Once the gold was depleted and shipped off to Portugal, however, and its title of provincial capital was taken away, Ouro Preto began to decline in importance. The Portuguese went home, but not before leaving in their wake a gorgeous colonial city, now an UNESCO World Heritage City, with numerous impressive Baroque churches and a vibrant local culture. Already a popular travel destination among Brazilians, Ouro Preto is now catching on internationally, having caught the attention of both The New York Times (twice!) and the Travel Channel’s Entrada show.

photo by Elizabeth Gleeson

Ouro Preto encapsulates much of that very particular Brazilian air of effortlessness, with an extra dose of charm that makes the already fairytale-like city seem even more enchanting. There are no large hotels, but rather intimate bed and breakfasts and pousadas in carefully preserved historic buildings. Similarly, there are no chain restaurants, instead a variety of buffet-style eateries serving up a hearty local cuisine, heavy in beans, rice, kale, okra, steamed veggies, and meats stewed in rich sauces that is famous throughout Brazil. Most people navigate the unbelievably steep streets of the town center on foot, as cars are often not equipped for the sharp curves and plummeting blocks that make up the breathtaking cityscape.

photo by Elizabeth Gleeson

Relaxed in comparison to Sao Paulo or Rio, Ouro Preto still maintains that wonderful Brazilian joie de vivre, with a lively population of university students fueling the many small bars that line the colonial streets, enjoying frosty national beers and delightfully cheap caipirinhas until the early hours of the morning. Come Carnaval season each February, the city comes alive with festivities that are drawing more participants and onlookers each year. Get in on Ouro Preto before the rest of the world does; while you may not strike gold, you’ll certainly feel as if you’ve come across a gem.

With a population of just 3 million, most of which is concentrated in the capital city of Montevideo, one thing Uruguay manages to sidestep are crowds. The exception is in summertime, when glamorous Brazilian and Argentine scenesters pour into coastal Uruguay’s summertime mecca, Punta del Este. This beautiful peninsular city is full of sparkling new oceanfront high-rise condos (investors take note: anyone, regardless of nationality, can buy property in Uruguay) and world-class dining, as well as fashionable events and nightlife options offered both here and in the nearby, jet-set beach communities of La Barra, Punta Ballena, and José Ignacio, all of which have been touched on recently in the New York Times and Conde Nast Traveler.

Punta del Este; photo by Elizabeth Gleeson

Fear not, however, if high-end resort vacationing isn’t your cup of tea. Backtrack to pretty, colonial Montevideo or retro Piriápolis, both charming cities situated on the Rio de la Plata, a river so wide that it appears to be an ocean. Miles of rock-dotted beach are lined with boardwalks and balnearios, or beach clubs, that are rather démodé and quite the opposite of the trendy beach scene up the coast – perfect for those who prefer not to get caught up in the see-and-be-seen spectacle with the likes of Naomi Campbell and Ralph Lauren in Punta del Este.

Piriápolis; photo by Elizabeth Gleeson

If what you seek, though, is peace and quiet, trek 30 miles up the coast towards Brazil, past the pleasant ocean towns of La Pedrera and La Paloma, to the region of Rocha. This is Uruguay’s most untamed zone, where small pockets of people are outnumbered by cows, and horseback is a common mode of transportation. Much of Rocha’s rugged coastline is protected. Those who dwell in the tiny fishing villages of Valizas, Aguas Dulces, Punto del Diablo, and the wild peninsula of Cabo Polonio – powered exclusively by generators and accessible only by giant 4×4 trucks that cross dunes as high as buildings – are essentially squatters. A handful of hostels and bed and breakfasts (and, now, a luxury hotel in Cabo Polonio) attract mainly surfers and backpackers – travelers prepared to pitch a tent for the night and grill the catch of the day over a pit fire. The natural beauty of this section of Uruguay’s shore is absolutely breathtaking: palm forests, rivers that ebb and flow with the ocean tides, pearly white dunes, wild horses, and a horizon dotted by rickety fishing boats.

Valizas; photo by Elizabeth Gleeson

As coastal Uruguay gains attention on a global scale, some of these rustic areas are sure to become overrun with hostels and condos. Fortunately for peace-seekers, fashionable Punta del Este draws most of the hard-partying crowd, and much of the rest of the shoreline is protected by law.

Pop Up Galleries is free and open to the public Friday April 8th from 10am-9pm, Saturday the 9th from 10am-6pm, and Sunday the 10th from noon-8pm. The house is located at Andrés Arguibel 2575 in Las Cañitas.

photo by Caitlin Margaret Kelly

And so onto the scene springs photographer Caitlin Margaret Kelly, a transplanted American photographer whose recent collaboration with Argentinean fashion designer Aidana Baldassarre have resulted in the exhibition Avant Garb(age): The art in wearing trash, opening tonight, April 6, at 7pm at the ICANA Belgrano. Swing by to check out their creations, captured in beautiful photographs by Kelly. The two are in the process of working on a book (produced in a sustainable manner) to document their trash fashions; read more about photographer Kelly here and designer Baldassarre here.

Avant Garb(age): The art in wearing trash opens at 7pm at ICANA Belgrano, 3 de Febrero 821, and can be visited until the 29th of April.

photo by Catherine Snodgrass

The orchid festival runs Saturday and Sunday (April 9 and 10) at the Escuela de Jardineria Cristobal M. Hicken, Avenida Las Heras 4078, from 10am-7pm.

photo by M. Constanza Rebolledo

Browse through all of the showtimes for features in BAFICI 2011 here, where tickets are also available for online purchase. The festival runs from April 6-17 in theaters throughout the city.

Get a glimpse of Buenos Aires thru the lens on Flickr’s Buenos Aires group. Travel snapshots, fashion photography, arty snaps – over 30,000 images from nearly 2,000 photographers depicting BA in some form can be browsed through in the Buenos Aires pool.

photo from Flickr's Buenos Aires pool by Jose Téllez

All of the local art and design-related blogs and websites could take weeks to sort through. We suggest flipping through the digital pages of Regia Mag for fashion/lifestyle, Ruby Mag for contemporary art, and Graffitimundo for street art.

Looking for music? Turn to WhatsUpBuenosAires and their record label, ZZK Records, for all you need to know about local music and the expanding digital cumbia scene.

Foodie BA doesn’t get much more complete than over at Casa SaltShaker. Aside from the acclaimed puerta cerrada restaurant, American chef and owner Dan Perlman runs a great blog where you can check out insightful reviews of a big number of local restaurants (including photographs of the dishes) along with notes on the city’s best empanadas, great vegetarian options, and suggestions for where to get your hard-to-find comfort food from home.

All the city museum-related information you could possibly want can be found in one place. We particularly like the map of the so-called “Milla de los Museos” – Museum Mile.

In town and looking for events? The agendas at Wicked Weekly (subscribe for a weekly calendar of recommended events) and Wipe are tops for art/music/film/clubs, while the Mapa de las Artes can’t be beat for comprehensive art coverage.

El Ateneo Grand Splendid byu Mac Aque

Shopping in Buenos Aires can be tricky business. At first glance, the factory-direct leather dealers and waaay overpriced international brands (Nike, Adidas) rule the racks and can make shopping in the Argentinian capital a frustratingly blurry-eyed experience. Savvy buyers will want to hone in on certain shops for the pick of the bunch; whether on the hunt for art books, used duds, independent designer wares, or jewelry, you’ll want to review our quick picks of the best shops in BA.

Wiling away an entire afternoon browsing through the book stacks is a cinch at El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a converted theater with a charming piano bar on what was once the stage. Pick up your carefully selected, English-language used books at charming Walrus Books in San Telmo.

Amores Trash Couture

Vintage lovers needn’t look much further than Juan Pérez, a consignment shop stocked by some serious secondhand hunters. Slip past the velvet rope for a peek at the designer section (complete with Louis Vitton handbags and Gucci gowns) of the Barrio Norte shop.

Amores Trash Couture in Palermo is the stuff of tastemakers; the fabulous punk-, glam-, and 80s-inspired clothes have already rocked the pages of major fashion magazines as well as the red carpet. This is THE place for that certain imaginative conversation stater you’re after. In the mood for something a little more down-to-earth yet still super cool? Stop into nearby Juana de Arco.

Duck downstairs at the Marriott Plaza Hotel in Plaza San Martin for a classic cocktail of the Manhattan/Old-Fashioned/Dry Martini variety. The sophisticated, dark wood-and-leather interior Plaza Bar also offers a champagne and oysters special every afternoon.

The Lobby Bar at the Alvear Palace Hotel is outfitted with sculpted marble pillars, crystal chandeliers, and carved wooden celing panels to boot, the perfect setting for one of the most classic of the upscale bars in Buenos Aires. Order up a round of Kir Royals or a glass of malbec; should you want to spring for the good stuff to match the ucpsale digs, see how a bottle of Cristal suits you.

The Lobby Bar by Eduardo Mineo

Soak up the spirits with a happy hour sampler picada at the New Brighton, located just a block off of noisy Calle Florida. A massive dish of complimentary cocktail sandwiches and cakes accompanies any drink (and helps soften the hurt of the pricey cocktails). A definite must for downtowners.

The Oak Bar at the Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt in Recoleta serves up cocktails in a bar fit for a king, with prices that only a king would turn up his nose at. At 60 pesos a pop, enjoy your Duhau Martini til the very last drop while soaking in the regal surroundings that used to serve as the personal library of Luis Duhau. If the evening agrees, snag a seat on the balcony overlooking the lush garden below.

U2, hot off the heels of a megashow in La Plata last night, have two dates in Buenos Aires, April 2 and 3.

Looking for something a touch more intimate? Check out loads of indie acts at the Festival Sonido Argie at Salon Real on Saturday the 2nd. Knock 5 pesos off the 25 peso entrance fee by emailing your name to the list here.

Our favorite Swedish pop duo of the ’80s, Roxette, rocks Luna Park April 4 and 5. They head to Cordoba for a date on the 7th. Get your tickets here.

Flaming Lips by Sarah Reid

The Flaming Lips open Quilmes Rock 2011 with one of their oddball spectacles; tickets cost AR$150. Hear some tunes here.

Alterna-songster Devandra Banhardt presents a double-header at Niceto Club on April 5 and 6. Tix here.