The Savoy

 

 By Netera Landar

Enter The Savoy's Ballroom and leave the world behind.

The Savoy Ballroom in Creations Park captures the spirit of the original Savoy in New York City from 1926 to 1958. Ella Fitzgerald performed there in 1934, and Dizzy Gillespie’s Orchestra in the 40s. The ballroom, named after The Savoy Hotel in London, was where new talent could perform, and it was the home of the Savoy Lindy Hoppers, dancers who went on to entertain in Broadway and Hollywood productions. 

In Second Life, the Savoy Ballroom is located in a community that resembles what it must have been like in the past. The designers selected many key elements from the original Savoy and applied Art Deco styling. 

A photograph representing the original Savoy.

“The two stages emulate the one long bandstand where two bands could set up at the same time, and then either could hand off, to continue the entertainment uninterrupted, or to alternate for their ‘Battle of the Bands’ shows,” said Mathew Kosse, who has been managing The Savoy Ballroom on Second Life since 2022. “We chose to include the Taxi Dancer booth and AFK Dancers to give our audience the same experience patrons had back in the heyday of The Savoy. If you didn’t have a date, you could hire a male or female dance partner, so you could do couples dancing.”

Other elements in the virtual representation include the street layout and the naming of Swing Town to evoke the ambiance and vibe, and the Lenox Lounge to highlight its history and Black culture. The actual Lenox Lounge was six to eight blocks away, and the Cotton Club was across the street.

The two stages represent one long bandstand where two bands could set up at the same time, and then either could hand off to continue the entertainment uninterrupted.

Just as the original Savoy Ballroom in Harlem updated its floor and furniture regularly, The Savoy in Second Life is upgraded, as well. 

“The entrance to The Savoy Ballroom was on street level with a wide staircase leading up to the second-floor ballroom, which took up the entire city block,” explained Mathew. “Patrons would walk between the city’s shops on either side, ascend to the upper level, hearing the music pour out onto the street.”

The Savoy hosted as many as 4,000 dancers, which would be impractical to recreate in a virtual world. To showcase The Savoy’s remarkable size, the building team made a themed exhibit using an actual floor plan of The Savoy, scaled to avatar size. You can view the floor plan by entering the foyer and turning right. Click the board, and you’ll be teleported to the floor plan. 

Charice performs on The Savoy's stage.

As for the history of The Savoy in Second Life, it began as Creations Park Swing (CP Swing), part of the Linden Endowment for the Arts (LEA) sim grant to introduce the Dance 101 Class that Carlyle Chaparral created in 2015. CP Swing was one of four installations of the Dance 101 classroom on the Lea sim.

“It originally represented an example of a ‘swing era ballroom’ featuring non-stop swing era music and a 101 Classroom off to the side,” explained Mathew. “When the LEA grant expired at the end of 2016, CP Swing Ballroom was moved to a permanent home at Creations Park thanks to an offer by Barbie Alchemi. In 2018, CP Swing was renamed to Savoy Ballroom to reflect the increasing focus to specifically replicate and educate guests about the original Savoy.”

The creative team for CP Swing and the initial Savoy build included Carlyle, Barbie, and Lesley Jenkins-Singh. The current owners are Carlyle and Mathew (except for the flying, of course).

Dancing the night away on The Savoy's dance floor.

The initial goal of the Dance 101 class was to offer free dance lessons, which happens at the beginning of many real-life dance events. Mathew said that Carlyle and his wife enjoyed dancing in real life, and he wanted to bring that experience to Second Life. 

“The region itself was envisioned by Barbie Alchemi, and its first iteration didn’t include The Savoy. The whole region was designed to be a haven of respite, specifically geared to collecting donations to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Research Foundation. The owner’s father and mother both came down with Parkinson’s Disease, so this charity is near and dear to her heart. If you go into the Swing Era Museum, there’s a slideshow and a video of Barbie and her mom interacting in SL. Fran Seranade was an incredible lady, and her mindset was, ‘If I can do it in SL, I should be able to do it in my real life,” said Matthew. 

Over the years, it evolved, especially in the area where The Savoy is located. The Savoy was a single parcel, but over time, the two streets in front of The Savoy expanded into “Swingtown” as a themed community. 

There are 15 main landmarks. They include, The Clock Tower, The Savoy Ballroom, Castle Alchemi, Unicorn Grove, Atlantis Underwater Paradise, Ethereal Realms Stage, The Party Yacht & Balloon Ride, 50s Dinner & Fran Serenade Art Gallery, Rooftop Art Gallery (above The Savoy) & Swing Era Museum, Shopping District, Children’s Park, Horse Riding Stable, The Cabin & The Poets Gazebo and the Meditation Gazebo. There’s also a Primtionary Game parcel. The landmarks can be reached through the Creations Park Personal TP HUD, available at Givers stationed in the ballroom and around the sim.

“There is one place you can only reach using the TP HUD, and that’s The Ethereal Realms,” said Mathew. “It’s so far in the overhead of the sim that you need to teleport. Everything else is actually accessible by exploring.”

Another feature of the TP HUD is a partnership with more than two dozen other clubs, art galleries, and clothing shops. They are represented on the HUD. Scroll through the pictures, select one, and you will be brought to the location.

As for entertainment, Mathew updates the schedule weekly. The main reason for these changes is that The Savoy regularly attracts singers, musicians, and DJs interested in performing there. Matthew also invites singers to go on The Savoy’s stage.

“Over a 3-year span, we’ve gone from 2 DJs to 30 entertainers. That includes 15 singers, 1 musician, and 13 DJs, some of whom perform multiple shows per week. Plus, we have 4 regular hostesses,” Mathew added that additional hostesses are needed to keep up with the busy schedule.

When you arrive, you’ll hear the house stream playing original swing, ElectroSwing, Jazz, Latin, Rockabilly, and eclectic tunes. Scheduled live events with singers and DJs include various genres.

The dress code for live events can be casual or formal, depending on the singer. You should always be dressed appropriately.

The Lenox Lounge and other businesses in front of The Savoy.

“The whole concept behind Creations Park was that it was built with love. I felt it the first time I stumbled into The Savoy, and then wandered around exploring the region,” said Mathew. “Honestly, anyone who comes here, stops for a moment to breathe and looks around…they’ll experience that same sense of awe and comfort. I felt it every single time I came back. Once I met Barbie Alchemi and Carlyle Chaparral, I recognized who had poured their love into fashioning it. They set the standard, making it easy to follow in their footsteps.”

Netera Landar

Hopeby Village

 

By Netera Landar

Chard and Stevie Hope created a roleplay sim rooted in the warmth, tradition, and the quiet magic of British village life.  Hopeby represents an East Yorkshire village in the rural county in the north of England. 

Find out what's on the menu at Hopeby Cafe and Sweets.

“East Yorkshire was a natural choice, as it is a place familiar to Chard, with its wide, open flatlands and winding waterways that seem made for stories to unfold,” said Stevie. “It’s a perfect setting for imagining a delightfully cheesy Christmas Hallmark movie come to life, where an American visitor—that would be me—arrives a bit reluctantly, only to find herself falling in love with both the village and a local lad named Chard.”

“From that love comes marriage, family, and eventually the creation of a village built on shared history, community, and hope—what would come to be known as Hopeby Village,” she added.

Hopeby Village Hall.

Together, they turned a simple idea into a living, breathing village with a story of its own. The one sim community is kept small to foster a quieter, more intimate setting that offers a sense of calm, familiarity, and belonging. 

“Every corner of the village has been thoughtfully planned to feel both expansive and cohesive, allowing the world to unfold naturally without ever feeling crowded or disconnected,” said Stevie. “Winding paths, open spaces, and shared gathering spots give Hopeby the feeling of a living village rather than a busy hub.”

The layout provides “gentle” room for growth, allowing the community to develop naturally without losing the heart and charm that make it feel like home for its residents. 

“Both of us have been involved in community building in the past, and that experience helped us begin Hopeby with a clear sense of purpose from the very start,” said Stevie. “We created a thoughtful foundation: housing to feel like home, businesses to encourage daily village life, welcoming communal spaces, a growing body of lore, and a strong community ethos to guide interactions.”

She said that these elements are designed to inspire connection, creativity, and lively roleplay, allowing residents to step into a village that feels lived-in, meaningful, and full of possibility.

The village is decorated with British flags on a quiet morning.

“The planning of Hopeby began weeks before the first stone was ever set, with long conversations shared between husband and wife – ideas passed back and forth, imagined, reshaped, and dreamed into something just a little clearer each time,” said Stevie. “As the village began to take form, that planning never truly stopped, continuing as an ongoing, shared effort shaped by love, patience, and a mutual belief in the story we were building together.”

Stevie said that the landscaping and placement were arranged to avoid the “cookie-cutter feeling. The design was chosen by the owners, ensuring a consistent aesthetic throughout the entire sim.

“Chard laid out the bones of the village—its roads, plots, and rhythm—while I followed behind him, bringing warmth and life to each space. I adorned the land with natural beauty and carefully decorated the interiors of several shops, including our family-owned café and ice cream parlour. Step by step, room by room, we built Hopeby blending structure and detail, vision and heart, until the village felt not just designed, but truly loved.”

A manor near one of the stables in Hopeby Village.

Seventeen family homes are currently on the land. They began welcoming a few families into the village on January 20. There are cozy homes, traditional cottages, and manor-style properties. Several stables have been added, which would be perfect for Teegle and other horses. Empty shop spaces can be rented for a role-play business or a main marketplace store. Residential and shops in the business district are 1.75L per prim. Stevie said that this makes it easy to settle in and plan long-term without surprise costs. To celebrate the grand opening, a rental incentive was offered through the end of January. Residents who paid for four weeks received an additional week at no charge.

“Each home and business space is individually parceled, allowing tenants the freedom to choose their own music, manage their own security systems, and personalize their space. Tenants may add visitors to the group as ‘guests,’ ensuring friends and family are never limited in their ability to rez while visiting. Our goal is to provide both freedom and peace of mind, so every resident can truly feel at home in Hopeby.”

Tenants and residents will be personally greeted by the Hope Family. Chard and Stevie’s son, Correus, will not only assist with the village, but he’s also eager to meet new friends and help them feel at home.

Hopeby Village Pet Care is ready to serve you and your special fur babies.

As the village grows, residents will take on roles and responsibilities, integrating their creativity and imagination with the founders.

The shops and roles will create a lively community where every resident has a story to tell. As the shops are filled, tenants will step into their roles naturally, becoming threads in the tapestry of Hopeby, where friendships are forged, stories unfold, and the village hums with gentle energy, said Stevie.  

“Imagine gossip pinned to the parish boards, laughter spilling from the pub late into the evening, children racing through the streets, and neighbours gathering for shared celebrations that feel both grand and intimate,” added Stevie. “There may be the occasional mild scandal, a mix-up at the market, or a spirited debate at the town meeting – these are all part of the rhythm of village life.”

In the near future, a Village Council uniting residents and business owners will have a voice in shaping the community's future.

There will also be events. Seasonal festivals will feature music and fresh treats. Drive-in theatre nights will be organized for quiet gatherings. Live music from talented performers or DJs will be scheduled. Bingo Nights and clever quizzes will test residents’ wit and memory.

Meet your friends for a drink at  Hope & Anchor bar.

Residents will gather at The Hope & Anchor pub to share stories, build friendships, and enjoy a friendly pint or two. The Village Green will offer a space for larger gatherings, seasonal festivals, and community-wide celebrations. Hopeby Café & Sweets is ideal for morning chats over hot tea or coffee. Families will enjoy gathering at Hope Kids Scoops for an ice cream cone to have quality time together.

“We hope Hopeby will become more than just a place to live; we want it to feel like a living village, one where laughter is shared, adventures are imagined, and every small moment – whether a quiet stroll along the winding lanes or a bustling market day – adds to the rich tapestry of community life. Here, every character has a place, every story matters, and every resident is a part of something enduring, heartwarming, and truly special.

A winding waterway runs its course under the bridge, a short distance from the residential area

The village welcomes all, regardless of species, race, religion, gender, age, or who they love, Stevie added. It is a gentle, moderate sim where days move a little slower and everyone cares for one another. 

The village is guided by a shared covenant – simple, respectful, and meant to protect the comfort and well-being of everyone who calls Hopeby home.

Netera Landar