In the fall of 2008, Linden Labs announced a policy regarding the use and payment options for different sized sims that caused a lot of angst and in some cases outrage across the grid. Several estates closed; many beautiful builds were lost forever. Morale was very low in communities, and the wonderful experience many of us had known as Second Life seemed lost as well.
But the inhabitants of Second Life were not ready to just give up. A few people got together and fashioned a "Grand Tour" in the old world style. We put together 30+ venues to host 48 hours of non stop events. Traveling from sim to sim to see what our neighbors had created, making friends and remembering what it was that brought us to Second Life. The events were so successful that the participants wanted to do them again, and again and again.
This Saturday begins the fourth installment of the Grand Tour. Last year, in the spirit of giving that characterized the tour, the organizers (Our own Baron Klaus and Miss Lowey) decided to make the tour an official Relay for Life event, and each venue participating will have donation kiosks where contributions can be made. Relay for LIfe is a real life/second life series of events that raises funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society.
I am happy to once again be part of the organizational team and will host the beginning of the Grand Tour (CDS sims have led off each of the four tours!). We will begin at 6 am SLT with the Sunrise Ball at the new theater/ballroom which we are naming Aurora Hall, in Al Garnata. "Aurora" means dawn in both Spanish and Latin, and this beautiful Satir DeCuir creation is modeled after Spanish Architecture with roman and Andalucian details, and has been created in CDS colors. The symbolism of a new day for our sims made it the logical choice.
We will also open the Al GarnArta Galleries during this event, which are curated by the talented Callipygian Christensen. As part of the event, we are sponsoring a art contest with prizes of 3000L, 1500L and 500 L, with the theme of Sunrise/dawn/new day. Rules will be posted outside the main Gallery.
We are currently working with the Grand Tour committee to finalize ball details. Soliel Snook, also a cds citizen, will provide music.
Please join us for this exquisite set of events. I will post the full schedule when it is finalized (but it includes a delightful Robber Baron Ball in New Babbage for those of you with spare pirate costumes!)
Fogwoman Gray coined the motto of The Grand Tour: To bring all nations and groups together to demonstrate why we stay and what is important.
