Posts by ColorfulS:

The Grid Painted Grey

December 17th, 2009



Early September of this year, lasting until October 31st you may have noticed many people all over Second life wearing grey colors more often than normal. The grid went grey to support Brain Cancer Awareness. Wear Grey for A Day is an event in real life that happens every year on September 18th which people all over will wear grey clothing to support brain cancer awareness. Sanura Snowpaw herd about this event within a week of losing her cousin to fought brain cancer for nearly ten years, and decided to make her own grey clothing here in Second life to show her support.

Her simple idea of simply handing out the T-Shirt and a notecard about Brain Cancer started to really spread throughout the grid. “It grew beyond my wildest imagination” says Sanura. She had Second life bloggers posting about it, and all types of different people asking her what they could do to help. Sanura and several others worked hard to send out packages with information to designers all over asking them to help by creating an item to be put up for sale with part of the money made going to the alt she created, Wear Gray Button, to donate to help promote brain cancer awareness.

Over 40 designers joined in for this cause, all with items for sale in their store to donate. Someone even donated their sim to them for the cause where they had several events including a fashion show showing off all the designs. After contacting several Brain Cancer organizations with no response she decided to donate the $800USD made to the American Cancer Society. Sanura feels she really helped to spread awareness of Brain cancer to people all over the world. “I know I had a great many who came to me just to say thank you and share their stories and those alone were worth every moment I spent on Wear Gray”

With Wear Grey being such a huge success she plans on continuing this and making it an annual thing every year. In the mean time Sanura has her Wear Grey T-Shirts still available in her shop *Dreams* she also still makes donations with the money that is still being made on her alt Wear Gray Button and there are American Cancer Society kiosks set up here in Second life to make a direct donation. “Talk about it the more people aware of it the better with knowledge, heart, love, and compassion we can win the battle against all cancers.”

2 Comments "

Blackhearts Cafe

December 4th, 2009

Our Avatar Weekly Staff Writer Colorful Sinister took the time to check out Blackhearts and what makes it a hot place to be. She also was able to talk to the owner and get his feedback of why the club is such a success.




First walking into the Blackhearts club I was overtaken with a friendly vibe and couldn’t help but rock it out to the iconic 80’s songs blaring through my speakers. I was lucky enough to catch one of the owners strolling through the club and persuaded her and her partner to chat with me about the club.

Colorful Sinister: Well a few basic things first. When did you open the club?
Thalie Basevi: The club has been open since March 2nd, 2007.

Colorful Sinister: Wow it’s been open for quite some time then. What gave you the idea to open a club?
Thalie Basevi chuckles. I’m going to hand you over to Robert, my partner, who was the one to open it back then.
Robert Giacomin: Well I had been in Second Life for about 6 months and most of the places I went too either closed up or the atmosphere changed, so that and a full house in a poker tourney allowed me to rent a parcel and fund the club for the first three months.

Colorful Sinister: Was it the same club back then or have you since changed it to Blackhearts?
Robert Giacomin: It’s always been Blackhearts

Colorful Sinister: Where did you come up with the name Blackhearts?
Robert Giacomin: Well I have always been a big Joan Jett fan, and once I decided that I wanted an 80’s theme, it was natural.

Colorful Sinister: Are there always this many people here? You guys must have a good following built.
Robert Giacomin: We usually have a good crowd, we are one of the few places that don’t do camping or bots, not even in the beginning, we like to provide a real atmosphere for our patrons.

Colorful Sinister: I noticed that, and it’s good to see a club that’s not drawing people in with naked people everywhere ha-ha.
Robert Giacomin: Well that kind of started for two reasons, the first parcel we were able to rent was a pg parcel, and the second reason is that, well, that’s everywhere. I figured we could do it without all that. I guess it has its place in Second Life, just not here.

Colorful Sinister: You have DJ’s spinning 24 hours?
Thalie Basevi: Much of the 24 hours we do.
Robert Giacomin: Not quite. We have them about 18 hours a day, and a few days are 21 hours, but that is our next goal.
Thalie Basevi: We set the bar rather high, very particular about who we have. Many of them are real life in this field. Yes, some days we have 24 hrs now.
Robert Giacomin: Thaile is our head DJ by the way, as well as my partner and part owner.

Colorful Sinister: Awesome! Do you guys ever do events or anything?
Robert Giacomin: Believe it or not, we don’t really.
Thalie Basevi: Between the top notch DJs, and friendly atmosphere and hosts, the place sells itself.
Robert Giacomin: We have found in the past that when we tried to do events, a lot of folks weren’t really interested, they just wanted to come and hangout.  We do a few things during the year, on holidays, or special dates in music history. I’m also a big Elvis fan, so we do a couple events during his birthday and the day he passed away.

Colorful Sinister: How has owning this club and I believe you have the mall as well? How has it changed your Second Lives?
Thalie Basevi chuckles.  This entire sim belongs to BH
Robert Giacomin: It has been very interesting to say the least  lol. Well anytime you get 40-50 different personalities in the same place, you are going to have varying opinions. It takes a firm but fair hand to deal with all of them but as far as me personally, I am a people person. I love meeting and talking to people from all walks of life and not to mention I met the Second Life love of my life there. So I’d say things have worked out very well.
Thalie Basevi grins: My fascination is with the people yes, but I’ve liked to stay a more ‘behind the scenes person’ when it comes to helping to make the place a successful venue. Reaching out to a newly rezzed resident, making sure we have the best staff, and best danceballs, etc.
Robert Giacomin: I’d have to agree, one of the reasons we are so successful is we have one of the best staffs in Second Life.

Colorful Sinister: That’s always important. Well that about wraps up my questions for you. Any last statements you want to make?
Thalie Basevi: That could take days lol… Rob?
Robert Giacomin: Well I guess the thing I really want people to know most of all, is that Blackhearts is a place for everyone to feel welcome.  A place you can hangout at and call home.  I would also like to say that I’m proud to have the hosts, dj’s, managers and my wonderful partner helping me make my Second Life dream come true. And a shout out to all the vendors who have faith in us to provide us with their business

1 Comment "