Newsletter No. 5: SUMMER 1998

Introduction

Even before we opened Come As You Are people were asking us about our web site. Many suggested that we should skip the whole idea of an actual store and go straight to virtual reality. Given our love of all things physical, we decided to go ahead with our original idea of a non-virtual store.

But virtuality kept rearing its head, and after being open a year we figured we had waited long enough, it was time to take the plunge. So we strapped on our goggles and dove in. Part of our philosophy at Come As You Are is not to duplicate a service that's already being provided. We prefer to seek out needs that aren't being met and meet those. As we researched buying sex toys on-line we realized that there were a number of great companies already on-line who are offering great service and great prices in friendly, sex-positive environments. Good Vibrations and Blowfish in San Francisco, Seattle's Toys in Babeland, Los Angeles' The Stockroom, are all examples of well-thought-out, well-designed sites. So what's missing?

Well, we thought that Canadians deserve a site all their own. First off, ordering from the U.S. can be a tricky proposition. The excitement and anticipation of ordering a hot book or video from the States can be crushed by the ugly hand of Canada Customs (or "those bastards" as we have come to know them). In addition to this, we thought there should be a sex store website with real Canadian content - and thus www.comeasyouare.com was born.

As you browse our site you'll learn about sex toys as well as some nuggets of Canadian history. The art work that graces the opening pages of the site are original works by Fiona Smyth (let's hear it for Canadian art!). And to kick it all off we are sponsoring a Canada-wide contest that will run on our website: The Great Canadian Ben Wa Ball Debate. We're giving away a couple hundred pairs of Ben Wa balls across the country and asking women to participate in a survey to determine what Canadians really think about these contentious sex toys. It's our small way to bring unity to a country in bad need of some togetherness. And once we're done we'll be able to produce some literature for all future customers who want to know the inside scoop on Ben Wa Balls.

We're a year old! On June 5, Come As You Are celebrates our first amazing year of providing sex toys, books and workshops, and fÍtes you, our customers, who helped make it happen. Drop by for a piece of birthday cake, and receive 10 per cent off everything in the store.

Pride Day is almost upon us. Amidst the throngs that amass in the Church-Wellesley area for Toronto's largest street party, you'll find us! On Sunday, June 28, look for the Come As You Are booth on the west side of Church Street between Maitland and Alexander (just north of Carlton) and take a respite from the maddening crowd.

Books

Conventional wisdom has it that erotic literature can be neatly discerned from the pornography of cheap paperbacks. While at Come As You Are, we probably stock more of the former than the latter, we have enough of both to suit a wide range of tastes. As those of you familiar with our selection of erotica/smut are aware, there is enough sampling from both sides of the fence to have blurred the distinction. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Aficionados of male-on-male sexual description have a variety of approaches to choose from. On the one hand are the stroke books - the men are beautifully muscled and have huge, gorgeous cocks; they get it on with a minimum of dialogue and a maximum of raw action; juicy words like "thick," "throbbing" and "juicy" describe all of this. On the other hand are the fine literary craftings in which descriptions of sex follow a slow crescendo of seduction complete with lush, sensual metaphors and emotional entanglements.

Or so it goes. Flashpoint: gay male sexual writing brings all these genres together and then ignores their fine distinctions refigures the categories along dominant themes such as "Enlightenment," "Violence," "Fantasies," and "Transformations." Two anthologies of new writing are Best Gay Erotica 1998 and (from a Canadian publisher!) Quickies: short short fiction on gay male desire. Expect to find irony, emotional intensity, social comment and clever wordplay as well as hardcore raunch between these covers. Their literary ambitions make these collections part of a movement of writing that aims to excite the mind as well as the body. A collection like Friction makes no such pretensions. It delivers the expectations of the stroke mags (from where the writings were culled), but on occasion, these writers also have found a way of drawing in tenderness as well.

Flashpoint 19.95

Best Gay Erotica 1998 21.95

Quickies 16.95

Friction 24.50

Don't miss our Pride Week Special! From June 22 to 27 all lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender titles are 10 per cent off.

Toys

Toys for Pride Week. Toys for those long hot summer nights. That's what's on our minds these days. And why not plan ahead.

Feathers have arrived at Come As You Are. Here's something to add to a toy chest. Simple and very enjoyable. These feathers are brightly coloured and all natural. No creatures were harmed in the making of this toy - the woman who sells them has a permit to pick them up off the ground in a nature sanctuary. Guilt-free sex for those so inclined.

Then for those summer days that were made for water sports. That's right: water skiing, swimming, canoeing and sailing. Now you can go equipped with a waterproof vibrator: splash-proof and ready for any wave.

If you are on the go for Pride Week, whether partying or taking part in political activities, why not take a sex break with a little portable vibrator. Good quality Japanese vibrators come in some little packages. The Pink Pearl is disco fun. Or try the Pocket Rocket or the Apollo. If you are feeling the money pinch, there is always the Guy, a rubber dildo that fits well into a harness. The Jelly Fella is another option if you are in a packing mood. Flexible enough to stuff in your drawers. Fulfill someone's fantasy by whipping out one of these numbers. Take part in the sexual revolution and enjoy pride. Because pleasure is good.

Feathers 5.00 (small) & 14.00 (large)

Waterproof vibrators call for prices

Pink Pearl 22.00; Pocket Rocket 26.00; Apollo 25.00

Guy 18.00 (6") & 19.00 (7"); Jelly Fella 25.00

Events

The Leather Daddy and the Femme Tallulah's Cabaret (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St) June 11 8:00pm $3 A book launch and smut chat with Carol Queen. This erotic novel is about a bisexual cross-dressing femme and a leather daddy (or several - not to mention a motley cast of gender-queers, sex workers and more)!

Carnival of Perversities

360 Club (326 Queen St W)

July 2 8:00pm $5

Hear readings, watch films & groove with bands at our fundraiser for our struggle against Canada Customs.

Workshops

Bend Over Boyfriend

June 10 7:30 - 10:00 PM

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.

Female Ejaculation

July 15 7:30 - 10:30 PM

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.

Energetic Erotic Massage for couples

July 18 1:00 - 6:00 PM

July 25 1:00 - 6:00 PM

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. Pre-registration is necessary for all workshops. Sliding scale is available. For more info or to register, please call us at COME AS YOU ARE, 416-504-7934.

upcoming in the fall:

SELF-PLEASURING

for men; exploring breath, movement and self-massage

PLAYING WITH PORNO a workshop for aspiring video porno-makers