The SL23B Birthday Ends (For Most)

 

 Sunday July 19 was the last day of the SL23B, the Second Life Birthday. And the sims got a bit more active with people enjoying the sims one last time, at least most of us. One spot of activity was Bay City's exhibit.

 

 They were gathered in some movie set seats at one point, but before the red clouds faded, they leaped into the pool for a conga line dance. Marianne commented it was a good thing the water wasn't much deeper, otherwise she'd have trouble breathing. 

 

 At the Belessarian Bureau of Bureaucracy's exhibit, they were watching a movie.

 

 And there was a party at the Seawall Cruising Club.

 

 Unfortunately, I couldn't stay the whole evening. But no doubt the parties went on to Midnight and beyond. For exhibitors and the Moles, they have a few days to go about the sims to see what they missed or check some one more time. But for the rest of us, it's over, with only the screenshots and the memories.

 

It was a great Second Life Twenty-Third Birthday.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

A Busy Weekend

 

It was quite the weekend in Second Life. Sunday had the 18th Annual Bay City Anniversary Parade and Pary (above). Also that same day was the start of the Raglan Shire Artwalk, which began with a music party. There were also a number of Relay events, including a "Bronzing Party" in which a number of teams that raised just a little money got a boost to Bronze level.

 

More on these events later.

 

Press Release: Bay City's 18th Anniversary Celebration.

BAY CITY CELEBRATES EIGHTEEN YEARS

This Classic City Area was the First “Mole” Project

BAY CITY, SL (30 April, 2026) - The Second Life® mainland community of Bay City reaches the eighteenth anniversary or its initial release this May, and Bay City Residents are once again hosting their traditional parade down the city’s Route 66, followed by a live music event in their fairgrounds.

The first project of the Linden Department of Public Works, Bay City opened in May of 2008 to initial viewing. In 2011, its land mass doubled, as it absorbed the copy of Bay City that existed on the former Teen Grid. It has developed into the largest community-focused virtual urban area in Second Life.

Parade participants are asked to gather at noon SLT/PDT on Sunday, the 17th of May, to lineup at the band shell in Bay City - Harwich. The parade will wend its way down Route 66 beginning at 12:30 p.m. SLT/PDT, and will conclude at the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel region. 

A music event will kick off at 12:30 p.m. SLT/PDT at the Fairgrounds with DJ DJ GoSpeed of KONA Stream providing music leading into the event until 1:30 p.m.SLT/PDT , followed by AleyKat (Aleylia Resident)from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. SLT/PDT, Jesie Janick from 2:30-3:30 p.m. SLT/PDT, and Raspberry Rearwin from 3:30-4:30 p.m. SLT/PDT.

All Residents of the Second Life grid are encouraged to participate. Celebration goods, including parade float bases and ideas, are available at the Bay City Community Center, in the Daley Bay region for those who wish to be a part of the event. Ample viewing areas are provided for all. The music event is also open to all who desire to attend -- not only Residents of Bay City, but the entire grid is welcome.

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life® and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest Bay city group, and home to most Residents of Bay City.

For more information, contact: Marianne McCann

 

Some More April Foolery In, And Out, of Second Life

 

Wednesday was April Fools Day, and the posting of a yearly Newser tradition, the April Fool article. But it wasn't the only April Fool going around. Linden Lab would play one, and there were a couple others inworld I caught wind of. And there were a few in computer gaming as well.

 

Read the story in Extra.  

 

Cartoon of The Day: Mouse Approved

Taken at Bay City's Food Truck Festival. Among the trucks there was one with wheels of cheese. While real mice prefer grain over cheese, no doubt this much would get a furry mouse's day rolling.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

Weekend in Brief

 

 

There were a number of happenings this week. This included several Relay for Life fundraising ones. Among them was the seven hours of four DJs playing music at Woodland Groves Theme Park on Saturday March 28, including DJ Cynthia for Team Sunbeamers. The first two DJs raised a total of 44,000 Linden dollars, with the amount the second two raised pending. Sadly the sim the event took place on, Woodland Waves Adventure, may be closing soon.

 

 

Among the events on Sunday March 29 was the Bay City Food Truck Festival (which took me by surprise as I never got a press release or saw a mention of it in the Bay City Discord, and only found out when one of the city's gryphon friends told me). For two hours, there was music by DJ GoSpeed Racer while people danced the conga, played with the foam machine, sampled the foods, and voted for the best food truck, the prize going to TJ Hooker's "Adam's Ribs." The trucks stay up to April 15, that is those whose owners aren't worried about "Ever's Night."

 

More on these events later.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

More Mystery Rocks on Second Life Mainland

 

Since finding the mystery rock at the Bay City Airport, yours truly has come across two more.  Running into Melissa Æther (Mistaether Resident) of the Drivers of SL group, she told me she had an idea where there were others. And so we did a short road trip, and in the Dangun sim, near the road, there was another strange rock with the same strange symbol. Next to it was another note from Dahlia Linden, identical to the one at Bay City.

 

But that wasn't all we found.  There was also a camp there, one with a Bay City flag erected. It had been set up by T.J. Hooker, a Bay City resident. I couldn't find any papers out in the open there, and I wasn't going to break into locked containers. So we could only guess this was to study this strange rock, and perhaps lay a claim of some kind on it. 

 

We then headed to the other rock, which was in the Plenodyes sim, also near the road. It was like the previous two, with the same glowing blue symbol, and the same note by Dahlia Linden. The only difference it was lying on it's side. And like the second stone, there was another camp with a Bay City flag, also set up by T.J. Hooker. This one was a little larger with more equipment. But we would find no papers out in the open or any other record of findings. 

 

We thought we saw a couple people nearby, but one remained unrezzed the whole time, and the other just rotated in place as if dizzy, dressed in 18th Century wear, a bot of some kind. We had a short chuckle, and with on with our discussions, having a short snack Melisa had on her before we left, "At least they (the Bay City explorers) could have left behind some sandwiches."

 

So far, still no clue on what the nature of the three strange stones are, no clue who Dahlia Linden is, what the Bay City team (unless T.J. Hooker was acting alone) found, or just what this "shift" Dahlia wrote that will happen on on February 16, today, is.

 

Stay tuned for more information.

 

*Addition* T.J. Hooker answered my message, and had a few things to say, which will be part of the next update.  

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Mystery Rock At Bay City Airport

 

I overheard some chatter in a Second Life group about a mystery rock located at Bay City, near it's airport. So I headed over to Hau Koda (98/9/31), where it lay on a hill, with some signs warning about an "anomaly" ahead.

 

 The rock had some odd blue symbol on it, colored bright blue.

 

 Next to it was a note, with the owner being a "Dahlia Linden."

 

It’s been a long journey, but I’ve finally arrived on the continent safely, and can start my research in full! 

A once in a lifetime opportunity has presented itself! My extensive study into anomalies has shown that this land is revealing energetic shifts in not only its core, but even within its structure as well. How curious. 

The readings I have been seeing have led me to this spot, where strange rocks have suddenly risen up from the earth’s surface! It’s as if they are stirring from a long deep slumber. Not just here either, but I am showing there are a few more of these strange rocks that have manifested on the continent as well. 

But why? And this sigil on the surface. What could it be?

According to my research, it seems as though there is going to be some sort of “shift”, or change in the future at these locations. What changes exactly? I am unsure.

Now, with my current notes and readings, it appears these rocks, or stones, rather, will have yet another change in approximately 30 days from today. The 16th of February. 

I will be sure to return around this time to see what further developments have been made. I will be sure to document every detail that I possibly can.

Until the next change,

Dahlia

 

Dahlia Linden's profile was almost empty, showing only her account age, 59 days. So what's going on, and what will be happening on February 16? It seems there's a mystery afoot.

 

Stay tuned for more updates,

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Press Release: Mole Day 2026, Sunday Feb 1, 11 AM to 1 PM

 

“MOLE DAY’ ONCE AGAIN RETURNS TO BAY CITY

Annual event Honor Members of Linden Department of Public Works for their works throughout the years.

BAY CITY, SL -  As in years past, Bay City will once again come together to honor the Moles of the Linden Department of Public Works with a party at the Bay City Fairgrounds.

Initially held in 2010 by the residents of Bay City, Mole Day serves as an occasion to show appreciation for the Moles and their many contributions to Bay City and the broader Second Life® Grid. Residents from all Second Life communities are welcome to attend and share in appreciation for the LDPW’s moles. 

Mole Day event will begin with a DJed set by GoSpeed of KONA Stream at 11:00 a.m. SLT. This will be followed by a performance by Agatha Nowles at noon.

“Moles” are members of The Linden Department of Public Works (LDPW). The LDPW is a program dedicated to enhancing the quality of life experienced by residents and visitors on the Linden Mainland. The LDPW comprises a team of Resident builders, scriptwriters, and other professionals who collaborate to create new content on behalf of Linden Lab and the benefit of all users. Notably, all members of the LDPW have Second Life accounts with the surname “Mole.”

The Moles are responsible for constructing the infrastructure of Second Life, including public roads and railways, coastal waterways and protected lands, and larger-scale projects such as the Linden Homes regions, premium content, and experiences.

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest group for Residents of Bay City.

For more information, or to participate in the event, please contact Marianne McCann. 

 

New Year's Eve 2025

 

Many people in Second Life, perhaps most, love a good party. And New Years Eve had a number. Some places had a special twist on regularly scheduled happenings, and others were open just for this special night. Yours truly dropped by a few from Wooburn, to Caledon, to Bay City, and his own home community the Sunweavers as they bade 2025 good bye, and hello to 2026. 

 

See the pictures in Events.  

 

From Discord: Too Much New Years Eve Partying?

 

 

From Sheree Honeyflower (ShereeHoneyflower) on the Bay City Discord channel, her "'Annual Wasted at Prim Drop' photo with help from Frankie Lindman." (yes I messaged her first)

Press Release: Bay City Prim Drop Dec 31st, 11 PM

 

BAY CITY'S "PRIM DROP" TO MARK END OF 2025

Bay City's New Year's fête coming 31st December
 

Bay City, Second Life's® city by the bay, is once again preparing to ring in the new year with their annual "Prim Drop" on the evening of the 31st of December. Festivities will commence at 11:00 pm SLT within the Bay city Fairgrounds in North Channel. 

The party will include a two-hour set of music presented by Marianne McCann to mark the occasion, as well as fireworks and other festive fun. Food, drink, and other party favors will be provided for all attendees.

All Second Life® Residents are welcome to attend and ring in the New Year with the Bay City community, but do note that the event is envisioned as an outdoor, high-class, wintertime soirée. As such, black tie attire and/or full dress is requested. 

This will also be the last event within Bay City this year for donating to Child's Play Charity (www.childsplaycharity.org) .  Child's Play is a 501c3 non profit organization offers online communities such as ours an opportunity to help seriously ill children around the globe during their hospital stays with the purchase of games and gaming equipment. 

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest group for Residents of Bay City.

For more information,  please contact Marianne McCann. 

A Busy Weekend

 

 Plenty happened this weekend. The Christmas Expo took place, with events such as the Dream Kids performance and the last sets at the event stages, along with auctions, the results of the snowman contest, and more, ending with the Holiday for Hope Ball (above). There were other happenings, such as the monthly Homes for Our Troops fundraiser at Veterans Isle, Bay City's Tree Lighting, and more.

 

Yours truly would also give another virtual world a short look, and get talked into seeing a couple women's wrestling matches. But I forgot one thing:

 

Girls

 

fight

 

viciously.

 

 More details later. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Press Release: Bay City's Annual Tree Lighting And Fundraising Concert

 

BAY CITY, SL (2 December 2025) -  Celebrate the holidays once again as the Bay City Alliance hosts its annual Tree Lighting event on the 7th of December, 2025, from 1-4 pm SLT, at the Bay City Fairgrounds, in North Channel ( http://slurl.com/secondlife/North%20Channel/128/128/24/ ). 

DJ GoSpeed of KONA Stream will start off the event, followed by crowd favorites  AleyKat (Aleylia Resident) and Maximillion Kleene. In addition to the music, the event will also feature ice-skating, dancing, and refreshments.

As part of the event, a silent auction supporting Child's Play Charity (www.childsplaycharity.org) will be held. Bay City has supported Child’s Play through the holidays for many years, and is very happy to continue this partnership.

Dozens of items will be available including one-of-a-kind art, vehicles from top Second Life creators, home furnishings, gift cards, and much more.

Additional Second Life® designers and artists who wish to participate by providing fun, interesting, unique, or other transferrable items (or a no-copy object that the auction winner can give to you to redeem their prize, if the item(s) have to be no transfer) may contact ThomasHooker Resident to participate.

Auction will end at the conclusion of the event. All proceeds from the silent auction and from donation bins at the venue will go to Child's Play Charity. Child's Play is a 501c3 non profit organization offers online communities such as ours an opportunity to help seriously ill children around the globe during their hospital stays with the purchase of games and gaming equipment. 

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest group for Residents of Bay City.

For more information, please contact Marianne McCann.

 

Cartoon of The Day: Bite My ...

 

 

 Taken at Bay City's Fairgrounds. This lady had someone in a bat avatar next to her. If it were a vampire bat, what might it be thinking given a cue?

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Announcement: Bay City Oktoberfest, Sunday October 5

 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT:
Marianne McCann
Bay City Alliance
marianne.mccann@gmail.com

OKTOBERFEST RETURNS TO BAY CITY

Autumnal carnival and party offers music, merriment, and fun

BAY CITY, SL -  Oktoberfest is a beloved folk festival honored in Germany and elsewhere around the world. 

The Bay City Alliance is joining in as well, and is once again honoring Oktoberfest from the 19th of September to the 5th of October, 2025, at the Bay City Fairgrounds in North Channel ( http://slurl.com/secondlife/North%20Channel/128/128/24/ ).  

Oktoberfest occurs annually from the end of September until the first Sunday in October. Heralding the harvest and all it provides, Oktoberfest features a beer festival, numerous traditional German foods, and a carnival. 

With the carnival and biergarten available for the full two week fun, the event will culminate in a party in the Biergarten from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. SLT on the 5th of October.  Providing themed music is DJ GoSpeed of KONA Stream.

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest group for Residents of Bay City.

For more information, please contact Marianne McCann. 

 

SL22B: One Last Look Before The Close

 

 Just hours are left before the Second Life Birthday sims close to all but exhibitors. So for those who are dropping in at the last minute, here's a few sights of what awaits you.

 

Bay City's exhibit by Marianne McCann is at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Enchant/172/74/21

 

 There were plenty of posters from events over the years, but that wasn't all. There were reminders of certain events such as some mystery fires set on April 1 and the shenanigans with Caledon that left much speculation unanswered, "What's a city without a few legends?" 

 

Sheeba Metaluna's exhibit for All Fur Radio is located at https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB Electrify/212/70/21

 

 Sheba and her "Flying Pickle" act can be a really big "dill" around some venues. 

 

At http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Fabulous/182/64/21 , there was Physical Machines by Emilin Nakamori.

 

Making this one was described as "a wrenching experience."

 

I would write about her in 2008, and she's continued to experiment with what one can do with machines in Second Life since.  

 

Heroes in Hats for VWEC (Education Consortium) at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB Fabulous/93/93/21

 

Virtual Museum Team at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Fabulous/159/196/21

 

 And by all means, don't miss the Newser's Pyramids of Giza exhibit by the talented Silvia Ametza, at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLB%20Enchant/213/74/21 .

 

That's it for now. Our next article about the SLB will be after it's close. Hopefully if you're reading this, you can still get in

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Bay City Anniversary Parade and Music Concert

 

 

Yesterday, Sunday May 18, the 17th Annual Bay City Parade and Concert took place. The event is to celebrate the founding of Second Life's largest urban area. Yours truly missed the front part with Marianne McCann taking the lead, but I caught the second half.

 

 It went well aside from the drawbridge near the end suddenly going up. A couple people got dunked from the mishap.

 

 

Following the parade was the music concert at the Bay City Fairgrounds, with DJ GoSpeed Racer spinning the music, followed by Aubryn Melody.

 

 

People danced away, with one guy floating. And there was a conga line.

 

Happy Anniversary Bay City

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Press Release: Bay City Anniversary Parade And Music Event

 

Mainland City Celebrates 17 Years in Second Life®

BAY CITY, SL - Bay City will host its annual parade through the city, and a live music event in the Bay City Fairgrounds in North Channel, to honor and celebrate 17 years within Second Life.

Bay City officially opened in May 2008, with parcel auctions commencing shortly thereafter. In 2011, its landmass expanded significantly, merging with the former Teen Grid’s Bay City copy. Today, Bay City is the largest community-oriented virtual urban area within Second Life.

Parade participants are requested to assemble at noon Second Life Time (SLT/PT) on Sunday, May 18th, at the band shell in Bay City - Harwich, for lineup. The parade will proceed up to and along Route 66, commencing at 12:30 p.m. PDT, and will culminate at the Bay City Fairgrounds in the North Channel region.

A music event will kick off at 12:30 p.m. SLT/PDT at the Fairgrounds with DJ DJ GoSpeed of KONA Stream providing music leading into the event until 1:30 p.m.SLT/PT, followed by Aubryn from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. SLT/PT, Mimi Carpenter from 2:30-3:30 p.m. SLT/PT, and Jesie Janick from 3:30-4:30 p.m. SLT/PT.

All residents of the Second Life grid are cordially invited to participate in the upcoming celebration. Celebration goods, including parade float bases, are available at the Bay City Community Center, located in the Daley Bay region. Ample viewing areas are provided for all attendees. The music event is also open to all who wish to attend -- not only Residents of Bay City

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest group for Residents of Bay City.

For more information, please contact Marianne McCann. 

Announcement: Bay City Food Truck Festival

 

 

 Food truck culture in a virtual world

BAY CITY, SL (9 March, 2025) -  Celebrating the rise of food truck culture, Bay City will once again bring their food truck festival to the Bay City Fairgrounds in in North Channel ( http://slurl.com/secondlife/North%20Channel/128/128/24/ ) on the 23rd of March, 2025. This unique take on a food truck event brings it into Second Life®, allowing avatars of all sorts to enjoy a stroll around the lot, sampling wares. Each truck is unique, set up by residents from around the Grid.

The festival will feature DJ GoSpeed of KONA Stream, who will be providing music from noon to 2:00 p.m. SLT. The event will also feature many other fun activities, including horse shoe tossing and other pastimes. The event is free and open to the public. You do not need to be a Resident of Bay City to participate: just bring an empty stomach and prepare to have some light fun in the city’s fairgrounds.

Bay City is a mainland community, developed by Linden Lab® and home to the Bay City Alliance. The Bay City Alliance was founded in 2008 to promote the Bay City regions of Second Life and provide a venue for Bay City Residents and other interested parties to socialize and network. It is now the largest group for Residents of Bay City.

For more information, or to participate in the event, please contact Marianne McCann.

 

http://slurl.com/secondlife/North%20Channel/128/128/24