After spending years as a
resident in SecondLife, it is easy to develop a “Been there, Seen it all” attitude. After all, there are only a finite number of
ways to design a dance club, right? Grab a few essentials – Dance floor, DJ
platform, Dance Intan, some animated furniture and bar stools. Throw in a strobe light of two, and you’re
ready for launch. But if you really
think that is the best that SL has to offer, then, as my Dad used to say: “Ya
got another think coming”. After a
particularly hectic week in “That other world”
I seriously needed a break from the flotsam and jetsam of life, when I
stumbled upon Half Moon Bay, A delight
for the eyes and relaxation for the spirit… as if Norman Rockwell and Bob Ross
had designed a village.. As I strolled the winding streets of this seacoast
village, I came upon ℜσχу
Μŷşŧīς (roxymystic) and Virgil Flowers (xvirgilflowersx). She was busy, touching up the paint on the
sign over the bait shop, while he was replacing some paving stones that had
broken under the weight of last winter’s snow.
They graciously consented to take a break from their labors and chat
with me for a bit.
Josh (Thomas1
Bellic) (JB): So tell me, guys, Where did you get the idea for Half Moon Bay
(HMB)and is there some history here?
Roxy Mystic (RM): As far
back as I can remember, Virgil and I always had a venue; not always a public
one but we both enjoy building and doing creative things. He is a SL musician and it is always nice to
have a spot where he can call home to practice and play. This time around we
both wanted a natural and relaxing spot. I always loved the charm of small
coastal fishing towns so we hope that visitors instantly feel it too and enjoy
the theme.
Virgil Flowers (VF): Roxy and I had a previous venue modeled after
The Whisky, a famous live music bar in Los Angeles, and I wanted to give Her a
nice gift, so when I gave this to her i was looking for names, and I used to
live on the west coast so the name half moon Bay just appealed to me - it is a
very image invoking the name, however,
the location in SL bears no resemblance
beyond the name to the actual RL place.
JB: Did you do all this yourself? If not, who else is involved and what is/was
their contribution?
VF: Roxy did 98% of this build Herself - my
contributions were the half-moon sort of logo - using a moon character found on
MP and then crafting the letters and sign textures...and I did a little bit on
the stage area. Otherwise, this is all
Her, and She is a wizard at building sims.
RM: Virgil is a very generous person with a big
heart, he knows how much I love to build. We do work wonderfully together. When
we take on a big project, we love to brainstorm ideas first. Both of us have RL
professional backgrounds so we understand very well how to execute business and
marketing plans.
JB: What sets Half Moon Bay apart from the many
other clubs out there with a similar theme?
RM: I don't even think of HMB as a club at all,
I really want people to feel they can come here and just relax and enjoy
themselves, in my mind that is the first priority at HMB.
VF: Well, HMB is more than a club - it is a well-laid-out place to kick back and relax - it has Virgil's Guitar Store, (also
available on marketplace) MARKET PLACE:
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/234018, naughty motel, a nice beach,
a wharf area, restaurant, wedding chapel and the the outdoor music area, with a
kind of hippy boho feel...it is a laid-back open place that accepts all.
JB: Who do you hope to attract to your build?
What special group of people might Half Moon Bay appeal to?
Virgil - Anyone looking to
relax and enjoy the sounds of surf or music or to take some nice pictures. Intimate rendezvous at the motel, Virgil's
Guitar Shop is there as well. Come for a
nice walk with a loved one, or alone to relax and meditate.
Roxy - I agree with Virgil,
it offers a little something for everybody. There are interactive furniture all
over the place and some are very romantic. HMB is also a perfect spot for
photographer enthusiasts and bloggers. We have a Flickr page where HMB pictures
can be shared: https://www.flickr.com/groups/14813696@N24/
JB: What are some of the areas that guests might
enjoy during a visit to Half Moon Bay?
RM: People can come here for a bit of roleplay
if they like. The restaurant for example has 80+ menu items and don't get me
going about the kinky Motel! The Chapel with automated wedding services is
quite quaint. Virgil and I were looking for a nice small spot to marry a few
years ago and could not find anything out there that catered to small weddings
so this inspired me to build a really adorable spot here at HMB. The chapel,
car, arch, and bench inside the gazebo have a bunch of poses for the groom
and bride. It is really perfect for a small intimate wedding.
VF: As mentioned above, HMB features a Wedding
Chapel, a beach, a Wharf area with a fish and chip shack, Virgil's Guitar Shop, an Outdoor restaurant, a Motel and a Sound-stage.
JB: Do you have any special events planned?
VF: We are kicking off the opening with a Flickr
photo contest, and planning a Grand Opening in July with live music. Right now, our plan is to have monthly themed
events, such as Acoustic shows, Singer Songwriter original shows, Guitarist
Show, and a Dueling event...there are so many talented people in SL, that we want to
support
RM: All of those details will be coming soon and
we will ensure to send out a press release and notices once everything is
confirmed! People are welcome to join our Facebook group as well to keep up
with our events FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1197517120888949
JB: And how about the future? Do you have any changes in mind?
RM: The future of HMB is hopefully a good one
with lots of positive feedback. We are not officially open yet and so far we've
had over 200 visitors. I think most have visited the Motel though as I keep
finding dirty towels all over the rooms! Thank God Virgil is the one doing all
the cleaning! Teasing aside, there are no immediate plans for changes but who
knows!
JB: Are these spaces available for use by
others?
VF: Absolutely - almost everything is interactive.
You can use the Motel themed rooms (there are 3 rooms each with a theme, get
married, eat a meal, relax on the beach….there is an interactive row boat and
chairs ...so yes, a lot to do, and of course the music when we have events.
JB: What has been your greatest challenge in
building Half Moon Bay?
VF: Roxy is a prolific builder, and I would come
in in the mornings and She would have most of the things done, so other than
designing a logo and helping Her fit buildings into spaces, there was very
little challenge for me - I am sure She would say different! lol..but really, the biggest challenge is
probably creating a nice sim within a strict prim count.
RM: PRIMS! I had to do a lot of creative prim
combining but it all came out perfectly. I do have so many creative ideas but
perhaps that will bare fruit in another build somewhere someday.
JB: Is there anything else you would like to
share with our SL Enquirer Readers?
RM: Half Moon Bay was built for the SL community
to enjoy. There are no fees to join the HMB group and everybody is welcome!
VF: I totally agree with Roxy, we come to SL to
relax and leave the stresses of RL jobs and stuff behind for a while, HMB is a
place to do exactly that.
So, there you have it folks.
This place is DEFINITELY worth your time.
Come for a short visit…or stay the entire season. Check out their FLICKR and FaceBook sites,
then hop on over to the SURL listed below.
And when you do, Tell ‘em
Josh sent ya. You’ll be glad you did
Be there! Aloha!!
JB
·
SURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pleasant%20Cove/30/75/46
·
FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/groups/14813696@N24/
·
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1197517120888949
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