The Bellisseria Commissary

 

By Gemma Cleanslate

Saturday mornings my first task every week is to read The Gazette. This is the Journal of Record of the Bellisserian Bureau of Bureaucracy that I often write about in the SL Newser. https://lastditch.typepad.com/bbbgazette/ . This way I can keep track of events that are upcoming and get the latest places that have added terminals for passport stamps. I then head right over to collect the new stamps before I miss any. It also gives me a chance to see new places on the grid that might make an article about interesting places you might enjoy visiting. Terminals for passport stamps available to all not only Bellisseria residents , are all over the grid on different continents and private regions also.

This Saturday I actually revisited a building that I meant to write about before but had misplaced information about it. This is the Bellisseria Commissary on Hartsmere.

Although there was a stamp terminal there before now there is also a new one upstairs in a room called the Breakup Room. It is a comfortable room with a sofa and large art pieces. In a chair sits Margo. Margo will talk to you about your issues if you address her. She is very smart.

If you wander next door there is a delightful room that seems a bit out of place but at the Commissary but a nice place to sit and relax. It is called Mushroom Land. Be sure to take a look at all the art pieces in the rooms . There are some early Linden items here and there . Wander into other rooms you will find goodies to collect . At the entrance there is an information card that tells you about the commissary. There is food in most rooms. I had a great bowl of chili and also a filling club sandwich while I looked around. I also picked up an interesting notecard that directed me to other locations where I could talk to more botchats . I will check them out. 

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hartsmere/63/136/27

Another charming location with a new stamp terminal that I checked out was Kasada. I would recommend you take a tour there. It has a little beach right near the entrance that has fun water. ski-doos to take a ride around the harbor.

Up on the hilltop is a lovely old fashioned bar to check out. From The Gazette I learned that Kasada is a resurrection with a do over of an old Kasada that was a biker hangout ,but has become a nature themed location with,”. several nice places to relax, hang out and have fun. Rezz a boat and sail to the Blake Sea or just relax, have fun and meet others from all over the world.”

Go check it out. https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ennis/66/59/24

After all this I went over to attend the opening of the Relay for Life for 2024!

Gemma Cleanslate

 

Roadside Attractions: The Diners of Second Life, Part 2

By DrFran Babcock

Hello again, dear readers. I am glad you are back to take a trip with me to those symbols of the American way of life—the diner. The United States of America was the first country to become automobile-centered, so people on long trips would look for places along the road to stop and get cheap and plentiful eats. Here are a few more places you can try:

Sharon's Diner: According to owner, Sharon Scofield, her diner has been around since 2006. The special of the day, and every day is trivia. Folks come every weekday at 9:00 am SL, to participate in trivia games with money prizes. I stopped in one day and there was a spirited crowd, yelling out answers to the Gogomedia trivia challenges. The crowd was dancing outside the diner, and Sharon was happily interacting with the residents. This seems like a fine way to spend what would be lunch hour for me. Are you good at trivia? This might be a necessary stop for you. If you need food items there are free ones in the diner. If not, you can just come and listen to the Oldies on the music stream, dance, eat calorie-free food, and socialize.

Sharon’s Diner is located at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Doldari/113/120/3001 and was built by Rocky Sassoon, an oldbie with a great reputation

The Bealiner Diner : The few times I have been to the Bealiner, it was vacant. I thought to pass on writing about it, until I did some reporter investigations. It seems that this little piece of Americana has some real history to it. The diner is located off the main road of the Montara sim, on the old original mainland continent of Sansara, very close to my favorite SL Bridge, that links Montara and Hooper. In order to get to the diner you have to climb up a very steep drive. What makes it a part of Second Life History is some of the people involved in its creation: Beabear Rebus (2004) and Fleabite Beach (2003 Charter Member!), who is famous to us historians for her role in the Second Life Tax Revolt of August and September 2003. (http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2003/09/tax_revolt_in_a.html )

The magenta and pink décor are pure Art Deco, and the owners really aim to please. According to the Beabear’s profile, the goal of the Bealiner is: To provide Rural SL's finest deep fried cuisine and the muddiest cuppa joe in town.

It seems that there used to be more activities at this venue. A notecard I was given speaks of “Beaball” and shooting hoops, but I walked around the whole place in vain searching for a playing court. The notecard speaks of a Bea’s Chines, which doesn’t seem to be in existence any more, but I am glad this diner remains. I think most beta members of Second Life were not aware of the history they were making, and did not take pains to preserve their early prims. The Bealiner seems to be one of landmarks of the early days. Here are the credits for the place, according to the notecard: LINE COOKS: Beabear Rebus, Lleah Lupis, Fleabite Beach. IRONCHEF COOKS/FRY COOKS: Jai Nomad, Zenny Rhodes, Bosozoku Kato.  STUNT SCRIPTER: Garth Fairlight.

 There are some freebie textures, but most of the items in the store are 1 Linden. I couldn’t resist scooping up a basket of deep-fried prims before I left.

The Bealiner Diner is located at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Montara/163/74/47 , and was built by Beabear Rebus.

Psy City Diner: The meshy goodness of this diner is planted on a sim that is billed as the place where music comes alive. If you have never been to Psy City, you need to teleport there and take a stroll around this detailed urban build. The textures and attention to detail distracted me from writing about the diner. I just couldn’t stop walking and gawking. All that trekking made me hungry, so I headed over to The 69^th Street Diner, aka Psy City Diner. The diner is built in the old deco, red and chrome style, and sports textures that have that real-life worn quality poularized by Arcadia Asylum many years ago. Inside, there are dishes in the sink, and mud on the floor, but the curvy baked in design of the booths and counter are worth a teleport from anywhere.

Things to do: There is a jukebox which allows you to choose a genre of music to play, dance balls, and, er, um, even some balls that say "Love" above them. There are not many freebies. In fact, the only thing I found was a bottle of Coke from the dispenser, but I encourage you to come take a look at the sim.

The co-owner Felizitas Barbosa/Louise Françoise de Dampierre wanted me to let you know that the sim is celebrating its five-year anniversary in 2013. I expect there will be festivities, and I will let you know about them surely.

The Psy City Diner is located at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Altha/137/65/38
And was built by Rica Broome, who no longer seems to be inworld.

Club Enchanted Diner: Similar to the 69^th Street Diner, The Club Enchanted Diner is part of a larger sim build. Across from the red and chrome structure is a huge ocean liner: The MS Enchanted. Unlike the other places, it is a doublewide that allows a lot of room for dancing. There is a large dance floor in the center of the structure, and lots of animations for couples and singles. There is even a set of line-dancing poses on the dance floor. Fun! This is clearly a venue for DJs, music and dancing, although it was empty when I visited. There are DJs and contests on Thursday and Friday nights, playing Oldies from the 50s to the 70s. A full menu behind the counter offers a large assortment of freebie food and drinks.

Directly in front of the diner you can hop on a horse-drawn carriage that will take you on a cruise through the sim, which, at this moment, is covered in snow and is exquisitely appointed. I didn’t go into the cruise ship, but will save that for the future.

The Club Enchanted Diner is located at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Enchanted%20Seaport/125/141/24 and was built by the owner Arlene Bronet Claven.

So, that’s the roundup for this week. If you are looking for something to do, maybe a trip to a diner is just the thing. Folks often say there is nothing to do in Second Life, but a little searching and the world opens up. Sit down, have a cup of java, listen to some tunes, play trivia, and before you know it you will be smiling.

Next week I will cover a diner that’s been in the news a few times, but really deserves more attention.

DrFran Babcock

Roadside Attractions: The Diners of Second Life, Part One

By DrFran Babcock

Why do we love diners? Well, it’s three o’clock in the morning and I want breakfast, my friend wants spaghetti, and my other friend wants a roast beef sandwich and French fries. There is only one place where we can all be satisfied, and that’s the diner. It seems that lot of people agree with me, and must love diners, because they abound in Second Life.

The original diners were old railroad dining cars with their wheels removed so they could stay in place and serve meals. The diners in Second Life come in all shapes and sizes, but they share some common themes. Most of the diners reviewed here stick to the tradition of being done in an Art Deco style. The color red dominates, and shares the bill with chrome, 1950s, rock and roll and roller-skating. Almost all of them have freebie food or gifts. They all embody the spirit of America, and in my biased view, the joys of living in New York or New Jersey where the best First Life diners can be found.

 Come with me on a grid wide tour of some of the diners of Second Life. Please let me know of any I have missed, because there must be a lot of them.

The Silver King Diner – This classic spot shows up first on a Second Life search for diners. I love the location on the very north of the Heterocera Atoll Continent. What’s great is that it’s bordered by roads where rezzing is allowed. You can pull out a ride and zip into the parking spot in front of this chrome and red deco building. Outside there are a few cars you can sit in, and inside, take a seat at the counter and point to a picture of food on the wall, and it will be delivered to you. If eating is not your thing, there are dance machines and dance pads (they may or may not be paying Lindens).  The music stream is old fifties rock and roll, that matches well with the old movie posters on the walls. This is a really nice place to come for a Second Life date, especially when you realize that you can get a free pair of roller skates outside, and roll off into the sunset with your sweetie.

The Silver King Diner is located at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ranunculus/126/238/32 and was built by Bubba Biberman (Bubba B.)

The Starship Diner – I know the owner and creator of this diner. It is none other than Holocluck Henly whose skill as a DJ is well known in Second Life. He has a reputation for taking care to tailor his playlist to suit the theme and attendees at events at which he spins tunes. He also bears a striking resemblance to a well known British doctor. So, it is no surprise that the diner is a cool one. Of course, this being Second Life, there are some surprises. But, I won’t mention the chickens wandering around inside until later.

The Starship is built with Fifties sensibilities, and sports a huge sign outside that often lists upcoming events open to all. Once inside a vast, carpeted floor welcomes you to dance. The diner counter is chrome and sports the New York special—a souvlaki meat slab. And yes, chickens…Holo has always liked chickens, many folks still call him Clucky, so there are chickens wandering the inside of the diner. Go out the back door of the diner and you can pick up some freebies made by Holocluck himself.

The best time to come to The Starship Diner is when there’s a party. Stop by to see what’s upcoming on the big sign out front.

The Starship Diner is located at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hydrangea/74/193/72 and is the work of Holocluck Henly.


Olivia's Creepy Diner – The next diner served up on our plate is a bit different from the first two offerings. Sure, there is the checked floor and old advertising signs, and art deco curved architecture, but that’s where the similarities end. The proprietor of this swanky spot, Olivia Scarmon lets you know in her profile picks that: The service sucks... Thats because I am usually on a smoke break. Feel free to make yourself a sandwich or something. Cold pizza is on the table if you prefer. Don’t step on my pet roaches.

I was lucky enough to run into the aforementioned Olivia when I teleported into the diner to make my report. She told me that she was a fan of horror, and this diner was her way to express this love. We spoke for a bit more, and then she promptly offered me an eyeball highball. Yum. The diner is a showplace, complete with dirty booths, spiders dropping from the ceiling, pet roaches in parade formation on the floor, and plenty of activities for hungry visitors.

Come to Olivia’s and you can engage in a horror trivia (with small Linden prizes), 7Seas fishing, dancing, eating (if you dare), and not least of all, drink in an environment that just might help with that New Years resolution to lose weight.

I highly recommend this place for its sense of humor, horror, and high level of things to do. I encountered residents at the place the few times I visited, and if I was not busy with reported for the venerated Newser, I might have stuck around and made some friends.

Olivia’s Creepy Diner is located at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Seokcheon/76/112/50  and is the work of Olivia Scarmon

Dear reader, join me next time as we continue our tour of the grid’s finest dining options, as we explore The Diners of Second Life.

DrFran Babcock