During the last month, when Shelby Robbiani and I were shopping for Costa Rica Sim’s Halloween Ball, we stopped by Rustica to browse.  As it happens, Maxwell Graf is on her friend’s list, and halfway through our spree, she asked if I wanted to meet him.  Of course, I wasn’t going to miss such an opportunity, and within a few moments we were whisked away to a sim called Rune … and what appeared to be a mountain raceway.  Graf was more than happy to rezz a vehicle and give is a personal tour, and since I wasn’t so rude to take pictures that evening … I went back today to snap a few pics of what promises to be the next step in gaming within virtual worlds.

When it comes to vehicle-based gaming in SL, we think of slow-moving vehicles ambling jerkily along predestined tracks, with visible rezz-balls, etc.  Or … “bring-your-own-vehicle” race tracks where one comes to try out the max speed on that thousand prim single-server-powered vehicle you have to wear.  Alpine Deathrace 2000 isn’t about a fancy vehicle, or Coney Island-style amusements … it’s about the game, and the obvious influence on the vehicle and landscape is … well, what it should be … video games.

A simple set of instructions and a rezzing pad get you started (his low prim/low lag vehicles … not yours).  Hopping on, you immediately notice the ease of vehicle maneuvering … this thing was built to turn on a dime, something that’s an immediate obvious need around the corner.

Leaving the starting area, you cross a bridge … and at the smallest suggestion of an incline, you realize this isn’t going to be as easy as you might have imagined.  This vehicle has “physical” elements, which means it isn’t going to sit where you stop … it will obey our virtual world’s physics, and rest only at the lowest possible point.

(More Deathrace … at the JUMP)

So, to get over the bridge … over the hills and steep inclines in the game, you need something that isn’t frequently used in Second Life … momentum!  With 3 speeds, you quickly learn you can’t successfully navigate this terrain at a snail’s pace … you need to be moving … constantly!

After getting a rudimentary grasp of the physics, Maxwell doesn’t allow much time to exploit your newly acquired learning curve … suddenly, you have to dodge moving targets … targets that are coming after you!  … be they grizzlies (pictured) or lumberjacks with chainsaws.

The terrain isn’t that friendly either … very steep inclines and tight turns will keep you on the edge of your cushioned seat on that side of your PC as you try to master Graf’s game.  And … if you think it’s something you’re going to conquer in one or two turns … think again.  Maxwell Graf IS smarter than YOU are!

I’m not naturally drawn to speed games, so one trip around the track under my own power had me running to higher ground to escape the grizzlies!  However, Maxwell’s Alpine Death Race 2000 is an adrenaline-rushing experience … more so than any other Second Life adventure.  Low-lag and a vehicle meant to maneuver make it a masterpiece of ingenuity from the brain that furnished the goth/medieval/cyberpunk houses of Second Life!

But, don’t take my word for it … check it out yourself!  And tell him Phantom sent ya!

Some of the most fashionable women live in the Costa Rica sims. It’s like a mecca of the rich and beautiful—no luxury is spared; no beautiful thing missed.

Therefore it was entirely appropriate that Zalyn Bailey, designer for VoguE, would bring her beautiful work to La Fortuna 1 on the Costa Rica sims. With her offering of both beautiful evening gowns with more casual fare, Zalyn’s store is for those who want to indulge in the finer things in life.

This sexy, slit-up-the-leg gown from Zaryn is typical of her style. She is not afraid of adornment or the combination of materials. Her textures reflect her boldness with their sequins lying over silk, the airiness of the scarf, the silkiness of the skirt. She attends to every detail, making the system pieces work with the prims, even texturing the edges of the flounced prims with a sparkly silver. (I am a bugaboo about prim edges.. so many designers miss that!)

I styled this up with a sexy skin from Lorac Farella, a tousled style from Aden Breyer that reflects the sleekness of the main silhouette of the dress, and some almost over-the-top skyhigh heels from BG Planer (with delicious little toes that I painted red, of course).

Red is the color of passion (and fashion):

Hair: Tori (Black) by Aden Breyer for Aden

Skin: Pulse Skin – Climax/Valeries T2 Venetian Red BLK by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins*

Dress: *VoguE* Tiffany Gown ~ Scarlet by Zalyn Bailey for *VoguE* in Costa Rica*

Shoes: B&G WOMAN SHOE SELENA – ROJO – T000 by BG Planer for B&G Enterprises

There’s only thing worse than two ladies wearing the same dress to the ball … and thankfully, with over 100 guests throughout the evening, we did managed to avoid that during Saturday night’s Costa Rica Sims Ladies’ Society’s “Phantom of the Opera – A Halloween Masquerade Ball.”

The absolute WORST thing you can do is take one lady’s photo … then attribute it to someone else.  Shortly after I had uploaded the post to the PR and CRS website, our estate webmistress, DzinWiz Babii, sent me an IM telling me that the glorious outfit I had attributed to her … well … wasn’t her.

I was still really busy finishing up things related to the party, and so I said I’d change it later … until later that evening, when Ms. Gloria Marchant commented on the blog that SHE was the mysterious mislabelled fine lady in mauve.

So, to both, I offer my humble apologies!  You were both extremely lovely Saturday evening, and my only regret now is that I didn’t get a full photo of Dzin (she is slightly behind Gloria to the right – hence my name-bubble confusion).   I couldn’t amend the old photo (I hadn’t saved the layered version after building it – BAD BLOGGER!), so I thought the absolute best thing would be to feature Ms. Merchant in her own posting … and here it is.

What do a bleeding skull, a crashing chandelier, and an enormous pipe organ represent? … A great excuse for a party!

Last evening, the Costa Rica Ladies’ Society hosted “Phantom of the Opera – A Halloween Masquerade Ball,” which turned out to be the most successful party on the entire Costa Rica Sims estate so far this year.  At one point, nearly 86 people were partying on the sim at one time.

Guests ported into the main entrance of their normally formal opera house … now filled with mist, creepy trees, and a reminder to dim the lights on their viewer.  And, the only way in was to follow bloody footprints into the lobby of the auditorium.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by crooner Clairede Dirval who sang the blues, some pop and alternative classics while strumming her guitar.  By the second hour, we were moshing to the heavy beats of DJ Azu Catteneo … well, almost … our thick layered costumes prevented much crashing into each other!

As mentioned, the crowds were enormous for an SL party.  We were afraid at one point the Sim might crash … and although many of us did (I did more than once), it wasn’t too terrible getting back inside the party that never stopped.

(For more coverage, and to find out who attending … take the jump!)

Many familiar faces were in attendance … not only residents, staff and friends, but a few well known faces from around Second Life.  Our own Miss Costa Rica Sims, Nisa Constantine, not only graced our presence, but won the Best Female Costume contest we had that evening!  We were also pleasantly surprised when the LeLutka team – Minnu, Thora, and Aradia – popped in adorned in very elegant and contemporary gowns.  Elijah Betsen won the Best Men’s Costume contest.

Because of the lag, I wasn’t able to catch everyone’s names, but I was able to snap quite a few awesome pictures of the revellers who partied.  If I didn’t put a name down on some of the following pictures … please forgive me.  One photo I couldn’t catch was our own Rawly Rousselot who came as the Invisible Man … his clothes never rezzed fully on my viewer, but if you missed him, you might be able to SMELL him … he said he had worn the same outfit ALL week long! (Buh-DUM!)

The party continued until the Azu piped the awesome finale … a dance mix of the “Phantom of the Opera” theme … which had everyone typing cheers into local chat when the familiar organ music crescendoed out of the speakers.  By the time the song had finished … on cue … the massive chandelier just behind Azu CRASHED to the dance floor!

On behalf of the Costa Rica Sims Ladies’ Society and the Executive Team of the Costa Rica Sims, I’d like to thank everyone that turned out for our two hour extravaganza.  We’d also like to thank our sponsors … House of RFyre, Angels, and Hodgie & Hodgey’s Nature Stand … for their house and contest gifts.  This blog also participated as a sponsor.

I would also like to take the opportunity – personally – to thank Shelby Robbiani, Giancarlo Takacs, and the Ladies Society for allowing me the opportunity to participate in the planning and decorating of the party.  It was a great time … from start to chandelier crash!  I just hope I don’t have to go back now … and clean up all that glass!

Happy Halloween one and all!  I’m a huge huge huge Halloween fan.  While I was out and about this morning I realized some people were still scurrying about for a costume for the many parties that are going on about the grid.  So here I am to show off what some of us here at Phantom’s Republic are wearing this weekend.

This first pic is of none other than the fabulously talented Phantom.  Phan is dressed for the Costa Rica event.  He’s wearing a fabulously baroque outfit from Gentleman House.  The shoes also were purchased there.  The hair is from Sky Everett Designs and the mask is from Illusions.

Harper chose to be a mummy for this shoot.  Yes I swear that is our ever glamorous Harper under all that.  This mummy is really well done and from hO wEAr.  The straps are flexi and the eyes creeped me out a bit.  I suggested she wear that to hair fair next year as the ARC was fantastically low.

My boyfriend and I usually do a couples costume.  We think it makes the holiday a bit more fun but also a bit more challenging in find something we agree on and that both costumes are quality.  This year after much consideration we chose Alice in Wonderland.  My Alice outfit is from Edelweiss it includes the tights.  The shoes I dyed to match are from HOC and the hair is a usual for me from Armidi.  The Mad Hatter outfit Charlz is wearing came from Mire.  It is really lovely and came with the hair and all seen (as you can see he’s shoeless so you’ll need to buy some if you want to wear any).  I gave him a lovely pair  Jeepers Creepers that worked really well.

Lastly, the fun props and background is a freebie from iTutu.  It doesn’t have any poses in it….but as you can see it makes for fantastic photos.

Happy Halloween everyone!

-Fi

Everyone at Costa Rice is excited about the Masquerade Ball for Halloween this weekend. Beautiful women and handsome gentlemen will crowd the floor, skirts swishing, high intrigue taking place in the corners, glances darted across the room, tittering going on behind fans.

I was thrilled to be invited and even more thrilled when I found out Raven Pennyfeather of RFyre was making ball gowns that would be coming out just the weekend before. She has opened a store at La Fortuna 1 in time for your ball gown shopping where she is selling these gowns in their Deluxe version, lady’s suits and gentlemen’s suits with the same lushly brocaded motif.

Raven’s dresses are sumptuous, made of the most beautiful brocades, shaded subtly with the turns of the skirts, festooned with lace cravats and lace decorating the décolletage. The bodice is drawn with an elaborate lacing and curves around the torso with a pleasurable cinch. Available in Black Rose, Black Seas or Black Baroque, the gowns provide a multiplicity of luxury for the most refined lady or Viscountess.

As with most of Raven’s pieces, she gives you a choice of variations. For the Deluxe set, you can choose between three jackets—closed, open with long sleeves or a vest with prim cuffs. You also get a shirt layer with vest or white top, two pairs of pants–patterned with brocade or plain, two collars—with and without the lace cravat, and a hoop skirt over a translucent underskirt. And if you have ever worn a gown from Raven, the prims float beautifully as you are dancing. No ballgowns compare.

She also offers a Basic set which has a more contemporary silhouette. With the same tops, she has paired a short jacket skirt worn over pants tied with a silken sash. I can see this suiting the female partner of a lady, providing a contrast between the large ballgown and the tailored jacket without taking away femininity from either.

Both versions are available at the new store in Costa Rica with the addition of men’s suits to match. And all of Raven’s items are transferable—buy your date the matching ensemble and surprise him or her.

I styled this outfit with a luxurious hair from Kavar Cleanslate. With its full updone hair and perfectly placed curls cascading down to frame the face, it’s an ideal choice for such a ball—romantic but easily undone after the ball, when it needs to be. Lorac Farella’s delicately pale Victoriana skin suited the dress and the season with its hauntingly drawn eyes and lips.

“Society is a masked ball, where every one hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hair: Exile Emmanuelle Black by Kavar Cleanslate for Exile

Skin: Pulse Skin-Valeries T: Victoriana/Twist by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins*

Gowns: ! RFyre Viscountess Black Baroque Deluxe by Raven Pennyfeather for RFyre at Costa Rica or House of RFyre*

! RFyre Viscountess Black Rose by Raven Pennyfeather for RFyre at Costa Rica or House of RFyre*

! RFyre Viscountess Black Seas  Deluxe by Raven Pennyfeather for RFyre at Costa Rica or House of RFyre*

Suit: ! RFyre Viscountess Black Baroque Basic (also available in Black Rose and Black Seas) by Raven Pennyfeather for RFyre at Costa Rica or House of RFyre*

Boots: Bax Prestige Boots by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Designs*

First off, hello! I’m sure a brief introduction is the correct etiquette for anyone’s first post; so basically I’m Jenniferr and have been styling for 3 years on SL and Real Life (being a photographer I have taken part in a lot of style shoots). I have a range of styles and I hope you can connect with some of them! Oh yes, I’m an elf. Is that sufficient?

Okay, onto today’s style.

Autumn is here *seasons greetings*, the clocks have been put back an hour, leaves have turned a brilliant amber colour and it’s getting pretty chilly outside. For the latter reason I have created this ultimate ’snuggly’ outfit.

The focal point of this outfit is definitely the oversized jumper; it comes in a spectrum of colours which are perfect if you wanted to customize your look. It also includes an undershirt which serves for extra warmth and gives the outfit a great layered effect.

The skins from the recently released LeLutka Eclat range are subject to different views; personally I find nothing wrong with the new skins, I believe they got the tones perfect and the eyebrows are an ideal thickness (though there was a lot of controversy around this point); all in all, good job Lelutka team!

The shoes are an absolute gem and go with most styles, AND they were a freebie!

(P.S) Lamb has done it again. This hair, Say, is one of her new releases and I have to say, I’m flabbergasted.

Details:

Skin; [LeLutka]-EclatPale-makeup5(DARK BROWS)freckles

Hair; !lamb. Say – Kit Kat

Jumper; *COCO*_FrillyBlouse&Sweater_Blue

Shorts; [LeLutka]-HEIDI pants/steelblue

Shoes; TESLA – ‘Elise2′ Mary Jane Heels (FREE)

Socks; .: Naive :. Ankle Socks (White)

Have a good day!

Song of the day: “Skinny Love- Bon Iver”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssdgFoHLwnk

(oh yeah- my posts come with a free tune, happy listening!) <3

High noon in Second Life was a great time of day for the townsfolk to gather in the square to see the new Sheriff ride in.  The Square: the Fashion Venue of the Costa Rica Sims.  The town crier: Clyde Saunders of Costa Rica Sims Productions.  The Posse: Models Florentine Rau, Wipster Baxter, Donald Feld, TraLove Pinazzo, and Hollee Zhora.  The new Sheriff?  Fashion Designer Extraordinaire … Nardya Rousselot, with a piping red-hot branding iron that lets everyone in town know which ranch she started …

…Nardcotix…

The show started off with the lovely Florentine Rau wearing Nardcotix‘ Frank’s Jazz in Crimson, a lovely strapless gown gilded with deep black patterns against deep red, with an explosion of fabric over the thighs and legs.

Next, Wipster Baxter wore Madeline in Blue, a fun slightly oversized dress that gives contemporary textures to a retro feel.

Donald Feld came out in Nardya’s new men’s line, wearing a Neron Striped Shirt in Purple, over her 641 Denim Jeans.

(Click HERE for more Nardcotix outfits … plus the interview!)

TraLove Pinazzo wears the gown first featured in the Miss Costa Rica Sims Pagaent, the Costa gown in Jade.

Hollee Zhora truly shines in this new wedding gown from Nardcodix, the Miguelina Wedding Dress.

Florentine Rau is a knock-out in this 60’s era outfit seemingly from Mary Tyler Moore’s closet … the Nardya Noir No. 18.  What an awesome ensemble!

Wipster Baxter keeps the new “oldies” going with Nardya’s Noir No. 8, a nice gown that invokes the spirit of the 20’s and 30’s.

Donald shows off more of Nardcotix awesome new men’s line: Marcio Leather Jacket in Light Brown, and 641 denim jeans in Brown.

TraLove struts her stuff in Nardya’s Noir No. 1, an outfit that instantly reminded me of Angelina Jolie’s character in Changeling.  You can almost hear her screaming at the LA police officer!

Hollee gets saucy in Nardya’s Noir No. 7 … reminiscent of what the 40’s Rosie Riveter might have looked like after she cleaned up and hit the weekend’s nightlife.

You never go wrong with a black dress, and Florentine works it out in Nardya’s Noir No. 3 … bringing a retro feel to a timeless classic.

Wipster brings an uptown aire to this classic, Nardya’s Noir No. 13 … proving that beauty can lay even in the most unluckiest of numbers!

Donald shows his last number … in Neron Plaid in Azul, and his 641’s in a washed out blue.

TraLove blasts into the stratosphere with this lovely white gown, Nardya Noir No. 14.  Talk about Cloud Nine!

Hollee finishes the set in Nardya Noir No. 16 … a cute tomboyish outfit easily seen on a young Kate Hepburn or Grace Kelly.

Once the show was finished, the models came out for an encore and applause.  It was a really great show, and as they left the stage, the party moved to the other side of the building for an afterparty DJ’d by none other than Costa Rica’s #1 tunester, Azu Catteneo.

During the party, I got a chance to talk with Nardya … about her work, and what’s coming up next with Nardcotix:

PR: How long has your brand, Nardcotix, been doing business in SL?
NR: Officially, it was in January of this year.

PR: Wow!  Quite awesome to have such an awesome collection and brand awareness in such a short time.  What is your secret?
NR: Secret? I didn’t know I have one, hmmm… thinks…. I guess it could be that I enjoy making SL fashion with the best quality I can offer.  Like, if I would not buy it myself, i don’t release anything.

PR: It’s great to have merchants in SL that try to envision their products through the customer’s eyes.  Do you have a background in graphic arts or merchandising?
NR: I am a graphic designer and 3D media artist in RL.  One of my main specialties is the creation of 3D models and textures (which is currently my RL job) whether it be wood, metal, plastic, glass you name it, that is my job

PR: What’s next for your Nardcotix line?
NR: A gothic Haute line for both men and women, currently on the works and planned for release the 31st, and women’s shoes … and accessories!

PR: What words of wisdom do you have for up-and-coming content creators/entrepreneurs for SL and other virtual worlds?
NR: Good question… hmmm… a passion and patience are essential for the craft.  I consider this an art of itself, so you need to allow yourself to grow as an artist as well as your craft, sooner or later it will start speaking for itself!

PR: Thank you so much for your time, Nardya.  It was a beautiful show, and you have a spectacular selection!
NR: Thank you kindly, Phantom!  It is a pleasure

*   *   *

Click HERE to visit Nardcotix at the Costa Rica Sims.  To book Costa Rica Sims’ Fashion venue for your next fashion event, contact Giancarlo Takacs in-world about the benefits of being a member of CRS’ Commercial District!

God knows there are enough blogs about freebies and whatnot around, which I totally love and admire but do not intend on being a regular column here.  But last night while I was exploring I ran across a sim I hadn’t heard of before with a plethora or freebies and cheapies of really excellent quality or just downright hilarious.  So because I love fun stuff so much…I really needed to share this place with all of you.

First up is this bicycle.  It’s a wearable with an AO.  As you walk or run it pedals along with you.  Additionally, if you turn left or right it makes the arm signals for the turn.  Lastly, if you jump it does a lovely wheelie.  Pretty fab for free.  I rode it all around the lovely sim as it’s got a great path all over just perfect for cycling.  OH….keynote it’s modifiable…meaning you can trick out out bike anyway you see fit.  YAY!

Next is a cheapy I got and I totally love it….the sketch pad.  It too is a wearable including the chair so now as you sit and wait at some lucky chair no rezz place you can don this cute wearable and look like you are drawing.  The sketch pad itself you can add your own textures to and it’s a click changer to cycle through the pictures inside.  Great accessory for photos as well.

This next one is also a cheapy in both prims and price.  This lovely little bench is 4 prims, 10L, seats two, and has 11 animations for each sitter.  That is a bargain not to be passed up.  OH…did I mention it’s copy and mod?  Well it is.  There are a few other pieces of furniture here as well….a small round table and chair, a soft, some beanbags, and deck chairs and similar such things….all with a lot of sits and copy/mod.

Read more after this cut….. So what other great goodies await you here you ask?  How about a fantastic copybot? No no no….not that kind of copy bot.

This should really be titled copy butt.  LOL.  This is probably the only way you’d all see my bottom (unless of course you use that horrible new emerald feature to derender my prims).   *Note to all the ladies….ensure you wear a clothing layer under your prim clothes.  Anyway, I digress this lovely copier is a must add to your office setting.  Once you sit on it the lid opens and out pops copies of a butt on temp prims.  It’s too funny!

Next up….how about a functional umbrella?  This lovely little wearable opens and closes and has the appropriate corresponding animation.  For only 10L you get a ton of different colors and like all the other stuff I blogged thus far it is copy and mod so if you are crafty you can put your own design on it and have a one of a kind.  Rain effects not included but are a freebie on xstreet.

Lastly I think I’ll detail out this fun dog house.  Not only is it a great house for fido, it’s got some cool animations for you to play with your pup or if you’ve been bad you can spend some time there as well. For 10L you get a copy/mod doggie domicile and the base with the animations comes separately in case you have one you already love.  Far too funny really.  Don’t be laughing at my dog Allie McBeagle….she’s not a skeleton she’s just skinny.

OK….so the other things like the ducky boat, dual hot air balloon, textures, sounds, soccer ball and hud, edibles, books, and other funniness I’ll leave you to find for yourselves.  Here’s your links:  Main Pile of Loot and Bicycle.  The rest you’ll need to walk about the sim a bit to find.  No it’s not a hunt, everything is wildly easy to find.  Make sure to hit the tip jars and show a bit of reciprocal love. 

-Funtimes Fi

Nardya Rousselot is one of the hottest new designers in SL. With a store in La Fortuna 1, Nardya offers to Costa Ricans unparalleled elegance with her evening and day wear.

Take, for example, this gorgeous dress from Nardya. With its lace, off-the-shoulder bodice with rouched textures, its slim, three attachment skirt, and its sexy undergarments, it’s quite a value. You can get several looks out of one folder.

Nardya includes two shorter skirts with the dress for a different look. And she has some sexy lingerie inside (including a baby doll top I don’t show in the photos).

Who would not feel beautiful knowing she is dressed so sexily underneath?

I dressed this up with a beautiful skin from Lorac Farella and cleavage enhancing jewelry from Alienbear Gupte. The flowers she has made for the pendant and earrings are exquisite. Sky Everett’s hair–what can I say? It’s the fantasy of everyone woman in SL to have hair like this. This style makes a romantic outfit complete.

Costa Rica Sims Productions will be hosting a fashion show for Nardcotix on Saturday, October 24, at 12 noon at with an after-party with DJ Azu. Come see more of Nardya’s beautiful work then.

“Red is the ultimate cure for sadness.” ~ Bill Blass

Hair: Sky Everett Designs-Kiera hair black W/bangs/WO/lights by Sky Everett for Sky Everett Designs*

Skin: Pulse Skin – Altonia-Far Away by Lorac Farella for Pulse Skins*

Dress: NX Nardya Noir No.7 Ruby by Nardya Rousselot for Nardcotix at La Fortuna 1, Costa Rica

Jewelry: Alienbear Design (Kielo Set white) by Alienbear Gupta for Alienbear Design

Shoes: Elise Black Varnish Stilettos by INSOLENCE by camilla Yosuke for Insolence