l-r: U.S. President Barack Obama;Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Newly elected U.S. President Barack Obama has been quick to promote cooperation between the United States and Brazil on key issues, including trade and biofuels. Obama and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (affectionately called Lula) spoke by phone less than a week after the U.S. President's inauguration.

In the conversation, Obama made it clear he wants to work with Brazil on biofuels and to combat the financial crisis. The new U.S. President has made the increased use of alternative energy sources, including biofuels, a key goal of his administration. Brazil is among the world's biggest users of alternative fuels. Nearly 90% of all new automobiles produced in the country are so-called "flex-fuel" cars that can run on both gasoline and ethanol, a biofuel made from sugarcane.

Obama wants to “strengthen economic relations between the countries,” according to Marcelo Baumbach, spokesman for President Lula. Lula echoed his sentiments. During his national radio address last week, Lula urged Obama to make global trade talks a priority as a way to stoke economic growth in both countries, as well as suggesting they should work on promoting world peace and preserving environment.

The leaders have several meetings planned this year, including this March in Washington , during the London G20 Summit in April, and again later this year in Brazil. As we continue our mission to bring Brazil closer to the United States, Brazil Station is glad to see this deepening relationship between the leaders of the two counties. 

Carnaval revelers in Recife cross one of the city's many canals.

Recife and Olinda are cities located in Pernambuco, a state in northeastern Brazil.

Recife means "reef" in Portuguese, in allusion to the coral reefs present along the city's shores. This fast-growing urban area has been called the “Venice of Brazil,” as the city is dissected by numerous waterways and connected by many bridges.

The contact between native Indians, black slaves, and Portuguese settlers was very strong in Pernambuco and left visible traces in the culture of the region; also visible is the legacy of the Dutch, who occupied the area for more than 20 years. This mixture of races has made Recife one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.

The first Jewish community and synagogue in all of the Americas was founded in Recife. After the Dutch left Brazil, some Jews fled to North America, starting the first Jewish community in New Amsterdam (now known as New York City).

Olinda is located 5 miles away from Recife. The city has some of the best-preserved colonial buildings in Brazil, a reason why UNESCO declared it a World Heritage landmark. The city's mixed Dutch and Portuguese heritage have left it a number of architectural highlights. The best way to see the town is to stroll around the cobblestone streets, and look at all the colonial houses, mansions and churches. There is a large colony of artists who produce wood carvings and pottery.

Carnival (or Carnaval in Portuguese) euphoria in Pernambuco is like no other place in the world. Recife and Olinda have long been Carnival hot spots for Brazilians from all over the country.

In Olinda, the partying takes place in the city's colorful, house-lined, sloping streets. It is definitely the funniest (think of humorous masquerades, giant puppets and brass bands parading up and down the hilly streets) and the most democratic Carnival in Brazil—unlike Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, all events are free for all.

In Recife, there are music stages spread out through the city and clustered downtown. At night Recife's old town, Recife Antigo, is the first choice for many trying to escape the Carnival scene of Boa Viagem for something more authentic. The most important Carnival event is the Galo da Madrugada (Rooster of the Dawn). This completely spontaneous event is just that: a huge statue of a rooster leads a procession and a huge crowd (over 2 million people) follows it, singing and dancing frevo.

The word frevo is said to come from frever, a working class dialectal way of pronouncing the word ferver (to boil). Frevo dancers, called passistas, usually wear bright, shiny, multi-colored costumes and carry small umbrellas. The dancing itself features very high jumps. The image of the passista is one of the most prominent icons of the Carnival of Pernambuco.

There is a popular belief that in Brazil the year only starts after Carnival. Be this an exaggeration or not, there is not much else being talked about besides Carnival. Everybody counts down the days for the biggest street party on Earth.

Being such a huge and multicultural country, every state in Brazil has its own type of Carnival celebrations. But one thing is common to all states: everybody wants to have fun!

l-r: A great turn-out at our January bate-papo; This month's film, 2 Filhos de Francisco

Bate papo - Monday, February 9 at 7pm

You are invited for a bate-papo (relaxed conversation) in Portuguese at Guy & Gallard. The event is free (you pay what you consume), and is an opportunity to practice Portuguese and meet new people.

Contact us at Info@BrazilStation.com to RSVP.

Guy & Gallard
475 Park Ave South
New York, NY 10016
(212) 447-5282

Brazilian Movie Night - Friday, February 27 from 7-9pm

Brazilian Movie Night is an opportunity to practice Portuguese while watching great Brazilian movies—popcorn included! After the movie we will have a group discussion. We hope you can make it.

For this coming event we will show the drama Os Dois Filhos de Francisco (Two Sons of Francisco). It is a critically-acclaimed Brazilian motion picture about the lives of Zezé Di Camargo and Luciano, a leading Brazilian country music duo. The two brothers, the sons of Francisco Camargo, started out a very long way from stardom. Though their father was not the first to pressure his children into becoming entertainers, few have had so far to go and such daunting tragedy to overcome.

The movie is in Portuguese with English subtitles. Tickets are $7 per person and are available to the first 10 registrants.

For more information or to register, contact us at Event@BrazilStation.com or call (646) 287-6645. Please RSVP by Wednesday, February 25.

Brazil Station
304 Park Ave South, 11th floor (at 23rd St)
New York, NY 10010
(646) 287-6645

l-r: Kazwa plays the Valentine's Day cruise; Brazilian artist Vik Muniz curates at MoMA

Valentine's Day Cruise - Sunday, February 8 at 5pm

Do something different in this Valentine's Day and take a Valentine's cruise! You will be enchanted by the melodious rhythms of Kazwa, an African-Brazilian band performing music from Salvador, Bahia, reggae, and other world music. Enjoy a buffet-style dinner, dance show, and a DJ spinning current rhythms. The cruise is enclosed and will be heated. The price includes a three-hour cruise, buffet dinner, open bar, a dance show, and endless opportunities to dance or simply listen to Kazwa.

To learn more contact Joanna Allen at (917) 696-1220 or at jsallen@bww.com.

Marco Polo Cruises
New York Sky Ports
E. 23rd Street & FDR
New York, NY 10010

Artist's Choice: Vik Muniz, Rebus - Now through Feb 24

The Brazilian Vik Muniz is the ninth artist to participate in Artist's Choice, a series of exhibitions in which an artist serves as curator, selecting works from MoMA's vast collection to create an exhibition. In his work, Muniz inventively questions the function and traditions of visual representation by using unlikely materials to render the subjects in his photographs.

For this exhibition, Muniz has chosen a rebus—a combination of unrelated visual and linguistic elements to create a larger deductive meaning-as the organizing principle of his presentation. The exhibition will feature approximately 80 works of sculpture, photography, painting, prints, drawings, video, and design objects selected and installed by the artist in a narrative sequence to create surprising juxtapositions and new meanings. Among the artists whose work will be on view are John Baldessari, Gordon Matta-Clark, Nan Goldin, Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, Eugène Atget, and Rachel Whiteread. Design objects will range from a wooden pencil and a kitchen pail, to a Rubik's Cube and finally, an Exit sign.

For more information, visit http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/exhibitions.php?id=9695&ref=calendar.

The Museum of Modern Art - MOMA
Special Exhibitions Gallery, third floor.
11 West 53rd Street
New York City
(212) 708-9400

Carnival Party at Samba Tropical - Friday, February 20 at 10pm

Samba Nation (www.sambanation.org) is organizing a Carnival party in Samba
school style. There will be drums and dancers all night long! Head to Samba Tropical in Queens to join the celebration.

Samba Tropical (formerly Made in Brazil)
35-48 31 St.
Astoria, NY 11106
(718) 777-8506 

An individual review session at Brazil Station.

We will have several new Group Classes starting in the coming weeks. Other groups may also be formed based on demand.

1. Música Brasil - Samba, Bossa Nova e MPB
This is a group class for people who like Brazilian music and want to learn more about this fascinating part of Brazilian history. The course will examine and distinguish Brazilian popular music from the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s in the context of musical, political, and cultural movements.

Música Brasil - Samba, Bossa Nova e MPB group class in English will start on Thursday, February 12 at 8pm.

2. Travel Class on Friday, February 13 at 7pm. We can help you maximize your trip to Brazil with a two-hour group class designed to help you understand what to expect when you travel. In this group, you will learn the essentials about the culture and language of Brazil, including:

• What to expect when you arrive in Brazil
• How to travel inside Brazil
• Where to shop and find good entertainment 
• When, where, and how much to tip 
• How to say important words and phrases

3. N1B - Beginner Level 1 group class will start on Thursday, February 19 at 6:15pm. It is for people with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.

4. N1BS - Beginner Level 1 group class for Spanish Speakers will start on Wednesday, February 18 at 8pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.


5. N2B - Beginner Level 2 group class will start on Wednesday, February 18 at 6:15pm. It is for people who have some knowledge of Portuguese.

6. N2BS - Beginner Level 2 group class for Spanish Speakers will start on Saturday, February 7 at 3pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with some knowledge of Portuguese.

7. N3B - Beginner Level 3 group class will start on Wednesday, February 11 at 6:15pm. It is for people with a decent knowledge of Portuguese.

8. N2IS - Intermediate Level 2 group class will start on Tuesday, February 24 at 6:15pm. It is for people who are familiar with the subjunctive tense.

Contact us to assess your current level and to discuss your goals for learning at (646) 287-6645 or Newsletter@BrazilStation.com.

We offer Private and Semi-private classes from Monday to Saturday. You can start taking classes with us at any day, any time. In addition to our traditional Portuguese classes, Brazil Stationalso offers Portuguese for Spanish and Italian Speakers, Business Portuguese, and Travel Classes. We teach off-site classes and Corporate Language Education as well. Contact us to find the right programs for you!

Last year we posted some cheesy lines to honor Valentine's Day. We were asked for some more ideas (we think they worked in 2008!) so here we have a brand new list of totally cheesy pick up lines. Happy Valentine's Day!

Você sempre vem aqui? Do you come here often?

Você tem um mapa? Eu estou sempre me perdendo em seus olhos.
Do you have a map? I just keep on getting lost in your eyes.

Eu não sabia que anjos podem voar tão baixo, pois você está aqui.
I didn't know that angels could fly so low, because here you are.

Eu sou novo na cidade. Você poderia me dizer onde fica seu bar favorito?
I'm new in town. Could you give me directions to your favorite bar?

Onde você esteve durante toda minha existência? Where have you been all my life?

Suas pernas devem estar cansadas, pois você tem andado em minha mente a noite toda.
Your legs must be tired because you've been running through my mind all night.

Você deve ser uma grande ladra, pois você roubou meu coração.
You must be a great thief, because you stole my heart.

Eu te conheço? Você se parece muito com a minha próxima namorada.
Do I know you? Because you look a lot like my next girlfriend.