Luskwood and Trotsdale's Anniversary Celebrations

By Bixyl Shuftan

Luskwood is the oldest known furry community in Second Life, probably the oldest community still around. It was founded in September 2003, just a few months after the virtual world was officially opened. They've been pioneers in many ways, including the first line of furry avatars, and the founders and been around longer than practically all of the Lindens. Trotsdale is Second Life's best known and largest pony community, fans of the "My Little Pony" cartoon. The community's current sims came about in September 2011 shortly after the collapse of the original ones. Luskwood has celebrated its anniversary in October, and beginning last year Trotsdale began having it's anniversary at the same time.

LW14B/TD6B/DL5B Celebration
It's anniversary time!
Luskwood has been around 14 years!
Oldest community in Second Life.
Trotsdale is having its 6th anniversary and Derpyland their 5th as the oldest running Pony Sims.

On Saturday October 21, both communities had their anniversary events. Like last year, Trotsdale would go first. But instead of one hour of music, the ponies had four. Derpyland, one of the other pony sims, used to celebrate it's own anniversary up to it's fourth a year ago. But it was decided this year to combine their efforts and expand the Trotsdale event. At 12 Noon SL time, DJ Cassandra started up the music, and it was party time on a disco dance floor that a distance away was obscured a bit by a Halloweenish dark mist.

Contrary to what one might expect, there was little music from the cartoons. Instead there was trance, 80s rock, and other kinds of tunes. There was a 'sploder in the room. Unlike most around Second Life, no one had to contribute a Linden to it to be eligible for a prize, so it was a few free Linden dollars given out to several residents every time it went off about every ten minutes. There was no tip jar next to the DJ booth. If anyone wanted to pay a tip, it was suggested they instead put a few Lindens into the sim payment fund board nearby. Later in the Trotsdale events, there was a "Caption This" game in which people were invited to make up captions to various pictures.

There were a number of people I recognized. Some I knew from Luskwood, such as Death Berger, and the popular Michi Lumin. Michi wasn't in the black stovepipe hat with goggles and black pants with purple suspenders I had kept seeing her in, but a burgundy dress and her hair dyed a shade of burgundy as well. During the event, she would briefly change to a pony form which had a smaller version of the hat. One person I recognized from a year earlier at Luskwood was Tiger Kitchensink, or "Pumpkin Spice Soprano" as she calls herself now. Some neighbors of mine from the Sunweaver/Angel Estates, such as Skylark Lefavre, were also there.

At 1PM, Cassandra handed the DJ booth to DC (Death Berger) to play for an hour. At 2PM, DJ Crayzee spun the tunes until 3PM. Finally came DJ Cera, who played for the last scheduled hour. As Cera played her last tune, people began heading over to Luskwood for it's events. Once the hour was up, Skylark offered to DJ for those who remained behind, and the ponies were happy to let her play some music for a little while longer.

The Luskwood half of the celebrations that day, the LW14B, began at the Retroskunk Cafe, located in northern Tehama southeast of the Lusk sim, at 4PM SL time. Shannon O'Herlihy was the singer at this event at the open-air venue, which had some fallen autumn leaves on the wood deck, on which a mix of furs, ponies, and human avatars listened to. Mounted to the side was a poster of the event, the Luskwood symbol in grey in the middle of a triangle with some lines from a document of some kind, some words blacked out, and stamped "Classified" in onr corner. In this conspiracy/secrecy theme, some had taglines such as Michi's "Double Agent," and Shannon was refered to in one or two of Luskwood's announcements as "Agent 0014."

We're very lucky to once again have Shannon O'Herlihy performing for the Luskwood birthday celebration! Shannon will be onstage performing her gorgeous music at the RetroSkunk Cafe in Tehama (landmark included) from 4-5 PM SLT today, to be followed by Keeba Tammas at the Amphitheater at 5.

Shannon sang for a while, then at 5PM the people headed over to the Luskwood Amphitheater in Perry. This location would see the most of the celebration time, two hours. From 5 to 6PM, Keeba Tammas and her Tiny Maniacs played for the crowd. This live band of a human and several tinies got cheers from the crowd, "My face is hurting from smiling too hard.  I love this!" "~*~ W00T!! It's KEEBA! W00t! W00T! KEEEEEBAAAAA!!!~*~" Some of the tinies were in costume, including a ghost, skeleton, "rattle dose bones!", and vamp. Keeba herself was wearing a "Bride of Frankenstein" hairdoo and a bloodied dress.

When the act was over, they got off stage and the tinies did a "tiny riverdance," with the sounds of stepping feet. Someone wasn't so sure if the structure could take even their small feet, "I'm not sure this balcony can handle riverdancing." But after the footwork, there was something missing, "Ohoh morton, someone stole your blue suede shoe." "Look, they gone." "We hafta buy him sum new wuns."

Woot, we're playing at 6pm for Luskwood's 14th birthday, and Trotsdale's 6th!  It's a bit laggy due to all the folks but hope you can make it.

At 6PM, the live music duo Jaycatt Nico and Frogg Marlowe got on stage. But they weren't in their usual feline and amphibian avatars. Instead, they looked like shaggy monsters, Jaycat the pianist as a white creature, and Frogg the guitarist as a black one with a huge mouth that looked more like he was eating the guitar than playing it: Specimens E92 and E30. "I am doing things for SCENICE!" Jaycatt tried to explain. Frogg responds, "No, things are being done TO you for SCIENCE!" "They said I'd get a cookie," Jaycat stated as his reason for volunteering, "when the testing starts, I hopes there is no needles."

Keeba, who was still around and listening, exclaimed, "no one said there would be testing! I was told there would be no math!" Michi gave an uncharacteristically sinister laugh, "Just a little pin prick. Keeba. there'll be no more... aaaa-aa-aah." "You can't test on my band! NO ANIMAL TESTING!" But not all of the tinies were alarmed, "Wot awesome monster up dere." Despite their very different forms, Jaycatt and Frogg would go on to play the good music they're known for.

At 7PM, it was time for the last act of the celebration. The crowd headed to a "Restricted Area" somewhere in Perry. The place was a mock-up of the legendary "Area 51" government facility that the authorities continue to refuse to acknowledge whether it exists or not. Nearby was a flying saucer abducting a cow and a smaller building in which an alien was on an examination table. There were a few other aliens about, including one next to a "take me with you" sign wearing a tinfoil hat. And there were "No Trespassing" and "Photography Prohibited" signs which were ignored by the crowd.

Haley Maruti, the busty squirrelgirl DJ, spun the tunes for the event, next to an alien with his own DJ headphones, "Dig through the ditches and burn all the witches and eat a big bowl of Count Chocula!" The floor was packed, and occasionally a 'sploder like the one for the Trotsdale parties would rain down a few Lindens on a few partiers. There was also a bomb, presumably defused, hanging from the ceiling. Behind the DJ booth was a mounted shark's head, not something normally associated with a military facility.

Besides Michi, Liam Roark was there, but he was becoming less active due to sleepiness. Others I recognized included Hagalaz Nilsson, Fury Rosewood, Tengu Yamabushi, and Ardy Lay. Cynthia Farshore, a friend of the Newser, came by, "Just left another place that was steampunk having a 7th annual Halloween ball, and (it) had half the size of this. ... Glad I made it here to see this first hand, was really busy tonight, first DJed a club, then ran over to another to dance, then drop in here" People danced to the music, chatted about things like what happened to the Munsters, or looked at photos of Luskwood's early years on the back wall.

The event had no set ending time, but as it went on and on, people began heading to bed. Eventually, Halley had to hang up her headphones, "Gonna need to pass out soon, but goodness this was a fun time tonight." Michi kept up the music a little longer. But unlike some previous anniversary celebrations, she couldn't stay up past Midnight. Well before that time, she told everyone she had to log off, saying she had to make a trip tomorrow. And with the popular but tired skunkgirl gone, the crowd soon dwindled to a few. The party was pretty much over.

But for those who missed the event, don't fret too much. Luskwook is sure to have some goings-on at Halloween. And next year marks Luskwood's fifteenth anniversary  And Second Life's oldest community will have it's pride on the line to make their celebration grander than ever.

"Happy Birthday Luskwood!"

Bixyl Shuftan

Trotsdale's Third Birthday Celebration With Musicians Jaycatt and Frogg

By Bixyl Shuftan

 Last Saturday, September 20th, the Trotsdale pony sim celebrated its third anniversary, with a party high above the sim. A few dozen locals in their characteristic "My Little Pony" avatars, along with some visitors from Luskwood and other places danced away to the music of a live performance by Jaycatt Nico and Frogg Marlowe.

"Frogg and Jaycatt are now playing at Trotsdale's third birthday here at Trodsdale Heights. After F+J, Suri will be DJing, and we're going into the night."

Michi Lumin, one of Luskwood's founders, was among the two-legged visitors helping to celebrate.

The locals came out in pony avatars large and small, one whom dressed up for the occasion.

Eventually Jaycatt and Frogg finished their routine, and the audience applauded, "Thanks for the the music-ings!" "It would be nice to see you two perform at Trotdsale more regularly." "Thanks again, Jay, Frogg." "Thanks for playing F&J you two are awesome." "Hopefully we don't have to wait till next year to hear you guys again." "Dont' worry, Trotsdale has a catch and release policy for musicians I'm sure."

There were a few comments about making the pair honorary ponies, "We could declare them already ponies by fiat," as the tender part of a horse's hoof was sometimes called a "frog," "We're walking on our frogs." That got a few chuckles from Frogg Marlowe, "never heard that before! Cool!" There were also a few jokes about their avatars being contagious, "You will get ponied in your sleep. It happens." "Unleash the ponification ray!" "... ponification isn't required, it just sorta ... happens around here (grin)."

Jaycatt and Frogg thanked the crowd for their well wishes, "It was a lot of fun." "Always glad to be a part of special occasions like this ... Thank you all so much!" Then they headed out as the local DJ,  DJ Dash (shurikenangel), began playing, "Thanks again everyone. Happy anniversary Trostdale!" Michi also headed out, "Thanks everyone for being here and I'll be back later tonight. But mostly, thanks for three years of this, putting up with our growing pains, and the changing pony sim scene, and sticking by. It really is appreciated, and you guys being here is what makes this possible."

*Addition* I later chatted with Michi. It seems she's not exactly just a friend to Trotsdale, but the owner of the place. She told me she was co-owner for a time, then made full owner.

Bixyl Shuftan

Luskwood's Tenth Birthday Party

By Bixyl Shuftan


The name Luskwood means different things. To some, it's a social platform where one can pretty much count on someone always being there. To others, it's the original furry avatar company, the one who laid the groundwork for all others and is still around. To another group, it's the oldest furry community in Second Life, possibly the oldest community of any avatar type still around, and where many furs (and a few not so furry) got their start in Second Life. Luskwood is all of these things, and more. And it recently celebrated a milestone very few places in Second Life can boast. It was ten years ago when the place came to be. And on October 19th, Luskwood held it's tenth anniversary party.

 The celebration wasn't held at the Big Tree, but was held on a special platform over three thousand meters high. Designed by Eo Fenstalker and Kumba Digfoot, the place had a trippy, glowly look that was set at nighttime. Aside from the avatar vendors there, presumably partily to keep the illusion of this being the regular place transformed and partially for anyone wanting to make a purchase, it looked very different from how the Big Tree usually is. And indeed not having checked the landmark, my first thoughts were wondering what had happened to the place.

 A small entrance platform was connected to a main platform much like the one on the Big Tree, which was connected to a stage platform. Live music acts performed on the stage, while DJs performed at the main platform on a glowly DJ booth. The crowd mostly followed where the music was. There was a box of glowsticks for people to take one, which added to the rave-like glowly light look of the place. There were also some free hats to take, a tenth anniversary baseball cap, plus a "fox hat" that resembled the top half of Luskwood's symbol.

From Noon SL time to 1 PM, Keeba Tammas performed on stage, followed by David Csiszer from 1 to 2PM. From two in the afternoon to 3:30PM, Alazarin Mondrian and the Invisible Band was on stage. After a brief intermission, the action moved to the main platform at 4PM where DJ Zairo performed. At 6PM, the crowd moved back to the stage to see Shannon Oherlihy on stage. At 7PM were Jaycatt and Frogg, who do live performances at Luskwood every month. Following "Effnjay" at 8PM was squirrelgirl DJ Haley. And from 11PM to 1AM, DJ Soul spun the tunes late in the night.

The place was packed with over fifty avatars in the sim while I was there, and presumably it was so during the whole time of the party. There were furry avatars of all kinds, Lusk and otherwise, including some heavily modified such as an eight foot tall huskygirl. There were also a number of pony and human avatars present. Present were the four founders, Arito Cotton, Eltee Statosky, Liam Roark, and the popular Michi Lumin. Most were there just part of the time, but Michi was around the whole time I was there.

There were also a number of Luskwood's "Core," or helpers present, such as Furry Rosewood, Tengu Yamabushi, Dougal Jacobs, and Ardy Lay. Beatfox Xevious, known for his design of flexible tails when they were new on the Grid, had been taking a break from Second Life, but made an appearance at this special party.

As the party went on, there was quite a bit of chatter and jokes. The "fox hat" became a source of humor as people playfully debated whether  or not it was redundant for someone in a fox avatar to wear one. Then Michi put one on, but not wanting to part with her top hat put the second hat over it. The result was hilarity, "Oh my God! Michi's hat is wearing a hat! IT'S ALIVE!!!" And some hilarious stunts in the past were brought up, such as "Dougal's Milkshake."

And like many times before, prizes were given out in this anniversary. These were Linden cash prizes given out at random, and usually with a humorous comment. They started out small, at 100 Lindens, and as time went on, the amounts went up, from 250 to 500 Lindens. After 9PM SL time, the prizes became 750, and then one thousand Lindens. After Midnight SL time, five people who stuck it out were lucky enough to get 5000 prizes, Lily Rothschild, Slicky Oh, Braya White, Starywarrior18 Resident, and Viener (Vienersnitzel Resident), "It sounds a bit wrong to say i'm paying L$5000 to a Viener (vienersnitzel), but 'ere it is."

Michi and I talked a little via IM. Michi was busy as the popular skunkgirl is often deluded with dozens of calls, but she talked a little, part of the conversation allowed on the record. Of the original Lindens all but gone from the Lab, Michi commented there were "four Lindens who still know who we are, but I'm sure most of them are rank and file and don't know or don't care what's going on inside. … though 'We're all in this boat together.' So, so it goes." She did promise to protect Luskwood should the Lab's intentions to the residents becomes antagonistic, "I never think anything is a dead end, and I don't quit until its over. … I have a bit of a track record of being a bit of a pit bull and not only in the SL domain.  Whatever comes to pass, I won't take it laying down."

But for the most part, such issues were put aside for the happy occasion. After the last DJ hung up his speakers, Michi was there to put up a stream, "I think we're officially wrapping up here soon. … We've wrapped up but folks are welcome to stay." Dougal pondered the time, "Ten years is 3650 Days. Ten Years is 87,600 hours. Ten years is over 5 million minutes." One quipped, "Add 2 days for leap years, Dougal." "In ten years, the Voyager 1 spacecraft has travelled over 3 billion miles, nearly the distance from Earth to Pluto." There seemed to be signs of a griefer in the distance with a screen-crasher, but it was too far away to affect us, "At least he waited until the party was over."

It was about this time someone noticed among the late partiers was one resident just a couple days onto the Grid. He was happily welcomed to Second Life, and he commented he already had a fantastic beginning. Dancing near Michi, someone joked about the irony of a newcomer dancing with one of Lusk's Founders, an "old and the new" scene.

The comments continued, "I'm glad I managed to catch the whole thing, and stay to the end." "Thank you all for coming out and celebrating ten awesome years!" "Thanks Lusk for making this party possible." "Thanks for creating beauty... not just visually, but between folks' ears." "Thanks to everyone who came and took part in our celebrations with us." "Yes! Happy 10th! Everyone who's put so much of their lives into bringing us wonderful times." "Tenth Birthday is best birthday!" "Happy 10th Giant Tree!" "Great stuff guys, never seen a party like this in my admittedly limited experience on SL. Thanks for putting it on." "Thank you everyone for the fantastic party all day! Happy 10th BDay Luskwood!" "Congratulations on a Decade Luskwood!" "It was a lot of fun. Thanks to all the DJ's and Lusk for making it happen."

And so, most of those remaining began to head off for bed, "See you all in ten more years. Or is 25 the next big number?" " … if I survive that long I'll be glad to raise a toast with you!" Michi reminded, "There are some things going on tomorrow, like open mic night (smile) and yes, thank you to EVERYONE and everyone who's been a part of this community!"

There was an art show at the base of the big tree, and the next day was a two hour "Open Mike" show at the Retro Skunk Cafe. But these were small compared to the bash that had taken over a dozen people at least to pull off, and attended by who knows how many residents throughout the day. But for those who couldn't make the big bash, or miss the festive feeling, Lusk will be having it's Halloween party on October 26 (warning, Lusk vampire bats have a bite animation already built in).

Luskwood's faced a few challenges over the years, from human avatars who question why a mostly furry place should be right on the mainland (and several sims east of Bay City, to other furries who grumble about the enforced PG atmosphere, A Lab that seems more and more distant, and of course the griefers whom can be so numerous I've heard one Lusk regular joke you're still a newbie at the place until you've witnessed at least one. But the people have handled it all. And so, the Big Tree passed a milestone made only by a handful of sims, and probably the first that has maintained a thriving community.

"Happy 10th Birthday Luskwood!"