STAY IN THE KNOW

Keeping You Up To Speed.

Be Involved In The SL Community

Awareness is Key to Positive Change.

Explore Your Options

Get your REAL experience points HERE!.

CREATIVITY

The Possibilities are Endless.

Find Your Inner Peace

Ground Yourself and Discover New Things

SLE Ticker



18 Years and counting...Got SL News? Get it Published! Contact Lanai Jarrico at lanaijarrico@gmail.com

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

AVIE POLL: DATING IN SL HORROR STORIES- The SL Enquirer



Second Life is full of wild adventures, experiences and even surprises! From creating your own perfect avatar image and starring in your own SL story. There is always a good story to tell. Many avatars spend their time socializing with friends, going to concerts, parties and special events for a good time. These places are perfect breeding grounds for avies looking to date or even hook up. Many get involved in romantic situations.  Finding the right companion could feel like a whirlwind fairy tale romance at first that leads to some great love stories or unfortunate nightmares. The SL Enquirer set out to ask avies across the grid about their worst dating experience in Second Life and we got some interesting responses! * Names have been changed to protect their identities.



SLE: What is the worst dating experience you ever had in SL?




Dixie: “Dated someone who was into bestiality in BOTH worlds. The way he talked about it was so nonchalant like it was 100% normal in his eyes, he even gave pointers to a friend of mine on how to have a Horse give you a proper blowjob. I just tried to see past it, but it still haunted me and still does to this day. I am glad i never met up with him in RL. Lord knows what would have happened and to be honest I'd rather not think about. Yikes.”



Chase: “Well, when they proposed to me to tell my worst date in SL, I remembered having had various stories in SL, and the truth is that I would not know which one to qualify as the worst, one of my worst moments was at the beginning when they took me to a beach and they invited me to sit on a towel for the first time and I saw that in SL if it is possible for a woman to rape a man, I suddenly found myself making love with a girl and I didn't even have a penis, I was left naked without male member letting the menu of that towel be handled by that girl, until it seemed to me that she lost interest in me, I felt powerless of not having a virile member and I teleported from there ashamed. That's when I experienced how crazy SL could be. On another occasion, also at the beginning, I found a girl on a beach that I invited to a hut to have sex, she was totally arousing when she suddenly told me that I was younger, wow, all the arousal went down all of a sudden, then she told me That was a joke, but I no longer knew what to believe and I was totally perplexed, what a bitch :)).” 



Harold:My story comes from 2015 when a lovely avi at a dj set at a club IM's me with the line of "you did an amazing job on your avi".  A couple months went by and after we hit it off greatly, exchanged pics and talked on voice we were married in SL.  She portrayed herself as a Nurse from the UK.  Heavy British accent and the whole nine yards.  Amazingly beautiful RL pics as well.  A month or so goes by and I get a random IM from someone I did not know saying they are having a get together to discuss my partner.  Curiosity gets the best of me so I show up.  In a nutshell, much to my surprise, there are at least 15 people there and (2) other guys that she is partnered to on alt accounts on SL.  She was actually in the United States and never even been to the UK, it was her hobby to practice a British accent in her spare time.  The beautiful pics she sent........Haha were of an adult star (clothed) from Norway she pulled off of the internet.  Once I confronted her about it, she poofed and closed that account to never be seen or heard from again. The same with the other 2 guys she was partnered to on other accounts.  It just goes to show that if something seems too good to be true, odds are it is Haha. :)”  



Wendy: “I met my ex at a Halloween party back in October of 2017. I was invited by some friends and was dancing when he messaged me asking if I would like to dance.  I was fine with it but a little bit nervous. I never really had a partner in SL. I guess you could say I was an sl virgin. He was funny and nice and we hit it off. He wasn’t online too much so we saw each other when we could and went to concerts. He asked me to be his girlfriend after a couple of weeks and told me he wanted to show me what he was working on and he sent me a tp. When I got there he said it was his private home!  After showing me around we sat on the sofa to talk. He started showing me the different poses and one thing led to another and we were having sex. Not even a couple  minutes later some girl tp’s in right on top of us in the middle of it!!. He acted like he didn't know who she was and quickly ejected her and got really quiet and then logged off. I thought he crashed. As I was waiting there,  I got an IM from the girl he kicked out telling me that they were dating for a year and proceeded to insult me about ruining her relationship! I left and blocked her and unfriended him too. I never felt so humiliated!!” 



Parker: “My Date from hell! Was at a familiar club I go to often. My SL sister is a DJ there so I go from time to time just to listen to music and have fun. I was alone just having some Local chat laughs and a girl hit my box. She said hi and complimented me on how nice my avatar was. I thanked her and kept listening to my sister DJ. She continued to ask me questions about what I like to do in SL . So from then we have some basic conversations. SO I asked her if she wanted to continue our conversation while enjoying a dance, She agreed. The set was over and was late but we decided to meet up again at a place she liked . I thought ok why not sure lets do it. She told me she likes the beach so to wear some beach trunks. I didn't think anything of it so I agreed. Next day comes and she tp's me to a Beach, I was thinking of just US relaxing on a nice beach to get to know eachother better but she had other plans for us but to my surprise it was a SEX breeding beach. SHOCKED is an understatement, she invited me to an ORGY on the beach and was like come on over and join us ROFL. that orgy they was in voice and all those women suddenly becomes RL men with horrible trucker voices lol   I tped out so fast my head was spinning and of course I muted and BURNED her card over a bomb fire hehehe”




Claire : “I dated a person for a few months and things were progressing very nicely, at least I thought so. I found out from a friend of mine that he was dating a few other people at the same time. I questioned him about it and he obviously denied it. I wanted to put it past us because he made me laugh and happy when I logged in. But as the time went by, he would often IM me stuff that we weren’t talking about and actually called me someone else’s name. So I asked a few friends to “spy” on him and they found him in a Strip club with two women on his lap. I confronted him and he was obviously surprised and embarrassed and we broke up. A month later he msged me and asked me to voice. I said sure why not I can say a few things kinda like face to face. When we voiced it was a WOMAN and she apologized and said she wanted to try something new.. Damn, that was a slap in the face. Needless to say I told everyone about it and he/she doesn’t come around anymore probably on an ALT




Lenny:  um, have never dated beyond clicking on a statue in a castle once and got royally rogered! lololol”



Karen: “Don’t ask me about my personal life, I am offended and calling the police.”




As you can see the craziest things can happen while dating in Second Life. From gender imposters and catfishing to just plain horrible partners!  If you were caught up in an SL dating horror situation, share your story in the comments below!


The Muses - Music Driven- Meet the DJs- A.B. Tucker Reporting


“SL = One Nation Under a Groove” - Sugaree Rose.


In two wild and wonderful months, The Muses transformed from a sand platform on the mainland into a growing, thriving community.  The driving force on this rollercoaster ride has been the DJs.  The Muses’ DJs are fabulous: Rob Skytower, Grizzly Silversmith, Bre, Dave, Sugaree Rose, and Grougan Oxbar.  


DJ Rob Skytower is a seasoned SL DJ who describes himself as a “classic rock, oldies, and more” DJ. Rob is well-known for his decade on the rock and metal circuit. More recently, he has ventured out a different direction. A friend encouraged Rob to try his hand at “ballroom” and today he has one of the most unique ballroom sets on the grid.  Aerosmith, Frank Sinatra, Spandau Ballet, Herb Albert, Bob Seger, and Norah Jones might all be heard in the same hour.   


DJ Rob likes being a “project DJ”.  He will take an idea or a theme, find the right songs, weave the set together just so, and make magic. “I work well with managers, owners, and other staff to make sure that everyone, including guests, leaves my sets going ‘WOW, never heard those songs that way’.” 


DJ Dave is the newest addition to the lineup, and The Muses was lucky enough to be his very first gig.  He cut his DJ teeth at The Edge beach during one of the contest hours of fishing and raffles.  Dave describes his music style as mostly country.  He shares with us his music library of modern and classic country music.  


DJ Bre ended a DJing hiatus to grace The Muses with her presence.  Also working one of the contest hours, DJ Bre does blues, rock, country, and creates a great dance party.  Bre admits, “doing mush” is a favorite DJ task, she loves spinning romance.  She is gaining a reputation as a big “By Request” DJ, as Bre ends each set by asking the crowd what they want to hear the next week.


DJ Grougan Oxbar is another long-time SL DJ.  He has worked in many genres, but his favorite and best is romance.  His warm-brandy voice will melt you from the inside out.  His smooth, ballroom romance style will have you dancing on air.  In his non-DJ, SL life, Gro plays in a band and has started a singing career.


DJ Grizzly Silversmith has been spinning in iconic clubs across SL for twelve years.  He has DJed and sung for several of SL’s annual birthday events.  One of the best audiophiles on the grid, his sets are filled with the finest blues, country, and romance to be found.  Currently, Grizz is bringing EVERYTHING BLUES to The Muses at Azure, a casual, oceanside nightclub.


DJ Grizz is a Second Life tour guide.  Via hot air balloon and gondola rides, Grizz will introduce you to the regions and continents of SL.  Outside of SL, Grizz has many hobbies, including podcasting.  Look for Grizzly’s Growls podcasts! 


DJ Sugaree has been written about in blogs, mentioned on internet radio, and it has been so aptly stated by another, “Her sets go down like velvet honey.”  DJ Sugaree put her introduction in her own words.  “People who come to my shows immediately comment on my voice. Music, and my voice, are gifts from God, and I try to bring love, joy, peace and friendship into my sets. I love Smooth anything!  Funk and R&B, Motown, Disco, Oldies, or Romance music are the genres I am most familiar with.”

 

“I've been referred to as 'SL's Cover Queen', and I am biased toward cover songs! My collection of wonderful 'covers' comes mostly from my fans and listeners. I've been DJing in Second Life exclusively for seven years and I love it.   I love the people I meet even more.  I am currently playing from the Sugaree Songbook at The Muses.  Come by, see for yourself.  And Oh Yes, bring me a cover song!”


On Tuesday, DJ Dave is at The Edge beach, and DJ Rob takes over the ballroom.  DJ Grizzly spins amazing blues on Wednesday.  On Thursday Sugaree hosts a DANCE PARTY with a different theme every week. Friday has DJ Gro and DJ Sugaree doing back to back romance.  


Saturday is DATE NIGHT with DJ Sugaree in Cristall. It’s a wonderful romantic set, and setting.  DJ Rob rounds out the week at The Edge with his ROCK ON THE EDGE set, any style rock, rock from any decade, and it is never dull.


The Muses’ venues include Cristall, a romantic ballroom set inside a vintage champagne glass.  Azure is a casual, oceanside nightclub that hosts almost any music genre.  The Edge is a pristine beach with contest hours of 7Seas fishing tournaments and club-sponsored raffles, sailing, swimming, lounging, or some friendly competition on the game deck.  Each venue is just a pretty build until our DJs bring them life with music.


The Muses has a subscriber that sends out a weekly schedule, or guests can join the group to get notices about all The Muses’ events. Come enjoy phenomenal DJs and incredible music.  Follow Your Muse…  to The Muses. 


══♥════ 

THIS WEEK AT THE MUSES

MARCH 25 TO 31


THURSDAY

FISHING, RAFFLE, DANCING ~ DJ BRE ~ 2-3 PM ~ THE EDGE

LATIN DANCE PARTY ~ DJ SUGAREE ~ 8-10 PM ~ AZURE


FRIDAY

SMOOTH ROMANCE ~ DJ GRO ~ 6-8 PM ~ CRISTALL

IT DOESN'T GET SWEETER ~ DJ SUGAREE ~ 8-10 PM ~ CRISTALL


SATURDAY

IT'S DATE NIGHT ~ DJ SUGAREE ~ 8-10 PM ~ CRISTALL


SUNDAY 

ROCK ON THE EDGE ~ DJ ROBO ~ 6-8 PM ~ THE EDGE

GAME NIGHT ~ EVERYBODY ~ 8-10 PM ~ THE EDGE


TUESDAY 

FISHING, RAFFLE, DANCING ~ DJ DAVE ~ 2-3 PM ~ THE EDGE

ROCK MEETS ROMANCE ~ DJ ROBO ~ 8-10 PM ~ CRISTALL


WEDNESDAY

EVERYTHING BLUES ~ DJ GRIZZLY ~ 8-10 PM ~ AZURE

══♥════ 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kildinas%20Tor/161/177/21

https://www.flickr.com/photos/192175796@N07


Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Thingamabobs Gacha


 Where you can buy gacha items from the farmhouse, vintage, and classic decor. Come see what's new at Thingamabobs Gacha. Decorated with thought and love. Get inspired at our store.

Taxi:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Miriam%20Orange/175/142/2528

PLAYDOLLS MAGAZINE Presents Live Guitarist and Vocalist VIRGIL

 


Playdolls Magazine will be hosting a live encore performance at 5PM SLT on Wednesday, March 24, as Musician Virgil will be rocking the Playdolls Yacht harbored in Relaxation Bay. Attend the concert, take a group ViP tag and get eligible for fabulous door prizes presented by the Playdolls Models!

About Playdolls Magazine

Playdolls Magazine has been published monthly since 2007, making it THE preeminent entertainment periodical in SL. 


Sunday, March 21, 2021

Kicking Back and enjoying the sweet life here at Beyond Vanilla - ScarlettO Reporting

                             

As I landed at Beyond Vanilla for the first time I was surprised to be greeted by a peacock and military flags. As I took my first look around the full sim, I came upon a bear rowing a boat, a quaint 1950’s diner, and all sorts of wildlife. There is even an otter pond with the most adorable otter family called Fred, Wilma,  Bambam and Pebbles, The beautiful harbor is the stage for dolphins and seals and a boat driven by a bear.




As I explored this “BD/SM” sim I came upon many things.  There was the sim’s night club, The Whips End (the name is the only nod I saw to BD/SM), a beautiful relaxing beach, a rustic cabin ready for a cuddle and a cup of hot chocolate, an old fashioned paddle wheel boat full of games of all sorts, as well as relaxing gardens and gaming tables.

 


What I did not find was anything other than a list of the strict rules to indicate that this was a BD/SM sim.  This place was wholesome and homey and certainly not what you expect when you hear “BD/SM” sim. I was excited to meet the people who had created this adult Disney World.

 


Beyond Vanilla’s staff is a tight team composed of Karlee, Davis Delong, and KT Danvers. Davis is Karlee’s go-to guy.  He is the gatekeeper and liaison between Karlee and the day-to-day running of the Sim. Karlee says, “anything and everything falls on his shoulders.”  KT is the manager of The Whip’s End, Beyond Vanilla’s premier nightclub. He comes from the entertainment world and has invaluable experience in what makes a club work.


When I met the owner, builder, and creator of Beyond Vanilla, Karlee Heartsong, and her manager Davis,  she explained her vision for Beyond Vanilla. She knew she wanted to build a place where other members of the BD/SM community could find a home where they were loved and respected.  As she started to build, it became obvious to her that SL did not need another sim devoted exclusively to BD/SM.  So she listened to heart and soul and built an amalgam of her life.  She decided to focus on the four aspects of her life that are most dear to her.



The main focus is all about adult fun.  There are cuddle areas and dancing balls, a beach perfect for a picnic, and a heart-shaped hot tub that looks out over the mesmerizing sea below.  Karlee included many secluded romantic, PG spots for date nights. And yes, there are two dungeons for the rated R play.  

Up in the garden on top of Dungeon Hill is an ethereal garden with a strip poker table and on the paddle boat there all sorts of games such as Greedy, Cards Against Humanity, and Texas Hold’em.

 


The Whip’s End, Beyond Vanilla’s premier nightclub is a mixture of biker, rock & roll, and Americana.  The grand opening was held there recently as well as Valentine’s Day party.  DJ Star is spinning tunes every Friday from 4 pm-6 pm SLT. The Whip’s End is currently looking for DJs and host/hostesses so they can open on more nights. They have three types of dancing at the club; the spot on mover, the quark, and the intan.  I decided to give it a try.



In the sky, there is an off-road course, a hostage rescue game, an archery game, and a rock-climbing wall ( which I attempted but was an epic failure at it). Karlee and Davis are currently planning on doing archery tournaments, poker and game nights as well as competitive racing.



The second aspect of Beyond Vanilla honors The Armed Forces of The United States, as well as their allies. Karlee and Davis are US Veteran. They both take pride in their service to our country.  There are military vehicles parked in front of Whips End.  There are flags representing all branches of the armed forces, as well as POWs at the landing point.  You immediately see them. They make a poignant impact. There are plans in the works for a Memorial Day charity event to benefit wounded warriors.

 

The third part focuses on the MC world, as Karlee said, “I grew up on the back of a bike”.  There are all types of motorcycles in front of the club and many people in MCs are a daily part of Beyond Vanilla. As Karlee said, “The biker community is still a large part of my life to this day”.  So my heart is full of love for the biker community.”She further explained many family and friends live in the MC world both in SL & RL.


The fourth and final part of Karlee’s vision focuses on the D/s lifestyle of Male Dominants and female subs/slaves. Karlee and her manager Davis had to show me where the Dungeons were.  They are very private and secluded.  So much so, I could not discover them on my own. Karlee explained there is no nudity anywhere on the main portion of the sim other than on Dungeon  Hill and at special events. Nudity is also permitted in the sky where they hunt zombies in the buff.  There are two dungeons carved into Dungeon Hill. One is devoted to Shibari, adult play with ropes, and one is devoted to the pleasure of pain.  Inside are various apparatuses used in the BD/SM lifestyle. Ironically Karlee is a self-confessed “prude” and doesn't want people walking around showing their bits and pieces to the world.  There is no activity unless there is consent on both sides. No means NO! Karlee believes that “every single person needs to feel comfortable in my home. I am trying to ensure that is possible."

 



Karlee stresses that the BD/SM part of the sim is only ¼ of the focus of the sim.  After the tour and the experiences I had, I am in total agreement with her.



Everything I saw at Beyond Vanilla was top tier, no expense has been spared. As Karlee said, “I want to make a place where people do not want to leave.”  I think she has succeeded and then some. I  truly enjoyed a wonderful day of adult fun.  I rode a dirt bike, climbed a rock wall, raced on a track, and danced. As Karlee wished,  Beyond Vanilla is a place I did not want to leave.



As I said goodbye to Karlee and Davis, I realized I had not just added friends, but had made friends. I definitely want to go back and maybe this time I will try nude zombie hunting.

 




March 21st - Seth Regan (Mankind Tracer) & AMFORTE Clarity LIVE at Terry's Sunday Showcase

 


Join us on Sunday, March 21st beginning at 4pm SLT for Terry's Sunday Showcase, sponsored by the SL Enquirer! This week's featured artist is Seth Regan, a native New Yorker now residing in California, a singer/songwriter who writes music that speaks to his audience through very relatable experiences and insights. His sound is one that combines classic and progressive rock influences with a modern pop/rock vibe.

After 20 years of professional touring with various cover and originals projects, Seth discovered Second Life in 2006. Second Life was a growing 3D Virtual Community where he began to perform shows regularly under the name "Mankind Tracer". Quickly becoming a fan favorite, Seth rose to being one of the top rock artist and maintains that status today, among the now hundreds of performers in SL.

Many of the millions of global members have become familiar with Seth's music and brand. During his time performing in Second Life, Seth has been the recipient of the most prestigious awards including "Best Live Performer", "Best Singer Songwriter", "Listener's Choice Award" and the "2011 Best of SL Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to Second Life".

He is without question Second Life's most widely recognized rock performer.

Following Seth this week at 5pm SLT is Canadian born singer/songwriter AMFORTE Clarity! Sometimes there is no need to know where an artist is from or what their favorite color is. Sometimes all you need to do is simply experience the artist’s work because truly passionate artists will bare their soul to you. AMFORTE is one of those artists.  

Currently AMFORTE is working on a new album, which will feature a massive 20 original songs! Join her group to get updates of when it will be released and where.

AMFORTE graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Film at the University of North Carolina. She has produced, directed and edited a couple of short films and has also written 2 screenplays.

The rest of AMFORTE’s work is also sure to strike a chord with listeners because she has the unique talent of relaying deeply personal experiences in a somewhat abstract sense. By doing this you identify with her and learn about her through your own similar personal experiences. This creates a unique bond between the musician and listener, which, in some ways, transcends the spoken word. This is the magic of music. This is AMFORTE.

AMFORTE was born to write original music across multiple genres. Each composition tells a story, and most have memorable melodies with driving hooks and in different styles of music. Catch her live performances.

 Live Piano, Live Guitar, Originals, Covers, you don’t want to miss it.

AMFORTE's Original Music has been played on Mainstream Radio including: 106.5FM "THE END", 99.7FM "The Storm", Good Sh*t Radio (Internet Radio) and ELC Radio (Internet Radio). Visit Spotify, Pandora, iTunes and Amazon for more of her music.

Come support live music with friends, laughter, and a whole lot of fun...ONLY at Terry's Place!!!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  
Welcome to Terry's Place, your friendly neighborhood pub where everyone knows your name! Home to some of the hottest DJ's and live singers on the grid, there's a little something for everyone here at Terry's when you just need to get away from it all. Dance as we spin tunes for all walks of life, show off your talents at Open Mic every Friday, or enjoy a live concert out in the park at our Terry's Sunday Showcase!  With events happening five nights a week, be yourself and escape the chains of real life with friends, laughter, and a whole lot of fun...ONLY at Terry's Place!

PUBLIC LANDMARK:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mystic%20River%20Cove/214/82/2501

CONTACT:
Ninja (ninjaantwoord resident)


Performer Websites:

Seth Regan (Mankind Tracer) - http://www.sethregan.com/

AMFORTE Clarity - http://www.amfortemusic.com

Friday, March 19, 2021

BRUNEL HALL: CLASSIC LUXURY IN A MODERN WORLD – JOSH (THOMAS1 BELLIC) REPORTING


As a writer for one of the most popular publications in this Virtual World, I am often invited to check out places I have never seen before.  Some of them are quite creative, with extensive histories.  Brunel Hall is one such place.  In a world populated with cookie-cutter homes, Brunel Hall stands out, noteworthy for its fascinating charm and Old-World Elegance.  In my travels the other day, I came across the Grande Dame of days gone by, and I asked Vic Mornington, the proprietor, to share some of the story of this enchanting place with our SLE readers.

Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB):  Soo,  tell me, Vic.  What is Brunel Hall, exactly?

Vic Mornington (VM):  It is first and foremost a hotel.  The bulk of the building, namely all of the upper floors, are dedicated to the 17 hotel rooms which are used on a rented basis for the folks visiting the wider city, either for RP or simply using the hotel as a home base for exploring.  Even back to its early days when the original building was only a pub, there was still two small hotel rooms to the side that folks could rent out. 

As the place grew via expansions into neighboring plots, that’s when the Bar Restaurant theme started to take shape for the ground floor.  As it stands now, Brunel Hall is what you would see in most modern cities.  It's a working hotel, with "added amenities".   It's also turned into a Second Life build equivalent of Scotland's Forth Rail Bridge, just as you finish an overhaul of the building...it’s time to go back to the beginning and start all over again.

JB:  Where did you get the inspiration for Brunel Hall?

VM:  The inspiration for the look of the building, at least on the outside, is from the Liberty of London building in London, England.  If you are ever visiting Brunel Hall, take a look at the front, and then search for Liberty of London on Google, there are very striking similarities. 

Back in 2010, there were 5 top-tier "Grand Restaurants".  In order to even enter, you had to pay an average of 500L$, to enter, you had to book a table, that was on average another 1000L$.  Once you had booked the table and sat at the table, you were already down a grand and a half.  On top of that, you either had to pay or tip the RP wait staff, the chef, the owner...etc. 

...all that, to sit and stare at badly textured prim food.  Lia (my cousin in RL) had a bad experience with one of those old grand restaurants.  That bad experience she had, along with others I heard about was in the back of my mind when the original version of Brunel Hall was extended out further and further to the west as I took over more and more parcels.  I decided, once I had enough prims on the parcel, to open a restaurant as good as the old grand diners, but do one thing they didn't do.  Make it free to use.

More than 10 years on, Brunel Hall is the last of the old Grand Restaurants, the rest are long gone.


JB: Do you ever host special events at Brunel Hall?

VM:  There are normal parties DJ'd by me (at the time of writing this) on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month at around 9 or 10pm UK time.  They are mainly UK timed as I'm based in the UK.  In the future the plans for The Three Craws basement bar is for guest live singers and guest DJ's to perform for the 1st and third Friday of the month.  Then of course there are the main holidays like Easter and Christmas where special event parties take place.

The Restaurant and bar downstairs are also open for bookings as well, this is one of the main reasons there isn't a wall to wall listing of events, a lot of the week have to be clear for bookings for weddings, birthday parties and so forth.

JB: Who are your Guests?  What is your target demographic?

VM:  The guests who rent or just pop in to use the restaurant cover a huge demographic.  Even though the hotel is in the north side of a 12-region large steampunk city (New Babbage) about half the guests are visitors who wear anything but Steampunk or Victorian clothing.  We have had folks new to SL with 1 week old accounts, we've had oooooooold accounts dating back to 2004/5. accounts whose typist behind the keyboard are in their 80's in real life to accounts whose typists are in their early 20's.  We've had countless members of various LGBT inworld groups stay in the hotel, members of Cyberpunk groups, Sci-Fi groups, furrys, tinies and other groups over the course of the hotel being open. 

The reason there's been such a broad base of people is because of New Babbage.  Since New Babbage isn't "RP enforced" it means that folks can wander around and explore without having to change their clothes or their looks to fit in with the general 1880's theme of the region.  Most of the guests do end up changing into some more Victorian or steampunk looking outfits if they go to one of the events in the city or just wander around, that’s probably why they end up renting a room, so they can change clothes in some privacy while remaining inside the city.


JB: How long does the average guest stay at Brunel Hall?

VM:  On average it’s about three months.  The "Long Stay" guests generally appear around November/December time when the entire city gets covered in snow for the winter.  Then there is the gradual progression from the thaw (March) into the summer months as long stay summer/autumn guests start renting around May and then leave around August/September.  There are a handful of hotel renters though who have remained as hotel renters from when they first rented, the longest guest we have in the hotel started renting the same room back in 2010 and has remained with the hotel ever since through all 6 of its tear-downs and rebuilds.

At any given time, because of the long stay renters, the hotel is generally half to 3/4ths rented out with only about 5 or 6 of the 17 rooms laying empty for short stay visitors who rent for about 2 to 3 weeks just to explore the city.  In between the rental "seasons" which is where we are now, the room vacancies go up to about half the rooms laying empty for a month or so.

JB: Tell me more about the rooms, please.   They are much larger than what I have seen in most places in SL…More like complete apartments.  Who does your design work?

VM:  When the first version of the hotel was being laid out, I decided at that point that the rooms would basically be livable.  Not the normal "bed, table and chair" common hotel rooms that you see today.  The Grand Hotels of the early and middle period Victorian era were mini living rooms, so what I decided to do was to take the basics of a complete "apartment" and cram them into a single floor and double floor sectioned off "mini house".  The way I looked at it was simple, folks who were going to be staying in the hotel were no doubt there to look around the city, they would be renting for at least a week...I may as well make the room as comfortable as possible for them and their friends.

As the hotel expanded out and upwards in the 6 overhauls, the rooms got progressively bigger and bigger.  It’s now at the point that the bulk of the actual building is given over to hotel rooms, with only the ground floor and basement being used for the other stuff.  I generally look at the "Grand Design".  Lia and Lizzy usually take care of the finer details.


JB:  What a lovely dining area.  How does dining at Brunel Hall offer an experience that is unique in  SecondLife.

VM:  This is an easy one to answer, and it’s been my guiding philosophy in the 10+ years of running the hotel.  Brunel Hall offers a bigger menu, a grander building and a better surrounding (hey, there’s a whole city out there) than any other restaurant, we don't pester you with RP wait staff, don't spam you with messages to donate...we just leave you and your partner, friend or family alone.  Ohhh...and its free to use.

That basically covers it!

JB: Tell me about the underground Tunnels.  That is quite a complex you have down there.

VM:  The tunnels are a late addition to the hall.  The southern regions of New Babbage have a vast network of underground sewers and tunnels interconnecting the older core regions.  About 3 years ago, Mosseveno Tenk who is the Mayor and overall land owner of the 12 regions of New Babbage (the city is a rented land-based city, with individual land parcel owners) decided to drop the land surface of Academy of Industry down to water level in many parts so landowners around Academy can hook up tunnels to the main sewer line that connects Academy to Port Babbage in the south, and Babbage Palisade to the west. 

That’s when I thought "ohhhhhh, I can put a cellar and some tunnels down there!"...so I did!  It's great for explorers or role players, cause the tunnels hook up to the old Palisade wall in the north, the sewer which runs along the front of the hotel under the road and the old crypt cavern below the cemetery.


JB: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

VM:  If you do decide to visit, I would recommend you drop your draw distance below 100.  The hall itself is crammed with stuff, but it’s not just that, New Babbage itself is very densely packed on the ground, as you would expect for a Steampunk Victorian city, so having your draw distance too high would mean your viewer is rezzing half the north end of the city at the same time.

Most of all, if you do visit, have a look around the city as well once you have finished your look around Brunel Hall, New Babbage is a very old community, one of, if not the oldest steampunk-based communities and cities on the grid.  You never know, you might like it that much ya might end up either renting a hotel room for months on the end, or, as is the case for a good number of hotel renters, you may end up buying land and putting down roots in the city.

thanks a Bunch!


So, there you have it, Folks.  If you’ve a hankering for Old World Charm on a modern, pixelated Virtual World grid, head on down to New Babbage.  Visit the Shops…the Academy, the Port Area, and the other many fun and quaint paces to visit there.  While you are there, enjoy a meal in Brunel Hall, and rent a room to crash for the night, or for the week…or for the month.   And tell Vic, the proprietor that “Josh sent me”

Be there.   Aloha!

JB

SURL:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Academy%20of%20Industry/51/71/108


Thursday, March 18, 2021

GeekSpeak subject for Saturday 20th March at noon SLT: What if Humans suddenly Disappeared?

 


What if all humans disappeared from the planet tomorrow?  What would happen?  How long would it be before all machines and all factories stopped working?  How long before all buildings break down?  How long would the ruins last?

Which species would thrive without humans?  And which species would perish?  Would any species evolve to take our place?  Would global warming be reversed?

After 1000 years will there still be traces on Earth that show we lived here?  Would an alien species visiting the planet be able to learn about our history?  Will, any of our records remain?  Or will they only know that we were a species who used plastic? 

Come and look 1000 years into a future without humans.  Bring your friends, now while they are still alive!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at 1pm in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects.

THUNDERSTORM ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS : RHCP~SEETHER at Rockstar Island March 21st, 2021

 

THUNDERSTORM ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS :
**RHCP~SEETHER**
**JOIN US TO ROCK THE SIM**

★Ѡℍ∈R∈:  ROCKSTAR ISLAND
★Ѡℍ∈ℕ:  SUNDAY, MARCH 21
★TIME:  4-6   PM SLT

Jump On your Sleigh on Down to Rockstar Island where the music is LIVE!!! ,Rockin' high above the snow-topped mountains and rockin  the Aurora Borealis

LUXE Paris, ONE On ONE & ZURI Jewelry FASHION & MUSIC WORLD TOUR Friday MARCH 19th 7 PM SLT

 


SECOND STOP AT THE LATIN QUARTER

Come experience an evening of music and dance out of the ordinary as LUXE Paris, ONE On ONE Agency, and ZURI Jewelry will make the second stop of their FASHION & MUSIC WORLD TOUR Friday, March 19 at 7 PM at LATIN QUARTER!

Like rockstars, the supermodels of ONE On ONE will make this night club vibrate as they walk through the heart of the dance floor in harmony with DJs REMI and STEVE! On the program: stylish fashion from LUXE Paris and magnificent jewelry from Zuri in an Urban Style concept! Don't stop dancing, just fill your eyes with beauty as the music thrills your soul! You don't want to miss this amazing fashion party!

Door prizes! Gift for all women!
 
Your limo:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dark%20Rose/108/21/3501


LUXE Paris, ONE On ONE & ZURI Jewelry
GIRA MUNDIAL DE MODA Y MÚSICA
SEGUNDA ESCALA
EN EL LATIN QUARTER
Viernes 19 DE MARZO 7 PM


Ven a vivir una noche de música y baile fuera de lo común., ya que LUXE Paris, ONE On ONE Agency y ZURI Jewelry harán la segunda escala de su GIRA MUNDIAL DE MODA Y MÚSICA el viernes 19 de marzo a las 7 p.m. en LATIN QUARTER. 

Como estrellas de rock, las supermodelos de ONE On ONE harán vibrar esta discoteca mientras desfilan por el corazón de la pista de baile en armonía con los DJs REMI y STEVE. En el programa: moda elegante de LUXE Paris y magníficas joyas de Zuri en un concepto de estilo urbano. ¡No dejes de bailar, solo llena tus ojos de belleza mientras la música emociona tu alma! ¡No querrás perderte esta increíble fiesta de moda! ¡Premios del puerta! ¡Regalo para todas las mujeres!


Tu limusina:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dark%20Rose/108/21/3501

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Terry's Bloch Party March 20th

 


Join us on Saturday, March 20th beginning at 12-noon SLT for the first EVER Terry's Bloch Party! Four fun-filled hours of live music from some of the hottest entertainers on the grid!

Starting it all off at 12pm SLT is a special LIVE debut performance from Shagpile Spyker, AKA Jason Vare, an independent singer-songwriter from Bedlington, a small town north of Newcastle in Northumberland UK. He was particularly influenced by artists such as Bob Dylan; The Beatles; Neil Young and many more. In more recent times Shaggy has been drawn to the sound of Joe Purdy, Ray Lamontagne, James Morrison, Paulo Nutini, and upcoming artists like Paul Liddell.

As a songwriter, Shaggy draws inspiration from the trials of life, and from the lives of those around him. These inspirations translate into music that is smooth and sincere. He has a creativity that detours from the ordinary!! Lyrically this music takes you to wherever you want to be and is full of emotion.

Following Shaggy at 1pm SLT, Terry's is proud to welcome spiritLed back for a special LIVE performance on our outdoor stage! spiritLed is not new to SL but relatively new to performing live music around the grid. Coming to you from the East Coast, spiritLed has been playing the guitar since his 20's and is now learning and enjoying playing the keyboard.

You will immediately fall in love with spiritLed's covers of songs from artists like Coldplay, Harry Styles, Train, The Beatles, and more. Join us and hear why he is beloved by fellow musicians around the grid.

Next up at 2pm SLT, get ready for another magnificent performance from Skye Galaxy!  Taking a variety of different songs and artists, Skye translates each tune and places them gently beside a soothing, sensual line of vocal and simplistic piano arrangements. Nineteen years ago, he was brought into this world by his mother, whom resided in Smolensk (Смоленск), Russia and a father who moved to the States from Berlin. From the first moments of which he could mutter a sound, singing had become nothing short of a passion.

His influences include the vocals and production talents of Imogen Heap, the emotion often found in the likes of Coldplay, Keane, and Death Cab for Cutie, and in the other artists that continue to fill his favorites list; Above & Beyond, Frou Frou, Rufus Wainwright, Kate Havnevik, Yann Tiersen, and many more.

Skye is a musician, performer, and vocalist professionally in his first life, but likes to keep his two lives well apart. He joined Second Life in order to pursue the feeling of growth in his abilities, once more, and those numerous chains of events leading to one better opportunity to the next until you are stumbling for the top.

Last but certainly not At least, at 3pm SLT Terry's is proud to welcome back THE FUNKALICIOUS ONE, Dexter Moore, as he performs LIVE on our outdoor stage!! He is a Troubadour kind of guy who plays nylon string acoustic guitar like no-one else.

Dexter weaves romantic lyrics and melodies around his guitar grooves with a cool mix of soul, funk, Latin and jazz.

Come support live music with friends, laughter, and a whole lot of fun...ONLY at Terry's Place!!!

__________________________________________________________________________


Welcome to Terry's Place, your friendly neighborhood pub where everyone knows your name! Home to some of the hottest DJs and live singers on the grid, there's a little something for everyone here at Terry's when you just need to get away from it all. Dance as we spin tunes for all walks of life, show off your talents at Open Mic every Friday, or enjoy a live concert out in the park at our Terry's Sunday Showcase!  With events happening five nights a week, be yourself and escape the chains of real-life with friends, laughter, and a whole lot of fun...ONLY at Terry's Place!

PUBLIC LANDMARK:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mystic%20River%20Cove/214/82/2501

CONTACT:
Ninja (ninjaantwoord resident)


Performer Websites:

Shagpile Spyker (Jason Vare) - http://www.shagpilemusic.co.uk/

SpiritLed - https://soundcloud.com/spirit_led

Skye Galaxy - https://loblochmusic.wordpress.com/skye-galaxy/

Dexter Moore - https://dexonyx.com/dexter-moore/

 
cookieassistant.com