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

 

The Garden of Absentia To Close

By Bixyl Shuftan

I recently found out through Annie Oh (AnnieBrightstar Resident) about a well-designed sim, the Garden of Absentia. Owned by Filo Tani and built by he and Sage (Sage Allegiere), the place is expertly done, with it's buildings and trees. You can also light a candle in honor of someone, which many have done here.

Unfortunately, the place won't be on for much longer. Annie told me the owners of the place had recently announced the location will soon be closing down. And getting to the place, inside the entry location, I found a sign explaining.

Dear GOA Friends & Guests, We regret to inform you that after 10 years, changing circumstances in life make it necessary to close The Garden of Absentia & Memorial on 08/01/2018. It is our goal to reopen as circumstances allow. However, a time frame is not clear to us at this time. Thank you to all that have made this journey so far a spectacular experience! We wish you all the best! Filo and Sage."

I happened to run into Annie while she was still around.

The central island had a number of candles lit by previous visitors. Many were lit in honor of those who did not survive their battle with cancer.

A bridge connected the central island to the surrounding land.

 The path led to a small ranch area.

Fire up the grill.

A trail led through a small forest.

And it led to a windmill.

 There were a few pet kittycats inside the windmill.

These had been around for a few years.

As I looked around, people continued to visit and drop by.

The Garden of Absentia is at Garden of Absentia (135/155/22). More pictures can be seen at Filo and Sage's Flickr accounts.

Bixyl Shuftan

Yosemite Sim to Close

By Gemma Cleanslate

One of my all time favorite regions in Second Life is Yosemite. This multifacited sim is just full of places to tour, horseback ride, look at art, relax in the cafe, or visit the shops in the mall, or the Magenda, Jadyn’s store .

 
There is the John Muir camping area where you can set down a short picnic and camp. There is also a memorial site for those who want to place a candle or another tribute to some one gone. 

Jadyn Firehawk has been improving and adding to her builds for years  to represent the real Yosemite, which she dearly loved. I have visited the sim  often either for events,  for breakfast meetings that are held once a month, or just roaming and looking at the art exhibits.

Now it is with sadness that I have learned that Yosemite will close, perhaps temporarily, or not.
I know all the members of the group will miss it. Jadyn sent a notice to the group:

 I regret to inform everybody that I have decided to close down Yosemite Sim, due to a combination of medical and financial reasons....I am hoping to be able to reestablish a Virtual Yosemite in SL as soon as I can, though it will probably be on a reduced scale, such as on a homestead sim. The main park, Yosemite Valley (Forever Wild), and the rental cabins have by far been the most popular things about Yosemite Sim, and so I hope to be able to bring at least those two things back to SL at a later date.

 P2P will experience no change.  Read about Yosemite and Jadyn here , and Deaflegacy’s interview.

If you want to visit to see this wonderful western America replica of the Yosemite National Park you still have time. The teleport board is so helpful getting you around to the various venues. I plan to visit several times for sure. I wish Jadyn so many best wishes and recovery soon. It is always sad to see a region go but hope for a quick return for the partial park soon.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Yosemite/190/63/22

Gemma Cleanslate

Friendly Bear Romantic Forest

By Bixyl Shuftan

Recently a friend showed me a place she and her boyfriend sometimes went to, and thought others might want to experience it as well. The place was the GB Island North sim, the public section of it known as "Friendly Bear Romantic Forest."

Dropping in, I was surrounded by a detailed forest, with lots of flowers and trees. The place was not one continuous island, but broken up a bit with rivers crossing and smaller islands next to the main one with bridges allowing one to cross without the need to swim or fly. Surrounding the island is a panorama of mountains and trees.

There were a number of features around, such as a pier with a rowboat nearby, a campfire with sitting logs around it and a picnic blanket nearby, both of which offered cuddle spots for couples. A small waterfall flowed into a rocky creek. There was a small farm with horses, goats, cows, and sheep wandering about, young animals included. Nearby were a couple bears, one getting a closer look at a beehive. Romance wasn't the only activity available, there was an "En Guarde" game for those wanting to spar.

On arrival, I got a notecard about the location:

Hallo stranger! Thank you very much for your visit. This place was created with no commercial intentions. Please feel free to hang out, explore, relax, dance, love, be part of our music events and have fun!







Help us to celebrate peace and nature with these rulez:
 - no guns
- no drama
- no kids avatars
- respect privacy of other visitors

On this Island you´ll find:
- cozy corners for romance and cuddling
- romantic castle
- decoration following seasons and special days (winter, autumn, spring, xmass, halloween....)
- ...more coming soon

You are allowed also to rezz and use your own horses or bikes or blankets and pose balls..., but
do not forget to clean your stuff. Autoreturn is sending objects back in 15 minutes. To travel on this island you can use couple walkers or boats that are ready for you all over this place.
Big balloon and more coming soon.

Enjoy your stay. If you have a question, suggestion or request or a problem, do not hesitate and send a message to : Andie Rau, Friendly Bear Team

The "castle" was actually a dwelling built on the ruins of a castle, or rather what was left of the corner of one. It was named "The Bear's Hole Corner" at (225, 75, 32), near the eastern edge of the sim. On the stone floor was a fox and a deer, in addition to logs, barrels, a sword rack, and a couple stone crosses. Climbing up the stairs, the inside led to a fireplace and dinner table in addition to a throne and bookshelf. A door led to a zipline, which would take someone to near the barn and fencing game.

The top floor was clearly for couples. Visitors there will find a four-poster bed with a canopy, a bathtub with pillows and blankets next to it, alongside oils and soaps, and a bear rug on the floor. All have poses for singles and couples, the latter being much more numerous and some clearly meant for private moments.

Not all of the sim is open to the public. The northern third is barred to just anyone coming in, including members of the sim group. It holds a few private cabins. The founder of the place is GummyMedvidek Resident, or "Friendly Bear" as his display name is now. 

Unfortunately, the location's days are numbered. Scattered around the island were signs with the following message:

Sad News. Unfortunetly Friendly Bear Forest ends on April 20th 2015. Thank you all so much for visiting and your support. We are preparing a video for good memories. So you have any romantic picture that you made on the island? SHare it! Send it to Andie Rau inworld, or outside SL to my email: andie.rau@gmail.com.

The message ended with a hopeful note, asking people to subscribe in case the location ever came back.

There was a GB Island South, visible on the map, but with nothing connecting the two sims. Heading over, it was just a dance floor on an empty sim. There was a sign saying the sim was in the process of moving. Someone there greeted me, and didn't seem to be aware of goings on with their northern neighbor, sad to hear they were also going away.

Once again, the Friendly Bear Forest is at http://slurl.com/secondlife/GB Island North/ , and barring a reprieve will be gone April 20th.

Bixyl Shuftan

Goodbye to the Cutlass "Donut" Club

By Bixyl Shuftan

On Saturday March 14 at 6PM SL time, Club Cutlass held it's St. Patrick's Day party. It was attended by many locals and friends of, sporting green outfits, green avatars, and sometimes both. That the prize for the outfit contest had been bumped up to 3,000 Lindens apiece for the men's and women's board by Nydia Tungsten helped bring in a few more people. But there was also news of a special announcement concerning the future of the club.

It's that time again where everyones Irish for a day. It's 'St. Patricks' at Club Cutlass. Get on your green, irish garb, leprechaun outfits, and grab up a mug of green beer as DJ Cynthia helps us celebrate the holiday. The shenanigans begin at 6 PM.

Tonight there will be a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, concerning Club Cutlass, I hope you all showup to hear it.  It will be part of tonight's Dance at the Club. Which is St Patrick's Day and also your Purple Bunny Leader's RL B-Day.

There was much cheer as people danced and cracked jokes while Cynthia Farshore DJed for the event with a collection of Irish tunes old and new. Eventually, the hoofed DJ had an announcement.

"Good Evening to all, and I hope you are having a wonderful time. Now having said that get on the board it's L$3000 as this may be your last chance. Tonight we celebrate the Real life birthday of our great Chief Rita Mariner who is 164. Everyone raise a pint to her! HUZZRA! doesn't act or look like a day over 2. Here's to you as good as you are and here's to me as bad as I am, but as bad as I am and as good as you are, I'm as good as you as bad as I am!

"Sadly however, I must inform you that tonight is the last dance here in this doughnut club. As I play the last tune this ship will be decommissioned and scraped. It is an honor to be the last DJ on this stand but is filled with sadness too. There will be a large void here in this sky as many will look up, course flying out of my airport will be easier but to many of you that doesn't matter. Now for any news as to what this is about or what you are going to do there will be something in the Newser I think come Monday. So raise your glass and give it a toast."

There were a number of sad faces, groans, and "awwwws" from the audience, "You're closing Cutlass Rita?" "I just found this place again, and it's closing down already?" Rita, perhaps wanting to avoid trouble, asked, "Finish the Announcement, Cynthia." Shockwave Yareach told the others, "Wait for it. She's not done." Cynthia however was leaving the crowd in suspense. Rita's patience started to wear thin, " You do it, or I will." Cynthia then spoke again, "Ok I'll let you all off the hook ... WE HAVE A NEW CUTLASS!!!" "Rita continued, "Months Ago, I asked Shocky and Cynthia to take on the task of designing and building a new Club Cutlass. They have completed the Task."

The party went on, with a few last minute stragglers coming in as the news spread about the news.  The contest for the ladies' best St. Patrick's look turned out to be a five way tie between Liska Fuchs, Zagnut Avedon, Ambrivena Resident, Nydia Tungsten, and Dusk Griswold (who says she never wins). No one at the party could recall the last time this happened. So a first, and a last, for this version of Club Cutlass.

Club Cutlass has been a part of the Sunweaver community almost since it's very beginnings in 2007 as a pirate-themed club. Over the years, it's gone through four changes, most open-air clubs with no ceiling, such as the Meso-American pyramid design that was there until February 2010, which had a small waterfall ride and hidden rooms. Then came the "donut" design which had a steampunkish look inside with it's pipes and puffs of smoke, with a touch of pirate with it's cannons, grog vending machine, and the picture of the bunny with an eye patch on the dance floor. This had no hidden rooms, only a basement that was accessible by a rickety set of stairs with some shopping kiosks.

The new Club Cutlass, the sixth one in the history of the Estates, should be ready for the next scheduled party on Wednesday March 18. It's exact location is yet to be determined, but it will be a much larger build with separate rooms other than the dance floor.

And so the history of the Sunweaver's main club closes one chapter and is about to open another.

Bixyl Shuftan

The Queen of Hearts' Farewell

By Bixyl Shuftan

It's always a little sad when a club closes down. Each represents an idea and a dream, to provide others with a place to have a little fun. Many last less than a year, sometimes just weeks. One, however, lasted for about sevreal years. For eight years, the Romance-themed sim of Mystery entertained visitors in Second Life, with the Queen of Hearts riverboat club as the main area of events for most of this time. It's owner Tygeria Mirabeau and it's manager Amythe Moonlight kept it going year after year through many happy times. But in late June, Tygeria announced to her staff that problems in real life were making her unable to keep up the sim. Friday June 27 would have the last events. So it was with heavy hearts that the staff prepared for one last day of music and dance.

10AM SL time was the start of the "Memory Lane" event, a "come as you are" party, with Amy herself DJing the music. And people came in, not just the regulars, but people whom hadn't been over for a while, including former staff whom had moved on. "Black, I missed you." But they still took things with a little humor, "Aim better next time." Moria the hostess called out, "TP your friends, your man, your girl, your eye candy, and anyone in between."

Amy told everyone, "We are having some dedications to the club and the family we have here tonight ... how I feel about what we build and have built - it's the journey where you meet all the people and help them on the way- that's what makes it special. ... The Queen has been a home to many of us for a long time and some of us for a short time but it's the YOU the people that make it special. ... TONIGHT IS FOR THE PEOPLE!!!!"

The normally 250 Linden prizes for best male and female were raised to 500L each. There was also a jar of candied gummi frogs for anyone to take one. Once in a while, fireworks were placed on the ground, to lauch and explode near the ceiling.

At 12 Noon came the second and final show, and Amy turned over the music to DJ Mac and hostess Aislinp for the "Best in Red" event. There were all kinds of outfits in theme for it. Mac wasn't showing any red at first, so someone joked that it was his underwear that was red. The playful banter continued, between two ladies, "pour some sugar on me." "If you pour sugar on your underwear dear it will not be nice at all, though it will be sweet." "Sugar on underwear....yikes."

Eventually, Mac closed things off with the Club's adopted tune, the last song for an official event here.


Miiiiidnight,
and I'm a-waitin' on the twelve o' five, 
hoping it'll take me,
just a little farther down the line.

And moonliiiiight,
you're just a heartache in disguise,
won't you keep my heart from breaking,
if it's only for a very short time.

Playin' with the Queen of Hearts,
knowin' it ain't really smart,
the joker ain't the only foo-ol,
who'll do anything for you.


"Thank you Mac for a wonderful send off!" Amy told the DJ, then she turned to the crowd, to both the staff and the regulars, "Keep your eyes peeled for notices and IMs. Just give me a couple of days to sort things! We have the staff meeting on Sunday and maybe there will be news then. On Monday we will go to my sim Condunrum as a temporary home."

"Thank you everyone. Look after yourselves and I'll let you all know soon what's happening."

And so ended the last event at the Queen of Hearts riverboat club. As of the day I was writing this, the club was still around, just with no one aboard. It has seen much over the past several years from live music events by a number of singers to costume balls, and of course the scene of romance as couples came for parties both while dating and committed. Then there was the "masked lover" whom for months pursued the object of his affection while still keeping his identity hidden.

The Mystery sim remains up, for now, and there is much to see across the place from the "Alice in Wonderland" exhibit, to the train ride, to the little village tucked away in the valley. But eventually it will fade away into the virtual nether, leaving nothing behind but memories.

For now Amy's sim of Condunrum will take over as the new home for the Queen of Hearts staff and fan group, the Cape Hope club at Conundrum (213, 10, 22),  But for the fans, there's only one true "Queen of Hearts," and she will be missed.

Bixyl Shuftan

Cartoonimals Sim to Close

Daniel Voyager had some unhappy news on his blog the other day. The Cartoonimals sim would be closing in about a month. Owner Duggy Bing had put the region up for sale, saying “real life projects” were taking up too much of his time to keep the place.

Cartoonimals was a store, but its creations are so funny and whimsical the place is well worth a stroll through just to chuckle at the goods. There’s a wide variety of items from virtual pets, wearable and grounded, tip jars, novelty items, and more. The place is arranged in a circle so the sections are fairly easily accessible. There's also a roller rink in one corner, presumably designed for social events at one time.

Duggy will still be selling his items on SL Marketlace, plus his vendors will still be up in various places. He stated some details in a notecard:


I’m dropping you a note to let you know that I’ll be closing Cartoonimals in about a month. Real life projects have been taking increasing chunks of my attention and I simply haven’t had time to devote to creating new products and attending to marketing (never was too good at that). It was a terrific couple of years and a very rewarding experience. Not a single customer issue that could not be easily resolved….in SL that’s saying something! I want to especially thank those of you who helped with ideas, scripting, building and support.

I’ll continue to offer my stuff on Marketplace, as well as through affiliates. I will be inworld at least once a week to assist customers and replace missing items. As always satisfaction guaranteed.

So again, thanks so much. If I ever find a Third Life I hope you are all there!!!!—Duggy


Treet TV took a look at the place in 2009, and the video is still in the archives. But it’s no substitute for visiting the island yourself. Head to Cartoonimals (162, 157, 24).

Bixyl Shuftan