THE BEST OF SL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2022 EDITION by The Best Of SL Magazine

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PHOTO: RAIN SAXONDALE

MODEL: AME MORNINGSTAR

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reign Congrejo

FASHION EDITOR Shantal Gravois

CONTRIBUTORS Arya Braveheart Coco St. George Compe Lockwood GinPhx Jamee Sandalwood Rain Saxondale Rob Santana Shantal Gravois Sita Writer Tiyialic

COVER

Magissa Denver

LAYOUT

Viktor Serrao

COVER MODEL Morgan Incognito

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BOSL Magazine August 2022 Edition

PHOTO: GINPHX

MODEL: SHANTAL GRAVOIS

CONTENT

105 77 XTERN AND THE BIG APPLE

THE POWER OF THE VAMPIRE

BY THE SEA

SCOTCH AND SODA

SERENA ESTATES

BOSL ARTS

BOSL FASHION TREND

105

BOSL AFTER DARK

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XTERN AND THE BIG APPLE Compe Lockwood

e have all seen it, lived it, and been saddened by it. The latest and greatest in SL commerce— a store, club, organization, service, you name it. With much fanfare and razzle-dazzle, the adventure in cutting-edge cyber retail opens its doors… for about three weeks before boarding them shut. Cheer up, oh failed brewer of fine pixels, for you are in good company. Many commercial entities, from corner shops to cornerstone skyscrapers, have turned mercantile majesties into mush. Far too many SL entrepreneurs’ dreams evaporate into orange smoke (and you thought that was slow rezzing). There are the meek: an individual manufacturer of scripted objects; a housewife, dreaming of spare income breeding SL rabbits of renown; the corner pub with a dance hub that Lindy Hops no more. They are the mighty: great computer companies; Pizza Hut; Starbucks; Automobile dealerships; and prestigious universities once had SL stakes here. Now they are folded and forgotten like a Santa suit in July. Yet some SL businesses persevere and even thrive. They defy the odds and go where angels dare not tread— the ever rezzing streets and communities of SL business. How do they do it? What is their secret? We asked one.

Xtern is the owner/operator of Big Apple Entertainment. Some of Second Life’s top performers and deejays perform there. Music from romance to rock, jazz to Motown, blues to Latin, XTERN AND THE BIG APPLE

oldies but goodies. It looks easy by design, but don’t try this at home. He runs his SL venues from RL experience. This club owner’s life is similar in both worlds. In Second Life, he owns Big Apple Entertainment with 48 venues. In the real world, he is a professional session/studio musician, composer, arranger, music director, and teacher with 44 plus years’ experience. An award-winning musician, Xtern continues to perform, tour, record, and teach from the U.S. to the U.K. When he speaks about SL venue longevity, wouldbe owners should pay heed. Xtern knows what he is talking about and shares success secrets. Feel free to take notes. Achievement starts with passion in real life endeavors, and the same is true for Second Life undertakings. “I knew I could make a difference in someone’s life,” Xtern said, in a behind the scenes interview at NY, NY. “There are people here [in Second Life] with disabilities. They might be confined to a bed or can’t walk, can’t talk, etc. SL gives them the opportunity to walk, talk, dance, buy beautiful clothes, cars, planes, a big house, and more.” His venues provide a welcome for those individuals with RL disabilities. For here, everyone’s the same. Xtern’s goal is to make a difference, and he does. But it takes work. “Successful people do what unsuccessful people do not want to do,” he adds. “A successful person not only owns the business but will clean the bathrooms. In [SL], it’s the same thing.”

PHOTOS: CARA PAINE

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Big Apple Entertainment is not cluttered with managers, assistant managers, publicists, or other over staffed frills. “I do it all, from writing & sending notices to building,” he says. “I only have myself and two incredible hostesses, Evangelina & Tyger, and that’s it. We’re only open five days a week, one set a night; it’s all about keeping it fresh.” Tyger has been a NY, NY hostess for many years. She mirrors Xtern’s philosophy: “We make guests feel welcome as soon as they arrive. We welcome people, tell them how to dance, make jokes about things, and keep the conversation lively.” Tyger adds, “I am lucky to work with Xtern, one of the best bosses on the grid and with EvAngelina, a top-notch hostess.” Other tips from club and business owners would seem obvious but is often ignored. You have to be there for every set, easy right? Be there— to keep your business fresh. Be there— to answer questions and address concerns. Be there— to say Hello. Xtern prides himself on being present at every one of his sets. Ever notice when landing in a club or shop that is vacant with no signs of life, the owner is not there, either? Typically, a visitor leaves within three minutes because there’s not much to do in Death Valley. On to something else.

XTERN AND THE BIG APPLE

Xtern is online almost every day. He answers IMs quickly. The same is not true for everyone else. Don’t be like everyone else. Second Life can still be the land of milk and cyber honey. Hopefully, more milk and honey seekers will realize that. \

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XTERN AND THE BIG APPLE

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XTERN AND THE BIG APPLE

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XTERN AND THE BIG APPLE

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THE POWER OF THE VAMPIRE COCO ST. GEORGE

t was late at night, and me and my buddy Matt had been drinking at the bar for several hours now. We had discussed every imaginable topic and eventually had come to one of his latest obsessions. “The power of the vampire,” he told me, fixing his gaze on me as to highlight the seriousness of his words, “is that nobody believes they are real.” I was aware he had recently read Bram Stoker’s Dracula because he mentioned it every time he could— virtually didn’t talk about anything else — but I never thought he had become a believer. “Don’t tell me you believe now in vampires, ghosts, and goblins! Next, you’ll be believing in UFOs and conspiracy theories.” “I will let those words pass because it’s your ignorance talking… if you only knew everything I have read!” I was about to reply, but the bartender interrupted me to remind us it was almost closing time. I hate when it happens, mainly because I don’t understand why bars tend to close when the spirits are in their best mood, the drinks go down smoother, the snacks are tastier, and the guys look cuter. But discussing the house rules with the bartender made no sense, so we paid and left. I came back home shortly before dawn, in a hurry to lie down to sleep for the day. But I had a terrible aftertaste and decided to wash first. Combined with the water, Matt’s blood eddied down the drain, and I thought it was a shame my buddy liked to drink a bourbon so cheap it tasted like moonshine. T H E P O W E R O F T H E VA M P I R E

We all know there are no vampires in this world, so how did the myth come to be, and why is it so widespread around the globe? Modern science has some explanations for the origin of the myths of both vampires and werewolves, including symptoms of rabies and a little-known condition called porphyria. The legend of vampires goes back to the Dark Ages, when the discovery of corpses with no sign of decay after weeks or even months of their deaths and fresh blood on their faces gave rise to the notion that those dead people were vampires who roamed all night long in search of blood. Human blood, of course. But now we know those signs might have been symptoms of rabies. Porphyria, on the other hand, is a condition that makes people hypersensitive to ligh, and, in certain cases, fosters the growth of hair on the face; it can also cause neurological attacks, such as trances, seizures, and hallucinations. Knowing there is a down-to-earth explanation, though, hasn’t prevented people from believing in the supernatural origin of vampires. Besides, in folk mythology, the character of the vampire has been embellished with a lustful and passionate nature, which makes them irresistibly attractive. Nobody can resist their charms. It was the Irish writer Bram Stoker who codified the legends and myths into literary form in his book Dracula, published in 1897. Thanks to him, we now know vampires cast no shadow and have no reflection on mirrors; they sleep by day in coffins; and they can be killed by driving a wooden stake into their hearts, turning their bodies into dust. PHOTOS: COCO ST. GEORGE

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More recently, the Twilight saga put vampires in vogue anew and prompted a worldwide phenomenon when it was translated to the big screen. As a true reflection of the real world, Second Life couldn’t remain impervious to this phenomenon, and,thus, we can find every kind of vampire here. Maybe too many kinds. “Vampires are banned from this sim because they became a nuisance, especially for newbies,” said a helper in a learning center who wasn’t sure he wanted to be identified by name or location. “Unlike their RL counterparts, though, SL vampires can roam freely day and night, and there’s no way to protect oneself from them; well, the only way is banning them.” SL vampires who want to suck blood from their fellow residents usually send an animation invitation to their target. Since the invitation is clearly labeled as one to being bitten, seasoned avatars hardly fall for it, hence the preference among vampires to roam learning centers where newbies are more likely to be found. “Exactly,” intervenes Val Alucard, chief and founder of Vamps on Wheels, a club for bikers who also roleplay as vampires. “We’ve been unfairly stereotyped as blood-thirsty, fearmongers, newbiechasers… but nothing could be farther from the truth. Yes, I admit there have been some rotten apples in our midst, but that doesn’t mean we all are like that.” “Being a vampire is a lifestyle just as respectable as any other, you know? We provide people with a community, a sense of belonging, a purpose, a mission… They find a family here, they make friends, and of course, many of them find a life partner or, at least, a significant other. They go out on heroic quests and adventures. How dare they say we are a nuisance or a pest?”

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He’s right. Vampirism has evolved and left behind the days when its sole purpose was biting, sucking blood, and acquiring souls. If you’d like to experience what is like being a creature of the shadows, then dive into a centuries-old tradition of folklore and mythology and share the lifestyle of hundreds of fellow enthusiasts of the occult. You may want to visit Bloodlines’ point of entry and begin exploring what could well become your next passion. You may also visit Bloodlines’ website if you’d like more information.

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T H E P O W E R O F T H E VA M P I R E

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T H E P O W E R O F T H E VA M P I R E

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BY THE SEA

PHOTOS: ARYA BRAVEHEART

BY THE SEA Arya Braveheart

have been prepping this scene for a few months, so I am pretty excited to show it to you all now. this perfect summer home can be used on the ground or on a platform. I have been creating this way up above my home on the ground so that I could leave it set up to work on slowly. Danilo, the creator of this home and many of the items you will see today (as well as being the owner of KAZZA), released the house back in April as a part of Happy Weekend Sales and has been slowly releasing all of the furniture and decor items in the same weekend sale each week since.

My favourite room to decorate in this build was the kitchen. It is always the space with the coolest stuff. Maybe it is the area that is the most real looking to me. This one is especially great, as it has all the fabulous shelving as well as the beautifully decorated dinner table. The other room that was fun to set up was the child’s room. I have never decorated one of these before, but the KAZZA items are so wonderfully made and look so beautiful with the other items I added that it was simple and easy. I am hoping to share the other rooms with you soon, but it will depend on the release of the next items to go in the empty areas. Watch this space!

So far the lounge, kitchen, outdoor area, bedroom, and child’s room furniture and decor have been released. Next up, I am hoping, will be the spare room and bathroom. I am excited to see what Danilo surprises us with here in the next few weeks. In the meantime, you can enjoy the rooms I have decorated so far with the items that I rezzed to create each room and to add my own personal flair and touches. I started decorating this house on the outside. It seemed the logical place to start— it was also the place I finished. The final touch was the diving board. I am going to make good use of that. It even has animations to give me the perfect dive!

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BY THE SEA

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C re d it s :

DECOR ST YLE CARD

KAZZA - By the Sea: House, Armchairs, Bed, Carpet, Chairs, Carpet, Chandelier, Couch, Counter, Countertop, Kitchen, Drinks Shelf, Kitchen Hood, Laundry, Pan Set Holder, Pots, Plant Pots, Shelf, Sun Table, Table, Child Room - Cabinet, Baby Bag, Baby Chair, Balloon, Boat Puff, Bunk Bed, Chandelier, Changing Table, Crib, Fun Pillow, Pad, Partition, Shutter, Stroller, Wooden Floor, Baby Bath, Bath Goodies, VialleDolcePalmpot - pot ~AMU~ - Baby Elephant

MOoH! - Bunny planter {NANTRA} - Dangerous When Wet Diving Board Nutmeg. - Vegetable Crate, Display Cabinet .peaches. - Zonlicht - Kiwi Bird Sit - White, POTty Mouthed Planters - Mini Cactus pr!tty - Kitty Night Light - [White:Blush] ReKa. - The Harvest / 4, 6 & 7

*Artisan Fantasy* - Santa Fe Patio 06 - Pottery

Serenity Style - Arya Wooden Forest Friends, Irene Mouse, Irene Sheep, Dottie Handmade FigurinesPink

Astralia - Cat Succulent Plant (White)

Sparrow’s Nest - Firewood and Pots

Atelier Burgundy . Scattered Papers . Flowers

{vespertine} - animal planters. - llama.

UPDATE

{what next} - Boho Lanterns, Palisades Salad Bowl, Pothos Plant (trailing)

Apple Fall - Bathroom Lotions - Soaps

Bazar - Stockholm - Sneakers decor (female) Black .Sand - Elle’s Closet CELESTE - Bean Bag Chair - Ombre Aqua Vinyl CHEZ MOI - Sicily Set, Inflatable Speed Boat ChiMia:: - Fabric Bound Books DaD - “Mandarin Spa Jellyfish ceiling lamp” Gay Way - Giraffes [Kres] - Critter Humidifiers - White - Cow Lagom - Rude kitty rugs [ Fantasy ] <Magic Party> - Breakfast - Coffee N’ Milk SET Magnetic - Old Pipe Faucet Planters [Merak] - Pool Balls Basket (basics), Decor Kitchen Tray, Baguette Basket, Blankets Stack Midwest - Vogue - Bowl, Curve, Jar, Vase BY THE SEA

Your Dreams - Hidden pool - Popsicle Pool Float; My Laundry Items .:You Need:. Raron - Fullset

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SCOTCH AND SODA Sita Writer

“There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into sun” ―

Pablo Picasso

magination can take you anywhere, especially in the context of Second Life. Everything you see around you in-world was once in the imagination of someone. Without the power of imagination, Second Life as we know it would come to a standstill. Imaginative creators like the builders and owners of Scotch and Soda have brought a series of extraordinary experiences to residents of Second Life that visit this beautifully evocative sim.

BOSL wanted to find out more about the relationship between Scotch and Soda… not of the liquor fame because we were so impressed with the multi-faceted area they conceptualized and created. As Scotch tells the story… “Soda and I met in the buy-sell-trade metaverse game Upland. Our first collaboration was working on a themed ten-location property tour based upon visiting superhero-related locations in the game’s virtual Manhattan. We continued working together on projects, but always through a middleman. We soon came to the realization that we worked better as a team rather than working for someone else. Once we learned what each other’s strengths were we began really supporting one another so effectively… it was magic because it all just clicked into place.” At this point, realizing that they loved creativity, beauty, art, and killer music they decided to open a gallery because of their SCOTCH AND SODA

imagination of the soul

common interests, mindset and goals. Creativity and building is always a process. Sometimes you have to take a deep dive into yourself to figure out what you want and what is missing around you. “Soda and I sat down to think about what was missing from the current landscape of NFTs, art, and music. We believed that the best type of creations and builds arise out of deep reflection and necessity. We thought that there needed to be more than just a marketplace; we wanted to provide people with a highly curated experience.” The end result of this soul searching, planning and creating is the Scotch and Soda Gallery - it is an immersive and interactive 3D environment that uses the artistic creations of mesh builders to blend all the things that Scotch and Soda love about art … with this desire kicked to eleven out of twelve! We are sure twelve is around the corner! At the moment Scotch and Soda Gallery has three riveting areas that include three distinct experiences… each designed to titillate and intrigue. There is a Dark Carnival for mystery lovers, a whimsical Alice in Wonderland where fairytales do come true (no promises but…) and a Gothic church with a twist because it houses the erotic Dark Pin up collection…exciting – Yes and unexpected… for sure! Each month the gallery features a variety of artists that have included Starcards, UltraRare, Dark Pinup, and Lewd Momoko. Stay tuned for additional installations by the same artists that bring the gallery Dark Pinup. Scotch explains what makes these installations different…”These installations are the first of their kind in Second Life, every installation is an experience not just pictures on a wall.” You will

PHOTOS: JAMEE SANDALWOOD

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just have to go there yourself because seeing is not only believing but also experiencing! Scotch explains how folks learn and experience when visiting…”We are displaying non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that are cryptographic assets on a blockchain with unique identification codes and metadata that distinguish them from each other. The way we educate people on this Web 3.0 technology makes it FUN!”

At the end of the day, this project is a labor of love, like most things worthwhile. We encourage you to visit it… if you dare enter the minds of Scotch and Soda… As Scotch told us, “The first question comes to mind… who am I --- and then you take a deep dive into the mind of Scotch and Soda…do you dare? Here you can be Alice in Wonderland, A red-hot diva or a down right sybarite sipping absinthe at the bar.”

One of the most important things for Scotch and Soda is how people experience their gallery. “We want people to step into the art not just look at it – this is why we have created entire worlds for the art to exist in. The combination of art and music is not new; we hope to introduce people to a new form of true ownership of art while supporting the artists. We know that art is subjective. In the context “art is beauty” I think that beauty is the reflection of the person viewing it. We hope this is part of the experience too.” As for the future, you can’t use up creativity, the more you use, the more you have… and when asked, Scotch says, “More of everything -- more art, music, events, and charitable collaborations. We may find a way to turn it up past eleven!”

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SE R E NA E STAT E S

SERENA ESTATES Rob Santana

his month, I’m going to share some of the details about living at one of the nicest estates in Second Life, Serena Estates. All of the photos taken for this article are from land that is ready to rent and fully landscaped by one of the three full-time landscapers at Serena. Things work a bit differently living on a Second Life Estate in comparison to living on Second Life Mainland, where the tier is paid online. When you live on an Estate, you pay your rent to the Estate owners directly at a tier box provided by the Estate using Lindens. You need to be sure to log in and pay your rent on time since the rental transaction is in-world. Serena Estates have tier boxes to pay your rent, and they remind you if you only have a few days left on your rental. The primary benefits of choosing an Estate are better performance and less lag than Second Life Mainland; also, you can get a bigger plot much easier and have enough prims to build whatever you want to create on your land. If you need assistance, Serena Estates provides managers 24/7 as well as three full-time landscapers to help with anything you might need. Serena Estates are known for some of the best “ready to move in” (landscaped Land) lots you can find in Second Life. They are set up to meet your landscaping needs as well as privacy by surrounding your land with off-sim mountains and beautiful waterfalls, premium trees, and cliffs— all provided at no cost. They will also customize it to your needs if you need additional terraforming done, more trees, or anything else they can help with.

PHOTOS: ROB SANTANA

44 full Sim landscape designs to choose from: The Serena Estates Flickr is useful to let one of the managers know what landscaping preferences you have:

They have a choice of beach or grass, and each quarter is surrounded by mountains. If you rent a full Sim or a full homestead, then you can add your own off sim surround to the sim such as mountains or islands. Or they will add one for you to your quarter if you’d like. If you prefer, you can also go to the Serena Estate Website and view available properties there and pick up the landmark as well.

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Serena Estates offers a number of renting options shown below: Full sim or a full homestead (note: the homestead has the same area as a full sim, just fewer prims). •

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FULL SIM 30,000 PRIMS 65,536 SQUARE METERS 16,999 LINDENS/week $75.00/week FULL HOMESTEAD 5,000 PRIMS 65,536 SQUARE METERS 6,799 LINDENS/week $30.00/week

Living on a Full Sim or a full homestead, you can have something called Estate Rights. Estate rights allow you to: 1) Change the terrain texture of the land, four different levels; 2) Change the water level; 3) Set the Environment Windlight; 4) RESTART the Region; and more. The next option is to rent a Quarter Sim or Quarter Homestead. •

QUARTER SIM 7500 PRIMS 16,384 SQUARE METERS 4,499 LINDENS/week $20.00/week

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QUARTER HOMESTEAD 1250 PRIMS 16,384 SQUARE METERS 1,994 LINDENS/week $10.00/week

The final option is to pick up a smaller parcel, which will be cheaper but have fewer prims than the quarter. SE R E NA E STAT E S

If they don’t have a full sim available, they will purchase it for you and give it the name you want. This is a tremendous offer, since they are absorbing the sim purchase cost for you. They also haven’t raised their prices in 10 years, despite the increases from Linden Labs. Here is a link to the main office you can just walk in and see the available rentals on the wall to your left. There are also available properties to the right. Alternatively, you can open the World Map, and with “Land Sale” checked see if anything is available for sale; they will be yellow on the map if so. There are a few community perks for Serena Estates, such as Art Shows featuring the photography of residents, support for residents starting up their own business ventures, and community concerts. The management is very responsive, and you just need to let them know how you would like their support. If they can help you out, then they certainly will. Kayla Kaminski, the Serena Estate manager, believes in embracing global diversity to encourage people from around the world to come together. They are using the Arts Center Sim to promote Second Life Artists who live and work at Serena Estates. Some residents have lived on this estate for over 10 years, paying the same exact rent all this time. Serena was one of the first estates that started selling the land for one linden— so it’s very easy to move in —and they still have that practice today. Simply open about land, pay one linden for the land you are standing on, and they they will show you the tier box so you can pay the required rent. The popularity of Serena Estates has grown from word of mouth. Anyone that has lived here highly recommends it, including myself. Here is a landmark to the Estate Manager’s Office should you want to see for yourself.

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BOSLArts LIFE CHARRON (ZEROYS)

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BOSL ARTS

ARTIST: LIFE CHARRON

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ARTIST: LIFE CHARRON

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ARTIST: LIFE CHARRON

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ARTIST: LIFE CHARRON

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ARTIST: LIFE CHARRON

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ARTIST: LIFE CHARRON

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EXHIBIT NOW

@ S T R E A M L I F E G A L L E RY The paintings allow you to have an experience with your own imagination and personality into an extraordinary world of light and colors. You can completely immerse yourself in the paintings and reach even the deepest feeling without moving. The paintings represent the emotions, hopes and mood of a self made freestyle painter: Life Charron (Zeroys).

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B O S L FA S H I O N T R E N D CLASHING PRINTS

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