More on NatureCon

 

By Gemma Cleanslate

 

I have been spending quite a bit of time over at the Naturecon which is open until the 31st . If you have not been there yet, you are missing so much. After roaming the two regions I found little nooks of information about so many places to visit on the mainland that I never knew existed. I have a list and will get to some of them.

The train rides on the regions are fun. At the entrance you can hop on Cranston’s railroad that will drop you off at several levels where you can get to visit the booths of many of these places and find information about them. Hop on and off as you like. It will take you all the way to Mt Campion National Forest. The Zany Zen runs from the Lighthouse to the Treetop Overlook where the view of the volcano and the waterside in the distance are visible. There are also horse rezzers at many sites .

Strawberry Linden came to do a Lab Gab and I hopped the train with her for a ride . Her discussion and tour of the area with the organizers and team members was great fun. I had such a laugh when she hopped on the glider and fell off into the ocean. I really laughed out loud to see a Linden at the bottom of the bay asking for a tp! Watch the Lab Gab to see and hear more from all the team and see some of the locations. 

 

Speaking of the ocean floor do not miss the beach area and the installations there. Then venture into the underwater world to see its beauty.

I entered the artist search contest to find the six canvases where one has to paint the canvas at those points and then send them off to Cranston Yordstorm for a prize. It too a while but I finally found all six with help from the hints on the instructions. The first one is placed right at the railway station near your landing point.

As a real life birder a visit to the Bird Observatory was a treat. Just sitting at the pond looking at the birds in the wetland was relaxing. 

 

True Redrose and Lautlos Resident have information about importance of birds in our lives on the infoboards on the boardwalk.

This taxi will take you to the entrance http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ruthenium/139/93/34

Gemma Cleanslate

Yukiko Yeshto‘s Weekly Tour

 
By Gemma Cleanslate

Saturday I was able to make it to Yukiko Yeshto ‘s weekly tour What great fun her tours are.

This week we took a tour through many of the newer regions with the log homes and through one camper region too. Though we were enjoying the landscapes with the lovely foliage we were on the hunt for new visa stamps for our Passport huds. As Members of the BBB group we have huds that collect stamps from all over the grid. Now anyone who lives in sl has that opportunity by finding the visa stamp dispensers around the world. Yuki told me, “ for them, they can join the Continental Passport Control Board group,”

We started in the bus and took a ride through the narrow roads of many regions to get to our first stop the Circle B Ranch where we stepped out to see it and grab our stamp.

Back in the bus we headed for the Randelsham National Forest. There it was along the railroad with a beautiful tree house Community Center where we found our second stamp. This is a delightful place to visit. And here we switched to a train car for the next part of the tour. I got such a kick out of one of the names, “Gigglesnort Rapids/Falls” Station. I think the Lindens and Moles had a wonderful time naming places as they built.

We arrived at the Switching Post, another surprise to me. I had never seen it before and must go back to check out the area. Our next stop was at the Hammies Place, The Bellisseria Animal Sanctuary. I have visited here before. The Hammies, as you know take over the fairgrounds often for their builds and parties

At our last stop at the Railway Station Yuki told us of a really special tour next weekend. It will be on a
Bar train!! That sounds like lots of fun and I hope I can make it! Will let you know! There are so many beautiful places to visit and you are all invited to come explore all the new locations . I have a box of notecards that Jon Ree puts out that will give you landmarks for loads of places of interest like the ones above that you can enjoy. Ask me anytime and I will pass it along.

Sunday I made sure I stopped over at the huge Wish Upon a Star American Cancer Society event. If you have not been to this Alice in Wonderland venue get there to see the magnificent build and take a look at the Relay for Life raffles in the garden. Make a donation in memory of Bixyl’s close family member who passed in a kiosk.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Terra%20del%20Amore/134/189/36

Gemma Cleanslate
 

Innfest 2019, The Lovecraft Festival

By Bixyl Shuftan

The annual Lovecraft festival is taking place in Second Life. This ia the annual celebration held by fans of H.P. Lovecraft, which started on the author's 129th birthday. Originally called the "Lovefest," this year the name has been changed to "Innfest" after the name of the place, Innsmouth.

Lovecraft received little recognition while he was alive, not really able to make a living as a writer and had little money at the time of his death. But he has come to be recognized as one of the most influential 20th Century horror authors, his works emphasizing the fear of the unknown and the sense that life as we know it is an all-too-thin shell shielding us from a reality too bizarre and frightening to truly comprehend without going mad. He inspired other writers as well as artists and game makers in adding to a sub-genre of horror that has come to be called "Lovecraftian."

The reason for the event's name change from "Lovefest" has less to do with a few people getting confused by the name and more to do with a certain milestone. This year's festival also marks the tenth anniversary of the sim of Innsmouth, which according to the event website was modeled after Lovecraft's story "The Shadows Over Innsmouth." It was created by Darmin Darkes and her team, and is currently owned by Arik Metzger (AriktheRed), who has been doing the festivals since 2012.

Yours truly didn't hear about the celebration until Sunday August 25, so most of the festival has already taken place. Still there is much to do. The main area around the entrance, Innsmouth (17/34/1201) has a number of shops. Among which is one by Kittycats, whom are described on the website as having brought back the "KittyCat of Ulthar." In one yard is a feline statue and several cats prowl a yard. Across the street from Zan's Clothing is one shop with a strange circular cloud overhead.

There are other places in town besides the shop, and in the darkness comes the uneasy sense that something is hidden in there just waiting for something to come by and ambush. At the port area is a ship. Approaching it, a message came up, "'At the Mountains of Madness' - An Antarctic expedition that didn't exactly fare as hoped.  Something stirs in the hold... and what, pray tell, is in that crate labelled for the Antarctic (hint hint)?" Taking a look in the dark hold was ... a penguin? But this penguin was a huge giant that occasionally cackled in what sounded like a menacing tone. Irronically enough, there were fossils of a penguin this size found just a few days ago in real life. Maybe Lovecraft was on to something.

There's also a trolley going about town that can take you around the town, as well as other places in the sim. I also found a teleporter that takes you to a place at Innsmouth (30/74/1500) inspired by the story "The Lurking Fear." Touching the sign there will get you a few items. Another I found was at  Innsmouth (65/80/1906). And there is the town of Innsmouth at the ground level at Innsmouth (20/241/54).

Road to Innsmouth: 'The smell of the sea took on ominous implications...  [reaching] the crest and beheld the outspread valley beyond, where the Manuxet joins the sea just north of the long line of cliffs that culminate in Kingsport Head... On the far, misty horizon I could just make out the dizzy profile of the Head, topped by the queer ancient house of which so many legends are told; but for the moment all my attention was captured by the nearer panorama just below me. I had, I realised, come face to face with rumour-shadowed Innsmouth.'

There have been music concerts during the Innfest. On the final day of the event is a Masquerade Ball, at Tuesday August 27 at 9PM SL time (Midnight EST).

So if you're a horror fan, or just want something out of the routine, by all means come to Innfest. If you come across this article after the event, explore the sims anyway. Just make sure you're prepared for the scary and disturbing.


https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Innsmouth/17/34/1201

For more information on the festival, check out their website at  https://lovefest.wordpress.com/ .

Bixyl Shuftan

Oasis for Parkinson’s

By Gemma Cleanslate

“I am thrilled to announce the opening of 'The Oasis Event and Hunt for Parkinson's' Come explore the mystery of ancient Egypt. Events For Parkinson’s and Miss Globe Universal Charity Foundation partnered up for this exciting new event. “ Barbie Alchemi announced last week and I am late in getting over there to see it all.

This is a partnership installation and is not to be missed. The build is fabulous. Every step has hints of ancient Egypt with all the art and hieroglyphics around.

Each shop is filled with beautiful offerings from your favorite creators. So many are participating and giving contributions from their sales, some 100 percent. The shopping is so enticing I did indulge.

In one shop there is an informational display about Parkinson's disease and the efforts to find a cure for it. Be sure to stop there and read,

There are also two hunts going on. In many shops you will find a small scale pyramid for sale for only 15L with great prizes in them. I peeked and also got quite a few.  The other hunt is in the large pyramid where there are gems scattered about and you must find those that contain a prize. These are more expensive but worth it since the proceeds also go to the great cause. There is fabulous fashion show planned for Saturday, the 20th, 10AM SLT at the temple near the pyramid.

A large outdoor stage is set for music, theater, dancing and fun. I found a couple dressed for the event having a dance on the stage while I was there for the 4th time. Even if you don’t shop much you can make a donation at one of the lovely kiosks set up around the region. Be sure to make a visit before the 21st of April when it will close. Kudos to the creators of the sim for the beauty they brought to it.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Greenmist/110/25/3201

Gemma Cleanslate

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Editor's Note - I had a few words with Barbie Alchemi. She credited Rose Mikaelson (djroseathena) with the building of the Oasis, and mentioned Nola Hellershanks and Shelia Style as the co-cordinators.  One of the buildings she pointed out to me was the pyramid, which had a small maze inside. For more information, check out Creations for Parkinson's blog: https://creationspark.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/the-oasis-is-now-open/.