Virtual Neko in Second Life

A Whole New Atomic Kitty!

•September 2, 2008 • 4 Comments

If you’ve never visited Atomic Kitty before, you’re going to want to stop by the new store ASAP. If you’re an old fan, but it’s been a while? Better come runnin too. Atomic owners Ivy Graves and Maschinen Schwartzman did an absolutely stunning remodel to the store (I’m especially in love with all the Cheshire cat elements) and then packed the place to the roof with completely new and redesigned Neko goodies.

Says Ivy: “Everything in the store is new, EVERYTHING! There are only a few old products left, and the hair is back!”

I’ve been wearing Atomic’s Neko ears and tails since my first day of kittenhood, so I was delighted to see all the changes made in this area — expanded tail colors, shapes, sizes, and each set now comes with an (elegantly designed) HUD to quickly convey your ever-changing Neko emotions.

Wander further into the store and you’ll find everything from adorable Neko furniture and cute stuffed mousie toys to bite on, to great accessory belts, scripted bell-ringing collars, necklaces, hats, and quite possibly the best gas mask I’ve ever seen. Around the corner are some luscious sculpty shoes, and beautifully textured clothes (I snapped up a fatpack of the yummy Dolly Stockings).

But wait, there’s more! How about some luminous Neko eyes (I’m currently wearing the green), gorgeous tattoos, and amazingly meticulous skins? (This long-time RaC / Laqroki skin fan couldn’t drag her eyes away from the detailing on “Hope Emo Sad”).

Neko friends? Hasten thy paws to this store, pronto.

Ivy and Maschinen? PURRRRRRR…

The lovely Ivy Graves, owner and designer of Atomic Kitty

Check out a different kind of Maschinen’s design skills here…

=^..^=

Posted in Explore, Fashion, Neko How To, People
Tags: atomic, cat, ears, eyes, Fashion, kitties, kitty, neko, nekos, second life, secondlife, skin, skins, SL, tail, tails

50% off Neko Goodies at HLD

•August 28, 2008 • Leave a Comment

All sorts of Neko goodies await you at the HLD / Howard Lindley Designs Main store in McDonnell — and every one of them is currently 50% off until Monday September 1. There are cute little shoulder pets ($35L), metallic paw boots ($99L) as well as full metallic “skeleton” sets, and all sorts of amusing backpacks against the back wall, from large hatching chicken eggs, and pandas on bamboo, to the “Hellion” green alien captured in a backpack ($75-85L). Howard’s marked down the entire store in order to make way for a whole new line of accessories coming next week. Check it out, the prices are certainly right!

Teleport to the HLD Mainstore:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/McDonnell/117/118/501

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Posted in Fashion, People
Tags: backpacks, boots, Fashion, HLD, Howard Lindley, neko, nekoism, nekos, sale, second life, secondlife, SL

My Long Lost Dragon Cousin

•August 28, 2008 • 6 Comments

I still remember the sense of awe and magic I felt the first time I arrived at the Isle of Wyrms. Standing amidst these incredibly majestic dragons was enough to make even the most nonchalant Neko pause with respect. Was it merely the luck of my nine lives when I returned for a visit recently, only to arrive right next to a Bast Dragon? I think not…

I’m guessing most of you Nekos had no idea there was a “cat-inspired” dragon avatar in Second Life. They even have their very own Temple on the Isle of Wyrms! As described on the Encyclopedia Draconica, the Bast Dragon is feline in appearance, with fluid movements and intelligent eyes.

Looking up at this beautiful creature, I could tell she was a kindred spirit, despite her soaring wings. Her whiskers moved gently as she bent her large cat-like head down towards me in a friendly greeting. Forearms and ears were bedecked with lovely accessories. As she led me into the Cathedral for a tour, I was entranced by her graceful, cat-like walk.

Her name was Steale Denja, and as it turned out, being a Bast Dragon was not the first time she’d been drawn towards all things cat. “My other avatar is a leopard, so I guess I was kind of led to the Cat thing.” (hmm, future Neko, perhaps???)

Although the Isle of Wyrms’ Cathedral is even more grand today than it was when I first visited (note the stunningly beautiful ceiling in the photo at the top of this post), one thing has not changed: the warm welcome extended to all who arrive… be they hatchlings, wyrmlings, wyrms, wyverns, humans, or even curious little Nekos like me.

As the sun began to set behind the hills, Steale wanted to make sure I mentioned how wonderful all the people who help run the Isle of Wyrms are, not the least of whom is Daryth Kennedy, the creator of these gorgeous dragon avatars and leader of the community.

I bid my new dragon friend adieu, and continued my exploration of the surrounding lands, drawn up into the snow country by strange, rhythmic smoke rings. Luckily for me, this giant ice dragon was a deep sleeper. And a lovely backdrop to my “Encroached” outfit from Bare Rose…

What I Wore While Exploring the Isle of Wyrms:

The flexi “Hersheys Chocolate” wrapper stuck to the bottom of these boots always makes me giggle, as do my two lovely mousie armband friends. (Collar comes with the outfit from Bare Rose).

Where to Find My Outfit:

Learn More about the Isle of Wyrms:
http://www.sltriptips.com/Cathedreal_Dragons

Visit the Isle of Wyrms:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cathedral/120/154/32/

Visit the Temple of Bast (the Egyptian Cat Goddess) at the Isle of Wyrms:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lyre/56/64/79

Dragon photos by Stacia; landscape and fashion photos by Bobby Yoshikawa <3***

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2008
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Casual, Explore, Fashion, Neko How To, People, Urban / Grunge
Tags: daryth kennedy, dragon, dragons, Explore, Fashion, hatchling, hatchlings, isle of wyrms, neko, nekoism, nekos, People, second life, secondlife, SL, wyrm, wyrmling, wyrmlings, wyrms, wyvern, wyverns

Chance Encounters

•August 25, 2008 • 3 Comments

There really are no coincidences in life. Think about how you met the people who became dear to your heart in Second Life. Perhaps it was a very special photo that a stranger gave you by surprise. Or maybe a guy dropped down onto your bar one night while you were working. Like me, I’m sure you’ve found that each “chance encounter” now seems, in looking back on it, a very special set of circumstances that brought you together… whether in RL or SL.

Something similarly heart-warming happened this morning, and because of it, I wanted to make a special post just to say thank you to each and every one of you wonderful Nekos, furries, humans, and residents of Second Life who read this blog.

I truly appreciate you. I’m not just saying this. I don’t have a store, so I don’t do this for promotional reasons. I don’t solicit designers for freebies to review; the stuff I wear, and the props Bobby and I use, all come outta our own little linden wallets. This blog is purely done for joy (and also because we love to share what we find). So when one of you takes the time to post a comment to this blog, or drop me a notecard in-world, or IM me to tell me that you enjoyed what I wrote (or more likely, that you’re in awe of Bobby’s awesome fashion photography), it truly does mean a lot.

And a special thank you to our new friend Mikalis, who we met “by chance” today, only to discover he’s been reading this blog for a while and, at least from what I can tell, enjoying it. ^_^ So here’s to you Mikalis, and all the rest of you lovely blog readers and plurkers and friends… Neko or otherwise… it’s people like you who make Second Life and this blog so much fun.

=^..^=

Posted in Explore, People
Tags: Explore, neko, nekoism, nekos, People, second life, secondlife, SL

Cyberpunk Kitty

•August 21, 2008 • 10 Comments

One night when I was just a young Neko girl, I had a dream about a man with a strange mechanical device on his head. When I asked him what it was, he turned to me with an infinitely indescribable look, and a tear slipped down his cheek. “It is my prison, my addiction, my pandora. Without it, I would die. With it, I have tasted the apple that no human was meant to touch.”

For years, this dream haunted my writing, coming out in fits and starts of what I hoped would some day become a novel. But William Gibson beat me to it. His triple award-winning novel “Neuromancer,” and the subsequent “Pattern Recognition” and “Spook Country” not only dove headlong into the concept of humans blended with cybernetic technology, it launched an entire cyberpunk theme that continues to this day… even in such places as Second Life.

Visit any of Second Life’s cyberpunk themed sims, and you’ll find all sorts of cyber-loving nekos, humans, and other combinations of cybernetic life engaged in roleplay. Clothing ranges from steampunk-inspired to more typical cyberpunk outfits, with everything from mechanical limbs to gas masks and glowing hazardous equipment belts to customize your role.

On the recommendation of Rehula (the designer of the outfit I was wearing), I explored one such place called Dark Ecstasies, a privately owned sim practicing full immersion cyberpunk RP. Set in the year 3088 in the city of Alpha 47-122, this city’s build is excellent, with an incredibly diverse range of structures, nooks and crannies to inspire your role player’s imaginative heart — from more intimate spaces like a round, firelit cyber bar, to public areas like the gladiator-type fighting pit. The locals were quite helpful, particularly when I mistook a steaming, lime-green pool of nuclear waste to be a futuristic day spa. Silly little Neko girl… ^_^

Want to learn more? Read Neuromancer… especially if you’re a science fiction fan, to see what the hype is all about. Check out my other cyberpunk story. Search for “Cyberpunk” in the Second Life “all” tab to locate a plethora of sims, shops, and roleplay groups dedicated to cyberpunk. Or just do what this Neko did… dress up and dive into role play with all four paws.

My Cyberpunk Neko Outfit:
This entire outfit, with every lovely accessory you see (and even some you don’t see) was all part of the “CyberNeko” outfit designed by Rehula at: NDN: Nebuchadnezzar – Cyberpunk and Cybergoth store

Look closely at a few of the details below… this outfit literally comes with ears, goggles, hair, collar, clothes, accessory armband, a sack of additional accessories to carry (I had to leave my arms free to keep my balance while walking amidst the nuclear pools, so I wasn’t carrying mine), flexi skirt, leggings, and accessorized boots. So yeah, don’t blanch at the price, but instead add up what each of these goodies would cost if you bought them separately. Can you say bargain for its sheer “mix and match” potential? Sure you can.

Get the Low-Down on Cyberpunk:
http://www.cyberpunkreview.com/what-is-cyberpunk/

See William Gibson in Second Life, reading excerpts from his latest novel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QeuEo-F3JI

Interesting Interview with William Gibson after his SL reading:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhqxKWU24Cc

Come Along on My Next Cyberpunk Adventure in Second Life…
https://virtualneko.com/2009/03/31/cyberpunk-mindplayer/

(Sadly, the City of Alpha 47-122 (Dark Ecstasies) sim no longer exists

Fashion photos and photoshopping by the radioactive Bobby Yoshikawa <3***

Nota Bene: Neuromancer was originally scheduled to be released as a movie in 2009, got delayed, and is now supposedly back in production with a new Canadian director: Vincenzo Natali (Splice, Cube). No word yet on whether or not Hayden Christensen (you know, the young Darth Vader kid?) is still doing the lead role. Hmmm……

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2008
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Cyberpunk, Explore, Fashion, Neko How To, People
Tags: cyber, cyber-punk, cybernetic, cyberpunk, Explore, Fashion, neko, nekoism, nekos, neuromacier, neuromancer, neuromancien, People, punk, second life, secondlife, SL, william gibson

One Purrfect Neko Family

•August 13, 2008 • 13 Comments

From left to right: Elora, Sonya, and Imso (who took the photo)

Here’s the story… of a lovely lady
Who was bartending at Laguna Bar one night…
When a man fell… upon her counter,
“Do I know you?” “Well yes, you might!”

With all due apologies for having bastardized The Brady Bunch(tm) theme, the story is strangely familiar: two people meet in Second Life, then later hook up in real life, and become such good friends that they adopt a virtual daughter and start living together in happy Neko family-hood. Sound too strange to believe? Read on…

Elora, hip Neko mom

How did it all begin?

Elora and Imso first met when Elora was bartending at a Second Life club. Imso (who is a fantastic DJ) was celebrating not having to work that night with such a dancing frenzy that he fell off the club’s balcony and landed right in front of Elora. Chats ensued, and it wasn’t long before they discovered that they not only lived in the same small country, but had quite a bit in common, including some real life friends. They had even met in person once, over a decade ago. And all of this came full circle because of Second Life…

What inspired Neko?

“It was all Imso’s idea,” says Elora, “he’s a wild cat, that one.” In honor of his (RL) birthday, Imso and Elora sent out birthday party invitations complete with Neko tails and ears to all their friends, in order to celebrate the event by “playing Neko” for a night. But after the party, the furry parts just… somehow… stayed put. Elora shrugged, “it kinda gets to you.”

For Imso, it was an accurate reflection of his personality. “I like to be stray. I’m a compulsive role-player in RL (he said with a twitch of his dice-bedecked tail), so being Neko here made me feel accordingly to what I really am, or at least try to be, in Second Life — free, stray, strolling along as I like.”

So how in the world did Sonya manage to enter the picture?

Sonya had always been a mutual friend, and technically a virtual family member, considering that Elora’s sister BlueAngel had already adopted her as a niece. But it was the strange lure of furry Neko ears and tail that got to her: “I loved seeing myself with ears and tail,” grinned Sonya.

She started joking about being adopted by Elora and Imso and “going Neko” full time. Next thing you know, Elora and Imso bought a new house suitable for a Neko family, completely redecorated it with appropriate Neko perches and furniture, and Sonya moved into the front yard in her very own Neko-ish shipping container.

What does this Neko family do for fun?

“We are online together nearly every day,” answered Elora. “Imso is the creative guy and a DJ.” But Imso “only DJs when I feel like it, as I never want SL to become WORK.” Elora is a bartender and owns a DJ Agency. Meanwhile Sonya was working in a gallery as a history consultant (yes, in Second Life) until it closed recently. They have their own private club “Paws Off,” and are actively involved in a gallery at a sim co-owned by Imso, where he and Elora set up rotating art and photography exhibits, including some rather talented photography of their own.

Apparently the whole family also shares a rather familiar addiction: “We’re a bit shopaholics,” confessed Elora. Sonya snorted in response, “A bit?! We are veryyyy shopaholics!” Their favorite stores include Sn@tch, CatNip, Deviant Kitties, Eat Rice, and Renegade for Imso… whose record of attachments is a whopping 1271 prims worn at one time. “I’m a sucker for belts and armbands,” he grinned, “some of the most beautiful acessories in SL are Neko.” (This kitteh blogger couldn’t agree more).

These family ties have become so strong, they even extend beyond the virtual world. In fact I wasn’t able to interview them right away, because all three of them were spending the weekend together in real life, along with some other friends they’d met in SL. They estimate they have around 25 people who are friends in both SL and RL… which Elora says has made these friendships much closer.

The Neko Bunch

Okay, so maybe Elora and Imso only wound up with one daughter named Sonya, not six kids. And in real life, they all hail from Portugal, not a 1960’s split level in American suburbia. Nor did anyone in The Brady Bunch(tm) ever wear furry tails or ears to my knowledge. And yet, here is a family similarly brought together by fate, in every sense of the word. Who also just happens to be Neko.

In meeting these three wonderful people, I couldn’t help but marvel at the way connections between humans (and Nekos) arise and evolve, despite how some in the ‘real world’ might dismiss our ‘virtual world’ as being separate from human connection.

Elora, wise Neko mom that she is, summed it up perfectly: “Because family is also the one you choose.”

All photos (except the top one) by Bobby Yoshikawa <3***

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2008
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Casual, Explore, Fashion, People, Urban / Grunge
Tags: family, Fashion, neko, nekoism, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL

Neko in Wonderland

•August 7, 2008 • 10 Comments

Admit it. You’re no more likely than I was to put “Neko” and “Alice in Wonderland” in the same sentence, much less the same photo. But the minute Bobby found this absolutely adorable “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” story book (chock full of cute poses), he was so inspired that he wouldn’t rest until I’d found my very own Alice outfit.

After I saw Bobby’s photo, I think “inspired” was an understatement. His picture above is worth so much more than a thousand words that I’ll keep this post short — just enough to tell you where to find all these goodies AND where a Neko playing Alice might find her very own wonderland to explore in Second Life.

If only an awesome SL5B build called ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ (by LittleToe Bartlett and Pavig Lok) was still available! Instead, we followed the advice of my lovely, ever-so-helpful fellow SL Plurkers and headed off to the Jabberwocky sim:

All sorts of fun little secrets await your curious kitty heart here (look for a hole, follow your whiskers, and KEEP going through the structure you see above). Soon you’ll be able to assuage your shopping urges with a bunch of Neko-friendly stores that are in the process of setting up shop, including Curious Kitties, Katatonik, Schadenfreude, and my lovely friend Rouge Darcy’s Rebel Extravaganza / Rebel-X.

So yes my Neko friends, part of being a cat is being curious, which gives us full permission to test out whatever outfits or inspirations come our way, don’t you agree? After all, Second Life is our very own Wonderland… curiouser and curiouser………

Buy the Alice in Wonderland story book here:
Kurotsubaki Store: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Drowsy/67/148/23
Their Description: http://kurotsubaki.blogspot.com/2008/08/story-books.html
CatNip’s Purple ‘Drink Me’ Bottle: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hysteria/40/53/22
(CatNip has other cool Alice-themed items at their store too)

Visit Jabberwocky:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jabberwocky/119/22/25

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2008
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Cosplay, Explore, Fantasy, Fashion
Tags: alice, alice in wonderland, Fashion, jabberwocky, neko, nekoism, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL, wonderland

Kimono Love

•August 4, 2008 • 4 Comments

I dare you to take one look at the beautiful kimonos being created in Second Life, and see if you don’t dash off to the best kimono store you can find for a chance to look this gorgeous. I would expect nothing less of any self-respecting, fashion-minded Neko girl. The only question remaining: where would a Neko wearing such a beautiful kimono go exploring?

The old Getsuei Okiya (now rebuilt and renamed “Gekkou;” above photo by Bobby Yoshikawa)

I began my adventure at Gekkou (formerly called Getsuei) Okiya and Japanese Tea House, hoping to find a few girls wearing kimonos. What I found was even better: a music and dance performance by three lovely Geisha. Afterwards, they joined Bobby and me for some tea, sake, and a lovely chat, during which we learned that this Okiya is one of approximately a dozen such “geisha houses” in SL (who knew!) and that there are indeed Neko Geisha in SL (woot!). I highly recommend you take the time to catch one of their performances on Mondays or Fridays, from Noon to 1pm SLT.

Kenroku (pictured above)

Gently moving shadows under graceful trees. Fat koi swimming lazily in a broad reflection pool. Ancient stone temples with far-reaching views. All of this and more await you at the lovely Kenroku gardens, which offered the perfect backdrop for Bobby’s photo of my beautiful kimono. A word to the wise: take a healthy dose of patience before you visit (and temporarily turn off your AO if you’re wearing one), as those lovely tree shadows can cause quite a bit of lag. ^_^

Gion (pictured above)

The final destination was Gion. Sadly, this sim no longer exists in Second Life, so I feel very lucky to have had a chance to visit it when it was still flourishing. Gion in Second Life was modeled after the real life Gion District of Kyoto — one of Japan’s most famous Geisha districts. It offered everything from fun rickshaw tours, calligraphy practice, and a game of checkers, to a wide range of Japanese-themed stores for shopping. Interesting fact: In real life, Geisha in the Gion district do not refer to themselves as geisha (which means “artist”); instead they prefer to use the local term “geiko,” meaning “a woman of art.”

My Outfit: (pictured above, photo by Bobby Yoshikawa)

| Kimono | Kurotsubaki: Kokuen Kimono (outfit includes everything, even shoes)
| Hair | Eat Rice! Pickle, in Red (store is no longer available)
| Hair flowers | Boon: September ornament, top piece only (wearing this will require you manually attach your left ear to your nose and edit it into the proper location) (yes, I know this sounds crazy!) ^_^

My Extensive List of Second Life Kimono Stores:
https://virtualneko.com/second-life-kimono-stores/

Visit Gekkou (formerly Getsuei) Okiya and Japanese Tea House:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Antiquity%20Township%20East/237/109/24

Visit Kenroku:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kenroku/115/103/60

Sadly, Gion no longer exists (at least not in its former beautiful state)

When in Japan…
Good morning = Ohayo (formal: ohayo gozaimasu)
Good afternoon = Konnichiwa
Good evening = Konbanwa
Good night = Oyasumi
Thank you = Doumo arigatou gozaimasu
You’re Welcome = Dou itashimashite

© Stacia Villota / Virtual Neko in Second Life – 2008
http://virtualneko.com

=^..^=

Posted in Explore, Fashion, Kimono
Tags: Fashion, geisha, geishas, gion, japan, kenroku, kimono, kimonos, neko, nekoism, nekos, okiya, second life, secondlife, SL

Kawaii Not?

•July 27, 2008 • 17 Comments

What does it mean to be a “kawaii” Neko? Most of the time, kawaii is simply translated to mean “cute.” But as Rini Yamada says on MyNippon.com, “…it is much, much more than a fashion statement — Kawaii is a lifestyle and an attitude.”

Or to put it in the words of one Japanese girl, “It’s not just how we dress, it’s how we are.”

“When you walk down the streets of Japan,” says Yamada, “especially in large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, you see girls dressed in things westerners would never wear — including flamboyant colors, and shoes so high you wonder how they can stand.”

Nakama “Kawaii Ku” sim in Second Life (click here to visit)

And yet to many of these girls, it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference. Things like, you guessed it…. accessories!!!!! ::: as my kitteh heart begins to pitter pat :::

Yes my Neko friends, I’ll confess: accessories are my very own personal Neko addiction. You know what I’m talking about… those adorable mousies and pandas and tuna fish cans and candy bars and bows and bells and endless adorable cuteness (kawaii-ness?) that strap onto my arms, legs, back, belt, leg warmers, boots, and collar. My inventory contains actual subfolders of Neko accessories, broken down into arms, legs, backpacks/bags, and jewelry. In fact I’m constantly having to show restraint when I get dressed for the blog, worried that I’ll wear all of these cute goodies too soon, before Second Life Neko designers can supply my addiction with new stuff. ^_^

Friendly creatures at Nakama “Kawaii Ku” sim in Second Life

Okay, enough rambling… Here’s a little kawaii neko cuteness to convince you that you can, indeed, set aside the bloody, rusted, barbed-wire arm bands, torn t-shirts, and dirty skin for just one night, while still remaining true to your adorable Neko heart:

Fashion photo (at top) by the lovely and talented Bobby Yoshikawa <3***

More Kawaii Fashion Goodness and Adventure here…
https://virtualneko.com/2009/01/20/sweet-kawaii-kitty-and-attachments-101/

More About Kawaii…
http://www.mynippon.com/photos/photo94.htm
http://uniorb.com/ATREND/Japanwatch/cute.htm

Kawaii Neko Turns Ninja..!
http://flapjack.modwest.com/lur-the-pink-neko-ninja-ninja-series-part-ii

Funny Video of Kawaii Nekos Dancing in Second Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwmkVz9lwJQ

=^..^=

Posted in Casual, Fashion, Kawaii, Neko How To
Tags: accessories, cute, Fashion, japan, kawaii, kawaii neko, neko, nekoism, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL

Cat Dancin’

•July 24, 2008 • Leave a Comment

By now it’s pretty obvious this kitteh can shop. And it’s equally clear that I love to explore. One of my other great joys however is listening (and dancing) to the wealth of amazing live musicians and talented DJs in Second Life. Groom your ears and tail, get your dancin’ boots on, and follow me to the current list of Second Life Clubs — many of which offer regular Neko Nights.

Now… it’s been a couple years since I first did this story, and I’m sad to say that with only one exception (the very last listing), every one of the clubs I visited back in July 2008 are no longer in SL. Reasons abound… lack of regular interest causes lack of financing… the difficult business model of running a club based on tips during a down economy… and the sheer transience that is often inherent in the typical SL resident. Here are a few of the clubs that used to exist… if only I’d taken pictures of all of them back then!

Neko Milk Bar
I truly loved this underground Neko club… you’d enter through the mouth of a big cat, and descend into a cavernous abandoned subway station where you could belly up to the infamous Neko “milk bar.” They had all sorts of fun kitty poses and animations surrounding a dance floor. Sadly about a year after I posted this story, the Neko Milk Bar was no more. Maybe someone will bring it back…!

Wicked Wench Pirate Club
Yet another club that worked so well for a time, even had regular Neko Nights, but sadly went the way of many clubs in SL into quiet extinction. This one was modeled after the deck of a huge pirate ship, with fun poses, dance poles, and a nice view.

Neko Nights at Misfits
This used to be THE club you could always count on visiting to find other neko. Every single night except Mondays, fellow cats and kittehs convened for Neko Night at this little club. I visited four times, receiving a warm welcome each time while dancing to great DJ music, and giggling over fun contests and games like Trivia, and Truth or Dare. The owners still come to SL now and then, maybe they’ll start the club up again some time, who knows?

Misfits DJ FrozenHawk Effingham, aka “Chilly”

Crimson Shadow Rezzable
Older SL Residents all mourn the loss of the majority of the “Rezzable” sims, including Crimson Shadow. Modeled like a huge Transylvanian Vampire Castle, it had a central dance floor where regular events often included Neko Contests. The night I visited, host Aslyn Dufaux (whose partner is a Neko) was most kind.

The Sapphire Club
Once the home of the delectable kitteh Sapphire Sass, a Neko gal who owned this club… there were pretty much always Nekos here!

The Jester Inn on Pixel Hill **(personal favorite)**
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Strayling/246/22/54
Info and Schedule: http://www.strangefates.com/SLpage.htm
Those who know me understand that I can’t blog about music without mentioning my most favorite live musician: Didier Soyuz. While his venue up on Pixel Hill may not be a regular haunt for Nekos, I’m determined to change that. ^_^ This man’s incredible original acoustic guitar performances will have you purring for days (and now that his songs are available online, I no longer have to cry pitifully between performances). Even when Didier isn’t scheduled, club Co-Owner and Manager Harrie keeps The Jester Inn filled with outstanding live music… join the group ‘Strangefates’ to keep your music-lovin’ heart smiling!

Small Inset Photos, from top to bottom: Makeup belt, back (yes, that *is* a blow-dryer); Makeup belt, front; Eat Rice! Charm collar; Boot details on the Elle et Lui / N@rkotic outfit; Curious Kitties “Wub” bracelets (click on image to enlarge)

Get Your Dancing Clothes On…

I was IM’d four times last night by kittehs wanting to know where I bought this outfit, so I think you’ll like it too… the pictures don’t do its texture work enough justice. What’s especially nice is that it’s one of those complete outfits containing almost everything you need — just “add to outfit” and go, no need to edit or shuffle attachments — leaving more time for dancing!

=^..^=

Posted in Casual, Explore, Fashion
Tags: cat, club, dance, dancing, didier soyuz, event, Fashion, kitteh, kitties, kitty, live music, music, neko, nekoism, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL

Far Away From Here

•July 19, 2008 • 6 Comments

Some builds in Second Life leave you breathless. Others make you gasp. And then there are a rare few that cause your virtual spirit to soar with a sense of fresh air, wide open spaces, and limitless dreams. The Far Away is just such a place…

Although most of you have likely already been here, I urge you to return. Stand for a moment (or an hour) transfixed… photographing… imagining. I’ve been here countless times, yet a part of me always feels as though I’m coming back for the first time: noticing again the details in the old rusted train (did you know if you click on the front of it, you might find a pose?)… the patina of the old violin… a scrap of torn paper trapped on the barbed wire fence.

While I was there this morning, a dashing gent in a strangely familiar top hat materialized… none other than the talented builder of The Far Away himself, AM Radio. (I know, I know… how is it I’ve been so fortuitous in finding the builders online at the same time that I am visiting their creations? I just hope I’m not using up any of my nine Neko lives with this luck…).

While Thomus’ passion was all about Steam Punk, AM’s is all about art. His inspiration for The Far Away is a reflection and expression of his passion for art history… drawing ideas from old color plate books that are always lying open around him in the “other” world. If this is the kind of experience he can create with pixels, one can only dream of what his drawings and paintings must be like…

Never fear, all you Neko fashion cats and kittehs… here’s the obligatory low down on my outfit while visiting The Far Away in Second Life. ^_^ It’s a true Steam Punk inspiration (which, had I been *thinking,* I probably should have been wearing this outfit when I explored Steam Forge a week ago… duh!). Look closely at all the details shown below. Like The Far Away, artists in Second Life abound — whether in the creation of glowing dragonflies, incredible builds for us to walk through, or yummy Neko accessories to wear.

Background photo: Steampunk belt by Black Heart. Smaller inset photos, from left to right: Boots by Acid & Mala; close-up of the detailing in the steampunk belt; steam punk metal ears also by Black Heart (click on image to enlarge).

All fashion photos taken by yet another talented artist: Bobby Yoshikawa <3***

Visit The Far Away in Second Life:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dreamworld%20North/202/161/22

Read More about the Designer, A.M. Radio
http://theresecarfagno.wordpress.com/2007/11/17/meeting-am-radio/

The Neko Steam Punk Outfit I wore while exploring:
Note: I began by attaching my tail to my right hip (with associated adjustments to position it properly) in order to leave attachment points open for other Neko accessories (dressing Neko in Second Life ain’t for the faint of editing heart!)

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Posted in Explore, Fashion, People, Steampunk, Urban / Grunge
Tags: AM Radio, art, art history, cat, Explore, Fashion, kitty, neko, nekoism, nekos, second life, secondlife, SL, steam forge, the far away, Thomus Keen, wheat, wheat fields, wheatfields

Two Free Collars for Kittehs Today!

•July 17, 2008 • 2 Comments

Wouldn’t you know it… right after I posted about Rebel -x-, she announced a new freebie. If you haven’t already been to her store to check out the “Nightshade” outfit I blogged a couple of days ago, be sure to TP there now to pick up this adorable little strawberry necklace for free. (Her strawberry backpack and chair are similar works of textural artistry!)

But wait, there’s more! Ephemeral just announced a new group freebie: their purrrfect “Has Milk” collar in red. I already own (and love) the black and tan versions of this collar, and think the red color makes yet another lovely addition to any Neko girl’s outfit. Group membership is required to get this freebie, so I hope you have a few spots left on your group list!

Teleport to Rebel -X-:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Osaka/144/215/23

Teleport to Ephemeral’s Main Store:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Noul/147/202/651

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