For those of you that have been to Sao Paulo, you are probably familiar with well-to-do parts of the city. If you have been out at all, you've seen the flash, the tony bars and restaurants, the expensive shopping, and the haute upper class taking their helicopters to the office. Ultimately, this is the Sao Paulo that I have been living (minus the helicopter transport). Each night to new great bars and restaurants, working, living and going out in all the most well heeled neighbourhoods. But, something was missing. An edge. Some grit. A bit of scandale. Oh, my friend, I have found you. I have met, and fallen in love, with the gritty underbelly of Sao Paulo: the Trash Jardins.
The Trash Jardins (named so due to its proximity to Jardins, the toniest of tony areas), along Rua Augusta is the red light district of Sao Paulo that has somehow morphed into a night owl's heaven of all night, underground clubs, interesting red light type sights, GLBT parties (known as GLS here) and everything in between. It's NYC's Lower East Side meets Amsterdam's Red Light District meets San Fran's Castro all rolled into one Brazilian adventure.
This past weekend, on our 4th stop of the night, after shutting down clubs in other neighbourhoods, I once again encountered my new number one destination. This weekend's haunt, Las Vegas, offered anything its namesake should. What happens in Vegas, really should always stay in Vegas so I won't divulge more. Except to say, when we stumbled out into the street past 7 am to the blinding light, there were only two choices: Are we driving to the beach (150kms away) or going for breakfast?
We chose breakfast (this weekend) but next time there likely will be a Sunday beach party involved. For my upcoming guests, rest up, we're headed to Rua Augusta and we won't be home till morning.
For further reading, check out this 2009 NY Times article refering to the rising star that is the newly named Caixa Augusta (aka TJ to me).
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