Fantasy Faire-Inspired Contraption Sim

 

Not long ago in Fantasy Faire group chatter (yes, I am still in the group even though the yearly event is months away), I heard about one of the sims from the 2025 event being up again, or at least one that looked very much like it. For those with fond memories of the Steampunk/Victorian sim Galerie Gailland, sponsored by Walton F. Wainright, it's back as the sim of Contraption 

 

"I LOVE how Contraption mainstore is the entire region build from FF2025! So cool exploring it once again!" "Yeah- I had a great time at some of the events they sponsored when they opened it up." "Reminds me of that very first time I saw it and was in awe!" "They had intended to rebuild it after 2025 all along." "I'm so glad they did! It's nice to feel the spirit of FF alive in SL in this way." "A lobster, a whale, and a corpse lily.  I like the statues at the landing point. It is a whole museum.  More is rezzing. Now I'm starting to remember this, I loved it when it was new." "There are a lot of us who try to keep it alive in our own special ways, but this is a wonder. I had such a lovely time taking my GF, who missed that faire, there." "Hehe its like being at FF all over again. I am very happy."

For those who didn't see the place eighteen months ago, the sim is more or less a castle of  stone, steel, and glass, built in a Victorian-era architectural style I found elegant in it's design. Much of the ground and second floors have a number of exhibits from bones to statues to odd mechanisms, giving the look of a museum. Parts of the place, notably on the outside of the main structure in the southeast, have plants growing, which with the glass reminded me some of a greenhouse. 

 

The shops themselves do not stand out like sore thumbs, but like other Fantasy Faire areas were made to blend in with the scenery. They sell a number of goods from clothing to weapons, to avatar accessories and more. Also on the ground area, on the southeast, is a party area. 

 

A charming sim that for Fantasy Faire fans will be a blast from the past. 

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Contraption/82/52/130 - Landing point I was given

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Contraption/226/55/118 - SE corner

 

Bisyl Shuftan

The PBC Black History Museum

 

 By Bixyl Shuftan

 

February is Black History Month. And so to help commemorate it, Jarden Alexis has hosted a Black History Museum at the Premier Business Center. 

 

February is Black History Month in the United States, Canada, and Germany!  
Let''s take some time to explore the exhibits at the PBC Cultural Arts Center and Black History Museum! 

Please join us daily to learn about the profound global impact of Black innovators, creators, and inventors. From groundbreaking medical advancements to foundational technological creations,
Let's take some time to raise awareness and reflect on some of the many significant, life changing, innovative achievements, and contributions made by African Americans that have significantly impacted the world.
Learn about some of the many contributions and achievements by black people that has shaped our world and changed the way that we ALL live.

MUSEUM HOURS: OPEN DAILY 24/7
Black History is American History!  Black History is World History!
Black History is Global History with a Global Impact! 
Black History is OUR history!

 The museum honored a number of Black Americans. There were a number of musicians mentioned going back for over a century. 

 

 But that was far from all. There were also scientists, mathematicians, inventors, surgeons, and others. The list of names went back over a century. 

 

 There were a number from the modern civil rights movement,honored.

 

 Most notable was Martin Luther King Jr, whom had a statue outside the museum, made and donated by a sponsor of the PBC. Martin Luther King Day has been a Federal holiday in the US since 1986. 

 

 There was also an explanation of the holiday Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. It was recognized as a Federal holiday in 2021. 

 

 

Also honored were astronauts, politicians, and statesmen, such as Barack H. Obama, America's 44th President. 

 

Although it was open to all at the start of the month, the Grand Opening party waited until Sunday February 8. 

 

The event started at Noon SL time and went on to 7PM SL time, with a number of DJs. 

 

 There were a variety of outfits.

 

 And avatars.

 

 February is almost over, so there may not be much longer to see the Black History Museum. 

 

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/PBC/98/90/3001

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Last-Minute Halloween Places

 

 By Bixyl Shuftan

 

As I write this, Halloween is gone. It was a blast, but all good things must come to an end. But I had a little time this weekend to see a few Halloween-themed places. Keep in mind that they won't be up much longer. In fact, one or two may be gone by the time you read this. 

 

Checking out the Destinations Guide, one place caught my attention:  "Inspire Space Park - Shadows of the Mist." Inspire Space Park has always been a cool place to visit (article). But this promised to give the picturesque attraction a new look.

An eerie mist has rolled into Inspire Space Park, cloaking the asteroids in shadow. The park is haunted, and whispers tell of secret treasures hidden in the dark. The hunt begins here; dare you step into the mist? But the adventure doesn’t end there. Stick around, float in zero gravity, and enjoy the custom radio mix of eerie, soothing Halloween sounds while you celebrate among friends. 

 

 Dropping by, the place had a darkly beautiful feel to it. The music was described for reading a Gothic horror story. And to my surprise there was a hunt

 

 Welcome to Inspire Space Park's Shadows of the Mist Hunt! Start your adventure by finding the Haunted Places hunt bag on the other side of the arch. Follow the clue to your first prize! Further instructions will be available there.

Head there at https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shinda/98/208/1559

 

 I also decided to check out a place called "The Ratking's Sewer."

 

The endless tunnels of the Ratking's sewers in the town of Northbridge will have you lost in a maze of wonder and adventure. Each passage may lead you to new and exciting worlds, but beware of the Ratking's experimental subjects.

 This place was, dark. I ended up going around in mouselook at times as I was worried about being taken by surprise unless I could see right in front of me.

 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vigdorova/148/228/2958

 

 I'd heard about "Firestorm Ghost Town," and decided to check it out. 

 

 Nothing super terrifying. This was an old-fashioned carnival ride. 

 

 https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Firestorm%20Ghost%20Town/171/72/505

 

 And what's Halloween without a good vampire story? I went and checked out " Castle Dracula - Gothic Horror Experience."

Castle Dracula offers a chilling Gothic Horror experience, blending immersive storytelling with Victorian gothic legends. Enter the eerie halls of Count Dracula's castle, uncovering haunted secrets of vampires, ghosts, and werewolves. New in 2024, the Frankenstein expansion deepens the horror, inviting visitors to explore a spine-tingling journey through the heart of Transylvania.

The starting location let's you know you're in for an experience that isn't kid stuff and some flashing lights, and you'll need to accept experiences. You'll find a HUD attached going through. 

 

The story begins on a train, in which a train is taking you to Transylvania. A friend of yours went there to conduct a real-estate deal with Count Dracula, and vanished, and you've taken it upon yourself to find him. You get a letter from the Count himself inviting you to his castle, so head over, stopping at the tavern first.

Outside the tavern, a dark carriage is waiting to take you there, the coachman greeting, ""My master the Count bids thee welcome to the Carpathians. He awaits your coming eagerly...." And he gives you a ride to the castle, talking some along the way, "A land of wolves and ghosts...? Such is often said of this land by those abroad...

I haven't checked out the game very far, but it looks great for those who have the time. 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fort%20Nowhere/21/240/1401

Be sure to check out more haunts in the Destination Guide: https://secondlife.com/destinations/haunted

 

That's all for now for spooky sights. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Montecito Bay's New Community Pool

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

It's been some time since I dropped by Montecito Bay for an event. Real life has kept me from the times they have parties. But the other day, I had the chance when they had a special occasion, the opening of their new Community Pool.

 

by Becky Nosferatu

The pool wasn't just a basin, but had a circular track, developed by Becky Nosferatu. She would announce her project in May.

 

 ...this project I have building for months now. Something that has taken blood, sweat and tears from me, which has been one of the biggest nightmare I've ever had building. I see why creators make super simple, boring small pools. ... This will be open for public around mid-July. We still have a few things we have to work with, IE: more floaties for the lazy river as well as the swimmer, which will take an Experience to cause you to swim, and it will be feral friendly.

 

Finally on July 19, she announced it was ready:

 

The Community Pool, the FOUR HOUR PARTY to commemorate it's grand opening has begin! Join us for live tunes, chill off in the pool and we hope to see you all here! There will be prizes and gifts, hope to see you here! 

 

The pool was in the Crux sim next to Montecito Bay. Montecito Island, Crux (120, 121, 2001). I passed a front desk, placed for show, and a small avatar shop where I saw some landwalker shark avies. 

 

 And into the pool area, a fancy one with an "island" in the middle, and slides and other attractions all around.

 

 I noticed a food stand, though with everyone at the pool, only someone's pet kitty was behind the counter. 

 

 Becky was there, sporting a "gummy" shark avatar of her design. After I arrived, I heard her say to someone, "You are HORRIBLY overdressed for a pool." I don't know if she meant me or not. 

 

 Playing the tunes was Moffettmephit, aka DJ "Magic" Moff. He would play some beach music, and some tunes appropriate for a party around a pool, "Walk, Don't Run." 

 

With all the sharks, nobody requested the "Jaws" theme. 

 

 I would hear Becky say, "In case you guys missed it, the swimmer is active! Just walk over to the sign by the entrance that says 'Wanna swim' then just make your AOs are turned off and jump in!" But when I looked, a pool noodle fight had broken out, "One of you turds is about to get smacked in the mouth!"

 

 And Emmy found herself the target of a vicious shark attack. 

 

 There were some four-footed or feral avies. Some were dancing (which can't really be shown on still pictures).

 

One lady just avoided the bustle in the main area and soaked in a smaller side pool.

 

"If you wanna just chill here and lay down you're welcome." And some would just enjoy Becky's pool ride, hopping in and coasting along. 

 

 

 "Now we're sharkin' it up."

 

 It was good chaotic fun. 

 

Crux (120, 121, 2001)

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Island of Misfits About To Close

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Regrettably, a community in Second Life will be losing it's home. Some weeks ago, it was announced that the Island of Misfits sim, the home of the Misfits, led by FantaC Nymph Alexain, would be closing soon. 

 

Well Misfits, Its been a fun ride while it lasted...Unfortunately it is time to say goodbye and let it go.  Misfits Club, Licky Lovense, Licky Creamery, and Spring Haven are closing/closed down by the end of March.  Misfits Club will have Djs, until Saturday, March 29th. The Island of Misfits sim will be here for another month (End of April) for you to come in and say goodbye, as well as pay your last respects to Curzans'  Memorial.  I wish you all of the best, and hope all of your future endeavors are prosperous.  It was lovely meeting you all, and being a part of things.

 

To begin with, I first heard about the place through Curzan Markn Alexain (Curzan Markn), who dropped by the Happy Vixen with FantaC who was his partner. The sim itself was made by the two of them around 2020. In December 2021, he died. But the sim, and community continued on, remembering him and making a memorial to him. The Vixen's DJ Khyra would eventually get a gig there at the "Lizard Lick" club there. 

 

The sim and it's community is a mix of the Fantasy and the adult, as a description shows.

Welcome to a Fantasy world like no other. Island of Misfits is based off an original story. A land of Kings and Queens, dragons and Fae, Dominates and subs every one is welcome here. Here you will meet wondrous creature limited only by your imagination. My brother High King Iron rules the realm and I help manage the realm.
 

I had a few words with FantaC a few days ago.  Of the sim, she told me, "There is no one to pay for it and it's lasted longer then I expected. The current owner has gotten (Linden Lab) to agree to "save" the sim file so when they can bring it back it will be exactly as it is now." Of it coming back, "Possible but  unknown when. The person who was running the club on sim which was paying for the sim. It's no longer able to run the club so the sim is no longer paying for itself. Unfortunately, that means it's going to need to be closed until the owner's real life can allow for the expense.

 

 "He is using what's left of Lindens to keep it running 'till he runs out of lindens. One of the bigger concerns was that cursie and stuff is littered all over the Sim and if the Sim had to be recreated we would lose all of the curvies and stuff." 

 

While some of the people in the community have gone quiet since the announcement of the closing, there is a core group that is still active, including FantaC and "my brother ascend who now owns the sim." 

 

Of the sim, "It's based of a story I have been writing that I haven't completed yet, and it was home to the Alexain family the entirety of its existence. (The) original owner was  Ironheart Alexain, current owner is Ascent Littlepaws."

 

Of the story itself, a " fae island torn apart by war until the dragons stepped in and  made peace by kidnapping the rulers and basically locking them into a room and making them talk it out. They end up partnering off and instead of four rulers, they each pared off and now there is two rulers who then fall for each other. The real story is about their daughter. The daughters story is unfolding."

 

As of now, the sim is still accessible, the entry area at Island Of Misfits (128/128/1002). But keep in mind the adult nature of much of the place, which may include hints of bondage. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan