FOR RELEASE: 🎉 IndieSpectrum Radio is proud to announce our partnership with Linden Lab for the SL23B celebrations! 🎉

Second Life is celebrating 23 years with a month of live music, performances, shopping, community exhibits, and the incredible creativity that makes the Second Life community so special.

As part of the celebration, IndieSpectrum Radio will be sharing original music from some of Second Life’s top performers while residents explore the SL23B regions — and we’re excited to help spotlight the live music community throughout the event.

We’ve also launched a new SL23B Spotlight Feature on the IndieSpectrum Radio homepage that automatically highlights the next three musicians scheduled to perform from the official SL23B calendar:

 https://www.indiespectrum.com/

IndieSpectrum Radio will also be carrying live coverage of the SL23B Opening Ceremony, so tune in and celebrate with us as SL23B officially opens to the public!

 Listen live: https://www.indiespectrum.com/
 SL23B info: https://secondlife.com/sl23b

Happy 23rd Birthday, Second Life — and thank you to Linden Lab for allowing IndieSpectrum Radio to be part of the celebration!

#SL23B #SecondLife #IndieSpectrumRadio #LiveMusic #VirtualMusic #LindenLab

Airing on IndieSpectrum Radio and XRadio at 11 am SLT and again at 7pm SLT Sunday!

_______________________

About IndieSpectrum Radio and Virtual Music Network

IndieSpectrum Radio is an independent, non-profit internet radio station dedicated to supporting independent artists, singer/songwriters, and live music communities across Second Life and beyond. Through its ongoing partnership with performers, venues, promoters, and community organizers, IndieSpectrum Radio provides a platform for original music, special event coverage, artist discovery, and virtual-world music promotion.

Virtual Music Network, founded by Ninja Antwoord, expands that mission by connecting musicians, venues, fans, and media partners across virtual platforms. Built from years of direct involvement in the Second Life live music community, Virtual Music Network highlights live performances, artist showcases, event promotion, and community partnerships that help virtual musicians reach broader audiences.

Together, IndieSpectrum Radio and Virtual Music Network support the continued growth of virtual live music by helping performers, venues, and event organizers connect with listeners, collaborators, and new opportunities.

Media Contact:

Ninja Antwoord
Co-Owner, IndieSpectrum Radio
Founder, Virtual Music Network
Second Life: ninjaantwoord resident
Email: ninjaantwoord@vmnetwork.org
IndieSpectrum Radio: https://www.indiespectrum.com/
Virtual Music Network: https://www.vmnetwork.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573566731384
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/RW9TdBpN5y

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Gachas are BACK, so come get lucky at THE GACHA LIFE

 

THE GACHA LIFE SEPTEMBER ROUND

Bimonthly shopping event

January-March-May-July-September-November

Starts the 5th & runs through the end of the month.

*EXCLUSIVE themed gachas* from Evil Bunny Productions

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Grumble/178/31/21

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Spring Into Style: The Must-Visit Second Life Stores for Fresh Spring Fashion- Wanda Starchild Reporting...

Spring is here, and with it comes a wave of stunning new fashion in Second Life. This season is all about embracing soft pastels, bold florals, and effortlessly stylish designs that make your avatar shine. Whether you love dreamy aesthetics, contemporary chic, or edgy streetwear, these five standout stores are bringing the best of Spring 2025 to the grid. Get ready to explore the latest collections from Enfant Terrible, Hime Dream, Fashionably Dead, Have Unequal, and Nanika!

1. Enfant Terrible – Ethereal and Enchanting

Known for its delicate and whimsical designs, Enfant Terrible’s latest spring collection captures the magic of the season. Think flowing gowns adorned with floral embroidery, intricate lace details, and pastel hues that exude elegance. Whether you’re attending a fairy-tale garden party or simply want to embrace a soft, romantic aesthetic, this brand’s creations are a must-have.

Enfant Terrible - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Heavens%20Gate/115/99/85

2. Hime Dream – Kawaii Meets Spring

Hime Dream specializes in sweet and girly fashion, perfect for avatars who love a kawaii-inspired look. This spring, their collection features ruffled dresses, delicate bows, and soft pastel colors reminiscent of cherry blossoms in full bloom. With adorable accessories to match, Hime Dream is the go-to brand for avatars looking to channel playful, springtime charm.

Hime Dream - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ORCHID%20ISLAND/110/122/2

3. Fashionably Dead – Effortlessly Cool

Fashionably Dead brings a fresh twist to spring fashion with relaxed silhouettes and an indie aesthetic. From oversized sweaters layered over floral skirts to effortlessly cool denim jackets, their collection is perfect for avatars who love mixing casual and stylish elements. Expect vintage-inspired prints, earthy tones, and unique textures that make for the ultimate laid-back spring look.

Fashionably Dead - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/fd%20mainstore/128/51/51

4. Have Unequal – Sleek and Contemporary

For those who prefer a modern, fashion-forward approach, Have Unequal delivers with structured pieces and minimalist elegance. Their spring line introduces chic crop tops, sophisticated blazers, and tailored trousers in neutral and pastel shades. Perfect for avatars looking to balance sleek sophistication with seasonal freshness, Have Unequal’s designs are a must-have for any stylish wardrobe.

Have Unequal  - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bellavista/66/7/25

5. Nanika – Delicate and Feminine

Nanika specializes in soft, elegant fashion with a touch of sensuality. This spring, they’re unveiling lace bodysuits, sheer dresses, and floral-inspired accessories that add a touch of romance to any look. Their designs are perfect for avatars who love graceful, ethereal styles that feel both delicate and empowering.

Nanika - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Serena%20Almeria/37/152/2000

Refresh Your Look for Spring!

With the new season comes the perfect opportunity to revamp your Second Life wardrobe. Whether you prefer dreamy and whimsical or sleek and contemporary, Enfant Terrible, Hime Dream, Fashionably Dead, Have Unequal, and Nanika offer some of the most exciting spring collections on the grid. Step into the season in style and let your avatar bloom!

Happy shopping, fashion lovers! 🌸

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Skin Fair Has Arrived - Sheristrawberri Reporting

Skin Fair Has Arrived

Skin Fair, the annual event for all things relating to avatar looks and enhancements, is currently open. The event officially started in 2012 by Voshie Paine as a way to showcase new releases by skin designers.

 

“I had always been obsessed with skins and playing around with creating different looks for my avatar,” said Voshie. In 2008/2009 she created a sort of consortium called Skin Addiction. It was designed for skin creators to highlight their new releases.

“As time went on, and as I worked with the designers, I wanted to do an event that showcased new releases.  In 2012, I put on a small event that would feature only a new release,” she said. Only allowing creators to show off new releases was something that hadn’t happened in SL at the time.

In 2013 Voshie, along with her partner Kira Paderborn, held what is officially the inaugural Skin Fair event. The Skinnery, Modish, LOGO, and Deetalez are still popular designers who were part of that first fair.

While the first event focused on the latest in skin and make-up products, it soon grew to include mesh body parts, tattoos, eyes, nails, and even shapes.

By the end of 2020 Voshie and Kira and three different events and decided to split up with Voshie keeping Skin Fair.

“I see Skin Fair as a place to see the latest and best that the avatar enhancement world has to offer.  Similar to industry fairs in the real world, I see Skin Fair as a place to debut and show off your talent and possibly new innovation amongst your peers and the public,” said Voshie.

This year’s event stretches over two sims and has about 250 different creators and designers showcasing their products. The fair is so large that there are multiple landmarks for people to utilize.

   

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Among some of the more well-known attendees are Genus Project, Andore/lex, Bespoke, CATWA, HYPE, LAQ, LOGO, Amara Beauty, Velour, and GA.EG. Voshie admits that it’s all but impossible to list just a few and points out that a complete list can be found on her company, Juniper Events’, web site.

For Voshie, pulling together an event of this scale is something she says she couldn’t do on her own.

“Honestly the planning of this event starts back in Sept/October.  I also have a whole team of staff that help me out.  I would not be able to do this otherwise as the amount of work that is undertaken is massive,” she said.

All of that hard work is worth it, though, as Voshie says her favorite part of the entire fair is the opening day.

“Seeing all the hard work come together and the moment we open the sims to see people drop in excited to see what the designers have brought to showcase,” she said.

 

Wandering through the fair it is easy to see the excitement and feel the energy of those taking advantage of the event.

“I like the idea of new skins that are hopefully special since this is a one time a year event,” said Princess Albathos (princess usbourne). She does customer service for both Velour Beauty and Lueur Beauty so she is invested in how an avatar looks.

  

Antlerlagom said he came to the Skin Fair “To see if there are anything which can make my avi looks even more real.” He said he was shopping for things that have higher quality graphics. So far he said he has mostly found add one.

Starla Mackenzie Dracovis (starladream blaidsdale) said she came to the fair looking for a specific tattoo. “One that I saw on Facebook,” she added. And while she came looking for that specific item, she isn’t ruling out buying other items if they catch her eye.

Technically the Skin Fair is run by Voshie’s company, Juniper Events, which she founded at the end of 2020. In addition to Skin Fair Juniper Events oversees The Vault, Nightshade and Gothmas Market. When her former business partner and dear friend Kira Panderborn passed away last year, Voshie has taken over the Vintage Fair and may continue Hallow Manor but that hasn’t been determined.

“I love bringing together different artists under a unifying theme and sharing it with others,” said Voshie.

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Elysian%20Veil/157/128/30

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Infinite%20Spirit/98/128/30

Group: 8cac56c3-49a0-012c-2c35-7836985af398

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JuniperEventsSL

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junipereventssl/

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/junipereventssl/

Web Site: https://juniperevents.net/

Preferred Contact: Voshie Paine

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LET'S TALK ABOUT HATS!

Why do we wear hats? After thousands of years, they still serve the same purpose as they did since the dawn of time.

Baseball hats can shield our eyes from the sun. Sun hats protect our heads from an impending heat stroke. A warm woolen cap makes sure your skull and ears don't freeze off during the harsh winter months.

But also... Because the right hat is just really, really cool!

ONCE UPON A TIME...

There was Otzi. From the Bronze Age (around 3250 BC), Otzi unfortunately froze to death in a mountain in south Europe even if he wore the first known hat which consisted of a simple bearskin cap with a chin strap.

But the first image of a hat is dated 3200 BC from a wall painting in Thebes, Egypt. This was a simple cone-shaped straw hat. The name of the guy wearing this hat isn't mentioned anywhere so lets call him Bob the Egyptian.

FAMOUS HATS

Otzi and Bob may have been the first but they have been followed up throughout history by the most known figures of all time. 

Emperor Augustus Caesar never left home without his hat. Napoleon Bonaparte is always depicted with his famous bicorne hat on. Marie Antoinette wore spectacular hats before she lost her head. Magicians are recognized by their famous top hats.

There are also cultural hats that reveal the roots or lifestyle of the people who wear them. There is the salakot, a rattan or bamboo cone, which protects the Filipinos from the sun and rain. There is the beret that is attributed to the French, the artists, the revolutionaries. There is also the Mexican sombrero, the African fulani, the Moroccan fez, etc...

REVEALERS

And what about the fascinators, which are so aptly named? This formal headwear has its roots in the Baroque era and was made popular by the extravagant Marie-Antoinette. Attached to the head with a hairclip, headband or a comb, the fascinator still reigns over several major events. 

The 2011 royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton saw an abundance of fascinators in attendance and its the same at the Royal Ascot race. Very glamorous, the fascinator is also a high fashion item that we often see in big fashion shows.

In short, hats speak to us. By listening to them, we learn a lot about the people who wear them. It can be their nationality but also their personality or their social status.

All the hats and clothes featured in this report are from the fashion house LUXE Paris located on https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bao/56/72/26 in Second Life.

  

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Christmas In The Sun! - Magnolia City Christmas Market

 

Tired of going to Christmas Market's and having to wrap up warm? Pop on over to the Christmas market at Magnolia City in the sunshine state of Florida! Free Christmas rides and entertainment for you and the whole family! Open now, through to the end of December, the Magnolia City Christmas market has all the things you would expect to see at a market, minus one thing, the freezing cold temps and the annoying snow! No need to wrap up warm to visit us!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mandarin%20Marina/157/100/26

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AVIE POLL: What makes you choose one venue over another? Hazel Silvermoon Reporting…

 

In Second Life, how we spend our days matters greatly to us. We spend a lot of time picking and choosing where we will go, and what we will do. Sometimes, that is to hit up the hottest clubs, or to go to charity events. Other times it’s shopping, or game nights.  But how do we choose which Venue to go to, and what makes us choose one over the other?

I went around the grid to poll several individuals about this matter, and I asked them what their favorite activity in Second Life is , and why they chose that Venue over any other. I wanted to find out what was really important to them, and what kind of qualities they look for when choosing, and I loved the answers I got. I broke the responses into several categories.

Clubs

Clubbing was by far the top activity listed by all those interviewed. When asked, the top qualities looked for when choosing the perfect venue were: Staff friendliness, welcoming atmosphere, and fun events or activities. What makes or breaks a club for most , is how involved the staff is in making sure guests feel welcome and are having a good time. Residents tend to favor clubs with a rich setlist, and plenty of fun parties to attend as well as a place that makes us feel like family.

Shopping

Shopping was another popular category. When looking for a favorite store, residents look for : frequent product releases, inclusivity for a variety of body types, outfits that suit their personalities, and ease of shopping experience. When shopping, we are often looking for clothing that fits our particular sense of style, and we keep coming back for more! One individual had this to say on the matter:  “If someone does their advertising properly, and it looks attractive, I want to buy the item, and if they care how things look, I like it better. Anything that doesn’t lag is also great.”    

HUD/STAT Based SIMS

HUDS that allow us to change our avatars to closely mimic the needs of real life ( or to simulate real life activities)  are huge in SL. With communities like Mystory, DFS, and various breedables, there are many ways to simulate doing the things we love . From growing plants, to keeping track of real life needs like Hunger and Energy, there is something for everyone. The top two responses when asked what made them choose one of these HUDS/RP SIMS over another were: realism and ease of use. It was important for most polled users to feel like they were fully immersed and like they belonged to a community of like minded users. 

Themed Events/Parties
Themed parties and events were another popular choice. . The top reason to choose one themed event or party venue over another was personal interest. Since these events are theme-based, residents go in search of these events based on the things that they find fun and exciting. Another quality when choosing a party venue is ease of attendance. One particular Avi stated that they did not enjoy overcrowded places with a lot of lag, as it made it harder to participate in event activities.

I think the important thing to remember is, we are all different. We all look for our own personal ways to have fun, fit in, and feel comfortable in our thriving virtual communities. What makes a venue special to us is not only what they have to offer over someone else, but also what we want in our Second lives, and what resonates with us. 

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collectif French Touch Presents: Special Saint Valentin Event February 2nd to February 29th!

 - ̗̀✧ Event & Shopping , Collectif designers Special Saint Valentin

- ̗̀✧ Opening each Month From 7th to 30 - 31th - ̗̀✧ Exclusive Items, 60 L$, Gift - ̗̀✧ Come and enjoy taking pictures in a beautiful and unique place Montmartre

TELEPORT:

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Scheveningen/235/246/26

Discord: https://discord.gg/AZggJxkv

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/groups/14812261@N25/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frenchtouchsecondlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrenchTouchevent60LS

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Ballin on a budget- Affordable housing, clothing, and furniture sales in Second Life- Hazel Silvermoon reporting…

Second life is packed full of amazing things to do. At the top of the list for many, is shopping. Oftentimes, there are tons of places to get great items at a fraction of the cost. Scoring a sale always feels like an achievement, and it can be a lot of fun as well!  I traveled the grid this week in search of some fabulous deals so you can get the most bang for your buck !

Clothing

Gloss

Gloss is a clothing store that features high-quality clothing for many different body types. From dresses, to Jeans and T-shirts, this store has something to suit most anyone’s style. Right now, they are featuring a cute Jean and tie top combo by the name of Hilary. You can snag both the Jeans and Tops set for just 69L each!

Gloss Mainstore: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Heartstring/118/61/20

Hilly Haalan

Hilly Haalan is a brand that delivers top-notch fashion and always has an amazing sale going on. Their clothing is absolutely stunning, and this next find is the best price: absolutely free! The Rosalind dress is the featured group gift for this month. It is a beautiful and sexy dress featuring midriff cutouts. The group is free to join, and the dress hud has so many color options!!

Hilly Haalan Mainstore: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hillywood/135/157/26

Housing

Trompe Loeil

Tompe Loeil has some excellent houses and home decor, and they have some great sales too. This week’s sale is for those of us that love the waves. It is called the Deja Beach Cottage. Originally 400 L, this home is just 50L for the superfans group. This group is free to join!! The Deja Beach Cottage features a large open downstairs area that is perfect for a Tiki bar, or lounge area. It also has a spacious room upstairs that would be great for a kitchen, living room, or bedroom set. (or all 3!!!)

Trompe Loeil Mainstore: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Trompe%20Loeil%20Mainstore/209/176/22

Furniture 

Your Dreams

Looking for a cute and low cost kitchen? Look no further than Your Dreams Mainstore! Right now, they are featuring their Mini Kitchen set for just 60L! It features 3 wood texture options, a cooktop with flames, and several poses as well. In addition to the mini kitchen, they also have a wide variety of other furniture items on sale right now for 60L .These tend to rotate frequently, but there is usually always a great sale! 

Your Dreams Mainstore: 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Your%20Dreams/35/121/23

Petite Mort

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and Petite Mort has this gorgeous Heart Chair set! Each chair has a number of cute poses. They also have Heart rugs, Pouffes, and a decor sign to go with the chairs. Each of these items is just 60L each! You can buy just one of these items if you wish, or all of them, the choice is yours!

Petite Mort Mainstore: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Desolate/60/40/24

If shopping is your go-to activity in Second Life, be sure to snag these amazing sales while they last! Shopping on a budget isn’t always easy, but if you take some time, check groups and sales ads, and shop around, you are sure to find everything you need and more. Happy Shopping everyone!

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