A Look at The Christmas Expo

By Gemma Cleanslate

The Relay’s Christmas is open for shopping, fun , building snowmen and riding through the sims on the sweetest horses. There are more than forty merchants displaying their wares. Some are in old New York shops along the avenues. Some have elected  large shops. As you wind down the various streets in and snow laden roads in the four sims there is a lot to see. Breedables occupy one region. A huge skating pond occupies the center of the four sims.  

Look for the Build a Snowman contest. It is a fun contest that takes place every year . That is S.I.D. waiting for snowmen.

”  Pick your spot in the snowman building area and start rolling that snow.  Simple, fancy, classic, wild… it is up to you what you do with your 30 prims. You have from Dec 1 – 5 to build your snowman, voting is held December 6 – 9  and winners are announced during a special Snowman Party  Sunday, Dec 9, 2017.  There are 2 categories –  Judges Picks and the Popular Vote, which is determined by donations to the Relay For Life Kiosk beside your snowman. 100% proceeds goes to Relay For Life of Second Life.”    

Be creative!!! Here is the place for that fun. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Oxford%20Street/112/251/26

Santa will be roaming around and will be happy to hear your requests for gifts and to take  a picture with you . You might run into me . I am an elf also roaming and greeting .

The Christmas tree lot has so many gorgeous trees that were created just for the Expo. Get one or more. There are three !! This year the Breedables are having a silent auction all week but a live auction on the 10th of December. Gotyas are available too.

Expect parties and live perfomers too. It is a great week and the  sl Relay for Life will hopefully  earn money for cancer research and help for those experiencing the trauma in this season of giving. This is the entrance on the skating pond at one of the sims. Check the map so you don’t miss any areas.  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Blvd%20Saint%20Germain/253/227/22 

Gemma Cleanslate

The Snowman Contest and the Holidays For Hope Ball

By Bixyl Shuftan

The Relay for Life Christmas Expo wasn't over until Monday. But Sunday December 13 was the high point of the festival. This was a day of events such as the conclusion of the snowman contest, and the Holidays for Hope Ball.

Those taking part in the contest paid a 500 Linden dollar fee, with cash prizes going to the winners. Voting was done by donating Lindens to the kiosk next to the entry you wanted. Some of the entries were fairly conventional, such as this one sitting down next to a Santa sack.

Would this guy be an "Ice Pirate?" Yo ho ho and a keg of rum.

This one was a tribute to the new "Star Wars" movie out.

And this one, either the builder was from the big city, or a "Calvin and Hobbes" fan.

"Welcome to Atlanta." Looks like this snowman didn't survive his trip.

That dalek isn't part of the display, but someone in an avatar. But he certainly gave a new angle to this entry.

Now this snowman looks downright creepy, something out of a Lovecraftian story. You don't want to end up "Alone in the Dark" with that.

And then there was this one. Cuddly Waffle called it, "very cute. This was a snowman who was taking a break from the cold and somehow managed not to melt!" Maybe he was on a beach in Alaska.

 I would later hear that this snowman, built by Thathy Slade, was the winner. Second place went to the green tentacled horror by Eclair Martinek. ArianaAstro Resident's snowman came in third. A total of 80,000 Linden dollars would be raised by the snowman contest.

Soon it was time for "the Grand Finale Event of the 2015 Christmas Expo," the Holidays for Hope Ball. This would be the sixth time this annual event had taken place. It would be held in a double ballroom.

The ballroom was created by Darkstone Aeon and the event was sponsored by T-1 Radio.

Dozens would show up at the event.

Formal attire was requested, though not a hard requirement.

There were two people in Santa outfits on the dance floor, one of whom was the one doing Santa duty at the Expo. Maybe one can call this scene "dueling Santas."

A fun time was had by all. Trader Whiplash would later announce the festival had raised over two million Linden dollars.

Congratulations To Nuala Maracas and the Expo Staff for a Job More than Well Done.. .. For an Expo that was not just a fund raising success but was a wonderful place to visit -AND- L$ 2,108,062 or $ 8,432.

And so, the 2015 Relay for Life Christmas Expo is now over. But the Relayers are not despairing. In a few months will be the the start of the official Relay for Life season. And once again, their fun-filled antics will resume.

Bixyl Shuftan

Volunteering For The Expo

By Gemma Cleanslate

 For the past two weeks I have been a volunteer “elf” in the Christmas expo sims. I have been skating around all the   sims trying to help with any preparations I could before the opening. The builders have done such a marvelous job to make the regions just glow with the winter settings and the lovely marketplace shops. It truly looks like a German marketplace ready, filled with goodies to buy from furniture to fashion and fun things for the stockings. Merchants have out done themselves filling their stores and stalls with all kinds of enticements. I am not only shopping already but also picking up the gifts in the naughty and nice boxes placed in many of the shops (sorry to say I guess I have been  naughty ... but will try again later , since we get a second chance).

Along the snow covered roadways there is a trolley running all the time so you can hop on and off at many stops in all the sims. Get yourselves into the centers of the sims too. Christmas trees are for sale in some of them so take a look before you leave one sim to go to the other. The entertainment area is all set up ready for the many shows and dancing and Santa has a place there too. I have already attended a couple of skating parties with great music! Over on other side of all the sims are the breedable regions where you can take your pick of all types of critters. There will be auctions for some of the critters and a myriad of other items . RelayVendors with donated items from the merchants are hung on the walls in all the shops and when you buy these items you are actually donating all the money to the Relay so look for them.  

I applaud all those who have worked so hard to make this a success, the planning committee, the builders, the sim coordinators, who have worked (sleeplessly I think), and the many other volunteers, the Merchants who participate with great generosity and especially the Sponsors of the event. Those who love hunts don’t miss the bells, there are signs around to remind you.  

It is fun being an elf. I get to see all the progress as it unfolds. Look for me ... I might be near Santa at times in the entertainment sim unless I am skating from sim to sim to help, or shop! Check the website for all the information you will ever need! http://slchristmasexpo.wordpress.com/2014/12/03/2014-sl-christmas-expo-winter-breedables-fair-guidebook/

Gemma Cleanslate

Scenes From The Relay For Life Christmas Expo

From December 5 to today December 15th, the Christmas Expo has taken place. Sponsored by the Relay For Life, the event has raised funds for The American Cancer Society through both donations in kiosks, and goods offered for sale with the proceeds going to the charity. But the expo was more than just shopping. The scenery was picturesque, and there were a number of music events.

A few maps were around to show people where to go in the four sim shopping area.  There were also a few sims to the east.

 More than seventy merchants provided goods of all kinds, especially Christmas-themed ones.

 And there were a few places to stop and warm oneself when just looking around.

The snow-covered cobblestone streets made for a scene out of an old-time Christmas story.

 The inside of the shops involved much scenery too.

 But there was more to do than just shop. One could just walk around and enjoy the scenery.

 The Gazebo, where a number of music events took place, the tunes broadcasted over T-1 Radio.

 One could walk, or one could ski.

 The online newsletter Prim Perfect, by Saffia Widdershins, was also there.

 At 2PM Dec 10th, I came across a discussion.

Saffia's subject was the "Urchins of Babbage," talking to Jimmy Branagh, and Myrtil Igaly. Jimmy is also a member of the Steelhead community. They talked quite a bit about their adventures.

Relayer Dwen Dooley pranced around in a deer avatar, or sat down. The dark unicorn Avariel Falcon was also walking around.

Another look at the Gazebo, from a musical bash on Thursday Dec 12 by DJ Mandy.

Mandy the Elf has taken over the airwaves here at the Expo. She's got a backpack full of gifts, and a playlist full of terrific Christmas songs for all of you. Come in your holiday best and join the fun!

And boys and girls could also sit on Santa's lap to let him know what one wanted for Christmas. But the girls didn't necessarily have to be little.

 

On Saturday Dec 14th, the "Holidays of Hope Ball" took place from 4 to 8 PM.

Trader Whiplash and Nula Maracas provided the music for the event, of which Victorian Age wear was encouraged as to give the look of the "Dickens Fantasy" theme.

There was a raffle at the Ball, which was won by Chevelly SilentGhost and Kerri Imari Criss.

It was an event enjoyed by all.

Today December 15th marks the last day of the event. So there is one more day to enjoy the scenery and the music. And events such as the Avi Choice awards.

Bixyl Shuftan