Home Sweet Home in the Sky

I don't know if it's because they're low on cost and prims while also being high on design and creativity or if it's because there's just something wonderful about having a house FLOATING IN THE SKY, but whatever the reason, my love for skyboxes is boundless. My inventory is littered with them, some found in hunts, some purchased, some group gifts, even some constructed by clever friends. I've often considered the possibility of acquiring additional real estate in SL just to have a place to rez my skyboxes; it pains me deeply that so many beautiful ones are gathering dust in my inventory.

Though I've seldom met a skybox that I didn't like, there are some that I simply adore. The most recent is a new release from A:S:S called Aeon.

The floor-to-ceiling windows are perfect for gazing out at the never-ending blue, while the wooden floors and walls suggest the cozy warmth of a well-loved cottage.

Good Hair at your fingertips!

Hi everybody! Nath again, here to tell you that he's a hairoholic. As someone people think is something of an Authority on men's hair, I often get people coming to me and saying, "Where do I get good hair, Nath?" I find the question very pleasing, honestly! I enjoy helping people find a hairstyle that suits their avatar, and I'm enough of an egotistical jerk to enjoy people giving a nod to my knowledge. I wound up becoming a coiffureista (it's like a fashionista, but with hair) because early on in my SL experience, I bought what was Completely The Best Hair Ever, in my view. It's an oldie but goodie, Naughty's "The Outsider"- currently, Naughty's closed for renovations, but I'm sure Lost Thereian will bring the shop around again. 

It was 4 years ago.

  And in one of those accidental errors a newbie makes, I accidentally deleted it. Oops! Oh well, so I went back to the store to buy it again... and the store had stopped selling it in the lovely blue-black that I loved. Or grey-black. Or red-black. ALL THE BLACK VALUES WERE GONE!!!

NoooooOOOOooo! 
For most of a year then, I went around in SL trying to find a hair I liked as much. I tried many, many hairs at many, many stores... and finally the original shop got a customer support person. I mentioned the problem to her, asking why it wasn't available, and within about 30 hours, the hair was again on the shelf, and I could wear it again! And, within about 20 minutes of that, I decided I was done wearing it. But! There were some important lessons I learned from this experience.

More Mesh Hair

Yes, I fell in love with it the minute I saw it.

The Fantasy Faire yielded much more of interest to me than I expected, including this sexy new mesh hair from Wasabi Pills, a Fantasy Faire exclusive. The Teeloh hangs naturally down one side while showing a sexy shaved skull on the other. Included hair bases provide a realistic look to the style. The Gingerbread color (one of the demos) is such a gorgeous color that I'm almost tempted to go red.

The Dog Days of Summer...Already?

I'm a wuss when it comes to heat. A total wuss. And 80 degree temps in April are killing me. We usually rarely top this in the summer. So, in response to the summer-like heat when we should only be hitting 65 degrees here, I'm cooling my av down with summer dress.

Even Alfred agrees that this kind of heat in April is evil.

In protest of the heat, I've shaved my head, lost my shirt, tossed my shoes and refused to even button my shorts. My new friend Alfred (who scared me when I tped into Juve's small gay paradise to take my photos) is refusing to move much, other than to flop onto his side and return to his upright position again. I can't blame him much. He can't take off that fur coat.

Furniture with a Cheeky Side

Attractive furniture with masculine touches.

I love Cheeky Pea. From the minute I received my first piece from the store in a hunt, I found myself mesmerized by the shapes, textures and arrangements. Not only are the offerings high-quality, they often provide details that appeal to more masculine tastes-something that is all too often missing from other furniture designs. The Holystone set above includes oars, plant, lamps, old-school phone, end tables, coffee table, rug, sofa and chair. The photo arrangement includes photos from the original hunt set that began my addiction to the store.

Freaky Freebie -- er, Thursday! Also known as: The Crazy Hair Hunt

Oh hello! Wasn't I going to be doing a regular column on Fridays, about nice things you can find for free in SL? I think I was... uhm, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Recently, I found a hunt dedicated to the idea of hair in SL that simply Could Not Happen in RL. There's a few styles that are pretty androgynous; a male could wear them, easily. So, here's my Freebie Friday post about the third Crazy Hair Hunt.

I found a lot here that would be FABulous for a a woman on a runway or for a drag look. The first that crosses my mind is from Evie's Closet, who brought us an updo littered with butterflies (Butterfly Effect is its name).
However, there are a few mohawks in the hunt that I've gotten plenty of compliments on.

Short and Sweet--Very Sweet

OMG I want watermelon so bad now!

GizzA has recently released some wonderful mesh and I was thrilled that the bottoms actually have room for my ample butt (sorry, I didn't get a shot of it). The GizzA Blazer in Green worked great with GizzA's new Tartan Capris in Green. Keeping the blazer open means I'll be cool enough for spring weather while still warm enough when the cold breezes rush by.

Watermelon is a staple of warmer weather. As spring and summer roll around taking a bite out of this sweet, wet fruit is the perfect way to cool down. This fun and beautiful photo prop was one of my favorite finds at the Pose Fair. It's a creation of Fruct0se and is just the kind of excitement you expect as the days get longer and sun shines a bit more, warming up our days.

Hair: Shag - Dogs of Lust in Dirty Blonde

OMG It's the Pose Fair! FINALLY!

The beautiful mesh sculpture in Pose Fair North.

If you do photography, model, or blog, you know the lure of poses and props. I feel like I've been waiting for the Pose Fair all my life (even though it's only been about two weeks since designers started Plurking about their bleeding fingers as they worked to create amazing new designs for the anxious consumer--yes, they work day and night on this stuff).

Seven Nights, Seven Clubs - I'll take 2!

Sunset beauties shakin' daPier

This installment of Seven Nights, Seven Clubs sent me on a mad scurry, as there were two venues and events I wanted to see, document, and mention.   Never one to shy away from a dedicated "pub crawl", off I went on Friday night to the grand opening of what I think's gonna be a stand-out club destination.  mikedacook Dinzeo and Robin Kanya launched their "daPier" venue Friday evening, to an excellent turnout, and I was thrilled to be one of the first to snapshot the new build and bring you, the Blithe readership, a peek at a really stunning new club.

mikeDaCook Dinzeo and Robin Kanya's "daPier"

"daPier" is just that, a coastal pier, sheltered by a large sailcloth awning, and accessed via a stairway down to the coastal shelf upon which it's situated, in a style reminiscent of resort living on North America's eastern seaboard.  mikedacook's "Jersey Shore" origins are evident in a stunning build by Ryder Yowman on a bit of Sanctuary Group's land named "daParcel".

mikedacook's great dance music once again did not disappoint, and the event was well attended by a plethora of stylish and easy-on-the-eyes guys and gals.  I've been following mikey's sets here and there, and it was truly a joy to see mike and Robin enjoying a "home" club of their own, especially one so welcoming, well built and decorated, and "user friendly" as this place is.  Ryder Yowman's building and design skills are evident throughout, and the "ambiance" of this stunning new dance venue holds great promise.

"daClubhouse" high above "daPier"

On a promontory high above daPier, sits "daClubhouse", with outdoor seating overlooking the club below, and a beautifully constructed stairway down to the daPier's beachfront dance area.  Hints are already flying about more activities and events centered in "daParcel", and I can't wait to see what mikey and Robin have in store for us!

mikedaCook Dinzeo servin' up the ear candy!

If you haven't joined mikedacook's group, "indaMix", now's the time... you won't wanna miss future events at this new destination, and even a quick stop during a busy day at this relaxing, stunningly-decorated parcel is warranted, it's coastal beauty at its best, and a marvelous place just to chill and look around, as I'm doing while writing this little piece.  This place is "daBomb!"

Undies at Aqua Lounge!

Next on my itinerary for Friday evening was a stop at Aqua Lounge for Sasch Petrov's set, and a "sexy in underwear" event.  Underwear is outerwear to me, I'm almost always in some state of "undress", and love a tight body in jockeys or boxers, thong or speedo... hey, it's SL, and we don't have to dress head to toe to jump out for a wiggle or a quick trip to the store, now, do we?
 
Aqua Lounge is a Second Life institution, one of the longest running clubs around, and InsyX Pirhana's sweet little club is deserving of attention as one of the most fun and consistently worthwhile destinations out there.  I'm particularly fond of "Alternative Tuesdays" at Aqua Lounge, featuring the DJ stylings and alternative rock selections of Kaj Juutilainen, one of Second Life's best and brightest (not to mention cutest) purveyors of ear candy for the masses.

RIP, Dear HurtfulSplash, we miss you!

Friday's underwear event was well attended, as are most of Sasch Petrov's gigs.  Sasch has been a friend of mine for years, now, and I love his dance beats and quirky, hilarious, and sexy voice-overs and sound-effect snippets.  The crew at Aqua are professional, responsive, and interactive with the attendees, making for a fun couple of hours at any of their events.

On a more somber note, I was pleased, while at Aqua Lounge, to discover a memorial high on the back wall of the club to a sweet friend who recently succumbed to the stresses of real life and chose to leave us.  I'm referring to HurtfulSplash Solis, a studly and romantic 30-something man who I counted as a good friend and occasional SLover, and who left us way too soon, on February 24th, 2012.  Hurtful was a sweet guy, friendly and open and sexy, fond of hosting and 'working a room' at events and clubs, and the loss of his long-haired, rough-around-the-edges, hippie-biker presence at my usual haunts led me to inquire about him, and discover his RL demise as sad, sad news of yet another soul lost to the ravages of depression and isolation that so frequently accompanies life as a gay male in the modern world.

Depression touches way too many lives in this competitive and sometimes overwhelming world, and we in the LGBT community are already handicapped in some ways by society's marginalization of our way of life.  If you're gay, you no doubt know someone who "feels" life a little more deeply, takes things just a bit harder than most, or is buffeted by the winds of fortune in ways that "normal" people perhaps can just ignore... don't ever miss the opportunity to reach out, to comfort, to inquire in a loving way.  It's so much easier than regretting afterwards, that in your busy first- or Second-Life, you missed that opportunity, and now someone you treasured is gone forever, beyond your love's reach.  Rest in peace, Hurtfulsplash, you are SO missed!

Noob Beautiful

Older Second Life residents still cringe when they recall how they looked when they first arrived on the grid, with bad hair, clothes that looked like they were applied with a paintbrush, and the ubiquitous duck walk.

And this isn't even the worst of the early appearances.

There's a brand new dance, but I don't know its name

Tonight, I'm bringing you a post about SL fashion. Merrick has done some lovely posts on the topic (which you should really read). I'm posting about a lovely piece of clothing I got from Lapointe & Bastchild.

To be completely honest, I love L&B's clothing. Their boots. Their accessories. Their jackets. Their... everything. Me blogging about Paul and Bastchild's new piece of work is likely to get a little saccharine, as I'm such a fanboy. The piece I got yesterday and am sharing with you now is called 'Drift', and it's from their Swear line of urban styles. While everybody knows them for the lovely gothic dresses they do, for the ankle boots, for the men's suits with names like Vampyre and such--the Swear line is an effort for them into a more casual, more everyday sort of appearance. Here is a shot of the whole thing:

The leather jacket is quilted in texture--and is a hugely adaptable sculpted prim, which you can stretch top to bottom, or side to side, or front to back--as are all the other parts of the jacket. The whole outfit is in one package--jeans, boots, jacket, and T-shirt.

Here is a closeup of the detail on the right sleeve- the zippers, the buckles, the little pockets. This is one outfit that really rewards attention!





Here is the torso in closer detail, so you can get a good look at how the jacket hangs, and at the tiny details that Bastchild does so well. And last, but not least--















here are the prims for the ankle cuffs and the shoes that are part of the outfit.

Amazing work, as always- and for a limited time, this whole outfit's just L$499! So get on over to Lapointe & Bastchild's shop and pick yourself up the whole outfit, which I do recommend strongly- there are plenty of uses for the various parts of it as a complementary look with much of the clothing I own- and probably for you, as well! And for those of you with lady friends, let them know about this too- they did the same boots with a stiletto heel, a midriff-length shirt, and a jacket that will fit on a woman's form--all for the same price.

Dressing Gentleman Style

Champagne! Sparkling Couture's Gentleman in Rust looks stunning with period styling.

I have been enjoying period styling and Champagne! Sparkling Couture's new Gentleman suit is flexible enough to create a historical look as well as a modern formal style for weddings or dancing. The Gentleman in rust, styled with a longer hair and black formal shoes like hoorenbeek's JP shoes creates an enviable classical attitude.

Suit: Champagne! Sparkling Couture - Gentleman in Rust

Shoes: hoorenbeek - JP in black

Pose: oOo - homme_one *Not yet released. Available at the Pose Fair, starting April 15th.*

A Stroll through Decades

My av is so mad that he left his stockings at home. He's gonna have blisters.

Inspired by the new Decades collection from A:S:S, I went searching for a perfect place for a historical stroll. The New Toulouse sims provided the perfect location for the period style clothing just released. The Decades Silhouette Vest and Breeches in Moss, coupled with the Decades Gerard Shirt are perfect for some 1800s New Orleans style wandering (if only I'd remembered my A:S:S Plain Silk Stockings in moss).

Hair: Elikatira Over - Blonde 05
Glasses: Role Optic Glasses - Ares II
Shoes: [ hoorenbeek ] -Yorkshire Shoes in Tan

Fundraiser for Second Pride

If you've had enough of chocolate bunnies and egg hunts today, head over to Spurt for a 24-hour DJ-athon fundraiser for  Second Pride.

Starting at noon SLT today, Sunday April 8, and going on until noon tomorrow, this event features a dozen different DJs in two-hour sets. So drop in throughout the day and take in some talented DJs and add some Lindens to the donation kiosk to support this worthwhile cause.

Find the Second Pride DJ-athon at Atlas Estates.

SL Drag Race

There's a lot of variety in SL for gay men: there are clubs, beaches, bath houses, and whole residential communities, far more locations than you'd find in any large RL city. There is, however, a distinct lack of at least one aspect of gay life in SL: drag queens.  I love drag queens: the first gay people I ever knew were drag queens, and I've always regarded them with a mixture of awe and fear. Their relative absence in SL has always been a bit of mystery to me.

Happily, Francois Muircastle has seen his way clear to correct that deficit by organizing the first SL Drag Race. Based on the reality TV show hosted by Ru Paul, contestants will compete for the top prize as decided by a panel of judges. The results will be recorded and will be viewable at http://blip.tv/SLDragRace.

Francois is seeking sponsors for prizes and contestants to audition, so get in touch with him in-world or visit the SL Drag Race website for more information.  http://sldragrace.webs.com/ Do you have what it takes to be Second Life's top drag queen?

Blithe SL Magazine, April 1, 2012

Open publication