Apartment Therapy is the interior decorator I will never be able to afford. Well, at least not in the near future. I love it so, particularly since it has featured posts from Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. Makes me feel warm inside.

So here are three things that I am after for my new bedroom.

1. A cool bookcase so I can show off the books I bought for their pretty covers, as opposed to their content. Something in this style is appealing.

(image via Apartment Therapy)

2. An interesting/attractive way to display my postcard collection. These are some good ideas.

(image via Apartment Therapy)

(image via Apartment Therapy)

3. To arrange my bedroom like so.

(image via Apartment Therapy)

Enjoy your Monday. If that is at all possible.

runs in the family

(image via Awkward Family Photos)

I showed this picture to the Sister, and this is what she had to say:

"Well, I'm glad they found each other."

amen to that

(image via here)

yellow fever

In the next month or so I will be moving to a new apartment with the Sister.

And I have painted my new bedroom a nice bright yellow. I adore it.

Initially, I wanted to paint it teal. But I tested so many damn shades, that it became vomit inducing even before I could choose the final colour.

I have not fully made up my mind as to how I am going to design my new yellow lodgings, but I'm liking what I see here:

(images via Down and Out Chic)

All I know is that I have to incorporate a bubble-gum pink telephone bought in a flea market here in São Paulo:

(image via here)

It's very much in the style of Molly Ringwald's phone in Pretty in Pink. Which meant that I had to have it.