Are You Going to Renaissance Faire VI in Second Life? (Hint: You should!)

 The phoenix must burn to emerge. 

Janet Fitch 

            Summer is drawing to its close in Real Life (RL), at least here in the Northern Hemisphere! 

            The last, long weekend of the American summer, Labor Day, draws nigh.

            All this means that the annual Renaissance Faire in Second Life (SL) will soon be here! 

So, when Perryn Peterson, the Mayor of Mieville, impresario extraordinaire, and my good friend in SL reached out recently to let me know that Renaissance Faire VI was soon

to be upon us, I was ready!  (Significant Other comments something about this being a rare occurrence.) 

            Since I’m still struggling to catch up after being away  I reached out to my latest Companion to join me and help with the photographs.  (She still wishes to remain anonymous to protect her professional reputation.  Significant Other suggests they form a support group.) 

            As with such Faires in RL, Renaissance Faire VI is a celebration of all things Renaissance.  The rebirth of knowledge and learning after the long night of the Dark Ages. 

In keeping with this theme, the SL Faire begins in a period village and hunters go off to find the marvelous gifts being offered by the participating merchants. 

            Renaissance Faire VI is located in Mieville Shelley, where it relocated to last year. 

            The site is a beautiful bucolic setting of a small village having its annual faire.  Besides the contemporary buildings located around a small pond, the temporary tents and booths of merchants and gypsies are set up on the outskirts of town. 

            Strolling through this scene, one hears the bubbling brooks and listens to period music.  Meriadne Merlin a RL performer has supplied several of the tunes which Perryn has been using for a number of years. 

            Trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers decorate the sim adding a pastoral effect that contributes to the feeling that one has left the modern age and returned to a simpler time.   (Mike Olbracht, Mieville’s landscaper par excellance and Perryn’s partner has once again

shown how talented he is and I marvel at the subtle changes that he has made to the grounds since last year!  His work alone is worth a visit to the Faire.)

            Strolling through the streets and lanes of the Faire, I see the various wares on display by the merchants and am impressed by their variety and quality.  Perryn always strives to have the best inworld mechants at his events. 

            While I’m wandering through the gypsy encampment, peeking into their vardos, (Yes, there’ll be a fortune teller!), my Companion is off busily snapping away with her photographs.  (I really don’t deserve her help.  Significant Other says she’s not the only one whose help I don’t deserve.) 

            BTW Ktahdn Vesuvino will be broadcasting period music from the gypsy encampment during the Faire! So. Make sure you’re listing for his tunes when you visit! 

            The Tinies from Tinyopolis have their own Artisans Lane with high quality craftspeople participating and shouldn’t be missed!

            There’s also a gacha tent with all the latest gachas! 

            The maypole still has pride of place in the center of the village and a small stage is a

t the water’s edge for performances during the Faire and don’t forget to see the Punch & Judy show! 

            As for the Hunt itself, seventy-five of the best shops inworld are participating!  (There's also a mini-hunt at the Faire itself!)

            A complete list of participating merchants can be obtained by joining the Historical Hunts, Ltd. Group inworld.  Additional information can be obtained from the website. 

            As always, the Renaissance Faire is a fun community event offering great opportunities to meet other residents and to learn about life inworld.  It also helps the merchants who are a vital part of SL! 

             I heartily recommend joining the Hunt or at least visiting the Faire!

            The Faire can be found here and runs from September 1^st to 30^th. 

            Happy hunting! 

            As always, I’d like to thank Perryn and his team for staging these terrific events and putting up with me as I write my stories!   

            I’d also like to thank the Companion for joining me at the last minute (Significant Other says what else is new.) and taking photographs.  (Hers are the better ones here and on this Flickr page where all our photos from this trip can be found.) 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

            If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

            Open roads and kind fires!

“Awt in da Pawk” in Second Life

Everything you can imagine is real.

Pablo Picasso 

             As part of my personal self-improvement plan, I’m trying to expand my familiarity with culture and the arts.  (This was after being told by Significant Other that reading Archie comic books didn’t count.  Who knew?)   

            So, when Perryn Peterson, the Mayor of Mieville, impresario extraordinaire, and my good friend in Second Life (SL) (Actually, one of the few willing to admit it.) dropped a line to tell me about an upcoming art show and sale that he was co-hosting with Miss Maggie Puss of Tinyopolis in Mieville, well, I just had to make sure I went and did a story! 

            I also reached out to my latest Companion to join me and help with the photographs as she’s a talented photographer.  (She also wishes to remain anonymous to protect her professional reputation.  Significant Other doesn’t blame her.) 

            The event is Awt in da Pawk and is being held in the Tinyopolis neighborhood in Mieville. 

            This is pronounced as if you’re from Boston and not from Brooklyn as I had to continually explain to the Companion.  (Not sure where she’s from but wherever it is, they certainly need more familiarity with regional American accents.) 

            Awt in da Pawk is an art show and fair open to all artists inworld.  Works can include photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and whatever other materials suit the creator’s fancy.  Copies will be available for sale. 

            Awards for best in show pieces will be made on the third and final day.

            The show will be open to the public on August, 19^th, 20^th, and 21^st and takes place here at Tinyopolis in Mieville. 

            The Companion and I dropped by to visit the show as it was being set up shortly before its opening.

            The show is in the main square in Tinyopolis.  Open-sided tents forming a rectangle

house the various works on display.  There is quite a selection of art of very high quality.  (I’m ignoring Significant Other’s barbed query of how would I know.)

            While viewing the artwork, the Companion and I met a photographer, Noxoko, who was setting up his exhibit.  A long time SL resident, he has recently taken up photography inworld specializing in black and white photographs.  Make sure to check his work out and maybe buy some!  I hope to have a story about Noxoko and his work in the not too distant future. 

            As always with any event in Mieville, they’re guaranteed to be fun, worthwhile, and a great way to meet folks inworld!  In addition, this is a chance to see some incredible art created within SL. 

            The Companion thought there was a good variety of artists and that the show was a

local, small town, kind of fun thing to do!

            I strongly recommend that you visit Awt in da Pawk, you won’t regret it!

            Maybe you’ll run into me and the Companion!  (She’s the good looking one!)

            I’d like to thank Perry and Miss Puss for hosting this show and allowing us to visit it beforehand for this story.

            I’d also like to thank Noxoko for taking the time to meet with the Companion and me, and answer our questions.

            Last but not least, I’d like to thank the companion for joining me and taking photographs.  (Hers are the better ones here and on this Flickr page where all our photos from this trip can be found.) 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

            If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

            Open roads and kind fires!

Back from the Wilderness (Part VI) – I Return to Second Life

Death ends a life, not a relationship.

Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie 

             As many of you have noticed by now, I’ve been away from Second Life (SL) for a while and haven’t been blogging. 

            Once again, Real Life (RL) called me away from SL.  

            The death of someone very close to Significant Other and me, especially for

Significant Other, necessitated our being out-of-state for a while. 

            To add to the confusion, the night before we were to leave, my laptop fried.  (Literally, smoke and everything, most impressive.) 

            Let’s just say that for a whole variety of reasons, it’s taken me a while to get back to some degree of normalcy.  (I’ll ignore the pundits who question whether I had any in the first place.) 

            But, I’m back!

            As before, I’m humbled by the messages I’ve received from my inworld friends.

            From those who knew what happened and offered their prayers, kept us in their thoughts, and offered to help me stay in touch inworld, I’m grateful.  (Significant Other is especially grateful.) 

            To those who only knew that I hadn’t been around for a while and wondered why I had gone over the wall, I appreciate your reaching out to express your concerns and to check in on me. 

            Specifically, I’d like to thank L’il Sis and the members of First UCC who offered assistance, prayers, and their condolences. 

            RL events have made me realize once again how much the SL community is like an extended family in RL than being a mere game or virtual world.  People show their feelings,

concerns, and fears as readily inworld as they do in RL.  Sadly, loss appears to be a universal feeling across both SL and RL.  

            Significant Other and I are both touched and grateful to all of you for responding to our grief as you did!  We thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts! 

            I’m getting back up to speed and hope to reconnect with all of you and to thank you personally! 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

            If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

            Open roads and kind fires!

Back from the Wilderness (Part VI) – I Return to Second Life

Death ends a life, not a relationship.

Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie 

             As many of you have noticed by now, I’ve been away from Second Life (SL) for a while and haven’t been blogging. 

            Once again, Real Life (RL) called me away from SL.  

            The death of someone very close to Significant Other and me, especially for

Significant Other, necessitated our being out-of-state for a while. 

            To add to the confusion, the night before we were to leave, my laptop fried.  (Literally, smoke and everything, most impressive.) 

            Let’s just say that for a whole variety of reasons, it’s taken me a while to get back to some degree of normalcy.  (I’ll ignore the pundits who question whether I had any in the first place.) 

            But, I’m back!

            As before, I’m humbled by the messages I’ve received from my inworld friends.

            From those who knew what happened and offered their prayers, kept us in their thoughts, and offered to help me stay in touch inworld, I’m grateful.  (Significant Other is especially grateful.) 

            To those who only knew that I hadn’t been around for a while and wondered why I had gone over the wall, I appreciate your reaching out to express your concerns and to check in on me. 

            Specifically, I’d like to thank L’il Sis and the members of First UCC who offered assistance, prayers, and their condolences. 

            RL events have made me realize once again how much the SL community is like an extended family in RL than being a mere game or virtual world.  People show their feelings,

concerns, and fears as readily inworld as they do in RL.  Sadly, loss appears to be a universal feeling across both SL and RL.  

            Significant Other and I are both touched and grateful to all of you for responding to our grief as you did!  We thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts! 

            I’m getting back up to speed and hope to reconnect with all of you and to thank you personally! 

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

            If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

            Open roads and kind fires!