FrannyDJ's Mardi Gras Parade

by Gemma Cleanslate

The Krewes of New Orleans are getting ready for all the parades that go from now until Fat Tuesday. That day, Mardi Gras, in French will be the last day of celebration before Lent and the biggest parade takes place that day in many cities in the world. New Orleans is the site of the special Mardi Gras in the USA. There is nothing like it . Frannydj brings that parade into Second Life every year. One of her invites says:

“FEBRUARY IS MARDI GRAS MONTH !!!

"Grab your Krewe and head on down to the Mardi where FrannyDJ Dean brings the French Quarter to life.

"Be the star of the parade as you glide gown New Orleans famous Bourbon Street on any of the 103 interactive floats with the best of SL's animations and including props to wear in this spectacular parade.

"Visit the Hot Clubs and restaurants on Bourbon Street. Don't miss the thrilling carnival rides. The party never stops here."

Her floats and decorations on the region are outstanding. This year is the 6th year to see and interact with the ground and the flying floats and there are 103! I put on my new outfit , grabbed my crown , my umbrella and put on all  my beads and hurried over. The first thing I did was get a piece of King Cake, a delicious part of the festivities, and then  danced down Bourbon street to hop on the various floats and become part of the parade.

Next I stopped in a shop get a pink daiquiri and danced my way into some of the clubs lining the street. I found some couples dancing in a few of them but most were just dancing in the street so I joined in there.

Hoodoo Voodoo Man (Karmic Aeon) was standing on the street looking like the real voodoo people you pass in the city.

The side streets behind the parade route are lined with builds that might be found on the streets of New Orleans. Take a short walk through the alley. They are charming and peaceful and some are open to walk in. Stop into the Voodoo shop near the theater for freebies!

The Carnival is open and there are loads of games and rides to enjoy so walk through to other side of the lovely park and have some fun there too.

Parties take place on the steamboat during the days leading up to Mardi Gras which falls this year on February 25. Frannydj was up on the deck getting ready. You have until then to visit , party and check out the fun! Join the Fame Group for more information.  

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Angels%20of%20Desire/55/177/1163

Gemma Cleanslate

Caledon's Thirteenth Anniversary

By Bixyl Shuftan

On Tuesday February 26, Caledon celebrated it's thirteenth anniversary. Caledon enjoys the distinction of being the largest Steampunk-themed community in terms of land area and residents. And on this day and evening, it would be celebrating it's birthday.

At 1PM and 4PM SL time, there was the "Party at the Pub" at the Book and Tankard Pub in Victoria City. At 7PM, the celebrations moved to the Dragon Ballroom hundreds of meters over the Caledon OnSea sim for the 13th Anniversary Ball.

The ballroom had a decorative fountain in the middle. It was fitting that there were lit candles for a birthday celebration.

Caledon's governor Desmond Shang, known locally as "The Guv," was among those there.

He had a dance animation that made him look a bit whimsical.

There were a few conversations on the dance floor, "No the church invented shame, the Victorians added to it." "The Church invented shame. The Victorians made it a sexual fetish." I thought it was, 'Gotta have my corn pops.'"

As it turned out, someone's pet in real life was having a birth on this birthday, "Tonight, one of my guinea pigs gave birth. We wanted to name the pups after Caledonian regions. ... One of them is albino. I'm gonna name that one Desmond." That got the attention of "The Guv," "Does he have glasses?" "Not yet, but piercing red eyes."

At 10PM, the Anniversary Ball wrapped up, and it was time for the "Late Night Caledon/CCB Birthday Bash." The location of this last event was "sooper sekrit," so it wasn't revealed until that evening. As it turned out, it was underground. I was shown a secret entrance to some passages, and went down.

I had to go past a fancy doorway or two. As one put it, "Wow, it's a real secret lair, it has one of these iris doors!"

 Since part of the fun of secret passages is the location of the entrances being secret, readers will have to ask the Caledonins where one is. Someone would later say, "I got VERY lost and ended up in Kamilah's secret ballroom instead."

Eventually I noticed activity, and it was inside this rather catty underground secret venue.

Desmond joked, "Shhhhh! this is the catgirl dungeon!"

The floor had a symbol of a black cat over a gear, over Caledon's colors.

Some of the people were a bit on the catty side as well.

Including one taur. "Trilby, you have the cute centaur on."

And a neko. "You're the cat's meow yourself."

And of course in a Caledon anniversary event in a feline-themed venue, Vicerine Kamiliah Hauptman showed up.

Lady Aev (Aevalle Galicia) remarked, "I've had so much fun putting this place together." Another lady responded, "I love the cat tree next to me here too (grin)." Lady Aev grinned back, "There's also the trapeze hoops above us, if you want to play on those."

JJ Drinkwater was joking about, "Killer warrior catgirl fembots from Mars."

There were a few jokes about mindwiping the guests to make sure the location of the place stayed secret. That of course never happened. Just a "gentlemen's agreement" to keep quiet about just where it was.

There were a number of conversations about Caledon and things. Lady Aev was saying she was writing a book, "It was a good way to work out my rage during NanoWrimo. (laughter)" Someone responded, "Should have a book club and meet every week when it comes out." JJ Drinkwater suggested, "Would Madame The Author consider doing a reading?" Lady Aev answered, "Probably wouldn't be a good idea, JJ. Southern drawl meets Sidhe. Not a good match. (grin)" One lady joked, "Well, as long as you don't go 'pew pew pew!' to imitate clashing swords, you'll do much better than some narrators I've heard." "Swords don't pew!" "'Pew! Pew! pew!' is a raygun sound." "Depends where they've been." "Just say your from the Appalachian."

"And all those people calling me weird and confused and I say how dare you say things about me that are completely true!"

Eventually, the hour got late, Desmond himself saying, "I'm getting even more giddy, almost never stay up this late ... so if I'm acting weird that's why." And soon people started leaving. "Happy 13th everybody, thank you Des for making our realm, and we're teenagers now!" "I was expecting the 13th Anniversary seal to say 'You don't understand me!' and recite emo poetry when clicked."

Before I left, the place started changing color. With the jokes about memory wipes, I figured it was time to make my exit.

 I looked around the underground tunnels a little first. Here was a nice little rest stop.

Two days later, the celebrations continued at Cynthia Farshore's Goblin Cave in Caledon Downs.

Yours truly was too busy to attend, so I sent Rezzdammit to get a picture.

Due to events elsewhere in Second Life, Rezz couldn't stay there for long. Cynthia would send me this picture of the party at another time.

On Saturday March 2, Caledon would have it's last anniversary events, both Mardi Gras themed. At 1PM was the "Skull and Bones Revelry." At 5PM was a parade.

 The parade would go across fourteen sims. starting in Caledon Kittiwickshire.

There were a number of vehicles, floats, balloons, and more in the parade.

As well as horses.

And horse-drawn carriages.

The parade would go down the route through the sims.

The parade ended in Port Caledon.

Following the parade was a party for both participants and watchers.

A fun time was had by all.

Happy Anniversary Caledon

Bixyl Shuftan

Samedi Gras: New Toulouse Pulls it off Again

By Klaus Bereznyak

True to form, New Toulouse dished up another resplendent "Samedi Gras" celebration earlier this month, on Saturday the 10th February. The carnival season coincides with that held in New Toulouse's RL shadow, the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, and it is always well attended, attesting to the historical status of this sim in SL and the popularity of the event.

Along with the annual New Toulouse hunts, it's one of the highlights of the year. Festivities begin with events in the week leading up to Samedi Gras: Masked balls, float decorating parties and parades come to a head when the authentically modeled French colonial streets are hung with purple, green and gold, and play host to an epic float parade. This is typically a huge technical challenge, tackled with dedication and humor by the Krewe captains.

The parade was scheduled to kick off at Noon, by which time the floats were lined up along Shotgun row, with their horses, unicorns, pegasus and various mythical draft animals rearing to go. The crowds kept piling in, at least 50 avs packing into the sim before the parade had even started. I was riding with the fiery Krewe des Flambeaux for the second year running, drawn by a pair of white horses ably driven by long-standing talooster, Francesca Alva.

Last year, the start was very much delayed with technical difficulties but, this year, while there was lag and a few crashes, we got moving around 12:20 amid cheers from the bystanders - "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" Residents, turned out on their porches and balconies to watch the parade throw beads and offer refreshment to the revelers as they passed.

DJ Outlaw kept up the patter and filled the airwaves with a steady stream of spicy New-Orlenian classics that made the whole event feel as close as could be to the real thing.

Apart from some interesting amalgamations of floats piling up at points along the route, and minor damage to some buildings on street corners that proved a little too tight for the tottering vehicles, the parade was successfully concluded around 1pm, with floats drawing up around the town square and krewes disembarking for a party in the park. The Mayor of New Toulouse, Henri Godenot, was there to greet them, and it was a chance to socialize and admire the effort that had gone into some of the costumes.

A good time was had by all, and it was gratifying to see that the affection for this unique sim and its events is still alive and kicking.

Links
New Toulouse Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/groups/696411@N23/
SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/New%20Toulouse/196/131/23

Klaus Bereznyak

Editor's Note: Among those who had a float in the parade was Baron Wulfenbach and Baronin Zantabraxu.  Zantabraxu had a well done avatar of Tinka the Muse of Dance from the "Girl Genius" graphic novel/online comic.

Mardi Gras in Second Life

By Gemma Cleanslate

"Laissez les bon temps roulez !"

  

Mardi Gras is fun in Second Life. I took at tour to see what was going on in various sites to celebrate. "Mardi Gras Town" at Townies was the most lively and colorful venue I could find on Monday. There was a band playing fun music and dancers in various costumes made special for the day danced in the streets with confetti falling from the air. Inside the shops you could find any possible costumes and décor for the celebration. 

I stayed for a while to enjoy the sounds and watch the dancers. Lots of the colors of Mardi Gras visible: purple representing justice, green for faith and gold for power.This tradition began at the first Mari Gras.  Rex, the King of Mardi Grass selected the official Mardi Gras colors in 1872 to honor the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Alexis Alexandrovich Romanoff, whose house colors were purple, green and gold. The 1892 Rex Parade theme "Symbolism of Colors" affirmed the colors' meaning. And it continues today.

I moved on to the Santorini Club which has been celebrating for days with great djs playing for numerous parties daily. The club was decorated for the occasion. I took a walk around to gaze at the finery and the view of the City of New Orleans in the distance.  

Where to better experience the Mardi Gras than in New Orleans. I visited the section of New Orleans that is modeled on a real section called St John Bayou. At the corner of Audubon Street There is a stage that was filled with St John residents dancing in Mardi Gras regalia. Down the streets came floats. I watched the parade for a while but then wandered down the streets to look at the structures. All along the street there were buntings hanging from the windows in the purple and gold colors. Looked great.

Another sim I went to but was too early for the party was in Piano Beach at Cay’s at Woodland Lake. I admired the buntings there too and picked up some nice beads to wear. There are replicas of buildings in the French Quarter of New Orleans that I loved when I was there. There were some street musicians and artists waiting for customers.

I stopped off at Bourbon Street in Bluesville Station New Orleans and, wow, they had quite a party going on! The street was littered with confetti and other trash from the parade. I arrived near the end since it had started about two hours earlier, but there were still people dancing and chatting.  Dj Nadzuko was playing the blues.

Tuesday at Creations Park I attended a very lively outdoor party where Josie Atherton was performing live for the benefit of Team Fox, Parkinson Disease Support. There were some great costumes there good music.

 I finished off my day back at St Johns at a great street party with grand outfits and dancing to Cajun music and some blues. It was a festive Mardi Gras in Second Life again. 

Gemma Cleanslate

Two Mardi Gras Events

By Bixyl Shuftan

Mardi Gras, also known as "Fat Tuesday" or "Carnival," is an old holiday. For Catholics and some other denominations of Christianity, it's the last day before the season of Lent, and the last chance to eat rich food before one has to give up eating it for the forty day period. Celebrated in countries with large Cathonlic populations, some cities have become known for their celebrations this time of year, in America New Orleans having by far the best well known.

In Second Life, many residents love a good party. So there were some Mardi-Gras themed parties across the Grid. One place that has them is New Toulouse, a roleplay and residential sim that has the atmosphere of 1920s New Orleans. On Monday February 16, a day before the real life Mardi Gras New Orleans celebrations, New Toulouse held their "Samedi Gras" parade at 6PM SL time.

There were numerous participants in the celebration, both as dancers in the streets and the numerous revelers on the parade floats. Among them were the "Crewe de Bast," which was feline-themed, and one by Baron Wulfenbach of the Steamlands which had a couple of his Jagers on it. It's unclear just how long the parade lasted, though the following day on the real life "Fat Tuesday," some of the floats remained at the town square, one on fire, as reminders of the revelry the night before. But for New Toulouse itself, the party was basically over. Fortunetly Natascha Randt had recorded the event for others who couldn't make it to watch.



(Click here if the video fails to play)

So where else to go? Gemma Cleanslate found out about another celebration in another New Orleans themed area. This one was high above the Snackpack sim. Unlike New Toulouse, this one was taking place throughout the day, and instead of twisting around streetcorners, this one went down one straight street. A rezzer at the store on the far end of the street would automatically rezz different floats, which would slowly go down the street, people invited to sit or dance on them. Among the floats were Wonder Woman, Xena, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spongebob Squarepants, and more.

There were also a number of false avatars around to help give the impression of a packed parade, even late at night. But both earlier on in the day and later at night, there were a number of people around. Laura Liberty, the owner of the Elizabeth Town sim, which currently housed the seasonal town of Valentine Town, was among those having fun at the Snackpack parade. Elizabeth Town had a New Orleans themed block next to Valentine Town.

On the day after Mardi Gras, the parade floats were still going, though there were only a handful of people around, presumably either people who couldn't see it the day before, or people whom truly loved Mardi Gras, and wanted to look at the parade one more time.

Besides these two parades, a number of clubs held Mardi Gras themed parties, or at least held events with the same kind of spirit. Gemma went to one such club event. The classic rock club "The Vinyl," near the SL Newser office held a "Wild and Crazy" party on Mardi Gras night.

And so "Fat Tuesday" came and went for another year. But even for those whom have to give things up for Lent, Easter is just a little more than a month away.

Pictures from Natascha Randt and Gemma Cleanslate

Bixyl Shuftan