Carl Spanoghe's blog

One of my favorite things about visiting Brazil is regarding the African influence on the culture. The food, the rythms, the dance the clothing, the lengends; it gives me a truly warm feeling inside. Coming from a Zimbabwean family, these aspects of Brazil bring back fond memories of my childhood experiencing those same things. READ MORE>

 For all you Carnival fans unfortunate enough not to be in Brazil right now (like me), YouTube is streaming Carnival live. It also features a live Twitter/Facebook stream below. To shout out your Carnival excitement, just make a status update on one of those services with the word #ytcarnaval - Check it out! http://www.youtube.com/carnaval?feature=ticker READ MORE>

 
StreetSmartBrazil.com is back up and running!  There still may be a few hiccups, so if you find any, please don''t hesitate to use our contact form http://streetsmartbrazil.com/contact
Thanks for hanging in there!
Carl READ MORE>

We've got one-click login working now.  You'll notice on the pages where you can log in (blog, forum, etc), that there are some icons for social networks.  If you click on one, it will log you in using that social network. Then, you have two options:

-If you don't yet have an account, you can follow the prompts to create an account, and you're done! READ MORE>

In November, we wrote about the exhibition "When Lives Become Form: Contemporary Brazilian Art, 1960's to Present” at the Yerba Buena Center of the Arts. We went and had a great time. Now John Shepherd, the film curator there, has written us about a very interesting event that is happening this week.   READ MORE>

 For our readers in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is a particularly delicious deal in Brazilian cuisine today (and today only).  Actually, it is Brazilian/Italian, but the pao de queijo and the caipirinhas are out-of-this world.  Groupon is offering 53% off by selling $75 coupons for just $35.   READ MORE>

Just in time for the holidays! Street Smart Brazil offers Gift Certificates. These are a great way to include your friends in the conversation.  We offer several exciting packages. Each gives the benefit of one-on-one classes with an expert Street Smart Brazil instructor. Classes can be taken in person (in San Francisco, CA) or over the web using Skype. Need something different?  Contact us to design a custom gift package. READ MORE>

There is a new place in the Blogosphere to read about what is going on in Brazil. The Good Blood is a blog by a Brazilian in Canada named Eloisa Aquino.  She writes about a variety of interesting stories including but not limited to: odd occurrences, lifestyles, art and culture, socio-economic issues, and politics.  Each blog entry is short, to the point, often witty, and will lead you to places you don't find on other blogs about Brazil.   READ MORE>

 Just finished the latest Street Smart Brazil flyer.  Look for it in a cafe near you, and get 5% off of 3 classes when you sign up by December 1, 2009.  (applies to regular classes for new clients only)

 We're pleased to announce that StreetSmartBrazil.com 2.0 is finally here.  After many days of intense work, we are ready to launch the new website.  It includes an integrated blog, a snazzy look, and most importantly, a forums section where students and non-students alike can meet to discuss anything from language, to culture, to their favorite Pagode in the city they like to visit.  

A few things to check out while you're here: READ MORE>