What a fun spot. This is perfect for date night. We went the other night. My friend Jak took me here last year it was a great deal of fun.
The Cyclone is a huge roller coaster. It can be found here. It is located in the SOHO New York sim. There are several attractions here including art galleries and a live music venue. But for me the main attraction is the roller coaster.
The Cyclone
The entrace to the start platform is at the east end of the roller coaster. There is room for 6 in each car. It was just us that night so we sat in the front.
leaving the station
The whole ride has some amazing climbs and descents.
Climbing up
and Tasty scaring the bejebus out of me on the descent.
He thinks he’s the king of the world LOL
The Ride makes a couple loops around and then brings you back to the start platform. You can pick up another car there and go again (i think we went 3x).
There is a nice diner beside the roller coaster.
The diner
and across the way is a replica of a famous Cony Island eatery.
Each year as part of its fundraising efforts BC/EFA sponsors a very entertaining Easter Bonnet Competition. It features songs and skits and some BRILLIANT Easter Bonnets. Since its inception in 1987 the Bonnet Competition has raised an astounding $58 million dollars.
For my friends in and around NYC this years competition will be at the Minskoff Theatre.
I was looking at some of the videos last night and came across performance by the cast of La Cage aux Folles in 2011. Its a touching performance and reminds us all that HIV/AIDS is still here and there is still a GREAT deal of work to be done to solve/cure it.
OK sit back and enjoy – this is the opening number from Broadway Bares 2014.
This is from the description on Youtube.
Broadway Bares: Rock Hard!, a luscious, modern-day mix tape of sensual sights and sounds featuring 170 of New York’s sexiest dancers, celebrated its move to a new home on Sunday, June 22, 2014 by raising $1,386,105 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
The opening number found Matthew Saldivar and Joey Taranto as dads escorting their preteen daughters to a One Direction concert. Longing for the rock concerts of their youth, the pair stepped into a dream world of hard rockers with ripped abs, voluptuous divas and randy roadies. The opening was written by Matthew Sklar and Amanda Green. Director Nick Kenkel, Paula Caselton and Sidney Erik Wright choreographed the number.
Honoring iconic music moments and songs from Elvis to Pink, Aerosmith to Prince, the 24th edition of burlesque extravaganza got a crowd of more than 5,000 people rocking, jumping and cheering for more during two performances at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom.
The 24 editions of Broadway Bares have now raised more than $12.6 million for Broadway Cares.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $250 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
Broadway Cares awards annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide and is the major supporter of the social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic.
The 25th edition of Broadway Bares will take place at the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom on Sunday June 21, 2015. Two shows, so to everyone in the Tri-state area get your tickets now. The show will be directed by Jerry Mitchell.
I had an interesting conversation today with a co-worker about hiding in plain sight. He and two others were hanging out sitting by a window ledge, pretending to look busy assuming if they looked busy no one would notice them. This led to the comment that they were hiding in plain sight.
I got to thinking about that notion. Hiding in plain sight is all about blending in. Going unnoticed being unobtrusive. I used to be one who is all for that. That changed when I hit a certain age and experience level. I will admit I have gotten outside the standard demographic that most shows, games, movies, etc try to target, 25-44. That is when I realized I have the right to express myself. I have experience, history, and knowledge. I am my own person and I have a viewpoint. I understand recent history. I know what Camelot means in reference to JFK. Hell for that matter I know who JFK was. I understand sacrifice and service to others.
I have conviction and character. I have empathy and caring. I do what I believe is right and fair and of benefit to a the most people. <Geek alert> I am a true believer in “The Needs of the Many outweigh the needs of the few.”
In this increasingly digital world, it is hard to hide in plain sight. I have chosen to make my avatar my public side at this point in time due to personal security issues. (I googled my avatar and my RL self once, my avatar is much more interesting – LOL) My avatar is the person I would be if I could on the visual side. The character of my avatar is the same as my RL. The biggest change I made with my avatar was to get an older skin and and hair and not pretend to be a 20 something.
There are a few people in SL who know my real name and how to contact me. These few people who know how to contact me also know and understand my personal security issues. But in general, I have been in SL for 8 years and prefer to keep my SL and RL separate as possible. I don’t completely hide behind my avatar. But in issues relating to Second Life I use this avatar and this blog as my voice.
But now to get back to the original premise Hiding in Plain Sight. The idea of hiding in plain sight in SL is an interesting idea. There are many ways to accomplish this, chief among them is to main a stable of alts. I can understand having an alt. I will admit that I have 4, three of them work in my store. Once is my banker. There has been a great deal of talk in the SL blogosphere about who is an alt, who isn’t an alt, and who uses alts to fuck people over.
Hiding behind an alt to do evil things is like hiding in plain sight. In my mind it is evil, shows no conviction and a great lack of character. Not taking ownership of vile, blatantly dishonest hateful vitriol shows lack of conviction and character. Playing on an alt to mess with someone shows a great lack of character. Hiding behind an alt to do evil while you pretend to show sympathy and understanding to someone just to gain their trust and to mess with them. DEFINITE lack of character.
I have been wanting to get this off my chest for some time. There its done and over.
Lisipark is a beautiful designed location with photographers and filmmakers in mind. It reminds me of a 50s southern California community with an occasional modern day object or two thrown in.
The landing point places you in the middle of the Hot Rod Diner. I beautiful 50s retro diner and drive in. I was expecting to see car-hops on roller skates.
Inside the Hot Rod DinerHot Rod Diner outside
Moving around the sim came across this adorable little house beside the road. It looks like a mechanic lives here
Roadside house
The Garage across the street
The roadside garage
A little further down the road is a gas station full serve, even an inexpensive lemonade stand out front.
Also found a cute little campsite.
This is a beautiful location – well worth the visit.
This is one of my classic favorites. It just exemplifies how i feel today. I have chosen my path and am happy with my decisions. There has been alot of discussion on the blogs I read lately about SL and the actions of some.
SL is my entertainment and distraction. I have fun with it.
You have made your choices, I might not agree with them. But I respect your decision to make them. I have made my choices, so please respect them.
Its all behind me now and it is time to move forward. Can’t spend Second Life or real life hiding behind perceived slights. Reliving them everyday.
There are so so many destinations of amazement, beauty and interest that one could never see them all. I am able to find some on my own, but often times I read the travel blogs of others and then go exploring, one person whom I follow is Inara Pey (newly named 2015 Avi Choice Award for Favorite Entertainment/Arts SL Blog or Website), not only is she a great story teller of her adventures, but she is an excellent photographer/chronicler of her travels. You can see her blog Living in a Modern World by clicking here.
This brings us to she did an amazing review of Leka – which can be found here. I had to go shoot some pictures.
The greenhouse
The first place I stopped on my walk around – you can walk some great country roads. Or take a bicycle from the landing point.
From here I went talking down the roadway and came across this amazing truck tucked up behind this tree. I bet there is an amazing story to go with it.
Next on the walk was this wonderful band stand. Looks like it could be a fun live music spot.
Then I headed for the beach. On the way I came across these two horses enjoying some grass.
Confessions of a Digital Daddy Bear 