As we turn the page into June, there’s a certain kind of magic in the air—longer days, vibrant colors, and the unmistakable energy that only summer can bring. It’s a time for bold expression, fresh creativity, and connection, both on the grid and off. Here at Best of SL Magazine, we celebrate those who continue to shape the cultural fabric of Second Life with elegance, edge, and imagination.
This month’s issue is a tribute to bold visionaries and quiet trail blazers alike. From the designers redefining fashion to the photographers capturing soul through the lens, June’s pages are alive with the spirit of innovation and beauty. Whether you’re here to discover a new artist, find inspiration for your next build, or simply immerse yourself in virtual luxury—you’re in the right place.
We also honor Pride Month and the voices in our community that continue to remind us that identity, love, and expression deserve space, visibility, and celebration. At Best of SL, we believe Second Life is at its best when it reflects the full spectrum of its residents—vibrant, diverse, and unapologetically authentic.
So, take a moment for yourself. Pour something cool. Turn the page. Let this issue spark your next creation, your next story, your next moment of brilliance.
Here’s to summer, style, and standing out.
Warmly,
Reign Congrejo Capalini Senior Publisher & Editor Best of SL Magazine
OUTDOOR LIVING
Arya Braveheart
Summer has arrived in Second Life, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to embrace the great outdoors! Forget dusting the virtual furniture; for me, the real joy lies in crafting the perfect al fresco escape. Whether your land boasts breathtaking beach views, tranquil lakeside serenity, or the peaceful embrace of towering trees, now’s the moment to sculpt your ideal outdoor living spaces.
My own outdoor obsession began the moment I laid eyes on the Claremont Brownstone Red from Trompe Loeil. While it’s available in classic white and sleek black, the traditional brick resonated with me instantly. I envisioned it draped in lush ivy, nestled amongst the foliage – and so, it became the anchor of my virtual world.
From this charming abode, I branched out, carving the land into four distinct zones, each designed for a specific mood: relaxation, reading, dining, and casual coffee breaks. Every zone needed a focal point, a statement piece to build upon.
For pure relaxation, the LouChara Delphine Arbor was the perfect choice. Its elegant design invites you to sit or recline, offering uninterrupted views of the ocean shimmering just beyond my property line. The included planters added a touch of romance, which I enhanced with whimsical Boho Wild Flowers and Butterflies from Enchanted Fantasy.
When it came to dining, the D-Lab Pergola and Pergola Table Set provided a fantastic foundation. Initially placed on the grass, I elevated the experience – quite literally – with the sophisticated Verve Patio from [FOURTH WALL]. This not only lent a more formal air but also created space for a separate serving table, a grill, and a welcoming pathway from the house. I got creative with this too and recoloured the patio to fit better with the look I was going with.
My reading sanctuary has been a work in progress, centred around Serenity Style’s Poppy Wooden Gazebo. This tucked-away nook has evolved over time, and the recent addition of the DaD “Take a Book, Share a Book” High Bookcase, a longtreasured item from my inventory, feels like the perfect finishing touch.
Finally, for those leisurely coffee moments, the Oh Deer & WetCat Spring Day Ruins became my central inspiration. To maximize the ocean vista during my morning brew (and perhaps a virtual pastry!), I raised this area as well. Embracing a floral theme, I’ve surrounded it with a riot of virtual blooms, creating a delightful garden oasis. The Zevy Bistro Set from CHEZ MOI was the perfect addition for this wee nook.
With the main zones established and decorated, the less glamorous but equally essential task of adding paths and fences began. While not my favourite activity – patience isn’t always my strongest virtue when the creative juices are flowing – the userfriendly options from Botanical made the process surprisingly smooth.
The final touches? My furry companions! As a dedicated cat lover, I adore how these virtual felines seem to naturally gravitate to the sun-drenched spots, adding a touch of life and charm to my outdoor scenes.
While a sparkling pool remains on my wishlist, space constraints have presented a challenge. Perhaps a petite plunge pool nestled amongst the trees is in my future – the hunt for the perfect fit continues!
In the meantime, I encourage you to step outside your virtual doors and start envisioning your own summer sanctuary. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination!
PHOTOS: ARYA BRAVEHEART
SIMURG, LUNAR VALLEY
DECOR STYLE CARD
BATTLESCARS - Assorted EEP windlights
Botanical - Vintage Porch Mailbox (Black), Wrought Iron and Brick Fence, Edged Brick Park Path
CHEZ MOI - Zevy Bistro Set, Pastry Set
DaD - “Take a Book, Share a Book” High Bookcase
D-LAB pergola, pergola table set
Dreamland Designs - Twisted Tree
[Dysfunctional Designs] - Twinkling Ivy
Enchanted Fantasy - Boho Wild Flowers and Butterflies
Fantasy Illumination - Falling Ivy
FINCA - Hedges, hanging pot ivy - green, hanging pot ivy - olive pink
[FOURTH WALL] - Verve Patio (Fundati) - Giant Ginsing Trees
Granola - Bellamy Outdoor Kitchen ~ Black Steel.
HIDEKI - Four Old Friends (Cats)
KAZZA - Chalet’tepian Plantpots: 4, 6, 11,12,14
Konoha - Fluffy Natoma Grass
LouChara - Delphine Arbor
Magnetic - Mandarin Tree
[Merak] - French Press Silver, Cola Crush Soda, Soho Plate Settings
Neighborly - Concrete Bird Bath
Nutmeg - Holiday Stories Coffee Cup, Country Porch
Oriana wasn’t a princess, but as the only daughter of Alaric, the wealthiest merchant in the Gorean city of Tasera, she was treated as such. No hall would not eagerly open its doors for her, no young man from a well-to-do family wouldn’t vie for her favors, no young woman wasn’t envious of her “luck.”
“Luck, my ass!” she used to retort whenever someone mentioned it. “Talent and hard work put me where I am now.”
And she was right, although not entirely honest. It had been her father’s talent and hard work that put her in the social standing she enjoyed, not hers. Nevertheless, life would provide her with an opportunity to prove her worth.
The messenger entered the palace in the middle of the night, and the racket he created woke her up. He was a cabin boy from one of her father’s ships and the bearer of devastating news: pirates from a rogue Gorean community had raided her father’s fleet on the high seas, diverting all three ships to Blackrock Isle— a name Oriana had never heard. There, the
cabin boy continued, her father was taken prisoner, and now the pirates demanded a veritable king’s ransom for his freedom.
“The council will do nothing,” she said bitterly, pacing the marble floor of her father’s office where she had summoned his advisor. “They will just wring their hands and send letters. That’s all.”
The advisor, trembling with caution and protocol, urged patience. “We must negotiate,” he said. “If we act rashly—”
“Rash is sitting idle while my father rots in chains,” she interrupted him. “This is no time for words, but for swords!”
Three nights later, a sleek clipper slipped out of Tasera under cover of darkness. Its crew: a dozen sellswords of dubious repute, a retired smuggler named Jarn who owed Alaric his life, and Oriana herself, cloaked in sea-leather and steel.
The Gorean pirates were known to dock in the jagged coves of Blackrock Isle. Treacherous waters and tighter alliances had long made the isle untouchable by law or kingdom. But Oriana had studied her father’s maps, listened to Jarn’s tales, and paid good coin for rumors. They sailed north.
It was the third week when they first sighted the Gorean ship, anchored near the isle, its crimson sails furled.
“They’ll have a garrison ashore,” Jarn said, peering through the spyglass. “And traps. Always traps.” Oriana didn’t flinch. “We go at night.”
They landed in silence. The cove’s rocky shore bit at their boots as they climbed. Above them, a torch-lit fortress loomed, weathered stone and rusted chains.
PHOTOS: COCO ST. GEORGE
The assault was swift and brutal. Jarn led them through a forgotten cave tunnel that opened behind the main keep. Steel met steel in the dark. Sellswords died. But Oriana pushed forward, heart thundering. In a damp chamber beneath the fortress, she found her father and brothers— bloodied, thinner, but alive.
“Oriana?” rasped her father, eyes wide with disbelief. “How did you—?”
“No time,” she said, cutting his bonds. “Can you walk?”
He could. Barely. She slung his arm over her shoulder and led them out as alarms began to sound.
The pirates rallied. Oriana’s blade flashed in the moonlight. She cut down one, then another. Jarn threw a torch into the powder stores. Flames roared. The fortress shook.
They fled to the ship as fire swallowed Blackrock’s keep.
Dawn rose red over the sea. Alaric, wrapped in a borrowed cloak, stood at the prow beside his daughter.
“You’ve changed,” he said, eyes misty. “You’re no longer the girl who brought me tea during council meetings.”
Oriana smiled. “You taught me to be bold, Father. I only finally listened.”
He laughed, weak but full of pride. “The council won’t believe this.”
“They don’t need to.” She looked out over the waves, wind in her hair. “Tasera will soon have a new council.”
The fruit of author John Norman’s imagination, who described an alternate word in a sprawling corpus of 38 books, Gor became one of the most prominent and detailed virtual role-playing environments in Second Life. Starting in the mid-2000s, users created entire Gorean sims that replicated cities, forests, and outposts from the books, often styled after ancient Mediterranean or medieval aesthetics. These regions operate under strict in-character rules, with players expected to adopt Gorean personas— most commonly roles such as warriors, Free Women, merchants, and kajirae (female slaves). Many sims even have local laws, caste obligations, and oaths
that align closely with the novels’ social structure.
The community places a strong emphasis on immersive role-play, and many sims require applicants to pass tests or interviews before being accepted. Participants adhere to a protocol-rich culture, especially regarding language, dress, and behavior. For instance, kajirae are often expected to speak in the third person and demonstrate specific kneeling or serving positions. Conflict between sims—such as raids or wars—is also common, blending storytelling with combat mechanics. While many users engage in Gor as fantasy role-play, others blur the line between virtual and real-life dynamics, sometimes leading to emotional entanglements or controversy. As with the broader Gorean subculture, the Second Life communities draw both fascination and criticism for their mix of eroticism, philosophy, and authoritarian fantasy.
But don’t let someone else tell you what to think about a role-playing culture that has drawn millions of fans all over the world, and come see for yourself. Or, if you need to find out more before committing your time to a visit, check out the website. Either way, you’re in for a great time.
Link to the website: https://sites.google.com/view/city-of-selnar/home SLurl to the City of Selna: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Island%20 of%20Cos/31/126/23
LIFE ON THE BLAKE SEA in Second Life
Beatrice VanDerVoort
Life on the Blake Sea offers a vibrant and immersive experience for virtual sailors, pilots, and water enthusiasts. This expansive, interconnected waterway was established through a pioneering public-private partnership between Linden Lab and resident sailing communities, most notably the United Sailing Sims (USS). Whether you’re spending quality time with a loved one, enjoying a family outing, or looking to make new friends, the Blake Sea has something for everyone— on land, on the water, and in the skies. The best area to start your Blake Sea adventure is Bingo Strait, which is between Nautilus and Santorori Islands. Along the Bingo Strait, you will find scattered vacation homes, marinas, yacht clubs, and airports.
Your Maritime Experience
You’ll need a boat and a place to rez it— but don’t worry, purchasing a boat doesn’t require a big investment. Several yacht clubs in the region offer free basic boats, but your best bet is to explore the many boat manufacturers across Second Life.
Boat shopping in Second Life is just like shopping for yourself: reputable boat sellers offer demos so you can try before you buy. Most manufacturers
provide 5–15-minute test rides, giving you the chance to find the right boat that suits your budget, lifestyle, and skill level.
If you’re near the northeast end of Bingo Strait, check out two major boat makers:
The Mesh Shop & Bandit (TMS) at Dutch Harbor SIM. This store features everything from skiffs, speedboats up to large scale sailboats
Rattletrap Shipyards on the neighboring Santa Barbara SIM. Rattletrap features more high-end boats that can even be used and resold.
Also, BBX offers a wide range of easy-to-sail boats and test drives. Though it’s not located directly on the Blake Sea, it’s worth the visit.
Starting Your New Adventure at Bingo Strait
Rezzing your boat into the Blake Sea is easy. Most first-timers boaters start at Half Hitch SIM, which features a convenient dock for rezzing your boat directly into the heart of Bingo Strait. Don’t stress about crashing (it happens to everyone). Just head to the northeast corner of any water SIM, where you will always find a rez zone marked on your radar. It is recommended when using your boat to leave your radar HUD open and do your best not to cross sims on the corners.
A New Home—Waterfront Style
Once you’ve boated around the waterways, you’ll start noticing all the gorgeous beach homes, yacht clubs, and marinas. You may start itching to find that new summer home or even an upgrade to your permanent one at one of the many rental locations. Although property for sale can be quite expensive, renting on the Blake Sea region can be quite affordable. There are many viable rental locations including marinas, yacht clubs, waterfront rentals, and even entire islands. Most rental companies do
PHOTOS: IVOCENO ROSSINI
have strict regulations when it comes to ban-lines, skyboxes, and decor to ensure that all citizens of Second Life can enjoy boating and flying without disruption.
A Chance to Meet Others, Learn, and Compete
The Blake Sea is home to many active yacht clubs. Joining one—or several—is usually free and gives you access to community events, boat slip rentals, and social activities. A top recommendation is the SL Sailing Association group— a central hub for sailing competitions, training classes, and casual cruises (group boating adventures across the region). From this group, you’ll get to know the many yacht clubs that sponsor events and find the perfect one to join.
Other popular activities on the Blake Sea include:
Flying - Throughout the Blake Sea are several airports that allow you to rez a plane and fly throughout all the mainlands.
Fishing competitions - Look for the [N-O] fishing rod on SL Marketplace. There are several groups that host fishing competitions and events.
Get the Freight Out (GTFO) – a popular logistics HUD game in SL where members haul freight via land, water, air, and rail. GTFO locations are scattered throughout all of the Mainland region, giving a person plenty of opportunity to explore.
Underwater Exploration - Look for Triton’s Reef Banc auxCocos Isle SIM for underwater exploration. You can swim underwater or use your underwater submersibles to enjoy the well-decorated underwater location.
Many residents spend years in Second Life without discovering the Blake Sea. I did—almost ten years—until someone invited me on a boat ride. From that moment, I knew I was hooked. This vast, interconnected playground offers something truly unique. Don’t miss out— dive into everything the Blake Sea region has to offer today!
COLOUR OF COUTURE ELEVATED BASICS
PHOTOS: REIGN CONGREJO
MODEL: DRESDEN COUERBLANC
MODEL: NIKKIE PLAID
MODEL: ZELLY ZADOQ
MODEL: ZULI MILAN
CREDITS FASHION STYLE
CARD
MONROCIE PONTECORVO
Belt | Aprelle - Scarlett Belt Brown (Reborn)
Face Overlay | Tres Beau - Naomi
Hair | Polished - Afro ponytail
Handbag | Luxe Couture - First Long Shearling Bag v2 Mauve
Photography is a passion . The camera is much more than a recording apparatus, it is a medium via which messages reach us from another world.
-Tempest Rosca Huntsman
INTERNATIONAL SPACEFLIGHT MUSEUM
Spaceport Alpha
le rêve des étoiles: the dream of stars
Igrew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Star Trek was not a television show, but a way of life. The Starfleet Trading Post, a precursor to many collector’s shops of comics, action figures, etc., was a particular treat to find all things Trek. So when I came to SL I began exploring space stations, space ships, other planets. I’ve walked on the Moon, ridden a space buggy on the surface of Mars. But I found a place where I could have it all.
The volunteer-run educational facility International Spaceflight Museum is a huge simulation here in Second Life. The manned space activity museum is located on the island sims Spaceport Alpha and Spaceport Bravo.
Spaceport Alpha, presenting the history of the Space Age, was opened in 2006 by current and past employees of the real world's NASA's Johnson Space Center, Boeing's space station program, Northrop Grumman Space Technology, the European Space Agency, the UK's National Physics Lab, and the aerospace museum at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Spaceport Bravo opened in 2007. It added detailed exhibits of the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module (LEM), the space shuttle, more kinds of rockets and a full-size version of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) – the world's third largest building by volume. The real original VAB was built by NASA to construct the mammoth Saturn 5 Moon rocket. The building is 604 feet (184 meters) tall and contains an interior volume of 4.79 million cubic yards (3.66 million cubic meters). .
Going to Spaceport Alpha/128/161/63 brings one to the one of the largest collections of digital representations of spacecraft in either the physical or virtual world. The Saturn V, shuttle, Starship, even Zond, the failed Soviet moon rocket. On the ground level are simulators of early spacecraft, particularly the Mercury capsule.
Visitors can also ride a Dragon Capsule, arriving at the ISS and a multi-teleport display of the entire solar system and providing interesting information on each other planets and their major moons.
Spaceport Alpha/87/48/571 brings us to Mercury, the moon-sized planet closest to the sun and has an orbital period of only 88 days.
Spaceport Alpha/166/48/591 brings us to, oddly enough, the hottest planet in the solar system: Venus. The second brightest object in the sky, Venus has a day longer than it’s day! It’s temperature at an average of 866 degrees, it is hot enough to melt lead and rains sulphuric acid.
If one wishes to avoid jumping between planets, one can always take the station ride and see the grand tour. Earth, a close flyby of the martian martian surface: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Jay Anson
PHOTOS: IVOCENO ROSSINI
Eventually one finds the galaxies found by the James Webb Telescope.
One of the things I love about SL is not only that we can be who we are, love who we wish, but that we get to experience the digital recreation of the world outside. We get to feel the ever increasing and evolving weight of human ingenuity.
Spaceport Alpha/113/116/948 made me think of granite still hot with the light of the sun, of campfires, and handheld Ham Radio conversations as range varied with an ionosphere shifting between day and night. It made me remember seeing what I could see in the turning night.