Curio Obscura

Crap Mariner linked to a post by Miss Pandora Wrigglesworth, proprietress of Curio Obscura, designating today (Saturday, the 28th, as I have no idea at the moment when this will post) and the next four days as "Curio Obscura Appreciation Day."
Miss W. writes:

By the power invested in me as Pandora Wrigglesworth, I declare today Curio Obscura Appreciation Day, also known as Pandora Needs A Little Help Making Rent Day.
On this day, we pay our respects to Pandora Wrigglesworth by traveling to Curio Obscura where we purchase Curio Obscura products for ourselves and our loved ones. Of course, some of our loved ones cannot be with us on this most special of days and so they do their shopping at Curio Obscura on Second Life Marketplace which is also the easier method for purchasing gifts for said loved ones. And the wonderful thing about Curio Obscura Appreciation Day is that it is celebrated for five joyous days, starting now.
No, seriously, I need a little help this month. If there’s something you were thinking about buying but didn’t get around to, now would be a really helpful time to make that purchase.

I had been meaning to look at the store's new location, so what better time than to do so, I thought.

The new spot seems substantially bigger than its predecessor on Rendervisions Isle:



The house, which appears to have flattened an earlier structure on the site, still displays Miss Wrigglesworth's offbeat sense of humor:





Inside, the gears make the magic happen:



Well, the gears and the boiler:



The shop is home to the ubiquitous "Anywhere Door" as well as a variety of amusements, including automaton avatars, teleportation arrows, and unusual propulsion devices. Fun stuff.

The Humble Prim

Miss Veleda Lorakeet recently held a contest to honor the humble prim. Entries had to contain but a single prim, but had no other restrictions - the creator's imagination (and the limits of Second Life itself) were the only boundaries. Miss Lorakeet currently has the entries displayed at her Emphatic Eccentricia location in Caledon Tamrannoch.

The sign in the entranceway displays the well-known poem, "The Humble Prim":

For want of a prim the hammer was lost

For want of a hammer the nail was lost

For want of a nail the build was lost

For want of a build the sim was lost

And all for the want of a humble prim.

Indeed.

The winning entry was from Professor Bodhisatva Paperclip:

Other intriguing entries included Chairman Mao, by M. Laughton Tchailenov:

A very humble (not to mention shy and retiring) prim, by Miss Glorf Blumer:

An aquarium:

Several entries are scripted, so click and see what happens! The entries will continue to be displayed for several more days.

Crematoria

Mr. Ambiant Kukulkan described the new sim of Crematoria as a Steampunk-themed shopping area, and indeed it is. Not a role-playing sim, Crematoria nonetheless has some Steampunk elements both within shops (such as Mr. Kukulkan's Mad Science Emporium) and scattered among the open areas.








Many of the shops have been rented, though some are still available. It's an eclectic collection of goods in an interesting setting.

Clothing Fair and RFL

It's that time of year again: Relay for Life, also known as the Spring/Early Summer social season. (Only half a joke in that statement.) Because one dare not be seen at such events in last years glad rags, it seems logical to start things off with a Clothing Fair to benefit RFL.

I started in the London area.

The square evoked Trafalgar Square, with Nelson's Column in the center...

...except that, upon closer reflection, the statue did not seem to be of Lord Nelson. At least the London Eye was there to reassure me I was in the right place!


Good cause or not, I find these fairs to be frustrating experiences, and this was no exception. Too many people and too many shops with too many textures create an immense amount of lag. Moving is painfully slow. Worse, some of the textures never rez completely. Far too many items were nothing more than gray panes; most of the good that were to benefit RFL seemed to fall into this category. I bought a few items, but concluded that my time and money would be better spent buying things I liked in low-lag sims and then donating money to RFL directly.


As they say, your mileage may vary.

In Steelhead Shanghai

The message came from Miss Terry Lightfoot that she had created a Victorian kimono bustle dress inspired by Steelhead Shanghai and, by extension, the fashion of the Orient. Billed as Victorian style meets Chinese fashion, the "Daughter of Shanghai" dress from To-a-T is available at Velvel's Shanghai Bazaar, pictured below:

I donned the dress and wandered into Ho Ping's pawnshop:

The details, as always, make the garment, from the lace cuffs to the contrasting waist band and bustle. I felt right at home in Steelhead Shanghai.

As I was in the neighborhood, I made the trip to the wilderness of Shanghai to see if my friend, Mr. Headburro Antfarm, was "at home." I put the term in quotation marks because Mr. Antfarm, contrary to doctor's orders, was convalescing in the forest. Alas, his camp was deserted, though the still-lighted fire suggested I had not missed him by long.

I stayed a moment to soak in the beauty of the area, and to say hello to Frank, the faithful steed.

The Streets of Trilogy

Miss hyasynth Tiramisu announced the opening of Trilogy, a quaint, rainy town of shopping opportunities. Though the attire was generally not to my taste, I enjoyed the town itself, from the pub...

...to the narrow, winding streets...

...to the rain-speckled windows, reflecting the permanent drizzle.

Walk out of the rain, into "Trilogy Station" - modeled after a London Underground station - and there are still more goods for sale...

...as well as a familiar-looking map.

One is reminded of the line: "I've traveled all this way and it's the same..."

Rechara - BlakOpal's Island

When Dr. Fabre mentioned that Mr. Trilobyte Zanzibar and Miss BlakOpal Galacia had opened their own Steampunk-themed island for the flagship location of their store, I had to see for myself.

The island contains much more than the BlakOpal store: balloons and airships...

...and the Eridu Society airship outpost, which contains a cafe (which, as in every other cafe these days, is filled with some thoughtless person monopolizing a table just to type on a Difference Engine, buying perhaps a single cup of coffee over the course of hours).

Hmm, is that a still?


A book shop, a cozy nook (called "Local Shop," for some reason) with pictures of the Steamlands for sale, a warehouse, and a cafe are all available for exploration or just sitting. (A number of places are unfurnished, suggesting a work in progress.)

Ships are docked in the harbors, presumably taking goods to other BlakOpal destinations throughout the Steamlands.

And, of course, the store itself. I confess to picking up a new dress and some outerwear during my visit - the latter a nod to the change of seasons that is upon us.

I was accosted (via IM) by a cad named Alexis Gravois, who said, "tell to your friend to stop or i will make you banned both." Bewildered, I replied to Mr. Gravois, "What are you talking about? I'm here by myself and not doing anything but looking." He never replied. If he is a member of the BlakOpal team - and nothing indicated he is - his customer relations need improving.

The island is worth an extended visit and a leisurely stroll. Be sure to bring a full purse!