Copa America brings Fiestón to South Beach
A special edition of Copa America—the premier men’s soccer event in the Americas—is being held for the first time outside of South America. The United States is the host nation for Copa America Centenario, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Tournament from June 3rd to the 26th. The 2016 event is significant because it features teams from CONMEBOL (the South American football confederation) and CONCACAF (the Confederation of North and Cen- tral America and the Caribbean). Soccer fans across the US will be able to view all 32 games live on Univision Sports, but if you feel the need to share this unique experience with fellow fans and cheer for your team, Univi- sion, the largest Spanish-language television network, has organized viewing parties across the country as a way of replicating the sensation of being at the stadium. One of such events—a tailgate beach party—was produced by TOCA Events during the week- end of June 3 to 6 at Miami Beach’s Lummus Park on the iconic Ocean Drive. The Fiestón—as Univision calls these viewing parties—came to Miami for the first time, and the sports manage- ment side of TOCA Events was chosen to take care of the challenge and design an unforget- table opportunity for all soccer fans of all ages. There were plenty of family-fun activities for attendees. Besides cheering for their favorite teams, guests enjoyed beach games as well as live musical performances by reggaeton artist Joey Montana, pop artist Karol G, pop Latin sensation Grupo Treo, Afrobeta, and Locos for Jua- na, among others. The first six matches of the tournament were broadcast live on large LED screens placed on the beach. TOCA Events continues its support of Univision Fiestón events in cities across the country such as Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. www.tocaevents.com
TOCA Culture Presents Bossa Nova Sinfónico in Havana, Cuba
TOCA Culture presents Bossa Nova Sinfónico in Havana Cuba MIAMI, USA (March 24, 2016) — The Miami-based cultural institution, TOCA Culture, will present Bossa Nova Sinfónico in Havana, Cuba on May 15th, as the opening concert for the 2016 Cuba Disco Festival. In a historic move, Cuba’s National Symphonic Orchestra will share the stage with U.S. artists based in Miami. This momentous occasion coincides with the Festival’s 20th anniversary. The orchestra, guest musicians, and the Cuban fans of Brazilian music are looking forward to this award-winning program that celebrates ever increasing cultural dialogue between Cuba, Brazil and the U.S. The collaborative performance will be led by the Symphonic Orchestra’s Maestro Enrique Perez Mesa. Bossa Nova Sinfónico is a project founded with the purpose of sustaining Antonio Carlos Jobim’s body of work and legacy among music lovers everywhere. Jobim was the most pivotal figure in Brazilian popular music over the last century. His music has permeated cultures around the world. Jobim’s compositions coupled with the symphony orchestra format and the traditional Brazilian Jazz quintet gives this project its unique appeal. The quintet is formed by singer Rose Max, guitar player Ramatis Moraes, bassist Jamie Ousley, pianist Michael Orta and drummer Carlomagno Araya. Conductor Jeremy Fox, from the original concert in Costa Rica, will be part of the encounter, working together with maestro Perez Mesa. In its first year, this project was performed in Central America, Mexico, and the United States. Its premier in Costa Rica along with the National Symphony Orchestra (March 2013) resulted in the release of a live recording. The CD “Bossa Nova Sinfónico Recordando a Antonio Carlos Jobim” garnered a Latin Grammy nomination, as well as winning “Best CD of the Year” at the 2014 Brazilian Press Awards. “The music of Jobim is universal, and provides the ideal framework to present our PanAmerican musical encounter,” states TOCA Culture director Robson Coccaro. “We are at such a transformative moment in U.S.-Cuban relations, and we are thrilled to be collaborating creatively with Maestro Pérez and Cuba’s National Symphony Orchestra. Much like Jobim’s subtle use of rich harmonies in his music, our hope is that this performance will encourage harmony and further stimulate the cultural dialogue between the U.S. and Cuba”. ABOUT TOCA CULTURE TOCA Culture is a not-for-profit cultural organization that promotes the visual and performing arts through cultural exchange and performative encounters throughout the Americas, with particular focus on Brazil-USA-Cuba interface. We support established as well as emerging artists, and produce live and virtual events to showcase their works and introduce their offerings to a global audience. Bossa Nova Sinfónico is scheduled to be presented at the Cuba Disco Music Festival in Havana, Cuba under the direction of Maestro Enrique Pérez Mesa with the National Symphony Orchestra. This showcase of Brazilian Bossa Nova, performed by Brazilian artists based in the US and Cuban musicians from the national orchestra, embodies the cross-cultural focus of TOCA Culture. www.tocaculture.org
Sao Paulo: Brazil’s Favorite Destination for Events and Incentive Travel
Fabulous Sao Paulo is Brazil’s largest city and the most populous megapolis in the entire Southern Hemisphere. The world’s ninth largest metropolis is located in Southeastern Brazil—in the State that shares its name—and is the commercial and industrial heart of the South American giant, a country that has made great strides in the last few years to become a world economic power while helping and assisting the perennially underserved populations of its urban centers and rural areas. View of Sao Paulo Sao Paulo is also a world-renowned center for art, culture, entertainment and sophistication, unlike any other Latin American city. Practically an open air museum with neighborhoods and buildings of historical value—it ranks first among the cities that host international events in the Americas and 12th in the world, after Vienna, Paris, Barcelona, Singapore, Berlin, Budapest, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Seoul, Lisbon and Copenhagen. And according to a study by MasterCard in 130 cities around the world, São Paulo was the third most visited destination in Latin America with 2.4 million foreign travelers, who spent US$2.9 billion in 2013 (the highest among the cities in the region). Some of the most relevant annual events include the Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo Fashion Week and the ATP Brazil Open, as well as the largest gay pride parade in the country, which draws over one million visitors every year. Ibirapuera Auditorium TOCA Events, with offices in Miami and Rio de Janeiro, boasts a comprehensive team of expert curators, tour guides, planners and fixers in bustling Sao Paulo, who bring you up-to-date insight into the latest developments in this unique city. Knowing the city and its inhabitants so well, TOCA Events is poised to be your best all-inclusive provider to organize your next incentive experience in the most cosmopolitan city of one of the most beautiful and emblematic countries on the entire planet. Ibirapuera Park In 2014, CNN ranked nightlife in São Paulo as the fourth best in the world, behind New York, Berlin, and Ibiza. Although we do not know the criteria used by our partners at CNN, we agree that the paulistanos (as the locals are known) are unique, outgoing, sophisticated, and have built a city worthy of our admiration, even in a country with one of the most legendary architectural legacies of the 19th and 20th centuries. Avenida Paulista Starting from the iconic Avenida Paulista, home to the city’s most emblematic monuments, such as the Latin American Memorial, Ibirapuera Park, Museum of Ipiranga, São Paulo Museum of Art, and the Museum of the Portuguese Language, the city radiates towards some of the most relevant business centers that host headquarters of major corporations, banks and financial institutions, organizations whose arms reach the rest of the continent and beyond, including the largest stock market in Latin America. Terracoitalia restaurant One aspect of this fantastic city that seems to escape most history books is the fact that this is one of the most multicultural enclaves in the world, especially in South America. The city holds the largest population of persons of Italian descent in the entire world—more than Rome. Sao Paulo is also home to large Arab and Japanese communities. Mani restaurant Know for a penchant for luxury and excess, Sao Paulo hosts the leading fashion brands and cultural institutions. The Jardins neighborhood is regarded as one of the most sophisticated spaces in town with a broad variety of hotels and restaurants, including the award-winning D.O.M., considered one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants by San Pellegrino and Restaurant Magazine. Morumbi Since the city hosts 75% of the trade fairs and conventions in the country, the TOCA Events team of destination management professionals are consistently engaged in offering the highest level of creativity, quality and service to its growing global clientele. The city has become one of our favorite destinations for sports marketing, business sessions, incentive travel, and evening events produced with special attention to all the logistical details that lead to unforgettable experiences. www.tocaevents.com
Florida Everglades
The Florida Everglades start at the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee. In the wet season, the water leaving the lake forms a slow-moving river 60 miles wide and over 100 miles long, flowing southward across a limestone shelf to Florida Bay at the southern tip of the peninsula. Along its journey to Florida Bay, the water from the lake brings life to different environments that conform an intricate labyrinth of interdependent ecosystems including cypress swamps, the estuarine mangrove forests of the Ten Thousand Islands, tropical hardwood hammocks, pine Rockland, and the marine environment of Florida Bay. Each is hauntingly beautiful in its own way: landscapes that cannot be replicated anywhere else. This fascinating corner of the planet is life giving and life affirming, a primordial landscape that should be protected. Pahayokee—Seminole for Everglades—was a pristine environment where the swamps and forests were not obstacles but a natural bounty. Calusa, Tequesta, Miccosukee, Seminole, and later Gladesmen occupied and lived off the land. The Calusa maintained a highly organized society and left behind many traces of their civilization, including large-scale architectural shell works, shell tools, carved wood, and long distance canoe trails. After the native population was exterminated by wars or exotic illnesses, Florida’s land boom promised cheap swamp land for agricultural or community development. That decision doomed the Everglades. In her seminal monograph The Everglades: River of Grass, Marjory Stoneman Douglas attempts to redefine the modern perception of the Everglades from a worthless swamp to a life-giving river. The resilient southern end of this unique ecosystem is what we know today as The Everglades Natural Park. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the park’s mission is to preserve and protect the unique and abundant flora and fauna within its jurisdiction. Everglades National Park covers between 1 and 1.5 million acres. It is the largest subtropical wilderness in the US. hosting an incredibly rich mixture of plant and animal habitats. It is also a beautiful place to visit, an invitation for our children to discover the incredible power of nature, the beauty of a glorious sunset over Flamingo–the southernmost town on the Florida mainland–or the enchantment of endless rainbows during the rainy season. Photo safaris are equally as attractive since many of the species of plants and animals are endemic to the area and cannot be found anywhere else. Feel free to canoe through he haunting cypress swamps observing the broad variety of birds, medium and large mammals like the elusive Florida panther, and, of course, the ubiquitous American alligator and American crocodile. While most of the park is remote and inaccessible, there are plenty of spots within a few minutes from Miami or Naples, where you can get a feel for the “River of Grass”. The Park has three main entrances: Shark Valley, near Miami; Royal Palm in Homestead, and Everglades City in Florida’s West Coast. Each will lead you to a different, unforgettable encounter with nature, something we all need to do more often. The best way to see the park is to take the time to walk the boardwalks and trails along the main park road to join in ranger-led events. Naturalists give talks, and lead hikes, canoe trips, tram tours, and campfire programs, as well as narrated boat tours to explore the pristine Ten Thousand Islands and coastal mangrove. I remember that as a child growing up in Miami, I thought of the Everglades as civilization’s frontier. On one side there was progress, roads, malls, suburbs—our habitat. Beyond the city limits lay myth and lore, a land of monstrous lizards, giant serpents, mystery, and ghosts. I was disconnected from my immediate natural environment and devoid of the fundamental connection and sense of pride and ownership of the place where I lived. This shared belief contributed to the neglect of the glades. In the Everglades, there are not epic vistas or high snow covered peaks. This park is more intimate, more personal, unique, and discreet, but its overwhelming beauty will change your life. If you are not comfortable venturing into the Everglades by yourself, there are several operators that will take care of all your needs and concerns. These include Dragon Flies Expeditions with a comprehensive Everglades Backwater Tour. And if you think the Everglades are only about nature and not art, we invite you to visit Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery located on 13 acres in the middle of the Everglades on Tamiami Trail. Butcher is an award-winning photographer and environmentalist who has produced some of the most iconic images of the river of grass. As it has been since the mid 19th century, the Everglades face continuous challenges. The latest problem is the growing population of invasive species like Burmese pythons, purple swamp hens, Cuban frogs and Australian pines, among others. This is the result of an ill-regulated exotic pet trade. These species compete with native plants and animals for resources and habitat. The expansion of the sugarcane industry, other agricultural endeavors, loss of habitat to real estate development, and supplying clean water to mores than 7 million South Floridians are stress factors that have to be dealt with if we want to protect this environment. Some call the Everglades a fragile ecosystem. We call it the most resilient treasure in the southernmost corner of the United States. www.tocaevents.com
Cienfuegos: Cuba’s Hidden Gem
Perhaps many of our readers have never heard of the city of Cienfuegos in Central Cuba, but it is time to take notice of this beautiful enclave by the sea! The Pearl of the South—as locals affectionally call it—sits by a vast bay and harbor that are ideal for sailing and water sports. Cienfuegos is poised to become one of the main tourist destinations in Cuba forecasting the onslaught of cruise activity that will descend upon the island in the coming years, which could more than triple the number of travelers visiting this beautiful island nation. With that idea in mind, the local government has embarked in a comprehensive tourist expansion plan that should be completed by the year 2030. The ambitious project will revamp the city’s infrastructure to welcome more tourists. The city’s location in the center of the island–and the presence of an international airport–make Cienfuegos the ideal starting place for visiting some of the country’s most beautiful sites. These include the nearby town of Trinidad, founded on 1514 and preserved to retain its Spanish Colonial essence, as well as the Valle de los Ingenios, one of the most important sugar production hubs since the 18th century—both declared UNESCO Heritage Sites. From Cienfuegos, we can visit the Ciénaga de Zapata, the island’s largest swamp and an example of Cuba’s efforts to maintain one of the most pristine ecosystems in the Caribbean. The mountains of the Escambray emerge from the North side of the city and rise to 3,000 feet above sea level. There are multiple caves, rivers, waterfalls, grottos, canyons, natural pools with crystal clear water, and mountains teeming with mariposa—Cuba’s national flower—announcing their presence with a soft and unique fragrance from June to early September. For those looking for the Fountain of Youth, we recommend a visit to the thermal baths at Ciego Montero, Cuba’s most popular spa. The Escambray is home to more that 40 species of orchids and giant, seven-foot ferns endemic to the island. Bird watching, hiking and taking advantage of the lush forests and fresh air are perhaps the main amenities in the Central Cuban Mountains. TOCA Events prides itself in finding unknown destinations for our clients. We take you places where culture and history take priority over more mundane activities. More than exotic, Cienfuegos is a real place, where the locals welcome foreigners with a warm embrace that lasts during the entire trip. Proud of their heritage and magnificent architecture, Cienfuegueros are soulful, lively and musical. And they have plenty of reasons to be proud. The city of about 150,000 inhabitants was founded 1819 by French immigrants from Bordeaux and Louisiana led by Don Louis de Clouet who settled the land known as Fernandina de Jagua on behalf of the Spanish king Ferdinand VII. The name of the settlement was changed in 1880 in honor of the island’s Governor Don José Cienfuegos. The city is considered young by Cuban standards since the main villas on the island were founded in the 16th and 17th centuries. Cienfuegos is very different from other Cuban cities and has a distinct look and feel while retaining many impressive landmarks, including stunning palaces, quaint squares and beautiful theaters. The city has kept its Gaelic heritage with a modern layout and eclectic architecture. We start our periplus visiting some of the city’s most emblematic sites. The bay is lined with a scenic promenade (Malecón) where locals and visitors stroll peacefully at dusk taking in the Caribbean breeze and the glorious, melancholic sunsets. Cienfuegos also boasts the island’s longest tree-lined boulevard. Known as El Paseo del Prado, this strip is the city’s most popular artery and the meeting place for locals who come out everyday to enjoy the shade, socialize and keep their culture alive. Paseo del Prado covers the western part of the city and leads to Punta Gorda, home to some of the most beautiful houses in town, including the iconic Palacio del Valle. The 1913 building—a symbol of the city—displays a series of architectural elements reminiscent of Spanish Moorish art. The builders sought inspiration in myriad styles, including Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque and Mudejar, a cacophony of influences that resulted in a gorgeous and balanced palace. Although a small city, we encourage you to take a few days to discover and enjoy its parks, plazas, and monuments where you become immersed in a generous display of neoclassical, art nouveau and art deco imagery. The great weather year-round will help and inspire you to walk the lovely streets of the Historic Center, declared UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring the impressive José Martí Park, one of the most beautiful and well preserved in Cuba; the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with its asymmetric towers, and the dome of the Government Palace. Also nearby is the historic 19th-century Terry Theater, a revered institution within the Cuban art scene. Towering over te entrance to the bay is Jagua Castle, Cienfuegos’ oldest fortress, built in 1745 to protect the city from corsairs and pirates. One shouldn’t leave Cienfuegos without visiting the Marina and Nautical Club, a stately building by the bay offering sunset cruises, catamaran outings, and access to the best diving in this part of Cuba. Also worth visiting, the vast Botanical Gardens founded in 1901 under the name “Harvard Botanical Station for Tropical Research and Sugar Cane Investigation”. Today, the garden boasts a large collection of exotic plants including endemic orchids, palms, ficus, bamboo and species from other latitudes. Cienfuegos is a gift from the gods. It continues to draw inspiration from its French origins while staying modern and relevant, beautiful and promising. The sea frames the city with a warm embrace and the blue waters that surround it are a true privilege. Cienfuegos is a cultural cluster located between the sea and the mountains. TOCA Events, under its division TOCA Trips, offers curated, personalized trips to Cienfuegos and other Cuban destinations where we share our experiences and knowledge with sophisticated travels looking for exposure to something they may not have experienced before. You
Miami’s Extraordinary Beaches: Something for Everyone
Though South Beach cannot be missed for its flamboyant range of day and nightlife, we at TOCA Events feel it is incumbent upon us to introduce you to some excellent alternatives for basking in the sun. The sandscapes of Miami are many, making it easy to find your perfect place. Whether it’s a private pearly white shore, an action-packed sporting day, or a chance to get rid of your tan lines at a nude beach, we’ve got a few suggestions on how to mix it up when vacationing in South Florida. North Beach offers a wide beach and waters as gorgeous as you’ll find anywhere. There’s a park at the north end, and the old fashioned band shell is a popular music venue where you can hear some great concerts later in the evening. With concessions and showers, beach volleyball nets for impromptu games, and lots of cafes nearby, North Beach is a great place to spend the day. For dining try Cafe Prima Pasta on 414 71st Street with its excellent Italian menu. North Shore Open Space is ideal for its tranquility, with plenty of shade, soft beach grass, and sandy walking trails. After a quiet day, enjoy a delicious Uruguayan meal at El Rey Del Chivito, 6987 Collins Ave. Bal Harbour Beach is north of the main beaches in Miami. Bal Harbor is considered the Rodeo Drive of South Florida, with high-end boutiques, luxury condos, five star hotels, clear waters, and pristine white sand. The mile-long beach has a jetty at the north end and offers a jogging path along the shore. There are many wonderful cafes at the Bal Harbour Shops or in nearby Surfside. We recommend The Grill at Bal Harbour on 9700 Collins Ave Suite 233. Haulover Beach is one and a half miles north of Miami Beach and is famous for its deep blue waters and a stretch of shoreline that is clothing-optional. Have a picnic lunch, enjoy a kite-making workshop, take some time on the nine hole golf course, or play a few sets of tennis on the courts. Visiting the nearby marina and park on Biscayne Bay is an easy walk through the available tunnels that lead to the sites. Our recommendation for dining is the J & Grill 9703 Collins Avenue where they really know how to make a good steak! Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park is perfect for the entire family. Here you’ll find a family amusement center, a nature center, and loads of beach volleyball. Have a picnic lunch, enjoying the on-site grills, and spend the afternoon roaming about the dunes, taking in the mangrove trees, costal hammock and sea grass beds, and the balmy breezes that play with you all day long. The environmental study area, Bear Cut Preserve, is interesting for the local flora and fauna. Take a tour with an experienced guide and then pop over to Cafe Fresh by Juice Zone in the Galleria Shopping Center on 328 C randon Blvd. for a healthy snack or meal. Attention windsurfers! Hobie/Windsurfer Beach in Key Biscayne is the place for you. Hobie is the home for one of the best locally run windsurfing concessions. Take a private or group lesson with a pro and then get out there to test your mettle. When you’re done, have a couple of cold beers on the beach with the locals to recap the day. www.tocaevents.com
Curating Experiences
Every now and then we have to stop and think about how grateful we are to have gotten into the business of curating experiences through TOCA Events. Uniting people together through entertainment and the beauty of other cultures is certainly the perfect formula for helping make life so rich and varied. We all know that creating a united world comes through sharing knowledge. Travel, the arts, food, and philosophy are just some of the ways we foster a greater awareness of the similarities and beautiful differences between cultures. Through dialogue and exposure we make a collective vision that helps to empower our own individual take on the world, as well as a much wider awareness of the varied and colorful communities that exist around the globe. Sharing is the key. We are truly in a time of individual and communal transformation, with communication and knowledge at our fingertips whenever we have the desire to learn more. Creative partnerships are paving the way for greater global unity through sharing ideas, expertise, and joy. At TOCA, we emphasize this through all of our programs, collaborating with people from different cultures to bring new awareness to our audiences. As all of you readers of the TOCA blogs are well aware, we adore travel. Along with the excitement of discovering the unknown, exploring the world expands the mind and spirit. Sharing language, history, and different customs adds color and heart to life, with every location on this earth emanating its own soul. And of course, travel helps to dispel preconceptions and prejudices as we open up to the new. We have created TOCA Culture to reach into communities worldwide, enjoy their spirit, and help share this energy with our clients. Whether it is a musical tour, learning a specific craft, taking a cooking course, or enjoying a festival, a film or the nightlife and natural resources of a given region, we enjoy the sense of sharing what we have discovered… and always with a light and conscious footprint wherever we go! One person can accomplish amazing things. Companies have an even farther reach, working within their own business culture to extend outwards. In our company, we always seek to gift our clients with the exposure to something they may not have experienced before. Keeping cultures alive through awareness is just part of what it takes to create global unity. By sharing the spirit of the world, we can honor those communities that we are not familiar with, with their customs enriching our view of the world. www.tocaevents.com
Havana’s International Jazz Festival and TOCA Culture
Picture a crowded basement. The lights are dim, the air thick with smoke and anticipation. A late night set is well into its umpteenth hour as local and international jazz greats make their way to the stage, adding their particular stamp to the continued improvisation. It could be twenty years ago, or it could be the present, but there is no doubt that this is Havana, Cuba on a night not to be missed. In Cuba you have music for breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, and snacks. Its in the clubs, its on the curbs. And when it comes to jazz, it inhabits the late night into the morning, penetrating your very cells down to the marrow of your bones. This is the Cuba we at TOCA love and its the Havana that stands everyone on their heads during the annual Havana International Jazz Festival. In December 2015 from December 13 to the 21st, the Havana International Jazz Festival once again will be magnetizing jazz lovers from all over the world. For nine days and eight nights, attendees will be privy to some of the most astonishing musical talent at venues around the city including concerts at the Mella, Nacional, and Amadeo Roldan theatres and throughout the city’s many, many clubs. Hang out on any one of these nights at the Jazz Cafe or La Zorra y el Cuervo and you’re sure to see your favorite jazz luminaries adding their heat to the fire. The Havana International Jazz Festival was born in 1978 as the Jazz Plaza Festival when Cuban jazz showman Bobby Carcasses and a host of other exceptional Cuban musicians presented the first jazz concert in the Casa de la Cultura de Plaza. The following year featured keyboard great and five-time Grammy winner, Chucho Valdes, who became the director of the festival in 1996. As one of the most thrilling events for jazz lovers, the festival combines the allure of Cuba itself with some of the greatest icons of jazz music. In the past, the festival has featured artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Tete Montoliu, Charlie Haden, Max Roach, Roy Hargrove, Steve Coleman, Carmen McRae, Leon Thomas, Airto Moreira, Tania Maria, Dave Velentin, Ivan Lins, and Michael Legrand. This year will be no different, with local and internationally acclaimed musicians coming in from everywhere to add their talent to the stunning and innovative scene that thrives in Havana. Never shirking our responsibility to share the fun, TOCA Culture will be there to provide people-to-people educational exchanges, combining encounters with Old Havana, Ciefuegos, and other UNESCO treasures with the excitement of the festival’s abundant musical offerings. With a mission to offer an intimate view of Cuban culture, we are looking forward to a total immersion into Havana’s musical pulse, from Afro-Cuban to Bossa Nova, improvisational, and free jazz… and everything in-between, above, and beyond! For more information on TOCA Culture and the Havana International Jazz Festival, contact us today at: www.tocaevents.com www.tocaculture.org www.tocatrips.com
The Exciting Game of Sports Marketing
As we prepare for the Rio Summer Games, where we are assisting the NBA for the third year in a row, it occurs to us that we might say a few words about the exciting game of sports marketing. As huge sports fans, we at TOCA are always thrilled when we are called upon to provide our sports clients with strategies that bring their goods and services to expectant fans. Perhaps more than any type of event, sports has the power to ignite both the passion and pride of its viewers. Ready to cheer for their favorite athletes and teams, there is no more vicarious thrill than feeling the excitement generated by fans when the game is on. Competition, an undetermined outcome, and star athletes put everyone on the edge of their seats, creating a thrilling mix that electrifies every sporting event. Sports marketing wouldn’t be what it is if advertising wasn’t tied in to the event at hand. The popularity of teams and athletes encourages fans to purchase the products and services that they support, which creates an undeniable synergy. At TOCA our task is to come up with great strategies that will promote an event, along with the goods and services that go along with it. In service to this, we provide our clients and audiences with interactive settings that keep team spirit at its highest and client brands at the forefront. Getting the public to participate in ancillary events, allowing them to get closer to their favorite athletes and teams through live feeds and parties, and providing urban elements that encourage fans to stay active is what makes an event successful. Our goal at TOCA is always based on offering people a wonderful time, and it is with this in mind that we create our marketing strategies. Sports marketing is a fast-paced, energetic facet of event production. It requires quick thinking and a knack for coming up with creative solutions for promotion and advertising. Attention to detail, good communication and organizational skills, and a ton of flexibility make for a great result. When clients keep coming back for each new event, you know your formula is working. In this regard, we are proud to be producing three more events for Univision’s USA Mexico game, including simultaneous live viewing parties in L.A. and Dallas. We expect over 4,000 fans to turn up at each location, with fun and games for all. We have many sports marketing-related events in the works, many with return clients who want more of the TOCA touch. With each one, we rev up our motor, hone our skills, and revel in the excitement we share with our clients, the sponsors, and the fans. And of course, with each production, we learn more about our craft as we come up with new ideas for the exciting game of sports marketing. www.tocaevents.com[:pb] As we prepare for the Rio Summer Games, where we are assisting the NBA for the third year in a row, it occurs to us that we might say a few words about the exciting game of sports marketing. As huge sports fans, we at TOCA are always thrilled when we are called upon to provide our sports clients with strategies that bring their goods and services to expectant fans. Perhaps more than any type of event, sports has the power to ignite both the passion and pride of its viewers. Ready to cheer for their favorite athletes and teams, there is no more vicarious thrill than feeling the excitement generated by fans when the game is on. Competition, an undetermined outcome, and star athletes put everyone on the edge of their seats, creating a thrilling mix that electrifies every sporting event. Sports marketing wouldn’t be what it is if advertising wasn’t tied in to the event at hand. The popularity of teams and athletes encourages fans to purchase the products and services that they support, which creates an undeniable synergy. At TOCA our task is to come up with great strategies that will promote an event, along with the goods and services that go along with it. In service to this, we provide our clients and audiences with interactive settings that keep team spirit at its highest and client brands at the forefront. Getting the public to participate in ancillary events, allowing them to get closer to their favorite athletes and teams through live feeds and parties, and providing urban elements that encourage fans to stay active is what makes an event successful. Our goal at TOCA is always based on offering people a wonderful time, and it is with this in mind that we create our marketing strategies. Sports marketing is a fast-paced, energetic facet of event production. It requires quick thinking and a knack for coming up with creative solutions for promotion and advertising. Attention to detail, good communication and organizational skills, and a ton of flexibility make for a great result. When clients keep coming back for each new event, you know your formula is working. In this regard, we are proud to be producing three more events for Univision’s USA Mexico game, including simultaneous live viewing parties in L.A. and Dallas. We expect over 4,000 fans to turn up at each location, with fun and games for all. We have many sports marketing-related events in the works, many with return clients who want more of the TOCA touch. With each one, we rev up our motor, hone our skills, and revel in the excitement we share with our clients, the sponsors, and the fans. And of course, with each production, we learn more about our craft as we come up with new ideas for the exciting game of sports marketing. www.tocaevents.com[:es] As we prepare for the Rio Summer Games, where we are assisting the NBA for the third year in a row, it occurs to us that we might say a few words about the exciting game of sports marketing. As huge sports fans, we at TOCA are always thrilled when we are called upon to provide our sports clients with strategies that bring their goods
Bossa Nova Then and Now
Who among you haven’t hear the song “The Girl from Ipanema?” Very few, we are sure, as the song has been ubiquitous ever since it was created by bossa nova king, Antonio Carlos Jobim. With its cool, laid back sound enhanced by the whispery voice of Astrud Gilberto, the song put bossa nova on the map, from Rio to NY and everywhere else beyond. The origin of bossa nova came from finding a new way of playing and singing samba, a musical genre with roots in Africa. Taking elements from jazz music and combining it with a soft and poetic sound, bossa nova came at a time when Brazil was changing and becoming more modern, and this sound surely became emblematic of the time. Born in 1927, Jobim was a revered songwriter, singer, composer, arranger, pianist, and guitarist who was a big part of the creation of the bossa nova style. With “The Girl from Ipanema” one of the most recorded songs in history, his music put bossa nova on the map, along with the music he wrote in collaboration with poet vinicius de Moraes in 1959 for the film, Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus) directed by Michel Camus. Musicians like Stan Getz, Joaö Gilberto, and Astrud Gilberto helped to add fuel to the bossa nova craze all over the world, with Jobim at the helm. As one of the most important songwriters of the 20th century, his music was recorded by many famous singers, including Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Jobim died in 1994, but he had an airport named after him in Rio in 1999 and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012 . When it began, bossa nova was headquartered in a tiny alley in Rio called Beco das Garrafas in Copacabana, known to music afficianados as well as the great musicians who play and visit the local bars. Known as an after-hours place for musicians to play, it has been a hang out for greats such as Sergio Mendes, Milton Banana, J.T. Meirelles, and Edison Machado. Heavyweight jazz players like Coleman Hawkins and Herbie Mann were often regulars, and the beat goes on to today, where Beco das Garrafas continues to host some of the best bossa nova bands and the musicians who appreciate and contribute to the sound. In the latter part of the 1960’s pop and rock became the musical styles of choice in Rio, but bossa nova still held its ground as a staple. Today, bossa nova has evolved into a new sound, combining the style with electronic beats giving it a harder edge that makes it popular with a new generation of kids on the dance floor. The contemporary bossa scene is growing all the time. Bands like Bossacucanova combine the traditional sound with electronica. Nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2002 for Best Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album with “Brasilidade,” they are produced and engineered by Alex Moreira and boast stunning vocals by his wife, Cris Delanno. Innovators like Mitar Subotic, known as Suba, have pioneered a sound that is constantly transforming. Listen to his album Säo Paulo Confessions, or to Fernanda Porto’s bossa, drum n’ bass dance floor hit, “Sambassim” with its various contagious mixes. And then there is Mugamango, Marcelonho da Lua, Cibelle, Vanessa da Mata and Ramilson Maia, and so many more who are moving the bossa sound into exciting realms. Like all art forms that are alive with their times, bossa nova breathes new life into itself through the artists who expand the form through their own visions. Whether you want a soothing sound to soften your ears or a driving beat to lift you higher, bossa nova is a sound that can take you to many places, not the least of which is Rio de Janeiro where it all began. www.tocaevents.com[:pb] Who among you haven’t hear the song “The Girl from Ipanema?” Very few, we are sure, as the song has been ubiquitous ever since it was created by bossa nova king, Antonio Carlos Jobim. With its cool, laid back sound enhanced by the whispery voice of Astrud Gilberto, the song put bossa nova on the map, from Rio to NY and everywhere else beyond. The origin of bossa nova came from finding a new way of playing and singing samba, a musical genre with roots in Africa. Taking elements from jazz music and combining it with a soft and poetic sound, bossa nova came at a time when Brazil was changing and becoming more modern, and this sound surely became emblematic of the time. Born in 1927, Jobim was a revered songwriter, singer, composer, arranger, pianist, and guitarist who was a big part of the creation of the bossa nova style. With “The Girl from Ipanema” one of the most recorded songs in history, his music put bossa nova on the map, along with the music he wrote in collaboration with poet vinicius de Moraes in 1959 for the film, Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus) directed by Michel Camus. Musicians like Stan Getz, Joaö Gilberto, and Astrud Gilberto helped to add fuel to the bossa nova craze all over the world, with Jobim at the helm. As one of the most important songwriters of the 20th century, his music was recorded by many famous singers, including Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Jobim died in 1994, but he had an airport named after him in Rio in 1999 and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012 . When it began, bossa nova was headquartered in a tiny alley in Rio called Beco das Garrafas in Copacabana, known to music afficianados as well as the great musicians who play and visit the local bars. Known as an after-hours place for musicians to play, it has been a hang out for greats such as Sergio Mendes, Milton Banana, J.T. Meirelles, and Edison Machado. Heavyweight jazz players like Coleman Hawkins and Herbie Mann were often regulars, and the beat goes on to today, where Beco das Garrafas continues to