Over the years I’ve shown many examples of how our instruments have become iconic, and how saxophone imagery has permeated our culture. Well it is not only the real world in which the saxophone enjoys this level of stardom. Even the virtual world is not immune to the saxophone’s popularity.
In the online virtual world Second Life, you will find a place called Cafe Tropicalia. This Bay City establishment features a large saxophone prominently displayed at its entrance. (At least I think this is its entrance. I’m not a member of Second Life, so I can’t be 100% positive.)
Cafe Tropicalia, Bay City 10/20/08
Photography by: Shadoe Landman Source: Flickr
This sax from the Cafe Tropicalia reminds me of the saxophone sculpture outside The Horn restaurant in Houston, Texas.
Unfortunately, unlike the VW Beetle-based sculpture in Texas—which recently was saved from destruction when the restaurant got new owners—the Cafe Tropicalia’s saxophone seems to have gone “poof” into the virtual dust.
According to location-based linking in Second Life, the entire Bay region—including the saxophoned-Cafe Tropicalia—no longer exists. Perhaps the area was the victim of a gigantic earthquake, or tsunami, or some other virtual disaster. Oh well, I guess not even in the virtual world is architecture safe from the wrecking ball.
Musta been created after I left Second Life. I quickly became addicted to that virtual world and was convinced to leave, with prejudice, because there was a real world that I was ignoring. Fascinating stuff.
What… You into gaming??? Hard to believe… 😈
Suzie: Gandalfe… Where are you? Dinner’s been ready for 20 min.
Gandalfe: I’ll be right there….
10 min Later…
Suzie: Gandalfe… Are you on that flippin’ computer again? What are you doing?
Gandalfe: Ah… Nothing Suz… I’m doing nothing. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.
Suzie: I’m tired of this. It’s been going on for weeks now. This saxophone forum stuff is just taking up too much of your time.
1 Hour Later Gandalfe Appears For Dinner…
Suzie: So, did you you solve your spammer issue on the Woodwind Forum?
Gandalfe: Um, actually I was in a virtual world called Second Life.
Suzie: How long has this been going on?
Gandalfe: A few months now. You should see the avatar I created.
Suzie: That’s it! All this time I thought you were doing Admin duties on the Woodwind Forum you were playing a freakin’ computer game? The cats have starved; the dogs messed the house; all because you were playing a flippin’ computer game!! That’s it… We’re having a family intervention this weekend.