The Hard Times Blues Club

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

A friend of the Newser recently informed us of a promising new Blues and Rock Club, Hard Times. Owned by Whitewolf Broadfoot, I recently had a chat with him while his club was having an event. 

Whitewolf would tell me he and his staff "went through 50 possible names and landed on this one. ... The blues reflects hard times. Plus, will be hanging on by a thread for a bit. Heh heh. I thought it was a good name for a blues club." And yes, Whitewolf is a Blues and Rock fan, "Classic rock and the blues is my favorite music."

Whitewolf has been in Second Life for over a decade, "Tthis is not my first club, I was on here about a month before I opened my first club it was a cave called 'Bedrock.' I also built and was the original co owner of Bikinis Nude Beach. ... It is right now one of the most popular beaches in Second Life." Despite the beach club's success, he decided to start a new one, "Thought I would give this a go. They are slow to start, (but) we will get there."

 

Of the club's events, "We have at least one (event) for every day of the week, but Wed is the best so far with three sets in a row. It's coming around, need people on the floor right now. But that will come." Whitewolf stated he was aiming for morning events, "(We) want to fill the board with mostly early shifts, but will do what we have to." As of the writing of this article, there were over a dozen two-hour music sessions a week, including KVXN's JB Raccoon. DJ Vlad, who plays three times a week, was the one spinning the tunes while I was there. 

Hard Times isn't a beach club, but outside the building there is a little beach scenery, "Was going to go for a beach club again and thought better of it. This was the right size and look. ... It has a laid back blues feel to it. 

Of future plans for the club, Whitewolf mostly plans to take things as they come, "I just hope to make this a popular club, don't look much farther out than that. Money is a big factor in all this. I still work for a living so time is also a factor."

Hard Times is at Sensual Fun (20/156/22). 

Update: Just after posting the article, I heard the location had moved. It is now at Segarra Estates (25/186/21).

Bixyl Shuftan

Rock Climbing in Second Life

By Bixyl Shuftan

Climbing up the face of a cliff in real life is a little too adventuresome for the majority of most residents of Second Life. Many of those whom wouldn't be detered by the strenous exercise and the element of danger can't face the thought of looking down and seeing ground hundreds of feet below. But there is a place in Second Life you can give it a try. At the Nitida sim on the mainland, there's a cliff one can scale, or head back down.

The cliff, Nitida Ridge, is at the Nitida sim on the mainland continent of Heterocera. At the bottom of the cliff is the base camp. The table of supplies, rope and gear, map, binoculars, radio, etc is basically a reminder of what real rock climbers would be needing. What you need will be at the sign. Click on it to get a notecard and picture of the routes up the cliff and the descents (by rope), a harness clip that attaches to your belt, called an abseil harness, and the climbing HUD. The pop-up that appears after you click the sign will ask if you want it to attach. It's default position is the lower right of your viewer. The HUD is red when disabled, blue when ready, and green when activated and working. You can also adjust your speed to climb faster or slower, or your avatar to be slightly closer or further away from the rock. The latter can help you avoid looking like your arm is going into the rock or climbing through air.

The cliff before you is about 100 meters high. While walking that distance horizontally is no problem, climbing here is something else. It's suggested that you check the routes on the picture provided, though not necessary as I was able to go up a path that was labeled for abseiling down, just slowly. Climbing is best up vertical parts of the cliff. If you encounter an obstacle such as an overhanging section of rock, as you can't climb upside down you'll have to go sideways until you can go around it.

Some routes are to head back down. There are a few points on the cliff with a pile of rope. Click on them, and your avatar will abseil downward to the ground below. There are also a couple points in which your avatar will do a little tightrope walking. Also at one ledge on the cliff is a small tend your character can step inside and rest.

The rock climbing system and the cliff area were created by Yasmin (YouAintSeenMe Resident), with some sections originally made by Funatik Resident. The notecard stated there were a few other cliff areas the HUD is good for climbing, but this is the tallest one.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nitida/136/175/131

Hat Tip: Inara Pey

Bixyl Shuftan

Jesus Christ Superstar

By Gemma Cleanslate

Arriving at the Royal Opera and Gardens is always a thrill. The building itself and the region are lovely and inviting  The wrong door is always my choice of entry, so I get a grand tour of the hallways and interesting objects before reaching the theatre proper.

Sunday I made my way over to see a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar, a rock opera , with music by Andrew LLoyd Webber. The Compania de Arte Parabola presented the opera. Ina Carpaccio greeted everyone as we entered the theater and .We were given a hud the listed the cast , the background of the opera and the scenes. The star and director of the show was Kar Gabilondo , who did double duty playing Jesus .

 The rest of the cast took on various roles throughout, Esme (EsmeraldaS2008 Zabaleta) , Signa Avril, Mar Shilova, dahir Sapphire (dahirSapphire2 Resident). The music of Andrew Lloyd Webber resounded throughout the theatre during the  10 scenes from the Ovature to the Crucifixion to the Ascension the gospel story is told in rock dance and song.

Esme as Judas.showed his remorse after his betrayal and hanged himself before the final acts took place. The scenery , as usual with the CAP was fitting to each part of the show.The audience showed their enjoyment of the performance through .

There will be further performances at other theaters so keep an eye out for ads. It was a pleasant Sunday afternoon and it was good to revisit a old special play.

Gemma Cleanslate 

 

Interview With Lestat Zalivstok, Owner of the Winter Ice Rock Fest and Rebel Yells Concerts Sims

By Wesley Regenbogen

Wesley Regenbogen: Hello there Lestat

Lestat Zalivstok: Hello Wesley

Wesley Regenbogen: Who created the Winter Ice Rock Fest sim, more precisely the Rebel Yells Concerts sim?

Lestat Zalivstok: The sim has been created and decorated by myself and GuiltyAngel Rhapsody another owner, we are also owner of the Tribute band Rebel Yell Concerts, the N.1 Tribute band in SL with over 3000 members in group, and that's why the name of the sim is Rebel Yell Concerts.

Wesley Regenbogen: When was the sim created ?

Lestat Zalivstok: Me and GuiltyAngel are owners since a year and a half together with Monia63 Dirval.

Wesley Regenbogen: The place is Christmas themed. Who came up with the idea to create a Christmas themed sim anyway ?

 Lestat Zalivstok: This sim is a multi-event sim and (we will) change this environment following the major festivities. On Christmas is Christmas and winter themed, yes. The idea came to all of us owners so me Guilty and Monia.

Wesley Regenbogen: Did you also do all of the decorative things in the sim ?

Lestat Zalivstok: Yes myself and GG (Guilty) personally decorated the whole sim. Our goal was to have a photorealistic sim so we spent a lot to have the best trees the best looking ice textures the best houses and chalets etc. etc.

Wesley Regenbogen: Is the sim available all the time, or are there times when it's not available for Second Life Residents?

Lestat Zalivstok: All the time available and it appears on the SL Destination Guide

Wesley Regenbogen: Are there any other events taking place in the near future or what concerts are taking place in the upcoming weeks?

Lestat Zalivstok: We have concerts on monthly bases here brought by our company Rebel Yell Concerts, the latest ones was last Sunday Bonjovi and Iron Maiden tributes... We will have more shows on January, including one for the 3rd Rebel Yell birthday in the weekend 9/10/11, probably a Depeche Mode tribut, and more during that month not yet scheduled

Wesley Regenbogen: What makes your place special, what features does it have that no other places have?

Lestat Zalivstok: A very unique photorealistic look. It looks a real village, no fake textures or fake trees. The nature is 100% realistic and so is the rest of the landscape and buildings... Moreover it has basically almost all the winter sports available here, skating, sledding, etc. (We have) a real mountain built, or better say terraformed, by Guiltyangel Rhapsody, where you ski just like in real-life. And we are the one and only sim featuring a very good looking and realistic ski rail which brings you to the ski mountain.

The skating is very realistic too. You can skate using your own hud, or you can use one of the 4-tour on skates that makes you go around the huge skating rink in couple or single.

Wesley Regenbogen: Thank you for this short interview. I wish you the best of luck with the concerts and the sim in whole.

Lestat Zalivstok: Thanx a lot.

Wesley Regenbogen