New secret club house for Berlin children

The old hidden away room in the back of the pottery was discovered and removed when the buildings were improved by the city planners.

But the children of Berlin need of course a secret headquarters where they can plan their adventures or just hide from mother superior who runs the orphanage or the teacher when they are skipping school.

So when nobody was looking, a bunch of them sneaked into the huge Tiergarten park, found a nice quiet spot and build a huge tree house!

This is now their base of operations, no grownups allowed!

A place where they can get together to play, read comics, sleep when dad is drunk and violent again, or just enjoy some peace and quiet, away from the city.

However it was build right next to a circle of mushrooms, in English we call it a fairy ring.
Or as the Germans call it; “Hexenringe (“witches’ rings”)!
In German tradition, fairy rings were thought to mark the site of witches’ dancing on Walpurgis Night (last day of april).

So maybe keep one eye open while you sleep…

I won’t tell you where the club house is, but if you ask other kids they will show you or if you’re brave enough… you can just look for the Hexenringe…

The Drax Files

Recently the talented Machinima maker Draxtor Despres started on a new series of short videos about Second Life.

Especially meant to show the other side of this virtual world, those people and communities who are part of something, behave or are involved with those things that most outsiders don’t know are possible in our online universe.

That side of Second Life that is not just about shopping, chatting or virtual hanky panky.

Because, unfortunately, most people who are not themselves a part of Second Life, seem to think that that is the only thing that happens there.

I feel that one of Second Life’s biggest problems is it’s reputation.
So many people have no idea what Second Life is about, all the options it has to offer, all the possibilities.
And if they have any opinions about Second Life at all, they are usually negative.
Shaped by the horror stories from the media but also because Linden Lab isn’t actively trying to change that reputation.
They themselves often promote Second Life with images that reinforce some or all of the preconceptions people may have.

There is nothing wrong with that side of Second Life and I am sure many, if not most people here feel that shopping, chatting and the horizontal tango, are the most important sides of their online adventures.
Not something as boring as education and history.
But even if that is true, it can’t hurt to let people know that this too is a part of Second Life.
After all, the secret behind Second Life is that it is what we make it.
WE and YOU build it and we can make whatever we want.
Once visitors realise that, they stick around.
So I feel that Draxtor’s series is quite important as it is spreading that message as well.

The first episode was about Kriss Lehmann the owner of Botanical and creator of some very nice trees.
Our 1920s Berlin sim is full of them!
You can see this episode by clicking here.

I was very proud when Draxtor asked if he could make his next episode about the 1920s Berlin project and me.

Over the course of a week, Draxtor immersed himself into our little community and shot lots of film, eventually editing it together into the second episode of ‘The Drax Files’.

The episode turned out very nice and we’re happy to say that it has been received very enthusiastically.

But we’re also very happy that Draxtor felt so much at home in our neighbourhood and has been returning to our streets even after his work there was done.

You can see the episode here;

Orphanage opens in 1920s Berlin, kids welcome!

Berliner!

Because of the war but also general poverty and the many who suffer from the Reales Vita virus, more and more children find themselves without parents or legal guardians.
Sometimes for a short time, sometimes for ever.
These children wander our streets, sleep under bridges and often end up being involved with crime, drugs and prostitution.

The Alexanderplatz Waisenhaus takes care of those who need or help the most.
It looks after the orphans in a homely setting.
But it also welcomes children who are without someone to look after them temporarily.
It often happens that one of the parents dies or gets sick and the other has to work and has no time to look after the children for a short time.

Children in Berlin can be taken to Alexanderplatz 5, where frl Sabri Christy will look after them.
Children without parents are allowed to stay for free, they get a bed, a chest and food, paid for by generous donations from the public.
Children with parents can stay as well but if possible their parents will have to pay for them.
Orphans can be adopted.

At the orphanage children get looked after well, they get to play the piano, are send to school, church and the bath house.

Unfortunately, at this time, we can not give children any prims, but in the future we may offer orphans several prims to spend if they live at the orphanage.

For more questions, please contact;

Sabri Christy (sabriel.warwillow)
Alexanderplatz Waisenhaus
Alexanderplatz 5, Berlin

The 1920s Berlin Project 3rd anniversary!!

On may 30th the 1920s Berlin Project is celebrating its 3rd anniversary!

And in times of economic and political turmoil our community is doing better then ever!

To celebrate this wonderful occasion we’re organising 5 days of fun, events, frolicking and excitement!
You are invited!

As always, we have a strict 1920s Dress code and only allow realistic avatars… but on Saturday everyone is welcome!
Read on to find out more.

We have something planned for every day but there are also some events that continue throughout the celebrations;

-The contest
We have a photo-contest around the theme “The Spirit of Berlin”.
You can make as many photos as you want and upload them to our Flickr group, but they have to have the title “The Spirit of Berlin”, mention our slurl and of course they should be taken in the 1920s Berlin sim to be eligible for the grand prize of 1000 Linden!!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/20sberlin/

-Gifts
There will be something nice for all our visitors who come to Berlin during these days of celebrations!
What it is will be a surprise!

-Carnival
For once Unter Den Linden will have a few fun carnival rides and will be decorated, come and see!

For all events the times are SL time (PDT).

***Wednesday 30th of may 1929***

Noon: opening of the museum exhibit; the 1920s Berlin Project sim history
2 pm anniversary Dance at the feet of the Brandenburg Tor!
The mondschein Dance orchestra will be playing the latest tunes.
Evening-dress required.

***Thursday 31st may 1929***

noon Premiere of Herr Kornonen’s new movie at the Asta Cinema
1 pm car rally trough the streets of Berlin, fastest driver wins 500 Linden!
2 Special Happy Hour at Der Keller with special surprise event to be announced!

***Friday 1st june 1929***

noon football match!
1 Treasure hunt! Lovely free 1920s items will be dropped throughout Berlin!
2 Special Happy Hour at Der Keller with special surprise event to be announced!

***Saturday 2nd june 1929***

Open door day – Everyone welcome in Berlin, just today we are abolishing the strict dress code, you’re welcome to visit in modern clothes, as a unrealistic avatar, etc.
Only the no nudity and no nazi rules will be upheld.
Some of the private residences will open their doors to the public as well and show you how they live!

noon Special Party bath hour at the Volksbad.
For once we will allow music, dancing, smoking and drinking in the pool!

2 pm The infamous Eldorado Club ha another wild night planned with performers on stage, DJ Myron Byron playing some swell tunes and a Best Drag outfit contest with prizes!
So girls come as boys, boys come as girls!
Of course cross dressing is voluntarily…

***Sunday 3rd june 1929***
12 noon All kids (and parents) welcome at the school where they will be told about a brand new contest involving cake and then we will have a KIDS COSTUMED foot race trough out the city!

1pm we are all visiting the exciting ‘Summer in Berlin’ exhibit made by the wonderful people of the Berlin archives!

2pm as a grand final we will have a deluxe Happy Hour at Der Keller with an auction and lots of fun!
Got something you want to auction? Something you made, a service… a date?
Bring it to Der Keller that night!
All proceeds go to the sim and you get a chance to go home with something (or someone) nice!

Berliners are invited to organise parties or special events during these days as long as they first contact Herr Zeno McAuley to check times, dates and possibilities.

The schedule can be changed and new events added.

School in 1920s Berlin

Have you been to the Hindenburgschule in Berlin yet?
Every sunday at noon all children are welcome to join this extra class for those kids who want to learn more then what they are taught on normal school days or for those who have to work during the week or can’t go to class for other reasons.
Every weekend you can learn something new or just have fun with your friends.

If you want to see some pictures of the school day, click the photo below;

First class at Hindenburg School delights kids

Berlin is a city full of children, they rule the streets, have adventures, play games in the clubhouse and annoy the police.
But every sunday we an hour of school.
Different volunteer teachers share their knowledge with the inner city kids.

For this first class The Qi sisters taught their group about the weather, how boys should cut their hair and nails short and how you can be burned alive if you play with matches.
One boy, who shall not be named, was naughty and had to sit in the corner.
When he was refused permission to go to the toilet, he took a wee in the stove, causing children to scream and laugh while a smelly cloud of steam filled the room.
Luckily the naughty boy then escaped out the window and the lesson could continue.
Afterwards the children played in the schoolyard.

You can see the photos we made here in our Flickr photoalbum.

Pay attention kinder!

Video made about Kids’ weekend in 1920s Berlin!

Our very own herr Korhonen made a lovely video during Kids’ weekend in 1920s Berlin!

You can watch it here;

School is starting for kids in 1920s Berlin

Kinder!

From this sunday onwards there will be school EVERY week in the Hindenburg Schule here in Berlin.
We will try and find you all a teacher for every class, but you never know what or who you will get.

Maybe it is reading, math, history, you’ll just have to show up!

So, every sunday at noon slt there will be class at the school, a great reason to meet your other friends in Berlin, go outside and play afterwards or join us all in church that starts at 1pm slt (followed by free soup and other goodies at the soup kitchen).

The teachers will all be poor local volunteers, so I have given them a tip jar on the desk.
So if your parents can afford it, do ask them for a few coins so you can tip your teacher if you enjoy the class and also so we can buy coal to heat the school in winter.

We hope to see you on sunday!

Achtung Kinder!

Winner of photo contest announced

Recently the 1920s Berlin contest organised a photo contest; 500 linden reward for the best picture with the theme “Children of 1920s Berlin”.

People from all over Second Life came to our little neighbourhood to try and capture the winning snapshot, especially during the famous ‘Kids’ weekend’ the city was crowded with children running around  the city and having lots of adventures.

The perfect moment to grab your Brownie Box camera and make some great pictures for the contest.

We received a bunch of great photos in our special 1920s Berlin Kids Flickr group (click here to visit it) and it was very tricky to find a winner.

In the end we choose this photo;

The winning photo by Kara Trapdoor

We choose this photo because it is very well made but also captures the theme of the contest very well and is very inviting to people who have not yet visited 1920s Berlin.

This is what 1920s Berlin is all about and what it could offer those of us interested in roleplaying a child.

A nice bonus for us is that we are about to start regular school classes in Berlin and this picture is great advertising for that too.

But we also decided to choose a runnerup, simply because we were so impressed with the pictures this young lady send in.

The runner up by Estellybellyjellybean

As she has no rezzing permissions in Berlin, she had to pose, time and balance all the props perfectly for each photo.

The bike, the hat flying off her head, she is wearing those and balancing it all while racing down those steps dangerously close to the water.

Bravo!

Little boy lost in Berlin

I remember seeing this kid wander around Berlin with his heavy suitcase but only now discovered the amazing shots he made with his camera.

The well known Torley Linden said;
“What great finds! Some of the framing and depth of composition is incredible.”

Have a look at this!

Flickr set with Little Boy Lost photos