Rio de Janeiro's Historic Downtown (Centro Histórico) just keeps getting better and better, thanks to the reurbanization of the area, restored cultural landmarks such as Theatro Municipal and its restaurants and happy hour.

Rua do Rosário is one of the attractive streets in Centro Histórico which has a string of handsome historical constructions, some of which now house eateries. The rosary in the street's name evokes a church located on Rua Uruguaiana where it intersects with Rosário: Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário e São Benedito dos Homens Pretos, where a new museum dedicated to African-Brazilian heritage opened last Monday, May 13 (Abolition of Slavery Day in Brazil).

Rua do Rosário has a historic church of its own - Igreja da Venerável Ordem de Nossa Senhora da Conceição e Boa Morte, built in 1735. It's on the corner of Avenida Rio Branco.

The street has several places to eat, from nice franchises such as Spoleto (at #140) to one-of-a-kind spots or branches of nice multi-address restaurants such as these:

• At #24:Casual Retro
  Portuguese food is one of Rio's strengths, and this place is no exception to the appetizing rule.
  Phone: 55-21-2233-6904
• At #30: Al-Farabi
  A unique spot (restaurant + book shop) serving Middle Eastern food.
  Phone: 55-21-2233-0879
• At #34: Brasserie Rosario
  A well-known Rio fave with live music (including fine jazz)
  Phone: 55-21-2518-3033
• At #36: Lampadosa
  I learned from Rio de Janeiro culinary writer Fabio Codeço about this new place (opened last April) by Luciano Pires, owner of Cais do Oriente, and his fiancee, chef Simone Almeida.
  Phone: 55-21-2223-0144
• At #84: Expresso dos Alpes
  Ana Rita Ulyssea's cute cafe serves light meals as well as coffee, chocolate and pastries.
  Phone: 55-21-2516-0816
• At #107: Esch
  The Leblon branch of Rio's famous cigar lounge (which also has a São Paulo address) gets more hype and celebs, but this spot has a vibe all its own.
  55-21-2507-5866

Right across from Expresso dos Alpes is one side of the outstanding Galeria Sul America, designed by J. Gire and R. Prentice and with retrofit by Tishman Speyer. The building with a ground floor open to the public occupies the block outlined by Rua da Quitanda, Rua do Rosário, Rua do Carmo and Rua do Ouvidor.

Note that because the area has so many office buildings, public institutions and shops, many of the eateries close on weekends; check opening hours before you go.

Photos by Alexandre Macieira/Riotur

Unidos da Tijuca, one of the top samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, will commemorate F1 racing car driver Ayrton Senna (1960-1994) in their 2014 Carnival parade.

The theme was officially announced last night in an event at Cidade do Samba which was attended by Viviane Senna, Ayrton's sister and the president of Instituto Ayrton Senna, as well as by carnavalesco (Carnival director) Paulo Barros and Unidos da Tijuca president Fernando Horta.

Horta said that he had long wanted to pay homage to the famous driver, who died in an accident on Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy. "I always followed F1 and I was an Ayrton Senna fan," said Horta. "It is fitting that I should fulfill my old wish [and pay homage to Senna] in 2014, when it will be 20 years since he left us."

Paulo Barros, whose creativity has led to a series of stunning Unidos da Tijuca parades in recent years, including the 2010 and 2012 titles, said that this is more than a biographical theme. "Ayrton is symbol of heroism, thrills, emotion, passion. That's what I'll bring to the avenue."

Viviane Senna said she felt honored by the school's decision: "It couldn't be in better hands; Paulo puts feeling and his heart into his work, as my brother did." As president of IAS, she continues her brother's wish to do something for Brazilian children. The non-governmental organization dedicated to education and development has helped 2 million children in 1,500 cities.

Unidos da Tijuca:

• unidosdatijuca.com.br
• www.facebook.com/gresutijuca
• Unidos da Tijuca on YouTube

One of the most important celebrations in Brazil's African heritage tourism, Bembé do Mercado will start tomorrow in Santo Amaro, Bahia. The feast with a strong focus on the Candomblé religion commemorates the Abolition of Slavery of Brazil on May 13, 1888 and has been held nearly every year since 1899.

This year is special for Bembé participants as it will be the first time the event takes place since it was officially listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Bahia in 2012. The program (see it on Africas.com.br) includes several performances by cultural groups, traditional Afro-Brazilian expressions such as samba de roda and samba chula, and Candomblé rites held in a tent with great religious symbolism which is set up every year specially for the event.

The festivities close with a procession to nearby Itapema Beach and the offering of a gift to Iemanjá, the orisha (Candomblé deity) of the waters.

The town of Santo Amaro, located just about 41 miles from Salvador, is in the Recôncavo Baiano region, rich in African heritage manifestations, including the Feast of Good Death. In the US, Afro Brazil Tours & Travel offer trips to the region.

• Bembé do Mercado, May 13-19, 2013 in Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil

Before hosting FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 (June 15-30) and 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, Salvador's newly opened host stadium - Arena Fonte Nova - is hosting the first of two matches in the 2013 Bahia soccer tournament finals.

The first match in the finals and the third Ba-Vi (Bahia vs. Vitoria, the local classic) to take place in the new stadium is tomorrow at 4 p.m. The second game in the finals will be played on May 19 at Vitória's home arena: Manoel Barradas Stadium, better known as Barradão,  in Salvador's Canabrava district.

Vitória, which won the first two classics at the new Fonte Nova, will try to break a 18-year stint without beating Bahia three times in a row. The match will not be played to the noise of caxirolas (pronounced ca-shee-RO-las), the "Brazilian vuvuzela". The Bahia Military Police announced last Thursday that the instruments have been banned from the stadium because they were thrown on the pitch by disgruntled Bahia fans last April 28, the first test event.

The first Confederations Cup match at Fonte Nova will be Nigeria vs. Uruguay, on June 20. The arena received a positive evaluation from the Local Organizing Committee after the test event.

Committee CEO Ricardo Trade, in an interview to the Brazilian government's official Portal da Copa (www.copa2014.gov.br), reinforced the importance of test events to detect problems and praised the arena's beauty and efficiency.

Trade also noted the positive efforts on the part of the city of Salvador regarding urban mobility.

• Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil