Linden Lab Spotlights Creations Park

 

 

Earlier this month, Linden Lab highlighted Creations Park, run by Barbie Alchemi with the help of Carlyle Chaparral, and the home of the Creations for Parkinsons group.

Dive into the heart of creativity and connection in Second Life with the latest addition to our Made in SL series, "Creations Park Made in Second Life." 

In this two-part feature, we highlight the inspiring stories of Barbie Alchemi and Carlyle Chaparral, two remarkable Residents who have transformed their virtual experiences into avenues of real-world impact and cultural enrichment. 

 In the first video made by Draxtor Despres about Creations, he talked to Barnie Alchemi, who described how her mother Fran Serenade was the inspiration to create the place. In Drax's second video, he talked to Carlyle, who talked about the Savoy Ballroom, and the history of it's real-life counterpart.

 

To check out Creations Park for yourself, Click Here - https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Creations%20Park/92/167/36

 

Atlantis Underwater at Creations for Parkinsons

 

For the merfolk in Second Life, one event aimed at them is the weekly party at Atlantis Underwater. Part of the Creations for Parkinsons. I was over recently, and there were a number of mermaids dancing away.  This included Creations owner Barbie Alchemi, whom had taken on a mer form herself. The music was from Liferose.

The event takes place every Tuesday at Noon SL time. There's a theme and a contest. Donations are accepted for Team Fox, a charity that funds research to treat Parkinson's Disease.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Creations%20Park/183/169/2
 

"Fran Serenade’s Celebration Of Life" Raises Over 350,000 Lindens For Parkinson's

On Saturday May 11, The Savoy Ballroom at Creations for Parkinsons was the scene of a memorial concert and dance event. The event was done in honor of Fran Serenade, whom had passed away on March e at the age of 92. Named "Fran Serenade's Celebration of Life," it went from 11AM to 9PM SL time, a number of singers performed for the crowd, which at one point numbered 64.

The event was organized by Fran's real-life daughter, Barbie Alchemi. Besides celebrating the life of her mother, it was also to raise funds for Parkinson's research.

some of the very best live singers in Second Life will be performing in her honor. Most knew Fran and some had performed at her 90th birthday party, also at Savoy. All talent will be perfoming for tips only, and like all events at Creations Park, this will benefit Team Fox for Parkinson's Research.

The goal of the event was to raise 250,000 Linden dollars. But by 6:42PM, the amount had passed 300,000L. And the total continued to grow. Almost 40,000 Lindens were raised in one single hour period. After the last singer performed, a few people made last-minute donations. The final total was  353,800 Linden dollars!

With the event finally over, there were messages of congratulations, "What a joyful day for Fran." "Fran is smiling tonight." It certainly has been a fantastic night!!! Thank you," Barbie told.

Although Fran has departed, Barbie and her real-life brother AlmostThere Inventor will continue running Creations for Parkinsons and it's events. It's mission remains to be a place of comfort and beauty, and raising funds for Parkinson's.

Bisyl Shuftan

Reminder: Fran Serenade’s Celebration Of Life Today

A Celebration of Fran’s life will be held at Savoy Ballroom in Creations Park on Saturday, May 11, 2019, from 11AM to 9PM SLT.  Some of the very best live singers in Second Life will be performing in her honor. We hope you can stop by at some point during the day.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Creations%20Park/5/49/28

Press Release: Fran Serenade’s Celebration Of Life

A Celebration of the life of Fran Serenade at Savoy Ballroom 
in Creations Park on Saturday, May 11, 2019, from 11AM to 
9PM, featuring some of Second Life’s very best performers.

On March 3rd, 2019, Creations Park lost its original inspiration, 
and Second Life lost its most celebrated senior.  Fran Serenade 
passed away at 92 after a lifetime of loving and serving others 
in both of the worlds she lived in. Fran was beloved by all who 
knew her, including her Linden friends. Her daughter, Barbie 
Alchemi, and son, AlmostThere Inventor, built Creations Park in 
Second Life to be a wonderworld to stimulate the mind, specifically 
for Fran and others with Parkinson’s.   The Draxtor video about 
Fran and the medical research into Parkinson’s done at Creations 
Park was called one of the most important ever made about 
Second Life by Linden Lab’s CEO Ebbe Linden.  

A Celebration of Fran’s life will be held at Savoy Ballroom in 
Creations Park on Saturday, May 11, 2019, from 11AM to 9PM 
SLT.  Some of the very best live singers in Second Life will be 
performing in her honor.  Most knew Fran and some had 
performed at her 90th birthday party, also at Savoy. All talent will 
be performing for tips only, and like all events at Creations Park, 
this will benefit Team Fox for Parkinson’s Research.

By June 1, 2019, a memorial honoring Fran and this celebration 
will be located in-world at the  Savoy Swing Era Museum, and 
will be available online at SavoyBallroom.org/fran

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE                        More Available Online

TIME        ARTIST            AGENT/SL CONTACT

11:00 AM    Samm Qendra            direct

12:00 PM    Putri Solo (putrisolosinger)    Jamila.lanley         

1:00 PM    Luciano Lionheart        Helen (Helendar Bailey)

2:00 PM    Phil Setner            Alessia Setner (alessia.rodeyn)

3:00 PM    Agatha Knowles        Troy Nelson (troyjaimes)

4:00 PM    Savoy Dance Troupe        Jackie Brown (antarctica.ferraris)

5:00 PM    Max Kleene            Kat Vargas           

6:00 PM    Ronnie Artano            Missy (lilmiss54)

7:00 PM    Savoy Stars Showcase    Carlyle Chaparral

8:00 PM    JaeSands            direct

Oasis for Parkinson’s

Creations for Parkinson's, the group in Second Life raising funds to help find treatments for Parkinson's Disease, has a fun event going on. "The Oasis," built high above the Greenmist sim, was built in cooperation with the Miss Globe Universal Charity Foundation. At this place made in the style of Ancient Egypt, one can shop, take part in hunts, explore a maze, and take part in some music and dance. Gemma Cleanslate donned her archeologist's helmet, and went out to explore the place.

Read Gemma's article in Events.

Fran Seranade Dies at 92

Some sad news for Second Life. One of it's oldest and inspirational residents, Fran Seranade, has passed away. She had celebrated her 92nd birthday just a few days before. She was the inspiration for the Creations for Parkinsons sims and group, run by her real-life daughter Barbie Alchemi.

*  *  *  *  *

Our family is so sorry to share the sad news that our mom, Fran, passed away on Sunday morning March 3rd.

As you know our dad died with Parkinson's 16 years ago. Much to our surprise, one year later mom was also diagnosed with the same disease. In spite of the challenges, Mom gallantly kept going, enjoying her life right up to her 92nd birthday. A few days later we shared an especially happy and precious day. She said "Today would be a good day to die." I asked if she would like to move into my home and have me call Hospice. Her face lit up with a smile and she told me it was the right time.

For 15 years Mom has been a Hospice volunteer. It was my honor to care for her as she had cared for so many others at the end of their lives. I spent the last 84 hours by her side, nursing her round the clock with the guidance of Hospice. I will be forever grateful for the precious opportunity to be with her for this time.  During her final hour as I held her hand, I could feel love and wisdom pouring from her heart and flowing into my own heart. As she exhaled for the last time, I knew her spirit was lifted into perfect peace and she was united again with our dad.

We will be planning a memorial service in SL in about a month. I will keep you informed as soon as we know the date. I will set up a special L donation Kiosk in her memory.

Please read more about her life of love and service at this link https://fundraise.michaeljfox.org/tf-2019/FranSwenson
If you wish, you may make a RL donation in her memory.

Here is the link, if you would like to watch the remarkable video made 6 years ago about the benefits of SL for our RL Mom. This will touch your heart! The Drax File: World Makers- Episode 13 Creations for Parkinsons
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyiiWxNguGo&feature=youtu.be

Please share this note card with your friends so we can reach as many people as possible.

We are so grateful for your caring and love,
Barbie Alchemi and AlmostThere Inventor

Creations for Parkinsons

Creations for Parkinson's stands out as a location in Second Life in a number of ways. One is the place is very detailed in it's design, not just on the surface, but also it's skybox and underwater locations. It's also the location of many events that feature some good talent. And then there is the purpose of the place. Creation for Parkinson's is the location of Team Fox in Second Life which raises money for research on the disease for better treatments and one day a cure. Deaflegacy recently went there, and had a few words with Barbie Alchemi, the owner.

Read Deaf's story in Places.

2017 Person of the Year Runners Up: Barbie Alchemi and Fran Serenade

The Newser's choice of Man of the Year for 2017 as Ajit Pai, as expected, did not sit well with everyone. Several people talked to me or otherwise left messages, saying either our concerns on the issue of Net Neutrality were misplaced, or that the title should have gone to someone who made a difference for the better. But Time Magazine's Man of the Year annual magazine, which was the inspiration for our annual article, does not always chose a force for good, just the person, persons, or object that has done the most to influence events, for good or ill.

Still, there were plenty of movers and shakers in Second Life that made an impact. And so we can chose someone for runner up. It was not an easy choice, but we have picked two.

Barbie Alchemi and Fran Serenade are the women behind Creations for Parkinsons. While Barbie is the owner and leader of the sims and the groups involved, Fran is the inspiration for them. Having been earlier aflicted with Parkinson's, her time here has been atributed to not only halting the progress of the illness, but reversing it.

This year, they were mentioned in the Newser a number of times, such as when a 90th birthday party for Fran was held inworld, and they held their Gotham Island Hallowen fundraiser for money for Parkinson's research. And earlier articles and videos, notably Draxtor Despress' video of them, continue to draw attention to both them and the virtual world of Second Life. In the case of the latter, it offers people a view of the virtual world that's world's apart from the tabliodish depiction the public has often gotten.



So for their continued work for charity, for their continuing to be an inspiration for others in Second Life and showing people unfamiliar with the virtual world the good it can do, the Newser names Barbie Alchemi and Fran Serenade as it's runners up for Person of the Year.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor
SL Newser

Barbie Alchemi on Creations For Parkinson's

Wesley Regenbogen recently had a chance to interview Barbie Alchemi, the owner of "Creations For Parkinson's. The area is not just well known for it's beauty and design, from the top of the buildings to under the water, but for being the home of "Team Fox," which raises funds for research for treatments of Parkinson's Disease. Wesley's questions went from how the place came to be, to how much has been raised over time, to it's current fundraiser, the Gotham Halloween Event.

Read Wesley's article in Extra. 

Editor To Be Guest Speaker at Safe Waters Foundation Today

Yours truly, Bixyl Shuftan, will be the guest speaker at the Safe Waters Foundation's mer Chat Pavilion today. The topic, at least which I'll be speaking about, is about writing for an online newsletter, or blog. Among the people there, Grace Wrigglesworth, the head of the Safe Waters Foundation, and Barbie Alchemi of Creations for Parkinson's.

The discussion is at 1PM SL time.

Mer Chat Pavilion  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Union%20Passage/96/229/1

Safe Water Foundation Meeting and Underwater Birthday Bash

On June 10 at Noon SL time, there was a meeting at the Safe Waters Foundation in which Gentle Heron of Virtual Ability gave an open discussion about how the disabled could access Second Life, and how a welcome area suited to their particular needs could encourage them to stay. The meeting was attended by SWF head Grace (GraceSWF Wrigglesworth), and Barbie Alchemi of Creations for Parkinson's. Any1 Gynoid was also there. The event took place on the ocean floor of the Union Passage sim.

Grace happened to have her rezzday about this time. And at 6PM her friends in and out of the group held a rezzday party for her.

The party was mostly merfolk, but there were a few others, including a couple people in diving helmets. Kiosks for the Relay for Life and the Team Fox Parkinson's charities were placed and  collected a few thousand Linden dollars. Much of the music played was Celtic and Celtic-inspired. Tours were offered, and yours truly got a chance to see some places around the bottom of the Blake Sea.

Stay tuned for more about the Safe Water Foundation and the Blake Sea.

Addition: Grace told me the discussion happens at Union Passage (96/229/1) every two weeks, and is called, "Let's Mertalk," "Sometimes Open Topic and other times there will be other topics announced in advance."

Bixyl Shuftan

Fran Seranade of Creations for Parkinsons

Deaflegacy recently went to Creations for Parkinsons. There she met Barbie Alchemi, who wanted to talk about the person who was the real driving force behind the place in Second Life: her mother Fran Serenade. Fran, who recently turned 90, has been an example of how Second Life can help those with disabilities as despite her Parkinson's, she describes herself as getting better in recent years, attributing the improvement in her well being to Second Life and the friendships she has made there. Her daughter Barbie talked about the Parkinson's Support Group, of which Fran has made a number of friends, and the two birthday parties she had, including one in real life which included some she knew from Second Life.

Read Deaflegacy's story in People.

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

Twelve Day of Christmas Second Life Style

On the 12th day of Christmas, Linden Labs gave to me,

12 times a-crashing!
11 missing meshes,
10 graphic glitches
9 thousand lost lindens,
8 login errors,
7 hard crashes,
6 corrupted scripts,
Fiveeeee rolling restarts,
4 folders missing,
3 broken land marks,
2 broken bundles
and the main SL Grid going down!!!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

From Barbie Alchemi

Dancing at the LEA 1

Gemma Cleanslate recently went to the LEA1 sim, where the 2Ldance group has been offering dance lessons. Instead of just hopping on a poseball, here it's explained just what's involved with dancing in real-life. Besides the dancing there's good scenery, including a park from Creations for Parkinson's Barbie Alchemi.

Read Gemma's story in Design.

Creations for Parkinson's

Becky Shamen's latest journey took her to a spot that has been mentioned a number of times in the Newser, but seldom described in great detail: Creations for Parkinson's. Noted for it's inspiring tale of being originally built by Barbie Alchemi for her real-life mother Fran Seranade to help her with her Parkinson's, the place has over time grown in size from it's original sim and it's purpose, now helping to raise funds for Team Fox: the Parkinson's charity founded by Michael J. Fox. Activities go on there several times a week, once where a blind DJ was playing music for some. But what about the sims themselves, the ground levels and the higher levels up above? Becky Shamen visited, and found them so stunning that before she knew it it was way past Midnight and had to continue her explorations the next day, and the day after that.

Read Becky's article in Places.

Press Release: Creations For Parkinson's Red White and Blue Event

DATES: May 27, 2016 to June 6, 2016

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Creations%20Park/234/137/3301

WEBSITE: https://creationspark.wordpress.com/

Creations For Parkinson’s, an official charity of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, is pleased to announce it’s very first annual Red, White, and Blue event! This event will take place from May 27, 2016 to June 6, 2016 and will include live djs, live performers, tribute concerts, an art auction, shopping, gachas, a hunt, and a special carnival!

The event is sponsored by Windlight Magazine, Azul, and Chop Zuey Fine Couture Jewellery. The following merchants are participating: alme, Azul, Entice, KL Couture, Like Design, Meshopotamia, Miss Darcy, Paris Fashion, %Percent Furniture and Lighting, Spyralle, Tashi, TRS Designs, Whimsical Happenings, & Windlight Workz.

A special art auction will feature work by the following artists: Barret Darkfold, Carley Noonan, Cherrycar Resident, Eleseren Brianna, Jamie86 Resident, Johannes1977 Resident, JolieElle Parfort, KodyMeyers Resident, Muse4u Resident, Myra Wildmist, Otcoc Resident, Rage Darkstone, Rinzlerkitty Resident, Sheba Blitz, Syphera Inaka  & Theda Tammas.

About Creations For Parkinson’s:
100% of all donations go to our official Creations for Parkinson's Team Fox for The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Please be sure to watch our award winning video about the benefits of SL for my 87 "years young" RL Mom who has Parkinson's. This will touch your heart! Ebbe Linden (CEO of Linden Labs) has called this the most important video ever made about Second Life!  The Drax File: World Makers- Episode 13 Creations for Parkinsons:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyiiWxNguGo&feature=youtu.be

For More Information:
https://creationspark.wordpress.com/

http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/TeamFox/TeamFox?pg=team&fr_id=1890&team_id=19152

Mardi Gras for Team Fox

Creations for Parkinsons, a sim known for it's good design and relaxing park atmosphere, now has a new area where one can party like it's Fat Tuesday. People are invited to check out the Mardi Gras Parade area, up for the third year in a row. Yours truly decided to take a look to see if the party measured up to the ones the "Big Easy" is noted for.

Read the article in Places.