Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

Articles Sections >> Arts + Words Bars + Clubs Dating Festivals Fitness Food Lifestyle Music Theater Travel + Tourism Who's Who > View All Bar Tab Tales Nightlife Guides

We've found the best places to party like a Brazilian for five days straight.

Thursday Feb 12, 2009.     By Maya Henderson

Bars + Clubs Feed

Mardi Gras is a great day for partying, but that's just the problem: It's only one day. So get the party started early with Carnaval (or Carnival, or Carnivale), the five-day period (February 20-24) that, like Fat Tuesday, is a way to say goodbye to all those naughty habits before Lent begins.

But don't expect five days of drunk bead-bartering; Carnaval is all about infectious samba beats, hypnotic hip shaking, unique food and a massive melting pot of a party. Cheap flashes or sexy dancers? Beer or an exotic caipirinha? Keep the king cake, we'll take these events instead.

Bossa Nova Brunch
Saturday-Sunday at C-House
Marcus Samuelsson's C-House is known for tasty, artfully prepared food; but at brunch this weekend, the main attraction will be the customized caipirinha bar. Guests can enhance the traditional Brazilian cocktail (made with rum-like cachaca, sugar and limes) by choosing a fruit, like blood orange or pineapple, and a rim (sugar and blank are just two choices). Each cocktail is $9; you can up it with a champagne floater for an additional $3 and if you're not into rum-like cocktails, there are plenty of other libations to go along with C-House's classic brunch fare. The food gets its time to shine, too, with special Brazilian dishes like the country's national favorite, feijoada (a stew of beans with beef and pork).

Braziliance Carnaval
Friday, February 20 at Sonotheque, 9 p.m.; $5, free with RSVP to nick.lambrou@gmail.com
Start off the Carnaval celebration on Friday with a special Carnaval installment of Sonotheque's popular monthly Braziliance party. DJ/Musical Programmer Joe Bryl will be spinning unique Brazilian beats and samba music while images of Carnaval parties from Rio display on the various screens throughout the club. There's also a special menu of yummy sounding cocktails like the Cococabana, a mix of coconut rum, pineapple juice, Amaretto and Grenadine garnished with an orange slice for $8. Get there early and receive a free compilation CD put together by Bryl for the special event.

SushiSamba Rio
With vibrant decor, sexy design and infectious world dance music, it feels like Carnaval every night at SushiSamba Rio, the Chicago outpost of the Brazilian, Peruvian and Japanese upscale fusion restaurant. SushiSamba is using the celebration to gear up for its 10-year anniversary (the first location opened in New York in 1999) and turning up the Brazilian vibes from February 21-24 with special menu items and the Carnaval cocktail, a mix of Cabana Cachaca (a specialty Brazilian rum), honey, strawberries, cinnamon, lemon juice and cayenne. A blowout party takes place on February 24 with samba dancers and batucada drummers.

Chicago Samba
Saturday, February 21 at Logan Square Auditorium, 10 p.m.; $15
If you're looking to party with Brazilians and true appreciators of Carnaval, head to the official Chicago Samba event, which will make up for what it lacks in fancy decor with sheer authenticity. This fete features the popular Chicago Samba dance troupe, capoeiristas and so much more. DJ Nando Brasil provides the tunes, while Chicago Samba instructor/MC for the evening Edilson Lima teaches samba dance steps. Expect dancers in full, extravagant costumes, $5 caipirinhas and authentic Brazilian food provided by Sinha Elegant Cuisine. The party is 16-plus, so young party-goers can also get in on the fun.

Carnivale
Jerry Kleiner's West Loop spot is a no-brainer for celebrating this festival, and this year the restaurant hosts a 3-day extravaganza with a specialty menu and more. The festivities start with family night on Sunday, February 22, featuring face-painters, stilt walkers, a special menu and mocktails for kids. Monday offers a sexy Masquerade Ball with music from DJ Monna 3 and complimentary masks and beads (you may want them for walking the special red carpet); the usual Monday night $5 mojito drink special will be enhanced with four specialty mojitos from around the world. Finally, the restauran closes things out on Tuesday with live music by Angel Melendez, samba dancers, a tableside mojito cart and more.