Laurel’s Places to Go – The Roadhouse

A new Country Music club has opened in Second Life called the Roadhouse.  I attended the grand opening this morning and feel it will become the #1 Country Bar in Second Life!  Friendly people, good music and so much to do in just one location.  The music is Country/Country Rock/Southern Rock without the full sets of rap, metal or hip hop you can find at some other country venues, which puts it ahead of some of the larger clubs already in this genre like Southern Oasis.

The sim has available quality shopping, 7 Seas Fishing, bull riding, swimming in a pool with a big ole curly slide, contests, cars you can drive around as you explore and more! It’s not just a pub but a whole entertainment zone.  The line dances here are a bit different as you sit on a “hat” spot on the floor then click on a much larger hat floating above the dance floor to animate, but once going the dances operated quite smoothly except I had a problem stopping dancing as reclicking the floating hat didn’t help.  A relog did fix the problem, however.  On a second visit, the dances worked smoothly and stopped just fine.

The venue will also bring live music performers to perform on the Roadhouse stage!  Jewell Schnyder will be appearing there tonight (8PM to 10PM) and I enjoyed her last performance at another club.  A very good turnout at the Grand Opening, with more there than my picture shows as it was taken shortly after the event started.  I am told the Roadhouse has been lining up quality veteran DJs from around the grid to make this club a sure sucess.  However, the one they opened with had a wonderful voice but sounded very nervous on mic, didn’t speak often thus was like dancing to radio and oddly repeated several songs during her set.  I was told she was fairly new and this was most likely her first time doing a grand opening so I don’t need to mention a name as most likely she will have improved by the time many read this review.  I believe they could have only improved by starting out with a veteran DJ, as all else was perfect.  The Grand Opening crowd was even given free motorcycles (his or hers) which was a nice gesture.  I will certainly be back again to visit as I had a really good time and this new club shows so much potential. 

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lilac%20Island/193/190/23

Laurel’s Places to Go – Southern Oasis

A great place to check out is the Southern Oasis!  No, Del it isn’t all country music.  They do have the best line dances in SL and I say that as a person that doesn’t normally line dance at all…these I do.  Music here varies as to DJs, with DJs working from early morning to late at night so Euro and UK friendly hours as well as American time.  Most often you hear Classic Rock, Southern Rock or Country but DJ Lindsay has a hip hop set here too if you enjoy that.

The crowd is very friendly and the line dances allow you to jump right in and start having fun.  The red dots are for the ladies and the black for the gentlemen so couples can dance together or you can dance solo.  Intan dances also available for couples.  A full service bar for hanging out at or to sit at while waiting for a friend to arrive.

Southern Oasis runs contest nearly every shift and they are proportional to win so even a few votes can win you a linden prize quite often.  The contest theme was Winter Wonderland on my visit.  You will need a Southern Oasis VIP tag to enter the contests and vote in them.  You can also catch some live music programs here.  A new singer, Jewell is one not to miss at the Oasis!  Definately worth a visit if you are looking for a friendly new hangout with consistant traffic. Nearby shops also available for last minute contest wear or to rent.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Agapi/111/237/27

Laurel’s Places to Go – Ambrosia Dance Club

Late night in SL?  Looking for something to do?  You can usually find a hopping dance floor at the Ambrosia Dance Club.  The music depends on the DJ present but they do generally have DJs even in the wee hours.  Lady GaGa was there on my visit (in the cyan blue), I detest her but fortunately she didn’t attempt to “sing”.  My partner is still away so I couldn’t get his opinion on this venue.  I prefer it to say…Dance Island but would like more consistancy to the music.  The music during my visit was modern rock & dance with some oldies and an occasional vulgar hip hop song tossed in. 

Dancing for couples and singles are available.  Give it a try? Follow the red carpet from the tp point to get to the club.   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ambrosia%20Dance%20Club/55/150/304

Laurel’s Places To Go – Great Wall

I was out and about sightseeing in Second Life last evening and decided to pay the Great Wall a visit.  The Wall winds it’s way around a whole sim and is connected to three other Asian themed sims to make for even more exploration fun! 

I even brought Jose (American Mustang horse pictured below – who was a gift from my ex SL husband Del) out for a ride to enjoy the scenery on horseback and to give him a bit of exercise.  The Great Wall in Second Life is a really nice place to go to do some relaxing sightseeing, take some pictures, ride your horse or visit the surrounding sims for still more to see or to completely outfit your Asian style home. 

It is Hosoi Design that makes this fantastic sim available to the Second Life Public.  Hosoi Design shops are on the 3 other sims for your shopping pleasure and are also very scenic as they are set up in a village setting.  So to support this fine sim you but need to take some trinket back home with you.  There are fine furnishings of all kinds, bonsai trees and even komonos for men and women available from Hosoi Design.  Definately a must see!

Nitram, my SL partner/fiance has been feeling under the weather in RL so I hope he feels better real soon.  While he has been away I have been keeping busy with projects and sightseeing is also a good way to pass the time.  Get well soon, love!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mao/131/15/24

Laurel’s Places to Go – Star Dance Dome

Tonight, my friend DJ Julianna Michigan will be playing music from the 60’s -90’s at the Star Dance Dome from 1 to 3PM on the Main Floor, Thursday also at that same time.  Tonight, there will be a special Romantic Love Songs music set from 7 to 9pm SLT Upstairs in the Romantic Area.  This cozy spot has cuddle couches, all sorts of the best couple slow dances and even a cute yellow dog to pet.  A great occasion to take your special someone to or if your special someone is away but you still enjoy love songs…you can come to listen as I will this evening.  I love mushy love songs even when Sir Nitram can’t share them with me so I’ll be there to support my favorite DJ. 

The Star Dance Dome is a new venue in Second Life so it is somewhere your date wouldn’t have already been to.  So surprise with a new romantic spot or dance downstairs with the singles to meet some new friends. 

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Atlantic%20Beach/1/160/22

Laurel’s Places to Go – Star Dance Dome

I checked out a new club tonight called the Star Dance Dome and it is really spectacular!  The dance foor is two levels with the bottom level shown here and the upper level a cozy quiet area for couples.  DJ Rick Aurotharius was playing there and he kept us dancing for hours with a really wonderful blend of music.  Other great DJs such as SW Easterwood “The Voice” and Julianna Michigan “Lady of the Lakes” also bring their amazng music here to play. 

The club was built by Buddy Aaron, a german builder with an eye for detail.  It is one of the better club designs I have seen in all of Second Life.  He and his partner PattiSue Haefeli also mange this new club.  The crowd was very friendly, international and the conversation light and interesting.  The hostess’ tip jar was the only challenge to find (it was a floating red heart near the door) in this well laid out club.  I’ll definately be back again and again!  One of the most promising new clubs in Second Life I would say,  so keep an eye out for the Star Dance Dome! 

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Atlantic%20Beach/1/159/22

Laurel’s Places to Go – Forest Feast

Nitram went off to RL work after his morning coffee and kiss, I went for a bit of a walk at Forest Feast.  Give it a chance to rez at the teleport point so you don’t take a fall. There is also a map there which will show you the layout of the gardens.  You can buy much of what you see on the sim from the shops near the teleport point to decorate your own home in SL  It’s a lovely large garden with so much to see and such a relaxing environment.  Lovely scenery and I saw several people rez aircraft or boats so you can explore that way too.  There are japanese gardens, rose gardens, fantasy gardens and fields of flowers to find.  I got lost for awhile in a tall field of grass but followed the sound of water to an amazing beach to watch a sail boat breeze by.  A nice place to relax and sight-see, do play a visit! 

http://slurl.com/secondlife/feast/131/128/31

Laurel’s Places to Go – Pixel Hill

Nitram and I came across Pixel Hill when he was searching for some music we could enjoy together.  Yes, it was his find.  *smiles*  It’s not a huge venue as far as Live Music goes so it keeps a cozy feel like you would find at your local pub.  I rather liked that.  The building is made of stone and well weathered wood worn smooth by lots of dancing feet.  Both single and couples dancing is available at this venue.  At the door,  you can find a poster with upcoming events at Pixel Hill as well as a free concert HUD you can wear.  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Strayling/228/34/53/

Dann Numbers (shown below) was playing when Nitram and I were there.  Dann had a good clear voice and really kept us entertained.  He was fun as well as good to listen to.  We would definately go see him again.  From his bio:  Dann is attempting to become SL’s first prophet of rock and soul…rocking his acoustic all over the place – check http://www.sonicbids.com/dannrusso for the full SL schedule, and if you are an owner who wants to book a show, please IM Dann.

Laurel’s Places to Go – Irie Vibes

Looking for something different?  Tired of the same old music?  Try the Reggae music at Irie Vibes!  I know I wasn’t quite dressed for the place but I didn’t quite know where I was going when I accepted the teleport.  Yeah, that’s the excuse I am going with. 

Irie Vibes provides a bright cheerful atmosphere with happy Reggae to dance to.  I like to experience new places and new music so it was a good place to visit.  Often live DJs are available but if one isn’t available at the time of your visit, there is still a very good music stream.

Time slipped quickly away as my date and I chatted about all sorts of subjects, as we gently swayed to the music.  Had a great time so wanted to share this new to me place in Second Life.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Irie/42/153/22/

Live Music Concert – Rich Desoto

Yesterday, I managed to catch Rich Desoto at Fibber Magees on the Dublin 3 sim.  Rich did a fantastic job!  He has a real way of working the audience.  It was a small audience this time but we were all mentioned by name and some of us had our names put in a song.  His original songs are delightful and he’s a can’t miss artist in Second Life.

The really nice thing about the Dublin sims is something is always going on during UK hours at the three venues there plus things like fashion shows and parades on the city streets.  Join the group at the Blarney Stone Pub to get notices of everything going on in the Dublin sims.  Often there are Live Music performances, DJs, Coffee Hours for chat and other events.  A good group to join to find things to do in Second Life.

FROM HIS BIO: A music major trained as cellist, Rich Desoto aka Rich Palmer plays guitar for “Knight Blaze”. In Second Life he performs high-energy favorites and originals. Please visit http://www.richdesoto.com or http://www.richpalmer.com or http://www.myspace.com/richpalmer for more information on Rich.

I play live shows at venues throughout SL.  Acoustic pop/rock originals and covers.  Check my schedule at http://www.richdesoto.com

Come hear such SL standards as Avatar Girl, No Copy No Mod and I Used to Sleep! Plus orginal songs like Glass Jar which was so very touching to hear.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dublin%203/123/217/31/