VOL. 3 ISSUE 8
ART-OVATION
AUGUST 2012
The next ‘IT’ breedable
The Fennux
Plus Full Spectrum
Real-izing the dream
SL Designers pay tribute to Dame Vivienne Westwood
DEMIGOD’S NOTE
PHOTO BY SPARTIN PARX I can tell you the last time I wrote a note for Maniera Magazine, or Maniera SL Magazine now, actually: July 2009. Crazy as this all actually is, Maniera’s been around almost four years, and we were talking about the possibility of taking this into the real world even then, but now we’re making that leap of faith into our real lives — and yours. We’re no longer avatars in a virtual community playing around with the concept in an enclosed environment with a safety net. Professional, yes, but now it’s a career move for us all. We’re pioneers of digital publishing for both SL 8 | MANIERA SL | mymaniera.com
and the real world because of who and what we represent.: a team from around the world coming together to create a real product and make a real living off it. What’s unique about that? Well, for one, none of us have actually ever met physically though that will change in the coming years. We represent just how much the Internet has changed how we view our relationships and ultimately ourselves. You’ve been hearing all about the content preview’s launch last month, and we’re banging the drums for September’s official launch (See right for the cover leak for September. Shh. Aphrodite and Topaz will be mighty upset!). Do you know who that is? If you don’t, you will by the time we’re done. I’ll give you a hint - he’s invading the fashion world by storm. The countdown is upon us, and our content for the next few months is amazing so far. We’ve been speaking to real world fashion designers from around the world, mega multimedia corporations, musicial movers ‘n shakers and the works. It’s been very exhilirating, and I think you’ll appreciate what we have to offer. As someone who has spent a lot of my time covering government, business and crime beats at my day job, this is definitely a switch-up for me, and a calling back to my roots when I only dreamed of the possibilities of an evolving industry that is still experiencing growing pains as technology advances — and where I was first inducted into the Maniera mafia in 2008 as a journalism major in my senior year of university.
See more musings by the webmaster Nox Deigan online at mymaniera. com. Oh, and send him letters at noxternal@mymaniera.com.
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* Warning * Confidential * do not release until
SEPTEMBER 2012
CONTACT DETAILS address:
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phone:
MANIERA LLC (202) 294-4147 PO BOX 15379 e-mail mymaniera.com | MANIERA SL | 9 ADVERTISING@MYMANIERA.COM WASHINGTON D.C. 20003
ASSISTANT EDITOR’S NOTE
PHOTO BY HONEY BENDER We have been focusing on art. Last month’s issue featured Bodies in Motion, the performing arts. This month we look at graphic arts, including 3-D art, interactive art and films. Even with several issues devoted to the arts, we have barely scratched the surface of the arts scene in our Second Life® virtual world. We have articles about 3-D artists. We have articles about interactive installations. We again pay tribute to the artist that lives in all fashion designers with a fashion spread featuring the creations of Aliza Karu, and we have a second fashion spread of the tribute fashion show and static display created for the designs of British Dame Vivienne Westwood. Never thought about breedables as an artform? You may conclude they are after reading our article about the Fennux. The Fennux is a sort of fox, and you can creatively adjust its DNA to create unique breeds.
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Breeding the Fennux takes less room than breeding horses so this may become a new fad among those with smallish backyards. Now, since this is the August issue and the height of summer, the columnists have collectively decided to explore vacation options. In ManiStyle we take you on a tour of lovely, cool and lush summer gardens; Fashion Passion offers up an analysis of vacation options, including the “service vacation” where one volunteers to help a community with a public service project instead of sunning on the beach; and Men’s Corner travels to a fascinating re-creation of New York City for a Manhattan holiday. Art is the conscious, mindful creation of almost anything. Art can be a painting, sculpture, dress, building or even city. Art can be your whole life. I like that, life as art.
Got something you want to ask, say or suggest? All you have to do is send us a letter! Letters to the Editor can be sent to: editor@mymaniera.com
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t hir d a nn ua l
Men of Style The search is on for the triple ‘S’ threat: STYLE, SUBSTANCE AND SEX APPEAL Deadline: Sept. 2, 2012 For more information on how to enter, click here.
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Editor in Chief Topaz Joubert
Read previous editions of ManieraSL Magazine online at: issuu.com/maniera
Assistant Editor Deepthinker Oh Layout Artists (Lead) Nox Deigan Elissiana Caproni Demi Downing Writers Aphrodite Brianna Carey DeCuir Cierra Emor Deepthinker Oh Leah Portland LovelyMiwako7399 Menna Luc Fray Nisa Constantine Nox Deigan Sherrie Shepherd Sita Writer BUSINESS Publisher and CEO Topaz Joubert
Photographers Berto Firanelli Brie Pinazzo Dahriel Resident Eira Juliesse Estela Parx Falbala Fairey Florence Babenco Honey Bender Jax Aster Kynne Llewellyn Latrelly Flux LovelyMiwako7399 Menna Lybra Rage Manu Reggiane Natzuka Miliandrovic Pam Astonia Rabia Baxton Syra Hyun Valeria Endrizzi Zachary Zufreur
Chief Operations Officer Aphrodite Brianna
Maniera Magazine is a fashion and lifestyle publication owned, operated and published by Maniera LLC. Any views, opinions or interpretations expressed in columns are solely those of the author and do not represent those of Maniera LLC and its subsidiaries. Maniera LLC will not accept any responsibility for any views, opinions or interpretations expressed in the pages of Maniera Magazine, ManieraSL Magazine, MyManiera.com or other communications. Editorial Inquries All editorial inquires including submissions, letters to the editor and ideas are to be sent to editor@mymaniera.com Vol. 3 Issue 6
June 2012
Thelma lay Taking iT To The nexT level
Business and advertising inquires All business inquires are to be sent to our chief operations officer at juliette.lord@mymaniera.com All advertising inquires are to be sent to our sales director at advertising@mymaniera.com. Second Life® and Linden Lab are registered trademarks of Linden Research Inc and Maniera LLC is in no way affiliated or sponsored by the aformentioned party.
The
Women’s issue meeT The ladies Who inspire
Visit Us in Second Life® and Online In-World: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Citizen%20Kane/111/131/22 Online: www.mymaniera.com.
CONTENTS
AUGUST 2012 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 8
FEATURES
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REAL-IZING THE DREAM
Maniera launches into your real life
TRIBUTE TO WESTWOOD
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THE NEXT GENERATION OF BREEDABLE
ManieraSL Magazine explores the next ‘it’ breedable sure to steal your hearts
REGULARS Cover by
Natzuka Miliandrovic Model Aphrodite Brianna in the Fennux suit
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See the photos of the tribute to Dame Vivienne Westwood that launched the dream
Demigod’s Note Asst. Editor’s Note Fashion Passion Mani Style Men’s Corner
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DARK AND DAZZLING A look at the mysterious work of Aliza Karu of AD CREATIONS
8 10 56 LIGHT 58 AND SOUND 60 Glyph Graves’
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world in full spectrum
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Real-izing a dream Many real life businesses have made their start in Second Life®, but not a single SL™ business has moved to RL doing what its done in Second Life — until now. In April, Maniera LLC. announced its upcoming launch of Maniera Magazine in real life. After two years of hard work, planning and the dedication of Maniera CEO Topaz Joubert (RL name: Thelma Lay) and her staff, Anabella Ravinelli this dream has beManiera Institute come a reality. of Style GM In July, Maniera celebrated the launch of their new real life venture with a spectacular event in SL that included a tribute fashion show to Dame Vivienne Westwood, an after party and a preview of the new RL magazine. At 1 p.m. July 8, Maniera 18 | MANIERA SL | mymaniera.com
kicked off the preview event with live music by Thumper Boucher or as some in the real world may know him Darrell Phillips. His smooth voice and catching melody created a perfect opening to the day. Following his performance, a runway show presented the work of the queen of punk fashion — Westwood — was represented in the form of inspired SL outfits. The show involved 18 of the grid’s best designers, including 28 new and exclusive outfits, created especially for this event. One after another the professional and talented Maniera models rocked their stuff on the runway. Pierced, tattooed and hair-gelled to the max, they showed off Westwood’s ever popular idea of destroying conformity. From ladies’ gowns to men’s tuxes, women’s rocking corsets to guy’s sexy shorts, this show had it. Studded colAUGUST 2012
MANIERA’S DESIGNER ROSTER FOR THE TRIBUTE TO
Dame Vivienne Westwood
Nevery Lorakeet Les Petits Details Carrie Snowpaw Snowpaws Honey Bender Faster Pussycat Rogue Falconer Rotten Defiance
Angiliak Crystal Pipins Vivien Emerald DESIR Aliza Karu AD Creations Didier Rascon House of Europe
Ezura Xue Ezura Xi Zane & Ngozi Faith Lush AntoniaXP Countdown
precious Restless Vita’s Boudoir Kalyabreeaa Capelo Mad Diva Designs NyuNyu Kimono NYU Mila Tatham Solidea Foiles
special thanks to LovelyMi, Loovus Dzevavor and PoosyBoots
Check out the show >>> lars, heavy eyeliner, bright make-up and strappedup boots completed the styling. When the runway show was complete, the full sim of guests made their way down to ground level for the after-party to shop the exclusive designs, walk through the Tribute to Westwood Exhibit and dance to the punk tunes playing in the club. The designers’ items were for sale for a week following the show, and the area drew a lot of traffic. The Westwood exhibit was created by Sebastian DeLorence and Maniera COO Aphrodite Brianna. As visitors perused the museum setting of the tribute, they followed Westwood’s long career and rise to prominance. “Westwood is my absoAUGUST 2012
lute favourite all-time designer,” Brianna said. “Not only do I love her clothes and think she is one of the most innovative talents in contemporary fashion, but I also love the attitude of the woman. The Second Life designers did a fantastic job in their interpretation and the wide range of designs they produced reflects the versatility of Westwood. I would like to thank everyone who took part in making the launch of the real life preview of Maniera an event to remember, and remind everyone that the exhibit will be on the sim until the end of August.” Completing the eventful evening, the guests finally headed over to the themed club where they danced to the music popular from the punk era and even more cur-
rent genres. Numerous residents were in attendance, including many past staff members of Maniera who helped the company become what it is today. “This event represented so much to the Maniera family,” Joubert said. “Not just the launch of our real life publication but to see two years of hard work and dedication come to life. It was a true day of celebration for all our accomplishments.” As the evening wrapped up, Joubert, Brianna and their team knew this was only the beginning of an amazing chapter to the Maniera story. With a successful launch behind them and bright future ahead, everyone is pitching in to give what they can to help real-ize this dream. mymaniera.com | MANIERA SL | 19
AD CREATIONS Tribute Red 20 | MANIERA SL | mymaniera.com
COUNTDOWN Saloon AUGUST 2012
DESIR Vivienne AUGUST 2012
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HOUSE OF EUROPE Phillip
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LUSH Westwood Look AUGUST 2012
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MAD DIVA Paisley Dress
NYU Tarten Dress (red)
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PIPINS Aphrodite 24 | MANIERA SL | mymaniera.com
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VITA’S BOUDOIR Sex Pistols Dress AUGUST 2012
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LES PETITS DETAILS Marie Antoinette
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SOLIDEA FOLIES Vivenne Black
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ROTTEN DEFIANCE Thrifty Jump Suit
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EZURA Vivienne Black Lace Dress
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Maniera’s Tribute to
Dame Vivienne Westwood Thank you for helping us celebrate our real life magazine content preview.
See photos from Vivienne Westwood’s Gold Label Autumn/Winter 2012-2013 show in our content preview. Tribute show photos by Anabella Ravinelli. For more information about Maniera Model Management, contact Agency General Manager Katherine Comet.
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SNOWPAW Anomaly
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AD CREATIONS by designer Aliza Karu photography by Natzuka Milliandrovic
Outfit: See Me Model: World Undercroft Outfit: Queen Lace Model: Shena Neox 32 | MANIERA SL | mymaniera.com
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Outfit: My Burlesque Straitjacket
Model: Shena 34 | MANIERA SL Neox | mymaniera.com
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Outfit: Haw Model: YeriakTH Courtier 36 | MANIERA SL | mymaniera.com
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Outfit: Loneliness Model: Darkevilone Demonia 40 | MANIERA SL | mymaniera.com
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The Fennux have arrived in Second Life.
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The Fennux
Next generation breedables
lar traits and abilities. Team Fennux, the company behind the creature, is made up of a diverse group of talented indiBY APHRODITE BRIANNA viduals. The modeling and animaPHOTOGRAPHY BY tions are done by Spider Carnot, NATZUKA MILIANDROVIC owner of Spider Productions, while Katharine McGinnis takes care of the texturing, ensuring the FenBreedables are big business in nux looks as fluffy and adorable as Second Life®. So far Second Life has possible. Satori Asuka is in charge seen chickens, cats, dogs, horses, of the customer support team, and dragons, fairies, meeroos and a Co-Director Dashing Riddler is the plethora of mythical creatures. Some brains behind the advanced scriptof which have vanished without ing required to make the Fennux do trace almost immediately and others all the amazing things it is capable which have had spectacular success. of doing. Daemon Blackflag is the Due to launch in this September and other co-director at Team Fennux with a beta release in this month, and, as well as being at the forefront the Fennux is the latest in a long line of designing the product, it is also of virtual creatures that can be bred his job to oversee the day-to-day and sold in potentially highly profit- management and operations of the able secondary markets. Looking company. remarkably like a real life fennuc Blackflag is no stranger to the fox, they are mythical creatures with breedable market, having run one of extraordinary capabilities. the more successful meeroo aucThe Fennux originate from five tion houses for the past year called main regions: western, Saharan, “Meeroo Market,” as well as being a polar, eastern and amazonian. They committed breeder himself. Always come in a variety of coats and sizes looking at ways to improve the expeand can be bred to develop particu- rience for both new and established
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The Fennux environment is vibrant, and the scripting makes them feel alive. AUGUST 2012
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There are multiple combinations of Fennux available.
Got Fennux fever? If you are interested in finding out more about the Fennux then the website is a great place to start: http://www. fennux.com On the web site, you can see pictures of the Fennux, details of Team Fennux, answers to FAQ and details of how to pre-order. You can also visit the Fennux sim in-world at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Fennux or join the in-world Fennux group to keep up to date with the latest news and developments. You can also contact Daemon Blackflag by dropping him a note card with any unresolved questions.
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breeders, he has also developed his own HUDS and related scripted products. This prior involvement made Blackflag aware of the issues and problems associated with not only launching a breedable line but more importantly maintaining the viability of the market over time. With other breedables having seen market crashes recently, a specific strategy was required in order to prevent market saturation and the resultant decline of secondary market prices. “The problem with most breedables is they keep, well, breeding, and breeding, and breeding and breeding some more,” The Fennux team explained via its website, “This causes a LOT of the same coats and traits to be all over Second Life! Supply and demand says that it will drive the sell price down, so we came up with a new idea to handle this problem: crafting of coats/traits. “Crafting” refers to the ability of a Fennux to unearth small pieces of parchment which contain fragments of “recipes.” The trick is to collect all the fragments of a particular recipe which will then allow you to “craft” a rare Fennux. Crafting involves turning two or more Fennux into a “super-rare” Fennux which is then able to pass the rare coats and traits. By making the acquisition of rare traits more complex, it is hoped that the inevitable exponential increase of creatures with identical characteristics prevalent in other existing breedables will be avoided. The basic breeding algorithm is aimed at the average user but there will be opportunities for those who require more advanced breeding strategies to develop them. The Fennux will encourage the secondary market by rewarding the introduction of new stock into the bloodlines, although it will still be possible to attain breeding success by established methods of “line-breeding” and “back-breeding.” One of the unique aspects of the Fennux is that they can fight. Great attention has been paid to the realistic animations, which really come into their own in the duelling arena, Blackflag explained. “We will have either weekly, bi-weekly, or
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monthly tournaments for duelling — we’re still planning out the schedule,” he said. “This is something that will start shortly after the launch of the product. There will be prizes rewarded so it’s definitely encouraged to ‘breed for duelling traits’ similar to how you would breed for a certain eye color or ear shape.” This duelling ability will add an extra dimension to breeding the Fennux and should also strengthen the breeding community, who will be able to meet not only to buy and sell at auctions and markets, but also in the social setting of a tournament. Team Fennux also identified that communication with customers was of paramount importance. Even with the launch some weeks away they have already established regular question and answer sessions for potential users, which not only provides customers with the answers to their enquiries but also gives the team feedback on what the customers want from the product and provide input into planning future strategies. This forward thinking is something emphasised by Blackflag, who uses this feedback to identify the problems experienced in breedable markets in the past. “People have to understand that a lot of these breedable companies did not plan for the success they ended up seeing,” Blackflag said. “They anticipated something to the tune of, ‘Maybe we’ll get a few hundred users interested, that’ll be cool!’ Some breedables grew far too fast, not giving the companies behind them ample time to really respond to the growth. The products had to be adjusted on the fly, sometimes without prior notice of coming changes causing uproars, unhappy customers and eventually crashed markets for breedables. Team Fennux is going into this knowing roughly how big the breedable pie really is, so we’re carefully avoiding issues others have made.” There will be a fully accessible mobile website to interact with Fennux pets on-the-go. This will be compatible with most modern smart phones. There are also plans to develop an iOS application for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
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Harmonizing
Light and Sound “Walking through one of Glyph’s installations BY SITA WRITER is like walking through a waking dream,” MetaPHOTOGRAPHY BY VALERIA ENDRIZZI verse Arts host Gwen Carillon said. “You get lost exploring the colors, take an unexpected path and Capturing speed and sound in art may be wind up in one of his stories. All the little details superficially old-fashioned when one thinks of hold meaning and enhance the whole. It’s not just high definition, sports broadcasts on wide screen, an intellectual experience, it’s an emotional road plasma TVs and monitors. But Glyph Graves has that compels discovery and fires the imagination.” spent several years in Second Life® perfecting his Graves works in a cavernous space with cawork as an artist. The sometimes tantalizing and cophonous bursts of sounds and colors evoking other times explosive works Graves churns out his forebears, the futurists, abstract expressionists of his very soul have shifted and morphed from and sci-fi artists of time gone by wrapped into a state-of-the-art portrayals of artwork to images, technological wonton miracle called SL. textures, scripts and objects that dance to music “Glyph dreams something up, starts cooklike moonlight waltzing on water. ing it on high in his brain and nothing stops him Some of his work careens around self-imuntil his visualization is a reality,” Carillon said. posed racetracks of color and sound — keyed up Graves’ art highlights the interplay between abstractions that emerge in a flurry of rapid fire form, structure and textures but defies explanacolors and sounds with movements that dazzle. tion because his works are so multifaceted. The essence of Graves’s art is high tech, tactile and “My work is fundamentally about interaction visually mind blowing. and transformation, showing aspects of one thing 52 | MANIERA SL | mymaniera.com
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in another form,” he said. “My pieces transform characteristics of the physical world into kinetic sculptures in SL. When I made the Total Wind Sculpture, I described it as ‘synthesia,’ or as a state where someone’s perception is changed enabling them to see sounds or numbers that have colors. In the case of total wind sculpture, the SL wind was transformed into color movement and a soundscape.” The creative process behind Graves’ work is a not a linear path to end piece and is often working with “related ideas until one feels right.” But it’s more than just ideas. While working on one of his projects, it ended up manifesting into something different. “Organic recurve started when I attempted to make a color effect,” Graves said. “It struck me that the way the prims were communicating was like a social network as well as a cellular automata. I ended up with a piece that communicates and interacts both with the viewer and within the elements of itself it has a conversation with the viewer and
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its own parts with music, color and movement.” Graves uses scripts and sculpts to bring his work to life. He had to learn various programming languages such as C# and PHP as well other Internet protocols because he isn’t programmer. In his work he favors partially inverted sculpts as well as single sculpts that are inverted in only parts, noting that this is something that he does not believe can be achieved with mesh. Graves admits his work evolves from a need to create. “I’m not a fan of artists following movements; too often it ends up as following a set formula,” he said. “In my opinion, it is the artist’s duty to create things that haven’t been done if they can. Otherwise all they end up doing is proclaiming membership in a club. I do appreciate those artists in SL that have created their own unique space in art, Bryn Oh’s work for example.” Graves will continue to follow his own drum. His exemplary work shines, glimmers, glows and yes, it flows as well. He has a bright future indeed.
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MANI STYLE
By tranquil design BY APHRODITE BRIANNA
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G
ardens, whether real or virtual, are tranquil places to relax and enjoy a taste of nature. The proximity of greenery, flowers, trees and shrubs appeal to our senses and fill us with a sense of well-being. While real life gardening can be back-breaking work replete with mud and bugs, the virtual variety merely requires the click of a mouse. Whether you are working on a 512 sq. m. plot or across several sims, the key element to virtual landscaping is the planning. Take a tour of some of the best landscaped sims to see what type of garden space is the right one for you. The grid provides every type of garden possible ranging from formal structured spaces to flights of elven fantasy. There is no need to worry about whether your spot is south facing or if the soil is fertile enough. No concerns about pests or disease or having green fingers. Mix and match cacti with weeping willows, let your imagination be your guide as you create your very own oasis of green. The Black Art sim is a Japanese styled garden open to the public. Koi fish swim serenely in a pond and there is a small tea house where you can relax and enjoy the ambient bird song and gentle music. The Heart sim is really like a giant landscaping store. Beautifully designed, each part of the landscape is for sale, giving potential purchasers ideas about which items work well together. AUGUST 2012
Plants, trees, waterfalls and rocky outcrops along with some of the prettiest flower meadows ever are all available to buy and take home. Garden of Dreams is a stunning forest-like sim which also houses a large store with plants, trees and landscape components on sale. The speciality here are the dream scene bubbles, each of which contain an entire environment encapsulated in a bubble. New scenes are added regularly and some are available free of charge. Well worth a visit. The elven and fairy sims are some of the prettiest on the grid. The Garden of GreenBurg has been around since 2007 and is a fantastic place to relax. Fly around the sim on a giant dandelion seed or have a romantic dance with a partner. If you would like to live in a beautiful garden atmosphere then Wildefleur may well be for you. It is an old English countryside garden, abandoned by its human owners. The fairies have taken over and there are a range of small fairy style fantasy homes to rent for a small cost. Omurice is a huge expanse of garden where you have a choice of several dance floors, picnic areas and serene places to just kick back and relax. For the more energetic there are free horse rides, swimming pools and gondola rides. If you are feeling contemplative you can opt for the Buddhist garden and temple or the Pagan stone circle.
Get Tranquil The Black Art Sim
http://maps.secondlife. com/secondlife/Black%20 Art/215/17/58
Heart Sim
http://maps.secondlife. com/secondlife/Heart%20 5/102/71/22
Garden of Dreams
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ Garden%20of%20 dreams/114/35/92
Garden of Greenburg
http://maps.secondlife. com/secondlife/GreenBurg/130/96/23
Wildefleur
http://maps.secondlife. com/secondlife/Wildefleur/27/105/22
Omurice
http://maps.secondlife. com/secondlife/Omurice/32/23/46
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FASHION PASSION
Vacation Vocations BY LEAH PORTLAND
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to travel and spend time together. This, of course, assumes that parents are able to get vacation time away from their employment during school breaks to spend with their children. So school is out and vacation time is granted from the workplace. What type of pursuits do people choose to engage in? For complete relaxation, the package allinclusive holidays, which include all you can eat buffets, scenic tours and days spent lying on sun baked beaches, is the perfect scenario. Others
“
out to build schools, medical clinics and water wells for the target communities which they visit, they often encounter experiences well beyond their expectations. Upon their return from such visits, people often recount not only how grateful these communities have been, but also how generous and happy the recipients are despite having so little. On missions such as what has been described, trends are the furthest thing from the minds of those embarking on them. However, prudence is required on any
“
T
aking a vacation is commonly associated with taking a break from work, school or other everyday activities and travelling to another region or country for the purpose of relaxation and recreation with family or friends. In the UK the term used to describe taking breaks of this kind is referred to as “going on holiday.” Some individuals take longer breaks of a month or even a year away from work to go globe-trotting or engage in something they have always wanted to do. Vacations can also be linked to holiday customs in celebration of religious or cultural observances. Public holidays are declared where these observances are recognised nationally and schools and business usually close, allowing most employees a leave of absence for the holiday. During the summer months in Europe and the United States, schools traditionally close to mark the transition from one academic year to the next. In the past, as both countries come from agricultural backgrounds, it allowed the children of families to assist in harvests. Now, it provides the perfect opportunity for families with children
In the UK, the term used to describe taking breaks . . . as ‘going on holiday.’
prefer a more energetic thrill seeking holiday, such as snowboarding, skiing or water sports. More people, however, are choosing to use their vacation time to extend the hand of compassion to those less fortunate than themselves. Prior to travelling, they often raise funds to help them with their cause and raise the profile of the charity they are promoting. Throughout the course of setting
vacation when deciding what to wear once there. Attention should be paid to local customs concerning dress to avoid breaking local laws. Protection from the sun’s UV rays is essential, as well as wearing suitable clothing for the activities being undertaken. So you’ve chosen your destination and packed your clothing. All you need now is remember your passport. Enjoy! mymaniera.com | MANIERA SL | 59
MEN’S CORNER
An apple a day BY LUC FRAY
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N
ew York. The city that never sleeps. This is a place where a gathering of cultures happens on a daily basis. It is the biggest urban jungle out there. The concrete roads are paved with hopes and the glass walls lined with dreams. Many come, but only a handful conquer. It certainly has come a long way from just being “the big apple that all horsemen aspire to race at.” Yes, many writers have written about this city. Quite a few songs too have been sung of its ups and downs. Only a small percentage of them, however, really capture the essence of New York City and what it’s really like in its heart.Because of its magnificence, it came as no surprise, then, when here in Second Life® a lot of sims have been patterned to the great city’s likeness. Midnight Manhattan Reverie, one of those NYinspired community sims, is a sight to behold. Recently, I visited the place with my wife, and we both agreed that we’ll be coming back to see more of the place. We had a grand time as we toured the city on a horse carriage, seeing an overview of what it had to offer. What greeted our eyes was both fascinating and pleasing. Lined with assorted shops on one side and the Central Park on the other, we feasted our eyes on this beautifully built sim, like little kids that got lost in Santa Claus’ toy factory. AUGUST 2012
With the talking carriage horse as our tour guide, we were taken on a fun, quick ten-minute ride around the city, with bits and pieces of trivia about the RL New York and the places you can visit in Midnight Manhattan Reverie occasionally thrown our way. Popular clubs such as Club Reverie (for fans of R&B, Hip Hop, House, Reggae and Dancehall) and Reverie Lounge (for lovers of Soul, R&B, Jazz, and live music and poetry) are worth checking out. The Bethesda Fountain, featured in lots of movies including the 2012 blockbuster, “The Avengers,” is the sim’s venue for live outdoor concerts. For other special events, however, they use the skating rink. Free skates are available, yours for the taking at a nearby vendor. Maybe if you have the time, you can start practicing for figure skating or ice hockey. My favorite part of the place though is the lake in Central Park, where a boat dock is located. The lake is just the perfect place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, either on the lake in a rowboat or strolling around the edges. Poseballs are located all over the park so you can sit with your partner or friend, once you get tired from all the rowing. Need a place to stay? Don’t worry. Midnight Manhattan Reverie also has available apartments that you can rent out at the east, south and west parts of the sim. Considering how re-
markable the place is, I wouldn’t be surprised if those apartments start filling up soon. Visit Midnight Manhattan Reverie at http://maps. secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Reverie/227/31/23.
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