Tag Archive for "Reviews"

Posts Tagged Reviews

Feminist Sex Shop reviews: Good Vibrations

I finally got to visit one of the classic (and often cited) sex shops this past week in San Francisco, Good Vibrations. The San Francisco store is most famous for originally functioning as a worker-owned sex toy collective (as are relatively common in SF) but in 2005, the cooperative structure was abandoned and they became a more traditional corporate entity.
I never visited the store before 2005, so I can’t say from first hand experience, but I’ve heard that the store has changed a lot in that time. Good Vibrations also has locations in Berkeley and Brookline Massachusetts.
I found Good Vibes to be a pretty mainstream, though well-stocked, sex shop. Nothing in their company policies talks explicitly ...

By Miriam • 14 years ago

Feminist Sex Shop Review: Nomia in Portland Maine

On my two week vacation around New England (and Montreal!) I discovered a new feminist sex shop to review, Nomia in Portland Maine. From their website:

Portland’s first women owned and operated sensuality boutique.
We opened in February 2004 in order to provide women and men with a comfortable and fun environment in which to explore sex and sexuality. We offer a broad range of literature, from the academic to the erotic, lingerie, hosiery, and the finest adult toys and accessories available.

Nomia made it to my list of favorite feminist sex shops–it was a great place! It’s location is discreet, without a storefront. It’s up the stairs, but there is good signage outfront. They seem to emphasize discretion, ...

On my two week vacation around New England (and Montreal!) I discovered a new feminist sex shop to review, Nomia in Portland Maine. From their website:

Portland’s first women owned and operated sensuality boutique.
We opened ...

By Miriam • 14 years ago

Spring Awakening

Sorry folks, removed the video because of the automatic play–you can go here to watch it.
I saw the musical Spring Awakening last weekend. Jos also saw it, so we’re both going to share our thoughts in this post.
From Miriam:
Growing up I was a big fan of musical theatre, and saw pretty much every Off-Broadway production that came through my town. Since then I haven’t seen one in a few years, but I was excited to catch Spring Awakening when it came through DC. This new musical has been getting all sorts of attention and praise, including 8 TONY awards. You get a sneak peek in the video above, but it’s pretty spectacular. Innovative music ...

Sorry folks, removed the video because of the automatic play–you can go here to watch it.
I saw the musical Spring Awakening last weekend. Jos also saw it, so we’re both going to share ...

By Miriam • 14 years ago

Feminist Sex Shop Guest Review: Hysteria in Denver, CO

I couldn’t visit this shop in Denver myself, so I asked Shanna Katz, author of the blog Sexuality Happens to do a guest review.
Thanks Shanna!

Hysteria has been a bastion of sex positive culture in Denver for almost four years now. Having opened its doors in April 2005, it is the only store in the state of Colorado that sells only body healthy items (all toys are phthalate free, and they actually care about the materials, where/how the items are made, etc, and of course don’t carry body harming products such has Anal Eze or vaginal shrinking cream). Hysteria’s official owners are Elizabeth Hauptman and Pete Yribia, but all the current store business is conducted ...

I couldn’t visit this shop in Denver myself, so I asked Shanna Katz, author of the blog Sexuality Happens to do a guest review.
Thanks Shanna!

Hysteria has been a bastion of sex ...

By Miriam • 15 years ago

Feminist Sex Shop Review: Early to Bed

This weekend I was excited to be in Chicago because I’ve been wanting to check out the feminist sex shop so many of you raved about: Early to Bed.
Early to Bed was founded in 2001 by owner Searah, who was frustrated with the traditional sex shop options.
I made my way to ETB via public transportation, excited to see that it was super accessible. The store front is discreet enough that I walked right by it on the first shot, but not totally hidden. The glass store front sports a large decal/painting of a blue bed with the tagline “intimate apparel.”
The stock is pretty standard feminist sex shop fare. Lube, condoms, some gag gifts (but ...

This weekend I was excited to be in Chicago because I’ve been wanting to check out the feminist sex shop so many of you raved about: Early to Bed.
Early to Bed was founded ...

By Miriam • 15 years ago

Reviews from the road: Couchsurfing

This will be my last review from the road, as sadly, the road trip is over! Thanks again to everyone who posted suggestions of places to visit and sent me emails.
This review is not of a place, but a website and online community, Couchsurfing. From their website:

CouchSurfing is a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit.

This trip was my first time ever trying Couchsurfing–I had never even heard of it. My travel companion had tried it though, so I trusted her judgment. Basically you set up an online profile on the site with information about yourself, and the idea is that the members will offer their homes (and couches) to surfers when ...

This will be my last review from the road, as sadly, the road trip is over! Thanks again to everyone who posted suggestions of places to visit and sent me emails.
This review is not of a ...

By Miriam • 15 years ago

Reviews from the road: Aphrodite’s Toy Box, Atlanta GA

In one of my original posts about feminist sex shops, a few of you mentioned Aphrodite’s Toy Box (ATB) in Atlanta. I was intrigued by it when I went to the website, which had a very distinct feel from the other feminist sex shops I have visited. I made the trek to Aphrodite’s when I was in Atlanta for my road trip, and it was definitely an experience.
I don’t say trek casually, as it was really a hike to find ATB. This may be more about Atlanta than the store itself, but I have to give it a low score on the accessibility front. Wanting to avoid driving since we were spending most of our time doing ...

In one of my original posts about feminist sex shops, a few of you mentioned Aphrodite’s Toy Box (ATB) in Atlanta. I was intrigued by it when I went to the website, which had a ...

By Miriam • 15 years ago

Reviews from the road: Charis Books, Atlanta GA

I visited Charis Books in Atlanta Georgia, at the suggestion of many of you readers. It’s located in the Little Five Points Neighborhood, which is a cute area with big old houses and windy tree-lined streets. The little downtown area has a Berkeley feel to it, with thrift stores and coffee shops. Charis Books has it’s own building, painted light purple in true 1970’s feminist fashion. Charis self-identifies as an independent feminist bookstore and you definitely get that sense from spending some time there.
Not surprisingly, I loved the store. I was immediately drawn to the displays in the front, with new books, including a section dedicated to new lesbian fiction. I knew I would like the place when ...