Celebrating Second Life's 10th Birthday

SL10B (Second Life's 10th Birthday) kicked off this week with exhibits, events, parties and many freebies including marketplace and inworld commemorative items such as the t-shirt, baseball cap, jewelry, and varsity jacket I am wearing in the photos below.  The celebration, with the theme, "Looking Forward..., Looking Back" takes place over 22 sims.  Here are some photos from some of the places I've visited.  I did not get to see everything, but I added some additional shots from my explorations of the exhibits.  Happy Birthday, Second Life!
 



The top of the SL10B Cake offers a great view

The SL Hunt Museum includes information on this favorite pastime in SL as well as its own hunt

Another fun exhibit is the summer themed one at Kittycats.  You can also get a free birthday kitty here.

At the DunCarron Medieval Fort you can get a free Scottish Hat and several other items while learning about Scottish history and representation in SL

SL10B is also great fun to explore with a friend.  The Eclectic Diversity Birthday Layer Tree features several levels of games including a photo booth to change expressions and backgrounds

I found it interesting to learn about places and groups I'd never heard of in SL.

This looked like a fun game, but I had no one to play with this day. I was able to keep the bopper.

Of course, I can't help visiting every library I see.  This one is from Lost Eden.

Not sure where this was, but I enjoyed beaming up in it.

This was a fun animation

I didn't have time to view the entire "History Walk," but it looked interesting.

My favorite exhibit, the Behemoth, a very immersive HUD-based story.  This photo doesn't do it justice.

Firestorm put up a fiery exhibit

I thought this was the most creative exhibit I viewed.  Do you see me inside the computer?

Kind've scary, but it was a first responder's exhibit

Arcadia Asylum had a detailed exhibit with some nice freebies

In front of a Wanted poster at Arcadia Asylum

Inside one of the 9 rooms of the Dreams Exhibit.  Despite the fact the link from the Destination Guide wasn't working, I found this and enjoyed it.

Another room in the Dreams exhibit.  Most rooms had interactive props.

Can you see me floating in this artistic exhibit?

This exhibit with water and rock meditation animations was relaxing

One of the scenes from Behemoth, reminded me of a fairy tale

Astor put up this castle with a hunt for prizes including the castle itself.  I found quite a few but not the castle ):

Visiting the exhibits is exhausting, so it was nice that some featured refreshments.

Even though Rainbow Gardens didn't exhibit at SL10B this year, I did put up some balloons and a cake in honor of the celebration.

Besides walking or flying, the SL10B cars were fun to ride in around the sims

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiritum Inspires

One of the things I enjoy about Second Life and that I think most residents do, is its immersive environments.  I recently visited a sim called Inspiritum that offers sights and sounds that are thoroughly immersive.  Composed of several areas, available through teleports at the main landing point and the various locations, this sim (on the web at http://www.inspiritum.org), features art galleries, shops, and activities.


Teleport board outside the Inspiritum Gallery

Machinima inside Inspiritum Gallery



In Nat's Gallery



Behind the curtain of the Gallery is an immersive experience (you might get dizzy)



 





The Capple Store houses shops and pet-able animals in a Western setting

 



Terra is another scenic location worthy of exploring on Inspiritum Island

Butterfly Garden at Two Moons

I saw this destination on the Destination Guide and decided to give it a try.  I would highly recommend it to those looking for some spring fun.  The Butterfly Garden at Two Moons features rides, a colorful dance area, interactive fairytale books, and much more.  It is a pretty place to visit and just relax, but events are also offered and it would make a great place for friends to hang out, too.  Here are some photos of my recent adventure there.


The colorful dance floor at the Butterfly Garden

 

Nice view from a variety of rides

A cute bunny joined me as I relaxed in the garden

Eek!  Look what I'm flying on.

More information about the Butterfly Garden can be found here: http://secondlife.com/destination/butterfly-garden.  For listing events, see www.twomoonparadise.wordpress.com.  

 

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

Two Immersive SL Sites

It's been a busy time for me in RL, so I haven't had much time to post about my SL explorations, but I wanted to end the year with some information about two immersive sites definitely worth visiting.  I'm not sure how long Christmas Town will be up, and I have to admit I did not explore all of it, but the skating ride through the castle was incredible.  I won't ruin the surprise for you, but let's just say you will enjoy it, and you don't even need to bring or buy any skates.  Just hop on either the single or couples skate balls outside the castle and be prepared to enter an adventure as you glide along through some magical scenes along with holiday music and some fun skating animations.  You also have the option to walk through the scenes to get more views of this beautiful "ride."

The second immersive experience I recommend is also the second performance by the Synthetic Theater (see my previous review of the Ninety Nine Percent which is also still playing).  The new show, Jabba Jabba Jabba, is even more immersive than the first.  There's a lot of action as your avatar is taken control of, but don't worry, you will survive.  At 75 lindens per show, it is still a steal (the shorter Ninety Nine per cent is 50 lindens). 

Christmas Town Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Elizabeth%20Town/111/150/63

Synthetic Theater Box Office Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ZoHa%20Islands%20E/74/228/22

The New Illumination Library

It was with unexpected pleasure that I heard from Xinoxi Han recently and learned that the Illumination Library and Opera House has been reopened and moved to a new sim.  There are two library buildings, a main library and a smaller Annex, both containing a highly-detailed collection of world literature and history in a beautiful setting.  There is also a teleport map to other locations on the property including the Opera House where events will be scheduled and the new Biblio Shop where books and other library and home decorating items can be purchased.  All proceeds from the shop and the donation boards in front of the library, go toward tier costs and programming

The Library's SL group is the Second Life Literary Foundation.  Members will receive notices about updates to the collections and events.  There is also a library card catalog near the entrance to the Main Library that lists titles included in both buildings.  The collection includes several hundred interactive books in audio, full-text, and page-turning formats.  An touch giver by the library gives out an information notecard as well as a small gift to visitors.

For questions or suggestions, contact Xinoxi Han, Director or Farzaneh Eel, Librarian & Bookmaker. 

Slurl to Illumination Library: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bloomfield/69/180/55