Reader Submitted Pictures: The Relay USO Show

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Last Friday, the Relay for Life's Team SHB Gems held a "Bring Your Own Kiosk" USO show. The event was held with DJ Cynthia from the Sunbeamer team. The event was held from 7-9PM at the Deminis sim. Cynthia would also send the Newser a few pictures of the event.

I'll be DJing a USO BYOK Swing Dance for Team SHB Gems
USO BYOK Swing Dance for Team SHB Gems
7-9 pm SLT Saturday April 10
Sounds of the big band 40's all provided by the Sunbeamer's own Cynthia Farshore
Coming in a military uniform is encouraged but not mandatory.

While the music was from several decades ago, everyone there enjoyed them and had fun.

Images from Cynthia Farshore 
  

"Grove Walk of Fame" Raises 227,000 Lindens

From 8AM to 4PM SL time yesterday, Sunday October 12, was a special Relay event, the "Grove Walk of Fame" at the Grove Greenhouse. The musicians performing were Aleykat, Lisa Brune, Zachh Cale, Phemie Alcott, Djembe Dragonfire, Lunciano, Samm Q, Levi Zuzu, and Jeffah. People were requested to dress in 1940s fashion. This was not part of the Making Strides events, but was an off-season fundraiser for the Relay.

At the end of the eight hour event, quite a total was raised, with a picture showing over 200,000 Linden dollars. The final total raised was 227,000 Lindens.


Thanks to all who came to the Walk of Fame for RFL today and donated so generously!  Today, thanks to all of you, we made a difference to the tune of L$227,000!  You are all fantastic!  I’m always amazed at how this world comes together to make a difference!  And MANY thanks to all the singers who were so amazing!  They are all true stars!

Picture from Cynthia Farshore

Second Life Destinations: "1920s - 1940s New York in Time Portal"

Linden Lab's "Second Life Destinations" from a few days ago is a small step to a time and place most of us have seen only in movies, downtown New York in the 1920s-1940s period.

Put on your very best era-appropriate outfit (think Guys and Dolls, The Great Gatsby, The Aviator, or Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries) and step through the Time Portal and into New York in the 1920 - 1940s. This week’s Destination video takes a jazzy glimpse into the steaming streets and humming hustle of New York during one of it’s most interesting times. Sip a daring drink the speakeasy, cut some rug at the Cocoanut Grove, and experience life outside our current timeline, as you travel back to the noir time of an era gone by!

Gemma Cleanslate wrote an article about the Time Portal in January 2017, with 1920s-1940s New York as one of a few destinations aspiring time travelers can go to.

SL Video: "Jessica Rabbit Tribute 'Why Don't You Do Right' "

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Nydia Tungsten, with the help of Jessicabelle Dayafter and others on March 10, "This tribute to Jessica Rabbit, it's creators and owners,and in no way are we making any money or infringing on copyrights. this was done for fun and our enjoyment."

Reader Submitted: Xanadu's "Fallout" Party

Perri Prinz is a DJ and the owner of the Xanadu classic rock club in Second Life, as well as the writer of "Spectral Shadows." On the night of Sunday April 9, Xanadu ran a "Fallout" themed party. A game of a post-apocalyptic setting might seem like an odd theme for a classic rock club. But as it turns out, the music from the Fallout games comes from what Perri describes as a "lost period" in music history that the game was helping to revive interest in. Perri would write about the event afterwards.

Read Perri's reader submission in SL Clubbin'. 

Fran Seranade's 90th Birthday Party

On Saturday February 18, Creations for Parkinsons was the scene of a 90th birthday party for Fran Seranade. The party actually got an early start the night before for a couple hours. But the main event was from 3PM to a bit past 8PM SL time. At one point, there were close to forty people crowded in the CP Swing Ballroom, which unfortunately resulted in me crashing before I could get a good picture. Yours truly would have to wait until later for a clear one without they grays and glitches.

Barbie Alchemi, Fran's daughter, had stated her mother wasn't planning a party in real life. She would just enjoy the event with her friends in Second Life. The theme of the party was 40s sing and big band. And people either dressed in formal outfits, or in clothing that could easily have been of the era. There would be various live performers singing throughout the party, such as Max Kleen, "We had so many great performers here today."

While at the party, I would see the black and white photos of Fran and her family change like a slide show.  "Fran was the 6th of 7 children," Barbie told the crowd, "she was born in Brookly New York in 1927." Other pictures included her and a childhood friend, "they were both very limited sight and were considered blind at that time," and her high school photo, "she was the first in her family to go past elementary school and graduate."

While most of the musicians were experienced performers in virtual reality, one was making his Second Life debut as a singer: Ron Rosa. A singer in the style of the "Rat Pack" yours truly got a couple requests to mention him in the article, saying for a beginner he was too good not to name, " his voice is nuanced and spot on.  I think he is going to really do well when he gets tuned up."

Following Ron, it was time for the party to wind down. And Fran herself was ready to head to bed herself, "Good night everybody! Thank you all for a GREAT night!!!!!!!!"

Creations for Parkinsons raises funds for Team Fox, a Parkinson's charity. During the course of the party, a substantial amount of Lindens were raised.

Creations for Parkinsons has events on a daily basis, sometimes a few to several on a day. The CP Swing ballroom itself has events just about every day.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Creations%20Park/35/52/28

Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: "Birthday Bash" at Creations For Parkinsons

Birthday Bash Benefit - Fran Turns 90
Saturday February 18th 3-9pm slt
6 Hours of Live Music
CP Swing Ballroom on Creations Park
All donations go to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
Attire: Formal or 40's vintage
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Creations%20Park/35/52/28

3:00 Max Kleene
4:00 Agatha
5:00 Greg Kat
6:00 DirtyDee Sweetwater
7:00 Robbie Downing
8:00 Quartz

Fran said she did not want a 90th Birthday Party in Real Life, she only wanted a party in Second Life. And this will be a Birthday Bash to remember with 6 hours of live music.

Fran became famous in Second Life through this heart touching video: The Drax File: World Makers- Episode 13 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyiiWxNguGo&feature=youtu.be

Fran says "I may have Parkinson's, but it does not have me." At 90 "years young," she is active in Second Life and is thrilled to see herself running and dancing again.

Fran's daughter Barbie Alchemi tells us that their RL Dad died with Parkinson's. Exactly one year later Mom was diagnosed with the same disease. However due to the time Fran spends in Second Life her progression has been noticeably slower.

In honor of this remarkable woman, five years ago their family started Creations for Parkinson's and has raised 9.5 Million Linden which is approximately $38,000 US Dollars for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. "We are hoping to raise another 500,000 Linden this week to reach our 10 Million Linden goal." The Creations Park sim has was built with love to include all of Fran's favorite activities. We hope you can feel that love while you are enjoying yourself here.

Fran's party will have six live singers performing during the day at Creation Park's newest addition, CP Swing Big Band Ballroom. It is a 40's era ballroom built as a re-creation of the Savoy Ballroom which was the birthplace of swing dancing. Here we can all enjoy the wonderful music of Fran's teen years. It brings back happy memories for Fran of "taking air" which are those amazing areal Swing dance moves. The crowd used to make a circle around Fran and her partner as they became the floor show.

The Birthday Bash Benefit will be held in this Ballroom. Attire for the event is formal or 40's vintage. There will even be a short slide show of Fran in the 40's.

Actually the festivities will start the night before on Friday February 17th 7-9 with a tribute to Vaugn Monroe and the Moon Maid. One of Fran's closest friends Tinker was one of the original Moon Maids.

We are thrilled to have this wonderful article release 2 days ago in BackChannel:
https://backchannel.com/first-they-got-sick-then-they-moved-into-a-virtual-utopia-1dc6c165f3e9#.o6sz3eo2t

Announcement: Free Dance Lessons at LEA1

Dances in Real Life offer Free Dance Lessons; Dances in Second Life should too!

The essence of our Dance 101 class is to recreate that same social experience, educational experience, and just plain fun experience.   Our class is self-guided 24x7, but the real fun comes with our Live Instructor classes.

New LIVE INSTRUCTOR Dance Classes have been scheduled at LEA1 for Thursday, September 1, at 7PM SL time, Tuesday Sept. 6 at 2PM SLT, and Monday Sept. 12 SLT.  They will be held at our 1940s themed venue, CP Swing, located in the heart of Swing City - our 1940s themed city within LEA1.

These FREE Dance Classes have a new LIVE class format featuring two songs per dance, and an additional break between songs to allow for costume changes.  We have been delighted to see some of our participants wanting to change costumes along with the instructors, which has added a new dimension to the class experience.   Come learn six of the most popular dances in SL, meet new people, and dance with them!

While you are here, be sure to check out our other exhibits.  Jardines de Baile offers a Dance 101 classroom next to Club Nocturno, recreating a Mexican seaside resort experience.  Gardens Park provides a beautiful setting to practice your dances.  And our Education Center provides an overview of our 2LDance.org mission and vision, and what went into creating our LEA1 venues.

CP SWING 40's-Era Dance Hall, in Swing City - LEA1 (65, 71, 25)
    http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA1/65/71/25
   
   
Clase de Baile, at Club Nocturno (Jardines de Baile)  - LEA1 (84, 221, 22)
    http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA1/84/221/22

Find out more at: http://2LDance.org

Casablanca

Grey Lupindo is back. After a hiatus to deal with some matters in real life, she's back to writing about the places in Second Life. Her first location to write about is Casablanca. Set in the Nantucket Island sim by Sommer Shepherd, the place is depiction of the French Moroccon town in the classic 1942 movie of the same name, set a year earlier when the US had not yet entered the war and an American was running an upscale bar and gambling den. Grey Lupindo took a look around at this virtual replica of the setting of Bogart's best known film. Even if one isn't familiar with the movie, the place still has much to offer.

Read Grey's article in Places.