Events

Seattle wants a good SMACK

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:55:00 GMT

We were invited to participate in a Fifty Shades of Grey Soiree in Seattle last week and we had to share some of the highlights! Babeland has been to pretty much every type of sexy event you can imagine over the past twenty years, from the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival to SXSW and beyond. This night was different, though. More than 300 people bought tickets to experience Fifty Shades of Grey brought to life. Among other things, the evening included a Christian Grey and Ana Steele lookalike contest, flogging on a St Andrew's cross, and a "Red Room of Pain". Check out phots from the event here and you can see more sexy images like the one in this post by Eric Rust Photography, too.

Babeland was stationed in the Red Room of Pain, of course. Everyone kept telling us that our room was the most crowded. One of our Sex Educators who was working at the event had lost her voice by the end of the night from talking so much! We were mobbed with visitors; answering questions about how to use restraints and riding crops, and selling vibes, Ben Wa Balls and other accessories. The We-Vibe 3 was very popular.

We had a blast talking to this great group of people who were curious about how to try out scenes from the erotic bestseller. No matter what you think about the Fifty Shades of Grey trend or the quality of the writing in the trilogy, the sex scenes have set fantasies on fire and are inspiring women and men everywhere to try new things. We're thrilled we're able to support and encourage our customers who want to explore new pleasures. Customers started mentioning Fifty Shades of Grey last January and asking for help picking out accessories that were mentioned in it. In April when the paperback was launched, sales of restraints, riding crops, Ben-Wa Ball-type products, and blindfolds took off. If you're ready to make your fantasies a reality here are a few things you might like:

Babeland Satin Bondage Kit: A black satin mask with long ties that can be used as wrist restraints and two five-foot sashes.

Silcone Smart Balls: Just like the Ben-Wa Balls Ana and Christian use in Ffity Shades of Grey, these gently weighted silicone balls create an amazing sensation.

Kookie Riding Crop: It makes a nice snappy "thwack" and can be easily used by novices and pro's alike.

Fifty Shades of Grey Book and Indulge Your Fantasies Kit: If you're ready to go all the way, this kit has everything you need. It includes Etherea Cuffs, Kandi Kisses vibrator, Luna Beads, and Spank Me Powder, as well as a copy of the first book in the trilogy.

So what do you think? Would you attend a Fifty Shades of Grey Soiree in your town?

Team Babeland is Cycling 300 Miles to Raise Money for Sustainable Energy

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:00:00 GMT

This September two Babeland Sex Educators who work at Babeland Seattle are taking their convictions on the road. Ashley Allen and Megan Collier, aka Team Babeland, are participating in Climate Ride California, a bike journey that will have them cycling 300 miles down the coast from the Redwood Empire to San Francisco over the course of five days. Climate Ride is a non-profit that organizes East Coast and West Coast rides every year to raise money for organizations that are committed to sustainable energy solutions, bike advocacy and environmental causes. Team Babeland wants to raise at least $5,000 and you can help.

Attend the fundraising event at Babeland Seattle this Saturday and enjoy a fun party for a good cause! Meet Ashley and Megan, make DIY floggers from recycled bike tires, and snack on Popcycl.es.

Buy an eco-friendly sex toy and come for a cause! With every purchase of a Solar Bullet Vibrator, an Eco-Sexy Kit or a Babeland Eco-Tote, Babeland donates $1-$10 of the purchase price.

Donate directly to Team Babeland on Ashley and Megan's fundraising pages.

Babeland is sponsoring our staff to do this ride as part of our Come for a Cause program and a way to further our commitment to a healthy planet. In addition to our eco-friendly sex toys, we work with the companies that design our toys to cut down on waste, excess packaging, and ensure that everything we sell is healthy for bodies and the planet. Over the past few years, we've raised thousands of dollars for environmental organizations like Grist.org, combining our dollars with customer donations and partnerships with many of the fine companies who make the toys we sell, including Cal Exotics, who is sponsoring this effort with us.

Share your stories about something you've done to promote a cause you believe in with us in the comments.

Great Deals on Sex Toys During Our Big Summer Sale

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 17:30:00 GMT

Babeland only holds major sales twice a year and now is the time! During our Big Summer Sale, enjoy 20% off savings on nearly everything. If you've been holding out for a special toy with an eye on your bank account, now is the time to act. 20% off means you'll save $33 on the Minna Ola, a vibrator that increases in intensity as you squeeze it. You can save big bucks on other bestsellers, like $26 on the new Lelo Smart Wand and BabeLube Natural is reduced from $12 to $9.60! With free shipping on all orders of $75 or more, this means huge savings and sexy good times ahead.

Don't forget that July is Customer Appreciation Month and in stores, when you buy a Jimmyjane Form 2 vibrator, a Lelo Gigi vibrator or a Fun Factory Tiger vibe, you get a fantastic free gift with every purchase. Stop by for one of the Champagne Soirees in New York this weekend or the Get Lucky Cock and Tail Party in Seattle on Friday night and be treated to free food, drinks, entertainment and giveaways. Check our listings for complete details.

Turning Fantasies Into Reality With Fifty Shades of Grey

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Turning Fantasies Into Reality With Fifty Shades of Grey

If you haven’t yet succumbed to the urge to pick up and read the overnight sensation known as Fifty Shades of Grey, here’s a little cheat sheet to help you figure out whether you might like it. First a little background: Fifty Shades of Grey is an erotic trilogy by E. L. James about the relationship between a young woman, Ana, who is swept off her feet with passion for Christian, a very rich man with kinky tastes who initiates her into the world of BDSM. At the time of this writing, a copy was selling every three seconds!

Does your libido need a boost?
Take this to the bank: read Fifty Shades of Grey and you’ll get turned on. Any woman who’s ever needed a little erotic pick-me-up, will find it here. James doesn’t shy away from the explicit.

Do you enjoy romance novels, but find them a little ‘frustrating”?
Romance novels may have been coined “bodice-rippers” but they usually end abruptly once the ripping has begun. This book takes it all the way to an orgasmic finish over and over again.

Have you fantasized about kinky sex, power play or BDSM?
Ana and Christian give you a playbook for bringing your fantasies to life, all set against the backdrop of a compelling love story. Babeland customers have been asking for toys featured in the book, so think of this as an invitation to let your imagination come to life.

Does your bag of tricks need a few more tricks?
Among the fun things Ana and Christian demonstrate for you:
•    Spanking, flogging, crops
•    Tying your lover up
•    Acting out dominant and submissive roles
•    Safe sex
•    Blow jobs

If you like to read and play, we’ve got two kits for you. Those who haven’t read the book yet should pick up the Fifty Shades of Grey Book and Bondage Kit, since you basically get the book for a dollar when you buy the restraints. If you have read the book and are ready to discover new sensations, we’ve got all the toys you need in the Fifty Shades of Grey Indulge Your Fantasies Kit, which includes restraints, a vibrator, Kegel balls, a riding crop, and Spank Me Baby spanking powder.

Do you like to read fan fiction? Are you a fan of the Twilight series?
Believe it or not, Fifty Shades of Grey started out as a serialized fan fiction, a genre in which writers eroticize well-known characters from popular culture. In this case, the author used Twilight as the story she was retelling.

Ready to play with the toys inspired by the Fifty Shades books?
We’ve put them all here, so enjoy shopping!

Kandi Burruss at Babeland- Check out the video!

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:00:00 GMT

We love these two smart, sexy women -- Kandi Burruss and our friend, Abiola Abrams who writes the Passionista Playbook. You can get to know them in this video that was shot at Babeland SoHo when Kandi Burruss debuted her Bedroom Kandi line. The party was super fun. Kandi’s fans came out in droves to meet her!

You might know Kandi from the reality show, Real Housewives of Atlanta, or as a performer and Grammy-winning songwriter. Her toys, created with OhMiBod, are discreet, high-quality, waterproof and very stylish. Two of the toys are disguised as cosmetics. You can leave the Kandi Kisses lipstick-shaped vibe in your handbag and the Make Me Over compact-shaped vibe on your vanity and no one will know the difference. We love the Happiness & Joy dual-action vibe, too. It’s music-responsive and will vibrate to the beat of your favorite jams. Enjoy the video, if you couldn’t be at the event, this is the next best thing.

Interview With Great In Bed Co-Authors, Dr. Debby Herbenick and Grant Stoddard

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, February 8^th, Babeland is hosting a book launch and discussion for Great in Bed with co-authors Dr. Debby Herbenick and Grant Stoddard. The comprehensive sex guide offers a she thinks/he thinks perspective on modern sex and hits just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Dr. Debby Herbenick is a sex researcher and teacher at The Kinsey Institute and Indiana University who started teaching sex ed to college students at IU. She has written sex columns for numerous newspapers and magazines and is frequently called on by journalists, which is how she met Grant Stoddard. Grant is an author and journalist, covering sex and lifestyles for numerous magazines, including New York, GQ and Glamour. Grant started writing about sex as a naïve intern at Nerve.com with the “I Did It For Science” column. They both have great blogs, too. Check out MySexProfessor.com, and GrantStoddard.com.

Q: One of the things I appreciated about Great in Bed is that it gives a lot of advice about handling the different situations that come with sex – from the first date to the morning after. How did you decide what to focus on? There’s so much to say about sex!

Debby: We wanted Great in Bed to be able to help a wide range of people to have fantastic sex – whether they were just starting out with someone or trying to find ways to make sex better after several months or years together. We also, of course, realize that quality sex doesn’t wait until you have your clothes off and are rolling around naked. You’ve got to meet someone first. Get things to go well. Flirt, touch, kiss, have something to say to one another. All of it matters.

Grant: I thought of practical information that I really could have used instead of learning through trial and error. And of course, I’m always striving to be better in bed (as we all should be) so I learned a lot of fascinating new information through my research and even more from Dr. Debby’s wealth of knowledge in the field. I’ve already referred to it a dozen times or more! (Not *during* the act, obviously.)

Q: There’s a message throughout the book about feeling confident. We teach sex workshops at Babeland and notice that this is the number one challenge for our customers. Why do people generally feel this lack of sexual confidence?

Debby: As a society, we don’t give people much sex education or information to go on. Most of us have a sense that we’re pretty much in the dark when it comes to sex. It takes practice, learning, exposure to ideas, a partner who smiles or moans and lets you know things are going well – all of these can build confidence.

Grant: I think it’s also because people fear judgment. We’re bombarded with information about what’s “normal” and what’s not and we may be hesitant to share what turns us on for fear of feeling judged. I remember plucking up the courage to do this particular thing I had refrained from doing for weeks — thinking I’d freak my partner out – only to find that she loved that thing, too. Through experience I’ve learned that the more that we are our true selves (in sex and in life) the happier we are. This is borne out in several studies in the book — some of which were authored by Debby herself.

Q: Valentine’s Day is coming up soon. Do you have any tips for making it memorable?

Debby: Aside from grabbing a copy of Great in Bed, turning to a random page, and trying what you find? Sure. If you’ve got a partner, talk to them about what you want it to be like. Not everyone wants to go out to dinner and have a big box of chocolates. Some people would rather stay in and watch the same movie at home that they watched in the theater on their first date with you. Some people want a threesome or a massage or to go away on a spontaneous weekend trip, even if it’s just to the next town.

Grant: Whether you’re a new couple or if you’ve been together for years, make dinner together. You get to create something together, enjoy it together, and be in each other’s company. It’s much funner than going out to eat and you can go from dessert to the bedroom in no time and bust out all the new knowledge you’ve gleaned from Great in Bed!

Q: We’re excited to host you both at Babeland on February 8th. What can people expect at the event?

Debby: We’re excited to meet everyone who’s coming out. There will be drinks and plenty of sex talk; we’ll be taking anonymous questions and interviewing each other. Of course, Babeland is known for its accessible and yet ever-entertaining array of sex toys, so we’re hoping to show people around the store, too, and come up with a few new ideas for being great in bed.

Grant: Some good advice, lively discussion, and more ideas for giving hand jobs than you ever thought possible.

Great in Bed Book Launch and Discussion, Wednesday, February 8th at Babeland SoHo, 7pm, free. Call 212-966-2120 for more information.

Kandi Burruss Debuts New Sex Toy Line at Babeland

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:11:39 GMT

Whether you know Kandi Burruss from the Real Housewives of Atlanta, or from one of her Grammy award-winning songs, or from her web show, Kandi Koated Nights, you’ve come to expect a frank, sassy, strong woman. When she came out with w new line of sex toys developed with OhMiBod, we knew it would be hot. Now that the toys have arrived, they don't disappoint. Babeland is thrilled to be the first store to carry her Bedroom Kandi line and we’re welcoming her at Babeland SoHo on Thursday, December 15th for a special party to debut the line. Come and meet her!

Bedroom Talk with Kandi Burruss from the Real Housewives of Atlanta
Thursday, December 15, 7pm,
Free Babeland SoHo, 43 Mercer Street
You’ve enjoyed watching Kandi Burruss’ sassy and down-to-earth presence on the Real Housewives of Atlanta, now help us celebrate the launch of Bedroom Kandi, her elegant new line of discreet toys. Meet Kandi and hear about her inspiration for the toys, as well as her experiences on the Real Housewives of Atlanta! Bring your BFFs for a ladies night out with Kandi, including manicures by the Polish Bar of Brooklyn, cocktails, Bedroom Kandi raffle prizes and more.

Here’s what Kandi had to say when we chatted with her about the toys.

Babeland: You’ve had such an interesting career in entertainment, how did you decide to create your own line of sex toys? In some ways, it seems like, “well, of course she did!” and it also seems a bit risky. As women in this industry, we understand that vibrators and women’s sexy time are still challenging for mainstream America to handle.

Kandi: I was invited on the Dr. Laura Berman show. She’s a medical doctor and she also has her own line of intimate products and I was like, wow, with my show, Kandi Koated Nights as a springboard, I can do the same thing. Then I found out about this woman in Europe that became a billionaire in the adult product industry and from that point on, it was a no brainer.

Babeland: How did your family and friends react when you decided to launch a line of vibrators?

Kandi: My family and friends are always very supportive of me in everything I do. When I did my research and decided to step into this endeavor, I really wanted to make sure my mother did not think I was making the wrong move. As long as she was fine with it, then I was comfortable doing it.

Babeland: We’re huge fans of the colors and shapes you’ve chosen. We’ve seen other lipstick vibes before, but Kandi Kisses has an unsurpassed weight, shape and quality. Why did you decide to go with the make-up design?

Kandi: The beauty of these pieces is that they’re not intimidating. They were designed to be very discreet. You can throw them in your purse and walk around with your own plaything and feel comfortable. They’re a combination of pleasure and style.

Babeland: What drew you to the unique powder-puff shape for the Make Me Over vibe? It’s a shape and design that is completely new.

Kandi: The whole idea was to create discreet packaging so that a woman can enjoy an orgasm on the go and so that if the product were mistakenly left on her dresser, no one would be alarmed! I decided to go with the make-up angle because it brought an elegant feel to the product line.

Babeland: Do you think that you’re part of destigmatizing vibrators for women? You have a high profile and many women look up to you. Have you found that launching this line is opening a new dialogue with your viewers and fans?

Kandi: I feel Bedroom Kandi will change the perception of how people view intimate products and open up the conversation, especially in the African American community. Sexual pleasure has such as huge stigma and it should not.

Babeland: What was the most fun part of designing a sex toy?

Kandi: Working on it has allowed for a healthy dialogue about sex.

Babeland: You’ve written Grammy award-winning music, so it’s no coincidence that one of your vibrators, the Happiness & Joy, vibrates to the beat and rhythm of music. What type of music sounds the best on Happiness & Joy? What’s your personal favorite song to play on this vibrator?

Kandi: Anything that you feel comfortable listening to in the bedroom works with this vibe! It does not have to be a specific type of song. It can be very passionate songs about love, dance songs to make things fun, or heavy bass club songs to give it that extra "edge" in certain encounters with your mate. I do not know if I have a personal favorite song, maybe I have a personal play list!

Babeland: Do you have advice for women who are new to vibrators on trying a Bedroom Kandi toy for the first time?

Kandi: Yes, it’s the best fun you can have by yourself. Try it; I’m confident you will like it!

Babeland: Do you have a favorite that you like to recommend?

Kandi: My favorite piece is the Happiness & Joy dual-action vibe. It brings you happiness on the inside and joy on the outside at the same time. idea was to create discreet packaging so that a woman can enjoy an orgasm on the go and so that if the product were mistakenly left on her dresser, no one would be alarmed! I decided to go with the make-up angle because it brought an elegant feel to the product line.

Babeland: Do you think that you’re part of destigmatizing vibrators for women? You have a high profile and many women look up to you. Have you found that launching this line is opening a new dialogue with your viewers and fans?

Kandi: I feel Bedroom Kandi will change the perception of how people view intimate products and open up the conversation, especially in the African American community. Sexual pleasure has such as huge stigma and it should not.

Babeland: What was the most fun part of designing a sex toy?

Kandi: Working on it has allowed for a healthy dialogue about sex.

Babeland: You’ve written Grammy award-winning music, so it’s no coincidence that one of your vibrators, the Happiness & Joy, vibrates to the beat and rhythm of music. What type of music sounds the best on Happiness & Joy? What’s your personal favorite song to play on this vibrator?

Kandi: Anything that you feel comfortable listening to in the bedroom works with this vibe! It does not have to be a specific type of song. It can be very passionate songs about love, dance songs to make things fun, or heavy bass club songs to give it that extra "edge" in certain encounters with your mate. I do not know if I have a personal favorite song, maybe I have a personal play list!

Babeland: Do you have advice for women who are new to vibrators on trying a Bedroom Kandi toy for the first time?

Kandi: Yes, it’s the best fun you can have by yourself. Try it; I’m confident you will like it!

Babeland: Do you have a favorite that you like to recommend?

Kandi: My favorite piece is the Happiness & Joy dual-action vibe. It brings you happiness on the inside and joy on the outside at the same time.

Win tickets to the Moregasm for Couples workshop in Seattle

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:19:26 GMT

This weekend we are excited to teach our Moregasm for Couples workshop. This is the pinnacle of all the Babeland workshops. This class covers the top tips from our most popular classes.
We launched our book Moregasm: Babeland's Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex last year, and it is a beautiful book full of sex tips, positions, dirty talk suggestions, masturbation techniques, and lots of ways to get just what you want in the bedroom and how to be an amazing lover. If you love to please the female body, this workshop is for you. If pleasing the male body is what you prefer, this workshop is for you. We cover it ALL in this class.

While this workshop is great for couples to attend together, it is also great to attend on your own, or with friends. There is so much information that we cover in this class that you will be sure to learn something new about your own sexuality, and great new tips to try on your partner.

We want to offer a special deal for the Babeland Blog readers. You can get 50% off workshop tickets when you buy them online by Friday. Just enter code “BabelandBlog” when you buy your tickets.

Want a chance to WIN tickets to class? Leave a comment below to enter. You can just leave a short hello, but we would prefer a sex tip to share with all. Maybe we will even add it to the Moregasm class this weekend!

Moregasm for Couples (Seattle Store)

Sunday, December 4, 7:30PM, $35 (Sliding scale and student rate tickets available )

Try new things, get messy, and get more of what you want from sex. We'll show you how in this workshop based on our popular book, Moregasm: Babeland's Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex. Learn new skills for oral sex, tips for pleasurable anal play, easy positions for hitting the G-spot or P-spot, and lots of ideas for couples to get it on and get off together.

Buy tickets here: http://Moregasm.eventbrite.com

National Feminist Event this Saturday!

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:58:27 GMT

If you have some free time on Saturday, you may want to join the New View Campaign in their national flash activism event. At Babeland, we have always believed that people's bodies are sexy just the way they are, so we were excited to hear about this campaign. I know I'll be there - I hope you will be too!

International Vulvanomics Flash Activism
November 19, 2011
Sponsored by The New View Campaign to Challenge the Medicalization of Women’s Sexuality (newviewcampaign.org)

Since 2008, the New View Campaign has challenged the growth of a dangerous new industry, female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) wherein amputations of parts of the vulva (labiaplasty and clitoral hood reduction) are marketed as “enhancement” and “beautification” procedures. On their websites, surgeons post before and after photographs that misinform the public about genital diversity, suggesting that all vulvas should look alike and that there is something wrong with full labia. Check some of them out for yourself here and here.

The New View Campaign (a feminist project that began in 2000) believes that the informed consent process for these procedures must include information about the range of genital diversity. New View is speaking up and targeting surgeons who make false claims and who create self-consciousness and anxiety.

On November 19^th, add your voice to an international day of FLASH ACTIVISM. Participants will be taking and then uploading photos of themselves holding signs in front of the surgeon's offices and sending a very specific message: we support genital diversity!

For more information about the event, how to participate, and a list of FGCS surgeons near you, please e-mail vulvanomicsactivism at gmail dot com. Please forward and share this announcement.

Make a Video, Be a Star

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 04:56:29 GMT

Babeland is co-sponsoring a contest with our friends at RodeoH, the women-owned San Francisco company that makes the RodeoH Harness that we're all very excited about. The harness feels like your comfiest pair of underwear, no buckles or belts to fasten, and our reviewers have loved it. The basic details about the contest: Shoot a short film of 1 minute or less. Use your smartphone, camcorder, whatever, but keep it PG please! It can be about anything, but make sure that the viewer thinks, "Wow, RodeoHs are cool." You could win:

$100 credit to RodeoHs.com
VixenCreations Tex
$50 Gift Certificate Compliments of Babeland.com - to accessorize your new RodeoH
$100 Cash

Finalists will be chosen on October 30th. Check out the full contest details here.

Win Tickets to The G-Spot Class (Seattle)

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:54:25 GMT

The G-Spot class is one of my favorite classes we teach at Babeland and I want to give you tickets to attend the class!

Many people unfortunately still don’t “believe” in the G-spot, or doctors don’t think it exists. Geeze, can you imagine if people questioned the existence of the male prostate or wondered if it was pleasurable? Nope, wouldn’t happen. The information about the G-Spot is pretty straight forward actually. You can pick up a book on the topic, google it, or read our handy how-to and find out all about it pretty easily. Some people learn best from workshops though and in our class we have 3D models, we show videos and we can answer any question on the topic for you.

The truth about the G-Spot is that everyone woman has one. Now, whether someone likes that type of stimulation is another story entirely. Women who like G-Spot stimulation generally REALLY, REALLY like it. And they want to talk about it and tell you how amazing it is and how amazing YOU will think it is too. Well, see, not everyone is going to love it the same. Imagine we were talking about nipplestimulation. Say someone told you they love having their nipples sucked hard and twisted and that it was the best thing to add to sex because they had amazing orgasms when they did that. Would you feel like you had to do that too or else you were missing out? Probably not. You might give it a try or two to see if you did like it, or you might already know your body enough to know that nipple stimulation isn’t your cup of tea. But you at least know that nipples exist and that everyone had them and that they are erogenous zones for many people. When people talk about the G-Spot being the most amazing orgasms ever, often the people that are not experiencing that feel like they don’t have a G-Spot or that it doesn’t really exist.

If you want to find out if stimulating the G-Spot can be your most amazing orgasm ever, well then you should definitely take this class.

I will be giving away 5 tickets to this weekend’s workshop here in Seattle. Comment below to enter to win. Share this on Facebook or Twitter and tag @Babeland_Sea or http://www.facebook.com/BabelandSEA to let us know you did for extra entries. We will be picking out 5 winners on Friday, September 16th so be sure to comment, Tweet and post before then.

G-Spot 101 and Female Ejaculation Sunday, September 18, 7:30 - 9:30 PM Expand your orgasmic potential. It's not a myth – learn to stimulate the G-spot, and it might just give you the best orgasms of your life. We'll show you all the right positions, techniques, and toys you'll need to find the G-spot, give it some love, and possibly even trigger female ejaculation.

Workshop attendees get 15% off on purchases during the workshop. Singles and couples and groups of every gender and sexual orientation are invited to attend our workshops and events (18+ only). You can buy workshop tickets here: http://gspot101.eventbrite.com/ or by calling the store at 206-328-2914orkshops and events (18+ only).

You can buy workshop tickets here: http://gspot101.eventbrite.com/ or by calling the store at 206-328-2914

Babeland's Big Summer Sale

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:25:32 GMT

Enjoy 20% off nearly everything in stores and online when you shop Friday-Sunday, July 15, 16, and 17. You know what that means? The bestselling couple's toy, the We Vibe, is marked down from $99 to $79. Want an affordable vibe that still has a lot of power? The popular dual-action vibrator, the Butterfly Kiss, is marked down from $17 to $13. It's a perfect time to stock up on lube, too. Good sex is slippery sex and you can never have too much on hand. Customer favorite Sliquid H2O can be had for $16 for eight ounces, instead of $20. If you need that toy to have with you just in case you're stranded on a deserted island, the Gigi is our recommendation and this gorgeous, customizable vibe is now available for $87, marked down from $109.

The Big Summer Sale is part of our Customer Appreciation Month. During July, you can enter for a chance to win the Jimmyjane Eternity, a platinum, diamond-studded vibe valued at $3,250. This is the second year we've done this amazing giveaway. To be in the drawing, all you have to do is subscribe to an email newsletter.

In stores, please join us for some of the many free events designed to titillate, educate and inspire you. With free drinks and gift bags, too! This weekend, there's a Happy Hour at Babeland SoHo, vouchers for free ice cream at the Street Treats truck in Seattle, Beachside BJ Tips at Babeland Brooklyn and X Marks the G-Spot at Babeland LES, among other things. Check out our events page to see the complete schedule and to choose the events and classes that float your boat.

Because We Love You!

As we're planning for Customer Appreciation Month 2012, what would you like us to do for you? Give us your suggestions in the comment section.

G-Spot Tips, Positions and...History?

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:00:13 GMT

We have two great G-Spot classes coming up this week in Seattle:

Hit the G-Spot Sunday, June 05, 7:30PM
Happy Hour at Varro! All about the G-Spot Monday, June 06, 6:00PM

Whether you already love G-Spot stimulation and/or Female Ejaculation, or you're still searching for it, I promise you will learn something valuable and have a great time at our G-Spot Classes.

An interesting topic we cover in our workshop is the history behind the G-Spot and Female Ejaculation. I know you want to hop in the sack; use that new position and technique you just learned; and gush all over the place, but the history is important too. I promise.

Long ago, before we had all these Victorian rules about how ladies should act, it was perfectly acceptable for women to moan loudly and gush all over the place when fornicating; women’s ejaculate was considered as important as men’s for conception; and women taught each other how to ejaculate before getting married. Knowing that might make a difference in how you experienced G-Spotting. All this is pretty powerful information to have in your sexual arsenal. What if it was common place to see representations of women having sex in movies where they had to lay down a towel or change the sheets after? What if in sex ed in school we learned not only about reproductive health, but about the clitoris and that during sex women would gush and orgasm. Do you think that if this was common knowledge and the general expectation that more women would be likely to come this way? My theory is yes.

All in all, the history section of our class is short compared to the techniques, tips and positions, but it is such a powerful history lesson and one that most people are just amazed to find out they have been missing.

Our full workshop is on Sunday night and will be 2 hours of in-depth knowledge including anatomy, history, communication tips for talking with your partner both before and during sex to make sure you get exactly what you want. You even get to see G-Spots up close and personal (on video) and some amazing ejaculation scenes (also on video).

We are teaching a mini version of this class on Monday at Varro during Happy Hour. This shorter class will still cover all the basics (not the video’s though), plus you get to have a cocktail along with class!

Both classes are great to attend on your own, with friends or a partner. To buy tickets for the full workshop in the store, please call 206-328-2914. No preregistration is required for the Monday Happy Hour.

Feminist Porn Awards Continues to Highlight Diverse Sexualities in Porn

Fri, 06 May 2011 11:02:11 GMT

On April 15th on Toronto, performers, directors and consumers celebrated at the 6th Annual Feminist Porn Awards. What began six years ago as a group of around 250 people is now a celebrated event that takes place over 3 days, attended by over 1,000. It is hailed as "the longest running celebration of erotica focused on women and marginalised people." Presenting a variety of sexual selves in a respectful, authentic light has been the goal of these awards since the beginning. The awards aim each year to find new ways to draw attention to diverse, unique and sex positive sexual expression in pornography. This year, a lot of the performers and directors spoke about including a more diverse representation of masculinities alongside celebrating presentations of authentic female experiences. For instance, Shine Louise Houston, creator of the Crash Pad series, was honored for her new website, HeavenlySpire.com, which focuses on masculine beauty and sexuality. Speaking about the site, Houston noted, “I watch mainstream gay porn and it’s very cookie-cutter. This is completely different. I like to break the fourth wall at the end of my movies. I want to humanize my models. I ask the guys what they think is sexy about their bodies, and it’s really interesting how they respond: it’s not always their cock. Sometimes it’s their arms or their ass or hands. When they tell me how they eroticize different parts of themselves, I can highlight that when I film.” In the same way that feminist porn directors have previously spoken about authenticating female expression in porn, Houston seeks to bring the same realness to male sexuality in pornography by including both transgendered and cisgendered men in her alternative porn work. Also acknowledged this year was Tristan Taormino's Rough Sex 2 (for Hottest Kink Movie), Courtney Trouble's Billy Castro Does the Mission (for Most Tantalizing Trans Film) and Ilana Rothman's Open Invitation (for Sexiest Straight Movie). For the full list, check out the awards website. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you, GoodForHer's Feminist Porn Awards, for continuing to highlight genders and sexualities in an inclusive manner! Kudos!

Let's Talk about Sex, Baby, and Relationships, and...

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:24:11 GMT

In just about every one of our workshops, we have a communication section. I know, I know, when people sign up for the Art of the Blow Job class, they think it will be all licking a banana and deep throat tips. But the thing is, I can teach you 20 amazing new things to do with you mouth and hands (and boobs, and thighs and butt and…), but your partner may only really like four of them, or maybe think two are okay and just hate the rest. Well, how do you find out which tips and techniques tickle their fancy and which others just kinda tickle? Through COMMUNICATION. See, our culture really puts a lot of emphasis on a quick fix. A “take this pill and it will all be better” kind of mentality. The thing is, when it comes to sex and relationships, you need to work at it more than that. There is no “quick fix” or magic pill that will make your sex life or relationship amazing. This is why, we spend a good amount of time on communication techniques in our workshops. This Sunday in our Seattle store, we have an entire class on communication taught by Kristen Knapick, MA, LMHCA. If you have ever wished you had a better way of explaining what you truly want to your partner, or if you have ever thought you were not hearing the full story from them, this class is for you. It is a great exercise on how fully discuss your wants, fears, desires and apprehensions, among other topics. To RSVP please call the store at 206.328.2914 or let us know you will be attending on our Facebook page. To get more information on the class, check out our Events page.

Earth Day Celebration: Eco-Friendly Sex Tips for Cyclists and Yogis!

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:39:10 GMT

This Friday is Earth Day and Babeland is celebrating some of the countless ways we can make our bodies and the earth feel good simultaneously! If you are a yoga aficionado, head over to our LES store at 7pm for tips on how to combine yoga and sex for a double boost of endorphins! We are joining forces with the Lower Eas t Side Bikram Yoga Studio to demonstrate the yoga postures that will get you in the mood for sex and compliment the classic positions you know and love. If cycling around the city is your source of fun and exercise, our kinky crafting event at our Brooklyn store is more your speed! At 6pm customers will learn how to create their very own floggers out of recycled bike inner tubes donated by Ride Brooklyn. And don’t worry; both of these events will have lots of information about how to choose an eco-friendly sex toy to end your Earth Day right as well as complimentary Blossom Organics products to the first 15 attendees! The event in Brooklyn starts at 6pm and the LES event starts at 7pm. Find out more info here. Happy Earth Day, everyone!

Earth Saving Orgasms!

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:43:44 GMT

As part of Eco-April, we have exciting event s happening in Seattle and New York TONIGHT with non-profit environmental news site Grist. We are hosting an Eco-Sexy Trivia Night where you can win prizes for answering questions on earth friendly sex toys and green ways of getting off. Gather your team and get ready to win prizes like the Stainless Steel Njoy toys, Solar Powered vibrators, Organic lube and Theo Chocolate! Join TreeShagger from Grist here in Seattle, and Ask Umbra from Grist in our SoHo NY store as they ask eco-sexy trivia questions that will win you goodies. Teams of 2-6 can play, but don’t worry if you are own your own, you can join up with other folks to play. Don’t think you know enough about all that is eco-sexy to win? Never fear; we will give you a chance to run around the store to collect answers, and at the very least you will learn a sexy new thing or two. Bring your camera too, the Babeland Vulva will be here handing out goody bags and posing for pictures! With eco-friendly sex toy giveaways, and complimentary lube samples to the first 25 attendees from Blossom Organics, we think this will be your hottest (and we're not just talking about global warming) Earth Day yet. The event in NY starts at 7pm and the Seattle event starts at 6pm and is in conjunction with the Capitol Hill Arts Walk.

My First Foray into BDSM, featuring the Kookie Cuffs.

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:13:26 GMT

I was cleaning the BDSM shelves at Babeland when they caught my eye. I stood. The pair of Kookie Cuffs and I were in a stare down, my own wide eyes meeting the ‘OO’ of their gaze. I’m going to buy my cuffs today, I thought. My first foray into BDSM was when I tied up a former boyfriend with silk hair scarves and blindfolded him with a particularly opaque padded bra. These were pre-Babeland employment days, so I used whatever tools were in my then-meager arsenal: My fingernails, my open palm, and a well-placed bullet vibrator. I remember feeling so thankful that he couldn’t see the occasional panicked expression that passed across my face. I don’t know what to do! And everything that I think about doing seems so silly! He stirred. Mm, that feels great. "Shut the fuck up," I offered, wanting to add, "And let me think!" Better yet, let me run into the bathroom with my laptop so I can Google “how to be a good domme +blindfold –anxiety." Who put me in charge of this? Oh. Right. I did. Me and the naked man in my bed. We had discussed this night in advance over Vietnamese food, had come up with a safe word, planned and prepped. And there I was, standing over him with a bottle of lube and a bucket of nerves. That night, when all was said and (un)done, he rolled over to face me and thanked me, his eyes earnest. I had been so worried about doing everything the right way that I didn’t even see how much he had enjoyed himself. We never did manage a repeat performance, and less than two weeks later, we had broken up. That look on his face is something I still cherish. I bought the Kookie Cuffs because they are hot. Black leather, soft inside, a nice weight to them. I bought them because they are supremely comfortable, not tight or difficult to undo like my silk scarves. But most of all, I bought them because I deserve them, and I want to have them at the ready the next time they come in handy. Interested in having your own foray into some light bondage or some other fantasy play? Babeland NYC and Babeland Seattle have some great events coming up this weekend to explore just that. This Sunday, Babeland Soho will host a Spanking and Role Play workshop at 7:30 pm, taught by Babeland's amazing sexuality educators. Also at 7:30 pm on Sunday, at Babeland Seattle, Max of Max's Bondage Lessons will be presenting a workshop called "Bondage for Lovers." For more details, contact the Soho and Seattle locations.

Tonight! Adrianna's Dangerous Minds Party

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:17:47 GMT

When people talk about feminist pornography, feminist porn is often described as being the expression of women's fantasies, with the women in control of their own sexual fulfillment and journey. We've talked before on the blog about Tristan Taormino's films and the way they express sexual fantasy in a way that is women-positive and female driven. They're excellent examples of how women in pornography can be presented in a way that authentic...and hot! That's why it's so exciting that tonight in downtown NYC, Tristan will be celebrating the release of her much-anticipated third Rough Sex film, Rough Sex 3: Adrianna's Dangerous Mind. This film in the series represents a unique collaboration between Tristan as a feminist pornographer and Adrianna Nicole as an adult film star. For the scenes, Adrianna picked her own co-stars and choose the scenarios based on her own fantasies. If you happen to be in the NY metropolitan area, you can meet Adrianna Nicole, co-star of the film Jiz Lee, Tristan and other special guests. You can also sip on the signature cocktail of the evening inspired by Adrianna's favorite toy. Get your free poster signed by the stars, see a sneak preview of the film, and get fabulous, sex-positive gift bags. And all in all win! The event will be held at Fontana's, which is located at 105 Eldridge Street between Grand and Broome streets. Rough Sex 3 is available in Babeland stores now and on the web at Babeland.com.

An Interview with The Redwood Plan

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:11:06 GMT

Babeland is sponsoring Seattle band The Redwood Plan at SXSW this year--you can catch their li ve performance on Friday, March 18 at Noon. We had the chance to catch up with the lead singer, Lesli Wood, and the drummer, Betty ST, in between busy recording and touring schedules. Here's what they had to say about the band's music, their inspirations and what they're looking forward to at SXSW this year: Shannon: How did you all start playing music together? Lesli: Betty and I started playing together casually a few years ago. I was still in Ms. Led at the time and I had a couple of song ideas that didn't quite fit with Ms. Led's style. The songs were dancier and not as political and I thought it would be fun to see what Betty and I would do working on them together. The songs had potential, so we decided to bring some other friends in and of course, Syd and Larry perfected the lineup. Really, it was just a bunch of friends getting together playing music we enjoy. Betty: Lesli and I applied our success in hanging out together drinking whiskey, to hanging out together, drinking whiskey and playing instruments. It grew from there, with Syd and Larry, into an incredible chemistry. I feel very lucky to play music with these three people. Shannon: What tends to be your muse for music? Lesli: For me, the lyrics/energy of the songs tend to come from a place of inspiration and motivation to live the shit out of every second of every day. Whether it's in my relationships, my career, my outlook on life, I want the best in everything and I never want to settle for anything less. I sing as hard as I can, live, work, and play as hard as I can and I don't believe in putting obstacles up for myself. Betty: Connection. And personally, a ridiculous amount of idealism and romanticism. Shannon: Why the Red and Black color scheme? Lesli: It matches my hair! Shannon: What are you most looking forward to at SXSW this year? Lesli: We're so honored to be representing Seattle at SXSW especially amongst such amazing bands as The Young Evils and Campfire OK. I love the energy at SXSW and it's always a lovefest seeing your friends there. And to actually share a stage with all these great Seattle bands will definitely be a blast. Betty: I'm looking forward to margaritas on a patio with most of my favorite people. Shannon: Are there any bands you are really excited see/ share the stage with this year? Betty: I didn't get to see You Say Party! when they came through Seattle last year. I'm not going to let that happen this year! Here's a clip with more details about SXSW, the upcoming album and the band's plans for touring in the next year: httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8oTiRAQaoo