Downtown Bellisseria

[Nika Talaj]

When thinking about an "urban" theme in Belli, I began to think about how cool it would be if there were a Downtown Belli with different activities, and a lot of people coming through, someplace where it would be cool to just go to and wander around occasionally just to see who's there and what's changed.

And then it occurred to me that there kind of is that place already!

The new Welcome Hub regions have a LOT of new residents coming through, but not much else happening.  It needn't be as quiet as it is.  What's the name of that London welcome hub, it was ALWAYS so busy, something was going on no matter what time of day you arrived.  It had a residential region where my partner and I had a townhouse for a while.

The builds in the Welcome Hub regions are pretty good, and LL is showing itself willing to change them sometimes.  The brand new Community Exhibition space, where Laser Tag used to be, is cool.  If it changed often enough, if events were often held there, Bellizens might stop by regularly just to check it out.  And interact with a few newbies while there!

Some ideas:

• Why doesn't more happen in Motown?  It's a pretty cool urban build.   Are there contractual obligations to only have certain events there?  If not, why isn't there a funk dance in Motown at least once a month?  Either in the big open space you rez into, or the nicely done 'Spirit of Motown' club, or one of the streets already blocked off.  Cue 24K Magic !
• Motown isn't REALLY part of Belli, so the 'no commerce' rule could be suspended, making it possible to have live music in Downtown Belli!  oh yaaas!  Maybe on top of Hotel Impala.
• Here's an idea I'm particularly fond of.  Designate one or two regions as a 'guest region' area that changes ... say ... quarterly.  Free of charge, LL could MOVE a guest region to adjoin the HUB.  It would be cool to have, for example, one performance region (say, Chiaroscuro Isle, where the MetaHarpers Immersive Community Theater is?), and one gorgeous art region from the Destination Guide at all times.
• Here's another idea I love.  A PROMENADE!  Throughout history, humans have made spaces where folks can walk, socialize, and show off their best duds and pets.  I think it would be great to, for example, blow away the always-empty Helios Casino and put a nice park with a beautiful path through it.  You could use people-movers like all SL dance companies do to create a walking track with a promenade sequence for males, one for females, and one for couples.  You would want to use several animations in the promenade, so that while you ride/walk through the park, you walk from place to place, stopping to 'vogue' for pictures.  NO competition!  Just slap a bow on your favorite Borzoi, get your manfriend to wear that kilt you bought him 2 Christmases ago, slip into something stunning yourself, and go to see and be seen.  I don't know about you, but when Collabor88 first got started, I used to go just to see what people were wearing.  It would be cool to have themed Promenade events , where everyone dresses in theme.  Say, Game of Thrones.  Tattoos only.  Fur Fashion.  Anyone who doesn't think people would go, pay close attention to what people discuss in Belli chat.  New heads ... new clothes ... lalala.  Cue Easter Parade !

Really, what the HUB area mostly needs is a dedicated coordinator, possibly working for @Mini Mole, to keep it lively.

When you're alone, and life is making you lonely
You can always go
Downtown!

 [And yes, Petula, but this fun version is a lot more SL in spirit].

 

 

Edited February 16 by Nika Talaj

[Persephone Emerald]

Hanging out in the Welcome Hub regions is definitely a thing to do when you're bored. I'd like LL to add a surfing and sailing region next to the sandbox one, because surfing 🌊 🏄‍♂️ in SL is really fun.

[AzureWaves]

I’d like my downtown to be walkable from my home, part of my Main Street neighborhood town. The welcome hub is not it. 

[Betth Ashbourne]

Thank you @Nika Talaj for introducing me to this singer Emma Bunton. I've now looked up other songs she performs. A music artist 'new to me', to enjoy more of her music. ☺

Edited February 16 by Betth Ashbourne
'to me' 'her other music'

[SarahKB7 Koskinen]

@Betth Ashbourne

"New music artist"?  Emma Bunton was/is Baby Spice from The Spice Girls.

Edited February 16 by SarahKB7 Koskinen

[Betth Ashbourne]

51 minutes ago, SarahKB7 Koskinen said:

@Betth Ashbourne

"New music artist"?  Emma Bunton was/is Baby Spice from The Spice Girls.

(rolls eyes) I should have known someone might say this. LOL  I've edited my post to say her other music is 'new to me'. 

Edited February 16 by Betth Ashbourne
should have known

[animats]

The closest thing SL has to a downtown is London City. People go there, talk,and hang out. There are plenty of under-utilized urban builds in SL, but nobody goes there. Worth thinking about.

[Matthieu Quander]

On 2/15/2024 at 8:20 PM, Persephone Emerald said:

Hanging out in the Welcome Hub regions is definitely a thing to do when you're bored. I'd like LL to add a surfing and sailing region next to the sandbox one, because surfing 🌊 🏄‍♂️ in SL is really fun.

I'm a longtime SL surfer and former surfing sim owner, and would love seeing more places to surf, but the sad reality is that these places are rarely used or visited.  Anytime I go to http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Treeowatoor/233/76/26, or really any decent surfing spot, I usually have it all to myself (not necessarily a bad thing).  On the other hand adding a couple of waves to some otherwise mostly water regions shouldn't pose any problems.

  

Edited February 17 by Matthieu Quander

[Fay Starlight]

I would love to see the Hobbit House added to the Fantasy Area---I love the new tree houses, but if there were "underhills" too that would be great!

Elderglen had a choice of treeHouse/Stump, cottage, underhill, and mini castles.

So now there is a sort of castle/cottage option and new treehouse options, lets have underhills too!

 

 

[Aethelwine]

I would like to see them add an area with galleries, perhaps organised by the Second life Endowment of the Arts. I am thinking perhaps a little harbour, some cafe space to grab ice creams and sit around drinking cappuccinos in a region setup with little art shops with exhibits and installations from the art community. Rotate the art every few months to keep it interesting and get people to return.

[Zero Starchild]

All these suggestions are cute and sweet but after a week they just become ghost towns.

Edited February 19 by Ziggy Starsmith

[Always Incognito]

On 2/19/2024 at 6:50 AM, Ziggy Starsmith said:

All these suggestions are cute and sweet but after a week they just become ghost towns.

London HuB isnt and where i started, Second Sweden was always full of ppl until They closed it (mix of shops, homes, partyplaces and galleries). It was a starting point for new ppl and that could be one of the reasons to the success). This might work if Done right.