Wax on and on: The NJ Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling's attempt to ban bikini waxes—prompted by women claiming infections from the Brazilian waxes—has been dropped. According to the AP, NJ Consumer Affairs Director David Szuchman said he wouldn't support the ban (the Consumer Affairs division oversees the Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling) and suggested that the board instead look at training and safety protocols for spa and salon workers. In NJ, only waxing on the face, neck, abdomen, legs and arms are permitted; genital-area waxing is not explicitly prohibited. One spa owner said it was "unnecessary," " In NJ especially, where the government has been picking our pockets for so long, it was like, 'Just stay out of our pants, will you?'" more ›

When we first noted this incoming Brazilian restaurant/bar back at the beginning of January, we incorrectly referred to it as Favela. Turns out it's Miss Favela to you (and us); the South Williamsburg "Brazilian Botequim" is currently in soft opening mode. Co-owner Alain Denneulin (of Soho's French Bistro Felix) tells us they're shooting for an official opening June 2nd. more ›

Andrea Schwartz, the Brazilian ex-pat who settled in Manhattan and became a madam with powerful clients, is back in the news. And she's as saucy as ever, this time denying that she's a lesbian. Tell us more! more ›

Some L.A. Lakers fan (we assume) came up with a brilliant plan to psych out Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa last week. Barbosa fell victim to a hoax where his hotel gave him a message saying that Suns GM Steve Kerr wanted to meet him to discuss a trade to the New York Knicks. Jeez, that's maybe the meanest prank call we've ever heard! more ›

Last night, Savoy chef and local foods champion Peter Hoffman gave a presentation at the Museum of Natural History on the role of water in sustainable farming, in conjunction with the ongoing Water: H2O = Life exhibit (now through May 25). We missed it too, but found some similar upcoming events. Call it the Mr. Wizard meets Escoffier edition- these food happenings deal with the intersections of ingredients, science, and art. more ›

It's a dark day for South Billyburg lovers of southern comfort food – dark as blackened catfish on a moonless Brooklyn night. Eater points out Peter Meehan's discovery that the beloved hole in the wall Pies 'n' Thighs, in the shadow of the Williamsburg bridge, will close tomorrow night. Party, or wake, to follow. more ›

FOOD: Trestle on Tenth, the “homey joins hearty” Swiss-inflected restaurant that takes its name from its proximity to the High Line and the avenue where it’s found, kicks off a special five-night series called “metzgete.” The Swiss tradition loosely translates to “butchers affair” and arises from the practice of salvaging every scrap of pig after the winter slaughter – “especially those parts that would or could not be dried, smoked or pickled for later consumption.” The $24 Trestle plate will include everything from braised belly to homemade bratwurst to liver and blood sausages. – John Del Signore more ›

It’s now trendy for tourists visiting Rio de Janeiro to eschew the nice hotels in favor of a full immersion in the city’s sprawling shantytowns, or “favelas”. But for those who can’t make the trip to Brazil, a new restaurant will soon bring a taste of that scene to Williamsburg. Called Favela, the establishment is described as a "Brazilian Botequim", a simple place for the neighborhood to gather for drinks, food and watching soccer. (Favela’s business card has Pelé on the back.) more ›

MOVIES: It's a perfect night to head to the movies. Get a double-feature in at the MoMA with Fabricating Tom Zé followed by David Cronenberg's Crash. Let's focus on the former film. Tom Zé (pictured) is a Brazilian songwriter and composer and this documentary (filmed during a 2005 European tour) charts his "personal universe". Zé is an "uncompromising and inspired artist...seen by many (including David Byrne and Arto Lindsay) as revitalizing the ever-evolving Tropicalia movement. Zé, who narrates his own story, is a very special musical phenomenon in a genre mostly associated with Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil—both of whom warmly assess the musical genius of their friend." more ›

MUSIC: If you haven't checked out the Summer of Love exhibit at the Whitney, head over there after work and get a double dose of rock while you're at it. Tonight Dirty Projectors and Lucky Dragons take the stage at Whitney Live. Get there early to get in. Check out this "Take Away Show" in New York featuring the Dirty Projectors. more ›

The Coupon Clipper scours the specials for the best deals in New York's big grocery stores. more ›

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Street artist Highraff recently came to the United States for the first time to raise awareness about the culture of his hometown São Paulo, Brazil, where he’s been painting in the streets since 1997. The twenty-nine-year-old artist, whose given name is Rafael Calazans Pierri, currently has work on display here in New York as part of Ruas de São Paulo: A Survey of Brazilian Street Art at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery. If you think his psychedelic murals are coming off the walls, it’s because he uses MDF material to turn colorful scenes into three-dimensional sculptures. Gothamist caught up with Highraff and asked him what he thinks about the New York graffiti scene. more ›

The Brazilian street artists have landed, and we're tracking their every move as they get ready to launch Ruas de Sao Paulo: A Survey of Brazilian Street Art at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery this Saturday. Here’s an account of the movements of Boleta, Fefê, Highraff, Kboco, Onesto, Speto, Titi Freak, and Zezão. more ›

VALENTINE PICK: Let Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio) and Scary Mansion serenade you and your valentine tonight. Glasslands is advertising the night as a Valentine's Dinner. The venue was opened last year by artist Brooke Baxter and commercial real estate broker Rolyn Hu, who have created the perfect art-centric space/venue. more ›

Brazilian art is scorching hot this winter. Hopefully you made it to the Tropicalia exhibit at the Bronx Museum before it closed this past weekend. Next stop: Ruas de São Paulo, an exhibition on Brazilian street art that begins next month at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery. But, before that gets underway, there’s going to be a must-attend benefit art auction today, January 31, at 7-10 PM, at The Newspace (530 West 21st St., Chelsea) to raise money for Brazilian street artists. more ›

ART: Check out Pale and Blue at 14 tonight at Giant Robot New York. Jeana Sohn’s paintings are a testament to the bond between humans and nature. Meanwhile, The Village Voice is calling Giant Robot New York, “Best New Gallery/store For Big Kids Who Still Like To Play With Toys.” Closing January 3rd. - Stephanie Nikolopoulos more ›

3 Pack by Jeffrey Docherty.
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There seem to be a lot of LVHRD events lately! Tonight they present Bi-FOLD II: Street. more ›

Jelena Prokopcuka won her second ING NYC Marathon in a row, finishing at 2:25:05, while Marilson Gomes Dos Santos of Brazil won the men's race with a time of 2:09:58. more ›

No ordinary days exist for a Paulo Coelho character - the battle between Good and Evil is a daily and commonplace occurrence. So commonplace, in fact, that the Brazilian writer has dedicated ten books to the pursuit of it. The Devil and Miss Prym, his latest U.S. release, is the third book in a loosely-linked trilogy, preceded by By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, and Veronika Decides To Die. All three novels feature a young woman at the figurative and literal crossroads of Good and Evil, Life and Death, Joy and Despair. Even their subtitles (A Novel of Forgiveness, A Novel of Redemption, and A Novel of Temptation respectively) tell you how very seriously Coelho feels about the great struggles of life. more ›

Brazilian Andreia Schwartz, arrested two weeks ago for running a prostitution and drug ring, was singing like a canary during her arraignment. She named two of her big clients - previously mentioned Time Warner executive Wayne Pace and Robert Voccola, bigwig at a Barrett Associates - and what they gave her:

I wouldn't have kept having sex with [Pace] or any of these guys if they weren't paying me...I got up to $200,000 ... from just one guy, who worked for AOL, in cash, mortgage payments, checks and other things... more ›

On Sundays Gothamist runs opinion pieces relevant to life in New York and reviews of recent books and performances. The judgments expressed below are entirely those of the author. more ›

The heat is on, the humidity is rising, seems about the perfect time for a good old fashioned tabloid hooker scandal, doesn't it? Well, ask and you shall receive. The News and the Post both ecstatically report today that alleged madam Andrea Schwartz was more then happy to give interviews yesterday from Rikers Island. Even more exciting for the tabs Schwartz, who steadfastly denies that she is either a prostitute or a madam and claims that she was entrapped by the NYPD, seems to have decided that the best thing to do in her position is start naming names of her "sugar daddies." First up, Wayne Pace the Chief Financial Officer at Time Warner. more ›

How do you know your brothel is making serious cash? When you can buy a floor of condos at the converted Plaza hotel. At least, that's what prosecutors claim Andrea Schwartz was going to do, as the NYPD's Vice Squad busted a Midtown prostitution ring yesterday. Brazilian-born Schwartz confessed to running the business out of her 100 West 58th Street condo, as well as selling coke to some of her customers. Schwartz and three other women were arrested, and Schwartz was denied bail because she had enough "cash to put together a $350 million deal with Italian investors" to buy residences at the Plaza. Hmm, that does sound like a flight risk. more ›

At noon today, Suzanne Vega and Lou Reed will play a free concert at the opening of 7 World Trade Center. As we all know, 7 WTC is the only tower to be rebuilt since 9/11; the plaza already opened this week. more ›

The crux of mas (farmhouse) is the use of the freshest organic ingredients to make the most inventive food, so it's no surprise that the bar introduces cocktails seasonally, too. This week we tried new cocktails at the bar courtesy of the bar manager and partner Tom Wilson featuring Leblon, a Brazilian Cachaca (rum). The bar offers the now-standard Mojitos and Caprinihas made with a flourish and this surprising, smooth liquor, but have also created some new cocktails to try. more ›

Learn all about what we're calling the isolationist coffees -- they come from beans that have been grown in one country and have never been mixed with others from outside that area. These coffees, like wines, reflect their respective terriors -- their unique growing conditions. In this class, participants will learn to identify the flavor profiles of single origin beans from all the world's major growing regions. Coffees to be sampled may include: Don Telmo Reserva, from Mesa de los Santos Farm in Bucaramanga, Columbia; Kalledevarapura Estate, in Mysore, India; and Kenya AA, from Kiamana, a top appellation in the country. 7 :15pm, 141 Waverly Place. $10 fee, Maximum of 20 attendees per class. Reservations are required; call 212-924-7400 or e-mail joecoffeestore@aol.com. (also offered Tuesday, March 14, 7:15pm) more ›

February 22: From Disaster to Dessert – the Fate of New Orleans Food more ›

Drink. Then again, that’s our answer to most questions. But it seems we are not alone. To help us make it through the Blizzard ’06, we knew it would take a sturdy pair of boots, a warm fleece hat and the insatiable desire to find a warm cozy bar to serve up soul-warming cocktails. Luckily for us south of the border turns out to be right below 14th street. more ›