Carioca da Gema

As part of the Carnival celebration, people organize themselves in what they call "blocos".
These "blocos" are scheduled around the clock for 4 days in a row and go around the city.

How it works:
1- Find the Carnival "bloco" schedule, a brochure, probably in your hotel front desk.
2- Pick a "bloco" from the hundreds listed (Yes, I said hundreds)
3- Purchase their T-shirt, this works as your VIP ticket.
4-You will meet your "bloco" at point A. You will find them because you will see hundreds matching your Tshirt, you will also find a big sort of parade floating vehicle with dancers, singers and musicians.
5- You will follow this vehicle to Point B.
6- Don't forget to dance, sing and drink!
We hung out in Lapa (near to hostal). Lapa claims to be responsible of bringing Samba back ( i hardly believe it went anywhere before) It is a street full of run down colonial buildings ( I say that in a very charming way) full of bars and restaurants. Unlike anyplace I know, in Brazil you are very much allowed to drink in the streets and this is what people do in this street.

We went to Carioca da Gema (http://www.barcariocadagema.com.br/bar.htm).
We sat down to have dinner while live Samba music was playing, I had a bolinho da arroz (fried rice ball) and I was in love. That same night we bought their "bloco" Tshirt. We ended up returning to this place like 3 more times, besides the food, the music was just as delicious.