Time: December 21, 2008 from 5pm to 6pm
Location: Second Life
Website or Map: http://slballet.org
Event Type: virtual ballet
Organized By: Ballet Pixelle
Latest Activity: Oct. 8, 2009

Event Description

When
Sun, December 21, 5pm – 6pm (SLT/PDT)

Where

http://slurl.com/secondlife/IBM%2010/20/175/26

A slightly abridged retelling of “The Nutcracker”

(Similar events available to Science and Art Collective members – http://sac.white-gloves.net)

Time: March 29, 2009 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Location: Second Life
Website or Map: http://slballet.org/
Event Type: virtual ballet
Organized By: Ballet Pixelle
Latest Activity: Oct. 8, 2009

Event Description

Sun, March 29, 6:30pm – 7:30pm SLT/PDT

http://slurl.com/secondlife/IBM%2010/20/175/26

Ballet Pixelle presents “Shuzenji”, a ballet set in 1700s Japan. “Shuzenji” tells the story of two lovers, Sakura and Tokai, who are separated from each other when Tokai is murdered at the shrine of Shuzenji by jealous Oirans, or courtesans. However, the faithful Sakura continues to search for Tokai at the shrine, and because of her enduring love, Tokai’s spirit is freed. What happens next? A tale of love, commitment, and loss set in adventure, fighting, magic, and mystery.

Time: January 6, 2009 at 7:30pm
Location: Second Life
Website or Map: http://secondastronomy.org/
Event Type: opening
Organized By: International Year of Astronomy 2009 USA
Latest Activity: Oct. 8, 2009

Event Description

ASTRONOMY 2009 ISLAND OPENING EVENT!

When: Tues Jan 6, 2009 starting at 7:30pm, 8:00pm full island opens
Location: Astronomy 2009 island!

Go here to be teleported! http://secondastronomy.org/Astronomy2009/

Join us on Astronomy 2009 island for the official island opening and to share in the International Year of Astronomy 2009 USA Opening Ceremony!

Island access begins at 7:30pm SLT followed by a live feed of the USA Opening Ceremony from the AAS Meeting in Long Beach, CA. At 8pm we will have a short ribbon cutting ceremony accompanied by fireworks and a champagne toast! The island fully opens at 8pm.

Our January theme for Astronomy 2009 is “Astronomy Inspired Art and Imagery” and will showcase a virtual exhibit of From Earth to the Universe (http://www.fromearthtotheuniverse.org/), IAAA’s Artist’s Universe (http://iaaa.org/), The World at Night Photography (http://twanight.org), free astronomy image texture packs, and Astrophotography Corner featuring Adam Block’s astronomical images. Throughout the month we will roll out our Cultural Astronomy Storytelling Circle, interactive telescopes, dark sky awareness exhibits, and much more!

http://astronomy2009.org

http://astronomy2009.us

http://secondastronomy.org/

See you all there!

(More events like these available to Science and Art Collective members – http://sac.white-gloves.net)

Right now, I’m working on a build that will serve as an in-world meeting lounge and meet-n-greet for a RL eConference of 400 people. All the eConference sessions are hosted online via a secure FLASH-based web interface that manages ‘webinar’ style interactions and auto-archiving sessions.

While there won’t be any working sessions in SL, I do hope to provide a nice virtual “Hospitality Suite” kind of place for people that have avatars or newbies that want to try SL. (Whoa, I’m sure I don’t know what I’m getting myself into… though I do have landmarks for a number of great newbie help-along spots, incl. the new one in Caledon!)

I’m still learning the core elements of a great functional building build in SL. Here’s what I have at the top of my list these days:

- unique to look at; doesn’t blend in with the surrounding buildings; stylish.
- easy landing & visibility for flying avatars.
- fly-and-land activity spots: rooftops with lounge chairs, a bar, people, signs, etc.
- easy-to-see, hard-to-get-stuck transitions from room to room or level to level; both walking and teleporting supported. Minimal doors for main spaces.
- Signs that clearly tell what the place or event is & click-givers of notecards with more info & links
- lots of obvious seating areas, e.g., fireplaces, circle-seating, etc.
- several lounge & chat areas more than 20m apart for less confusing local text chat & voice operation
- simple structure to have the feeling you know what is around you, yet complex enough to require exploring to see it all.

Here are a few shots of the build in progress:

Now I need to add signs, furniture, and more. Fun!

What do you think the most important features are for a non-themed sim, functional welcome & social building?