October 17, 2003
GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 11
evening'sout
Get them something good 'n' salty for Sweetest Day
by Anthony Glassman
Ahhh, the season of love, when the birds are buzzing, the bees are chirping, and l'amour is in l'air.
Bouquets of long-stemmed roses fly off the shelves at the florists, heart-shaped boxes of candy cannot be had for love nor money. Yes, it's time for Sweetest Day. Appar-
The store was declared the "Best Shopping Experience in New York" by Zagat's guide, and everything in the store is here in the book, with the possible exception of the sales staff.
There are, however,.plenty of other staffs, as well as rings, thingummies, doodads, whatsits and the like.
Mixed in with the pictures of sex toys are frequently asked questions, bits of advice, historical notes and amusing snippets like, "Remember, you don't have to be monogamous with your sex toys," or "An erection (and that includes an erect clit) sometimes tells a truth that surprises the mind."
sex toys
A PLAYFULLY
ΙΟΙ
UNINHIBITED GUIDE
Perhaps the most intriguing facet of the book is its openness, not in terms of the way it discusses sex (which is a given), but in terms of who it is for:
0X30X600 absolutely everyone.
RACHEL VENNING & CLAIRE CAVANAH. Founders of Toys in Babeland
Despite both authors being lesbians, they do not assume their readers will necessary share their sexual orientation,
Merger, the Beginner's Swimming Lesson and the Group Hug illustrate what two (or, in the last case, three) men can do together. The girls might wish to take note of February 6's Under the Hood, the Slingshot on June 7, or go Snorkeling on August 13.
A quick caveat: some of the positions might not be possible to maintain. Sure, someone could get into the position, but staying in it long enough is another matter entirely.
Also, one can be pretty sure that the Rear Admiral and the Prodigal Son are really the same position, unless there's something that should be in the picture that's being blocked
WINDSOR
*
by, say, someone's left leg. They are line drawings, after all.
Also, I don't think the publisher make: any guarantees as to whether the post cards will arrive at their destination in one piece should someone actually try mailing them They're probably more intended as a humor. ous gift item than an actual piece of station. ary, so keep that in mind when buying them
Perhaps Rachel Venning, Claire Cavanah Emma Taylor and Lorelei Sharkey should collaborate on a book for next year's Sweetest Day, entitled Sex Toy of the Day: 101 Positions for Every Way. Lord knows, i would probably be a best seller.
ONTARIO
Out the
town
CANADA
ently, the holiday began in Cleveland as a day to give a little token of esteem to the poor and downtrodden. Once the card companies got their hands on it, the third Saturday in October became Valentine's Day Jr., a time to buy candy and flowers and, of course, cards.
Having transformed into a lover's holiday, however, Sweetest Day is now another gift-giving occasion when one must figure out what is appropriate.
Here are the perfect things.
DE CAPS CRAIXE
THE WEY BANK
SEX TIP NO. 114
Sex Toys 101: A Playfully Uninhibited Guide by Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah is the perfect gift, whether you've been together for a while and need to spice things up a bit, or have just become part of a couple and are looking to explore boundaries.
Venning and Cavanah, the dykon founders of the Toys in Babeland stores and web site, have spent much of the last ten years educating the public about sexual issues, and this book continues in that work.
"A lot of people are concerned that the toy they are considering taking home will replace their lover, or that the toy they give to their sweetheart will replace them," Venning noted. "Sex toys can do a lot of things a person can't... bring on orgasm, which can be elusive... stimulate two or three ways at once... All that is true, but no sex toy is going to destroy a good relationship."
"Sex toys don't replace partner sex, they just enhance the sex you're having," she concluded.
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Sex Tip postcard
or will even be women. The book is as much for a straight woman or a man of any stripe as it is written for the authors and their friends. For those too impatient to make it through the entire book, though, apparently all the problems in the world can be solved with three words: Hitachi Magic Wand.
Next up on the buffet d'amour is Nerve.com's Position of the Day, 365 linedrawing sexual positions compiled by sex columnists Emma Taylor and Lorelei Sharkey, who write on the web site as Em & Lo. In addition to the pocket-sized compendium, there is also a set of 30 post cards, both from Chronicle Books.
Much like Sex Toys 101, Position of the Day: Sex Every Day in Every Way has something for everyone. The publisher's publicist was kind enough to go through our review copy and flag the same-sex positions with Post-it notes, making it a lot easier to figure out who was doing what to whom. For the boys, positions like the Corporate
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