Tag: Misc Events

Running through until October 20th, 2017 is the fourth Rally to Rescue event in Second Life in support of Operation Delta Dog.

Founded in 2013, Operation Delta Dog, a non-profit organisation, uses with experienced trainers and positive-reinforcement methods, rescues homeless dogs from Massachusetts shelters and breed rescue groups and trains them to work as assistance dogs with local veterans who are suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

It was founded by Trisha Blanchet after she read reports that as many as 22 US service veterans a day were taking their lives after serving their country in war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan, then finding themselves unable to readjust to private life due to PTSD / TBI. At the same time, she was aware that up to 50,000  dogs a year in Massachusetts alone wind up on the streets – and as many as 50% of them are destroyed as homes cannot be found for them. Given that trained assistance dog supporting veterans with invisible disabilities were in short supply, Trisha saw a means to form a link between the plight of homeless dogs and the plight of veterans, and offer a brighter future for both.

• Rally to Rescue (Skull Creek, rated: Moderate)
• Rally to Rescue website
• Operation Delta Dog

On September 22nd, 2017, Maxwell Graf issued a deeply personal, heart-breaking request via Plurk. Related to a personal situation, it included a request for people to buy from his store (in-world or on the Marketplace). For obvious reasons Max didn’t feel comfortable in asking for more than this, despite the severity of the situation he and his flesh and blood partner, Lyyric Fei face. However, that hasn’t stopped friends and fellow creators from rallying around; and on Monday, September 25th, a special shopping event, organised by Charlotte Bartlett, Sophia Harlow and Blazin Arubet, was announced.

Going to the Max, also now more simply referenced as For Max, opened on Tuesday, October 3rd and will run through until Tuesday, October 10th, 2017. It features more than 50 creators from across Second Life, offering fashion, clothing, animations, accessories, furniture, fun items, curios – even entire houses – with many offering 100% of all sale proceeds in support of Max and Lyyric.

Taking place on the Apple Fall region, featuring booths sponsored by Shiny Shabby, For Max not only features some great shopping opportunities, but will also include entertainment (yet to be scheduled at the time of writing), raffles, an auction and more.

The sheer diversity of goods on offer means For Max really is an event with something to suit almost everyone and every pocket. So do make a point of visiting, perusing and purchasing! Be sure, as well, to keep an eye on the For Max Facebook page (Facebook log-in not required) for the latest information and updates on the event.

But that’s not all that’s going on in support of Max and Lyrric!

Also rising to the call, artist and author Kylie Sabra has opened an art exhibition at her gallery space in the Antiquity regions in support of  Max and Lyrric. As with For Max, Kylie’s Benefiting Maxwell Graf exhibition runs from Tuesday October 3rd through to Tuesday, October 10th, 2017. 90% of all proceeds from the sale of Kylie’s art go directly to Max and Lyyric.

Kylie says of Max:

Maxwell Graf is one of our beloved members and a long-time Second Life artist and builder.  I met Max years ago when I asked him to exhibit at The Rose Theatre Art Galleries when I was curator. His work was and is impressive. He’s a great talent and I wish him the very best in these hard times. I can also attest that he makes the best-fitting pair of pants in Second Life and you’ll find them at Rustica!

Kylie’s work – landscapes, avatar studies, abstracts, is evocative, emotive and exquisite. It is ideal for in-world display, and a superb addition to any collection belonging to the discerning connoisseur of virtual and digital art. Her outdoor gallery space at Buckingham Palace in Antiquity also makes for an idyllic visit.

So why not combine a visit to the historic Antiquity regions and time appreciating Kylie’s artistry with an opportunity to further help Max and Lyrric with a purchase or two?

SLurls and Links

• For Max (Apple Fall, rated, Moderate)
• For Max Facebook page
• Kylie Sabra: Benefiting Maxwell Graf (Antiquity Tejas, rated: Moderate)
• Antiquity Times blog post on the art exhibition

There can only be a very few of us who have not seen or heard about the devastation so recently visited upon Texas by hurricane Harvey. Many of us, on seeing all that has happened, have wanted to give / show support for the victims of Harvey, who have been displaced, lost homes and belongings and face a major struggle to rebuild their lives.

Some within Second Life may even have been affected by the flooding and storm damage, and this, together with the desire to show support for Harvey’s victims, has been the motivation behind Models Giving Back organising a two-week fund-raiser, Hope After Harvey, as they explain on the fund-raiser’s website:

Recently, Models Giving Back received a note card from one such individual, affected by the displacement of the recent evacuations throughout Texas and other surrounding areas..

So many people who are our friends, co-workers, and families here in Second Life are affected by the devastation that was left in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. And, as we know from previous water related emergencies, it will take a long time to recover fully.

Therefore, we as Models Giving Back have decided to run a two-week fund-raising event to help. For some in Second Life this might be the only way they can help make a difference in the lives of those who are suffering right now.

Running through until 23:59 SLT on Wednesday, September 20th, Hope After Harvey brings together some 42 Second Life designers offering fashion items, accessories, jewellery, and home and garden items, with all proceeds raised being split between two charities:

• The American Red Cross Disaster Relief fund.
• The Houston Humane Society to help with care for displaced animals and pets.

In selecting these two charities, Models giving back note:

Both of those sources are well established, on the ground in the area there helping and documenting it, and have on-line portals for us to be able to place the funds keeping everything transparent as we always do.

So, if you would like to offer support and help for victims – human and animal –  of hurricane Harvey, please do take the opportunity to visit Hope After Harvey between now and September 20th. Or, if you prefer to donate to either charity directly, you can do so via the websites linked to above.

Event SLurl

• Hope After Harvey (Arima City, rated: Moderate)

Update, August 18th: images and SLurl updated now the event is open.

Lovefest – the Second Life celebration of the birth of H. P. Lovecraft – opened its doors for 10 days of festivities on Thursday, August 17th, 2017. The event will run through until Sunday, August 27th.

This year marks the 127th anniversary of Lovercraft’s birth on August 20th 1890, and the event’s 6th year. There will once be a wide range of celebratory activities – shopping, music and dancing, live music, film showings, open microphone events, live storytelling in voice, dance troupes and an adventure for people to enjoy!

Deep Diving in the Pacific Ocean

For 2017, the adventure takes visitors deep under the sea with the Miskatonic University Oceanic Expedition Team!

Those volunteering to participate will sail into the vast Pacific Ocean aboard the research vessel S.S. Abigail. Whilst en-route team members will receive their deep-sea diving equipment.

Once on location, team members will be lowered into the deeps to continue the work of an earlier advanced research team, charting the ocean floor, collect samples and expand the discoveries of the first research team.

But team members should beware! Whilst the ocean floor as a fascinating, diverse and wonderfully alien place – it can also be a place of danger!

As with previous Lovefest adventures, this is an interactive quest, combining a treasure hunt with a mystery that has a distinctly Lovecraftian twist to it. So don’t forget to join the S.S. Abigail as she sets sail! Join the expedition at the Miskatonic University Expedition Pier.

Kingsport, Mass

Those visiting the festival will be warmly received at Kingsport, Massachusetts – a city out of Lovecraft Lore, known as a community of artists and artisans which thrives mostly from tourism. Here visitors will find a rich tapestry of merchant stores, entertainers, dancers and more within the market and the waterfront wharves.

Event Schedule and Other Information

The 2017 festival website has a full (and final, at the time of writing) schedule of events, together with a list of entertainers, DJs, readers and live performers. The website also includes a list of the event’s participating sponsors.

About H.P. Lovecraft

Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born on August 20th, 1890 in Providence, Rhode Island, where he spent most of his life.

A child prodigy, he was reciting poetry when just three years of age, and writing his own poems by six. His grandfather – one of the adults who raised him – encouraged his reading, presenting him with a wide range of books and stories from the likes of One Thousand and One Nights, and the Iliad through to his own original stories of Gothic horror.

As an adult, Lovecraft was introverted, riven by a lack of self-confidence, was unwilling to promote his own literary efforts. Only published in pulp magazines in his lifetime, he was never able to support himself with his writing, and died in poverty at the age of 46 in 1937. It was only posthumously that his work gained recognition – notably the Cthulhu Mythos – and he was elevated to the status of one of the most influential writers of horror fiction in the 20th Century.

Rich in theme as well as narrative, his work has influenced generations of horror writers who followed after him, including the likes of Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, Alan Moore, Junji Ito, Caitlín R. Kiernan, William S. Burroughs, and Neil Gaiman.

In addition, film directors John Carpenter, Stuart Gordon, and Guillermo Del Toro have all acknowledged Lovercraft as an influence in some of their work, whilst artist H. R. Giger of Alien fame has also pointed to Lovecraft’s tales as a point of influence.

SLurl Details

• Lovefest (Coral Moon, rated: Moderate)

Indie Teepee is a region-wide celebration of music and art which has been taking place for the last few years in Second Life. for 2017, the fetival will once again be open to visitors between Friday, July 21st and Sunday, August 6th.

The introduction to the event reads in part:

Indie Teepee brings people together through their love of song and art – breaking down barriers and providing a haven for music genres like indie, alternative, rock, electronic dance music and hip-hop. In 2016, we ventured to and did include into our home, live music performances, theatre acts, machinimas, original mesh designs, photography and a creative forum.

The Indie Teepee of 2017 dares Second Life residents to dream of and thrive in worlds that are possibly to come.

This year’s programme builds on previous Indie Teepee events, and includes:

• Music:  live performers, independent DJs and clubs
• Theatre: featuring Guerilla Burlesque at the following times (SLT) / dates:
  • 19:00 on Friday, July 21st, as a part of the Indie Teepee opening
  • 19:00 on Saturday, July 28th
  • 19:00 on Sunday, August 6th, as a part of the event’s closing.
• Interactive Dance Shows:
  • 17:00 on Monday, July 31st
  • 17:00 on Thursday, August 3rd
• Art:
  • Installations by:  Bryn Oh, Cynaideslushy. Daphne Arts, Nodnol Jameson
  • Machinima
  • Photography gallery
• Fun activities including a fashion show and speed dating
• Shopping

You can find full details of all activities via the Indie Teepee website, together with information of the musicians, DJs, clubs, artists, designers, stores, etc., participating in the event. SLurls to the event areas – stages, exhibition spaces, etc., – will also be available on the official website, once the doors are open to visitors.