Baedeker

We Have Always Been At War With Eurasia

2007-06-02T05:37:00.000-08:00

In the sim of Suffugium, Squidsoft Collective has depicted a grim future. A future that is "secure under the eye of Suffugium technology." Posters encourage citizens to report suspicious activity, for the well being of the community. Everyone is a potential threat to peace.

Obedience to law is liberty.

Police Drones monitor the streets, scanning visitors to weed out the anarchists. Subcitizens are strongly encouraged to register upon arrival.

The kiosk also provides information about the rules and activities of the sim.

The scenery is a mix of urban design and science fiction. I was encouraged by a refugee not to buy anything from the souvenir stand - it's how they get to your mind.

Perpetual sunset drapes the city in shadow.

The only place I found to escape the prying eyes was the elaborate sewer system. Enter the maze-like passages through any manhole.

The sewer network connects the entire city.

Role playing is encouraged but not mandatory for visitors. A freedom fighter requested that I let the wider world know about the resistance - there is a shortage of recruits because of all the Raids.

Ponder the future.

Suffugium (102, 116, 34)

Guest Writer: Ignatius Onomatopoeia

2007-05-31T10:25:00.000-08:00

A Grand Palais. . .And Lots of Artwork
by Ignatius Onomatopoeia

In a sim named after legendary bluesman Howlin’ Wolf, I found a different type of artwork at the Grand Palais Musee de Beaux Art. Though open for just a few weeks and still in the final stages of construction, both the Parisian building and fine-arts collection are worth a visit.

During my first trip there, I met Jacon Cortes and ROTFLCAKE Box of the Grand Palais. Box, whose avatar is a cyberpunk swordfighter, is both coder and rapscallion. Cortes, dressed like either a Mongol warrior or early Ottoman sultan (either way, a very lush look) explained that the art on the walls is for sale. He created the magnificent chandeliers; I cannot imagine how many crystalline prims went into each one. . .rug vendors, guest exhibits, and a tour service add more features to the museum.

The paintings I checked were priced at 100 Lindens or less, and they are rendered nicely enough to purchase a Frida Kahlo as a gift for the ever photogenic Kyo Runo, who served as my model during a second visit. I still have to decide what to get for myself.

Kyo and I were greatly impressed by the ground floor, and the designers are adding artwork quickly to the upper floors. The paintings are displayed well and grouped by artist or collection (Louvre, for instance). It’s a cosmopolitan touch to have the floor names by the teleporters in French.

The setting of the Palais is delightful enough to make one want to dress for the occasion. Thus I changed into a tux and we did our “La Dolce Vita” dance in tandem in the fountain outside the gallery.

Then we flew up the roof to look at the hot-air balloon. Like the Venetian gondola tied up outside, when finished it will provide a guided tour of the sim.

To the owners of the Palais: Bon chance, mes amis!

Grand Palais Musee de Beaux Art, Howlin Wolf (190, 114, 21)

Ida's Note:
More snapshots from Ignatius Onomatopoeia's adventure can be found here.

Time Lord Technology

2007-05-19T07:37:00.000-08:00

In my explorations, I haven't come across much in the way of science fiction builds that are open to the public. The Star Wars sims in particular are spectacular and immersive, but I am reluctant to recommend them as "sites of interest" because they are venues for role-playing. Nothing ruins a good firefight like a contingent of OOC tourists wandering about taking snapshots of the scenery.

Luckily, I happened to run across Marcus Prospero's TARDIS.

The missing "police box" sign is inside.

Naturally, since it is made with Time Lord Technology, the TARDIS is bigger on the inside.

I've always wondered what was at the bottom of these things...

With three levels and furnishings that are both lovely and interesting, there is plenty to look at and click.

Time Lords do lots of research.

Like all good Time Machines, the console has plenty of levers and knobs.

Considering that I have no Advanced Knowledge of the inner workings and the physics of the universe, my inability to make the thing go no matter what combination of levers and wheels I used is only to be expected.

Several of the control panels will teleport you to other locations! Don't worry, the Tardis follows you so you won't be lost forever.

Marcus Prospero's TARDIS, Lippert (153, 108, 171)

DIVE! DIVE!

2007-05-12T04:04:00.000-08:00

What appears at first to be a small, empty, Protected Land parcel is actually an underwater garden.

The land, coral reefs, rocks and plants are owned by the Governor, but Eric Linden is responsible for the creation of the objects. It is a tranquil spot.

The Cave Rua Water Gardens are another wonderful place to practice your scuba skills. More extensive than the Linden build, the Water Gardens are also a showcase for jemma Flora's underwater landscaping products. The merchandising technique is subtle, intentionally leaving the area lovely place to explore.

The cave system that is open for exploration is just as beautiful as the underwater portion of the build. There is also a tour hud available if you aren't the "stumble around looking for cool things" type.

While you don't need scuba gear to breath underwater (part of the Magic of SL), the reasonably priced sets at Hinkley Engineering are a fun enhancement to exploration. Especially with the underwater breathing and splashing sound effects.

Underwater Reef, Vari (149, 51, 21)
Cave Rua Welcome Area, Rua (87, 137, 29)
Scuba Gear, Hinkley Engineering, Myrtle (4, 23, 47)

IHOP

2007-05-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

It's the last thing I expected to see in Second Life.

An International House of Pancakes.

I'm not kidding.

Tony Tigereye is responsible for this singular build.

IHOP, Meola (187, 101, 28)

Forget it, Jake.

2007-05-06T05:02:00.000-08:00

While the new sim of Downtown plays host to a variety of shops that cater to a variety of tastes, the whole sim is a brilliant and detailed build (almost overwhelmingly so) with layers of depth and interest. What really caught my eye was Chinatown.

It's a pocket of brightness in the dark and drab city. There are a few retail shops along the street, as well as a seedy, deserted hotel that also appears to be a crime scene.

And, of course, takeout!

You can pick up the metro at the Chinatown station.

If you fall off the platform (which I completely encourage), take time to thoroughly explore the tunnels, off-shoots and doors that lead to strange places. It's dark and complex down there - you may want to pick up a Top Hat With Light and pack a lunch before setting off. The trains actually run (I didn't know this until I had an Unfortunate Accident), so keep an eye out and don't touch the rail.

Telehub, Downtown (124, 92, 101)
Chinatown, Downtown (120, 45, 101)
Chinatown Metro Station, Downtown (49, 40, 101)
I.J. Ginsburg Hat w/Light, Steelhead (56, 87, 28)

Downtown has a forced landing spot, so follow the red arrows to find the locations above. The complexity of the sim does make it difficult to find specific places. I did not notice a directory or a map. The upside is, as long as you aren't in a hurry, there is plenty to see and enjoy.

Casey Jones

2007-04-27T13:32:00.000-08:00

On the Isle of Moonlight, not only is there a Yard Sale, retail shopping, bumper cars, boats and other amusements, but there is also a train!

There are engineer hats in the vendor to the left.

The round-sim trip takes about 15 minutes with the train making whistle-stops at commercial points of interest and passing several scenic venues. Click the engine to start and stop.

Because it's a steam engine!

Please follow tradition and scream when you go through the tunnel.

The train winds it's way through the landscape and up a hill to pass the mysterious (and off-limits) Moonlight Castle. I also noticed a good deal of elevated track. When I say "elevated" I mean meters and meters and meters up in the air. I think a switch has to be thrown by the owner to take this dangerous and exciting high road.

The castle dominates the landscape.

As a bonus feature - there is a Geocache is in the area! Visit the official SL Geocaching website to find out more.

Isle of Moonlight (186, 117, 21)
Get your own train at Kitto's Toys, Webworm (33, 34, 92)

Guest Writer: Joon Kim

2007-04-27T12:30:00.000-08:00

Endless Summer!
by Joon Kim

Is the weather getting hot? Do you want to get rid of stress and not worry about final exams? Many of us probably came back from Spring Break not wanting to do any work.

Want to keep that Spring Break spirit alive until summer? To enjoy views of the beach, nice weather, and fun surfing or swimming right now, head for Siggy’s Waterworks Island. This place is for everyone to visit and enjoy: it's not a nude beach.

On arrival, it's important to wear proper gear to have fun in the water. Swimsuits and beach-toys are for sale at the sim. Then take my advice: when you are ready to jump into the water, just hit the closest pool and cool down your virtual body. Swim around and enjoy the environment. Get on the diving board and try different styles of dives into the pool, then hang out with friends.

After spending some time poolside, I rode the water slides to plunge into the ocean. When that thrill got old, I purchased a surf board and enjoyed the waves. Then, when I was done playing in the water, I headed to the bar for free rum (and drank responsibly). If that was not enough, I also relaxed on the beach tanning and got in a hammock to relax while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

I finished my day at Waterworks with a jump in the hot tub to relax my muscles from all this hard work.

Siggy's WaterWorks Island, WaterWorks (240,243,21)

**Ida's Note**
Joon Kim is an RL student of Ignatius Onomatopoeia. As part of their course work this semester, Iggy's class took a "field trip" to Second Life (which, quite frankly, tickles me to death). Thanks for the article, Joon, Siggy's WaterWorks is one of my favorite places!

silent sparrow

2007-04-22T04:22:00.000-08:00

Two of my favorite stores, silent sparrow and factotum dicassel, have moved to their own sim. Not only does the new local offer a great Neovictorian shopping experience, but Hyasynth Tiramisu and Jessica Ornitz have a developed the entire sim in classic dark gothic fashion.

The layout is one of a sprawling estate (or smaller town - take your pick). The impressive main building, reminiscent of an institution, houses the main shops and is surrounded by elegant smaller buildings, paths and woods.

The smaller buildings contain (among other things) art galleries and living environments.

Naturally, it is always night. While this adds to "Victorian Mystery Novel" ambiance and many areas take advantage of local lighting effects, it is not the greatest light for pictures. I offer these few to pique your interest.

The cemetery is just outside.

The green house off the main building.

There is a secret in Jessica Ornitz's RL gallery.

The hidden trap door leads to the hydroelectric facility that powers the sim. There must also be a back up power supply as the water wheel was not turning at the time of my visit, yet the electric lights worked perfectly.

There are many little nooks and crannies for visitors to discover: paths meander, ponds and streams hide secrets, wildlife abounds.

silent sparrow (60, 236, 32)
chapel, silent sparrow (144 185 32)
Jessica's Gallery, silent sparrow (152, 202, 32)

Guest Writer: Ignatius Onomatopoeia

2007-04-21T16:30:00.000-08:00

The Mysterious Ape of Mauve
by Ignatius Onomatopoeia

A few meters (as the avatar flies) from the Dominus Motor Company, home of the impressive Shadow muscle-car, I found a mystery of SL: King Kong (the 1930s version).

There he was, cradling Fay Wray in his paw and as large as Willis O'Brien intended him to be. The great ape stands in "Crimson's Dig," a piece of land that, to this relative newcomer to SL, reminds me of an Englishman's mad folly. There is a fire-breathing dragon, Easter-Island monoliths, waterfalls and fountains.

Well, say no more. Time to start changing avatars and having some fun.
 First I took off my skin and did my best to impersonate the great stone heads.

Next I did a hirsute "La Dolce Vita" pose in the fountain behind Kong, but to be honest I don't think Anita Ekberg has a thing to worry about.

Getting one's avatar to stand on Kong's head invites comic disaster. It's easier to jump into the water or sit on the dragon's head.

What on earth is this abandoned theme park about? I can tell the curious reader this: one day Kong's eyes are open and the next, closed. Attempts to edit him or wear him like a skin have failed me.

So have my attempts to seize control of Kong and run amok in SL, or even free Fay from his grip. So if the King is not some huge robot, who IS opening and closing his eyes? And why are there other slight changes between visits?

Crimson Sunchaser, a SL Charter member, is still playing with these digs, I think. One note: the Digs crash a bit. It's a complex piece of real-estate.

Dominus Motor Company, Chartreuse (68, 26, 30)
Crimson's Dig, Mauve (47, 169, 31)
Read More of Ignatius Onomatopoeia's adventures ...In A Strange Land.

**Ida's Note**
Great find, Ignatius! To the right of King Kong is a series of waterfalls built by an individual named CrazyMonkey Fever. Coincidence? I think not.

All These Worlds Are Yours

2007-04-14T08:12:00.000-08:00

Except Europa.

Back in the day (2004), the first auctioned land in SL became available as 20 empty sims. One of the sims was called Europa. Lordfly Digeridoo spent the better part of an hour sliding a monolith from a build-enabled area to the empty sim of Io (Really. Read his full story here). When Io sold, Lordfly purchased a small plot in Europa and faithfully recreated the 8-prim landmark.

dum dumm dummm DUM DUM

While you are in Europa, pay a visit to another interesting location, Slice of Atlanta.

DoteDote Edison will make a souvenir-size recreation of your place in SL!

I was lucky enough to run into DoteDote Edison while I was admiring his Nano Chair.

A miniscule three-prim chair.

He confirmed that he had lived there since his rez day. Now an heirloom, a portion of Slice of Atlanta is his First Land plot. DoteDote kindly directed me to the SL Historical Museum in Phobos.

Open Air Museum - lucky it doesn't rain much, might be bad for the artifacts.

I've mentioned the museum before in one of my early posts about Second Life History, and I still recommend it as a "must visit" to those of you who have never been. Not only are there pictures and models the Olden Days, but you can pick up a Primitar avatar and mascarade as our early ancestors.

If you don't know what this is, you really need to get to the History Museum. Or watch this informative video.

The Monolith of Europa, Europa (210, 152, 88)
Slice of Atlanta, Europa (29, 185, 79)
SL Historical Museum, Phobos (220, 167, 33)

7,000 Oaks

2007-04-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

The Real Life 7,000 Oaks project was undertaken by German Artist Joseph Beuys in 1982. His goal was to plant 7,000 trees (5 varieties of trees were used in spite of the project's title) each paired with a basalt column in an effort to raise ecological awareness. His project took five years to complete.

Begun on March 16th of this year, the Second Life 7,000 Oaks project is a virtual recreation of Beuys' historic project.

Pairs of trees and stones dot Cosmos Island.

Pei Twang and Pei May (real life artists Eva and Franco Mattes) have placed 7,000 one-prim basalt stones on their island along with several oak trees. Residents are encouraged to participate by requesting a stone and oak tree pair to plant on their own land. As the stones are claimed, the pile of prims on the island will diminish to illustrate the status of the effort.

The number of columns is rather awe inspiring.

Judging by the 4643 objects currently on the parcel (I checked) the Second Life project will probably not take the 5 years of the original to complete. Many of the one prim columns have already been claimed. Each of the oak trees is 10 prims and the building is 12.

To collect your stone and oak tree, simply IM Pei Twang or Pei May with a request.

For more information about this and other projects in the "Synthetic Performances" series, please visit www.0100101110101101.org.

7,000 Oaks, Cosmos Island, (193, 118, 24)

My thanks to Osprey Therian for mentioning the project on her blog.

Caffinate Me

2007-04-03T05:55:00.000-08:00

I was in the market for an air conditioner (it gets hot in the summer) but all I could remember about the shop was the sim name. I found the Tu Amor Marketplace in search->places and figured that had to be it. I landed right in front of Addison White's Java Joe's Coffee House. Not what I was looking for, but I never let things like that stop me.

I smell caffeine!

Java Joe's has an authentic coffee shop atmosphere.

Although there is a wide selection, all drinks are self-serve unless you bring a friend.

Mmmm, peppermint coffee. My favorite!

It's one of those coffee shops that encourages you to just hang out. For hours.

I was so inspired that I made a second RL pot before purchasing my air conditioning unit from Screw This Appliances at the end of the block. I also acquired some Mrs. Butterworth's Syrup. Syrup tastes better when it is in a bottle shaped like a woman. It's scientific fact.

Tu Amor Marketplace, Tu Amor (61, 132, 24)
Java Joe's Coffee House, Tu Amor (75, 98, 23)
Air Conditioner, Screw This Appliances, Tu Amor (27, 21, 24)

Bring it.

2007-03-28T11:51:00.000-08:00

I am an avid reader of Second Life Games, Ondar Skall's blog. I am a huge fan of board games in RL (particularly those that combine Strategy and Blind Luck) and it always tickles me to find games of any kind in Second Life. Recently, Onder showcased a goban board.

Go is in here.

It turns out that Go isn't the only game Polaris Graystone has provided for the public at his Touchstone Cathedral. The restful Asian architecture of Effulgent Brown is the perfect setting for the challenges of a variety of single-player games.

I sorted the puzzle to the fewest moves possible (I think) but I was never able to do it quickly enough to get my name in the top scores.

I haven't seen sudoku in SL before!

Goooo, Ida! Way to play the peg game!

My personal favorite, I played Memory for ages.

Creator credits for the multitude of games include: DNA Prototype and Digi Vox, Stephane Zugzwang (sudoku), Psau Mfume (Go) and Chrystalshard Foo (hangman). The Cathedral is a scenic, thoughtful and fresh alternative to computer solitaire.

Cathedral, Home of the Pathfinders, Manua (161, 77, 25)
Deck full of one-player games, Manua, (186, 96 27
Goban, Manua (182, 65, 28)

If, like me, you can't get enough of Memory, the games by DNA Prototype and Digi Vox are available at the Gnubie Store in Indigo (214, 50, 47).

Delicious

2007-03-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

I recently paid a visit to Caledon Tanglewood, the Independent State of Caledon's newest and northernmost sim. The forest sim is springing to life at the hands of its quirky and completely charming residents. After a delightful stroll, I took a ferry ride (provided by Miss Kamillah Hauptmann) through Lionsgate to the charming Port Caledon where I hoped to catch a glimpse of Nessie.

Upon arrival, I noticed a manhole.

Curiouser and curiouser.

So of course, I clicked it (you can find the most entertaining things by clicking indiscriminately). I was not disappointed, the manhole cover opened obligingly, revealing a dark maw. I hopped right in. And fell quite a ways to land in a dimly lit underground cavern (World->Force Sun->Midnight for the best effect).

Luckily, in Second Life, one can breath underwater.

To the east was a large open area that I believe lies underneath the city streets. I followed the passage to the west, past some unusual artifacts...

I wonder if the driver managed to phone home for assistance.

...through a grate to the equally unusual basement room of The Lion and the Setting Sun. Which contained, among other things, an avatar-sized specimen cage.

*panic panic*

I quickly located the exit at the opposite end of the room and found myself beside The Lion and the Setting Sun, Miss Hauptmann's workshop. I poked around, taking note of several intriguing gadgets and the boxes of textures along the wall. I also perused the available reading materials to discover that Miss Hauptmann is "the last 'daughter' of Doctor Moreau. He was delicious." This information does explain the items in the basement...

Telehub, Caledon Tanglewood (128, 207, 22)
Ferry Landing - Tanglewood side, Caledon Lionsgate (138, 248, 22)
Manhole at the Pier, Port Caledon (149, 122, 22)
The Way Out, Port Caledon (111, 194, 22)
The Lion and the Setting Sun, Port Caledon (123, 175, 23)

Jack never had it so good.

2007-03-07T15:54:00.000-08:00

I was flying around registering sims (as I am wont to do), when I came across a very large sunflower. A VERY large sunflower.

There are fairy cushions to sit on in the top!

It's description claims that "Pandora's Giant Sunflower" is the "biggest in SL." I lack the resources to confirm this, but I will say that I personally haven't come across any other sunflowers of such staggering proportions.

Seeing the sunflower reminded me in mind of another larger than life plant: Stellar Sunshine's climbable beanstalk.

With a creation date of July 3, 2003 (I just learned about "inspect object"), the beanstalk is one of the oldest resident-built objects that I know of in Second Life. Legend has it, if you prove you can climb to the top unassisted (no flying no scripts), you'll be rewarded with L$500!

That red balloon wouldn't give me a tour.

I wonder if anyone has made it to the top. I sure can't.

Pandora's Giant Sunflower, Theretra (178, 202, 204)
The Beanstalk, Welsh (31, 81, 22)

Lordfly Digeridoo recently posted a link to snapshots of the 104 sims that were extant in March of 2004. Interesting stuff.

Guest Writer: Ignatius Onomatopoeia

2007-03-07T07:07:00.000-08:00

In Xanadu Did. . .
by Ignatius Onomatopoeia

After five weeks in SL, I am still new enough to have jaw-dropping moments. Svarga provides that; I felt as though I were strolling around Coleridge's poem.

The island, created by Laukosargas Svarog and currently owned and maintained by the Illusion Factory, has a Myst-style design with lush tropical plants, a virtual-life experiment, and even an oracle created by none other than Taras Balderdash himself. On my first visit I did not try the island's sound-stage experiment; it generates music based upon AVs chat.

When I popped into the telehub, I was in a crowd of AVs, something I'm not used to encountering in my early-morning (East-Coast US time) forays. I immediately jumped into a little egg-shaped flying car that gave me the guided tour. Be sure to use Mouselook as you fly over the island. The setting is so detailed that getting the best orientation possible will help later on foot or flying.

And this is a great place to walk. Practice walking on the rope bridge. . .I fell off. Also spend a few Lindens to feed the birds. Look for bird seed near the fountains of Svarga.

I ended up at the shop (of course) and enjoyed browsing the items that are Svarga-themed. Well worth 200 Lindens for some way-gone shades for this virtual Beatnik, dig? Then I took the Ambipod elevator (just outside the shop) to a wildly immersive audio/visual experience of floating in space.

Svarga Telhub, Svarga (2, 121, 21)
Oracle, Svarga (192, 121, 98) - downstairs from this courtyard
Illusion Factory's home sim, Illusion Factory (128, 128, 0)

**Ida's Notes**
You can read more about Laukosargas Svarog's amazing creation and the Virtual Balance of Life that Svarga is hosts on Hamlet Au's blog, New World Notes. Articles of particular interest include God Game and Saving Svarga. I also just discovered that Svarga is Sanskrit and refers to a Heaven where the righteous await their next reincarnation. Go figure. I always assumed it was just a play on the last name Svarog. Thanks for the great post, Iggy!

Shameless

2007-02-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

For anyone at all interested in machinima or photography, Fox Atomic Island is a treat.

I first became aware of Fox Atomic a couple weeks ago when I heard about the machinima contest.

While you're visiting the website, be sure to give I <3 Mutants a look!

The deadline for contest submissions has passed, winners will be announced Friday and I've started to wonder if the island will be available much longer. So take advantage of this opportunity to see the sites and pick up a free copy of the contest avatars and version 6 of the alt-zoom camera.

You never know when a mutant suit will come in handy.

Movie sets abound - this is no surprise, Fox Atomic is a branch of Fox Filmed Entertainment. Among the many "locations" for filming on the island are a foot ball stadium, a deserted mine, a beach scene with a jungle behind it and a nicely detailed bridge.

Young Ida wondered if she would ever make the team.

If that isn't enough to get your creative juices flowing, Sound Stages 1 and 2 have a number of additional sets: western, sky scene, jungle, suburban streets and green screen.

Everything seems quite enough...

The main building and amphitheater run trailers for the upcoming movies (enable your streaming video in preferences to watch).

All and all it is an intriguing example of real world marketing in a virtual setting. Kudos to Millions of Us and Fox for creating this interesting experience.

Fox Atomic (13, 13, 23) - avatars and camera are to the left
Football Stadium, Fox Atomic (196, 218, 23)
Sound Stage 1, Fox Atomic (119, 77, 22)
Sound Stage 2, Fox Atomic (51 147 22)
Main Building, Fox Atomic (32, 30, 23)

Zephyr Heights

2007-02-25T17:50:00.000-08:00

I went to pick up one of Tripper Tapioca's Unicycles (it's for a Vaudeville act) and remembered how much I like Zephyr Heights. I found it very early on in my second life (there's a Boing Fromage) and have returned several times to make use of the fantastic skate park that is to the right of the arrival point.

Wear your helmet!

There is a lot more to this gritty urban sim than skateboards. Tripper has recreated small, rundown town in it's entirety, complete with a variety of bars and other seedy hangouts. There is a Bispa rental kiosk to the immediate right of your landing spot at a bus stop. Simply click to rez a scooter.

As soon as I turn this thing around I am riding off into the sunset.

Need groceries? Zmart is the convenience store.

Free Zershy Bars! Awesome.

To my unending delight - the movie theater shows Rocky Horror.

After the show - stop by Stella Waffles for a piece of pie.

Best pie in SL.

You'll find more ramps in the abandoned building in the northwest corner of the sim. There are roulette tables on the second floor.

Huh. I never did buy that unicylce. Good thing I made SLurls.

Skate Park, Zephyr Heights (97, 185, 24)
ZMart, Zephyr Heights (37, 183, 24)
Zephyr Films, Zephyr Heights (213, 208, 24)
Stella Waffles, Zephyr Heights (168, 216, 24)
Abandoned Building, Zephyr Heights (40, 228, 23)

There is a forced teleport to the bus stop, so it's best to use a combination of SLurls and the map to get around.
There is a residential area toward the south with the same gritty charm (and a psycho's cabin in the woods).

Up to Somethin'

2007-02-24T06:09:00.000-08:00

Ever since that whole Volcano Tragedy at Tableau, the amount of sunny boardwalk recreation in my Second Life has been sparse. This changed when I dropped by Mischief Cove.

Not a volcano in site.

The Cove is loaded with cute shops (and a free gift or two) arranged around a nice, long board walk that is perfect for roller-skating.

I totally caught that shark myself.

The outdoor cafe area offers opportunities for lounging in the sun as well as coffee and hot dogs from nearby carts.

Just a tip: don't roller-skate with your coffee cup attached. Ouchy.

And, of course, no waterside build is complete with out sunbathing on the beach.

The shop rental office is in the lifeguard stand.

Miko Omegamu seems to have done most of the building (this observation is based solely on my hovertips), but either she or MissPrint Mahoney may be contacted for rental information. The private residences located on the outer edges of the island are also stunning, well-detailed builds. Be respectful if you choose to take a look around; with or without ban lines, those are people's homes.

As an added attraction, Mischief Cove also offers free classes (search in events for "Mischief") on a floating barge in the center of the cove. I'll be back tomorrow to make a Blingin' Diamond Ring. It's every girl's dream!

Mischief Cove, Mischief (147, 154, 24)
Roller Skates, Skoopf Vendor, Mischief (131, 97, 24)
Skinned Knee (available as a texture), Panjen, Abscence (162, 118, 25)
Beach, Mischief (239, 116, 21)
Chester!, Mischief (186, 118, 3) - Not Pictured

For more information and a compete calendar of Mischief Cove events, visit mischiefisland.com.

Benediction

2007-02-19T08:14:00.000-08:00

In the sim of Wildcat, a remote hermitage is nestled into the slope of the land.

The lintel is inscribed with the words "God Alone."

The area is called St. Benedict's Monastery in the land title and St. Theophane's Monastery in the owner's picks. I was unable to get in touch with prioress, Francois Jacques, to confirm the name (it's Update Day). Francois' profile names Eva Virgo as the creator of many of the structures.

The build is well planned and executed, if you follow the walkway up the hill from the first SLurl, you will find yourself outside the Monks' Enclosure.

Individual cells are also located in this complex.

A small cemetery is located further along the path.

The old abbot is buried here.

Turn to the right and climb the several sets of stairs to the chapel and bell tower, where you can in lose yourself in silent meditation and prayer.

chapel

It is easy to imagine the residents going about their accustomed rounds in the seclusion and peace of the abbey.

Front Gate, Wildcat (53, 170, 36)
Monastic Enclosure (do not enter), Wildcat (77, 111, 46)
Cemetary, Wildcat (96, 47, 49)
Chapel, Wildcat (42, 42, 95)

Once again, my thanks to Pinget for the landmark.

An Evening Out

2007-02-19T06:04:00.000-08:00

In the already stunning sim of Intemptesta Nox, there is an unfinished build of surpassing grandeur.

The Opera Populaire.

Sue Stonebender has modeled the Opera Populaire after the L'Opera Garnier in Paris (designed by Charles Garnier and constructed between the years 1862-1875) and the set design of the recent film Phantom of the Opera. Though incomplete, the build is hardly unimpressive. The missing walls and gridded building textures do not detract from the finished portions of the build, but rather add to the haunted quality of the area.

The front of the building with its unfinished columns.

The entrance hall.

The view from the stage.

Magnificent view of the sunset through the open wall.

I believe that building is already haunted.

Opera Populaire, Intemptesta Nox (189, 155, 75)

Sue Stonebender is currently out of world due to health issues. When you are finished exploring the opera house, I encourage you to take a look around the beautiful Intemptesta Nox and it's sister sim, Sanctum Sanctorum.

Unnamed

2007-02-13T19:25:00.000-08:00

Unexplored. Unpaved. Un-populated.

Unnamed(16,9)

These are sims so new that they aren't even represented as grid squares on the map. It is the wilderness of Second Life.

Maybe I'm the first avatar to set foot in this new land.

Primeval. Raw. And lag free.

Unnamed(14,10)

My Registrator-Tron didn't recognize their existence (version .51 - now with an in-world sim neighbor feature and giftability).

Hurry. Visit before it is too late.

Empty, Unnamed(16,9) (159, 116, 56)
Empty, Unnamed(14,10) (151, 132, 26)
Registrator-Tron .51, Green (190, 170, 22)

They are so new that SLurls don't work. You can get there the old fashioned way: type in the coordinates on the map screen.

Marooned!

2007-02-09T04:42:00.000-08:00

I was out and about in my Wee Tiny Tako this morning when I saw smoke on the horizon.

The Wee Tiny Tako seats both big and little people, but why not wear a tiny suit?

I beached my boat and hopped out to have a look around. Harry "Astrohog" Linden seems to have crashed his spaceship on this tiny island.

Anybody got a fire extinguisher?

The wreckage is still smoking, but the island was abandoned. The passengers must have been rescued soon after they set up camp and discovered the therapeutic mud bath. Perhaps they realized that they could fly and simply levitated to safety, abandoning their supplies. When you visit, look around for a Space Chest with fun freebies including a model of the Hog Space Craft.

Hog Spacecraft Crash Site, Mohrr (195, 200, 21)
Wee Tiny Tako, Home of the Flying Tako Sailboat, Gray (35, 162, 21)
Tiny Sheep Suit, ExtroVirtual - Wynx's Whimsical Wonders, Flights of Fantasy! Emit Time (68, 180, 24)

World->Region/Estate brings back the water.

Tributary

2007-02-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

The Riverwalk is an open air art and community center, built along the shores of Snake River. Near the arrival point is a guidebook notecard - I strongly suggest you pick one up - the area is sprawling. The guidebook also gives a history of how the area has grown and changed over time. The Cliffhouse, the Riverwalk's original build, was created in the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright: clean lines and an appreciation of the surrounding landscape. The area grew, as builds often do, but it maintains the feeling that the structures are part of the land rather than being built on the land.

The Cliffhouse, like all of Riverwalk, is open to the public.

The Cliffhouse contains a variety of casino games as well as classic board games to play. Down the steps is the Swan Boat Rental Dock where L$5 will buy you 30 minutes of quite time on the water. All proceeds directly support The Riverwalk. For a brief tour of the area, grab a seat in one of the Swan Boats that are meandering along the river.

The Swan Boats are built for two.

Surrounding the Cliffhouse are meandering paths, patios with scenic overlooks and unexpected sculpture gardens. There is also an unusual maze of stone columns to the North. There is art everywhere. Art by RL artists in SL that has been uploaded - photographs, paintings, sketches - as well as prim sculpture is around every corner and leaning against every railing. If you are looking for that special piece to hang on your wall, or maybe a gift for a Valentine, I can almost guarantee you'll find it here.

"Hand Stand" by Starax Statosky. Not for sale.

Have I mentioned the sky diving? No? Buy the Parchute for L$0, hop in the jet propelled Octopus Launcher and you are ready to go. SL was having some inventory issues when I was visiting, so I relied upon my PoppinsUmbrella instead.

Falling from 15,000 meters is a great way to see the world.

I'm going back to enjoy the nightly fireworks as soon as I figure out what time sunset happens. Hope to see you there.

The Riverwalk, Ganymede (25, 227, 25)
The Riverwalk Cliffhouse, Ganymede (124, 241, 31)
Swan Rentals, Ganymede (111, 209, 21)
Maze Entrance, Europa (10, 27, 28)
Sky Diving, Ganymede (70, 175, 25)
PoppinsUmbrella, Mahoroba, Shaka, (110, 219, 25)

Bonus find: Dam across the river by Xenon Linden, Ganymede, (203, 118, 41)

Note: there is a forced landing spot for teleports, look to the red lines/dots that the SLurls create to find the locations.
As always, World->Region/Estate will bring the water back.