Megan Prumier has been busy of late, helping to design city-based environments – notably The District, on which she worked with region holders Roman Godde and Lana Fierce (a place I visited and photographed just after it opened – and then forgot to write about. Doh!), and also with Serana Lacuna (Serana Aridian) in the creation of Mayonaka City, the subject of this piece.
While there are some similarities between the two in terms of the chosen region surround, The District and Mayonaka City are very different places. The District is clearly influenced by US city designs – notably New York – whilst Mayonaka, as the name might suggest, is very Japanese-centric.
The idea for Mayonaka City lies with Serana, as she notes:
An idea that I had back in March, and one I worked with the incredible Megan Prumier to bring to life. This city is my happy place here on Second Life, a place that I hope others can come to and enjoy, and will make them happy too.
[It has] A lovely neon district, a bowling alley and Arcade filled with functional games, a Fightality boxing gym, hot tubs scattered around, and even more fun stuff to come. Explore, hang out, enjoy the sights…Mayonaka City is a place for everyone.
The Landing Point for the city sits within this neon district, just across the road from the bowling alley Serana mentions above. From here it is possible to explore the streets and alleys, and to dip in and out of some of the buildings (those which have interiors – some might still be awaiting practical use).
The alleys have more going on along them in terms of detail, potentially making them attractive for avatar photographs – although some might want to be wary of the naughty shop (well every city has a little tint of adult pursuits!).
One thing to look out for when exploring the alleys is the entrance to one of the music venues. This uses the MINIMAL Cabaret skybox, here presented as a basement club, one which has perhaps seen better days but remains atmospheric with its wall lighting and stage awaiting music.
This basement club is actually one of a total of seven music venues to be found throughout the setting, and trying to locate them all can be part of the fun of exploring. Just remember that like this basement club, not all of them might be above ground.
My favourite part of the setting, however, is the park / gardens. These sit to the north side of the region and also extend a finger down the east side of the city. Built largely using Alex Bader’s Zen Garden set, the parks and garden present a wonderful flow of green and open spaces, all of which carry with them a sense of age and of representing a time before the noise and towering faces of the surrounding buildings arrived to stare down on them. Indeed, surrounded as they are by the glistening forms of a modern city, they exude a quiet calm in the face of the hectic, loud pace of city life.
The park is also home to two of the larger, more “permanent” music venues in the city, one of which is easily my favourite spot in Mayonaka, and it really should take a play on words and call itself The Coy, given its major feature 🙂 .
Throughout the parklands are marvellous touches of detail which help bring them to life: places to sit and enjoy a meal; places of literal and metaphorical reflection, places to sit or play or exercise with yoga, and more.
I particularly liked the stone Shaolin Buddies (yes, buddies) going about their exercises, but couldn’t help but feel the Taiko Drums should be playable as a form exercise as well. But then, I’m odd that way.
Another spot I like is the 9 Lives Café, located along one of the alley not far from the parklands. The name should give away its theme, and it is a purrfect place to rest up. It forms one of multiple indoor and outdoor eateries and restaurant peppering the city, and I did spend a little time at a row of four little places sharing a common seating area, neatly tucked away as a quiet and unassuming corner in which to pass the time.
However, I did have one small niggle; whilst the park is very attractive, I did find the neon district a little soulless. While appreciating they are not everyone’s cup of tea, I couldn’t help but feel it might feel more “lived in” were there a few static characters scattered around.
But this should not put people off visiting, there is, and noted, a lot to see and discover within Mayonaka City; in fact, I couldn’t help but smile on seeing a structure I recognised as once being used as a part of the DixMix Art Gallery Megan put together a good few years ago now. While it might not be recognised as such by many, it did further give me a sense of Mayonaka City as a place in reminding me of the many art exhibitions I visited when the building’s design served as that galley.
Slurl Details
- Mayonaka City (Midnight Rose, rated Adult)
