Annabis Moody Reporting...

Flames burn hot, drums pound sensually, the hottest avatars in Second Life prance around in skimpy outfits, and talented DJs share their magic at The Tiki Lounge.

Originally created in 2006 by Phelan James-- then closed for about a year-- the Tiki Lounge made a splashing re-entry into the world of the SL club scene.

Flames burn hot, drums pound sensually, the hottest avatars in Second Life prance around in skimpy outfits, and talented DJs share their magic at The Tiki Lounge.

Originally created in 2006 by Phelan James-- then closed for about a year-- the Tiki Lounge made a splashing re-entry into the world of the SL club scene.

 “The draw was the music and the DJ talent, and the Tiki family was born. By summer of 2007, the Tiki was the place to be,” said manager Sofia Diage.

About a year later, real life reared it’s ugly head and it had to be shut down, but the beloved club was never forgotten.

When things are re-born they come back stronger than ever, the Tiki Lounge is no exception.

“Time moved on and Tiki staff and regulars moved with it, but they never forgot the sense of family that the club had brought to them all,” said Diage. “Over a year later, the family is reuniting.”

Tiki Lounge finds it home on a sim called “Hedonism,” which is derived from a Greek word, meaning pleasure. The basic idea behind hedonistic thought is that pleasure is the ONLY thing that is good for a person--the only good. Tiki has never failed to live up to this standard.

One would naturally expect to find a club of this caliber on such a sim. What you might not expect on a wildly commercial venture like this are the pure motives and good karma that are the basic foundation on which this place was created.

Phelan James owns the Hedonism sim and linking Islands but he is quite magnanimous about this true labor of love.

 “I do not claim to own anything. It is a collection of hearts and souls that make Tiki Lounge what it is,” said James.

One of the hard-working souls credited for the success of Tiki is manager Sofia Diage, who

has overseen several successful SL club ventures and has put her heart and soul into brining back the Tiki Lounge. Diage is also a successful SL DJ with a large and loyal following.

“In this environment--this total freedom, people felt safe,” said Diage. “It was always harmless naked fun.”

Diage said that some of the best DJs in SL got their start or honed their craft at the Tiki. Avenue Magazine DJ of the Month Kromus Korobase and Supreme DJ in SL Meredith Freund both started their SL DJ careers at the Tiki, and Vengeance Radio's Tristain Savon cemented his role as one of SL's premier DJs.

Original Tiki DJ Kromus Korobase is one fine example, and he now boasts a huge loyal following.

"I’m looking forward to stepping back in time, to hopefully catch a glimpse and feel a reminder of what first got me into all of this,” said Korobase. “I've been looking forward to this ever since I heard the Tiki was back!”

Korobase talked about the good times that were experienced there, the countless laughs, and the many “OMG” moments witnessed.

“This was my first real family in SL and the reunion will be fun for all!"

he said. His prediction came true as witnessed by the tremendous crowd who attended the grand reopening of the club.

Many of the old “regulars” are thrilled that their beloved Tiki Lounge is back.

“It was my first home in SL and will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Dagmar Heideman.

Heideman said The Tiki Lounge was the first SL club she visited when she joined SL in 2007, and that it was one of the few clubs to have talented DJ's around playing live music 10-14 hours a day, seven days a week with music from every genre.

Romanji Zenovka agreed and said Tiki was the first place she had ever visited in SL also, “And I never left.”

Until, of course, the club closed. At the grand reopening of Tiki on June 19 Zenkova was one of many who were thrilled with the rebirth of their beloved club.

“It’s very nostalgic to come here tonight,” she said.

Zenkova said that at one time, Tiki was one of the most popular clubs in the SL search. She gestured around her on opening night and pointed out that people tend to loose their inhibitions here.

“Check out all the nakedness!” she said. “ Tiki opened in an era when SL was relatively new, people were just beginning to express themselves in a whole new level of virtual reality.”

Alexandra Nichols reminisced about Tiki also.

“Tiki was about family. You could walk in anytime and be made to feel welcome,” said Nichols. “Staff talked TO you not AT you... which seems to happen so much these days in clubs.”

Nichols explained that everyone was accepted and welcomed at Tiki.

“Tiny, furry, ball- gown, naked.. Hell even the 20- foot tall transformers in the back of the club were included,” she said

Nichols said the DJ and all the staff took their jobs seriously and enjoyed themselves at the same time.

“’Tiki After Dark is an opportunity for the busy people in SL who remember a time of love and freedom to reunite on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 6pm-8pm,” said Diage.

 

Teleport Now! : http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hedonism/208/171/491