In a world of Destination Guides and particle-heavy nightclubs, The Pharmacy stands out not just for its jazz-era charm but for its heartbeat. Tucked behind a discreet storefront on a quiet virtual street, this Second Life speakeasy hides in plain sight, its polished glass windows and vintage signage giving no hint of the magic inside.
Step inside and you’re greeted by a nostalgic hum: the warm glow of chandeliers glinting off black and gold Art Deco walls, the faint scent of pixel gin, and the rhythmic laughter of avatars dressed in their best flapper finery and fedoras. Behind the velvet curtain, the golden stage shimmers under the Pharmacy logo, a martini glass and musical notes floating like a wink to the prohibition days. The dance floor pulses with sequins and swing steps, the Sploder spins, and the DJ’s voice cuts through the crowd with timeless charm.
Owner Pet Pinklady built The Pharmacy during the isolation of the COVID era, transforming what began as a single swing night into one of Second Life’s most beloved cultural gathering places. The Pharmacy quickly became more than a venue. It is a movement where vintage style meets digital soul. Patrons call it their happy place, a world where friendships are as real as the cocktails and every Tuesday and Saturday brings that unmistakable blend of rhythm and connection.
Regular DJs Suzie Cummings and Loren keep the dance floor alive with big band and swing classics, while hosts Piper, Eve, and Arella blend laughter and hospitality in perfect harmony. The result is a place where you don’t just dance, you belong.
Stepping into The Pharmacy feels like stepping through time, a living postcard from the Roaring Twenties with a heartbeat of 2025.
After closing time one evening, I sat down with the entire crew to talk about how this beloved speakeasy came to life and why its magic endures.
✦ The Pharmacy Speakeasy: After-Hours Interview
The Beginning
MinJi: Pet, what inspired you to create The Pharmacy, and why did you choose a prohibition-era theme?
Pet: I previously had a rock and blues club and someone suggested I have a swing music event just to try something different. Since swing music was most popular from the 1920s to 1940s, I rezzed a platform above the club and built a speakeasy. Everyone loved that event so much that I closed my rock and blues club and opened up The Pharmacy. It was the uplifting music we all needed to hear at the time since this was back when COVID first hit. It was the best medicine for all of us and still is.
MinJi: Suzie, how did you find your way here?
Suzie: I would have to thank Thomas Crown for finding my way to The Pharmacy. He introduced me to Pet back when she had that rock and blues club. We had a special event that was swing music and it really went over well with the patrons. So when she told me she was thinking about opening a swing club and asked if I would be willing to DJ there, I jumped at the chance.
MinJi: And Loren, what brought you into the mix?
Loren: I was DJing for an internet radio station when I started Second Life. A good friend suggested I DJ in SL. I ran into Pet at one of her venues, told her I did a swing set once a month at another place. She came to that set and soon after asked if I was interested in DJing here. That is how I became a DJ at The Pharmacy.
The Atmosphere
MinJi: How would each of you describe the atmosphere that has developed here?
Pet: The club lives by the motto “You are a stranger but once.” We immediately embrace people as they walk through the door with a warm welcome. The atmosphere is very friendly and comfortable. We unofficially call ourselves the Pharmacy Family or PharmFam because there is a real caring for everyone.
Piper: The atmosphere is very positive and once you are there for about 30 minutes or so you really start to feel like you are part of the family. It is crazy awesome fun vibes and you leave knowing you have a safe place to go to and not feel judged.
Arella: The people at The Pharmacy are like family. There is an unpretentious atmosphere that is friendly and welcoming.
Eve: I spent a few evenings at The Pharmacy with a good friend some years ago. The crowd was a bundle of fun. The music and the Sploder made me laugh, so when Pet asked me to host, I said, “What the hell,” and agreed. That was more than three years ago.
The Music and Energy
MinJi: How do you each approach your sets or hosting to keep that swing energy alive?
Suzie: Swing music is fun music. Between the look of the club and the music being played, you feel the excitement of something that was forbidden, yet glamorous and fun. I fell in love with Swing the first time I heard the song “Last Night (I Went Out with Santa Claus)” by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. The song has an upbeat tempo that makes it hard to just stand still. It makes you want to dance and have a good time. Swing sparks a shared sense of happiness and that is what I try to create when I DJ.
Loren: I try to keep it mostly up tempo and happy. The crowd at The Pharmacy is always full of energy. They and our great hosts are what makes the club so much fun.
Piper: The energy and the vibes from the people help keep me going. I like when there are new people and I love the exciting energy they give us. What makes a great host is that you are there to lift people’s spirits if they are having a bad day or good day. Being that high energy for those two hours makes a difference.
Eve: You have to first find out who in the crowd is most chatty and start playing off their energy. I look for something memorable or unusual somebody leans into, and then use that as a running gag or theme for the rest of the set. You need to get to know everyone you can, find out what kind of chat makes them come out into local chat, and keep them going. That can make the evening a real hoot.
Arella: Be engaging. Talking with folks, especially those who are new, includes them in the conversation and in what’s happening. A great host makes the attendees’ experience as welcoming, fun, and fabulous as possible.
The Schedule
MinJi: The Pharmacy only opens its doors on Tuesdays and Saturdays 6pm SLT to 8pm SLT, an unusual schedule for such a popular venue. What’s behind that decision?
Pet: From the start, I didn’t want this to feel like a grind. The Pharmacy should always feel special — something you look forward to, not something that fades into routine. Two nights a week keeps the excitement alive, for both the staff and our guests.
Suzie: It also gives us time to plan themes and make sure each set feels fresh. When you only open twice a week, you make sure every night counts.
Piper: Plus, it keeps the community close. People show up because they don’t want to miss out. Those two nights are electric.
Eve: And selfishly? It gives us time to recover from how much fun we have. laughs
Arella: There’s a rhythm to it — like our own little heartbeat twice a week. When those doors open, it’s showtime.
Memorable Moments
MinJi: You have all been here for years now. What moments have truly captured the spirit of The Pharmacy?
Suzie: The second anniversary event was perfect. Chuck Clip, a former DJ, came back to help us celebrate two years. He made a special build that had video of the era going across the walls, and the design was fantastic. The patrons were watching, chatting, dancing, and laughter filled the air. It was truly a wonderful event.
Piper: My real life birthday fell on a day I hosted. People from different communities I am part of in SL came together with the regulars. It really captured the moment of family. That is what we are at the end of the day, a family that supports each other.
Arella: Hosts work their tails off by prepping for their shows, sending notices, inspiring attendance, and keeping things lively. I thoroughly enjoy my interactions with patrons and DJs and find it hard to put into words what it means to be part of the Pharm Family.
Loren: It is the folks that show up week after week. They are family to us. If they miss more than a week, we worry that they are okay.
Pet: Over the years I have had people tell me it is their second home. That is the nicest compliment anyone could say about the club. Home is where you feel a sense of comfort and security, a space that feels like your own.
Looking Ahead
MinJi: What are your hopes for The Pharmacy as it moves forward?
Pet: We plan on being around for as long as you will have us. There are always more people who need to discover the club, new music for our DJs to play, and the never-ending supply of moonshine at our fingertips.
Suzie: I would like guests to want more of what the club offers. Good music, good times, and great people. I want them to feel like they belong to a family and that the club is their second home.
Loren: I hope that they had fun, forgot about the world’s issues, and just enjoyed the two hours of music. It is our guests that make The Pharmacy a great venue.
Eve: I love the interactions with people who are flung all over this earth. I like to find a common theme for the day or week, such as with holidays or RL events or the weather, and get people to smile with my silly humor.
Arella: The people make my job worthwhile. When they choose to spend their evening at The Pharmacy, that is not taken lightly. Everyone appreciates a laugh.
Closing Time
The door sign flips to “Closed” and Pet begins clearing glasses as the crew lingers, still chatting, still laughing. Five years after that first swing experiment, The Pharmacy continues to thrive – a speakeasy where the cure for the common night is connection.
Visit The Pharmacy
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nova%20Coast/236/198/22
