Old headquarters of Clube Curitibano

The picture taken on the night of August 21st from the corner of Tobias de Macedo and John M.Garcez, shows the Generoso Marques Square and at the center of the photo and in the background, a bright building in the corner of Rio Branco and Flower Streets. This is an important building for the history of Curitiba. Inspired by the modernist movement, it was built where a mansion housed the Curitibano Club (the most important club of Curitiba). Property of the club, construction started in 1947 and completed in 1950. The club occupied the space until 1968 when it was moved to it current location at Agua Verde District. This building was an important landmark to all residents and tourists and was considered to be one of the most luxurious address in Curitiba.
The degradation engulfed the building in the 90s. In 2005 the building was bought by the J. Malucelli Group. The design and restoration of the building took two years to materialize and it was conducted in partnership with UFPR, professionals and students of engineering and architecture. 

New immigrants

Curitiba has always received immigrants and has its history marked by their presence. Today the flow is much smaller than it once was. The couple of the photo at Flower Street seems to be from Brazil`s neighboring countries who commonly come to Curitiba to show their art (crafts or music).

The bond of the sweethearts

We have returned home after a long and tiring trip! What brings pleasure to a trip is the planning, the trip itself and the way back home. We had a wonderful time in New York but we were very happy to be home again.

And not to miss a post, I will post a picture of the archives. The girl of the picture appear in one of my posts during the last carnival in Brasil when a zombie walk took place at that time. The young couple was walking and talking at Flower Street connected to each other by a chain as if it was perfectly normal.

The flowers of the Flower Street

Keeping the flowers theme, the trees of Flower Street also blossom. The flowers look like the cherry blossom but as far as I know, the cherry trees as concentrated at Japan Square only, as a gift of the Emperor of Japan.

Yesterday we had a bonus in NYC watching the Broadway at Bryant Park for free. Awesome! Today we are going to SoHo, Tribeca, Village.

Sunday of art at Flower Street

On Sundays at Flowe Street, the rushing crowd of weekdays is replaced by people walking around, by musicians and artists, as the designer sat in front of the Palace Avenue, drawing a portrait, while his bench mate is reading a book.

The reader of Flower Street in Curitiba

It is Sunday afternoon of a cold day, but not enough to keep you at home. Maybe after a good lunch and a candy at Confeitaria das Famílias at Flower Street, a very nice option to spend the rest of the afternoon would be to sit on a bench surrounded by colorful flowers, open a good book and enjoy this nice moment by yourself.

South Africa, here we come!

The short and discrete period that the Brazilian Soccer Team was concentrated in Curitiba, has left to the city a new decoration of the Flower Street, an exhibition at the Memorial of Curitiba (which I intend to visit), the Cable Car with the colors of the Brazilian flag and a new monument next to the clock of the Boca Maldita, presenting the escalation of all Brazilian Soccer teams of the past that have won the World Cup.

The team has left Brazil to South Africa and next month, Brazil will stop to follow the World Cup. No doubt there is no other event that could mobilize the Brazilians as the World Cup can and there is nothing cooler than follow the games in the company of friends (since Brazil plays well and win of course!).

The Brazilian Soccer Team at Curitiba

The Brazilian soccer team is at Curitiba for the pre-season prior to departure for the World Cup in South Africa. The players and the coach Dunga arrived at Curitiba on July, 21st. The Brazilian team will stay in Curitiba until Wednesday, when they will head to South Africa.

The city of Curitiba has prepared a series of actions to mark the passage of the Brazilian Soccer Team in town. The fountain of Santos Andrade Square was painted to resemble the Brazilian flag. The Boardwalk of the Flower was decorated with green and yellow lanterns and streamers were hang on 141 street poles reminding the years that Brazil was champion. All the flowers of the Flower Street were replaced with yellow flowers.

Not only flowers at Flower Street

This Sunday I walked the entire length of the Flower Street because I heard it was fully featured with flowers and elements of communication (yellow and green), in allusion to the achievements of Brazil in World Cups. It was quite nice actually, as I will show in coming posts.

One situation however caught my attention and I must say that caused some discomfort. In some parts of the street, groups of homeless people occupied parts of the sidewalk and one of them was a little hostile (they want no photographs).

A research published in 2008 by the Ministry of Social Development, reported that 2,776 people lived on the streets of Curitiba. This research, conducted in late 2007, was applied to people living in public spaces, abandoned buildings, churches, shelters and hostels. According to the survey, almost 90% is not supported by government programs, but 72% of them exerted some paid work (the most cited activity was the collection of material for recycling). Regarding the reasons for being on the streets, the major reasons were: involvement with drugs, including alcohol (36%), unemployment (30%) and family conflicts (29%). At that time the Foundation for Social Action (FAS) of the City of Curitiba didn’t agree with those numbers, because at that time they have conducted themselves a research that pointed a population of 1,100 people living under these conditions on the streets of Curitiba. The FAS has programs for this population aiming their literacy and professional training and also circulates through the streets of Curitiba, collecting and taking homeless to the shelters.

Taking a nap at Flower Street

On a Sunday morning, returning to the Praça Santos Andrade right after a section of photographs at the Paço da Liberdade and surrounding areas, I spotted this guy taking a nap on a bench at XV de Novembro street. I took the photo trying not to disturb his rest.

The Mignon Bar and The Triângulo Bar

The Mignon Bar occupies the current address since 1946 and it is a traditional meeting point of Curitiba. Among its culinary options, we can find is the "pork with green sandwich (Pernil com verde)", which recipe comes from the founding family, brought directly from Calabria and never revealed.

The Tiângulo Bar was opened in 1934. Its'popular name is Hot Dog, due to its peculiar light sign. The triangle of neon, with the dog in the center, continues to illuminate the façade of the bohemian curitibanas nights.

From the tables of both bars at the Flower street (Calçadão), you can have a good cold beer with friends, have a snack and watch the crowd up and down the street.

The Cable Car of XV de Novembro Street

The cable car ("Bondinho"), one of the landmarks of XV de Novembro Street or the Flower Street, the heart of Curitiba, was installed in October 1973. Since then, it has hosted an area of recreational activities and art for children from three to ten years old, under the responsibility of the Cultural Foundation of Curitiba.

In 2005, after a year and a half of no activities, the trolley went through some reforms in commemoration of the then 312 years of Curitiba.

Unfortunatly since November 2008, cultural activities and recreation in the cable car were discontinued due to lack of space, according to a spokesperson of the Cultural Foundation. The classes of painting on paper were transferred to the Public Promenade.

Merry Christmas!

With this photograph of Palácio Avenida decorated for Christmas time, I would like to wish you a very merry Christmas. Peace, Joy and good food to everybody.

Children Christmas Choral of Palácio Avenida

Yesterday I saw for the first time in Curitiba, a presentation of the Palácio Avenida Children Christmas Choral. The number of people crowded at Flower Street in front of the HSBC building was impressive. I waited patiently for 45 minutes and the show began promptly at 20:30. For an hour and twenty minutes, the children delighted everyone with their songs and most importantly, by their presence in the windows of the building.

Each child has an "angel" that ensures all the time his safety and assistance for changing clothes. After the presentation, a fireworks display took place and without any incident, all went to their homes.

Here is a text of HSBC talking a little bit of this project that already has 19 years in Curitiba.

The Christmas Choral is formed by 160 children benefited by the HSBC Education Program. This initiative, created in 2001 with the objective of assisting the children of the Choir, is directly linked to the investment of HSBC to reduce the vulnerability of children and promote academic success. Today, besides the 160 choristers, 600 more children in 11 institutions in Curitiba region are part of the program. During the year, all of them receive assistance as:

- Health insurance and dental care;

- Monitoring of school performance, motor development and growth;

- Professional training courses;

- Emotional education classes.

http://www.portaldovoluntariohsbc.com.br

Christmas at the Palácio Avenida

The Palácio Avenida at Flower street is already decorated for Christmas and the presentations of the children's choir of HSBC has already started their presentations. I hope this year have the opportunity to photograph one of the presentations, which this year expects to receive 200 thousand people over 12 presentations. Curitiba is well decorated for Christmas and has been known as the capital of Natal in Brazil.

Curitiba's Flower Street Characters 6

To conclude this series of characters that we meet on Flower street, or the "Calçadão", or simply to XV, I will focus on the most important characters of all: the ordinary people who pass through the most fantastic place in Curitiba every day (or sometimes) for any reason: working, headind school, sightseeing or tourism. They are (or we are) the real atraction of this street. At Flower street, Curitiba happens, Curitiba lives.

Thanks to my son Diogo, who kindly allowed me to use his picutes in this series.

Curitiba's Flower Street Characters 5

Two snapshots of fun at Flower Street. The first, shows children having fun in a toy specially built for them. I do not know if it still happens, but usually on Saturdays, a large roll of paper is open on the sidewalk and a lot of ink and brushes are distribuited to any passing kid that wants to paint whatever comes to their mind.

In the second photo, a "friend" is shown applying a practical joke on his asleep friends.

Curitiba's Flower Street Characters 4

Nowadays few are the opportunities that I have to walk down the Flower street. There was a time that daily I used to pass by The Boca Maldita and I still remember some characters. Like the one that used to jump through a tight circle of knives. Or the one who used to ask his poor assistant to support within his lips a cigarette or a small sheet of paper that was thoroughly shredded by a whip.

The photos show a capoeira circle and the dancers showing their skills.

Curitiba's Flower Street Characters 3

With all these distractions at the Flower street, we will certainly find those who, just like in the pictures above, are there only to look at the scenery, people and events.

Sitting on a bench, sitting in a box on the floor, anchored on the walls of the cafes or wherever it may be possible, the important thing is to secure your place and enjoy.

Curitiba's Flower Street Characters 2

The cultural menu at the Flower Street is quite varied. In any corner where a ring of people is made, in the center you will find an artist who came to Curitiba to disclose his art.

In the first picture, we will find a guy whose music in Brazil is called "Repente". He takes a theme (or people around may suggest one) and he does the lyrics and the music instantly (usually is funny).

The second guy is Plá, a mad-style singer very well known in the streets of Curitiba.