Viva Lifestyles

Viva Lifestyles Viva! Lifestyles We are an entertainment magazine covering the lifestyles of New Yorkers as well as tourists visiting the city.

We focus on theater shows, movies, city sites, restaurants and other events taking place here. Not to mention we love food, so we also publish food recipes occasionally.

01/10/2026

An Afternoon of Samba, Stories & São Paulo ✨🎶

This afternoon, I had one of those moments that quietly stay with you. We went to Casa de Francisca, and it instantly became one of my most beautiful experiences in São Paulo so far. Sunlight, live music, relaxed energy—nothing rushed, everything intentional.

There was samba playing, and before we knew it, all my American peers were dancing, smiling, and fully immersed. What struck me most was hearing them say, over and over, how much they’re loving Brazil—the warmth, the music, the people, the spontaneity. You could feel genuine joy in the room.

Casa de Francisca is more than a venue; it’s a cultural living room. The food was extraordinary—carefully prepared, comforting, and soulful—exactly the kind of place where art, cuisine, and conversation meet naturally. It’s São Paulo at its best.

And being there, right in the historic Centro of São Paulo, made it even more meaningful. Surrounded by layers of history, architecture, and memory, the afternoon felt like a perfect reminder of why this city matters so much culturally—not just to Brazil, but to the world.

01/09/2026

The city of drizzle!

01/07/2026

São Paulo, the City of Drizzle!
In this video, I show the city skyline under a gentle rain that’s been falling for hours — calm, moody, and very São Paulo.

01/07/2026

Why Summer 2026 in São Paulo with CIEE Is the Move 🌎✨

São Paulo isn’t just a city—it’s a mindset. The largest city in the Americas, it’s where Latin America’s biggest ideas, boldest businesses, and most diverse cultures collide. For BMCC students, Summer 2026 with CIEE São Paulo is a chance to step straight into a global capital that feels electric, ambitious, and endlessly inspiring. This is the kind of place that expands how you see the world—and yourself.

Academically and professionally, São Paulo is unmatched. It’s Brazil’s financial engine, home to global corporations, innovative startups, and a fast-growing creative economy. Through CIEE, students don’t just study theory—they experience real-world learning shaped by the Global South, emerging markets, and social impact. If you’re studying business, entrepreneurship, social sciences, communications, or global studies at BMCC, this city turns your classroom into lived experience.

Culturally? São Paulo is everything. World-class museums, legendary food from every corner of the planet, cutting-edge fashion, underground music scenes, and neighborhoods that feel like different countries in one city. It’s a place where you’ll practice Portuguese, make international friends, and realize how powerful cultural fluency really is. You won’t just visit Brazil—you’ll live it.

And maybe most importantly: studying abroad with CIEE builds confidence. You come back sharper, more independent, and globally minded—exactly what employers and transfer schools look for. Summer 2026 in São Paulo isn’t a pause from your BMCC journey; it’s a power move that elevates it. If you’re ready to grow, challenge yourself, and collect stories that matter, São Paulo is calling.

Follow for updates, info sessions, and deadlines ✈️🌍

01/06/2026

5 Powerful Topics to Discuss in
Leading Change in Latin America
(CIEE)

Sustainable Growth & Climate Leadership
Latin America is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth—and also one of the most critical for the planet’s future. From the Amazon to urban sustainability in megacities like São Paulo and Mexico City, the region isn’t just affected by climate change—it’s shaping global solutions.

Social Innovation & Inclusive Economies
Grassroots entrepreneurship, cooperatives, and social enterprises are thriving across Latin America. These models prove that economic growth doesn’t have to exclude—innovation here often starts with community, not capital.

Democracy, Civic Engagement & Media Literacy
Leading change also means strengthening democratic institutions, fighting disinformation, and empowering young leaders to participate actively in civic life. Latin America offers powerful case studies—both challenges and wins.

Cultural Intelligence & Global Leadership
Leadership in Latin America is deeply relational. Understanding culture, language, history, and social nuance is essential—and this region trains leaders who can navigate complexity with empathy and adaptability.

Latin America’s Role in the Global Economy
With its human capital, natural resources, and expanding tech and creative sectors, Latin America is positioned for major global influence in the next two decades. The question isn’t if—it’s how responsibly.

✈️ Special Shoutout

Huge appreciation to CIEE – Leading Change in Latin America for creating a fellowship that goes beyond theory and into lived experience.

And a big thank-you to LATAM Airlines for connecting continents and making these transformative journeys possible. Flying across the Americas isn’t just transportation—it’s a bridge between cultures, ideas, and futures 🌎💫

12/31/2025

São Paulo, You Show Off 🌇

Golden hour hits different up here. The sun dips, the sky goes cinematic, and São Paulo turns into this endless ocean of buildings glowing in soft pastels. Loud by day, poetic by night. Rooftops, reflections, city energy slowing just enough to let you breathe it all in. SP doesn’t sleep—but it does pause to flex at sunset.

12/30/2025

From Berlin to São Paulo: Why Study Abroad Changes Everything

Studying abroad isn’t just about stamps on a passport—it’s about rewriting your story. Stepping into a new country pushes you beyond comfort, into growth, curiosity, and confidence you didn’t know you had. It’s where the world suddenly feels bigger—and so do your possibilities.

My own journey began in Berlin with CIEE’s Entrepreneurship and Startup Culture program. What started as curiosity quickly became action. Learning directly from founders, walking real neighborhoods, and building ideas in real time transformed how I see my future—and turned me from student into co-founder.

Back in New York City, I wanted to keep that momentum alive. That led me to work with the Office of Global Exchanges and Experiences at BMCC, helping students navigate study-abroad options. Every day, I talk to people who are excited but nervous—and watching them go from “maybe” to “I booked my flight” never gets old.

Now, that path continues in São Paulo through the CIEE Leading Change in Latin America fellowship. Here, I’m studying and interning while collaborating with local entrepreneurs and communities, learning how global ideas turn into inclusive, sustainable impact.

If you’re wondering whether study abroad is worth it, here’s the truth: it’s one of the best investments you can make in yourself. You grow, you connect, and you start seeing your future differently. And you don’t have to do it alone—I’m here to help you take that first step.

12/29/2025

São Paulo Rain Has Other Plans 🌧️

A rainstorm in São Paulo is no joke. I had everything lined up to go biking at Ibirapuera Park, but the city decided to hit pause—again. The forecast has been predicting rain for a full week now, only to push it back every 12 hours like a never-ending cliffhanger. When it finally arrives, though, it arrives with full cinematic drama: heavy skies, flooded paths, and that unmistakable SP mood that reminds you who’s in charge.

Still, there’s something oddly beautiful about it. São Paulo doesn’t apologize for its scale, its rhythm, or its weather. Even a simple plan like a bike ride turns into a lesson in flexibility and patience—very on brand for a city that’s always moving, always adapting. Ibirapuera can wait. The experience of being here, rain and all, is part of the journey.

12/28/2025

Hi and a huge, warm welcome to all the CIEE Fellows joining the São Paulo Semester Intern + Study Abroad program! You’re about to dive into one of the most dynamic, complex, and exciting cities in the world—São Paulo, a true global powerhouse where business, culture, innovation, and everyday life collide in the best possible way. This city will challenge you, inspire you, and expand your worldview fast, whether you’re navigating its buzzing neighborhoods, working alongside local professionals, or engaging deeply with Brazil’s social, economic, and cultural realities. Get ready for intense learning, meaningful connections, unforgettable food, and moments that will genuinely shape how you see Latin America and your role in it. This semester isn’t just about studying or interning abroad—it’s about growth, curiosity, empathy, and leadership in a region full of energy and potential. Welcome to São Paulo, welcome to Brazil, and welcome to an experience that can truly be life-changing. 🌎✨

12/28/2025

Six hours in São Paulo is just enough time to feel the city’s pulse—and that’s exactly what this tour delivered. From the moment we stepped into the streets, SP revealed itself as bold, layered, and alive with contrast. The city doesn’t try to impress you quietly; it invites you in through movement, color, sound, and stories. For those of you coming from the U.S. with CIEE’s in Latin America, this kind of immersion is where learning stops being abstract and starts becoming real.

One of the most striking stops was a gentrified community that has transformed itself into an open-air gallery. Art spills directly onto the streets—murals, handmade crafts, prints, and performances—sold by local artists who are actively shaping the neighborhood’s new identity. It’s a space where creativity becomes both resistance and opportunity, raising important questions about economic access, visibility, and who truly benefits from “revitalization.” Walking through it, you don’t just observe change; you feel its tension and its potential.

From there, the tour shifted continents without ever leaving the city. Liberdade, home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, feels like a cultural bridge built block by block. Lanterns hang overhead, the smell of street food fills the air, and shops carry everything from manga to traditional sweets. It’s a powerful reminder that São Paulo is not one story but many—shaped by migration, memory, and cultural preservation. For anyone interested in global identity and diaspora, Liberdade is a living classroom.

We ended at the MAC Museum, where contemporary art and sweeping views of the city come together. The museum offers a moment to pause, reflect, and see São Paulo from above—literally and figuratively. After hours of walking through lived experiences, MAC reframes the city through art, space, and perspective. For future fellows, this tour isn’t just sightseeing; it’s an invitation to engage deeply, ask better questions, and understand Latin America through its people, cultures, and constant reinvention.

12/25/2025

WELCOME TO SÃO PAULO 💖💖

Big shoutout to our CIEE fellow students coming from the USA for Leading Change in Latin America (Spring 2026) — a huge welcome to you! 🙌

I’m originally from Rio, lived in Manhattan for 25 years, and now my New York husband and I are experiencing São Paulo for the first time. We arrived a week early, and we’re honestly loving it.

São Paulo is the largest city in the Western Hemisphere and the economic hub of a continent of 400 million people — with a level of talent, creativity, and “human capital” that will seriously blow your mind.

As Brazilians, we’re excited to help however we can as you settle in — from culture and customs to those little everyday things that make you feel at home faster.

We’re also just a few steps from CIEE, and we’d love to welcome you for social moments and business conversations. And if we can, we’ll happily share some home cooking too — because community hits different around a table.

Leading Change has the potential to be truly life-changing. It invites us to see Latin America not as an abstract idea, but as a living, breathing force shaping the future.

Brazil is poised for powerful growth over the next two decades, and being here now—learning, listening, and engaging with respect—places us in a unique position to grow alongside it.

Welcome to São Paulo. May this experience broaden our perspective, deepen our connections, and mark the beginning of something extraordinary. 💞✨

12/22/2025

NYC winter mood vs. Rio summer energy… wait till you see the switch 🌞🌴

Seasonal Affective Disorder, often shortened to SAD, quietly affects millions of people during the darker months of the year. In cities like New York, winter can feel especially heavy: shorter days, colder temperatures, gray skies, and a fast-paced routine that rarely slows down. Even the most energetic people can feel their mood dip as sunlight fades and daily life becomes more about endurance than inspiration.

For our American team, this winter felt like the right moment to listen to our bodies and our minds. Rather than pushing through another season of cold sidewalks and bundled layers, we made a conscious decision to change the environment around us. Sometimes, the most powerful form of self-care is not forcing yourself to adapt, but choosing a setting that supports your natural rhythm.

That choice led us south — to Rio de Janeiro, where it’s summer now, and life unfolds under the sun. Here, days begin with light, warmth, and open skies. The city invites movement, social connection, and time outdoors, all of which are known to positively affect mood and mental well-being. The contrast with a Northern Hemisphere winter is immediate and impossible to ignore.

What surprised us most was how quickly the shift made itself visible. Smiles came easier. Energy returned without effort. Our team members’ moods lifted naturally, not because of a packed schedule or forced positivity, but because the environment itself encouraged joy. Rio’s summer doesn’t demand happiness — it simply creates the conditions for it.

Beyond the climate, there is something deeply human about being surrounded by a culture that values presence, community, and shared experiences. Whether it’s walking along the beach in the evening, hearing music spill into the streets, or watching the city gather outdoors, Rio reminds you that joy can be collective. That sense of connection plays a powerful role in counteracting the isolation many feel during winter months.

This season, we’re choosing light — literally and figuratively. Leaving New York’s winter behind is not an escape from reality, but a thoughtful response to it. By spending the season in Rio, our team is prioritizing well-being, creativity, and balance. And as we experience this local summer firsthand, we’re reminded that sometimes, changing your latitude can change your outlook on life.

💕🌞🌴

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