Many months back, when the weather was still warm
and we were just starting to plan our wedding,  we came across a series of
wonderful line drawings that had been placed on construction site poles with
magnets in our neighborhood.  The artist had left his email address on bottom of
his drawing, so we droped him a note to say how much we liked them.  This began
our friendship with a terrific artist and photographer, Thomas Egas. Now back in
his home town on Sao Paulo, Thomas’ was kind enough to send us his Essential
Guide—

Thomas Egas’s Essentials of Sao Paulo

/>Sao Paulo is a giant city, truly 24 hours. Because I only know a tiny part of
this metropolis, I am taking the following approach: Every single thing I will
mention are within a mile range from the same place: my house.

src="http://www.woostercollective.com/images/nina1.jpg" align=
"left">Street works:

In a world of guys playing
tough with their works, here we find a girl playing sweet. Among aggressive
posters, grafs and tags, there she is with girls, dolls, hearts, stuffed and
furry animals, girlie stuff, always present. Her works are everywhere, these
examples where taken at Faria Lima Ave, one is very close to the other. Also In
this avenue a few meters away is an inspirational poster. Cia Maritima?s hot
girls always in bikinis. Today its Ana Beatriz Barros, a girl I particularly
like and makes cover of GQ now.







/>








src="http://www.woostercollective.com/images/nina2.jpg">

/>Supplies:

I dont know how many artists have a
supplies warehouseone a block away. I do. At Kalunga you can find almost
everything for cheap and in large quantities. At michelangelo you find art
supplies. The vendors are snobish and don’t know nothing. You can buy everything
half a mile further at Visitex for half the price (a tip: you may get a
collector there too, ask me how) For prints, go to Inprima; Photos, Capovilla or
Paparazzi.

To go:

Have to go to Cidade
Jardim 24h open bookstore/Cafe, its the place to read magazines from the world,
including Sao Paulo very owns: Bravo, Trip and VIP. Be kind and have a coffee,
enjoy. Lucky me, attached to the back of my building is club: Lassu. If you
scream from inside, I can hear it from my bedroom. So, scream ?Thomas` when you
get there. If you are a girl scream `Thomas I love you? and make my day. Scream
loud.

Galleries:

Well, as I said, luck is
on my side. I have an art gallery as neighbors. Casa Triangulo, run by Roberto
Trevisan, shows contemporary are throughout the world. Curious enough, a room of
it was my very first atelier, I couldnt pay the rent. Also Museum of Modern Art
SP, Museum of Image and Sound, Museum of the Brazilian House, Brazilian Museum
of Sculpture and Panamerican School of Art are minutes apart. So are other
galleries. I recommend MAM and MIS anytime.

Eat:
/>
Rubaya?s feijoada, a traditional dish, on Wednesdays or Saturdays and
pizzas on Fridays. Sao Paulo has the best pizza in the world. Have lunch at
Cachoeira Tropical, a delicious vegetarian buffet.

I hope you know
Sao Paulo, and a Sao Paulo as cool as I know it. That was my backyard.

/>Cheers,

Thomas