The Station

The Station Calendar Slideshow a video by Kara Trapdoor on Flickr.


Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Station/128/128/4
Grab your free calendar in the gallery /copy transfer so great for gifts. 
More about this sim I love.  The builder/owner, Enigmatic Deir loaded it with a lot of great places to explore but he's not big on doing direct teleports saying it's more fun to "find" the treasures, although he does have fun rides around the sim via train, zepplins, gliders, etc. So I made myself a little cheat sheet as I was forever getting lost trying to give tours to my friends.  Here are a few of the highlights that you can look for:
The Floating City, Sky Level
* Miri's Club, The train depot, Fun House, mechanical bull challenge,  upper walkway electric dance poles, mini porn theater, lower walkways benches and viewing and gear box access to other places, landing
* The New Orpheum Theater (book for free/movies running otherwise-currently playing "Burlesque" with Cher and Christina.)
*The Rube-Goldeberg Sling Shot Ride
*The Skywalk Art Gallery
*Magical Celestial Observatory-have a seat and be whisked away to other worlds
*The Retro room, spin the bottle, couple's dice game, dance and more
*Exotic Private Dance Gallery
*Down the Rabbit Hole to Alice's Suite, Dance, couples, explore, etc
*The Guilded Gobbler Air ship and Dark Mirage Observatory and hang out, and flying airship rezzers  landing
*Private Dance Quad
*The tricky showers*Fun House Naughty room*Private Dance Trolly
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Dead City Ground Level

* Interactive Immersive Theater  upper level & SLictionary Game in lower level
 *Strip Poker, Greedy, Mechanical Bull Game Area
 *Inexpensive rooms for rent, Skywalk Gallery museum, library
 *Courthouse suitable for weddings or RP
 *Dead City Gambling hall, free to play slots, roulette, blackjack, dance stage with dances, semi-furnished rooms for rent, The Attic open mic club, trollies
* Sex Ed and detention classroom, Furnish This furniture store, and rooms for rent
*Old Orpheum Theater & private dark viewing room
*The Dead City Carnival, bumper cars, roller coaster, ferris wheel, carousel, kissing booth, etc.
*The Dead City Human Cannon and Steampunk gliders to fly
*The Underwater Aquarium and Dance Area








There have been so many great blog posts about this sim.  Most I've previously reposted but I had Hamlet over the other day from New World Notes and he blogged it here: http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2014/02/the-station-second-life.html




















Another great blog post just today by JC Davi over at Fashion Buzz here: http://slfashionbuzz.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/1752/

Burnal Equinox 2014 --March 28-30

Burn, a photo by Kara 2 on Flickr.


Official site with schedule of events, etc. here: http://burn2.org/

Your Breath Was Shed-Closes Friday at LEA10

Visit Here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA10/128/128/21 See the video at the bottom of this post.


Hurry over to LEA 10 before it closes the end of this week.  Giovanna Cerise's notecard says:
"For the project " Your breath was shed" created by Mimesis Monday/ Heidi Dahlsveen, for LEA, I realized 4 artworks.
- Suffocation
- Energy
- The game of life
- Delirium
“The life pass from the first crying to the last breath”.
The man enters in the game of life through the first breath. This is always connected intrinsically to the emotional word. The breath of life allow us to live and when it is held, our emotions are imprisoned too.
It is suggested to activate the sound and to deactivate the streaming.
It is suggested to use region Windlight and set up  graphic preferences on advanced Lighting model and shadows Sun/moon
Opening Sunday 9th of march @ LEA 10
The exhibition will be open until 28 March"sic


Mimesis' note states: "- The title of this installation is from a poem by Dylan Thomas - the title of the poem is the same.
I have modified items from the following creators:
- Trees by Soror Nishi (some of them, others are like she has created)
- In the "big TV" horses by Alpha Tribe
- "Pregnant trees" are based on a shape made by Capcat Ragu and Meilo Minotaur.
Click around there are animations here and there. There are also gifts around, please take, but remember some you might figure out ^^^.
Enable sound, except for performances. Some of the performances have streamed music others will be in voice.
Parts of installation looks best with shadow enabled.
Have a max time.
Mimesis Monday."


I happened to hit the opening event and the exhibit was a good explore but SaveMe Oh was also on hand collaborating with the team of Giovanna, Mimesis/Heidi with a performance art experience.  Attendees had the opportunity to continuously change "outfits" that were provided for free and we danced and animated using the also free animations they provided with the outfits, in the matching temporary environment SaveMe Oh provided, changing scenes as the group changed clothes.  They even had dressing rooms set up but eventually due to the number of attendees and outfit changes most of us figured out we could safely change in public as long as were careful and kept our undies on.  We became "One With The Art".  I flipped on my camera... of course. 


Additional information about the exhibit and upcoming events and future exhibit: "
”Your breath was shed” - An artist and a blogger was invited to express themselves through the theme ”Breath”.
Fjara is an uncompromising blogger with her own honest expression that simultaneously conveys the mystique of being an avatar and human. For this project, she was asked to create a place as a contrast to the conceptual expression of the artist. Read more here. http://callustrinkets.wordpress.com/
Giovanna Cerise is now an established artist in SL. She creates a blend of space, expression and sound in her art. In her artistic expression in this project you can stand in the middle and be the observant of a story that unfolds around you. Remember to enable sound in her installations. More about Giovanna here: http://giovannacerise.blogspot.no/
Mimesis Monday/Heidi Dahlsveen is the curator and in this project an artistic modifier.


2. pm SLT – ”Wear to move” this is an invitation to enter an instant artistic creative collaboration. This is a performance where you can become the protagonist if you want. The performance artist Saveme Oh creates unique moments of moves and scenes for us to enter.
Saveme Oh is an well known performance artist in SL. Through her presence we are emperors without clothes. Her witty sharpness transforms simple "IM's" into dramatic texts published on her blog. In this way, she makes sure that  the virtual art continues to evolve. Read more here: http://savemeoh.wordpress.com/
LM: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA10/240/244/21
Later programme in LEA 10   
16th of march – Telling of creation myth   
27th of march – Storytelling workshop – pilot   
28th of march ”Your breath was shed” closing
April – theme – Silence - new art installation by Selavy Oh
May – theme – Persona – new art installation by Alpha Auer"


And the poem: "
“Poem (Your breath was shed)” by Dylan Thomas
Your breath was shed
Invisible to make
About the soiled undead
Night for my sake,
A raining trail
Intangible to them
With biter’s tooth and tail
And cobweb drum,
A dark as deep
My love as a round wave
To hide the wolves of sleep
And mask the grave."

Beautiful Weekend Explores: The Forest Garden, The Pilgrim's Dawn, and It All Starts With a Smile

I found some gorgeous weekend explores all of which are perfect for taking pictures, date night, and exploring.  ****************************************************************

The Forest Garden by Iso Huet

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Achemon/128/128/99 

There are two main portions of the Forest Garden, the Garden of Desire and the meadow and woodlands plus 7 smaller more hidden places, the Garden of Perfect Serenity, Dance with me, the Hot springs, Come Sit by the Fire, Our lady of the Mountain, Kwan Yin, Goddess of Compassion and the Snow Monkeys.  The whole place is rich in texture and has a lot of cozy couples and singles relaxing and dancing pose spots.

     

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The Pilgrim's Dawn at Banana Island by Bowie Zeplin (formerly Pangloss the pink fantasy area)

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Banana%20Island/128/128/26

The nature place holds a lot of good clean country charm. At first glance it felt like a whole lot of wide open space to roam and relax in and enjoy the nature and animals, but then I found the old mine and a few others slightly obscure spots that really made me even happier. I am so loving the pig. Enjoy.

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It All Starts With A Smile by Kaelyn Electo has been redone and it's just adorable with tons of unique and scenic pose and explore spots.  Really a must visit sim.  Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Onyx%20Isle/128/128/22

Spring Fashion Fair Opens Today!

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SaliMar/250/250/2803
The Spring Fashion Fair opened today.... ~sigh~ now I'm broke.  But it was way fun!  Hurry on over for the newest spring fashion.  Some super great fashion.

Weekend Explores: Insanity at MetaLES, Venice, and Isla Okiddo

Some fun explores for the weekend!
MetaLES

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/MetaLES/82/38/38

Cherry Manga has filled MetaLES with her exhibit called "Insanity".  I didn't find a note card but it's like a strange world filled with heads, and eyes, and ladies bursting from the ground, parachuting from the sky, and faces bulging here and there  amidst other things.  All the while things are moving and eery sounds are playing.  A huge woman figure splayed across a ridge is called "Grab me insanity" and another erupting from the base level that has some huge long dollop of a projection from it's mouth along with sort of smaller growth-like heads coming out various parts of it is called "Insanity Shout".  There are distorted "Faces of Madness" oozing up from the ground and various other oddities that are interesting to wander around.  It's all on a large scale so that it's very immersive. While there I ran into fellow bloggers, Ziki and Divi.  Enjoy some interesting seating while looking around at a variety of strange ... well.. er... sort of  insanity. 

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Venice

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Yumix%20Prada/128/128/21

Venice at PRADA Venezia Showcase City which appears to be owned by Yumix Writer boasts, Italia Italy Milano Torino Firenze Roma Napoli Toscana Gondola Ballroom Carnival Masks Jazz Bar Irish Pub Movie Cinema Culture Lombardia.  Quite frankly it's a fantastic display making for great photos, dates, site seeing, shopping and more.  You can ride the vaporetto or gondolas through the waterways, sit and have a bite to eat and enjoy this well made sim.  I used the location lighting for all but one of these photos.

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Okiddo
Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Santa%20Maria%20Island/128/128/23
Isla Okiddo by Liara Okiddo is "An unusual art expo at an exotic location." The island is immersive and lush, the art a tribute to Second Life photography. One side is a lush exotic relaxing beach area and the other side is an amazing colorful domed area filled with art in a unique environment.

(Side personal note, I have people in the pics for public interest and perspective at times.  I'm not trying to make art of someone eles' art, just saying. Also, for the record people didn't land in the ocean, they landed in a mermaid aquarium that is part of the beauty of the sim to explore with a sign and direct teleport to the gallery RIGHT at that landing spot.  Again, just saying.  Love ya!  )

Model's Workshop

Tonight I ran over to the Model's Workshop because, although I'm not a model, I do sometimes run over to listen to their interesting presentations.  Today Natzuka Miliandrovic and Lybra  Rage talked about blogging, DMCA, and then they had a mini styling challenge. Lybra Rage of Lybra fashions gave us all an outfit and we styled it up in 5 minutes.  He also provided the prizes! Miss Virtual World and Bea came in to help judge.  The Winner was Lopez Fairlady, Chevia was 2nd place and 3rd place went to MOMO and Mia.  Suki Barrowstone MW CEO leads the workshop with Jenna Adder COO.  They have had a variety of great topics over time.  These are always fun and informative and often have guest speakers.  You can see the Model's Workshop blog here: http://modelsworkshop.wordpress.com/

Neko Conga in Miri's at The Station (+playlist)

Just having a little fun :)

Dromund Kaas

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dromund%20Kaas/128/128/30

Wonderful sim I really couldn't pass up recording.  A must visit sim.

 Sim Owner: -
- Torsteinn Elvehjem

Sim Architects (for building issues): -
- Jashin Lionheart (lead)
- Mortious Darragh
- Torsteinn Elvehjem


I have more pics and info blogged here: http://karasecondlife.blogspot.com/2014/02/dromund-kaas-dark-planet-great-explore.html

Relay For Life Kickoff Weekend

Relay For Life Kickoff here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RFL%20Kickoff%202/128/128/21  Today is the Relay for Life kickoff day/weekened and there are tons of events, products, info. all around SL.  This area has multiple sim/landing areas, but this is a good spot to drop in for the kickoff day.  Check out their well made site for schedule and a great deal of info. : http://relayforlifeofsecondlife.org/  Everyone seems to be blogging about it, so I won't say much here, just visit the sim and the official site for events if you like.  Great cause and some SL fun. 

Addendum...I just started a new team, so if you want to be supportive please consider our kiosk! It's located here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Station/198/82/1040 Let me know if you want to be part of our team.

Addendum #2: 118 people on the 4 sim RLF kickoff area right now.  Woot!

LEA27: The Void

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA27/128/128/20

The Void at LEA27 is by Storm Septimus

I headed off exploring to LEA27 and was in for an interesting surprise with Storm's "The Void".  Once again the suggested windlight is pretty dark which while that makes it harder for me to see, explore, and take photos, I'm sorta digging it.  It seems more and more immersive artists are making dark builds (see Bryn Oh).  The darkness and the really scary music this sim offers adds to the already Ominous ambiance.


In Storms profile it's summed up pretty well: "A walk through the Darkness...
Minimal Sim designed and built by Storm Septimus, open till July on LEA27.
            Dedicated to the sleepless.   
         
           ღ I did my part , now its all yours..
                               and thank you! 
              to those who don't need naming ღ "

               

There is actually a good note at the landing that explains about the exhibit, suggested windlight, helpful hints etc.  My main suggestion is to be sure to click around and be sure you make it to the ground level and even under water.  I took a friend who thought they had finished when they were still in the main landing area.  Follow the glowing cables and click on things to pose and teleport.  There are a lot of hearts and keys.  I cheated and bumped up my lights for most of these pictures as you can't see very far ahead of you in the intended lighting, but do use the suggested lights as it's very fun that way.  The note states it's original intent is to simulate that in- between sleep and waking state of an exhausted person who has trouble sleeping, but the creator would like for each to take away from it what one feels or experiences about it individually.  There are informative signs along the way. Enjoy.  It's weirdly cool.