Major music stars such as Bebel Gilberto and Daniela Mercury now make sure to stop in the Bay Area on their United States tours. You can learn the martial art of Capoeira from two different academies in San Francisco. We also finally have our own churrascaria (Brazilian barbeque restaurant) in San Francisco, a staple in American cities with large Brazilian populations.

In addition to this, we have a sprinkling of Brazilian shops throughout the Bay Area, one being Mercado Brasil, which opened five years ago on Valencia Street in the Mission. Mercado Brazil is so much more than a store, though. It functions as a meeting place for Brazilians and all those who love Brazil. -- Michelle Sieling