Awards Season

Hollywood loves awards and awards shows, and you should too! 

Whether it's the opportunity to bump into a star in the street, the chance to sit in the audience of the Grammy, or just eyeing the stars as they arrive in their limos outside the annual Oscar ceremonies, Hollywood's numerous award ceremonies provide an excellent opportunity for you to see your favorite stars in person. And not only that but also, maybe, get an invitation for one of the big parties that happen after the shows. 

Maybe you won't get any of that, maybe you won't even see anyone but one thing is true, it's the best time of the year to just be in Hollywood. The city is somehow prettier, full of beautiful people and the energy can be felt from anywhere in L.A. 

Some people don't like this time of the year and some are obsessed about it. For me it was always Ok. I nor hate or love. But it's just my opinion but I think it's because I've lived all this for so long that I actually got a little tired of it. The traffic gets really bad because they close down the streets, it's too noisy with all the screaming and the helicopters but if you are visiting L.A or you are new in town, you've to check it for yourself and feel it. It's part of the Hollywood culture and history so it's always nice to see that. 

Here is a list of the main awards and how you can participate:

1. The 85th annual Academy Awards (known as The Oscars)

It will be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2013,at the Dolby Theatre (formerly known as the Kodak Theatre), at Hollywood & Highland.

The most important annual celebrity event in Show Biz takes place late each winter (usually in late February or early March), right here in Los Angeles. It's Oscar Night, that dazzling evening when the prestigious Academy Awards are presented for the year's best achievements in motion pictures. And it's possible for you to be on the red carpet, watching the celebrity arrivals. You have to go to http://www.oscars.org/insider. But you can't register for this year anymore but keep the address for next year. 

2. The 70th annual Golden Globe Awards 

The awards were presented on Sunday, January 13, 2013, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The hosts were comedy stars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

Click here for a full list of the 2012 nominees & winners.

3. The 55th annual Grammy Awards 

It will be given out on Sunday, February 10, 2013, at the Staples Center in downtown L.A.

Nominees include The Black Keys, Kelly Clarkson, fun., Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen, Adele, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Mumford & Sons, Bruce Springsteen, Usher, R. Kelly, Kanye West, Nas, Carrie Underwood, and many others. The Grammy Award is the granddaddy of all music awards, dating back over four decades; it is to music what the Oscars are to the movies. (The name "Grammy" is short for "gramophone," since the awards are shaped like those old-fashioned phonographs). Tickets to the annual Grammy Awards show are not available to the general public; it's "by invitation only" to nominees, recording artists, & record company execs.

4. The annual Emmy Awards Show 

The 65th annual show will take place on Sunday, September 22, 2013.

This is television's biggest night. TV's version of the Oscars have been awarded 

each summer since 1948 by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and over 600 million viewers (in 85 countries) tune in to watch. Virtually every star of the small screen shows up, and the good news is that you can watch them in person. 

Tickets: Unlike the Oscars, it is possible for the public to buy tickets to the Emmy awards show. All you have to do is request an order form by sending an email to latiolait@emmys.org.

5. The American Music Awards show 

The show will take place in November 2013. 

It's broadcast live on network TV each year. It attracts the biggest names in the music business, who appear live on stage as performers, presenters, recipients, and/or hosts. This show isn't really about awards so much as it is about musical performances (acceptance speeches are limited to 45 seconds). 

And believe it or not, you can attend this annual star-studded night of live entertainment as part of the audience. Tickets don't come cheap, but they are available to the general public. Tickets are sold through TicketMaster. Seats on the floor are costly, priced as high $450, but balcony seats are only around $95 each, a relatively small sum to pay to see the best musical performers in the nation. (The money raised goes to a charity, the National Music Foundation).

Source: http://www.seeing-stars.com

Pray for Santa Maria

At least 232 people died and 131 were injured early Sunday when a fire tore through a nightclub packed with university students in the southern Brazilian city of Santa Maria, near Porto Alegre, on January 27, 2013. 

As a brazilian and someone who likes going to nightclubs I feel extremely sad and feel their pain very close to me. It was a club full of students. Most of them from the same classroom. It's also a small town so probably they all knew each other. I can't event imagine how hard it is going to be for those who survived. Even thou some of them managed to save their own lives, I'm sure they're scared and very sad because they lost their friends. That can't be easy to cope. I met my BFF when I was in college and we all know that we make a lot of good friends during this time so I can imagine how hard it's going to be for those who lost their friends and loved ones. 

I don't know them. They are not my friends. The closest person I know who were there is the nephew of my step mother's best friend - he survived but lost all his friends - but still I'm sad and feel sorry for them. I hope authorities will find the responsibles for this tragedy that could've been avoided if they had a better emergency system and if the owners were not so negligents. Extinguishers were not working properly and the club license was expired. But nothing will bring the victims back nor ease their families and friends' pain. Congrats to the firefighters and for those who volunteered to help to save lives. 

President Dilma Rousseff cancelled her meetings in Chile and flew to Santa Maria to comfort the victims' families. Nice job, Dilma ! 

If you are near Santa Maria, you can help donating blood. Here are the places you can go to donate blood for the 101 injured people:

Porto Alegre
-- Av. Bento Gonçalves, 3722 - Partenon - Porto Alegre

Santa Maria-- Alameda Santiago do Chile, 35 - Bairro Nossa Sra. De Lourdes

Alegrete-- Rua Gen. Sampaio, 10 - Bairro Canudos

Caxias do Sul-- Rua Ernesto Alves, 2260 – Centro

Cruz Alta-- Rua Barão do Rio Branco, 1445

Palmeira das Missões-- Rua Nassib Nassif esquina Gen. Osório, 351

Passo Fundo-- Av. Sete de Setembro, 1055 – Centro

Pelotas-- Av. Bento Gonçalves, 4569 – Centro

Santa Rosa-- Rua Boa Vista,401 – Centro 

My prayers are with them and their families and friends. 

R.I.P and God be with you! <3

Martin Luther King Day and Obama Inauguration

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15. The floating holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, though the act predated the establishment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by 15 years.

King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination in 1968.

Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed on January 20, 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

That brings us to think how the US is changing. Everything is very new but very important for the equality of races. And today, the same day of, in my opinion, one of the most important activists in history, Obama got officially in charge of the White House for four more year.
AMEM !!!! 



Source: Wikipedia.org
Photos: Wikipedia.org

Top 5 Brazilian Restaurants in LA Area

1. Fogo de Chão 

(fo-go dèe shoun)

An authentic Brazilian steakhouse. In 1979, the restaurant began sharing the gaucho way of preparing meat in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Today, their gaucho chefs still expertly grill each of their 15 cuts of meat and offer continuous tableside service. 

In my opinion, the best brazilian restaurant in town. Delicious gourmet salad bar, authentic Brazilian side dishes, and award-winning wine list. It's a most go experience. 

133 North La Cienega Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

+1 310 2897755

Mon - thu 11:30 – 2am, 5pm – 10pm

Friday 11:30 – 2pm, 5pm – 10:30pm

Saturday 4:30pm – 10:30pm

Sunday 4pm – 9:30pm

2. Pampas Grill

This is a small self-service Brazilian restaurant at Farmer's Market. It's one of my favorite places to eat good rice and beans, cheese bread and get an iced Guaraná soda. The first time I went there, the owner wouldn’t let me pay the bill because he found out I was from Brazil. They were all very friendly. I truly recommend. Despite being a very simple place, the food is of excellent quality. Check it out!!

6333 W 3rd St #618, Los Angeles, CA 90036
+1 323 931-1928
Mon - Sat 10:30 – 09pm
Sun          10:30 – 08pm

3. Bossa Nova

Great restaurant and it’s my favorite after party place in town. It's open until 3am and the atmosphere is great - especially at dawn. They have the best cheese bread and that’s a huge plus for me because I’m obsessed about it. The pizzas are very good. The Coxinhas are great, but the portions are very small and very overpriced – cuz it’s very easy to cook them. I have many friends who work or have worked there, so I'm on Bossa Nova’s team. TOTALLY!! Ah! They also deliver.

Hollywood

7181 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles. CA 90046

+1 323 4367999

Sun - Wed 11am – 3am

Thu – Sat  11am – 4am

West Hollywood

685 N. Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

+1 310 6575070

Mon – Thu  11am – 11:30pm

Fri – Sat     11am – 3:30am

Sun            11am – 12am

West LA

10982 W. Pico Blvd, West Los Angeles, CA 90064

+1 310 4410404

Sun - Wed 11am – 3am

Thu – Sat  11am – 4am

4. Bella Vista Brazilian Gourmet Pizza

I love Pizza. And All you can eat pizza restaurant is like heaven to me. When I’m not on a diet – if that’s even possible. Ok. I’m always on a diet but SOMETIMES – emphasis on that – I eat pizza and if I had to choose a pizza place in LA, I would definitely go to this restaurant. They have so many different pizza toppings.. it’s damn crazy. Another gotta try place in town. 

10826 Venice Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232, United States

+1 310-558-2374

Mon - Sun  11:30am – 11:00pm

4. Gaucho's Village

Another very good steakhouse (all you can eat). A little bit far, but good. It’s worth the drive. I didn’t get to see the samba show when I went there but they say it’s a must see - at least for the boys, I’m sure.

411 North Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203
+1 818 5501430
Mon – Fri  09:00 – 5pm

5. M Grill

One more incredible steakhouse. The place is very elegant and the service is very good. I really recommend this restaurant. The drinks are great too. How about a Caipirinha?

3832 Wilshire Blvd #202, Los Angeles, CA 90010
+1 213 3892770
Mon – Fri  11:30 – 2pm, 5:30pm – 9pm
Sat           4:30pm- 9:30pm

Sun          4pm – 8:30pm

American Slangs - Part III

Totes Magotes = An awkward way to say "totally" when trying to act cool.

A Showstopper = Very beautiful woman

Cake Pop = Someone Who has a big belly and very thin legs

Da Bomb = Something very good

Flop = For poker it’s first three community cards dealt face-up in a round but it also means to fail

Photobomb = Very bad picture

Noob = You don’t know Who Justin Bieber is? So You’re a noob. It also means lack of experience

Pwned = This originated in an online game called Warcraft, where a map designer misspelled "owned. It basically means "to own" or to be dominated by an opponent or situation, especially by some god-like or computer-like force.

POS  = Parents Over Shoulder. Teens use that when they are texting but their parents are next to them. They say that so their friends know that they can’t write about certain subject.