I am making some changes to the Urso de Óculos website to make it easier to check all our latest events and news.
I hope you will bear with me (intended, as all puns are). And in the meantime, if you are into facebook, come and join our new “group”. Find it by clicking on this link or searching for Urso de Óculos: The English Language Bookshop in Itacaré.
See you at the bookshop for a coffee and a cake when you’re next in town!
Sarah
As a respite for the local election theatricities happening all over Brazil at the moment, last night we clebrated the Brazilian National day of Theatre in style here at Urso de Óculos.
And theatrical it was!
We had storytelling from the 1001 Nights, sketches from Luís and Ana from the municipal public school, special guest Serafim from Buenos Aires with his big glass ball… (and if you want to more about THAT, head over to Easydrop bar-café in the historic centre of Itacaré tonight and tomorrow for another show by Serafim).
And for the first time at a Quinta Literária, presenter Juliana introduced the concept of audience participation, with volunteers taking part in a reading of the hilarious comedy sketch Virgens a Deriva (Shipwrecked Virgins) by Brazilian writer Ruy Jobim Neto. Great fun.
Next Thursday’s theme is: TRAVEL (in celebration of World Tourism day). Ye voyagers of the world - see you next Thursday!
Quinta Literária
Thursdays at Urso de Óculos International Bookshop
19:00. FREE ENTRY.
Orla, Itacaré, Bahia, Brazil
This week in the bookshop we asked all our international visitors what they miss most when travelling away from home. Here are some of the things people said they miss, and as luck would have it, all these things can be found right here on the beautiful waterfront of Itacaré!
“A nice cup of tea”
Helen (Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom)
“Good books in my own language”
Leah (Östergötland, Sweden)
“Info in English to help plan your travels”
Tree (New York, USA)
“A place where you can just stop and chill out”
Edna (Melbourne, Australia)
What do YOU miss most about home when travelling? Let us know by leaving a comment here and we will tell you if we have got it here!
Last Friday we were delighted to welcome anthropologist Prof. Patricia Brandão Couto from the Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro.
Patricia spent the last three years researching the city of Itacaré and on Friday we held a special event for all the people she interviewed during the course of the research. The thesis, entitled O direito ao lugar: situações processuais de conflito na reconfiguração social e territorial do município de Itacaré, BA, explores the problems associated with the process of cultural, economic, social, political and environmental changes taking place in the municipality of Itacaré. Three key areas are discussed in the work: tourism as a symbolic and material form of re-structure for the area; the environmental question; and the relationship between Local and Global. The main focus of the ethnographical research was the large number of municipal “associations”, and representatives of the city’s many associations were interviewed in depth by Patricia.
The idea of Friday’s event was to give the people interviewed a chance to hear about the finished thesis and to discuss the themes presented in it. After the formalities, as at all Urso de Óculos events, there was a lot of merrymaking and super interesting chat.
Patricia left a copy of her fascinating thesis in Itacaré and it is now available for consultation in the bookshop, Come and ask Inho or Sarah at the desk if you want to read it.
All the best to Patricia - we look forward to welcoming you again on your next visit to Itacaré!
Last week’s Literary Thursday was all about the joys of football - great fun was had by all debating the beautiful game in the país de futebol.
Don’t miss this week’s Literary Thursday - it’s national writer’s day in Brazil and our chat this week will focus on new writing. See you there!
Quinta Literária
Thursday 24 July 2008. 19:00. FREE ENTRY.
Urso de Óculos International Bookshop
Avenida Castro Alves 71 - Historic Centre - Itacaré
To celebrate Bahian Independence Day (Today - 2nd of July), this week’s Literary Thursday will celebrate all things Bahian. So if you want to find out just what makes Bahia special, come along and join us for wine, nibbles, and lots of great bookish blether!
And to get you in the Bahian mood, and to give you an idea of just what it was like when Juliana asked me if she could start the Literary Thursdays in my bookshop (!?!), here’s a great clip from YouTube from the wonderful 2007 film ÒPAIÒ!
For readers who don’t understand Portuguese: the guy asks the woman if they can do a show in her bar. She says no, and then…
See you on Thursday!
Quinta Literária - 03 July 2008
19:00
Urso de Óculos International Bookshop
Avenida Castro Alves 71 (Historic Waterfront)
Itacaré
Bahia
ALL WELCOME.
FREE ENTRY.
We have finally installed a visa machine, so you can now use your Visa Credit and Debit card when you next visit Urso de Óculos.
To celebrate the arrival of the new machine, we’re giving away a FREE book to everyone who chooses to pay with Visa!
Until the end of June, if you spend R$25,00 or more with your Visa credit or debit card we will give you a FREE copy* of A Bruxa de Portobello by Paulo Coelho.
A Bruxa de Portobello tells the story of Athena, a woman who makes a strong impact on the lives of people around her. It is just one of the many titles we have available by this internationally renowned author.
Did you know that Paulo Coelho is one of the best selling authors on the planet, and Urso de Óculos International Bookshop is the ONLY bookshop in Bahia with his books available in Portuguese, English, Spanish French, German AND Swedish. Find out more about A Bruxa de Portobello and other Paulo Coelho titles, on the writer’s official site.
So why not have a stroll down the beautiful historic waterfront of Itacaré, and take advantage of this great offer at Urso de Óculos until the 30th of June, 2008.
* While stocks last. One book per customer.
Thanks to everyone who came down to the waterfront on Thursday night to help us celebrate the launch of Literary Thursdays at Urso de Óculos.
Host Juliana Machado did not disappoint us with her wonderful choice of readings from Lusophonia’s finest wordsmiths, and she made sure everyone had a great evening.
The icing on the brownie, though, had to be Jonny, the guitarist, with his breathtaking classical guitar. Jonny seems to be taking Itacaré by storm as he “practises” for his first international professional engagement in Rio and Brasilia next month.
This week, Journalist and Cultural Events Organizer Juliana Machado is re-launching a project she started in 2006 in Itacaré, this time round in collaboration with our bookshop.
From today until the end of 2008, every week Juliana will present “Literary Thursday” at Urso de Óculos, with themed readings and chat on various topics in world literature.
The launch is today at 19:00, with the theme of love for valentine’s day (that’s today in Brazil!)
There’s also wine and nibbles, and, specially for the launch there will also be live acoustic music!
Entry is FREE, so come along, bring your loved ones and check out the culture of Itacaré!
“Todas as cores do amor” - leitura e interpretação - Juliana Machado
Participação Especial do músico instrumentista Jonny.
Urso de Óculos International Bookshop
Av. Castro Alves (Orla)
Itacaré, Bahia, Brazil
Thursday 12/06/08
19:00
