New look for the coffee shop

I recently redesigned the coffee shop in Mill Pond and no matter how many times I've built something, or rebuilt something, I never cease to be amazed at the comments that come rolling in.

I heard that some people were upset that there wasn't more 'couples' seating, and that some people didn't care for the poses on the sofas that were there. They said it was difficult to drink tea lying down and they'd appreciate other poses. So, because I was bored and ready to do some building anyway, I changed things around a bit, added new furniture, extended the outdoor area, provided additional seating, etc. One of the first things I heard was from someone coming and saying they hated the furniture because the seating "wasn't very dignified".

.....

Seems you can't please everyone all the time, and some people don't seem to really 'get' what I'm trying to do here. People always want more seating, but there's kind of a fine line between 'cozy coffee shop' and convention center.

-Micala

Open Latte on Lane's List

I had a friendly IM from Nazz Lane tonight in Second Life to let me know that he'd recently done a blog post about coffee houses in Second Life and mentioned Open Latte in my sim of Mill Pond.

I read his article and was pleasantly surprised to find that not only did Nazz list Open Latte as his #1 spot for coffee in SL, but the photograph leading the article is of the back patio of Open Latte as well. It's always nice to feel that you've built a place that other people truly enjoy.

That's really why I'm in SL at all. There's not much better than seeing other people enjoy something that you've created from your heart.

Thanks Nazz.. and thanks to all of you that enjoy Open Latte.

-Micala

poem from a friend..

The lovely, elfish, feline, whatever mood she's in today... Jennifer Mahoney was so excited that our poetry readings have returned to the bookshop in Mill Pond that she gave me this little parody of a poem she'd written. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.


Micala's Isle

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
a tale of a beautiful sim.
That started with a waterwheel,
according to her whim.

Her mate was a vinyl playin' man,
with slippers bold and pink.
Five avatars stopped by that day,
for a concert and a drink;
... A concert and a drink.

Micala's creativity set in,
the tiny sim was razed.
If not for the courage of her fearless peeps,
The residents would be dazed;
The residents would be dazed....

The sim took shape a second time,
An uncharted musical isle,
with Mi-ca-la,
And Reginald,
Lach-lan and Marissa,
with Grace Mac,
DrFran and Kristauf too --
Here on Mi-ca-la's Isle.

... And at the end of the episode...

So this is the tale of our residents,
to whom we must explain --
They'll have to make the best of things,
when'er she starts again.

Her first mate and the artist too,
will dance inside a cage
to keep the others entertained
until she takes the stage.

No excuses, no elves, no umbrellas,
but a pyramid on air.
That first step is a LONG way down,
even if you're in a chair.

So join us here each week my friend,
you'll be sure to get a song.
From Gracie or Micala --
You just can't go wrong;
You - just - can't - go - wrong.

- Jennifer Mahoney

folk fest time

Starting at 6PM EST today - The Mill Pond Folk Festival.

It'll be on the sims of Mill Pond and Stone Hill in Second Life with (I think) close to a blajillion trillion musicians and artists. Check it out, but if you're not currently living your life with an avatar's name, you can also listen to the music streams outside of Second Life. Refer to the above website for streaming URLs.

new mill pond site

Mill Pond and Stone Hill now have a lovely new community site created by James Bringholf where we'll be posting news and exciting happenings in our little area of Second Life. Stop by and check it out.

Thanks, James! :)

it's gettin' hot in here...

It's not, actually. It's QUITE chilly indeed at Mill Pond right now. We've transformed the whole sim into a veritable winter wonderland of magic for the holiday season and it's shaping up to be a very enjoyable time.



We've got ice skating, an igloo, a gingerbread house, snowpeople, sleds, blizzard machines.. you name it. It's a blast. I've uploaded some photos to flickr so check those out.

My best friend Grace recently posted about the NBC tree lighting event in Second Life and I'm going to have to agree with her on her post. I must say that when I arrived in the NBC 17 sim, I was really impressed with how realistic it was. The texture work was really very good and they captured the 'feel' of the area fairly well. There were free gifts around in cute boxes under the trees (scarves, hats, mittens) and they had the ice skating rink just like Rockefeller Center does. It was all very 'pretty', but it was lacking.

What was lacking? The energy and excitement that you'd feel at the real event. It was very mundane, and dull. You could walk around or ice skate, but that was it. No shopping, no doing anything else really except chatting with folks who were as bored as you were waiting for it to happen. And truly, when the tree was lit? I was awfully 'eh' about it. Plus as Grace mentioned, we were being shot into the air by a griefer that was apparently even more bored than we were.

Yes, it was realistic as far as the textures and 'feel' of the area.. but where was the love? Where was the excitement and energy? Where were the crowds of people huddled close together to keep warm. Where were the puffs of icy breath from people's mouths as they stood waiting for that magical moment when the huge tree would come to life? It wasn't there.

I think that some events translate beautifully into this world, but after attending the tree lighting event.. I also think that some are better left in the 'real' world.