"A Midnight Clear" The 2018 Calas Winter Holiday Sim Opens to the Public Dec. 1

Visit here:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ERIADOR/128/128/23

The annual Calas Christmas sim opens to the public December 1 and it's created in grand style as usual.  There are returning favorites such as the couples and groups sleigh rides, bento horse riders, hot air balloon tour, skating, Santa, HUGE Christmas tree area, pavilion, all the nice dance and relax areas, and there is new scenery too. I found a new friend so we toured together.  I especially enjoyed the Polar Express elegant train dining rooms and the cool lighting and scenery on the sleigh ride. This is always a must see winter holiday explore.  There will be plenty of music events too. I took pics as usual.

Be sure to check out the offical Calas Galadhon web site here: https://calasgaladhon.com/

Winter Wonderland, Linden Lab's Winter Sim Open Now and Annual Community Snowball Fight Monday

Visit Linden Lab's Winter Wonderland open to the general public here:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Winter%20Wonderland%205/128/128/22


See Xiola Linden's official Linden Lab blog about Winter Wonderland, the Linden Lab community snowball fight, premium half off special and premium Portal Park here:  https://community.secondlife.com/t5/Featured-News/Joy-to-the-Grid-Exclusive-Gifts-the-Magic-of-Winter-Wonderland/ba-p/3088250



I started out in the brand new LL Portal Park which was a very cool entryway into the LL premium member special areas around the grid (see pics below) then entered the annual Winter Wonderland area that is now open to the general public.  (The direct link above is to the Winter Wonderland area open to all residents)

This year's Winter Wonderland has many of the same features as last year but with added features, and includes the huge play area with tracks for skiing, snowboarding, (free loaner boards, snowmobiles, skates and supplies available for use on site)  skating, a ferris wheel, etc.  The Snowball Arena and snow track area is bisected by the quaint City of Lights that houses a gift for visitors and is a perfect segue between the two areas.  Paths lead to the snowball arena that is home to the giant ice castle and frozen magical light changing tundra where visitors can explore, enjoy fireworks at the top of each hour, free snowball shooters, and a monster that rises from the depths of the ice pond at seemingly random time frames for only just a moment before diving back to it's icy home.

When visiting the snowball arena chose your free weapon to lug around while exploring as you can nail your friends, strangers or enemies around any corner possibly briefly shooting them sky high if your aim is true.  Watch out for avalanches, fellow players, and some ground areas that seem to want to bounce a person around for no apparent reason.  This is truly and beautiful and magical area.

The big event comes this Monday, 12-19-16 at 10am SLT.  The Lindens are hosting a snowball crawl this year for residents to join them.  (Alas, I will be at work as usual during this time frame so enjoy this without me) You can read about the details here: https://community.secondlife.com/t5/Featured-News/Jolly-Holiday-Crawl-amp-Snowball-Showdown-at-10-am-SLT-Monday/ba-p/3087782  The tour will visit some of SL's finest winter sims culminating at the WW snowball arena for the annual LL community snowball fight between noon and 2pm SLT.  So if you ever wanted to hobnob with some Lindens, here is your chance.  There are also gifts and freebies around (including a Blueberry special ladies) and even more gifts for premium members so be sure to check out her blog posts for more info.
 
(Portal Park below)
 

The Only Venue for Christmas

Visit The Only Venue here:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Deja%20Vu%20Amores/128/128/27
Their Facebook page here for performance schedules and other information: https://www.facebook.com/TheOnlyVenueSL/

I've been noticing many live music and entertainment sims have really been decorating their whole sims up beautifully for the holiday and winter season.  I always respect sim and venue owners who spend a great deal of money and effort simply to share and enhance SL for others. It's common knowledge most venue owners, especially live music venues, don't come close to breaking even on their expenses once tier and the entertainment is paid.  They do it for the love of SL. And I'm thankful.



Since I love to explore SL, see all the amazing SL sims and also enjoy SL live music, I wanted to take this chance to highlight one such sim.  The Only Venue, a live music venue hosted by Jake Puhpow and Molly Masingh, that regularly hosts live musicians has engaged one of SL's finest singers, hosted by Jake Puhpow and Molly Masingh.  Toxie/ Toxic Darkmatter, known on Facebook as Kristin Craig, to decorate the rest of their sim area for visitors to enjoy.  She did a fantastic job and I had a ton of fun exploring there. My pictures don't do it justice but you can get a little bit of an idea what some of it looks like.  It works great with various windlight settings too.   The venue itself is spacious and well done but I'm highlighting just the outdoor explore area here today.  So if you are looking for great SL live music as well as a beautiful sim to explore before or after a show, I highly recommend this one. Toxie's Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/kristin.craig1




I took a few pics there then, since I was in my new fur, invited my friend Kathy Nikolaids over in her new fur since she is a fashion blogger to enjoy and take some pics too. Then we went to another of her favorite sims where she can rez poses and she took a picture for her blog post with all the styling information, so be sure to check out her blog post if you like any of our styling for the details here:https://slnikknacks.wordpress.com/


                    

Telrunya Winter Wonderland

Visit  Telrunay Winter Wonderland here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Diamond%20Island/128/128/22

This is a beautiful peaceful sim to explore.

The sim info. reads: "Welcome to a new chapter of the Telrunya sims, a truly magical Winter Wonderland in its captivating and unique beauty. A gorgeous landscape where time stands still, especially made for you... to just be."

The sim owner/designer, Nessa Zamora's profile states: "My goal with these sims is to offer these places of peace and tranquility to everyone who needs it, for their own reasons. To be yourself, no matter what color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, looks, illnesses... Here you can be you, just as you are. Welcome."

This is exactly what I felt and saw.. serenity and peace. This snowy wintry land has plenty of serene places to rest, skating, dancing, and exploring.

I noticed this sim is on the SL Destination guide and then I noted Inara Pey already blogged this sim  with a lovely description that really captures it so rather than repeat everything everyone has said, I'd direct you to her post here: https://modemworld.me/2016/11/12/a-mystical-telrunya-winter-in-second-life/

For some beautiful pictures check these out: http://flickriver-lb-1710691658.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com/groups/2754142@N24/pool/interesting/

Sage Naughty or Nice Sweaters at the 2015 Christmas Expo

Visit Sage here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sage%20Isle/74/113/30
Visit the 2015 Christmas Expo Sage location here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Xmas%20Expo%20Icy/128/128/27

I've previously blogged about the Christmas Expo benefitting Relay for Life that runs through the 14th a couple of posts back but now I'd like to show you one of the items you can find there that I enjoyed with my good friend Kekoa.  We are wearing the his and hers Christmas sweaters from Sage.  The 100% DONATION "NICE OR NAUGHTY" SWEATER SET comes with huds that allow the wearer to easily switch back and forth between naughty or nice.  Kekoa and I both tried each version, but I told him of course I needed to model the "nice" version for the photo!  Although Naughty is always just a hud click away ! ~winks~ Anyway.. enjoy the expo and Sage. 

White Christmas at Calas Galahdon, Open to Group Members Now and Dec 1st to the General Public

White Christmas, the 2015 Calas Galahdon annual Christmas sim, opens to the public December 1st but group members were granted early access today.    Owners/sim designers Ty Tenk & Truck Meredith  will release the landmark/SLurl at that time.  Check out their official web site for more information.  They also have some great live music events lined up beginning December 2nd with Luciano Lionheart at 6pm SLT.  See their site here: http://calasgaladhon.com/



I was delighted to see some of last years sim content present again including the choice of long relaxing sleigh rides around the sim for single, couples, and groups.  Walk, ride, skate, ride the flying reindeer, and this year enjoy a hot air balloon ride up up and away through some magical atmosphere to a 2nd level North Pole where the little village under the northern lights is home to Santa's elves workshops, the reindeer depot and other lovely things to see and enjoy.  The ground level once again has beautiful dark winter scenery, the skating lake, the Christmas pavilion that is home to that huge beautiful tree, classic holiday décor and seating areas.  There are also dance options with decorator intans all about that do not detract from the peaceful ambiance. 



This sim is a annual favorite to many and especially nice for couples but a lot of fun for friends and even to enjoy a peaceful feeling when exploring alone.  I did have a good friend with me for part of my early visit as you can see in some of the pictures and it was nice to share the experience.  Be sure you don't miss this beautiful sim that is temporary for the holiday season. 

2 Winter Sims to Explore-Scribbled Hearts and Umbral Photography

Here are a couple of scenic winter explores I've visited lately. It's been icy and snowing like crazy outside RL so I guess that put me back in the mood to hit the winter sims again this weekend.

Scribbled Hearts: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Scribbled%20Hearts/207/93/22
This is a gorgeous Winter sim home to the Tart and Plethora stores. The sim by Alessandra Ambrosio was put together with the help of Elvira Kytori. worn, refinished, and eclectic home & decor.
                           100% original mesh. est. 2013                  
      marketplace: http://tinyurl.com/kje83gc


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Umbral Photography at Hydra Isle is another great winter sim. Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hydra%20Isles/128/128/21
It looks like this sim is owned by Vlady Veeper and designed by Coqueta Veeper/Coqueta Georgia.  It's a great place for photography and even says so in their little description: "A place created for photography, including seasonal landscapes, lakes, full house, animated bridges, free permits to rez your own poses."

Raglan Shire Revisited for Winterfest

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Raglan%20Shire/128/128/24

I'd almost forgotten how well the tinies in SL do Christmas and the holidays until I popped into Raglan Shire today.  This is a fun explore whether a tiny or biggy.  The landing puts you by their Christmas tree and as the tinies are known for being generous the tree is loaded with gifts that can get you more than set up as a tiny, and it's near the welcome center that provides a lot of things to also help you be "tiny ready" or just to understand more about them, the sims, and newsy related info.  I was surprised how large the area looked, but then I always am when I visit, so I asked and was told the whole of Raglan Shire is 7 sims.  The tinies also have an adorable caroling group.

Raglan Shire has dancing, skiing, train rides, sledding, skating and many things to play on, see and do.  There are also a lot of shops with cute things to buy or get.  One of the tinies told me being a tiny is like being a kid, only as a tiny animal.  They are playful, generous, friendly.  The locals have their own sort of language and even the dj had a "tiny" voice.  The music has a lot of special songs that are tiny specific and I even heard a special song by Gina Stella - "Waffleujah".  Yes, they love waffles and all kinds of foods  ; ) There is a huge variety of tiny avatars around SL to choose from and it's usually a good mix of small animals but they wear clothes and talk tiny. 

I'm a when in Rome type person in SL, so I donned my tiny penguin and last year's holiday dress and joined in the dancing. Raglan Shire, where the tinies play! 


I thought the tinies have been in SL forever or at least as long as I have.  Karmagirl Avro advised me the shire was established in 2007.  She is a good example of how the tinies can accessorize
 with the best of them as evidenced by her Christmas tree hat, gingerbread house she was carrying in one hand and tiny piggy in the other and Christmas light strings wrapped around her.  Party on, I say! Winterfest is upon us.

Bonaire Estates Christmas Parade of Homes this Weekend!

Visit here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bonaire%20CountryClub%20Parkway/128/128/17

My Friend Emma Portilo is in the Bonaire Parade of Homes.  She's always been a great interior decorator so Enigmatic and I went over and took some pics of her beautiful home to blog here along with info. about this weekend events and opportunity to get some good decorating hints or just enjoy the scenery and things the estates have to offer like skating, beautiful grounds,  and a party tonight.  Check it out this weekened where you can just walk right on into the homes of the participants, which are listed (with SLurls) with landmarks at the landing in a note.


                                               Bonaire Estates Presents The First Annual
                                        ღ♥ღ¸.•*¨) Christmas Parade of Homes! (¨*•.¸ღ♥
                                                   Sat., Dec. 14th and Sun., Dec. 15th

Their press release states in part:

"..Please feel free to wander around and look at all the beautiful decor outside and inside these beautiful homes and business. Some residents have set out refreshments; feel free to linger and eat.
PLEASE: Be respectful of people's property! Look; don't touch. Send the owner a note of thanks for opening their homes so others can enjoy their wonderful work. ...

CHRISTMAS PARTY: SAT., DEC. 14TH FROM 6pm to 8pm SLT!
You are invited to attend the Bonaire Estates Christmas Party on Saturday, December 14th from 6 to 8pm SLT.  Dress is formal. We are pleased to have two amazing live singers performing at this event. From 6 to 7 pm we have HammerFla Magic, and from 7 to 8pm we have  KatRose Serendipity and DennyMac."