Team Firestorm's Anniversary Party

 

 Saturday September 6 was the day of Team Firestorm's anniversary party. From 12:30 PM to close to 4PM, various musicians performed music at the intersection of four of the group's sims. When I looked, close to about 140 people were there, so there were likely more earlier. 

 

 I arrived too late to see Maxamillion Kleene, but did see Tally Mercury sing live.

 

 Due to the lag and viewer crashes, I could never get a wide shot of the crowd. This picture was the best I could do. After Tally finished his set, DJ Trick returned to do an unscheduled set for about an hour.

 

 There were a few gifts for people to pick up, such as a pet dragon. 

 

 Beq Janus, Team Firestorm's manager, was among those there, happily celebrating with everyone, and thanking her teammates and Firestorm's loyal users.

 

"A special thank you to Teresa, without here you'd probably have to rely on me to remember stuff and organize things and yeah.... that wouldn't happen. Teresa is the true powerhouse behind organizing this party so a massive hug and thank you to her for putting this all together."

 

 For those who didn't make the party, Team Firestorm usually has the freebies up for a few days afterwards. You can get them near Firestorm Ghost Town (14/240/3903).

 

Happy Anniversary Firestorm

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Linden Lab Announces New Gifts For Plus, Premium, And Premium Plus Residents

 

 A few days ago in the official blog, Linden Lab announced that Seraphim, a leading shopping group and website, had released their next quarterly set of gifts for residents with paid accounts, Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus. 

 

The wait is over! The newest round of SeraPlus Quarterly Gifts is here, packed with exciting virtual gifts from some of Second Life’s most celebrated creators — and available exclusively to Plus, Premium, and Premium Plus members.

 

 
The items include skin fatpacks, footwear, clothing, accessories, hair, Home and Garden items, and a "full interactive item." To get them, if you have a paid account, head over to the SeraphimSL sim at (122/154/34) and get them at the display area. You can get this set from now to October 26. After that it will no longer be available. 

 

To read more, Click Here to check out the blog page.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Valentines Day Shop And Hop Opens Today

 

Yesterday, Linden Lab announced that the Valentines Day themed "Shop and Hop" shopping event would be opening today, Friday January 31.

The 2025 Valentine Shop & Hop is almost here with 280 participating merchants across 14 shopping regions. All are offering their best to inspire your Valentine's fantasies from a romantic evening with your bae, to a party with your friends, and everything in between. You will definitely find something to suit you! 

 

As the announcement stated, there's fourteen sims with almost three hundred stores, with plenty of romantic-themed items. Each store has at least a 20 percent discount on it's wares, maybe more on some, and there's at least one free gift for shoppers whether or not they're in the store's shopping group, or a 300 Linden dollar gift certificate. 

For those wondering, all of the sims are rated Moderate. There is no separate area for adult-themed stored as there was in the recent past.

 

For a list of the sims, click here to check the Destination Guide page.

For a list of the stores, click here to check the Linden's blog post.

To just jump in, head here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Snowflake/128/129/54  

Bixyl Shuftan

Holiday Shop and Hop Starts Today

 

 

 It's time for the biggest shopping event in Second Life this Christmas season, the Holiday Shop and Hop. Starting at 9AM Friday December 6 (today), residents can hop on over and shop away.

 

This is a huge shopping mall consisting of 16 sims, with 320 stores. Beside the shops, there's numerous decorations to give the place a festive feel. 

 

"Every store will have at least a 20% discount on all items and a free (non-group) gift for shoppers or a gift certificate valued at L$300 or above!"

 

And you'll never know just who you might run into.

For a list of the sims, check here in the Destination Guide.  For locations of each of the stores, they're on the bottom two-thirds of this post in the Linden Blog. Or just head straight in here:

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lavendar/126/125/54

 

The Shop & Hop lasts until January 6, 2025.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Reader Submitted Guide For The SL20B Hunt

 

Kamida Delec made a SL20B Gift Hunt Guide for friends. With this being the last day the sims are open at the Second Life Birthday, here it is.

 

 1 round and round she goes. Stop at the top for some awesome ohhhs

First Gift: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Awesome/123/148/118

2 Lights of sky brighten your route. Go in and down and come back out.

Second Gift: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Stunning/152/128/25

3 In the place where Lindens meet. Hold your breath in the murky deep.

Third Gift: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Fascinate/23/128/14

4 Don't leaf after the show is done. Go backstage for some amazing fun.

Fourth Gift: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Amaze/226/31/38

5 Four gifts you now have because of these rhymes. This year has really had some impressive times.

Fifth Gift: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Impressive/161/137/237

SL20B - Hunt HUD v1.0 [Add Me]: Congratulations! You have now collected all the SL20B gifts!

 

The SL20B Tapestry of Time And Gift Area Building

 

 

At SLB Impressive at the SL20B grounds is one tall and interesting building worth checking out: The Tapestry of Time and Gift Area building.  The past few SL Birthday events have had a Tapestry in Time building, a huge circular structure of which the inner wall was divided into sections, describing each year in detail with a gift area in one place in the interior. But this year was a little different. To reflect the theme "Our Fantastic Future," the new building was a shiny, futuristic looking one.

Rather than walking around the wall to see the info and pictures of each year, one would teleport to various spots with them this time. They start at 2003, the year of Second Life's official opening, and end this year in 2023. As before, there is a gift area with numerous freebies. It is on the ground floor where people arrive at the building via teleporting.

 

Unless there's some last minute change, the final day the Second Life Birthday sims will be open is tomorrow, Tuesday July 11, so hurry up and head over. 

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Impressive/109/81/23

 

*Addition: The time of the SLB sims has been extended to Sunday July 16. *

Bixyl Shuftan

Magican Productions and Twilight Imaginarium

 

At the corner of Montecito Bay is a store where you can find a number of avatars, avatar mods, parts, clothes, and other goods: Magican Productions and Twilight Imaginarium, by Becky Nosferatu and Moni Vyle (Tatteredwilite).

The first floor is for Magican Productions. Upon entering, to the left are a number of mods. This includes Becky's prize product, the Speckled Dragon mod. You can get one of several colors, or a fatback with all of them. There are other mods suchas the Rainbow Crux. For those on a budget, in the back to the left are some freebie avatars. To the back on the right are some discounted avatars at a fraction of their original price, such as the batlike Bloodkin. On the right wall are various parts, tails, hands, legs (too bad you can't send them to Horizons_ and more. There are also a few clothes available for sale, such as Disability Motivators shirts. You can also get a free cup of cider or one of a few other drinks.

The second floor is for the products of Twilight Imaginarium. Currently all of it's products available at the store are on just one wall, various avatar mods such as the Metal Panda and the Generic Goat Demon. It seems the floor is a work in progress as the paint in the place is still wet. There's also some odd card came in progress in the middle of the floor with some chalk lines and circles drawn underneath.

Don't forget to explore around while you're there as this is picturesque Montecito Bay with it's futuristic design and neon lights. For instance the nearby WCRX radio station is there. 

Store location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Montecito%20Bay/37/49/23

 

Magican Productions MP - https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/2733

 

Twilight Imaginarium MP - https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/194707

Bixyl Shuftan

Furry Winterfest Hunt 2021

 

Come celebrate the Winterfest Season with us at Furry!

You'll find Lucky presents under the tree hanging out with Reindeer at one end and if you wander down the lane filled with shops offering festive products you can nip in to see Santa and maybe snag a gift from him!

Watch out for all the little cozy seating areas perfect for picture taking!
On top of all this is the Winterfest Snowflake Hunt!

December 20th - 1st January

Every Snowflake has a free gift, just find the snowflake and then get close enough to touch it to receive the prize!

Snowflakes can be found anywhere in the Winterfest area, The FF Main Store, Lounge, Lilyvale, Gardens and Mall!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Furry/142/35/27
 

Arcadia Asylum Library in Sunweaver Estates Closing

 

Some sad news for the fans of the Arcadia Asylum Library in HV Community, just down the road from the Newser office. The building will soon be closing. Possibly as soon as today.

Earlier Prof. Grey (BrianL61 Landar) had announced the upcoming end of the place.

Dear Friends,

    It saddens me to announce that the Sunweaver branch of the Arcadia Asylum Library and freebie center will be closing on Februrary 1st 2021.

Due to Real Life demands the $1000.00 U.S. Dollars I spend each year in world must now be diverted to home repair and maintenance.

Eventually, someone approached Prof. Grey about the upcoming close, Cynthia Farshore. Yesterday, Wednesday January 27, I met up with them at the Arcadia building and they told me about the plans they had made. Prof Gray told me, "I'm shutting down this location and have turned over control of Anilis to another curator. In real life, my father in law (85) is starting chemo and the money i would spend in Second Life is needed in real life. ... He's a tough old goat, he'll make it through this."

As for what happens to the freebie store, Cynthia informed, "I am about to rebuild the old Puddle Jumper (mall) back on the (Farshore) airfield. So one section will be the Library. The new build will have a center lobby and wings opposite each over. One side is the freebie the other various sellers. So there will be a gap but in the end the freebies will still be around." She had plans for the items other than just the Sunweaver lands, "Also I'll have to check but hopefully I can also add the freebies to the Emporium in Caledon.

Prof. Grey added, "With a selection of 9487 free items she can rotate the goodies when ever she wants and keep it fresh, so to speak. Hazelee Haller is the new owner of Anilis Library she is expanding her current land holding and will be relocating Anilis to that sim. I will be taking this location down starting tomorrow (Thursday January 28) most likely."

Eventually, Prof. Gray had to check up on his father-in-law, and had to go. And so that may have been the last time I set foot in the Sunweaver Arcadia building, of which some of Gray's builds across the road have made the Newser a few times. While the Arcadia Asylum Library may be going away, the freebies will remain as part of another store.

Bixyl Shuftan

Halloween Swaginator Hunt

It's October, and Halloween season. And with it comes this year's "Halloween Swaginator Hunt" from Linden Lab and the moles.

The Halloween Swaginator Hunt is back! Can you find all five hidden Halloween-themed gifts? This year’s freebies are among the best ever! To get started, look for the special haunted edition of the Swaginator gift-giving station to grab your free HUD. 

To get the Swaginator HUD, head to Meauxle Bureaux (157/123/29). There, look around for a sign with a couple pumpkins, "Touch Here to get your Swaginator HUD." Do so, and you'll get the HUD. Attach it, and you'll get your first clue, "Something spooky has been sighted behind a cabin in the woods." And you'll get your first location: Millbank.

Millbank happens to be the site of the Halloween Haunted Neighborhood. It's dark, it's spooky, so searching for the clue may take a while. Most of the rest of the clues will also lead you to places around Bellisseria (one leads elsewhere). Some are easy to find. A couple may take a while. For every one you find, the pumpkin in your HUD gets another tooth. There are five Halloween-themed gifts to grab. Some are no doubt more useful than others. But the hunt itself is half the fun.

Once again, start out at: https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Meauxle%20Bureaux/157/123/29/

Source: Linden blog

Bixyl Shuftan

EOTB: Adult Swim Event In Second Life, Intro of Live Streaming, Friday May 8

Fans of the Adult Sim show "The Shivering Truth," a horror-themed claymation animation, will have a reason to come on tomorrow. Linden Lab announced on the official blog there will be an inworld exclusive showing of two new and unreleased episodes of season two. The catch, you'll need to download the beta of a new limited-edition version of the official viewer that allows a new feature that allows for the broadcasting of video events.


Watch two classic episodes and two all-new unreleased episodes from the forthcoming second season of “The Shivering Truth” at this special event, to be held inworld at a new venue created exclusively for this screening. 

During the event, you can chat with fellow fans of the show and other special guests as you experience the show together for the first time in the virtual world. Free limited-edition virtual gifts and mementos will also be distributed during and after the show -- just look for the “Free Gifts” kiosk near the front entrance.  

The event also marks the first media partnership utilizing the new limited-release Second Life Viewer, which enables content creators and entertainment companies to broadcast live video events to virtual world audiences. In the future, you may see several new forms of entertainment including movie and TV premieres, live concerts, and artist/fan meet-and-greets. We're very excited to partner with Adult Swim for the debut of this new feature, which we plan to integrate into the main Second Life Viewer release in the coming weeks.

To take part, one has to download the beta-version viewer.  Those on Firestorm or other third-party viewers, or the current version of the official viewer will not be able to see the episodes. On the day of the event, Friday May 8, head over before 4PM SL time at ASB (128/128/23). There's a gifts kiosk one can touch to get some limited-edition freebies (the Lab says they won't be there for long). There will be repeat showings every hour to 9PM SL time.

To read more, check the official blog.

Bixyl Shuftan

Coronavirus Survival Store

As we all deal with the novel corona virus some are thinking of how to ease the struggle in real life and also here in Second Life. One of those who did that here is Jadyn Firehawk. I am sure many of you recognize her name as the owner of the beloved Yosemite region that closed last July. 

Jadyn went into her vast warehouse inventory and searched out all the calming tools she could find. She is hoping to bring some peace and quietude to those searching for it. That was her purpose in Yosemite and though it is gone the spirit lives on.

Go over and take a look at the numerous gifts you can get. I took many of the pieces for myself,

You can find all the articles displayed at her pop up store
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lorena%20Blue/114/126/3200

Gemma Cleanslate

New Arcadia Asylum Freebie Store Opens in Sunweaver Estates

The Sunweaver Estates has a new building, one that will attract the attention of many across Second Life. Arcadia Asylum has a new location, right in HV Community. The Newser had a few words with Prof. Grey (BrianL61 Landar), the builder and owner of the place, which boasts almost ten thousand freebie items.

Read the story in Design.

Arcadia Asylum Living Library

Longtime readers will likely remember Yadni’s Junkyard, which for over a decade was a place for newcomers and even established residents to get free stuff, and Arcadia Asylum, whom made a number of items for residents to get for free. You can find the works of Yadni, Arcadia, and others at the Arcadia Asylum Living Library. Made by Prof. Grey (BrianL61 Landar), it is his aim to "preserve the works of SL's Great Creators and Collectors" for residents to continue to be able to get and use them. Gemma Cleanslate dropped by the place to have a look around.

Read Gemma's story in Design.

Guy Fawkes Exhibition

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November." For the people of Great Britain, today is "Guy Fawkes Day," also known as "Bonfire Night." For those who don't know, the holiday is to celebrate the failure of a plot to blow up the English Parliament building with barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes wasn't the ringleader, but was the one caught guarding the explosives. People lit bonfires in celebration. Later celebrations would include fireworks and the throwing of effigies into the bonfires.


To find out a little more about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder plot, there's a place in London Village one can find out a little more: the Guy Fawkes Exhibition for 2018.

Welcome to The Guy Fawkes Exhibition for 2018. This is the 8th year we have staged the Exhibition and we welcome new and old friends visiting this year!

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.

Guy Fawkes became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, the failure of which has been commemorated in Britain since 5 November 1605. His effigy is traditionally burned on a bonfire, commonly accompanied by a firework display.

Some of the exhibit looks a bit more like a haunted house than a museum, such as the rotten bodies and the flaming barrels. But you soon get to the informative parts of the exhibit, with a display of pictures that when touched will tell the resident about a part of the Gunpowder part. There's also a video one can watch. And there are free items, notably a Guy Fawkes avatar and outfit. You can wear just the outfit on your existing (non-mesh) avatar.

The exhibition will be up to November 12.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/London%20Village/223/175/26

Bixyl Shuftan

Burn2 "Man Burn" Today, A Look at "Lost in Space"

Today marks the high point of the Burn2 festival: the "Man Burn." It takes place at 10AM SL time and once more 4PM SL time. Tomorrow marks the last events, including the Temple Burn, which is also 10AM and 4PM. Besides these two, be sure to look for dances, DRUM, and other events. And of course, all of those exhibits.

The Man: Burning Man-Time Machine (151/109/24)

The Temple: Burning Man-Dont Panic (161/39/24)

One of the most fun exhibits that I came across was the "Lost in
Space" one. Made by Lillithslair (Lillith LoneRaven) and located at Electric Sheep (186/72/24), stepping inside, clicking in "Mission Control," one can take a trip to Earth orbit, or perhaps to the outer solar system, or maybe to a crystal world where you can take home a few samples for a souvenir.

Of course just going in space in regular clothes is not always a good idea. Click on "Space Suits" on the panel to get a suit that gives you some protection from hostile environments (protection against hard vacuum is limited with hands and other body parts unprotected). Clicking on "Space Ships" will give you a small ship that can get you about short distances, or perhaps a longer journey with some assistance. For the automated tour, turn off any AOs, walk inside the large metal tube, and sit on the poseball (after wearing a suit or getting in a mini-spaceship).

Bixyl Shuftan

The Return of Yadni's Junk

For over a decade in Second Life, Yadni's Junkyard stood and provided huge numbers of freebies for thousands of new residents of the Grid. Although Yadni Monde's freebie location has been gone for almost three years and he hasn't been inworld for a while, he is still fondly remembered. Fans of the noted blue resident will be happy to hear about one recent project of BrianL61 Landar (Prof Grey). He is making some of Yadni's items available again. Gemma set out to learn more and report.

Read Gemma's story in Places.

Hairology

Shaza Denver is back after exploring an event she couldn't keep under her hat: Hairology. This is a popular monthly event high above the Waterton Way featuring some top hair designers. There are a number of gifts always available, and Shava shows off three from the latest event.

Read Shaza's article in Fashion.

Gifting Pumpkins at Grendel's Children

Almost lost in the Halloween rush, the classic mall Grendel's Children is offering some freebies in "Gifting Pumpkins." The pumpkins are scattered around the store, and when clicked on, you get the contents, often one of their avatars.

"We always do it, and this year it's three of us putting stuff out," Grendles' co-owner Toady Nakamura told the Newser, "so will be amazingly Grendel's!! We put out stuff and people find it ..."

Grendel's Children, Dragons, Mon, Avaria Tor (133, 134, 305)

Linden Lab Giving Out Halloween Gifts, Haunted Halloween Tour Returns

Linden Lab no doubt has been blamed, rightly or wrongly, for a number of tricks on the residents. This Halloween, they have a few (almost) harmless tricks, as well as some treats. They announced details on their blog last week.

Halloween isn’t just about dressing up and reveling in the spirit of all things spooky - there’s also that whole bag full of delicious treats your gather - so here are some stops you’re going to want to make to get your goodies. Exclusively for Premium members - we have Mary O’net - a special edition, wearable Glytch avatar. Mary is the perfect combination of elegant and creepy - a delight to don and dance away in haunted halls and stages all across the Grid!   ... There’s also a bag bursting full of free treats for everyone! Just drop by Portal Park and see what’s in store for you inside the gift bag! There’s something for everyone inside - so be sure to drop by!

I headed to Portal Park (incognito), and in front of the portal to the Haunted Halloween Tour ride (more on that later), I saw a couple of gift boxes. I got them, took them to a sandbox, and in one found a few goodies, including a skeleton avatar and a "Flying Eggling" vehicle that goes about by way of a rocket. In the other was a "trick or treat" bag, one that really does give out tricks or treats.

Are you ready for Halloween? Because we want to be sure, we have prepared a special Trick or Treat bag for you!  It's loaded with everything you'll need to enjoy the holiday with friends. (Well, mostly tricks, but you can find plenty of treats in Second Life.) Tyrah and Punkee designed this bag to build on the new inworld game, "Tyrah and the Curse of the Magical Glytches."  You can set it on your doorstep as a surprise for curious visitors or you and your friends can dream up ways to use it for party games. Each time someone clicks on the bag, it chooses a random result.  Usually it's a trick -- try it and see! -- but every once in a while it offers a treat for the person who clicked it.  So ..... First person to get the treat wins?  Or maybe you have to give everyone else a treat if the bag plays a particular trick on you?  You make up the rules.   Or just have fun.

Rezzing the bag on the ground, I clicked it a few times. Occasionally it would give me the "treat," a 2 Euro coin. Usually there was some other result. Most commonly, the bag would catch on fire, or bats would fly around. Other results included apples flying out of the bag, the bag turning into a jack o' lantern, the bag flying off, or the bag ending up on your head. Ha ha!

To get these Halloween gifts, head over to Portal Park 1 (175/118/52)

For Premium Residents, there's a Glytch avatar, "Mary O'net." The areas to pick it up it, such as Unttan (130/128/81), are accessible only to Premium Residents. To help encourage residents to upgrade their accounts, Linden Lab is offering 50% off their first quarterly payment if they sign up for Premium, until November 2.

Also, Linden Lab announced the return of the Haunted Halloween Tour

Who says sequels never live up to the originals? The spine-chilling Haunted Tour is back again - and this third installment is scarier than ever! Some new additions to this house of horrors have been crafted for your enjoyment. Hop in a coffin and enjoy the wild wide through. By the way - if you have a fear of clowns, you may want to make sure you bring a friend!

Stepping through, I saw an old abandoned manor up a hill ahead. A coffin-like car rezzed. Once in the ride took control of my view, so there was no panning around. The scenery was unnerving, and those with a problem with blood and gore might not want to get on, but I didn't see anything that was likely to cause heart trouble. 

To go on the Halloween Haunted Tour, like the gifts head over to Portal Park 1 (175/118/52) 

To see Linden Lab's post in full: Click here. 

Bixyl Shuftan