Nightlife

In June and July, Vila Capivari’s bars are stuffed to the gills, particularly those on Avenida Macedo Soares and Rua Djalma Fojaz (also known as Boulevard Geneve). Baden Baden (Rua Djalma Fojaz 93, tel. 12/3663-3659, www.badenbaden.com.br, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Sun.–Thurs., 11 a.m.–2 a.m. Fri.–Sat.), is the spot to see and be seen while quaffing the delicious house-brewed beer and munching on large portions of sauerkraut with German sausage.

After 10 p.m., roving twenty- and thirty-somethings take to the dance floor at hot spots such as Winter Lounge (Rua José Oliveira Damas 500, Capivari, tel. 12/8187-8905, 11 p.m.–close Fri.–Sun., R$40–50). One of the town’s more grown-up danceterias, its signature sound is “psytrance”—electronic music with a psychedelic edge that combines heavy guitar riffs with sounds from nature (e.g., wailing winds and crashing waves).

Festivals and Events

One of Brazil’s premier festivals of erudite music, the Festival de Inverno (www.festivalcamposdojordao.org.br) is the high point of Campos’s calendar. Each July, renowned musicians, choirs, symphonies, and chamber music groups from all over the world come and perform in churches, auditoriums, and the Praça da Vila Capivari.

© Michael Sommers from Moon Brazil, 2nd Edition