Bar Sibéria, in New York, and Literary Passage, in Paulista Subway, Consolação Street, in Sampa City, Brazil
The Literary Passage is a peculiar, exotic, magical and fantastic environment
Sérgio Dávila, Brazilian journalist, currently editor-in-chief of Folha de S. Paulo, is the author of the work: New York — Before and After the Attack (Collection Report Life). It tells stories of the Big Apple. In its first chapter (In search of the holy bar), it deals with the mysterious Bar Siberia.
This space is located, according to the reporter, “literally in a hole, in this case, a subway station, and the owner doesn’t want you to find it”. Furthermore, “Insiders give wrong indications. New Yorkers say they’ll take it one day, and the day never comes. So you decide to find him on your own.”
Thus, he continues: “Two weeks of scattered attempts and the light is born. The Siberia Bar exists. And it’s the best. You enter and come across a poster of Lenin, next to the People’s Genius Guide, an old counter. On the ceiling, with part of the ceiling missing, a signature attests that the cast of Grease were there, as well as a certain ‘El capitán y sus amigos’. The jukebox, in the second room, plays music […] It has worn red sofas, a pinball and a third room, with a track, a DJ and another counter.” Further on, he says: “The name and Russian references on the walls are a tribute, according to owner Tracy Westmoreland.
He was looking for a good place to rent when he met a Russian, Yuri, who took him to where Siberia is today. There he told how three former KGB agents were killed in that very corridor, fleeing from the American authorities. Tracy doesn’t expect you to believe the story.” Finally, “on the way out, a drawing made by hand by a regular on one of the endless late nights (the bar closes at 4am) shows the unmistakable caricature and the phrase: ‘Elvis Lives in Siberia’. He doesn’t live there, but he would have liked to have visited”. Dávila, finally, compares the place with the Literary Passage on Consolação Street.
So let’s talk about this Passage from São Paulo!
It is located on Consolação Street, next to Paulista Avenue, on the Paulista subway, next to the Consolação subway, also close to the Belas Artes Cinema.
The Literary Passage is a peculiar, exotic, magical and fantastic environment!
It has books on various subjects, from literature, geography, history, sociology, philosophy and psychology to administration, economics and law, among many others. There are books for 1 for R$ 3 and 2 for R$ 5. In this select promotion, messy on a table in the center of the place, with a good sieve, we find good works, in addition to being possible to make a healthy bargain, negotiation well accepted by the sellers.
In addition, there are some paintings of art exposed by the passage.
Young students and university students, as well as romantic couples, and the more mature and experienced generation, transit through the area — a certainly democratic spot!
Odete Machado and Eduardo Oliveira are the owners, who welcome everyone with attention and friendliness.
The Literary Passage is open from Monday to Friday from 10:30 am to 6:45 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 6:45 pm, and is closed on Sundays.
While we don’t go to the Bar Sibéria, the Literary Passage is more than a good size! This passage is really a historical and cultural heritage of our dear Sampa City, which is really worth visiting and discovering! I strongly recommend!
