Newsletter No. 13: SPRING 2001

The celebration of February 14 as a lovers' holiday goes back thousands of
years, to ancient Rome. Known as Lupercalia, it was dedicated to Juno,
goddess of women and marriage. One of the traditions of that pagan festival
was the selection of lovers by lottery. Young women wrote their names on
slips of paper. These they placed into a large drum, from which young men
drew their "lot." The women thus "allotted" became the ticketholder's
sweetheart until the next draw, held the following year, once again on
Juno's feast. In time, however, people came to resent the practice of
having their sweethearts chosen for them - by chance. They felt that their
own choice should take the place of luck.

Whether by choice, chance, or the arrangement of a good friend, the pursuit
and selection of a good mate is a preoccupation many of us have. For those
more inclined to direct their, um, affairs, there is a plethora of options.
Dating services, advice books, and even courses will arrange, guide and
teach you in the arts of meeting, dating and mating. Others stress the
importance of putting your own house in order - quite literally, in the
practice of feng shui.

A COME AS YOU ARE workshop last summer with Bridget
McFarthing helped people identify the "love corner" of their living space
and how to signal their romantic and sexual intentions. Love yourself and
others will be drawn to you is the message of many love-and-romance books.
Masturbation as the groundwork for better sex with your partner;
self-knowledge as the precursor to good relationship; self-confidence as
the basis of attractiveness - it all starts with you.

Eventually, lots of people get drawn to a sex shop. Those looking for a
quick fix will likely be disappointed. The rubber toy only has as much
power as you give it. But for those looking to explore or expand their
repertoire, there's lots to increase your self-confidence, improve your
self-knowledge and augment your self-loving sessions. And, it's no accident
that what works for folks by themselves, is also great for new and longtime
lovers.

Getting and giving love is a lifelong practice, and eroticism and
sexuality can be powerful, loving forces. You may also find that whatever
you decide to do by choice may then suddenly appear to you by chance (or a
clever matchmaker in your midst). However you do it, we wish for an
abundance of pleasure in your life, this season and always. (See the rest
of this newsletter for what we have to offer in that pursuit!)

*

special news

The latest news and reviews from Come As You Are can be heard every third
Wednesday of the month at 11:30 am on CIUT's Gaywire programme. Tune into
89.5 FM for "Breakfast in Bed" for dish on toys, videos, books, sex culture
and more - all with a queer focus.

If you received this newsletter in the store or from a friend and would
like to have it sent directly to your home, just contact us with your name
and address. We also send this newsletter out by e-mail, so if you'd prefer
to receive it that way, give us your e-mail address only.

*

workshops

GIRL PARTS & THE BIG "O"
March 13     7:30 - 10:00 pm
Learn about the what & where of women's sexual anatomy and the what & how
of orgasm - in its myriad forms. For those with girl parts. With Carol
Camper (of Come As You Are). Cost is $20.

KAMA SUTRA
May 8, 15, 22 & 29     7:30 - 10:00 pm
Through lecture and discussion, this four-week course will explore Kama
Sutra through four areas: its historical context; food & aphrodisiacs; sex
(including homosexuality); and physical environment. With Sudharshan
Duraiyappah. Cost is $65.

THE ART OF TANTRA
May 9, 16, 23 & 30     7:30 - 10:00 pm
Through lecture and discussion, this four-week course will focus on the
philosophies, practices and art associated with Tantra. With Sudharshan
Duraiyappah. Cost is $65.

FEMALE EJACULATION
June 5     7:30 - 10:00 pm
is for women only
June 6     7:30 - 10:00 pm
is for women, and
men accompanied by a woman
Returning with her popular seminar, Shannon Bell will discuss female
ejaculation from a historical and
theoretical perspective, followed by an overview of anatomy and technique, plus
a demonstration. Cost is $25.

SEX IN THE ANCIENT WORLD (east)
October 2, 9, 16 & 23   7:30 - 10:00 pm
Through lecture and discussion, this four-week course will focus on the ancient
cultures of Japan, China, India and Persia. With Sudharshan Duraiyappah.
Cost is $65.

SEX IN THE ANCIENT WORLD (west)
October 3, 10, 17 & 24    7:30-10:00pm
Through lecture and discussion, this four-week course will focus on the ancient
cultures of Egypt, Greece, Rome & the Celts. With Gayle Gibson. Cost is $65.

Pre-registration is required for all workshops. Sliding scale is available.
"Women" includes trans women. For more info or to register, please call us
at 416-504-7934.

*

kits

Wrapped up all nice and decorated with ribbons, we're offering, once again,
some combustible combinations of the best in the store.
 The Great "Couples Directors" Kit offers selections from the three
directors known for their "couples-friendly" style: Andrew Blake, Paul
Thomas, and Candida Royalle. A range of visual styles and
explicitness; heterosexual focus.

Pillow books have a long tradition as a gift exchanged between lovers.
We're not sure that they also exchanged vibrators in the olden days, but we
thought the gift could use a little updating. The Pillow Book Kit contains
the beautifully illustrated Kama Sutra Pillow Book, a red Mini Rocket
vibrator, and a sampling of flavoured lubricant.

For those looking for more raunch with their romance this Valentine's Day,
check out our all-hardcore kit, Red Hot Raunch.  Two European titles,
Marquis de Sade and EuroHardball 5, plus an American classic, Lust & Lies,
offer lots of anal sex, group scenes, and not a sonnet in the bunch.
With all due respect to the box of chocolates, we've got a sweet gift that
keeps giving beyond February 14. The Sweet Tooth Kit is our great new
Lollipop hard plastic vibrator, a bottle of sumptuous chocolate body paint,
and a 4 oz. bottle of flavoured lubricant.

Especially for lovers, the Tingle & Tease Kit combines a copy of the
softcore classic book The Erotic Edge, the Fukuoku finger-fitting vibrator
and some lube for the rosiest of Valentine's Days.
Great "Couples Directors" Kit (#HK-275)   82.00
Pillow Book Kit (#HK-104)   30.00
Red Hot Raunch Kit (#HK-282)  82.00
Sweet Tooth Kit (#HK-353)  47.00
Tingle & Tease Kit (#HK-107)  52.00

*

videos

The porn world has been catching on to the desire to see good black actors
in a variety of scenarios and solid, high quality productions. Here is a
selection of our recent favourites.
Body & Soul is a tangled tale of inspiration, desperation, finding your
muse, and just how far people will go to get what they want. The diverse
cast features black and white actors, and stars Mocha. Hot sex all around,
with an expecially heated performance by Inari Vachs.
Sista 9 is one in a series of
lesbian videos featuring a majority black cast. Minimal plot with great
scenes of girl crushes, flirting,
serious sex, and lots of sex toys.

Bad-ass private eye Isis Blue always gets her man, or woman, or both. In
this tribute to Foxy Brown, Midori kicks ass as the hard-
working and hard-loving detective who just won't quit. DVD extras include
still photo gallery, cast bios, and chapter selection menu.
We're also seeing more diversity in the world of sex education videos. In
Better Sex Video Series for Black Couples, sexuality experts offer
information, while couples demonstrate. With a
particular focus on cultural stereotyping and issues within the black
community, and good information for everybody. Volume 1 is a starter's
guide to sexual communication and negotiation; volume 2 provides more
specific information involving toys and exploring fantasies. Heterosexual
focus; explicit.

Body & Soul (#VH-108)   34.00
Sista 9 (#VL-103)   34.00
Isis Blue DVD (#VC-119)   65.00
Better Sex Video Series / Black Couples
     volume 1 (#VE-101)   45.00
     volume 2 (#VE-102)   45.00

*

toys

These sparkling-new toys will help you and your beloveds over the
inevitable mid-winter February hump.
Bend 'n' Blush combines many great features of dildos already available.
Its material is like cyberskin, but without the oily finish of other types
of cyberskin. Its inner shaft is durable and
flexible, making it ideal for
penetration and packing with a harness. And, on top of it all, it's
incredibly smooth and soft. Pink, with sparkles. (6" by 1 1/2")
Joining our roster of dual-motor Japanese vibrators is Hungry Bear.
Providing simultaneous penetration and clitoral stimulation, it has a
ridged shaft, and the finely detailed clitoral stimulator has a bear with a
salmon in its mouth! Available in ice blue and lavender, the shaft measures
5" by 1 1/2".
More versatile and a little less powerful than the Hitachi Magic Wand,
electric vibrator Dr. Scholl's Rechargeable can be used plugged in or
unplugged for cordless play. Attachments for the Hitachi also fit on this
vibrator. (11" in length; head is 2 1/2" in diameter)
Purple and white in colour and with a grape scent, Grape Swirl silicone
dildo has a spongy-soft feel but is firm enough for harness use. Medium is
5" by 1 1/2"; large is 6 1/4" by 1 5/8".
Bend 'n' Blush (#TD-118)  82.00
Hungry Bear (#TV-137)  110.00
Dr. Scholl's Rechargeable (#TV-202)   63.00
Grape Swirl medium (#TD-594)   56.00
Grape Swirl large (#TD-597)   66.00

*

books

Here's some new and classic titles for those wanting to delve into sexual
exploration that is inspired by Eastern science and spirituality.
The Encyclopedia of Sacred Sexuality is a fascina-ting compendium and
explanation of sexual concepts across the globe and throughout history.
Included are principles of Tantra and Taoism. Developed in India and China,
respectively, these philosophies have inspired understandings of alchemy,
art, religion, science, medicine, psychology and sexual relations. They
form the basis of two excellent books: The Art of Sexual Ecstasy and
Tantra: the art of conscious loving. Using breathing, meditation, movement
and sound, they explore understanding and practical exercises to achieving
these goals of spiritual harmony and ecstasy.
If you prefer a different medium, Apertio is a CD produced by Tantric sex
teacher Pala Copeland. It guides you through four meditations which focus
on the root and genital chakras.
The merging with Zen and sex is the goal of Philip Toshio Sudo's Zen Sex.
Gaining inspiration from Zen master Ikkyu Sojun's life and words, this book
explores the essence of sex through seven ways of the mind, body and
spirit.
The Encyclopedia of Sacred Sexuality (#BK-614)   48.00
Art of Sexual Ecstasy (#BK-403)   27.99
Tantra (#BK-406)   22.95
Apertio CD (#AU-127)   16.00
Zen Sex (#BK-414)   29.95

*

This newsletter is available in large type.

*

(c) Come As You Are and CAYA Co-operative Ltd., 2001