Tribute To Stevie Ray Vaughan Event

Lightning Production and Blues for Autism teamed up for a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan event. If you have never seen a Lightning Production, you don't know what you are missing. They do everything big......big stage, big light show, big sounds, big crowds and tons of fun. Tonight was no different.



Stevie Ray Vaughan kicked off the show with the songs "Scuddle Buttin" "Dirty Pool" and "Love Struck Baby". His astonishing guitar playing ignited the blues crowd with his uniquely electric and fiery style. Within the first 30 minutes, Magi McBride announced 20,000 lindens had already been donated.




Brett Stand, president of ASA stopped by to catch some of the event such as "Pride and Joy" as it blasted over the mega speakers. He witnessed the BFA kiosk totals climb reflecting the support and generosity of this enthusiastic crowd.






With the explosion in autism cases in the last year comes many more challenges with friends in our community. These families need our support and help more than ever.







Everyone was on their feet feeling amazed....not only from the awesome music being played but from the closeness we share for being a part of this great cause. We are making a difference!





As the sun set over the event site, the final song "Couldn't Stand the Weather" was played. Magi McBride proudly announced our total for the evening was 53,100 lindens bringing our BFA 2010 grand total to 848,442 lindens. There isn't any other way to describe it.....AMAZING!!!



A special thanks to Lightning Production and crew for their time, talent, and support!!!

by Leanna Chaffe

Arora Chadborne & Junkyard Blues

There aren't many real traditions in Second Life, but for the past three years Junkyard Blues has had a tradition of sponsoring and supporting the Blues for Autism fundraiser. And singer Arora Chadborne has given her amazing musical talent and financial support to make her benefit concert a huge success.

Arora Chadborne is the type of singer who makes you feel that she is singing to you personally. Last night, she performed as always, magnificently. She sang a wide range of songs from Faithfully by Journey to the Edda James classic At Last. For fun she threw in Going to Kansas City and for love she sang Love Me Tender. Arora's voice always strikes a cord with sweet resonant sound and flowing vibrato. As the concert hour ended and passed, despite a struggle with illness, Arora continued to rally and encourage the concert audience on to smash last year's tally of contributions.

Kiff & Dina were there as always and a huge crowd including so many of our Junkyard regulars, plus new friends as well. I counted nearly 60 people on the JY concert sim and another 25 on the JY club sim, and that Junkyard family was very generous.
(Photo of Kiff Clutterbuck, left)

According to Magi McBride, BFA founder, the final tally for the night was L$105,091. You just gotta love these Junkyard Dawgs! At the end of the day, the total contributions to Blues for Autism rose to L$793,272.
(Photo of Richardina Petty, left)

The audience was huge, nearly 85 people.

Arora Chadborne sang.

Arora spoke about the children and families affected by autism.

When the concert ended, Arora's goal of beating last year's total was achieved!

On behalf of the Blues for Autism organizing commitee, thank you Junkyard Dawgs!

by Yordie Sands

Bluebonnets, Bourbon & Blues

Bluebonnets, Bourbon & Blues event was held under the Maginolia skies at the BFA event site. The lovely and playful Angellica Lemieux was our special DJ for the evening. She kept us rockin' late into the night with her awesome blues.


Everyone started arriving just before dusk. The event site dressed in its blue flowers looked spectacular. With the straw beneath our feet, it gave us extra cushion for a night filled with dancing. Midway into the night, Magi McBride announced our grand total for all BFA events were 660,048 lindens. Even the animals let out a big howl at that announcement.

Here are a few photos from the event.

Cantara Boxer, Molly Montale, Lyndzay Meili and Liz Gealzch (BFA Bazaar designer) danced the night away.

Magi tried to keep Angellica and Leanna in line...but after a few bourbons that proved to be useless.

Yordie Sands and QQ tried to stay clear of the flying cow patties.

Lucinda Bergbaln and Straton Tigerpaw kept the animals speechless with their dance.

As the evening came to a close, our grand total for the BFA 2010 was recorded at 676,198 lindens. What a night!!!

**The BFA staff would like to give a special thanks to Heart and PondLife for donating the blue flowers and stable for this event.

The Blues Bazaar is Open

The Blues Bazaar is a collection of items that have been donated to the Blues for Autism fundraiser by vendors in the bluesy community. Please take some time to head over to the Maginolia sim and buy some of the great items. All proceeds go to BFA.

Here you will find a magnificent Jewelry Collection from Addiction Jewelry, several Homes from AHA Designs Homes, Gazebos from Ace's Spaces and Brando Construction, and a Garden House from Thistle Homes. You definitely don't want to miss the blue Garden Table Set from Ragazza Pazza. It is just right for one of those gazebos!

How about a flirty blue Cocktail Dress and handsome Tux from SF Designs. Musical Alchemy generously donated an incredible Grand Piano. There are some playful items too like a cute blue Pinwheel from You Know, For Kids and a toast-shooting Toaster from Lyndz-matic! Need some Puzzle Pottery? It is here too! There is a beautiful painting, Secret Doorway, from Mindspace Galleries and a Planter, Picture Frame and a Photography Gift Certificate from I-Magi-Nation Gallery. Kicks & Twirls donated a lovely blue Gown and a twirly Dress.

You really do not want to miss the delightful little blue Table and Outdooor Shower with lots of errr.. special poses from Little Mysteries. Going to a Rave Party? There is just the outfit from Anomoly. There really is something for everyone!

Our sincere thanks to Liz Gealach for the wonderul venue she created for the Blues Bazaar!

Story by Tippy Wingtips, Photos by Yordie Sands

Dance Auction @ The Savoy

On Sunday, we held a dance auction at the beautiful Savoy Jazz & Blues Club. We asked owners of the The Savoy to host this event and Crighton Johin to be our master of ceremonies. The Savoy team has had good experience in staging these events, and that experience helped us make this rather complicated event run smoothly.

The stars of the auction were the people who put themselves up on the auction block. So, we have a special hats off to Galillia Sinatra, WT Beck, Sabbrinna Sinatra, Thor Effingham, Gracee Beaumont, DonPaul Cale, Kitten Lytton, Kiff Clutterbuck, Richardina "Dina" Petty, ML Ferraris, Yordie Sands and Ziggy Neutron. For two hours our stars paraded up on the auction stage while MC Crighton played their favorite songs and told stories about their most embarrassing moments in Second Life.

The evening was successful beyond all expectations. The club maxed out the sim virtually all evening. Many guests bid on our auction stars and an equal number donated to the BFA kiosk. At the end of the evening, the auction itself raised L$127,100 but when the kiosk was added in the amount soared to L$219,892.

The Savoy began to fill up immediately with bluesy and jazzy friends,
the sim limit was quickly hit.

The debonaire Crighton Johin was a bit under the weather,
 but was magnificent in making the auction flow smoothly.

Galillia Sinatra was first up and the auction begins.

The crowd was so large that Crighton increase the sim limit to 80.

 The auction was a team effort (left to right),
 Magi McBride (founder), Yordie Sands, Crighton Johin and Leanna Chaffe

Auctions are complicated events to organize and execute. Special thanks to Blissie Boucher and Connected Consulting who helped Blues for Autism plan the event. A special tip of the hat to Leanna Chaffe who managed the auction while answering dozens and dozens of IMs.

Thank you to all the people who made this auction work. Your contributions helped drive the overall Blues for Autism fundraising total to L$616,166.