Rio de Janeiro pre-Carnival is in full swing and today is starting with one of the best parades in the season: Me Esquece (Forget Me), moving along Leblon Beach towards Jardim da Alah on the border with Ipanema. Run and you'll catch them - the fun will go into the afternoon.
This bloco has the vibe of a samba school, with a strong percussion band made up of over 100 members and its own theme samba (this year's theme samba, especially its chorus, is super catchy - "Pode vir a pé, de buzão ou de Chevette...").
The percussion even has a muse, like samba schools - Karen Motta, formerly from popular TV show Caldeirão do Huck, who's also going to parade with São Clemente this year. The puxador de samba (lead singer) in Me Esquece, Igor Sorriso, is from this samba school with South Side origins. Free.
But wait, there's more!
- Noon: Calma, Calma sua Piranha! is parading in Botafogo at noon (start at the corner of Rua Visconde de Caravelas and Real Grandeza). Free
- 4 p.m. Vai Tomar no Grajaú. The party stays at the corner of Rua Engenheiro Richard and Mearim, in Grajaú. This is some of the best street Carnival in the North Side, free and great for families.
- 4 p.m. Volta, Alice is rehearsing at Rua do Mercado, Praça XV, in Centro. Free.
- 5 p.m. Gigantes da Lira Carnival Ball, one of the top events for kids in Rio Carnival, at Circo Voador in Lapa. As of this writing, there are still tickets on Ingresso.com.br (the party is under "Shows") and the Circo Voador box office will open an hour before the party.
- 7 p.m. Barbas is having an open, free rehearsal from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Praça Mauro Duarte, a square in Botafogo (I just found out about it on "Carnaval Virtual)
- 7:30 p.m.Grand Finals and Carnival Ball at Fundição Progresso
And these are just a few top picks. Find more street Carnival parades in Rio de Janeiro in these sources:
- Rio de Janeiro Official Street Carnival Guide 2012
- Carnaval Virtual (which has its own Bloco Virtual)
- Street Carnival Guide by Diário do Rio de Janeiro
- Facebook Street Carnival Guide by Antarctica beer
Rio de Janeiro Carnival Guide 2012
Photo: Me Esquece. Publius Vergilius/Courtesy of Riotur.