Why do I make noise about this? Because the old landmark is no longer good. The region’s name has changed, from Oasis Resort to — “Franks Place”!
Among other things, the Sinatras are running a large expansion of their mall, oriented toward the formally-dressed clientele of the club. Fine stores such as Virtual Impressions are there, and a look is much encouraged.
Vicious Studios was celebrating a grand opening, or re-opening, this past weekend. I was asked to do some guest-blogging for them while they were busy with the building and decorating, and Gidge Uriza invited me to the festivities in thanks for my small contributions.
I was able to take her up on the opportunity for a party last night, the venue being their dance floor on top of a shark pen. (Well, they are Vicious.) The theme of the party was “Come dressed as you’d appear on American Idol,” and I’ll admit I stretched it quite a bit. I showed up in the “silver appliqué” top and pants I found in the Canada in SL mall (which I’ve been favoring quite a lot in my less formal times lately), hair like a celestial biker chick (Omayrah Silver from Sinsation), and the excellent dark silver skin from chroma — yes, that’s how it’s spelled if you search them up. Gidge said I looked fantastic, and I think I heard at least one jaw drop — virtually, of course.
The music was hot, spun by disc jockey DJRobyn Writer, and Robyn was hot herself in a set of royal blue silks that had me voting for her in the best-dressed woman contest. And whoever programmed their dance system was a master; I was doing moves I’ve never seen, or dreamed of, before, while the entire crew danced along in almost simultaneous formation. Partway through, Vic, the owner, put in an appearance, complete with his guns; Vic likes guns, you see (grin). When he started shooting them — over our heads, I emphasize; the man’s not a lunatic to drive away his customers — I rezzed up a katana and wore it on my belt for the rest of the night. It actually seemed the thing to do, since the rest of the Vicious staff had all pulled guns as well, and were dancing with them. I felt a little undressed without some weapon, even if it was a prop sword….
En fin, a splendid time was had by all, many sweepstakes prizes were awarded from the sim’s merchants, and I ended up in a 3-way time for best-dressed woman with Arcadia Nightfire and one of the Durants (I can’t remember which, but congratulations!)!! A cool £300 and several of the raffle-ball prizes, plus that dancing, made for a very nice night.
More photos are available at my Flickr stream.
I’ve just been informed by special express that Frank’s Place, which I’ve described in these pages, now has its own RL Web site. Why not give them a visit, and learn more about one of the swingin’ places on the Grid!
Ring-a-ding-ding!
Your Reporter is writing right now from the floor of the Starlight Ballroom in Shangri-La, Bolsena region, where proprietor Imogen Cascabel has reopened her club after settling it down to grid-earth. The crowd’s been in a good mood, dancing to the Euro-country sounds of singer Carmen Roeth, and now we have an electric violinist named XanderNichting Writer playing.
Starlight is a smaller venue as such places go — based on my experience, at least. That means nothing compared with the fun of the party, though; I’m told by old timers of the good times at the Elbow Room — a club based in a minimum-sized plot of land (512 m2). This place does a good job from the looks, and Imogen works with the crowd to keep the enthusiasm up for her performers. The fans help, too, of course; I’m surrounded right now by supporters of Xander, whose jazz violin is really very good. (That’s me in the foreground right holding the rose.) The feel of the place, located in a plot in a seaside region, also has a certain intimacy. Though this could be an illusion; for Stardust has a good-sized dance floor, large enough to hold a chunk of the cast of Riverdance as they step-dance their way through a number [1].
With Imogen, your hostess (who lives in a nearby castle), in attendance, festivities can get going quickly. For those who are interested in something other than the norm, Imogen has held parties on themes. Recently, just before this re-opening, she threw a “master-and-slave” party for those who wished to bring a taste for the Gorean out of those sims into an opener venue.
For announcements of events, join the Shrangi_La Beach group. (Yes, that spelling’s correct [grin].)
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[1] Incidentally, when I took this shot, in the line with me were at least two samurai and a woman in kimono, all with katana (sheathed, of course). It made for an interesting visual experience!
I was debating on what to write about first. After all, I’ve visited a lot of places in just six weeks. But then the news broke just as I was rezzing in the other night to this location, and I decided to make this article a present to some acquaintances.
You see far more clubs designed for dancing and raving the night away in Second Life than gathering places for dancing to other kinds of music. The options exist, though; you just have to search for them. I found 288 places with the keyword “ballroom” in Place Search — meaning here “a place for dancing and socialization in a formal setting.” (Some of these can be disqualified, as they’re borrowing the word for their own purposes, such as the Gothic Ballroom — a £2,500 prefab building for sale.) A few are very familiar, having been published in books and other sources; the Avilion Castle in Avilion Grove is probably the most famous, followed by Baccara Rhodes’ Stardust Ballroom. But other possibilities are there, and are more heavily and frequently populated. So if you’re looking for fun to the music my employer calls “pop standards,” running from swing to Sinatra, the first club I’d recommend is Frank’s Place.
My blog is worth $18,629.82.
How much is your blog worth?
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