Friday’s Rio Nightlife Pick – RUN VDG is back for their annual Carnival edition, which is by far one of the year’s best parties up on the Vidigal mountain. Held down for more than four years, RUN VDG is the staple party for Casa Alto Vidigal, playing host to a variety of international and local DJs, playing the best in house, tech house, disco and more. Tonight’s star studded event will feature DJs from Poland, U.S., U.K and Rio.
First up on the decks will be U.K minimal house DJ and RUN resident Jody King. Next up is American transplant and long time RUN resident Mike Frugaletti, playing his brand of chunky funky house. The special guest for the night is M.Sheffler, from Poland, dropping some deep house. He will be followed by Buzios based RUN resident Mahara, dropping her tech house beats. If you have never seen the sun come up in the morning at Alto Vidigal, you are missing something special about Rio de Janeiro.
BLOCOS:
Bloco: Banda do Lido (Copacabana)
Banda do Lido is one of the more traditional and old block parties of Rio, attracting around 1500 people in the South Zone with the classic marches of Carnival samba.
Banda do Lido – 7PM – 10PM
Route: Ronald de Carvalho, Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, Prado Junior, Avenida Atlântica, Duvivier, returning on Ronald de Carvalho
Entrance: Free
Bloco: Bloco Virtual (Leme)
Virtual Bloco was born in 2000 and consists of 50 drummers, a sound car and musicians playing samba. The bloco is expected to draw around 6,000 people.
Banda do Lido – 7PM – 11PM
Route: Avenida Atlântica, next to Calçadão da Padre Antonio Vieira until a Praça Almirante Julio de Noronha (No Procession)
Entrance: Free
LIVE:
Ensaios do Monobloco (Lapa)
Rio’s favorite percussion band Monobloco returns yet again to Fundição Progresso for their annual Ensaio, kicking off the Carnival season in true Monobloco style. Expect to hear hits from their newest album “Arrastão da Alegria”.
Fundição Progresso – 11PM
Rua dos Arcos 24, Lapa – Tel: (21) 2220-5070
Entrance: R$80
CLUBS:
Becape (Gávea)
Get your hip hop on today at the classic party Becape at Gavea’s very own restaurant/ club 00 (Zero Zero). Resident DJ Saddame welcomes JR Mahr.
00 (Zero Zero) – 10PM
Av. Padre Leonel Franca 240, Gávea – Tel: (21) 2540-8041
Entrance: R$30
RUN VDG- Carnival Edition (Vidigal)
Alto Vidigal is back in action with their bi-monthly party Run VDG. This is a special going away party for long time resident DJ Mahara as she embarks on a move to São Paulo. Showing support is Botafogo Social Club DJ Mike Frugaletti, throwing down some thick bass heavy house music. On top of the killer tunage, nothing beats the view from on top of the hill.
Casa Alto Vidigal – 11PM
Rua Armando de Almeida Lima, 2, Vidigal – Tel:(21)3322-3034
Entrance: R$20 with guestlist, R$30 without
MÚSICA BRASILEIRA:
Carnival do Carlinhos e Salgueiro (Lapa)
Samba in Lapa is alive tonight at Lapa 40º with the group Carnival do Carlinhos e Salgueiro . Enjoy live music and a hefty roster of local and imported beers.
Lapa 40º – 11:30 PM
Rua do Riachuelo 97, Lapa – Tel: (21) 3147-9005
Entrance: R$30 for men, R$20 for women
Holy Jazz + Quinteto Nuclear (Centro)
The idea of the band Nuclear Quintet was born in Boston, while the trumpeter and saxophonist Dan Sebastian Marcelo Santos studied at Berklee College of Music. Come experience their jazz infused night at Santo Scenarium.
Santo Scenarium – 6:30PM
Rua do Lavradio 36, Centro – Tel: (21) 3147-9007
Entrance: R$10
PUBS & BARS:
Gringo Cafe (Ipanema)
Come get your U.S.A. on at the Gringo Cafe, featuring all things great about America, including beers, food and atmosphere. Enjoy mac ‘n’ cheese, sliders, Heineken and more.
Gringo Cafe – 11AM
Rua Barão da Torre 240 Loja A, Ipanema- Tel: (21) 3813-3972
Entrance: Free
Mud Bug (Copacabana)
With two locations in Copacabana, Mud Bug provides a great selection of beers and food. There isn’t much missing from this American-style staple where you can hear live jazz, blues, MPB and rock from time to time.
Mud Bug – 5PM
Rua Rudolpho Dantas 16, Copacabana – Tel:(21) 2543-5052
Entrance: Free
Mab’s Restaurant and Bar (Copacabana)
The new American-owned beachfront restaurant and bar on Copacabana Beach is a great place for food and drinks.
Restaurante Mab’s – 9PM
Avenida Atlantica 1140, Copacabana – Tel: (21) 2275-7299
Entrance: Free
Lapa Irish Pub (Lapa)
If you are up for some Irish beer and a nice environment to drink it in, this is the place to go. With its trendy decor, this pub attracts many different kinds of people and offers London Pride and Heineken beer on draft.
Lapa Irish Pub – 5PM
Rua Evaristo da Veiga 147, Lapa – Tel (21) 2221.7236
Entrance: R$20
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