By Jay Forte, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After providing local and national English-language news to the community of foreigners in Brazil, as well as readers abroad, The Rio Times recently announced their seven-year anniversary party. The event will be held in Ipanema on Saturday, May 7th, from 3PM to 10PM at the Casa Mosquito boutique hotel, in partnership with sponsor Rekorderlig Cider.
The Rio Times launched in 2009, has had over two hundred freelance reporters writing for them and published almost 10,000 articles. Although set up to become the local community source of information in the city, the news agency has also covered the major events that have caught international attention, from Rio’s UPP (Police Pacification Program), to hosting the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
Editor and Publisher, Stone Korshak, explains, “It is striking to think about how much the city has changed in seven years, with the UPP in almost forty favela communities, the huge ups-and-downs of the oil and gas industry… and the national economy. Or the way the General Osório metro stop has opened access to Ipanema, and all these new metro stations under construction through Leblon will continue to reshape life in Rio.”
The location for the party is at the Casa Mosquito, a boutique hotel opened in 2011 by two french expatriates in Rio, Benjamin Cano Planès and Louis Planès. Housed in a former family home, the hotel has four bedrooms in the original building and a further five in a new extension which also features a roof-top bar, swimming pool and 360-degree views of Rio.
Helping make the event possible is Rekorderlig Cider, who are sponsoring the party and offering free samples along with raffle prize give-aways. Rekorderlig has just come to Brazil in March 2016, but for the last two decades it has been made in a small Swedish town called Vimmerby, and available internationally from London to New York, Auckland and Sydney.
The brand’s representative in Brazil, English-expatriate Russell Browne, explains why they are excited to be part of the event. “Rekorderlig Cider is a new brand to Brazil and being invited to be at The Rio Times 7-Year Anniversary party is a great opportunity to let people try us for the first time.”
He adds, “We want to show them or remind them what they’ve been missing out on. The blend of apple and pear cider with fruit notes of strawberry-lime, or passionfruit, served chilled over-ice appears to be a winning combination for Rio’s hot weather. We merely want people to enjoy trying us and enhance a great event by adding some Beautifully Swedish style.”
In addition to the amazing location, sponsored drinks – there will be a complete bar and food menu also available from Casa Mosquito – music will be provided by DJ Slim. Egyptian by way of England, DJ Slim has become a favorite with his funky-soul sounds and crowd-moving beats.
This year’s anniversary party will also have a raffle, with one ticket free as part of the entrance fee. Additional tickets will be sold throughout the day and evening, with prizes ranging from Rekorderlig samples, a free day use at Casa Mosquito to a R$900 package of one-on-one Portuguese lessons from Leblon language school, Portugues Carioca. More prizes and details will be announced this week.
Space will be limited so those interested should put their name on the official list by pre-paying for the entrance. Updates of new promotions and partners will be posted on the Facebook Event page.
What: The Rio Times 7-Year Anniversary Party
When: Saturday, May 7th, from 3PM to 10PM
Where: Casa Mosquito Rooftop, Rua Saint Roman 222, Ipanema, RJ
Entrance: R$50 pre-sale, At door (cash only): R$60 until 7PM, R$70 after 7PM