Crowded buses, dancing and flirting: the nostalgia of New Looking in Porto Alegre

At the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, when Porto Alegre's nightlife was still less diverse than it is today, New Looking became a meeting point for young people from different parts of the city. Those who lived through that era remember it well: buses on the T2 and T5 lines would arrive packed at the terminal near Praia de Belas, carrying entire groups from Glória, Medianeira, Vila Cruzeiro, Santa Teresa, and many other neighborhoods. Many would disembark at the last minute and only return home at dawn, after an intense night of music, dancing, flirting, and friendship.

The atmosphere inside the club blended energy, diversity, and respect. On the dance floor, the famous "passinhos" (little steps) were accompanied by a repertoire that spanned the trends of the time—from pop to charm, and electronic beats that heralded a new era in the capital's nightlife scene. For many, it was there that young people found their tribe and built memories that remain vivid to this day.

According to Dario Hernandez, who spoke with Porto Alegre 24 Horas, the first phase began on April 6, 1978, when it was still called Looking Glass. Shortly thereafter, in 1979, the establishment adopted the name New Looking, remaining active until June 2000, when it closed for good.

Even with the closure, the memory hasn't faded. Today, many partygoers from that era keep the memory alive at throwback parties organized in city clubs and in virtual communities—especially Facebook groups that bring together thousands of people who once lived those early mornings intensely.

For those in their 40s today, remembering New Looking is like revisiting an unforgettable phase of youth, where freedom, music and encounters marked an entire generation.