fall 1998, no 6

Previously merely a worker, as of last August, Sarah Forbes-Roberts has become a member of the worker co-op at Come As You Are! (We're so glad she's stayed around, and if you've met her in the store, you probably are too!)

While we are a for-profit company, one of the reasons we organized as a worker co-operative was that, in our own way, each of us is more than a little uncomfortable with traditional ways of doing business. So when it comes to the holiday season, we're torn. Sure we love the snow, the lights,the rush of holiday shoppers, the frantic cries of people who have ten minutes to find three presents and pick up a pie across the street. It's intoxicating - and it's not like we don't need the money. But what we've never liked is the all-too-typical approach to selling. We prefer to help people find what's right for them, to support people in making their own sexual choices - not just tell them what's best and move on. So what we did was sit down and figure out what we really want to find waiting for us at home as a present, and here it is. It's sort of our own version of a holiday gift guide (except there aren't any interesting teapots, woolly moccasins, or fruitcake). Back by popular demand is...

toys

Hitachi Magic Wand Kit

The best thing we know to keep you going through the long winter. Durable, powerful, it looks a little like a Braun mixer, it's the same vibrator that seems to be gracing the pages of the Globe & Mail every other day. The kit comes with the Wand plus the G-spotter attachment, all lovingly gift-wrapped and ready to give (or receive... or both).

Andrew Blake Gift Collection

Of course, we believe that any day is a good day to start your porn collection, but since this is the season of giving (to say nothing of cool deals from distributors), we're offering an amazing deal on three Blake classics. Get three films, all tied up with a bow, for $64. 00 (regularly $102. 00). Offer good until we run out of tapes.

Ruby Ribbed Vibe Kit

Rudolph won't be the only one with a glowing nose when this kit comes to town. It's six inches of shimmering and vibrating red jelly, lube, condoms and batteries - all in a cotton carrying bag.

Fleshlight Dildos?!?

Our silicone selection just got bigger with the introduction of two new lines of silicone dildos, both with new textures and really reasonable pricing. We got so many comments about the Fleshlight toy for men in the store that we've been waiting for its manufacturer to go into dildo production. Well, here they are: The Tomcat, Tie Dye, and Glam Rock are made from the softest silicone we've ever felt, come in incredible colours (you have to see them to believe them) and are all harness compatible.

Rodeo Rider

From the same company we are also carrying the Rodeo Rider. Also made from supersoft plastic, the Rodeo Rider can be used as a clitoral stimulator, a cock ring, and a couple other things a little to difficult to describe in print (come into the store and we'll show you). We sold out of our first shipment and are anxiously awaiting more for December. A new Aslan creation, the Natural Harness combines a hard leather frontpiece with soft leather straps. It looks good and feels great, and at $50. 00, fits almost anyone's budget. You can find out about our expanding video section elsewhere in this newletter, and we're also expanding are our power play toy section. New restraints, new floggers, plus paddles, switches, crops, and pending staff approval, some very funky wooden toys.

videos

In the tradition of Boogie Nights and the heyday of the Porn Industry, we have put together a little section we like to call "The Classics". Here is where you will find some classic pieces that differ from the regular formula. When you start seeing Cum On My Face 73 in the video store it becomes fairly obvious that the videos coming out these days stick to a fairly slim view of what people want to see.

The material in this selection looks more interesting: the shots are more creative, everything isn't always super-lighted, and it's all on film. The actresses have more of a variety of body shapes and painfully large silicone breasts are missing. Porn in the '70s was pre-video, took a lot longer to shoot - and there was a feeling in those free-loving sexual liberation days that porn could transcend its sleazy reputation. Sleaze is great, but often people complain that porn is missing something. And diversity is not mainstream pornography's strong suit. Some compilation tapes that feature a good sampling of '70s would be Only the Very Best on Film, Boogie Down with John Holmes, or Deep Inside Ginger Lynn. All these tapes feature some inspiring performances that certainly shouldn't be forgotten. If you like a little plot with your sex, a good choice would be either be.

Behind the Green Door or Cafè Flesh. These films were made just when porn was starting to get some notoriety in the mainstream. Cafè Flesh actually made some crossover into regular theatres. The '70s is an era where porn aspired to be artistically sound as well as erotic. This is the place to look if you are frustrated with the quality of video. These films offer some explicit stimulation for between your ears.

books

Everyone's got something to say about it and some people even make money telling other people what they should do. Professional "advice people" may or may not have degrees, diplomas or other stamps of approval in the turf of human life they claim; their approach may range from kindly yet stern (Ann Landers), salacious yet informative (Pat Califia), reprimanding and abrasive (Laura Schlesinger) - regardless, their audiences are wide and the loyalty they inspire can be fierce. In the world of sex, advisors can be found on the radio, on TV and in print. Taking the "Q&A" approach, folks such as Sue Johanson, Pat Califia (who, by the way, inspired the ire of some by daring to be a lesbian writing about gay men's sexual concerns), Isadora Alman and - closer to home - Xtra's Buck Naked and Lushus Lucy have guided the perplexed through the maze of sexual habits, etiquette, anatomy and more.

To this stellar list, we can add Dan Savage. His hip, irreverent and wicked prose has won him devoted readers (I confess to being one - having found his "Savage Love" column years ago in a copy of the Village Voice at the laundromat). Savage Love is now also the name of a book of his columns, which are grouped under headings such as "Butt Sex and Blow Jobs" and "Almost Everything Breeder Boys Need to Know About Women's Genitals. " Pick this book up (there, that's my piece of advice) and be prepared to laugh, gasp and learn alot. Other notable new books: Trans Liberation: beyond pink or blue is a collection of speeches by Leslie Feinberg, a leading transgender activist and all-roundrevolutionary!

workshops

Bend Over Boyfriend

San Francisco sex educators Carol Queen and Robert Morgan present their latest video project as well as covering complete how-to's on male anal pleasure. Cost is $20. June 10 7:30 - 10:00 PM

Female Ejaculation

Returning with her popular seminar for women, Shannon Bell will discuss female ejaculation from a historical and theoretical perspective, followed by a demonstration and hands-on segment. Cost is $15. July 15 7:30 - 10:30 PM

Energetic Erotic Massage for couples

Over the course of two afternoons, facilitators Matthew Simmons and Pat Parisi will teach erotic massage, including genital massage, techniques; for male-female couples (same-sex couples are welcome to attend a single session at a reduced rate). Cost is $180 per couple.