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February 2004 . contents
Events
Workshops
Happy Valley Silicone Toys
Magazine Review: S.M.U.T.
Book Reviews: Sex Toys 101, The Big Bang
Art and the Artists
Valentine's Sale @ Venus Envy
Saturday February 14th, 10:00am to 6:00pm
Buy one sex toy and get a second (of equal or lower value) for half price!
Events
Ivan E Coyote will be reading in Nova Scotia this March!
Ivan E. Coyote was born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon and now resides in Vancouver. She is a writer and storyteller who first came to attention as a member of Taste This, who collaborated on the critically-acclaimed, award-winning book, Boys Like Her. She currently performs with One-Trick Rodeo, an audio-visual storytelling extravaganza. Her first solo collection was the award-winning Close to Spider Man, followed closely by One Man's Trash. She was recently listed as one of Shift Magazine's "Top 75 Cultural Movers and Shakers" from around the world. This year she collaborated with musicians Richard Spencer, Veda Hille, and the Longest Night Ensemble to create her first CD, You're a Nation, a collection of her stories set to music.
She is a monthly columnist for Xtra West, freelances regularly for The Georgia Straight and CBC Radio, and is currently at work on her first novel, which is set in the Yukon.
Some praise for her work:
"It's simply a small treasure of storytelling existence."
Quill & Quire"Coyote is to CanLit what k.d. lang is to country music: a beautifully odd fixture."
Ottawa X Press"It's very easy to go with Coyote's flow. There's something weirdly comfortable about being in her narrative orbit even though she happily operates on the fringe."
NOW Magazine"With just a few brief strokes, Ivan E. Coyote entertains us; she moves us and makes us think. And she always leaves us wanting more."
Books in Canada
Where she'll be:
"Live Capture": Writing Workshop with Ivan E. Coyote
Friday, March 12th, 2pm
Alumni Lounge, Bloomfield Centre, St.F.X.
Please pre-register by email asdax@stfx.ca or call 902-867-5007Saturday, March 13th, 7pm
An Evening of Storytelling with Ivan E Coyote
St.F.X. Art Gallery
1st Floor, Bloomfield Centre
Antigonish, NS
freeSunday March 14th at 7pm
Storytelling and book signing with Ivan E Coyote
Venus Envy, 1598 Barrington Street
Halifax, NS
Free
Thursday March 18th at 7:00 pm
Reading and signing with Laura Crawford and Jeanette Lynes.
at Venus Envy
Free
Jeanette Lynes teaches English and Women's Studies at St. Francis Xavier University. She is the author of three books of poetry: Left Fields, The Aging Cheerleader's Alphabet and A Woman Alone on the Atikokan Highway. Jeanette also edited the anthology Words Out There: Women Poets in Atlantic Canada, and is co-editor of The Antigonish Review. She received the Bliss Carman Poetry Award in 2001.
Laura Crawford is a queer performance poet from the Annapolis Valley. She's a Sociology/English major at St. Francis Xavier University and has given numerous talks on social justice. Her poems have been broadcast on the student radio station; her work is available on CD. Currently, Laura is directing a production of "The Vagina Monologues" that will be performed at St.F.X. in early March.
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Workshops
- Workshops are held at the store (1598 Barrington St., Halifax).
- All participants must be 18 or older.
- All workshops are $15 unless otherwise specified. Sliding scale available.
- Partipants save 10% on any purchases made after a workshop.
- Pre-registration is required, as we have limited space and many workshops sell out.
- Workshops begin at 6:15pm unless otherwise specified. Plan to arrive early so we can start on time.
- Some workshops specify an audience (women or men, for instance). "Women" includes trans women; "men" includes trans men.
| February 11, 2004 For everyone |
BDSM 201: Tips and Tricks |
| This is a beginner-level workshop for those with an active interest in BDSM. We will talk about toys for sensation play, floggers and other spanky stuff, basic knot tying and rope safety, as well as using common household items in new and kinky ways. 1.5 hours |
| March 2, 2004 For women |
Sex For One |
| In this hands-off workshop we will talk about some reasons for masturbating, breathing and other techniques for better orgasms, toys for playing alone, lube and other slippery stuff, anatomy, and books about masturbation as well as good one-handed reads. 1.5 hours |
| March 15, 2004 For everyone |
Going Down: A Guide to Cunnilingus |
| This workshop will cover anatomy, technique, communication skills and tricks to please your lady with your lips. And tongue, and teeth, and.… 1.5 hours |
| March 23, 2004 For everyone |
Going Down: A Guide to Fellatio |
| If you’re interested in licking boys’ bits, but aren’t sure where to start or what to do once you get going, this workshop is for you. From basic anatomy to tips for the advanced, this workshop will cover a wide range of information about giving head. 1.5 hours |
| April 7th, 2004 For everyone |
G-marks the spot |
| Everything you’ve always wanted to know about the not-so-elusive G-Spot! We will cover history, anatomy, ejaculation and practical g-spotting tips. 1.5 hours |
| April 20th, 2004 For everyone |
Up yours! Anal Pleasure and Health |
| Make friends with your butt! Join us in breaking myths and cultural taboos surrounding anal play. Also learn practical tips about lube, toys, safety and health. 1.5 hours |
| April 27th, 2004 For everyone |
Sex Toys 201: Further Adventures |
| Sex toy tips and ideas beyond the basics, including fun things to do with household items. We'll talk about harnesses and dildos, clit and penis pumps, sensation toys and more. Sex Toys 201 also includes an overview of male and female anatomy. 1.5 hours |
| May 10th, 2004 For everyone |
Sex Toys 101: An Introduction to the Wonderful World of Toys |
| "What is it? What do I do with it? Where do I put it?" Anatomy, vibrators, dildos, lube and other slippery stuff: this workshop will give toy novices a chance to learn about different toys in a relaxed atmosphere. 1.5 hours |
| May 18th, 2004 For everyone |
Strap-On Tools! |
| Strap-on play is becoming more and more popular. In this workshop we'll be talking about the ins and outs of harness play: what's available, what toys to use where, and the lay of the land you'll be exploring. We'll be discussing both male and female anatomy and pleasure. 1.5 hours |
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Happy Valley Silicone Toys
Venus Envy is pleased to launch Happy Valley, a new line of beautiful dildos and butt toys manufactured in Canada. Made of a lovely matte silicone, they come in 6 colours, either pearly or jewel toned, to suit any taste and wardrobe. With 11 new dildo styles and 5 new butt toy styles, Happy Valley is a good complement to the already existing range of silicone toys, adding a nice variety of small, medium and large toys, and with a careful eye to all types of sensation and friction. To top it all off, every single toy is harness compatible, with a firm, wide flange. We've included reviews of a few of our favourites to tempt you, and watch for them on our website in the upcoming weeks.Twister
Dildo: Small(5 3/4" x 1½"), $59.95; Large(6 3/4" x 1 3/4"), $69.95
Ever since actually locating my g-spot I've been greedily trying new toys, always looking for that pefect eyes-rolling-back-I-think-I'm-goin'-to-heaven fit. I am more than happy to say that the Twister is all that and more. Velvety silicone, harness compatible and a big fat head on a slender body make the Twister this girl's new best friend. It'd also be great for prostate stimulation, and the unusual lengthwise ridges that wrap around the shaft add a gentle sideways corkscrew sensation to in-and-out penetration play.
Frisson
Dildo: 5½" x 1½", $49.95
The Frisson is a good, big toy. The density of Happy Valley's silicone is just about perfect for a big toy. It's solid enough to be filling but squishy enough that it doesn't bruise any of your sensitive bits. It also picks up body heat remarkably fast, making it more comfortable than some of the other bigger toys I've tried. The striations (inverted "ribs" if you like) don't seem like much to the eye, but translate into lots of friction for your vag. Those aspects alone would make the Frisson a great toy, but the slightly jaunty angle gives it extra points.
Bobby Dazzler
Anal probe: 3" x 3/4", $19.95
Many people would say that a finger in the ass is just about perfect. Not too big, not too small, but juuust right. Now, with the Bobby Dazzler, you can have that perfect index finger fit but without the lousy manicure and ouchy bits. It also has lengthwise spiral grooves that give it more interesting contours as it goes in and out.
Tom Putt
Butt plug: 4" x 1¼", $29.95
Keeping a butt plug in place should be the least of life's worries. A plug's main function ought to be to stay put, and yet many butt plugs — those with short necks or those that just sort of pinch in before the flange — will pop out when you least want them to. This makes wearing a plug during vaginal penetration or other rigorous activities at very least humourous and at worst frustrating and no fun. It was with this concern in mind that I chose the Tom Putt. Rather than a gradual decrease in size leading to the base, its neck is pinched in quite a bit from the body and is also long enough to offer plenty of space for the sphincters to grip firmly. I am delighted. Not only is this a comfortable plug in both size (medium) and shape (bullet), but it holds fast! I think this is an excellent design.
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Magazine Review
S.M.U.T. Magazine
S.M.U.T. Magazine is like nerve.com in print. It's smart, the writers are intelligent and, although it's irreverent and playful, all the writers take their sex seriously. That's a hard attitude to find, and I was happy to have nearly 100 pages of it to read. There are some well known names (M. Christian, Tantrum — formerly of Tribe8) and some newer names as well. There's fiction, poetry, interviews, essays, reviews, how-tos and photos, so a little bit of everything for everyone. One of my favourites was the exploration of the schoolgirl archetype that both poked fun at it and told you how to do it up right. Also great was the interview with the porn team Dirty Pillows. Of all the content, it was the photos that did the least for me. The overall look of S.M.U.T. is very zine-like, more cut & paste than seamless glossy-mag look; it's mostly charming, especially with the amazing older photos, but it would be nice to see some of the really hot, newer pictures more clearly. I think it's great that a sexy maga/zine like this even exists, never mind being put out in our own fair country. I am eagerly looking forward to future issues. They're on the web at www.showmethesmut.com
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Book Review
Sex Toys 101: A Playfully Uninhibited Guide. Rachel Venning & Claire Cavanah. New York: Fireside Press, 2003. 176 p. $25.00
The Big Bang: Nerve's Guide to the New Sexual Universe. Emma Taylor & Lorelei Sharkey. New York: Plume, 2003. 258 p. $37.50
Both of these books are good examples of the direction in which sex manuals are heading: that is to say, beautiful, glossy, fun and well written. There are several good sex manuals out there already, but these two pay attention to art direction and layout in a way that's completely new. That means that in Sex Toys 101, the best comprehensive why and wherefore of toys I've ever seen, you get to see pretty pictures of pretty toys, in living colour. It makes the toys seem inviting and accessible, and the text to go along with it does the same. It's like you finally got the courage up to ask your older sister's coolest queer friend what a cockring was for and, instead of looking at you with a raised eyebrow, she told you everything that was filed away in her head. These gals know their toys and know their customers, men and women, straight and queer alike, and Venning and Cavanah know how to anticipate questions and answer them before they get asked.
In The Big Bang, the eye to visual spiffiness mostly means you get to see pretty pictures of pretty people doing cool things. Which is not so much informative as spectacular. I like the range of what the models are doing — you'll see girls with boys with boys with girls with girls, or some combination thereof, and you see toys spread around liberally. That aside, however, it would have been nice to see at least one person who wasn't rail thin and pretty damn pale (can you say tokenism?). The writing is good though, with a really wide range of topics covered (a whole chapter on fisting!). In particular, I found the frankness of the section on anal play quite refreshing. The section on toys isn't comprehensive, but showcases a good variety in a handy and amusing chart. I was thrilled to find the combination of two of my most favourite things. The tone of the book is very self-consciously hip — like your cousin from New York is visiting with a suitcase full of goodies.
Either book will help the novice find out what they need to know before going exploring. But both books offer good reminders and little tidbits for the seasoned pro, as well. Both are worth the cover price.
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Art and the Artists
February: Tamara Heikalo
Vulva Pillows, sumptuous and fun, each one is unique, just like in real life, "anatomically" correct - each has a vagina and a clitoris. Richly coloured fabric, beads, ribbons, sequins, bells, to remind us to value and celebrate ourselves.
March: Michael Davies-Cole
"Concepts of the mind": A photographic reflection on how we think and feel with life ever-changing. Artistic works with a vocus on the self. (The first in a series ... more to come.)
April: ???
We're looking for an artist for April. Pass this along to any women you know who may be interest in a show. Contact Venus Envy at 422 0004.
May: anonymous
"These are all pretty much portraits of my friends. Some of them work with me every day in a music store. The others work within the industry or in different record shops nearby. And a few are the regulars who we see from time to time at the store...so these are portraits of the people I've been able to meet and know over the years."
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