SL11B: Auditorium on Fascinate

This was one of the lovlier stages, with two parts - a front and a back. I had wanted to attend a bunch of events, but I lost track of the calendars and then lost track of my week.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Location: Auditorium on Fascinate
Light Settings: TOR, DUSK Fairytale glow

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

SL11B: Despite all my Gauge, I'm still just a Fae in a Cage

I love cage dresses. I have a bunch of them, but they are much rarer to find across the grid since mesh hit - largely because by they're very definition they cannot easily be rigged. The cage part of this The Library dress isn't rigged, which means it continues to make interesting shapes around my thighs and calves no matter how I'm posed, and I fell in love the second I saw it. The bodysuit is rigged; I'm wearing the small, which was smaller in the bust and larger in the rear end than my normal shape. The bum shape in particular is very fine - high enough to seem sexy and be striking, but not so high that it looks like things should be hanging out. I love the rivets up the front and holding the skirt to the waist, and I completely adore the narrow wire of the cage skirt. The entire outfit has a really industrial feel, so I tried to soften and make it more fey using curvy, curly, clothy accessories. First the french hood - which is a release from Aisling I picked up a while ago and dates back to the Tudor era in style. It's built more like a crown or a headband, without the usual veil, and it has a lovely trim of pearls which drapes over your hair and leaves a single bead on the forehead. It reminds me of Florence for some reason (maybe the pearls?), and it was a headdress style which traveled across the European Continent and all the way to England as well, thanks to Anne Boleyn. Blessedly, this gorgeous hood comes with a color changing HUD, which means I will probably indulge in wearing it many more times in the future since I can match it up to so much of my inventory.

The Wasabi Pills hair I paired the hood with was a simple style with a part in front, but wasn't the usual completely pulled back style of the Sixteenth Century. I love it's simple, curved back style which lets me show off one of my earrings, from Bliensen + MaiTai, and highlights the matching necklace. Wasabi Pills has been adding in lovely wisps of hair which make the styles feel much more natural - less like something fresh from a stylist and more like a person pushing their hair back and heading out into the world. I fell in love with the Bliensen + MaiTai spirals, and the metal width is reminiscent of the cage skirt I'm wearing which also bringing in a curved edge. I love how the swirls fade together and change direction, and the curve of a circle through my earlobe. The swirl is echoed in my other hardware, also from Aisling but this time in a more fantasy mesh shape, and echoed again in these amazing shoes from Lassitude & Ennui. Clearly, this is pure evidence that they love me, because in addition to all of the usual lovely shades of shoe, Lassitude & Ennui made Rainbow Shoes. Rainbow. Shoes. Nevermind that they are also swirly, and curly, and lovely, and have delicate heels which make it clear anyone who is anyone would have wings. I don't even have words for how much I want these shoes on my feet forever; it's as if someone wonderful went into my brain, took out a dream, and then handed it to me - what bliss!

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: Izzie's, Irene
Sparkles: Folly, Rainbow Sheen
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Ellie
Hat: Aisling, Godelieve
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Damned, Rainbow
Lipstick: Mock, Brown Sugar
Wings: Una, Steampunk Wing
Hands & Feet: SLink, Rigged Mesh Hands & Feet
Nails: Nine Inch Nails, Ying & Yang
Jewelry: Bliensen + MaiTai, Voluta
Bracers: Aisling, Lady of Highgarden
Clothing: The Library, Iron Maiden
Shoes: Lassitude & Ennui, Fey Sandals

Pose: Ploom

Location: DJ Stage on Impressive
Light Settings: Sim Default
Water Settings: Sim Default

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

SL's 11th Birthday: DJ Stage on Impressive

Impressive is built as a secret bunker by some sort of scientist - perhaps this is the secret lair of Carlos, built in between dates with his adoring Cecil. What I love the most about it is how the fans in the roof were done, however, with light shining through it and gently spinning. The effect was striking, and when I went back to to a fashion shoot there, I took full advantage. One thing which struck me was how well materials were used as well - subtle and never overpowering, but there was an added realism to the look which really blew me away.

To either side of the massive dance floor are the exists, which curve through the rock and have control centers and enormous, mysterious machinery looking things. This build is the most obviously dystopic of the stages, but I quite like the feel of playing in the Evil Overlord's Secret Bunker while she's away.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Location: DJ Stage on Impressive
Light Settings: Phototools, Build 002

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

SL's 11th Birthday: Beguile

There are four different paths to follow to take in all of the Second Life Hunt Prizes - shown at the Official Page, each with their own starting point, though I ended up doing some of them backwards. I've taken the precaution of numbering the exhibits for easy reference; the sheer volume can be rather overwhelming, and each sim will be covered individually as I go. Names of exhibits and exhibitors found here.

Northern Trail ( Wonderous / Beguile )

Western Trail ( Spellbound / Astound )

Southern Trail ( Fascinate / Pizzazz )

Eastern Trail ( Enchant / Spectacular )

1. Dressage in SL: Olympic Horse Sports for the horse avatar in SL by H0neyHeart Resident. HUNT STOP - 6 PRIZES. Place for doing dressage and information about horses in Second Life.

2. DragOn Science by Vinhold Starbrook. HUNT STOP. Some kind of test chamber on the second floor - you have to wear a HUD to get there and need media on a prim to see what to do.

3. HHVET Victoriana by SnakeLady Melody. HUNT STOP. FREE GIFTS. Large building - the doorway is around the corner from your path. Information in the sim inside.

4. Blue Lotus Okiya portal to our world by Aryanna DeCuir. HUNT STOP. Doorway is on the opposite side from your path. Lovely enclosed Japanese garden.

5. Dare to Dream by Tori Landau. HUNT STOP. FREE GIFTS. Gated Garden - doorway is facing the doorway for Victoriana.

6. Crossroads – Transylvania by Night WOD/VTM by Ravenal Ashby.Large, gothic building - doorway is on the right edge.

7. The Art Of Thinking by Daruma Resident. Walls are phantom. Black on black labyrinth inside with white words.

8. GOHA; Today & Tomorrow by Ashlene McMinnar. FREE GIFTS. Hockey rink inside of snowscape.

9. Harambee Gwassi-Kenya Project by Loredana Loring. TON OF FREE GIFTS. HUNT STOP. Images of Kenyan women plus some inspirational quotes and a lovely, knitted tree (possibly a sacred Mae tree?) in the middle of a courtyard.

10. Confederation of Democratic Simulators by patroklus murakami. HUNT STOP. Banks of buildings with two floors.

11. The Bubble by Sunshine / Yellow Core.Large bubble full of pictures.

12. THE TREE OF LIFE by Caro Fayray. HUNT STOP. Art exhibit.

13. SL11B -  Sluniverse Community by Robert Jung. HUNT STOP. Pool party and information.

14. The Avilion Pavilion by Suzie Sewell. Click a sign for information and FREE STUFF.

15. Field of Dreams: Our Journey and Beyond by Landon Edenbaum. HUNT STOP. Baseball diamond with pictures to one side.


16. Building for the future by Dimitri Mint. FREE GIFTS. Large blue building.

17. House of Dun by Vain Adder. HUNT STOP. Walk through the picture of a house front to reach the back.

18. Philomenaville Welcomes You to the New Century by Mistletoe Ethaniel. HUNT STOP. Displays about various things with examples and information.

19. Vernacular Visions by Indea Vaher. Folk and outsider art. Door on the opposite side from your path.

20. Ruca Tease Island by bonadea avedon. Island view with small cabana.

21. Noosphere by Attica Bekkers. Large, silver sphere with "zoo" on one side and pretty colors inside.

22. Creations Park ~ Creations for Parkinson’s by Barbie Alchemi. HUNT STOP. Move theater with video of person with Parkinsons helped by SL, and link to a hunt on their sim.

23. Second Life Spanish by Wilson Voight. Pyramid with information about scheduling and free classes.

24. The Sim Scouts – Creating Tomorrows Leaders Today by OliverRed. HUNT STOP. Camp Alanshee information.

25. An Adventure In Time and Space by April Kohl. Cakeland(?) information and muffin and cake puns.

26. Childhood Imagination by Matthew Querrien. Raised playground.

27. Whole-Brain Health by Lissena Wisdomseeker. HUNT STOP couldn't find prize. Click to enter - you get out by walking downstairs but there are lots of floors. Advertising about tasks available here and at their sim, including a "Community of Elders" for SL Residents older than fifty offline, a butterfly hunt for words of wisdom, and a Hero's Fortune spinner.

28. East River Community by Elisha Paklena. Information about the sims associated with the community.

29. The Grey School of Wizardry by Logan Porterfield. HUNT STOP. Entrance on the opposite side from your path. Symbolism hunt. "The Grey School of Wizardry teaches about real Magick." Does not seem to be an RP sim.

30. Deutsche Volkshochschule – vhs in virtueller Welt, by Chiria Celt. Information about various future opportunities across the grids in English and German.

31. A Dollhouse Dream by Monavie Voight. HUNT STOP. Small house with a lovely river in front of it. Front of it facing away from your path.

32. Mystic Empire of Life by eternalestrange. FREE GIFTS. The entire exterior is phantom; inside is food-based decorations on three levels with gifts on the second level.

33. Dreams: Still Lighting the Way by Kelyren Benoir. Large building with enormous, lighthouse style top. Advertizing for an ADHD Support Group on Tuesdays at 6PM SLT.

34. Plot 25 Yooma Mayo by yooma mayo. Art display from Chaotic Parade.

35. Pencil Dresses & How far they have come! by Alejandra Jumanya. HUNT STOP. Images of mesh pencil skirts.

36. Jenna McKlis’s new Concepts by mcklis70 Resident. HUNT STOP couldn't find prize. Series of rides and an observatory at a top level.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Location: Beguile
Light Settings: AnaLutetia, AvatarOp whiter

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

SL's 11th Birthday: Live Stage on Astonish

The Live Stage has live events only, usually an individual or small group showcasing their talent. It's a completely gorgeous build that does well on a variety of windlights, and the textures are rough and look penciled in - an impressive effect in three dimensions. Aki Shichiroji, the designer, built a sunken stage with an industrial feel; the ramps and steps down have some muted glow and combine with the textures and vents sending steam into the air, the effect is dystopic. The tall pillars backing the build are reminiscent of some of the more interesting skyscrapers that have been built in the last few years, and large tubes move smoothly and mysteriously over the land, their contents unseen.

The stage itself is the most impressive part of the build, though. Standing many ties the size of the avatars which surround it, a masked-faced robot stands with palms outstretched for performers t stand upon. When we came upon the build as a press group, almost everyone focused on those amazing hands, with nails larger than some avatars, and her open, generous palms. The facelessness reinforces the sense of subtle dystopia, though; the robot may be quiescent for the moment, but how long can that last?

In any case, while she remains peaceful, check out the events on hand at the Official Website (live events in Red).

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Location: Live Stage on Astonish
Light Settings:TOR, BIG SUN Slips through walls 5

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

SL's 11th Birthday: Cake Stage

The Cake Stage holds a mixture of live and DJ events, and has been built for a combination of listening and dancing. Since it's on the mid point of two sims, it can hold much larger crowds than any other venue at the Birthday Celebration. It is best viewed on a night setting with Advanced Lighting Model on, if you can manage it. The designer, Loki Eliot, has done previous notable projects for past Birthday events, including the Behemoth which gained a lot of attention last year and had a really fun hunt included. He did astonishing things with light both inside and outside of the futuristic build. It shows up best against a very dark backdrop because everything is made up of moving light, which manages to be impressive both moving and in stills - not an easy feat by any means.

Long bridges lead into the stage area from the surrounding sims, giving it a sprawling sense despite being smaller than some previous Cake Stages, which were on the meeting of four corners instead of two halfs. It has a less staged and more club feel to it, with a large, open dance floor that goes up several meters with mostly unobstructed views. In addition to the floor level for dancing, there are glowing platforms in the air to stand on and a few boxes that can serve as seats stuck to the walls. In between the boxes, one for each sim, there are two long window viewing rooms, complete with glowing seats and "free stuff" coins. Within the coins are a couple of backpacks, one made for breasts (thought smaller breasts than mine by far) and a whole selection of glowsticks which leave particles behind, and are really neat.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Location: Cake Stage on Astound and Enchant
Light Settings: TOR, BIG SUN Eats night

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only