Açaí berries ripen on a palm branch.

Açaí (pronounced: Ah-sigh-EE) is grown in the Amazon flood basin. Açaí is a slender multi-stemmed palm producing a small round blackish purple berry and is primarily found in the Amazon rain forests of western Brazil. The Brazilian state of Pará reportedly accounts for 95% of the national production of açaí, estimated at 130 thousand tons of the fruit.

Açaí is truly an integral part of the Brazilian culture. For hundreds of years, native Brazilians have used the leaves to make baskets, hats, roof thatch, and mats. The trunk wood has been used in construction. In Brazilian herbal medicine, an infusion of the root is used for jaundice and to build the blood, the grated fruit rind is used as a topical wash for skin ulcers, and the fruit seeds are crushed and prepared for fevers. Even the seed, which accounts for most of the berry size, is ground for livestock feed or for an organic soil.

But the main use of açaí by the local inhabitants of the Amazon is in the preparation of a thick, dark purple juice. For centuries, people of the Amazon basin have consumed açaí fruit as a supplement to their daily diet.

Various products containing açaí are now widely available in the U.S., including liquid fruit drinks, powdered juice extracts in capsules and tablets, natural energy bars, and snacks. It's little wonder this berry has become a hit in the health food market: açaí contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Phosphorus, Calcium, Potassium, Fiber, Proteins, Iron, and Essential fatty acids Omega 6 and Omega 9.

For more information about açaí, visit http://www.rain-tree.com/acai.htm.

The colorful Mercado Ver-o-Peso ("Watch the Weight Market") in Belém.

Belém, in Pará state, is located in the Amazon forest. Brazilians often refer to the city as Belém do Pará ("Belém of Pará") rather than just Belém so as to differentiate it from Bethlehem (Belém in Portuguese) in Israel.

Belém is built on a number of small islands intersected by channels and rivers. There are fifty-five of these islets, most of which are wild and uninhabited, although some are home to small populations.

Belém hosts the biggest feast in Pará State, Círio de Nazaré (Nazareth Taper). Organized since 1793, it gathers nearly 1.5 million revelers. Círio de Nazaré is like Christmas for Paraenses (people native to Pará), and special foods such as Maniçoba and Pato no Tucupi are eaten on this occasion.

Festivities last two weeks and reach their climax on the second Sunday in October. On the Saturday a week before the Círio, there is a procession of boats in honor of the Virgem de Nazaré, patroness of seafarers. On the next Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people accompany the figure of the Virgin from the Cathedral to the Basílica de Nazaré.

The most striking and impressive structure in Old Belém is the Mercado Ver-o-Peso("Watch the weight" Market), sitting near the docks on the old waterfront. Early in the morning, the boats arrive with açaí, fish, herbs, talismans, and many other goods from the islands around Belém. The name Ver-o-Peso comes from its original function of stopping ships along the Amazon River (generally on their way to or from Manaus) to ver ("look") and pesar ("weigh") their cargo. This is because a few decades ago all products sold were weighed on the spot in manual balances and the buyer wanted to check out the weight to avoid frauds.

The State of Pará also shelters a valuable cultural treasure: Approximately 40 indigenous groups, scattered through an area of over 23 million hectares. Of this territory, more than eight million hectares have been delimited by Funai (National Foundation of the Indian), ensuring security and preservation of the space. Among the biggest indigenous communities there are the Andira Marau, Munduruku, and the Kayapó.

Click here to learn more about Belém do Pará, or visit Google Maps to see images of Belém.

Iara of legend lures a young man.

Continuing our series on Brazilian folklore, we look at the Iara legend this month.

Iara, also spelled Uira or Yara, is a popular girl's name in Brazil. The word derives from Old Tupi: yîara = y + îara ("water" + "lord/lady")= lady of the lake ("water queen").

According to the legend, Iara is described as a beautiful young woman, having long hair and light skin. She is seen as a water nymph, siren, or mermaid. She appears along freshwater lakes and rivers, sitting on a rock combing her hair or dozing under the sun. When she senses a man is near, she will start singing gently to lure him over. Once under the spell of the Iara, a man will leave anything behind to live with her underwater forever.

Iara's legend is one of the usual explanations for the disappearance of those who ventured alone in the jungle. The natives of Amazonia, the region around the Amazon River in Brazil and Colombia , never go near lakes or rivers at night for fear of Iara. It is said that she has destroyed hundreds of ships.

A group chats at a summer bate-papo.

Bate papo - Monday, October 13 at 7pm

You are invited for Portuguese conversation at Brazil Brazil Restaurant. It has a variety of authentic Brazilians drinks and food items. You can see menu options at www.brazilbrazilrestaurant.com. The restaurant is offering a discount, and the price of caipirinhas will be just $4.00 each until 9:00pm.

While we encourage everyone to talk in Portuguese, there is no pressure since attendees will range from new students to native speakers. We will be on the right side of the restaurant in the bar area. See you there!

Brazil Brazil Restaurant
330 West 46th Street (at 8th Avenue)
New York, NY 10036
(212) 957-4300

from right to left: Dudu Garcia, Grupo Ginga Capoeira, and Milton Nascimento.

"Time Frames," Art by Dudu Garcia - October 10 to 30

Brazilian artist Dudu Gracia will be exhibiting his mixed media paintings from October 10 to October 30, at Violet Ray Gallery.

For more information, visit the gallery website at http://www.violetraygallery.com.

Violet Ray Gallery
727 Washington Street at Bank St.
New York City
917 913-2700

For more information, visit http://www.njpac.org.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center
One Center Street,
Newark, NJ

An individual coaching session at Brazil Station.

We will have several new Group classes starting in the coming weeks. Other groups may also be formed based on demand.

1. N1B - Beginner Level 1 group class will start on Monday, October 13 at 6:15pm. It is for people with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.

2. N1B - Beginner Level 1 group class will start on Saturday, November 8 at 3pm. It is for people with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.

3. N1BS - Beginner Level 1 group class for Spanish Speakers will start on Monday, October 13 at 8pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.

4. N1BS - Beginner Level 1 group class for Spanish Speakers will start on Saturday, November 8 at 3pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.

5. N2BS - Beginner Level 2 group class for Spanish Speakers will start on Wednesday, October 29 at 8pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with some knowledge of Portuguese.

6. N3B - Beginner Level 3 group class will start on Wednesday, October 8 at 8pm. It is for people with a decent knowledge of Portuguese.

7. Música Brasil - samba, bossa nova e MPB group class in English will start on Thursday, October 8 at 8pm.

Música Brasil - Samba, Bossa Nova and MPB
This is a group class for people who like Brazilian music and want to learn more about this fascinating part of Brazilian history. The course will critically examine and distinguish Brazilian popular music from the 1960s, '70s, and '80s in the context of musical, political and cultural movements. Please note: A version of this course is also offered in Portuguese. Contact Brazil Station for more information.

Contact us to assess your current level and to discuss your goals for learning at (646) 287-6645 or Newsletter@BrazilStation.com.

We offer Private and Semi-private classes from Monday to Saturday. You can start taking classes with us at any day, any time. In addition to our traditional Portuguese classes, Brazil Stationalso offers Portuguese for Spanish and Italian Speakers, Business Portuguese, and Travel Classes. We teach off-site classes and Corporate Language Education as well.

Although not a traditional holiday in Brazil, Halloween is increasingly celebrated there. The primary influence for Halloween is North American, and one place you‘re likely to see it celebrated is at one of the many English schools in São Paulo and other major cities. Here are some useful words to make your Brazilian Halloween a success.

Dia das Bruxas - Halloween

Doces ou travessuras - Trick or treat

Casa mal assombrada - Haunted House

Fantasma - Ghost

Bruxa - Witch

Múmia - Mummy

Assustador - Scary

Fantasia - Costume

Máscara - Mask

Abóbora - Pumpkin