New Toulouse

Last Sunday, there was a very nice turnout when New Toulouse residents, visitors, and friends gathered as Miss ChuChu Laverne unveiled her most recent art piece, “Grape Reflections,” a work in pastels. The event was hosted by Mr. Blake Palmer at Palmer’s Place in New Toulouse. Miss Laverne’s intended, Mr. Zechariah Balthazar, was also on hand to show his pride and support.

After the poignant story of how the work was inspired by Miss Laverne’s mother and dedicated to her, it was unveiled, to the delight and appreciation of the well-dressed attendees. Comments, murmurings, and questions were offered, and Miss Laverne moved through the crowd to address them.

Then the festivities began as people toasted Miss Laverne with champagne, then helped themselves to a lovely banquet table filled with goodies for the palate, and Mr. Palmer mixed some of his best libations. There was also dancing to ragtime piano and other modern music.

The exquisite “Grape Reflections” is on permanent display at Enchanté, #7 Shotgun Row, where Miss Laverne invites the public to come by.

Imon Nightfire is a New Toulouse resident, art lover, proprietor of the Thirteen Royale Social Club, and fledgling tattler.

Today I went on a walk in the city to view some art. At Miss Bee’s gallery at Red Drum Place, Maison de la Femme Impatient, I see that Lilyday Darkstone has brought her art back to New Toulouse. Her painting Heartstrings seems to be longing for the cemetery just outside the window. I really like Lilyday’s paintings. They are so soulful.

In this gallery there are also paintings by Miss Bee herself. She is accepting orders for custom paintings, and her gallery will show and sell other artists’ works on commission.

Galerie Wikifoo, on Rue de Woodget, also has several new pieces on the walls. Mr. Wikifoo has recently hung Trick Fell Asleep and others that I have never seen before. He has a pair of horses in the gallery garden. I wonder if he has them there for inspiration.

Across from the Ascension Cafe is Galerie Diabolik, highlighting risqué photographs and paintings from different eras. Miss Ulva Gloom specializes in the forbidden and is showing very special pieces. I found a marvelous octopus among the French postcards and vampire-themed art.

Just behind the gallery is Cinema Diabolik, now showing the surreal short film Ghosts Before Breakfast. New Toulouse’s other cinema, Bijou Impromptu, is showing The Musketeers of Pig Alley, starring Lillian Gish. Both of the cinemas in the city present films that really satisfy my eye for art.

Next to Bijou Impromptu is the Green-Eyed Fairy, which has the most secret art gallery in New Toulouse. I’m talking, of course, about the nudes in the “smoking lounge.” In the more public area upstairs, you can find art by Bryn Oh and several others, and in the main room downstairs there is a very impressive collection of photos of famous musicians. I am very fond of the art deco posters in there too.

Our lovely city is full of art. In fact, there are so many places with art here that you should definitely devote some time to an art stroll.

The Ghost of Liza Veliz fell in love with New Toulouse at first sight. She publishes books by various authors; find them at her reading cafe on Shotgun Row.

Miss Fern Barker invites the public to attend a garden party this Saturday, February 21, celebrating the grand opening of the New Toulouse Artist Residency at #23 Rue du Rossignol, New Toulouse. The festivities begin at 2:00 PM and will include an art auction in addition to music, refreshments, fireworks, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony; artists wishing to offer their work at auction should contact Miss Barker at NT-137. Drawings and paintings of the Moulin Rouge dancer Jane Avril done by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec will also be on exhibit.

Dear Miss Weymann,

Thank you again for your help. I just wanted to let you know that my modest, little shop in the French Market, Les Temps Perdu, is now open for business.

I am a shopkeeper of little experience. I have come to this profession by way of necessity, having fallen onto bad times and now in dire need of supporting myself. Having lived a rather sheltered life, I have no real talents beyond reading. Thus I am obliged to sell some of my family heirlooms in order to raise sufficient funds to cover my daily expenses. I hope my customers will be patient with my deficiencies.

I have in my little shop a number of paintings that hung on the walls of my family’s estate. They are works by Louisiana artists, many of them immigrants from Europe. My great-grandmother, grandmother and my mother were all avid patrons of the arts and collected many beautiful paintings, works of art and furniture. My grandmother especially loved portrait paintings.

I moved here recently and am just getting to know my neighbors and find my way around but everyone I’ve met has been lovely and kind in their welcome. I look forward to remaking my life here.

Sincerely,
Fern Leissa

The Green-eyed Fairy

Miss Francesca Alva owns and runs the Green-eyed Fairy, a merry drinking and dancing landmark in New Toulouse. Miss Alva, an elegant woman of a certain age, takes great pride in having run this establishment since 2009. The club’s posh amenities are a reflection of the owner herself. “It is a labor of love and a place for people to just come and hang out, listen to good music, and dance. I have a well-stocked bar and a well-stocked Intan [dance machine],” explained Miss Alva.

The main room is decorated in a wash of green color like the fairy eyes that the club is named after—or perhaps it is green like the absinthe imbibed in great quantities by patrons and owner alike. The upright piano and the interesting artwork and themed ephemera adorning the walls create the impression that the arts are fully endorsed and enjoyed here at the Green-eyed Fairy.

During Founder’s Week in New Toulouse, the Green-eyed Fairy held an event with music played by the ever-popular Miz Carter Denja; the party harkened back to one of the club’s historic traditions. “RL issues for me meant that after 2010 I couldn’t be inworld much, but prior to that I had a monthly blues event DJed by Soliel Snook. I am hoping to resume events on a more regular basis here, and later this year there will be a tiny dance to aid the Relay for Life team Tiny Steps for a Cure.” said Miss Alva, who can be a biggie or a tiny any day of the week, depending on a plethora of reasons.

The Green-eyed Fairy—not to be confused with the Green Fairy of Winterfell—specializes in blues, jazz, and tarot cards. Miss Alva, pouring herself another glass of absinthe, hastened to add, “There is also an opium den.”

A thriving music venue in New Toulouse always embodies the enthusiasm of a passionate entrepreneur. Miss Alva’s reason for selecting this richly themed community was simple but compelling. Pouring yet another glass of absinthe, she explained, “The minute I set foot in New Toulouse, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t just want to be here—I knew I had to be here. The Green-eyed Fairy belongs here and nowhere else.”

Habana Jazz is a resident of New Toulouse and calls his mother every week.

Founder’s Week started off Saturday, March 2, with a reception celebrating the opening of the Art in the Park festival in the town square. Our own advice columnist, Maurice Nixon, hosted the party. The artwork of many talented artists was on display: that of T. S. Carson (as curated by Lazarus Morane), Maggie Hawksby, Adele Kling, Kristine Jinx-Kristan, Gigi Lapin, Maurice Nixon, Bryn Oh, and Melusina Parkin.

On the afternoon of March 9, citizens assembled at the house of Mayor Godenot to hear him speak from his balcony. “We come together to honor the tireless efforts and artistic vision of our Founders, Miss Carricre Wind and Miss Gabrielle Riel,” he said, to much applause. “Miss Wind, in the midst of Endless Destruction, conceived and built a city in a swamp. Her vision gave us New Toulouse, a dry place to live, to play, and to grow in the community of of our neighbors. Miss Riel conceived and built us a village in a bayou. She gave us our lovely New Toulouse Bayou, where we live and hunt and boat and play. Let us thank our founders for their vision and effort and enjoy these places they have given us!”

Following his speech, the mayor climbed up a ladder and leaped from a great height into the yard, landing in a bucket of water, which traditionally means a year of good luck for the city. The crowd was greatly enthused, and most made their way down the street to Lafitte’s for the Ceremonial Paying of the Founder’s Meter.

Then it was time for a street party in front of the firehouse, with entertainment by singer and pianist Kyle Bronsdon. Miss Mirri Rosca kindly decorated the area and set out refreshments for people to enjoy.

Overall, Founder’s Week was deemed a success, and the good people of New Toulouse look forward to another fine year.

Nikita Weymann lives in New Toulouse Bayou. She is disconcerted to be referring to herself in the third person right now.

We present the latest installment of our guide to musical venues in and around New Toulouse. This week, the popular Maison Bleu.

Maison Bleu

Mr. Holocluck Henly is well known in New Toulouse for wearing several hats beside his signature woolen beret. A model citizen by all accounts, Mr. Henly helps to organize annual charity fundraising and is a krewe captain in New Toulouse’s Mardi Gras parade, in addition to being the proprietor of Maison Bleu.

“It’s not a job if I own it, is it?” Mr. Henly began with a smile. Describing Maison Bleu, he said, “It’s a combination tearoom, music venue, and gallery featuring my own artwork, where I offer a little diversion to fellow Taloosters.”

Henly plays music from his personal collection whenever he feels like having a little soirée or when time allows. “For some special occasions I’ll draw from a century of eras and genres towards a theme,” he says. “I’m notorious for ‘music whiplash,’ but really I make disparate styles run well together.” Standard musical fare at Maison Bleu includes styles conducive to New Toulouse’s theme and spirit, such as Dixieland, jazz, electro-swing, Cajun, and zydeco.

“When I was a kid in New Orleans, we had a large department store called Maison Blanche. The name is a parody of that. And, walking through the French Quarter, there would be these vividly painted buildings with iron balconies. I wasn’t going to paint Maison Bleu pink, but blue works,” Henly explained, recalling what inspired his design vision.

When asked why he chose New Toulouse over other places in Second Life, Mr. Henly intoned with pride, “The NT people are very special, and NT is very immersive and convincing.” He added, “Really, there isn’t anything like it in SL. I have roots in New Orleans which I’ve come to be in better touch with. And many people here have similar sentiments. And I like that it allows people from other eras to walk our streets without prejudice. New Toulouse is kind of low down, but just the right depth of low down to make anyone feel welcome.”

Habana Jazz is a resident of New Toulouse and calls his mother every week.

Today we present another installment of “Hot Spots,” our guide to musical venues in and around New Toulouse.

Dafthouse Brewery

Dafthouse Brewery is a colossal building not far from New Toulouse’s cemetery. Perhaps that explains why Dafthouse is the favorite haunt of a ghost, according to co-owners Miss Crumbles Idlemind and Miss Jeaniesing Trilling.

“Dafthouse is a defunct brewery. The lore tells us it was in trouble after a series of deaths chased workers away who believed that it was haunted, and it was finally abandoned after the very suspicious death of Monsieur Daft, its owner,” Miss Trilling explained as a slight chill in the air became quite apparent.

According to rumor, a malicious spirit roams the building and was the cause of the horrible events leading to its closing. But Miss Idlemind and Miss Trilling are determined to light the old brewery with warmth, laughter, music, and friendship.

Dafthouse Brewery has been in business for about three years. It first began in two ill-fated regions that sank back into the murky waters of the bayou, and now it is firmly established in the city of New Toulouse.

Live music is prominent at Dafthouse. “Our regular artist, VooDoo Shilton, plays a lot of jazz classics, and lingers in the realm of bossa nova, for our listening pleasure,” said Miss Jeanie. “Another artist, TJ Oanomochi, stops in to sing when she isn’t on tour with her RL work as a professional singer. She sings a fair amount of jazz but doesn’t limit herself and nods appreciation to good music of any genre. Our other guest artists of the past nine months most often play acoustic covers of classics, pop, and folk music.”

But more than music happens at the brewery. “Dafthouse has a haunting—with a voodoo charm, offered at limited times. You can chase the ghost around Dafthouse and hear her story,” Miss Jeanie said. “The main room’s second story is our dedicated art walk. We host a rotation of artists’ work that can be viewed and purchased there. We also have occasional activities such as poetry readings and reader’s theater.”

She added, “Dafthouse would love to start up an open mic!” Taloosters of all levels of talent who would be willing to take the stage for a moment should contact Miss Jeaniesing Trilling.

When asked whether a real-life club inspired the artful and enterprising duo of Trilling and Idlemind, Miss Jeanie explained, “The other way, perhaps! Crumbles Idlemind has a RL venture that is modeled, in part, after Dafthouse. She began a cooperative gallery near her RL home that boasts some of the fun bits of Dafthouse’s activities in a RL setting.”

And what does the future hold in store for Dafthouse Brewery?

“Crumbles and I are both RL busy at times,” said Miss Jeanie, “so we enjoy running a low-key sort of place that doesn’t demand constant hands-on. We hope to remain in New Toulouse, providing occasional diversions for friends and neighbors.”

Habana Jazz is a resident of New Toulouse and calls his mother every week.