Mardi Gras, Carnaval bring fun to the 'burbs

It's Mardi Gras time again and New Orleans-style celebrations across America are bound to feature beads, booze and plenty of partying in the buildup to the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

But for local Brazilians, it's time for “carnaval” (in its Portuguese spelling). Carnaval is an even more massive celebration throughout Brazil, shown off to its biggest and most famous effect in Rio de Janeiro with a world-famous parade put on by fiercely competitive samba schools.

Many transplanted Brazilians in the Chicago area are surprised that carnaval isn't as well known in America as the New Orleans-style Mardi Gras, so they're doing their own small part to instill carnaval culture around town.

“It's a huge deal,” said Marcos Oliveira, a Chicago percussionist and singer with the Brazilian bands Swing Brasileiro and Bossa Tres. “The country essentially stops for four days since it's a holiday for everybody.”

That's hardly the case here, but you can still celebrate with Brazilian music in Chicago or a Brazilian meal in the suburbs.

Oliveira, who will perform at the “Brazilian Carnaval 2011” concert at the Mayne Stage in Chicago, brings firsthand experience of performing in Rio de Janeiro's carnaval parade as a musician. It's not all fun and games.

Oliveira said there are mandatory rehearsals for six months leading up to the parade, and it's very competitive to get a spot among the 400 to 500 musicians who perform for each competing samba school.

“If you aren't good enough, there are about 300 other musicians on a waiting list to take your place,” Oliveira said. “That's why they are able to keep their standards so high.”

Rachel Montiel is an American of Mexican descent, but she has grown to love Brazilian music and culture so much that she helped cofound the Brazilian Passistas Dance Group in Chicago — also slated to perform at the Mayne Stage.

Montiel traveled to Brazil to take classes and came to admire the community of artists and performers who put so much into “crafting and choreographing the parade, plus the messages they are trying to share about their community and history.”

Mariana Sgarbi, founder and president of Brazilian Mothers of Illinois, considers herself very lucky to not only have watched Rio de Janeiro's famous carnaval parade in person at the Sambadrome (which can accommodate up to 90,000 spectators), but to have danced in the parade with her husband one year.

“It was one of the most fun things we've ever done,” said Sgarbi, who reveals that she and her husband were wearing pink feathery outfits. Sgarbi plans on including carnaval costume dress up activities for a private Brazilian family event her organization is hosting in Oak Park this weekend.

Having experienced numerous Rio de Janeiro carnavals, Sgarbi admits that she had unflattering preconceived notions before attending her first Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Sgarbi said. But Sgarbi still prefers her native celebration, particularly the samba music that defines Brazilian culture.

“The music for Mardi Gras is different. There's more jazz and that leads to the dancing not being as enthusiastic,” Sgarbi said. “It's not as loud and happy as samba.”

Go Brazilian

Try out your samba skills and check out Brazilian food specials at these area carnaval events:

Sabor sisters: Sabor do Brasil Brazilian steakhouse restaurant, 801 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, has menu specials on Ash Wednesday and throughout the month of March. More menu specials are also planned at Sabor do Brasil's new fast food sister restaurant, Sabor Express, 1230 W. Taylor St., Chicago. Call (847) 925-9100 or (312) 733-4800 for more information, or visit sabor-do-brasil.com.

Chow down: Want to celebrate with just your taste buds? Then be sure to check out Texas de Brazil restaurant locations at 5 Woodfield Shopping Center, Schaumburg, and at 51 E. Ohio St., Chicago. Call (847) 413-1600 or (312) 670-1006 or visit texasdebrazil.com.

Carnivale's Carnaval:Carnivale, a famed restaurant dedicated to world Latin cuisines, shines a spotlight on the samba starting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at 702 W. Fulton Market, Chicago. On the bill is music by the band Carpacho Su Combo, samba dancers from Shirley Vieira of Brasil via Chicago, a stilt walker and specially created Carnaval-inspired items by executive chef David Dworshak. There is no cover charge. Call (312) 850-5005 or visit carnivalechicago.com.

The big parade: If you want to see the massively elaborate parade displays that pass through Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, try to get access to Brazilian satellite TV channels or check things out via live streams on the Internet.

Or you could visit the fusion restaurant Sushi Samba Rio, 504 N. Wells St., Chicago. In the four days leading up to Ash Wednesday, Sushi Samba Rio will screen live broadcasts from Rio's Sambadrome from 9 to 11 p.m. nightly.

Sushi Samba Rio also hosts live samba dancers and drummers from 9 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. For more information, call (312) 595-2300 or visit sushisamba.com.

Mayne event: World music presenter Sound Culture teams up with the band Swing Brasileiro to present #8220;Brazilian Carnaval 2011#8221; from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Mayne Stage, 1328 Morse Ave., Chicago. This Brazilian Carnaval celebration features Swing Brasileiro playing different types of samba music, plus dance and movement with Passistas Samba Dancers (who perform in full Carnaval costumes) and by Gingarte Capoeira. Tickets are $15 general admission. Valet parking is $5 extra. Call (773) 654-5100 or visit maynestage.com or soundculturechicago.com.

Officially Samba: The band Chicago Samba bills its event as #8220;The Official Chicago Samba's Carnaval#8221; and runs from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Blvd., Chicago. This 18-and-over event features dancing from Samba 1 Dance Group (in full carnaval costumes) plus samba dance lessons. Brazilian food and drinks are also on sale. Tickets are $15 at the door, with valet parking available. Visit chicagosamba.com for more information.