However, the venue for the next meet-up has now been confirmed. Scheduled to take place from 13:00 on Thursday, May 14th, the gathering will take place at Canary Becks’ outstanding Basilique Town.
For those who have not visited Basilique before, you’re in for a treat. Frequently featured in blogs as a place of outstanding beauty and design. There’s a host of things to see and do here, and the region hosts events of its own and is, of course, the home of the Basilique Performing Arts Company, who has staged the outstanding Romeo + Juliet and ground-breaking Paradise Lost at the threatre occupying the south-east corner of the region.
With its mix of architecture, outlining islands and backdrop of rugged peaks, Basilique presents a wonderful Mediterranean look which blends a cosmopolitan feel with more coastal, rural look which simply invites exploration.
So, even if you don’t make the Linden meet-up, and have not visited Basilique Town before, make sure you add it to your itinerary!
Join Hands: raising money to help the WFP’s aid work in earthquake-struck Nepal with Fashion for Food
Valsnia and Ruby Ornamental, two Second Life residents and bloggers, have recently formed Join Hands, a virtual group they would like to see “make a difference to the real world we live in. Not dedicated to a single mission but the spirit of Humanity.” As the inaugural activity for Join Hands, they are organising a four-day fund-raiser in support of the people of Nepal following the devastating earthquake of April 25th.
Fashion for Food SL is aimed at raising money which can be put towards the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), which is focusing its efforts on bringing assistance and relief to the outlying regions of Nepal, allowing the government there to co-ordinate efforts along the Kathmandu Valley. The WFP estimating US $116.5 million is required to provide food for 1.4 million people for a period of three months – that’s US $27 per person per month.
Fashion for Food will showcase items from top SL designers in a special fashion show on Wednesday, May 13th
Measuring a peak moment magnitude (Mw) of 7.8Mw , with an epicentre one the the village of Barpak in the Gorkha district of the country, the initial earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks, some almost as powerful as the original ‘quake, which are still continuing.
The result is a disaster which has left over 8,000 dead and 18,000 serious injured at the time of writing, and around 3.5 million people in need of food, water and assistance, including 1.7 million children in need of medical support. Aid agencies around the world have rallied to the call, but there is mounting concern over providing care and assistance with the fast approaching monsoon season, and the real risk of epidemics among survivors due to the shortage of clean water, the makeshift nature of living conditions and the lack of toilets.
the Fashion for Food event area recreates an Earthquake shattered environment to help people better understand the devastation wrought in Nepal
Fashion for Food launches at 14:00 SLT on Wednesday, May 13th, with a special fashion show by SCALA™. It will be followed by an after-show party hosted by DJ Seashell Dench from SCALA™. Clothing and jewellery from participating designers can be purchased from the vendor boards throughout the region, with all proceeds of sales, as well as all donations received going directly to WFP in support of their work in Nepal.
Designers from across Second Life are donating to and participating in the event, the list comprising: 69Park Ave GQ, Amarelo manga, Ana Markova, Astralia Alice Tartaglia, Aura Yeu, Ayiki, – AZUL -, Baboom Couture, CIRCA Living, CORPUS Motion, Dulce Secrets, ~ghee~,
~~ Glitter Girls ~~ and In-Pose, Glitterati by Sapphire, Hawker’s House, ImmateriA, J’adore poses, JCNY Collection, .:JUMO:., K E L I N I Haute Couture, Lazuri. Look @ Me Design,
LUXE, Lyrical Bizarre Templates, Mâchoire, M&M Clothing, Me Sew Sexy, Moondance Boutique, NYA’S Shop, No 7, Petit Chat, Prey, Prism Designs SL, PROMAGIC, RAPTURE, Athena Couture, SF designs, Silken Moon, ::SG SLackgirl ::, Snowpaws, TASHI, Totally Random,
Vestige Poses, Xen’s Hats and Zanze.
All proceeds of the sales through the vendor boards will be going to support the WFP’s programme to deliver food to the people of Nepal
The region hosting the event – Indian Paradise – has been designed to recreate an environment which has been shattered and an earthquake, offering something of a glimpse of the devastation wrought in Nepal. The fashion show and events area is located towards the centre of the region, while paths winding around the region take visitors past the vendor boards which will be available throughout the fours days of the event.
At the time of writing the schedule of events for Fashion for Food is as follows:
Wednesday, May 13th, 2015, 14:00 SLT: Fashion Showcase by SCALA™Models
Wednesday, May 13th through Saturday May 16th 2015: outfits and jewellery from the participating designers on sale throughout the region, will all proceeds going to the WFP
Thursday, May 14th, 2015, 12:00 noon SLT: DJ Bonie Facio
Saturday, May 16th, 2015, 14:00 SLT: closing party with SCALA™ DJ – Seashell Dench
Fashion for Food is being largely organised by the Indian community in Second Life to support their neighbouring Nepal, with the event region being sponsored by Indian Paradise. Note that if you would prefer to donate to the WFP’s work directly, you can do so via their Nepal relief work page.
Related Links
Fashion for Food SLurl (note: this SLurl will not be open until around 13:00 SLT on Wednesday, May 13th)
Taking place at Creation’s ethereal skyborne Creations Park Dance Club and Living Light complex, the event comprises a special presentation of particle magic by the Sky Fire team, entitled Cosmic Circus and featuring Particle Tom and Lexi Marshdevil. It will be followed by a celebration dance featuring DJ Sunshine.
If you’ve never seen a particle show in Second Life, then Sky Fire make for a superb introduction, and the Living Light complex at Creations Park makes an excellent venue in which to enjoy the show. What’s more, 100% of all donation made during both the show and the dance will go directly to Team Fox, and thence to the MJFF, contributing directly to the ongoing search for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease, and to ways and means of alleviating the symptoms for those already afflicted by the disease.
The Creations Park living Light Complex, which will host the Sky Fire performance and Creations’ celebration dance
As particle shows are popular, the advice is to attend the venue early to be sure to gain a seat. Please lightening the load by removing excess scripted objects, etc., and set your local time to midnight to fully appreciate the show.
After the show and dance, be sure to give yourself time to explore the other facilities and venues Creations Park offers, such as the Etheric Light Centre, the Peace Nation Park, Atlantis mermaid underwater cove, Winter Wonderland and more. Through all of the venues and locations, there are opportunities to make donations to Team Fox and even to gain some retail therapy as well!
Don’t forget as well that Creations Park hosts a series of events throughout the week, with an open invitation to anyone wishing to attend, and all of the proceeds from which go directly to supporting Team Fox and the MJFF (all times SLT):
Creations Park was established by Barbie Alchemi after witnessing the beneficial effects Second Life had on her mother, Fran Seranade, a Parkinson’s sufferer and who first became involved in the platform, along with Barbie, as a means for family members to keep closer contact with one another across the breadth of the United States. Creations is dedicated to raising donations for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF).
As well as running a range of fund-raising events and activities, the Park offers support groups and research into the positive effects of Second Life for people with Parkinson’s Disease. 100% of all donations received through events at, and visits to, Creations Park go directly to Team Fox and the MJFF. All costs and expenses associated with the region are met directly by Barbie’s family.
You can read more about the story of Creations Park in my 2013 article on Barbie and Fran, or by watching a Drax Files video.
For those with a passion for trucks, vans, motorbikes, motor racing and – most of all – cars, there are a couple of events going on in SL that might interest you.
The first, The History of the Vehicle, is taking place at LEA 2. Billed as being six months in the making, the exhibit is curated by Sapphire Hotaling as a celebration of wheeled vehicles in Second Life from 2005 through to the present day, with some 130+ individual vehicles from almost 50 designers and creators on display,
With the exception of the main building, located on the north side of the region, and a large display area to the east, the majority of the museum space is open air, with various display areas clearly marked and reached via footpaths, and a landscaped park extending to the south and west of the region, linking the main vehicle displays with a memorial to vehicle racers and designers who have passed away, and a stage area which will host live events at the weekends throughout the time the exhibit is open – check the display boards within the exhibit for details.
There’s no set route for exploring the region – just go where your feet / the footpaths take you. Individual display areas are clearly enough marked, and while nothing is for sale within the region, there are plenty of note card / LM givers to the in-world and SLM stores for the designers displaying their latest wares.
The displays are interesting enough, and some do indeed give a feel for how vehicles have visually evolved over the years; however, I have to confess that I toured the exhibit unable to shake the feeling it’s more car show that historical piece. Outside of the “Evolution” exhibit, there is precious little information chart the actual history of vehicle development in SL – the evolution of scripting, capabilities, etc., which to me is a bit of a shame, although I fully understand that putting something together like that isn’t necessarily easy – not everyone is interested in scripting evolution, etc.
Even so the range of vehicles on display is impressive, and the park like layout helps to make the exhibit feel less crowded, vehicle-wise, even allowing from the large east side display area; once you step off of the main path and onto the grass with its wooden walks, it’s easy to relax and find a place to sit a while.
All told, History of the Vehicle makes for a visual treat for car and vehicle fans.
The welcome area for visitors to the merfolk community at Fanci’s Deep, with the entrance to the Safe Water Foundation beyond
How many of us spend our time sailing on, or flying over the clear waters of Blake Sea, content to drive our power boats, cruisers and racing boats, or pilot our sailing boats and ships, our men’o’war and battleships, or our piston and jet-engined aircraft across and over the waves, without even giving thought to what might lie beneath?
I know I frequently do, and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone; which is a shame, because the fact is that there is a vast underwater community within Second Life, many of whom use Blake Sea and provide a wealth of things to see and do if we simply put on our masks and snorkels and take a dive under the waves.
Hence why I was intrigued when Nber Medici passed me an announcement that one of the largest underwater communities in SL is throwing open its doors to everyone between Sunday, April 5th and Saturday April 11th, inviting people to come and explore their world and join in with a range of events and activities.
The welcome area offers information on a range of undersea attractions in and around Blake Sea
The week is being organised by, and is centred upon, the community of Fanci’s Deep, four regions of open water nestled between the residential islands located on the south-east side of Blake Sea proper. The four regions – Fanci’s Deep NW, Fanci’s Deep NE, Fanci’s Deep SW, and Fanci’s Deep SE – were established in late 2013, to commemorate the life and memory of Fanci Beebe-Leavitt who, prior to her passing, contributed a great deal to the mermaid community in Second Life.
The community caters to merfolk, and those wishing to spend some of their time as sirens, dolphins, whales and more, or who simply want to slip into their scuba gear and spend time under water, exploring, shopping, dancing and having fun. On offer throughout the week are a range of activities, including:
Dolphin rides
Mer dancing
Undersea tours
Pirate battles
The opportunity to visit the Safe Waters Foundation headquarters.
The week offers people an opportunity to interact with members of the Fanci’s Deep community through a range of events, include a tour of undersea homes
In addition, visitors are invited to avail themsevles of one of Blake Sea’s wider attractions, a 13-region undersea tour of many locations and underwater sights, and will have to opportunity to visit the homes of members of the mer community and gain further insights to the community’s activities.
The best place to start out, should you be interested in discovering what it is like to be a merman or mermaid, is to drop into the Fanci’s Deep welcome area. Here you can obtain assorted freebies to help you feel at home – such as mertails or a diving helmet and even a mini-sub. More importantly, you can gain advice on the best viewer settings by which to enjoy your underwater experiences, find out where to go and what to visit, both within the Fanci’s Deep regions and beyond.
A short hop (or swim) from this is the Safe Waters Foundation, which offers further information, complete mer outfits and transformation kits, and their own travel agency, which presents a range of undersea tours, including (for this week at least) the tour of merhomes in the Fanci’s Deep regions mentioned above.
For those who prefer, a wider-ranging “on demand” undersea tour can be obtained at the Freeport Township of Flotsam, where Captain Nemo as a base of operations…
For those interested in a more broad-ranging tour, a 13-region “on demand” tour can be enjoyed, starting at Aley’s eye-catching Freeport Township of Flotsam– do watch out of the Kraken, however!
All told, the Fanci’s Deep weekend is geared to offering people the widest possible introduction to life under the waves. So if you’ve ever been curious about spending time as a mermaid or or merman, or would be interested in discovering some of the many things that go on and can be found under the waves of Blake Sea and the surrounding waters, the week of April 5th through April 11th could be the ideal opportunity for you to do so!
… and don’t miss out on the merkfolk’s beach and fun fair!
Update: As per iSkye Silverweb’s comment below, it appears that plans have changed since I was originally informed of the event, and the film will now not be screened at the Sojourner Auditorium as stated. However, the panel discussion, commencing at approximately 20:00 SLT will be. If you wish to watch the film, Drax will be streaming it.
Login2Life is one of the most engaging and inspirational documentaries made about virtual worlds. Almost four years in the making, and originally released in 2011, Daniel Moshel’s film follows people from around the world who spend their time engaged in the virtual worlds of Second Life and World of Warcraft.
While it has had numerous broadcasts in Europe (notably in Germany), and a number of You Tube encores, it has never “officially” been premiered in the United States. However, as I recently reported, all this will change on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th 2015, when Login2Life is screened at the JCC Manhattan as a part of the 2015 Reel Abilities Film Festival.
The open-air Sojourner Auditorium, Virtual Ability Island, will host the in-world showing of Login2Life on Tuesday, March 17th, 2015, at 17:30 SLT and will be the venue for the SL side of the SL / RL post-presentation discussion
To mark this event there will be a simultaneous showing of the film at Virtual Ability’s Sojourner Auditorium, set to commence at approximately 17:30 SLT.
Both screenings will be followed by a special cross-over Q&A session, which will seen Login2Life director Daniel Moshel, film participant and founder of Virtual Ability, Gentle Heron and the film’s soundtrack composer, Draxtor Despres, all in-world at the Sojourner Auditorium, where they will address questions from the audience at the JCC Manhattan, under the moderation of anthropologist and film-maker Faye Ginsburg, assisted by our own Avajean Westland.
If you haven’t seen Login2Life before, this is a most excellent opportunity for you to see one of the most engaging films on the subject of virtual worlds and the people who participate in them yet to have been produced.; a film I cannot commend strongly enough, and which I originally reviewed in 2011. Not to be missed.
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 