Monday, June 30, 2014

SL11B Review

UPDATED ARTICLE
Since I posted this, SL11B was extended an additional week, so I visited more of the exhibits and added more "winners" and additional categories (see changes in red)Please keep in mind that I still did not see everything.  But, from what I did see, there were some standouts. This is my opinion only, and I welcome others to submit their own "favorites."  All the exhibits were incredible, and I wish they would've been open even longer.

BEST REAL SIM EXHIBITS

First Place:  London City - Spellbound
Second Place:  1920's Berlin Project - Enchant










MOST CREATIVE EXHIBIT

Winner:  Iluzora - Spellbound










EXHIBITS WITH THE MOST "FUN" FACTOR

First Place:  Acadia Asylum - Living Library & Freebie Center - Wonderous






Second Place: Tree of Life - Beguile








Third Place - Noosphere - Beguile










CUTEST EXHIBIT

Winner:  Kittycats! Build and Bake Company - Wonderous





MOST RELAXING EXHIBIT

Winner:  Ruca Tease Island - Beguile










MOST PEACEFUL EXHIBITS

First Place:  Wiakei-Sejaku - Pizzazz

Second Place:  Dare to Dream - Beguile











MOST CHALLENGING/PUZZLING EXHIBITS

First Place:  New World Enlightenment Fun House - Pizzazz


Second Place:  Through the Looking Glass - Astound






















FRIENDLIEST EXHIBIT

Winner: Second Life Coast Guard - Spectacular









MOST CHARMING EXHIBITS

First Place:  A Little Dream of Italy - Pizzaz








Second Place:  Antiquity - Spellbound











SILLIEST EXHIBIT


Winner:  An Adventure in Time and Space - Beguile












STRANGEST EXHIBIT

Winner:  Snail on a Virtual Razor Blade - Enchant










MOST ARTISTIC EXHIBITS




First Place:  Studio 1: Manipulating the Fantasy - Astound







Second Place: Bam Pu Legacies and the Photographers of SL - Enchant








Third Place:  Inside Art - Enchant










MOST BEAUTIFUL EXHIBITS


First Place - Empires of Future Past - Pizzazz








Second Place:
Secret Garden of the Mind - Spellbound











MOST FASHIONABLE EXHIBIT:


Winner: Wetherby's Pencil Dresses - Beguile









SPORTIEST EXHIBITS:



First Place:  GOHA: Today and Tomorrow - Beguile








Second Place: Coalition Football League - Wonderous











BEST ROLEPLAY EXHIBIT


Winner:  Wysteria Realistic Medieval RP - Pizzazz











SCARIEST EXHIBIT


Winner:  Translyvania by Night - Beguile












MOST INTERESTING/UNIQUE EXHIBITS

First Place:  Just Imagine Thinking Outside the Box - Pizzazz






Second Place:  Mining Minds at UTEP - Pizzazz








Third Place:  Whole Brain Health - Beguile (butterfly hunt included)











MOST HELPFUL EXHIBIT


Winner:  Helping Haven - Spectacular










MOST TOUCHING EXHIBIT


Winner:  Dreams: Lighting the Way - Beguile

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Summer Solstice in SL

While logging in a week or so ago, I received a notecard invitation to a summer solstice celebration and thought it sounded interesting.  The events were taking place over the weekend of June 21 and June 22 on the Rocca Sorrentina sim in conjunction with the Feast of St. Giovanni.  I later learned that Rocca Sorrentina is a historical Italian sim, and I was pleasantly surprised at the welcoming I received from its friendly residents as well as the lovely town.

To start off my visit, I decided to embark on one of the cruises to France.  I boarded one of the last ships out, as I could not get into SL until the evening.  I was the only passenger, but the captain was happy to have me aboard and presented me with some background history on our ports. 

After my round-trip cruise because I wanted to attend more of the solstice events in Rocca Sorrentina, I headed toward the market square and took a pleasant stroll through the pretty town.  I noticed signs for the tarot card reader and found her parlor at the time indicated for the evening readings.  I was a bit early, but she was there, and I scheduled an appointment.  When my time arrived, I joined her in her tent and requested a 3-card reading.  While there was a fee for this service, it was mostly entertaining, although some of her suggestions to me seemed accurate. 

After the reading, I strolled the town some more and visited the church which was festooned with flowers and beautiful religious paintings.  I also found the library that, as a librarian, I especially enjoyed with its lovely decor.  Lastly, I walked among the gardens of the castle and saw the dance area set for the following day's Sunflower Ball.


I returned the following evening and joined the dancers at the Sunflower Ball.  The music was enchanting, and I was welcomed by the town residents again. 

I look forward to future events in Rocca Sorrentina and am told that there are numerous educational and literary ones. 

Monday, May 26, 2014

Paradise Lost is a Gain




Life has been busy in both RL and SL, so I haven't had a chance to write this blog in several months.  What prompted me to pick it up again was seeing the performance of Paradise Lost by the Basilique Club and Performing Arts Company.  The photos I am posting below do not do it justice.  The music, settings, performers are all A+.  Although you had to pay for tickets ($1000 L), the money went to a charity, and the tickets were sold out to all shows quickly.  If new performances are offered or if they open another show, be fast to order the tickets that are sold on Marketplace.  The play is an interactive performance with the audience playing a part as well as the performers.  It is really awesome, and I especially appreciated the help of Rezdevil who came to the aid of my friend who was having problems getting into the sim.  She made the show and enjoyed it as equally as I did.


 











 














Besides the photos I took during the show, I've cut and pasted the information card for the sim which has many interesting areas to explore.

Welcome to Basilique

Named after the Basilica that dominates the region, Basilique is a small village on a lake nestled between the mountains of Northern Italy.

First a few guidelines:

Imagine you are on holiday in an Italian town. While you can dress as you like when on holiday, please respect the cultural norms and expectations held by locals. For example, nudity is not allowed unless you are swimming. Also, remove any particle emitters or non-human attachments (e.g. tails, furry heads, non-human avatars). We’re aiming for hyper-realism here, so please dress and act as you might on holiday in Europe.

What you’ll find here (numbers relate to map references):

Your ferry will drop you off at a leafy (1) Piazza where you’re welcome to visit the many shops and Silky’s Cafe. To your the right of the entry you’ll find the (2) Members Club Welcome Room where you can learn about membership to Basilique. To the right of the entry you’ll find the (3) Paradise Lost information room, where you can see trailers and buy tickets to our current production, Paradise Lost in Second Life.

Further into the Piazza, you’ll find (4) Silky’s Cafe. Click the tables to have Breakfast, on us!

Keep an eye out for signposts located around the region. They’ll direct you to two theatres, the Bar Moderna, the Pier, the Park and Pond, and the Member’s Club. Please also find a map that you can use to orient yourself as you explore the region.

More about each location:

(5) Playhouse

The Playhouse is a converted church that is now used as a small theatre. The Basilique Performing Arts Company recently performed “Romeo + Juliet in Second Life” at the Playhouse, which ran for 40 weeks.

(6) Basilica

Now playing “Paradise Lost in Second Life”, this is a ticketed event that has been called “The most amazing thing in Second Life!” Watch this short video to get a taste for what everyone has been talking about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFzBv6g7vX4 Subscribe to our mailing list to be kept up to date with the latest news about this and future productions. You can be tickets here: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/157622

(7) Members Club

In front of the Basilica, you’ll find the Members Club. This is a private area open to Members Only. Inside you’ll find a chapel converted into a lounge salon, and a nude only bathhouse. If you’d interested in membership, please click on the sign in front of the Gated entrance, or in the Members Club Welcome Room, to the left of where you first arrived.

(8) Bar Moderna

As the name suggests, this is a modern bar and dance club. Enjoy 24/7 house music and weekly events with DJs from across the grid. If you’d like to dance, click and “Touch” one of the two figures on the DJ speakers - Black/Grey for the men, bright white for the ladies.

(9) Pier

The Pier is a place to walk and relax while enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery. Here you’ll also find row boat rentals (free), where you can hire a boat to visit the Park and Pond.

(10) Park and Pond

The Park and Pond is a leisure area where you’ll find a natural setting in which to enjoy a picnic or a dip in the hot springs. Touch the leaves around the pond and in the water itself to bathe and more.

(11) Owner’s Homes

Beyond the Park and Pond, you’ll find the homes of the two owners, Canary Beck and Harvey Crabsticks. We’ve not made these locations private, and you’re welcome to enter them briefly. Please however, do not use the beds as they are private/

You are free to take pictures of the entire region. Please share your photos with other visitors here: https://www.flickr.com/groups/2222455@N21/

For more information about Basilique, visit our website: http://thebasilique.wordpress.com/