Category: Events

Treat yourself to the best Christmas gift in SL

Posted on by Inara Pey

Last week I paid a visit to the 2012 SL Christmas Expo, which features fund-raising efforts for Relay for Life. Proceeds from special vendors in the Expo stores as well as donation to the familiar RFL kiosks will be going directly to RFL SL.

One of the things you can get at the Expo is a CD containing 39 Christmas songs and bonus track. This is available from special vendors at the Expo, with all proceeds again going to RFL SL.

The RFL Xmas CD
The RFL Xmas CD

The album showcases some of the finest musicians and singers performing in Second Life, and is a veritable tour-de-force of the talent on offer through the medium of the platform. The songs, ordered by track / artist(s) are:

  1. Away in a Manger – Grace McDunnough
  2. Sleigh Ride – Voodoo Shilton
  3. Where are you Christmas – Shaye Dezno-Jonstone
  4. Christmas is the Heart – Jon and the Anonymous Virtual Orchestra
  5. Mr. Grinch – Damian Carbenell
  6. I Want Things – Sara Tiemogo (Saramarie Philly in SL)
  7. Jingle Bell Rock – Gina Stella
  8. Noche de Paz – Eliz Watanabe
  9. I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Kitty Zeddmore
  10. Christmas Waltz – Nad Gough
  11. White Christmas – Lyrica Acoustic and PT Beardmore
  12. Destiny Christmas – Quantamis Navarathna
  13. Silent Night – Amereth Popstar
  14. Happy Xmas – Clairede Dirval, Dixie Silverweb and Tristan Silverweb
  15. O Holy Night –  Laura Savio
  16. The Christmas Song – Jean Munro
  17. Little Drummer Boy-Peace on Earth – David Csiszer
  18. Joy to the World – Louis Landon
  19. All I Want For Christmas is You – TerryLynn Melody
  20. Ave Maria – Antonio Galloway
  21. Santa Baby – Sassy Nitely (Barbie Horsley)
  22. Deck the Funk – Gweeb
  23. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – AMForte Clarity
  24. Blue Christmas – Starrfish Ohmai
  25. The Perfect Gift – Anek Fuchs
  26. Jingle Bells – Tamra Hayden (Tamra Sands in SL) and Eugene Gwozdz
  27. Fairytale of New York – Maximillion Kleene and Stella Silvansky
  28. Who Put the Dick on the Snowman – Mandoaa Dragonash
  29. Please Come Home for Christmas – Hogan Baily
  30. Mary Did You Know – ScarlettLa Roux
  31. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Savannah Coronet
  32. Winter Wonderland – Carah Nitely
  33. Let it Snow – Joaquin Gustav
  34. Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Tamra Hayden (Tamra Sands in SL) and Handarido Optera
  35. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas –  Kristina Helene (Therese Nightfire in SL)
  36. Merry Christmas from the Family – Karter Stonecutter
  37. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Damian Carbenell
  38. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – AMForte Clarity
  39. Feliz Navidad – Jase Branner
  40. Winning – POL Arida (Bonus non-Christmas Song)

(And yes, you did read the title of track 28 correctly!)

The cost of the CD is L$500 – but you can donate more if you want.

The package includes an in-world media player and download system which ensures a very smooth playback of all tracks (if you use the media filter common to many TPVs, you might want to turn it off or ensure you trust the CD domain in order to enjoy uninterrupted playback). The player itself allows you to shuffle back and forth through the track and play tracks randomly rather than in order. There is also a link to a webpage where you can download the tracks outside of SL and take them with you wherever you go.

For those unfamiliar with RFL and RFL SL, there is also a short history of both included in the package, which highlights the fact that SL users have, over the years, raised in excess of $1 million for cancer research and treatment.

All of us have more than likely been touched by cancer in one way or another, either directly or through a family member or friend. As such, this CD provides a very special way of helping in the march towards finding a cure – so why not take a jump over to the Christmas Expo and treat yourself to a copy?

Related Links

It’s a time for eggnog and holiday tales

Posted on by Inara Pey

The Seanchai Library will be presenting another round of stories and readings in Voice this coming week, as they continue with tales of a distinctly seasonal flavour.

As always, all times SLT, and unless otherwise stated, events will be held on the Seanchai Library’s home on Imagination Island.

Monday December 10th, 19:00: Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th St (1947)
Miracle on 34th St (1947)

Caledonia Skytower concludes an adaptation of the George Seaton / Valentine Davies Christmas classic, which first appeared in 1947 starring Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn. Over the years it has been subject to a number of remakes and updates, including the 1994 version starring Sir Richard Attenborough. A novella based on the film, also penned by Davies, was published simultaneously with the original film’s release, and was itself turned into a stage play in about 2006 by Will Severin, Patricia Di Benedetto Snyder and John Vreeke.

Join Caledonia at Imagination Island as she brings to a close the story of how Kris Kringle is hired by Macy’s to become their “Santa Claus”, in what is regarded as a classic tale for Christmas.

Tuesday December 11th, 19:00: Christmas at The Vinyl Cafe

Dave owns the world’s smallest record store, where the motto is “We may not be big but we’re small.” Dave is frequently neurotic and prone to small accidents and mishaps – but he’s not the only one in his family, or his neighbourhood.

Bear Silvershade reads a further story penned by Stuart McLean for his CBC Radio show, The Vinyl Cafe, in which Dave Cooks the Turkey.

Wednesday December 12th, 19:00: Hannukkah Tales

Read by Caledonia Skytower and Faerie Maven.

Thursday December 13, 19:00 Holiday Stories

Brought to you by Shandon Loring.

Sunday December 16th, 18:00: Christmas Classics

santaclausJoin Caledonia Skytower at Magicland as she reads the 1902 classic L. Frank Baum children’s story,  The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Join her as she recounts how Ak: Master Woodsman of the World discovers the baby Claus in the forest and passes him into the care of the lioness Shiegra, only for Necile, a wood nymph, to take the babe as her own and persuade Ak that she should – thus earning the child the name “Neclaus” (which in our modern times of course, as the author tells us, we mis-spell as “Nicolas”). As he grows, so Neclaus is encouraged to see the world of mortals – of which he is a part – and so his adventures begin and, eventually, the legend of Santa Claus is born!

Related Links

SL Christmas Expo – supporting RFL SL

Posted on by Inara Pey

The 2012 SL Christmas Expo is underway. While the official Relay For Life Second Life 2012 events season is officially closed, the Expo is in support of RFL SL, and is being held on five sims adjacent to that of the American Cancer Society.

The Expo, which runs through until December 19th, brings together merchants and entertainers from across the grid to help us prepare for the holiday season and get in the mood for Christmas as the New Year, and features a number of special events and activities.

Race for the Bells - all proceeds to RFL
Race for the Bells – all proceeds to RFL

In terms of the latter, the Expo is the starting point for the 2012 Race for the Bells. This is a unique “marathon” “run” across 25 regions in Second Life. On offer is a first prize of L$10,000 for the person who can complete the course in the fastest time – and locate the 25 silver bells in the process. The marathon is open to all, and can be run as many times as you like. The is an entrance fee of L$100 per run – with all proceeds going to RFL. To start, use the teleport above and then click on the TOP sign at the start point and pay the entrance fee (click the BOTTOM sign if you are re-running!). The  hint for locating the first bell will be delivered, and you are off! Each bell you find will give you a hint as to where the next can be found. The race will be open through until December 19th.

Proceeds from the Expo raffle, featuring some unique prizes, will similarly be donated directly to RFL. Tickets cost L$100 or three for L$250. Keep an eye on the Expo’s blog as well, for details of upcoming silent auctions.

SL Christmas Expo 2012: come shop 'til you drop!
SL Christmas Expo 2012: come shop ’til you drop!

The Expo will also play host to the 2012 Avi Choice awards at a black tie formal event to be held at the Expo’s auditorium on December 14th. The event commences at 18:00 SLT on the 14th, and will be fronted by Traderi Whiplash and Nuala Maracas and feature Saffia Widdershins, Elrik Merlin, Zander Greene and Aisling Sinclair with a host of entertainers.

The Expo park
The Expo park

Entertainment at the event will take place daily, and feature some of SL’s top musicians, dancers and DJs. The full schedule is available on the Expo website.

The five regions of the Expo feature an urban layout of broad streets lined either side with stores which encourages a feeling of being out Christmas shopping. Christmas trees stand at many street intersections, snow lies piled about, and there are a number of open areas where the foot-weary can sit and take to load off for a few minutes, including the central park area.

Each Xmas Expo shopkeeper has donated two items and set them for sale in a special Relay for Life vendor. Proceeds of all sales from these vendors will go directly to RFL – so look out for them as you wander, explore and shop.

The RFL Xmas CD

On offer at the Expo, and available in-world only through until the New Year, is the Christmas Holiday CD, which features some of Second Life’s best performers, who have donated their time and their voices to a very special recording.

The RFL Xmas CD
The Christmas Holiday CD

Coordinated and arranged by Liz Harley and produced by Joe Silverstar, the CD is available for L$500 which goes directly to RFL. It can be purchased from a number of special RFL vendors located at the Holiday Park and in the Auditorium on sims: Xmas Expo 1, Xmas Expo 2, Xmas Expo 3,  and Xmas Expo 4. Each copy includes an in-world CD and a link for downloading track MP3s outside of SL.

SL Christmas Expo 2012, giving support a worthy cause
SL Christmas Expo 2012, giving support a worthy cause

Put a log on the fire, take a glass of mulled wine and sit for a tale or two

Posted on by Inara Pey

The Seanchai Library will be presenting another round of stories and readings in Voice this coming week, where they continue three of their serialisations, together with a lot of other goodies.

As always, all times SLT, and unless otherwise stated, events will be held on the Seanchai Library’s home on Imagination Island.

Sunday December 2nd, 18:00: Peter Pan

https://i0.wp.com/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Peter_pan_1911_pipes.jpg
Illustration from “Peter and Wendy” by James Matthew Barrie, Published 1911 by C. Scribner’s Sons, New York

Caledonia Skytower presents the final part of novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie’s most famous work.

While Peter Pan first appeared in another of Barrie’s works, The Little White Bird, written for adults in 1902, it was in the 1904 stage play, Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up in which he first came to widespread public attention. The play was later expanded upon by Barrie to form the 1911 novel, Peter and Wendy, which later became Peter Pan and Wendy and, eventually, simply Peter Pan.

Both the stage play and the novel tell the story of Peter Pan, a mischievous little boy who can fly, and his adventures on the island of Neverland with Wendy Darling and her brothers, the fairy Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, the Indian princess Tiger Lily, and the pirate Captain Hook.

Caledonia will be reading this installment at Magiclands, commencing at 18:00 SLT.

Monday December 3rd, 19:00: All Seated on the Ground

All-SeatedCaledonia Skytower continues her reading of All Seated on the Ground, Connie Willis’ 2007 science-fiction novella and winner of the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Novella.

The story follows Meg, a newspaper columnist who has joined a commission studying aliens that have landed on the Denver University campus. The aliens glare at everyone, and allow themselves to be led to various locations, but the commission has no idea how to communicate with them. Following an incident at a local mall during the Christmas shopping season, Meg and a school choir director team up to try to decipher the aliens’ actions before they leave Earth.

Tuesday December 4th, 19:00: Christmas at The Vinyl Cafe

Dave owns the world’s smallest record store, where the motto is “We may not be big but we’re small.” Dave is frequently neurotic and prone to small accidents and mishaps – but he’s not the only one in his family, or his neighbourhood.

Bear Silvershade reads two stories penned by Stuart McLean for his CBC Radio show, The Vinyl Cafe. In The Great Gift Giving we find that all it takes is one pebble to start an avalanche. While in Morley’s Christmas Pageant, Dave’s wife, the long-suffering Morley, tries her hand at running a children’s Christmas concert.

Wednesday December 5th, 19:00: Miracle on 34th Street

Caledonia Skytower commences an adaptation of the George Seaton / Valentine Davies Christmas classic, which first appeared in 1947 starring Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn, and which has been subject to a number of remakes and updates, including the 1994 version starring Sir Richard Attenborough. A novella based on the film, also penned by Davies, was published simultaneously with the film’s release, and was itself turned into a stage play in about 2006 by Will Severin, Patricia Di Benedetto Snyder and John Vreeke.

Join Caledonia at Imagination Island as she retells the story of how Kris Kringle is hired by Macy’s to become their “Santa Claus” in what is regarded as a classic tale for Christmas.

Thursday December 6, 19:00 The Santa Clause

Shandon Loring one more hitches a ride on a sleigh drawn by a team of rangifer tarandus to Imagination Island to bring us the second part of The Santa Clause, a “novelisation” of the Leo Benvenuti / Steve Rudnick screenplay from the 1994 film starring Tim Allen.

Santa Clause b

Saturday December 8th, 18:00: Christmas Classics

Join Derry McMahon and Bear Silvershade at the Holiday Sim (please check the Seanchai Library SL blog for the LM, which will be available on the day) for a round of classic Christmas tales.

Saturday December 8th, 18:00: Christmas Classics

Join Derry McMahon and Bear Silvershade at Fruit Islands’ Winterland (please check the Seanchai Library SL blog for the LM, which will be available on the day) for a further round of classic Christmas tales.

Related Links

Bay City tree lighting fundraiser

Posted on by Inara Pey

Christmas is a time for giving, and on Saturday the 8th December, 2012, Bay City will be hosting their annual Christmas Tree Lighting and fundraiser.

The event will feature music from Grace McDunnough, GoSpeed Racer and Bluemonk Rau, a skating party and silent auction.

Grace, Bluemonk and GoSpeed – all performing at the Bay City Tree Lighting in aid of Child’s Play

The silent auction will feature many unique – and possibly exclusive – items, with all proceeds from the auction going directly to Child’s Play, as will all donations made throughout the event.

This exclusive print by Whiskey Monday is just one of the unique items to be auctioned at the Bay City Tree Lighting fundraiser in at of Child’s Play on December 8th

The event kicks-off at 13:00 on Saturday 8th December, 2012, and will run through until 16:00, at the Bay City Fairgrounds in North Channel.

If you are a content creator and would like to donate something to the silent auction, please contact Marianne McCann or Ever Dreamscape in-world at the earliest opportunity.

About Child’s Play

Child’s Play is a US-based (501c3 registered non-profit organisation), global game industry charity. It is dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games distributed to a network of over 70 hospitals worldwide. Founded in 2003, Child’s Play operates in two ways:

  • Working with staff at the hospitals in the network, it establishes gift wish lists of video games, toys, books and other fun stuff for kids. Those wishing to support the organisation can click on any hospital in the charity’s location map, view the wish list for that hospital and send a gift
  • Via donations made directly to the charity, which are used to purchase new games consoles, games, peripherals, and more for hospitals and therapy facilities, allowing children to enjoy age-appropriate entertainment, interact with their peers, friends, and family, and can provide vital distraction from an otherwise generally unpleasant experience.

With thanks to Whiskey Monday, for making me aware of this event, and Marianne McCann for supplying the information on the event.

Come gather round for fun, contracts and tales, some in just 100 words!

Posted on by Inara Pey

The Seanchai Library will be presenting another round of stories and readings in Voice this coming week, which will see the continuation of two of their serialisations, together with a lot of other goodies.

As always, all times SLT, and unless otherwise stated, events will be held on the Seanchai Library’s home on Imagination Island.

Sunday November 25th

16:00 – Community Virtual Library FUNdraiser

Put on your cute burlesque outfits and get ready to have fun!  We’ll have the poles out for dancing as Gina treats us to fun tunes.  This is a fundraiser for CVL, so be sure to tuck a few lindens in your pocket – you never know if you might need to ‘encourage’ someone to dance by donating to the cause.

Plus…Derry and Bear will have some of their images up for sale – all proceeds going to CVL!

Dancing 16:00-17:00 SLT; art sale 16:00-midnight.

18:00 – Peter Pan, Part 5
Illustration from “Peter and Wendy” by James Matthew Barrie, Published 1911 by C. Scribner’s Sons, New York

Caledonia Skytower presents the fifth (of 6) readings of novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie’s most famous work.

While Peter Pan first appeared in another of Barrie’s works, The Little White Bird, written for adults in 1902, it was in the 1904 stage play, Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up in which he first came to widespread public attention. The play was later expanded upon by Barrie to form the 1911 novel, Peter and Wendy, which later became Peter Pan and Wendy and, eventually, simply Peter Pan.

Both the stage play and the novel tell the story of Peter Pan, a mischievous little boy who can fly, and his adventures on the island of Neverland with Wendy Darling and her brothers, the fairy Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, the Indian princess Tiger Lily, and the pirate Captain Hook.

Caledonia will be reading this installment at Magiclands, commencing at 18:00 SLT.

Monday 26th November, 19:00

Caledonia Skytower starts the first part of a reading of All Seated on the Ground, Connie Willis’ 2007 science-fiction novella and winner of the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Novella.

The story follows Meg, a newspaper columnist who has joined a commission studying aliens that have landed on the Denver University campus. The aliens glare at everyone, and allow themselves to be led to various locations, but the commission has no idea how to communicate with them. Following an incident at a local mall during the Christmas shopping season, Meg and a school choir director team up to try to decipher the aliens’ actions before they leave Earth.

Tuesday 27th November, 19:00

Mr. R. Crap Mariner, wit, writer and all-round raconteur visits the Seanchai Library for some of his 100-word stories.

Wednesday 28th November, 19:00

Caledonia Skytower returns to Imagination Island for the final part of Peter Pan.

Thursday 29th November, 19:00

As we approach December and the run-up to Christmas, Shandon Loring hitches a ride on a sleigh drawn by a team of rangifer tarandus to Imagination Island to bring us the first part of The Santa Clause, a “novelisation” of the Leo Benvenuti / Steve Rudnick screenplay from the 1994 film starring Tim Allen.

Related Links