Community Virtual Library on Imagination Island

The Community Virtual Library (CVL) has moved to Imagination Island, and the new location has provided a nice backdrop for the auditorium, main library, reference area, Exhibit area, meeting spaces, and the InfoPub.  The ladies responsible for moving and setting this up are Abbey Zenith, Rolig Loon, and Bud Ballyhoo.  They have done a fantastic job in creating a pleasing atmosphere for librarians and visitors.  Here are some photos from a recent tour:

The auditorium comes complete with resizeable stage, projection screen, and HUD to show slides.


 

Rolig Loon gave an informative tour of the Main Library with its collection of copiable books, audiobooks, and many other resources.


 

The reference area includes maps of the sim, group event boards, and a reference desk manned by CVL volunteers. There is also a changing area outside.



 

 

Abbey explained that Snow Scarmon is in charge of booking the Exhibit area where different exhibits can be displayed on a monthly basis. Currently, the Math in 3D is up.



 

The event space is a large area that can be divided into two sections or left as one. It is reserved by the CVL Google calendar. Set up and take down is done right before and after the event.



 

The tour ended with an impromptu dance at the new site of the InfoPub where the Infogroupies will continue their regularly scheduled Monday and Friday 5 pm SLT dances. Members of Infogroupies who don't need to create a set can also use the InfoPub for their own events such as rez days or theme parties. 

It is the hope of the CVL to put their new home on Imagination to good use and to welcome visitors.

Reference Desk: Imagination Island (151, 210, 28)

Muddy's Music Cafe

I recently went to Muddy's Music Cafe at Leos Cove with a friend.  We were looking for a place with live music at an early hour on a Sunday.  We also were more in the mood for dressing casual than formal and were happy to find Muddy's.  It seems the place features live music at most hours (the DJ that morning was Australian).  It also has a nice, relaxed atmosphere with most people dressed in jeans and seems to attract a crowd of regulars and newcomers alike. 

For the times you just want to kick back, listen to some live music, and move your pixels, consider Muddy's Music Cafe, a casual dance place on a pretty tropical sim.

 



 

 

Muddy's Music Cafe:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Leos%20Cove/207/34/22

Catalyst: a Scottish Dance Club with an "underground" Fort

I was recently invited to attend a concert at a virtual replica of Duncarron Fort, reached by teleport from the Scottish Club Catalyst.
The club  is co-owned by Rik Xaris, a real life Pipe Major from Scotland and Brielle Coronet from the U.S.  What makes Catalyst stand out from the crowd is that it is the only club in SL to only play Celtic music all day, every day.  The club also offers concerts, piping shows and more!
Catalyst opened in late 2010 and has found a niche in the SL community.  It has over 320 members and is growing strong.  The club also is home to several Celtic bands, such as Saor Patrol, Drones & Drums and the Medieval pipe and drum band, Aurum Aquila.  All the bands have been given exclusive permission by their real life counterparts to perform and play their music in Second Life. 
The club has a mascot, Hamish, a "toffee coo" Highland bull.

Although I caught only the very end of the concert and didn't even have time to find appropriate clothes, I was able to grab a tambourine and sword and join in the festivities.

The May 6 concert was performed by Saor Patrol ( pronounced 'shore' comes from the Gaelic word ‘Saorsa’, means freedom / liberty). the following information about the band and the May 6 concert was provided by Brielle.  The band combines old musical Celtic roots with modern instruments by blending the Great Highland bagpipes and thundering drums with electric guitar, making for a truly unique sound described as “Tribal” and “Celtic Rock.” While on tour they will even provide educational talks about their culture youths and adults, many of whom have never encountered a Scots in person. The reason why they do this is because all the band’s members are also volunteers from the Clanranald Trust for Scotland, a non-profit recognized organization in Scotland, whose aim is to spread awareness about Scottish culture and heritage through entertainment and education. One of the projects close to Saor Patrol’s heart is a replica of a medieval Scottish village named Duncarron Fort which is currently under construction by the Clanranald Trust in Scotland with help from proceeds of the band. In addition, all the band members are also members of Combat International, an organization that supplies trained combat crews and advisors to the Film and TV industry, such as Robin Hood, Gladiator, Game of Thrones and more. Saor Patrol’s piper Charlie Allan got the idea to form Saor Patrol during the filming of Gladiator. All the band is from the ranks of the Clanranald Trust for Scotland. Although the band is separate from the Trust one heavily promotes the other at all times.

In early 2012, Saor Patrol gave exclusive permission to Celtic Connection Productions, a cultural entertainment company founded by Brielle Coronet and Rik Xaris, to portray and perform as them in Second Life for the purpose of promoting and advancing awareness about Scottish culture. Rik is a real life Pipe Major from Scotland who has had a lifelong appreciation of piping and is a seasoned performer in SL. To further achieve their goals, Rik built a virtual replica of Duncarron Fort, complete a battering ram, an animated blacksmith and interactive educational garden about the medicinal use of plants during Medieval times.

Club Catalyst is a fun place to visit whether you are Scottish or not.  For more information about the club or Saor Patrol, contact Brielle Coronet or Rik Xaris.

Slurl to Cataylst:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Raroia%20Bay/228/180/2007

Crystal Caverns

A dance party at the new Crystal Caverns celebrated the grand reopening of the Portal to SciFi and Fantasy (formally the Sci Fi and Fantasy Portal) on Friday night, March 23.  Guests dressed in Fantasy costumes or came just as they were.  Spacemen, Tinies, cats, and aliens all joined the mix as DJ, Brielle Coronet, spun the tunes.  There was even a psychadelic light show. 

The redesign of CVL's Science Fiction and Fantasy build was an incredible job by BrianA Corleone and ReneeiLene Spiritweaver. 

Here are some photos from the event:

DJ Brielle Coronet provided great tunes and a lighshow

Spacemen, cats, tinies,and  aliens on the crystal dance floor

The lightshow was psychadelic

Slurl to Crystal Caverns: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/203/118/1903

The Fantasy Area

Other locations at the Portal include an area for Fantasy Literature and Media which has a unicorn greeter; Orbital Station1 inside a crashed spaceship that has Science Fiction Resources; and the Dancing Stones Theater designed like Stonehenge where meetings and events can take place



Orbital Station1 (outside and below inside)

Reneeilene Spirtweaver and me at Dancing Stones Theater

Slurl to Fantasy Area, TP to Orbital Station1, and Dancing Stones Theater: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/185/90/26

Two SL Blarney Stones and a St. Patrick's Town

Although this is a little late, I wanted to post about my visit to a few attractions that are fun not only on St. Patrick's Day but all year round.  Two of them are Blarney Stones, but one is the SL version of the RL stone in Ireland that is located in Blarney Castle on the O'Hare Gap's sim; the other is the Blarney Stone Pub in SL Dublin. The last is St. Patrick's Day Town, a fun place to celebrate the Irish SL style. 

When you teleport to Blarney Castle, there's a tp in the wall to go up to the Blarney Stone.  The kissing animation here will literally knock you on your back, and you will get a certificate for the attempt.  There's not much else to see in the castle, but the town is quaint and nice to stroll through. 

The Blarney Stone pub in Dublin is a cute place and appears pretty popular by the crowd it attracts.  It's casual, friendly, and has some great music and dances.  I didn't get a chance to explore the rest of Dublin, but this is definitely a good stop for any visit.

Some friends and I dancing with the leprechauns

Last, but not least, a third attraction I visited with some friends was St. Patrick's Town.  Although it had some cute games and features (gold flying coins that you supposedly could ride but weren't easy to maneuver; step dancing with leprechauns; dunking in a giant beer mug; and other assorted Irish stuff), shopping seemed to be the predominant objective.  However, I would still recommend a stop here if only to listen to the great music and get in an Irish spirit.

A Dream of a Rez Day

I wanted to do something special for my 5th Rez Day this year.  After all, rez days only come once a year -- right?  I was looking for a nice place to dance with a friend.  I had already spent way too much on a beautiful dress I bought after a fashion show that I planned to wear that night.  I called up an old friend who suggested the Dreams Dance club.  I had never been there before, but I was happily surprised.  The place was beautiful and fit its name.  With its pretty pink and purple decor and vine-covered flowers, it certainly is a place one would dream about. 

I didn't explore the rest of the sim, but there's a beach area where you land.  The formal club is to the right.  Also, I picked up a really nice blue freebie gown (they probably have something for men there, too). 

Slurl to Dreams Dance Club http://slurl.com/secondlife/Vivendo/41/69/22

Amorosa Ballroom

Although the landing point for the Amorosa Ballroom http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Amorosa/201/128/21/ is in the middle of shops, it still manages to keep a romantic atmosphere.  The main ballroom, which is the focal point of the sim, can't be missed.  With many winding staircases, fountains, and romantic alcoves, as well as a large ballroom, couples have many choices on where to dance.  But, the ballroom isn't the only place for romantic dancing on the sim.  Selecting any of the choices from the teleport board by the front steps, one can tp to dancing areas by the sea, by gardens, or even in a lighthouse (where there is a great view through a telescope).

Although the teleport board is handy, walking around the sim can be just as enchanting.  One particular area that is pretty is by the black swans.  You can even feed them by touching on the sign.  A campfire area is a perfect place to snuggle with a buddy, lover, or even by yourself. 

For Valentine's Day or any special occasion, or just for a nice night out, the Amorosa Ballroom might be just the ticket. 

Finding Your Special Place

My real birthday is May 9 which falls on Mother's Day this year. In second Life, the day my avatar, Dulcie, was "born" or what residents refer to as a Rez Day is March 6. I like to celebrate both days, as many people do. I don't always do anything big, although I've had a few Rez day parties. For my real birthday, I also like to do something in SL. It's always nice to have an excuse for a party or celebration, and there are so many places to dance, explore, or just have a good time with friends.

When trying to plan a place to go, I wanted to try some place different than the old standby, the Jazz Cat on Info Island International, although I always enjoy going there, as do many of my fellow SL librarian colleagues and friends. I asked for some recommendations but, of course, just like asking for a book recommendation, everyone's taste is different. I also checked SL blogs and the Destination Guide. I didn't really know exactly what I was looking for, but I thought I'd know it when I saw it. The problem was that there were too many choices, and I really wanted to visit each one to see what they were like.

I saw a play advertised, Alice in WonderSland, and thought that might be fun to try, but it wasn't performed on the day that worked best for me. I also considered a SL cruise that one of my friends had tried aboard the SS Galaxy or even a more daring voyage on the HRS Titanic. But when I visited Foxxie's Ballroom and Jazz Club in Shadowfox, I felt that I'd found the place where I wanted to celebrate. In addition to a really breathtaking ballroom of gold, silver, and black, the grounds of the Shadowfox sim feature lovely gardens scattered with dance balls, a gazebo, and a pretty lake with swans. You can take a hot air balloon or horsedrawn carriage tour of the area, have a free photo taken, row a rowboat on the lake, and, of course, shop. As far as dancing, the Ballroom has a strict formal dress code, but it is a classy place and worth the effort. Besides most ladies love to take out their gowns from inventory every once in awhile or buy a new one for the occasion, and men can always find a tuxedo tucked away in their inventories.

So next year, I may celebrate my Rez Day or birthday by seeing a play or taking a Second Life cruise or maybe I'll find another nice place or even just stay home, but, this year, I will enjoy a special night at Foxxies. I am looking forward to it.

Originally posted in Rainbow Notes

Runaround Sue's Sock Hop

I know many of you, including myself, were not around in the 50's, but some of us remember watching Henry Winkler as the Fonz on Happy Days and/or seeing John Travolta and Olivia Newton John in Grease. In Second Life, you can go to a place that recreates that rockin' era when you visit Runaround Sue's Sock Hop.

Rurnaround Sue's dance floor is always jumpin

Rurnaround Sue has a full calendar of events

The checkerboard dance floor at Runaround Sue's always seems to be jumping with guys and gals in 50's clothes and Elvis and other rock n' roll tunes playing. There is a full calendar displayed that lists events, too, and photos of famous people from that era line the walks.

Lots of familiar 50's faces line the walks of Runaround Sue's

But the sim is not only for dancing. It is home to a Jetdolls shop and other stores selling all types of 50's accessories, memorabilia, and clothing. There are also several ladies and men's hairstyles that you can don (or try the free demos first).

Elsewhere on Ruanaround Sue's is a 7 Seas Fishing area, a beautiful lighthouse, and a lover's lane. There are restful benchs to sit on, and the small town atmosphere makes for a pleasant outing any time of day to get you in that summer mood.

Runaround Sue's is a fun place to get in that summer mood

Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Five%20Sisters/54/154/22

Originally posted in "Eye on the Grind" blog