Wagner James Au / New World Notes

Click here to teleport to Mug, a mainstore in Second Life that is also an incredibly detailed and amazing seaside city being smothered by a massive kraken. (Yes.) Created by Brandy Difference, who also brought a highly different difference to the usual SL consumer experience. You'll shop in style! You'll take selfies! You'll ponder the fragility of human existence and the fundamental monstrous unknowability of the universe!

"Our sims theme explores a captivating world where the remnants of urban decay are being gracefully reclaimed by nature," Brandy tells me. "In the heart of this overgrowth, a colossal tentacled creature, This Creature seemingly erupted from a mysterious abyss below, adding a playful and whimsical touch to the environment. The surprises don't stop there!" (Brandy mentions another creature but I'll not mention it here, so that it'll be a fangy Easter egg.) "I had to inject some playful chaos in the mix!"

Oh, it's also a mainstore with an Orwellian political edge:

Here's Mug's Marketplace page, by the way; Flickr account here. (Less tentacles, more fashion.)

Mug was recommended to me by Arriana Malphas Rosi. Inspired by Imogen Charlevoix's recent suggestion to make August a month to take a break SL shopping events, I'm looking to featuring more SL mainstores that are great to visit and explore in themselves. Here's a couple others I've featured recently:

• Visit Starlight Designs, an SL Mainstore That Unfolds Like a Fairy Tale

• Visit Bad Unicorn World, a Wacky New Theme Park in Second Life

Are there others I should be sure to cover? Please post details in Comments!