By Maíra Amorim, Senior Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – New Year’s Eve on Copacabana is one of the most famous in the world, but crossing years in Rio is not all about the beach. As Copacabana gets more and more crowded, some Cariocas (Rio locals) are preferring to spend the big night elsewhere. If you are searching for an alternative though, you better hurry up, as tickets to New Year’s Eve parties are sell out very quickly despite of the steep prices.
For the 4th time, there is going to be a party at Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) with the Samba school Império Serrano and the band Soul de Quem Quiser set to perform. It’s a huge event that includes an open bar (with whiskey, vodka, beer and champagne) and even breakfast, which allows people to see the sun raising from the top of the hills.
The first lot of tickets is already sold out and prices to this exclusive party are now R$450 (women) and R$500 (men) or R$850 for VIP entrances which guarantee tables and seats and free access to all areas of Pão de Açúcar. It might look expensive, but this party gets full every year.
Riocentro, in Barra da Tijuca, will host the Reveillon Planeta Rio. The location is not particularly attractive, but they are compensating for that with Jorge Ben Jor, who has a set of songs that seem made for New Year’s Eve. The musical line-up also includes DJ Ros, DJ Danado (axé), Charles and Juliano (country music) and Salgueiro Samba School. Tickets are R$170 (women) and R$190 (men). If you would like to go to VIP area, prices are R$240 (women) and R$260 (men). Open bar, dinner and breakfast are included.
Another popular party happens every year at Museu de Arte Moderna (MAM), at Aterro do Flamengo, where you have a very nice view of Guanabara Bay. DJs Janot (MPB), Tubarão (funk), Tartaruga, Léo and Gabriel (country), Juan Diaz (deep house), Teclas (house), Dri.K (electronic), Giovanetti (electronic) and Rodrigo Loyola will play at the two dance floors. To stay in form with the above parties, a Samba School is also going to perform. Women pay R$330 and men R$390.
Rogê, Diogo Nogueira, DJ Adriano (house and funk), DJ Saddan (hip-hop) and Mangueira Samba School are the attractions at Reveillon Lagoa, which will take place at Flamengo Remo School, on the margins of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas and a nice view to the Christmas tree. R$340 to women and R$390 to men.
Jockey Club, also at Lagoa, is promoting the party Rio Reveillon with the presences of Monobloco, Groove Box, Império Serrano Samba School, DJs Nelsinho, Carol Sutter, Ricardo Estrella and Mind the Gap. R$280 (women) and R$330 (men).
Costa Brava Club, which overlooks the ocean at Barra da Tijuca, will receive DJ Marlboro (funk), DJ Bernardo Malta, Grande Rio Samba School, DJ Helen Sancho, DJ Shark, Black Alien, DH Nath Carreiro and Gabe. R$400 (women) and R$450 (men).
If you’d like to spend New Year’s Eve on the sea, Yacht Charter offers boats and yatchs with different options of menu and music with prices from R$300 to R450.
Other places that are having New Year’s Eve parties are Hotel Santa Teresa, Hotel Intercontinental (in São Conrado), Hotel Ouro Verde (Copacabana), Monte Líbano Club (Lagoa) and Hípica (Lagoa).
Following are the web sites for the above mentioned parties:
Réveillon Pão de Açúcar
Planeta Rio 2010 (Riocentro)
Réveillon Cidade Maravilhosa (MAM)
Réveillon da Lagoa
Réveillon do Costa Brava
Yacht Charter
Hotel Santa Teresa
Hotel Intercontinental
Réveillon da Hípica
Hotel Ouro Verde (Copabana)
Monte Líbano