Say "Brazil" and most of us think of Rio, carnival, party and beach. But those who for some reason end up in the central Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, that has neither beach nor Rio, will be glad to know that party is alive and well here, too. In the state's party-crazy capital of Belo Horizonte, the swankiest neighborhood is Savassi. And there, Roxy is making itself famous as the top chic night-club - not an easy feat in this city of bars and clubs.



Roxy owners Robert Marent and Jancome gave local architect and DJ Fred Mafra creative freedom and he came up with a retro-futuristic madhouse. Enter the check-in tunnel, ask permission to enter, and you'll half expect HAL's "I'm afraid I can't do that." Luckily, HAL doesn't work here and so the city's sexy crowd is allowed into the naughty Red Lounge wallpapered in graphic designer Dinah Verleun's crazy work, and into the eerily sterile Green Lounge that is more space ship than anything HAL ever controlled. The focal point of the circular main dance floor is the DJ's preaching pulpit made of acrylic rock that pulses and changes color with the beat of the music. This is Discovery all over again. By Tuija Seipell.