Scenes From Bellisseria's Third Anniversary

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By Bixyl Shuftan

The weekend of Friday April 15 to Sunday April 17 was a special one for Bellisseria. While it was  Easter Weekend, that was not all. They were having their Third Anniversary celebration.

At Bellisseria Fairgrounds, the place was decked out for a party. 

The island had numerous buildings, some for certain events. 

And there were three days of events. 

Eventually came the day of the event.

And the place was really packed, almost a hundred avatars.

Usually Gemma Cleanslate is right there and pretty much on top of things. But as she was sidelined due to real life, it was up to me. The sim was crowded when I got there. So for a while I was on the outside at Whisky Bay, looking in.

With so many avatars, a number were clouds, or naked, for a while.

There were also some Lindens, such as Jester and Itsa.

Alota and Adora Mole, the tiny looking a bit like she was taking extra precautions against griefers.

Patch was giving a speech from the gazebo, but he didn't rezz for me. Nor could I hear what was being spoken as I was having to cam from another sim. 

I would later listen to it on this video from Pring Productions. Just afterr 8 minutes into the video was when he mentioned the new Linden Homes theme.

Hearing that things might be easier getting in at the airport, I decided to give it a try.

 The sign stated "Mole Air." But I got a weird feeling the building was once for some other purpose.

Security was pretty standard.

I finally got in, though with the lag, some avies took lots of time to rezz.

There was also a game with a prize, an Easter Egg Quest in which you needed to hunt for eggs the bunny hid, but forgot to add chocolates.

You went around various buildings on the Fairegrounds.

The prize for solving it: A Bellisserian baseball cap.

There was a Moles vs Residents boat race on Saturday April 16.

But the lag was just too much for me that day.

I would have better luck on Sunday April 17.

The lag wasn't so bad, and people weren't half-clothed for long.

Fuyoko Anamo was performing for the crowd then.

 

Some people dance, others relaxed in the grass.

There were various buildings.

Including some homes, from very detailed.

To a little more comfy.

On a final note, it took longer to finish this article I planned. But better late than never.

Happy anniversary Bellisseria.

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Scenes From Easter

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By Bixyl Shuftan

For Second Life residents, Easter is a special time. For the religious, it's time to celebrate the Resurrection. For both churchgoers and the secular alike, it's reminders of memories as kids of the Easter Bunny, finding hidden eggs, and chocolate bunnies.

For the few days before, there were some Easter-themed parties at various clubs, as well as related themes. At the Happy Vixen's Spring event, a bunnygirl appeared, ridding a carrot like a witch on a broom.

Club Zero Gravity had recently renovated the club build. A few joked with the holiday, it now looked like an Easter egg.

Going about, I was seeing more bunny ears than usual.

Thursday April 14 had the theme "Candy and Chocolate" at the Happy Vixen, so out come some chocolate bunny avatars.

A dark chocolate bunny, and a milk chocolate wolf.

"Milk chocolate with a little bite to it."

Saturday April 16, Club Cutlass had it's Easter Party.

With numerous bunny avatars present.

Sunday April 17, it was Easter Sunday. And the Bouncing Bunny Beach Club would have an Easter event.

"Hangin With My Peeps."

There was something "egg" strordinary going on at Burning Man - Deep Hole.

There was an exhibit on Ukrainian Psyanky eggs.

But this egg broke easily.

There was a special egg, that was about to be cooked.

A bit more than over-easy.

Looks like it was all shell, and no yolk.

Group hug.

And finally, one Christian-themed sim, Peace Child, was having a party that night. The SURL look me to the sim's main entrance.

So I went down the path to the event. 

The party was outside the chapel building.

It was a party that was a mix of humans and some furs, one wearing a "Star Trek" uniform (The Original Series did have one episode with a Christian reference).

"The reason for the season."

It was a fun party.

On a final note, I was late in finishing this article. But better late than never.

Bixyl Shuftan
 

The VWBPE 2022

 
By Gemma Cleanslate

One of the most prestigious international events of the year will open March 31. The Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Event will take place with a jam packed program with events for everyone interested in any way with education. Phoenix Rising is the theme this year. To learn more about the event, presenters and participants visit the website that will answer so many questions. https://www.vwbpe.org/

“The 15th annual Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference will be an online distributed conference happening in multiple virtual spaces. This conference focuses on the use of immersive virtual environments for educational purposes including virtual and augmented reality. 

To the best ability possible, VWBPE provides educational and networking opportunities that are relevant to educational curriculum development utilizing virtual environments and “best practices”. These include

    helping to build community through extension of learning best practices to practical application of those ideas and techniques;
    providing networking opportunities for educators and the communities that help support education; and
    providing access to current innovations, trends, ideas, case studies, and other best practices for educators and the communities that help support education”

I have been hosting at the Gateway, Lecture Halls, Classrooms, Auditorium and other venues through out the extensive regions. This is the fifteenth year of presentations in SL. There is so much to see and absorb during the three days . I am glad it will probably remain open for visitors several days following the close.

Two keynotes are on the program which you can see on the program. Three guests will also address the conference. Workshops will be taking place all over. Fortunately there is a great hud to help you get around as well as many hosts to answer questions and help those not quite familiar with second life.Do not miss a visit to “Lest We Forget” area. Remembrance candles are set out for those who were part of the event in the past and have departed. There is a memorial this year for Ebbe Linden who was one of the guests last year. At the Gateway find the Swag Bag and get lots of information and the hud.

The social aspect is not ignored so there will be parties at the social area often. When one arrives at the entrance to the social area take a left and there is a room filled with free goodies to grab, clothing hats, boots, tee shirts and more. some cute slippers help after being on your feet. I am sure I will be wearing them for the dancing. Proceed to the dance floor where there will be lots of fun with good entertainment.

A hunt is going on during the days for Phoenix eggs. The eggs can be traded in as payment for goodies. You need a special hud for this so remember to go grab one. Check out the directions and go get those eggs! http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VWBPE%20Social%20Lyra/65/224/1717

Sponsors for the event are visible on blocks set a various sites and thanks to Linden Lab for being a Gold Sponsor. They are all listed on the website too. I am looking forward to the whole event . Say hi if you see me at work wearing the title VWBPE Host. Here is the Gateway, the best place to begin your visit and get that Swag.

Many education groups or related to education in Second Life have their own little islands in the sky where some will be hosting events there too but go visit the sites and get information on all each has to offer. Marcel Mosswood, one of our own SL Newser reporters has two such sites to visit. The hud will help you get to each site or ask for assistance. One can also fly or TP from one to another as you see them in the sky. The exhibits are listed separately on the hud.

Here is the entrance to the Gateway! http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VWBPE%20Gateway%20Pyxis/100/128/24

Gemma Cleanslate
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Home and Garden Shopping: Part One

 

By Gemma Cleanslate & Bixyl Shuftan

 It has been a wonderful experience roaming the Home and Garden grounds and shops. There is so many lovely items for the home and all I do is think, “How many prims?” and pass on by.

However I found a shop that has some lovely art pieces. Michiel Bechir has beautiful landscapes from various SL regions and other aspects of Second Life that attract anyone interested in collecting. His vendor offering is a subtle photo of a photographer getting ready to snap that picture.

I love the setup there where he has a photo of himself as photographer taking photos with an antique camera. Drop by and enjoy. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hope%202/38/63/23

Gemma Cleanslate

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There's plenty to shop for at the RFL Home and Garden. Among the things you can get is artwork, which Gemma found. But there's much more. At Terry Wardark's Warhorse store, I found a pottery fountain. 

The water flows from the jar on the top to three brass bowls, each pouring water to what's below it, in the case of the bottom one to the fountain base. The water is continually in motion, and you can hear the sounds of it pouring. In real life, this would be accomplished by a small pump moving water from the basin up to the jar.

The pottery fountain costs 450 Linden dollars, with 100% going to the Relay for Life, and has a land impact of 7.

You can find the Warhorse store at. Hope 2/(11/121/25). 

Stay tuned for more examples of items.
 
Bixyl Shuftan