Grind

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Grind/128/91/42

Rating: ✬ ✬ ✬ ✬ 1/2

As promised, the second in the series of 4 reviews of Phil Kearny's popular clubs....Grind Modern Romance.  Hmmmm...how to best describe Grind? Got it...the love child of the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza and the Techno club at the top of the adjacent high rise...but, somehow....it so works!

We have all been to the typical SL ballroom...ornate, romantic...and lets not forget hoidy toidy (are those words?), and stuffy.  Not that there is anything wrong with the romance of a ballroom, but lets face it...sometimes we want a little romance without all the pomp and circumstance. Enter....Grind Modern Romance

Whew! Only ONE arrow to follow to reach the club...walk would have killed in these heels...ummm, I mean...crap!

Upon landing at Grind, which is a mercifully short distance from the club itself, the first thing that you notice is even though the club is surrounded by an eclectic collection of shops like the other clubs, this place is different.  More like a man made island in the middle of the South Pacific 

Just waiting for the ballroom mosh pit to form...

Upon entering the club we were greeted by the, as usual, friendly staff...featuring none other than Phil himself spinning the tunes for the night.  While the decor may be somewhat similar to other ballrooms you may have been to, you will quickly see that this place is very different.  The "chill" feel of the club is immediately evident.  No strict dress code is enforced so if your feeling the tux w/ tails...go for it. If your mood is leaning more towards Jeans....all good!

Tunes so ethereal, the DJ and Concierge LITERALLY are floating on air

If your not really in a dancing kind of mood, there are plenty of places to just kick back and "chill" (hmmm...there is that word again).  Comfy couches, a grand piano...

Hookah just waiting for action, wait.....NOOOOO! the piece of furniture....Jeez!

and if your just wanting to contemplate the mysteries of the universe (or the actions of the opposite sex)...a fully functional hookah, for recreational use only of course ;)  Please note the spelling of that word...Phil runs only respectable clubs! :p

Despite two feet that are so left, they are right....even I can be Fred Astaire here

The dances on the singles and couples dance machines are as many and varied as the collection of DJ's spinning out the smooth romantic tunes.  Though for the most part the genre is most ballads and and contemporary r&b

Gabs somehow managing to pull off "Classy" while ripping it up on a wave runner

I mentioned before that this Sim is rather different than most of Phil's other clubs.  A quick walk down the escalator takes you to the water the chance to "chill" in a completely different way.  You can "swim with the fishes" or... 

MOM! It followed me home....can I keep it.....PLEEEEZ?!?!

share a more private dance on one of the two yachts docked below, free from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

Final Word:  If your looking for a little romance and don't feel like throwing on the ballgown and tux...or just want a break from the stuffiness of the more classical ballroom setting, you wont be disappointed with a visit to Grind Modern Romance

Additional Pics:

DEA will NEVER catch me in this bad boy!

DaVinci ain't got nothing on THIS piano!

Glamour with a "chill" to it....bring a sweater ;)

NO! We are NOT lost....I don't need to ask for directions....THAT buoy looks familiar

www.hardcorepandaporn.com see's unprecedented traffic shortly after the club opens

Three words....SELF SERVE BAR...woohoo!!!

Romantic dance for lovers.....or MMA training match....you decide

ummmm.....bad mexican food Phil?....take a moment, we'll wait...

Bad

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Florida/97/32/23

Rating: ✭✭✭✭-1/2

OMG!! I just saw Don Johnson pull up in a Testarossa...QUICK! Throw away your razors!

OK folks, I am very excited about this next series of reviews!  This is just the first of four posts in which we will be reviewing the four fantastic and all very different clubs owned by Phil Kearny.  This week we will review his newest, latest and greatest club... BAD!  The rest to follow shortly thereafter.  So buckle up as Gabs and I walk you through this awesome 80's club!

Sighs....I KNEW I should have worn my checkered Vans....

Upon landing in Florida, you instantly feel as if you are in South Beach during the height of the neon lit, be-checkered glory days of the 80's.  I actually looked around to see if I could catch a glimpse of Tubs and Crockett wandering the streets.  Aside from Bad itself, you will also find no shortage of great shops to get yourself all properly attired for the trip back through time.

Like....totally gnarly dude...and me without my parachute pants....

Upon entering Bad, the nostalgia for the time period just washed right over me.  First of all....LOVE the music!!!  This was the stuff I grew up with, had my first boy/girl dance to...and yes, I will admit it...used to break dance to (used to be able to do one MEAN worm :p).  Initially Gabs and I thought that the club seemed far to bright with the stark white walls, however...the design of Bad is definitely best suited for viewing in the midnight setting as you can see below.  Gives it much more of the 80's night club feel that I was expecting.

In keeping with the theme of the club, the DJ and (as always typical of Phil's clubs) hot dancers/hostesses are all decked out in 80's era outfits.  The staff was super friendly, welcoming us almost before we had even entered the club proper.  

Incredible...the squeaking of the outfit is perfectly in time with the music!

One of the things that I think I enjoyed the most about Bad, well...other than the tunes...Was all the great stuff that has been put in there.  The Rubik's cubes for tip jars...brilliant!  As is the giant one above the bar.  If you don't feel like shaking your tush...take a turn on the "Simon" game that is in the floor in the corner.

Alf...single-handed made munchin' a little kitty...socially acceptable ;)

Besides the great tunes and friendly staff, there is also a TON of great photo opportunities just waiting to happen here.  Be sure to leave your kitty at home though because Alf likes to hang at Bad!  Now, if you were around in the 80's and you claim that you never owned a Spuds Mackenzie t-shirt...you straight up lying! lol....be sure to grab a photo or two with Spuds as well.

Spuds...always up for a party, just never...EVER confuse him with Alex from Strohs

Ultimately though, Bad is a dance club...and on that score it certainly doesn't disappoint.  Easy to use dance machines stocked with all the latest and greatest dances are a constant in all of Phil's clubs.  We even came across a few dances that we had not as yet seen.  

Babe...what do you mean your down with OPP?

We even came across a few dances that we had not as yet seen.  I am still waiting for the bill from the chiropractor following this one!  Although...I would expect to find some break-dances on the machine in an 80's club...lol!

OK, next stop is the 90's club where my chiropractor is actually covered by my insurance!

The Final Word:  I think it is safe to say that we will definitely be back to Bad.  Great staff and friendly people, combined with spot-on fun decor for the 80's period it represents make for a winning combination.  The only knock on the club for me was the brightness of it, but as I mentioned...a switch to midnight solved that problem.  Bravo Phil for yet another one knocked out of the park!

Additional pics:

OMG! I solved it...somebody quick, book me on Carson before Leno takes over!!

Alf as a french maid...like a double negative, the two fetishes cancel each other out 

By the 90's, half of it's for sale...the other half under water...DAMN YOU global warming! 

Caution...outfits may cause epileptic seizures

Talk to the hand? not until at least 1995 baby :p

's's

Safe sex in the 80's....god I HATE the 80's

C'mon Spuds...I spotted her first...I'm ALWAYS the wingman...

Haunted Castaway Island

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dream%20Island/122/189/22

Rating:✭✭✭✭1/2

Fun is waiting to be had at every corner of the Haunted Castaway Island half-sim attraction.  The prevailing theme is of course Halloween, but this island has that and so much more.   I found it hard to believe as I was touring the location that it was ONLY a half-sim.  Despite the fact that there is no shortage of things to do here, everything was really well spaced and easy to get to.

Yeah...but it gets GREAT gas mileage and I can park it in the bike racks!

Gabs and I were laughing almost immediately upon landing as we found this super fun car at the landing.  The animation for this car is positively brilliant, you'll be giggling as it squeezes you, somehow, inside the car.  Even better...you can drive it once you are in!  I'm pretty sure I still have tire tracks up my back!  Co-located at the landing zone is a graveyard with lots of great animations for wonderful photo opportunities.                                                                                                                

What? Do I have something in my teeth....?

After having a blast in the car and graveyard, Gabs and my next stop was at the Haunted House itself.  It was, of course, full of fun and hilarious animations...but one thing that I really liked about this house was how easy it was to navigate.  I don't think either of us even once complained about having a bad camera view.  Just inside the door to the left is a fantastic dinner table with a delicious looking entree served up ..lol!  

Hmmm...perfectly color-coordinated monster tentacle...only you baby

With all the great things arrayed around the living room, be sure you don't forget the upstairs or den just to the left of the staircase.  The kitchen is also a blast...I VERY strongly recommend taking a peak in the fridge for leftovers ;)  

Holy Crap!!! No wonder my kid is hysterical if we don't get the newest cereal at the store!

Once you are done with all the kitchen, look in the middle of the floor for an animation to take you into the basement where the fun continues.  Giant spiders, floating ghosts and a hallway from hell await among other things.

Insert applicable "prick" joke here....

As I mentioned earlier, the Haunted House is just part of the fun and good times to be had.  Walking along the shore presents more great items to play with.  My personal favorite....the giant Crocodile.

Oh great!....She had the damn keys!

A little further along the shore brings you to an eerily beautiful fountain.  A great place to stop and get some snuggles and of course pictures.  Who doesn't enjoy snapping some pics with their special someone?

After such a traumatic series of events, who couldn't use a little cuddle?

Smack dab in the middle of the two major attractions of the half-sim is a VERY picturesque are with trees and flowers exploding with color.  A great place for pictures once again.

....or two (who says cobwebs can't be romantic)

Proceeding to the other side of the sim takes you to a grand, almost Mediterranean style building that is once again packed full of great things.  Chairs and lounges that attack as well as a psychiatric couch for those just needing to get something off their chest

Zhoooo...vhen you avaken, you vill no longer have a dezire for more zhan 2 pairz of zheos...

Arrayed across the beach outside of the Med building is a collection of even more (catching the "tons of stuff to do" theme here?) fun animations to play around with.  The knife throwing....OMG...hilarious!  Don't worry, Gabs has fully recovered from her wounds

ummmm....I'm guessing I get the couch tonight baby?

And...WOW! Did I ever pay the price for my poor aim....

No level of preperation is too extreme when trying out for the Venice Boys Choir

I almost completely missed one of the coolest areas for photos on the whole island, fortunately Gabs didn't.  The Seagulls fluttering around made for both a great photo, as well as a desire to toss out birdseed...lol!

Mine!....Mine, Mine, Mine.....(extra points to those that recognize the reference)

Final Thoughts:  Both Gabs and I had a blast on our trip to the Haunted Castaway Island.  With a winning combination of not only fun items but also outstanding layout of the Sim itself...you wont find yourself lacking for things to do.  While it may not have the sheer size of the previously reviewed GAFL Haunted house, it definitely has every bit of the same quality.  Totally worth a visit before it disappears on November 1st...and a great way to spend some time with friends or your special someone!

Additional Pics below:

Baby, who come your mud-bath was in a spa and mine...well....

NOT the car you want to be stepping out of on the day you decided to be sexy and go commando

Hmmmm......oh, ummmm, I mean, sorry........."COMING DEAR!"

OK, I know they say books help your imagination take flight but....really? I mean....REALLY?

BE RIGHT OUT!!!!  geez, can't a guy get any privacy in the bathroom?

Soooo...are you sure this wont fit in the bedroom babe?

yeah, ahh...see the above caption....

OK, OK...I will call Roto-Rooter tomorrow!

Awwwww....I am SUCH a lucky man :))