Review

Review: Locking / buckling wrist cuffs

July 29, 2017 By Desdemona 2 Comments

Dexx says:

Stockroom was kind enough to send us these leather cuffs to review, so we thought it would be rude not to strap anniebear into them and give her a good spanking. I can confirm that she was held firmly in place and despite some considerable moaning and squirming, she was quite unable to escape… mission accomplished.

These cuffs are part of the standard line of bondage accessories produced by Stockroom, hence the fairly plain sounding product name. They come in a range of colors, including black, pink, and red. We got the red ones, which look quite distinctive and never fail to attract a compliment when being used at a play party or dungeon.

The cuffs have a 2 inch wide main body which fit around the wrists, and then taper to thinner sections at either end. What this achieves is that the thin part can be tucked through and wrapped around the entire wrist. When compared with more traditional style cuffs, you get a much more comfortable and snug fit, and they are also especially robust and secure. Short of some heavy duty fabric shears, there’s no escaping these guys until the top says so!

The buckle features a loop, which allows you to attach padlocks to keep them properly locked if desired. There is also a sturdy D-ring, which is handy for attaching the cuffs to bed posts, dungeon furniture, or each other.

It took a couple of goes to fully understand how to loop them through to close them properly. But overall, these cuffs are sturdy, soft and reliable and I can see then becoming a regular feature of my toy box.

anniebear says:

I love the helplessness of bondage – it intensifies the power exchange of D/s play and helps me get into a great headspace. If you haven’t had a good spanking while helpless and bound, you haven’t lived.

Leather cuffs like these are great for fast and practical bondage. They may not have the same sensual art as rope bondage, but they get the job done.

There are enough size options that you should be able to get them closed nice and snug, but with enough room so that they are comfortable and don’t inhibit blood flow etc. I had them attached to a loft ladder pulling my wrists high and wide, and they are wide enough that I was comfortable in this position for at least 15 minutes. They aren’t suspension cuffs, so I wouldn’t want them taking my body weight, but fine for holding the weight of my arms.

I love the striking red that these ones came in. They come in some other colors too – I wouldn’t mind trying out the pink ones some time. There are also matching ankle cuffs which I bet would go great with a spreader bar – looking forward to testing those out another time. You can get this this exact pair from Stockroom. Make sure to come back and let us know what you think!

Over 1600 Kink Lovers Flock to DomCon LA 2017

July 17, 2017 By Jay E. Moyes 1 Comment

Los Angeles, CA – DomCon Los Angeles, the world’s premier professional and lifestyle domination convention was a huge success this year with over 1600 people attending. The event was May 17-21, 2017 at the Hilton LAX. The crowd was filled with BDSM enthusiasts, the kink curious, and high profile adult stars Nina Hartley, Irene Boss and Jewel Marceau, just to name a few.

Walking about the convention floor were fetish models wearing latex catsuits, dresses and hoods. Dominatrixes were clad in custom leather and boots. Vendors offered novel and perverse sex toys, along with electrifying fetish fashions. In the crowd were cosplayers, human pets in a variety of animal costumes, and elegant cross dressers. Regularly appearing onstage were rope bondage suspensions, whip demonstrations, spanking and burlesque dances.

A few of the lovely and talented Mistresses in attendance at DomCon LA. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios.

Opening ceremonies were packed this year, and even shuttles to the Sanctuary LAX venue were standing room only. It marked the first awarding of the BDSM Hall of Fame winners. Among the initiated this year were Mistress Precious, Simone Justice, Mistress Tara Indiana, Domina Angelina and Mistress Servalan.

Puppies at the Pet Show. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios.

This year marked the first official “Kitty Parade,” through the vendor area, led by Mistress Porcelain Midnight in cat persona. Her human feline entourage followed, along with some pony players and even a
few puppy play friends.

Participants in the Pet Show and Kitty Parade. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios.

First place in the pet show this year was Mistress Molly, who arrived as the unicorn pet of Mistress Porcelain Midnight.

Winners from the pony show on Saturday were Speckles, for the “High Point” award, Ms Mystie for “Best Trainer,” and Windu, for “Best in Show.”

The Whiplr Elite Lounge, hosted by Simone Justice, was a success at DomCon this year, offering Whiplr members a chance to get away from the crowds and socialize during the event. Among their guests were Mistress Bella Bathory, Snow Mercy, and Goddess Anat.

Simone Justice and anniebear at the Whiplr lounge. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios. — Simone Justice and anniebear at the Whiplr lounge.

It’s not all about Femdom though. Master Kane was among the special guests of honor. DomCon also featured the Male Dom Social on Saturday, and Sir Valentino hosted a special Master/sub social on Sunday.

“This was Flirt4Free’s first time attending DomCon, and it was such an amazing and fulfilling experience,” said community outreach manager, Karly Kroft, Fetish Community Manager of Flirt4Free. “We were able to recruit some really great fetish broadcasters who we are very excited to have on our network. The connections we made are priceless, and we were so grateful for the warm and engaging welcome from the Kink Community!”

Vendors came from near and far to show off their latest innovations. Baroness brought her famous latex fashions from New York. Nix of Firebird Leathers displayed her “dragon scale” aluminum garments and light up feather Mohawk headdresses. Yet what got some of the most attention was the ultraviolet sex toy sanitizer from Kim Airs at the Leather by Danny booth.

Baby Love's Latex booth at DomConLA. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios. — Baby Love’s Latex booth at DomConLA. Photo courtesy of SJ Studios.

“On behalf of myself, the staff and volunteers of DomCon LA, vendors, and our special guests, thank you so much for coming,” said Mistress Cyan. “We are grateful to everyone who came, and participated. Our kind thanks go out to the army of volunteers that make this event possible, and to our sponsors, Whiplr, Kink.com, Stockroom, and AVN.”

Mistress Cyan and the DomCon board are making strides in debuting a DomCon London or Australia event in the future. The next expo is DomCon New Orleans in October 5th-8th, which will include a fetish parade down Bourbon Street. Go to DomConNOLA.com to learn more.

Event Review: Torture Garden, London

June 26, 2017 By anniebear 2 Comments

If you haven’t heard of Torture Garden, they are an insanely popular/famous event group dedicated to bringing the best in BDSM, kink, and electronic events to London and the worldwide stage starting in the early 90’s. I originally discovered them on Instagram a few years ago and have been lusting to attend one of their events ever since.

Dexx and I recently found ourselves on a European trip that just happened to set us in London for TG’s June Ball. I could NOT pass up the opportunity to attend! The event was on a Saturday night and Dexx and I spent all day Saturday shopping for an outfit for him. This may sound like Dexx is a fashionista but in reality, TG has one of the most strict dress codes of any event I’ve ever seen or heard of. This is not merely a “no tennis shoes or ripped clothes” type of dresscode. TG goes to great lengths to make sure that all guests adhere to their high standard of fetish, goth, alternative, and beyond! In fact, their website makes sure to spell out exactly what is allowed to the letter. It was a fun challenge shopping for Dexx. We made a pitstop at Liberation Latex where I got to see him in latex for the first time! In the ended we opted for something else equally fantastic but a slight bit cooler to wear. Everywhere we went shopping, people had heard of Torture Garden. This party, despite it’s more alternative theme is a staple of London. It’s no surprise that kink and fetish are much more accepted here than in the states.

I had planned my outfit all the way back in LA and made the trek across the ocean with it in tow. A black lace bodysuit, red waist cincher, leather posture collar, red thong, and giant hair with black feathers completed my look. I knew nothing I wore could compare to the clothes we would see so I didn’t agonize overly much on it.

We were meeting a few of Dexx’s friends from London at Fire, the venue for this month’s ball. We dressed in some suitable street clothes over our outfits and we were on our way! I felt very nervous going to this particular party mostly due to not knowing what to expect! TG does a great job of including all areas of kink, so I assumed folks would be friendly at least.

Upon arrival, we met up with our friends and went to get in line. We got a full bag inspection and pat down and my chewing gum was confiscated *sob* 😉 We then entered the space. Our first goal was to locate coat check so we could ditch our vanilla clothes. Once inside, we stripped down to our real outfits and I navigated my way all the way through the space to the back patio where coat check was located. The space was extremely dark as my eyes adjusted so I almost missed it. I also thought it would have made more sense to have coat check located nearer to the front entrance but this was minor inconvenience.

There were several rooms for the event. The lighting was moody in some and different colors with bright spotlights dancing around in others. The main room had several cages and pole for dancing. There was a stage in front of the DJ and electronic music was playing. It had a very industrial feel. Another room contained dungeon equipment along the wall in a u-shape. It was roped off and there were a few dungeon monitors around. Upon further inquiry we found that anyone could use the equipment to play. There were a few impact scenes going on and one rope scene inside of an elevated cage in which a girl was later hoisted into a suspension. That room in particular was very crowded and people eagerly watched the play in progress. Above us were circular projection screens with photos and art playing in a slide show.

We grabbed a few drinks from one of several full bars and wandered about. I loved looking at the different costumes. While they were not as wild and crazy as I had expected, there were many people that had gone all out wearing head to foot latex suits, dresses, and everything in between. Lingerie was a popular choice as there were many beautiful women strutting around. I could tell a few of the men were uncomfortable in their attire, adjusting their clothes a lot and gawking at everyone. Though TG does a good job with the dress code and also does not allow in groups like bachelor/ette parties, they can’t possibly know who is their as a spectator and who is an actual lifestyler. However, I hope events such as these serve as a source for education as much as it is entertainment.

In all the event seemed much more akin to an industrial dance party rather than a more focused kink party. Since it goes all night, perhaps my group didn’t stay long enough to see enough? I was pleased to note that this party was comparable to a lot of the BDSM parties I’ve attended in Los Angeles. Albeit since this was not taking place in an actual dungeon, the LA parties are heavier on the play and less on dancing. But it was fun and unique to have dancing as an option.

Great job to the group at Torture Garden for creating such a vibrant and varied event offering and keeping it thriving for so many
years!

anniebear is a submissive living with her partner Dexx in Los Angeles. She enjoys writing, modeling for friends, animal rescue, and teaching herself how to cook. You can catch her on Fetlife or Facebook.

Event Review: Kink Weekly Launch Party

June 20, 2017 By Jenn Masri 1 Comment

So it’s been a little over a week since the Kink Weekly launch party happened. I must admit, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. It was in partnership with a new event brand called Lovely Fate so honestly, anything was possible. I had never been to the venue before and wasn’t privy to too many details beforehand. I was, however, very much looking forward to it. Both for the anticipation of the party itself as well as to celebrate this wonderful on-line publication!

My Sir and I decided to Uber there because it had been mentioned that there was a lack of parking. So glad we did! The venue is at the end of a very unassuming dead-end alley. You would seriously never know it was there by just driving down the street. We waited for a little bit because they were running a few minutes late inside (and I have this annoying habit of not being fashionably late if I can help it).

Once we were allowed in the door we were greeted by a lovely blonde woman standing behind a desk who asked for our IDs to check us in. We also signed the waiver which is pretty standard protocol.

Before I continue with my description of the evening I would like to take a moment to put in mind those kink/BDSM fiction novels you may have read. No, I am NOT referring to 50 Shades. The other novels that create a sexy and alluring ambiance as you flip through the pages. Have you read any of those? Well if you have, keep them in mind as I continue to describe this party.

Once we were done checking in we continued past the desk and, just ahead, in front of floor-to-ceiling white curtains, stood two adorable female subs. They weren’t wearing much and they each held lit candelabras. They welcomed us in as they parted the curtains to let us through. Once inside the next room we were met by additional greeters who offered a chance to pull a “dare” from their box (not a euphemism lol) – there were little folded pieces of paper that had suggested dares on them. A fun little addition! To our left was a human table and a human lamp next to an actual couch and chair for socializing away from the main room. Beyond this area were more white curtains which I would later learn separated the smoking area and additional bathroom.

Turning right into the main room there was an enthusiastic greeter who was very helpful in pointing out the bar and various other points to the space. We enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres by more scantily clad lovelies and a drink from the bar (ok I stuck to water and lemonade). There were two adorable rope bunnies tied together on a table that I enjoyed torturing with a bit of tickling. FYI they had rules of consent on a small board in front of them and I also knew them both. Also a beautiful human centerpiece on a large square table feeding guests chocolate covered strawberries.

After an appropriate amount of socializing had been done and most of the guests had arrived – Dexx gathered the crowd to thank everyone for making the event possible and proceeded to open up an additional section which included several play areas including a school room with enough chairs for about a dozen “students”. There were a few planned scenes/performances which included role-play, fire, flogging and more.

All in all it was a very enjoyable evening with the ambiance of those novels that actually rouse the senses. My Sir and I had a wonderful time, met many new people, saw familiar faces, and watched some amazing play. Thank you to Dexx and anniebear for orchestrating such a classy and wonderful event!

Jennifer Masri is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in Alternative Lifestyles for individual and relationship issues. She also teaches the BDSM 101 class series at Sanctuary LAX in Los Angeles every Monday evening. Read more about Jennifer on her blog, A Kink Shrink.

Event Review: The Hollywood Academy for Wayward Boys & Girls

May 22, 2017 By Vice Erotica 3 Comments

The Hollywood Academy for Wayward Boys & Girls opened its doors at North Hollywood’s BDSM club Lair de Sade last weekend for its Spring Session. New students flocked to their doors, with plaid skirts and sharpened pencils – ready for a day of learning and surely a bit of discipline. All students had previously registered online to ensure their admittance, read through and agreed to the Academy’s structure and curriculum, and had been properly vetted.

A school role-play scenario has always topped my list of kinky interests. Everything about it excites me – the wardrobe, writing on the chalkboard, flirting with the Professors, being sent to the Principal’s office, being humiliated in front of my peers… So when I first stumbled across the event page for The Hollywood Academy for Wayward Boys & Girls, I’m not sure I could’ve been any more excited. I quickly registered, and signed Daddy up to be a voyeur as all “Top” positions were already fulfilled. I listed my interests and hard limits, expressed my enthusiasm, and hoped for the best! I received a warm reply from the event’s organizer, confirming all necessary details and welcoming me to the Academy.

I was oddly nervous the day of the event. It was at a space I was familiar with, Daddy would be with me, and I knew limits and consent would be established – so I had no fears of being ‘thrown to the wolves,’ but the nerves still persisted. I dressed up in my ‘schoolgirl best,’ opting for an outfit substantially more “little” and less “Catholic school girl” as it was how I was feeling that morning. I smoothed my black skirt, adjusted my pink stockings, double checked my pigtails and pink bows, and willed my black Mary Jane shoes to carry me throughout this day. I grabbed my kitty tote bag and Daddy’s hand and walked through the door.

I stopped at the Registration Desk to complete my necessary paperwork (your usual consent and event liability forms), pay my tuition, get a nametag, and meet Principal Charles. He welcomed me to the Academy by name, recognizing me from my online application (aka: my Fet profile). Principal Charles gave me a brief outline of the day, welcomed Daddy, and invited us to head inside to relax before classes started.
We sat down with a few people we knew from the local community, and chatted with a few faces we didn’t recognize. I noted that most of the girls were in plaid skirts and crisp white button-up shirts, and quickly picked out whom I presumed was the Academy’s “troublemaker” from his all black attire, leather fingerless gloves, and hacky sack. Everyone seemed to know each other – my insecurities over being “the new girl” were in full force! I resolved to myself to be on my best behavior, make Daddy proud, and enjoy the day.

Principal Charles called school to order, and we all gathered in a room to be seated and await instructions. He explained the outline of the day, including our class schedule and how disciplinary actions would be managed and carried out. We were introduced to the professors, the Vice Principal, the student teacher, and the school nurse. Principal Charles then asked everyone to take out a pen and a piece of paper. I froze in panic, as I had a pen with me – but no paper! My flustered face met similar looks across the room, as well as disapproval from the Principal. He told all of us who were unprepared to stand, and come to the front of the class. We were all to be punished for coming to class without needed supplies. I was horrified! How could I have not thought of this?! I mean, I had snacks and my coloring book and markers for recess and after school – but no paper?! I was humiliated to be bent over in front of everyone and spanked, but I took my strokes without complaint. The others were disciplined in similar fashion, and then classes were to begin.

Our first class was math. Our poor Professor – he just didn’t know what was coming. A room full of kinky, rowdy, possibly horny students… It wasn’t a minute after Principal Charles walked out that the paper airplanes started flying, the notes were being passed, and general misbehavior was ensuing. Our basic lesson of Pi and Algebra were interrupted by bratty outbursts and crumpled papers being thrown across the class. Each offense was met with a Discipline Form, and soon half our class was in the throes of punishment. I defended myself against false accusations from the louder students, and giggled as I watched girls come back from the Principal’s office and wince as they sat on their wooden chairs.

We attended one more class with in which the antics persisted, but the Professor was slightly more successful in delivering his lesson. We then broke for recess, and I nearly skipped to go sit with Daddy and his friends. They had been sitting around a table watching the hilarity over the last hour, smoking cigars, and catching with up with each other. Daddy greeted me with a kiss, asked how my day was, and offered me some of his cigar. I smiled and warmly accepted, chatting about my day. Within 2 minutes, a stern “Young lady! Are you smoking on campus?” came from behind me and my eyes went wide. I was caught! I was grabbed by the arm and taken to the Principal’s Office, with Daddy smirking as I walked away – he had set the whole thing up as I was behaving “too good” all day! I filled out my Discipline Form, and received my strokes. I left the office to a chorus of “oooooooh’s” from my peers, and questions as to how “the good girl” got in trouble at recess. “Smoking on campus!” I spat back, shocking them all, and returning with a scowl to Daddy’s side. We shared a laugh as it was all in good fun.

Principal Charles announced recess was over, and we all shuffled back to class. Our 3rd class was English – taught by a ‘real life’ English teacher. I’ve never seen so many previously mischievous students furiously start taking notes! We knew there was a Final Exam at the end of the day, and all of these parts of speech and phrases seemed like just the sort of thing to be on it! The class was not entirely well-behaved though, as the boy I previously labeled a ‘trouble maker’ sat through nearly the entire class with his hacky sack in his mouth – at the demand of the Vice Principal. English was soon over, and we headed to Wood Shop – which we soon realized was Paddles:101. It was a surprisingly informative time spent learning about different types of wood, their sounds upon impact, and how their impact felt. Principal Charles popped into the class and informed the Professor that “a students Father just called, requesting a special instruction on the differences between ‘thuddy’ and ‘stingy’” – Of course, that student was me. I threw on my full ‘brat,’ stomping and pouting to the front of the classroom. I was paddled by every implement he had until I could distinguish the woods from their sound and bite alone, as well as determining my favorite. I walked back to my seat, and flashed Daddy a sarcastic “Thanks Daddy!” as he had joined in the room to watch the demonstration.

It was now time for our Final Exam, and we were all ushered back to the main classroom. We were given 5 questions and 1 bonus question, and we all wrote down our answers. Well, some students just doodled – there was lots of doodling the entire day. I was thrilled that I had paid attention, and beamed when I got all 6 questions correct. Myself and one other student were rewarded with “good girl spankings” from a wicked acrylic paddle, and then got to watch in amusement as the reprimands got increasingly worse as the Exam scores declined. I secretly wished I’d gotten just 1 wrong – I’d finally started to relax into the ‘role play’ of everything and yearned for a little chastisement! We exited class for the day, and I knew I had to invite my friends to study at the next Academy!

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Principal Charles after the class activities had commenced (some students required additional discipline) to learn more about the Academy, as well as the group he runs. We were joined by the student teacher, Naughty, who is his lovely wife.

Thank you both for such an awesome day – I didn’t know what to expect, but all of this was just great! Tell me about this group that you run, and how today’s event came about.

Charles: We took over the group almost 4 years ago now, from the original founder who ran it for a number of years out of his house. We moved it to the Lair de Sade when attendance started to get to be too big to be held in a house. When we took over the group, every September we would have a ‘school girl party’ – “Back To School” or so we called it. It was always one of the most heavily attended events that we had. So we said, “You know, people really seem to like this!” Both my wife and I attended some other parties – they had an academy and they ran it for several hours. They have teachers, classes being taught, a curriculum, you have to register, you go to different classes at different times. We thought, “Hey, that’s a great idea! It’s fun! We could probably do this at our local parties.” So first – we totally stole the idea. But we recognize that it’s a big trigger for a lot of people; it’s a scenario that people like. And so we’re running them now about once a quarter. On the other months, we still run our normal play parties, which are a typical open-play kind of parties.

Got it. Your first party – was it strictly a ‘school girl’ dress-up type party or did you have some type of structure to it?

Charles: The first one that we did was exactly as you saw today. Structured, we had teachers, we had classes – we had probably too many classes, it went a little longer. So that’s why we’re pairing it down and giving the attendees time for break or “recess” as we call it. We do try to get the students to move from one end of the space to the other and back so it feels like school. It’d be great if we actually had desks and things like that, maybe someday we’ll find an area where we can do that

So in addition to cutting down the number of classes, what have you learned from your first party to this party? Perhaps the pros/cons of those first ones versus today’s event?

Naughty: I would say the flow as far as making sure its consensual, but yet still trying to have it in a school setting. So making sure the students fill out the punishment slip and knowing what their limits are and what they want – it was a little haphazard in the first class today as far as the flow of it and figuring out how to set it up. So now its gotten more seamless as far as getting the consent, knowing what they can take, and implementing it.

Got it. I can definitely see how it’s a lot to organize and manage! So is the Hollywood Academy for Wayward Boys & Girls, this role play type event all your group does? Or is it more?

Charles: We are the Hollywood Spanking Plus Group – that’s the actual group. We run these parties about once every 3 months or so, and then the other months we run just a normal play party. We are Spanking “Plus” because we have gone beyond just spanking because people are into BDSM – I mean, we’ve always been into BDSM but spanking was the original trigger – but we just began to notice that with more and more people – the groups were meshing. There wasn’t the same distinction. Or there was more curiosity about trying something a little but more.

Naughty: We wanted to do some rope, try using whips, floggers, things like that. Traditionally speaking in spanking – once upon a time, it was very strict in all the different groups about what you could do; it was very frowned upon to have any kinds of ropes or that sort of thing. So in changing with the times and what we like, we just expanded it a bit.

So how did you both get into this lifestyle, meet each other, etc?

Naughty: A little bit of backstory… We met at a spanking party. It was this group, with the prior owner. I had been in the closet my whole life, never told anyone about my desires until I was getting divorced and went to a spanking party from a different group. Charles saw that I was listed to attend the next party, so he reached out to me and was asking some questions. We decided to meet.

Charles: I was actually mentoring somebody at the time, I was looking for a party that she could attend where the people were understanding – wouldn’t beat her up too bad as she was very skittish about the whole thing. I was also looking for submissive women who hadn’t been in the scene for that long, that had gone to one of the prior parties so I could ask a few questions: what’d you think/how were the people/how was it like/etc. Naughty was who responded to me. We started chatting back and forth through messages on Fet, and at one point she said “oh your girlfriend…” and I said “oh no, she’s not my girlfriend – she’s someone I’m mentoring” – and Naughty said “OH! Well in that case…” And it grew from there! That was over 5 years ago.

Naughty: We just got married last year and we have a Domestic Discipline Household. So you could consider us 24/7, but a lot of what we do is for fun. But we do have rules in our household.

Oh my gosh! That’s a whole different interview for a whole different day!!!

Naughty: It’s an amazing group, its been a lot of fun. Our regular parties are almost like hanging out at a cocktail party, but people are getting spanked!

That’s my kind of party! Is there a website or a FetLife page for your group?

Charles: We are on FetLife as a Group under Hollywood Spanking Plus, our Group profile which is Hollywoodspanko, and personally – we have a joint account Bluemeetsblue.

Vice Erotica is a photographer, writer, and babygirl from Southern California. She is a regular contributor for Kink Weekly. When she’s not photographing pretty things, she enjoys cigars, collars, and planning her next adventure. You can view more of her work here.

Book Review: Comfort Object by Annabel Joseph

May 1, 2017 By anniebear 2 Comments

Comfort Object by Annabel Joseph is the first of a four book series. There is little similarity between the books within the series other than the theme of BDSM and the recurring appearance of characters threaded throughout. I’ve completed the entire series and the other three books don’t seem to capture the same magic and relationship as Comfort Object.

Comfort Object hit all of the buttons in what I like out of my erotica; BDSM themes, a strong dominant male figure, and a girl in trouble. To take a next step, the girl in this story is in trouble because the guy purposely gets her into it! We begin with Nell, she’s working as a professional submissive in a dungeon in LA. A very handsome man comes in one evening and pays to dominate her. Spoiler alert, this handsome man is not our main attraction for the book, rather he is to be the male lead’s assistant. Nell breaks the dungeon rules by meeting this man outside of the dungeon for sex. The head Mistress finds out and subsequently fires her. Come to find out, the sexy male assistant was on a search for his boss to acquire a new submissive. You heard that right, the assistant gets to “test” Nell out for his boss.

Enter Jeremy, famous movie star (of course). After his assistant gives him the information on Nell, he finds her at her new waitressing job and solicits her to be his new assistant. She eventually relents out of financial desperation, only the find out the new “job” is actually to be his live in submissive. I don’t want to give away the rest but sexy shenanigans ensue, Nell gets placed in danger, and you’ll need to read it to find out what happens!

I really liked this book because the BDSM scenes seem very authentic, as if someone who knows what they are talking about wrote them. The D/s exchange is really hot and I love the power play between Jeremy and Nell. I will say that Jeremy is borderline a terrible jerk for a portion of the book. He does not take care of Nell mentally and emotionally like a D/s dynamic should be but a lot of that is due to the contractually relationship they share. There are also a few moments where the contract and perhaps even consent were thrown the wayside. I would have liked Jeremy to be more stable as he was echoing some Christian Gray standards.

The book also shared group sex scenes which I really enjoy reading about. Many of the past BDSM themed erotica avoid this theme, centering the book solely on a monogamous relationship. This was a change to the repetition of the last few books I had read. I highly recommend Comfort Object for your summer reading. The other three books in the series, Caressa’s Knees, Odalisque, and Command Performance are also very entertaining but lacking that “spark” I enjoy in my erotica. I hope to check out more of Annabel Joseph’s books a sI rarely follow specific authors, so it would be nice to have a new go to! The Comfort Object series is available here.

Book Review: Future Sex by Emily Witt

April 24, 2017 By anniebear 1 Comment

I first discovered Future Sex while researching topics for our “This week in kink” section on Kink Weekly. I’m always on the prowl for BDSM news or anything pertaining to sex and alternative relationships. I saved the book information and moved along only to circle back to it again once I had some serious travel coming up. Having secured the book into my Kindle app on my iPhone, I promptly read the entire thing in about three days. Author Emily Witt describes the topography of contemporary dating by living out more experiences than most will encounter during the whole of their existence. She also manages to both dissect and explain commonplace dating and sex while being able to move past the norms, all with a sense of ease and understanding.

She takes us through a journey of several years and many experiences that the average person would consider to be unusual. From “OM”-ing (a new wave method for female orgasm) in San Francisco to finding new partners in the desert at Burning Man she takes each moment in stride with an ernest self awareness lacking in most.

One of my favorite moments is near the beginning as Witt realizes traditional dating is not for her, that she needs to look into other options. But should she fail in her mission she states, “I would have embraced the project of wifeliness, monogamy, and child-rearing and posted them as triumphs for collective celebration on digital feeds.” Never has this idea been more clearly painted to me than in that sentence. For me, Future Sex was not only an investigation into alternative dating and non-monogamy but it was exposing what monogamy has become; the “one true option.” Those outside of monogamy are labeled as strange degenerates in way and with little attempt from “vanillas” to even understand why others choose to date or have sex this way. Witt says, “I had disliked my freedom because I didn’t want to see myself landing on the outside of normal.” Because anything but “normal” is difficult for most people to even share with their friends and families.

Future Sex is not at all what I expected. With the organization of the book being separate chapters outlining a glimpse into different facets of dating as a millennial, with titles like “Internet Dating” and “Live Web Cams” it’s both entertaining, raw, and at times awkward. In the chapter “Internet Porn” Witt spends a great deal of time discussing Princess Donna and the “Public Disgrace” series from Kink.com. I loved reading every word about how one of these shoots would go down. Basically a model signs a specific agreement allowing him or her to be “publicly” humiliated in front of an audience. Oftentimes, audience participation is allowed. The Public Disgrace videos were some of my very first exposure to the lifestyle, I just didn’t realize it at the time. I read this section with a bit of sadness as Kink.com has recently moved their offices from their home at The Armory in San Francisco. But that’s a lamentation for a whole other article!

Where was Witt going with all of this Kink.com business? She pointed out that everything she witnessed for Kink was about rules and perhaps she realized, her rules may need to change.

Most eye opening to me was the chapter on Birth Control and Reproduction. Witt points out that basic birth control technology for women has not advanced or evolved in almost forty years. This reinforces the idea that except for condoms, birth control falls squarely on the shoulders of women. No one seems to care enough to advance it because “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” (that was a direct quote from me, not the author of this book 😉 But the birth control methods and process are broken. The pain, side effects, burden…its one more nail in coffin of how we’ve arrived to the way sex is now.

Witt eventually wraps the book up into a startling conclusion. There won’t be some amazing evolution of how we have sex. The conversation will simply change as it always has. Even from ten years ago, we talk about sex differently or perhaps it’s just me? There is always a shift occurring, even if it’s minute.

Future Sex is available on Amazon.com.

Event Review: Dan Savage’s HUMP! Film Festival

April 12, 2017 By anniebear 2 Comments

Who knew vanilla friends could take you to the kinkiest things? That’s exactly what happened to me. An old colleague of mine sent me a text asking if I wanted to go to an amateur porn film festival because out of all of the friends she knew, I was the first one to come to mind. Well, she got that one right! I am a big fan of porn, having been an avid watcher of many genres for years now. Once she sent me the link for the festival and I was able to read a bit more about it, I was hooked! HUMP! Is the brainchild of Dan Savage; sex educator, LBGTQ champion, and general badass. This is the first year that HUMP! is on the road, bringing the festival across the United States. Los Angeles was just one stop of many, but we welcomed HUMP! with open arms.

I was curious as to who would attend a porn film festival. I had images in my head of a dark theater full of heavy breathing men. I was delightfully surprised to find several (not many) women in the audience. There were a lot of couples and the male gay presence was in force, which I mostly attribute to Dan Savage’s involvement. The crowd was friendly and jovial as we waited for the films to start.

The festival opened with a pre-recorded word from Dan Savage and also an outline of the rules for the evening. Not only were no cell phones allowed, but we were told that our phone would be confiscated if it was seen out at any time during the films. This was mostly to protect the actors in the films. I also really enjoyed the rule of “don’t be an asshole.” They encouraged you to keep any personal opinions to yourself since you would most likely be insulting someone in the audience. I actually wished the rules for the HUMP! festival could be the rules for every movie I see at a theatre from here on out.

To prove that each film was made specifically with the HUMP! festival in mind, they encouraged filmmakers to include either an accordion or “Make America Great Again” hat. The latter included a disclaimer that they chose this item before the election when no one thought you know who would win…sorry. However, we were not disappointed with the use of that hate within the films. It actually made it slightly more hilarious watching a man having sex with another man while wearing it or someone using it as a used condom receptacle.

The films were each just five minutes in length which proved to be beneficial in some cases as there were a few in there that included things that personally revolted me. Don’t worry, while it sounds like I am passing judgment on some of the films (I am), the rules prior to the movies included a statement that said, “You may even see things you’d never want to see.” I was in good company. Also, I just prescribed to the “their kink is not my kink and that’s ok” mentality as a small bout of nausea came and went during a particularly epic scene involving a stick of butter.

BDSM was represented in HUMP! though not to it’s best and brightest, at least in my opinion. There was a particularly kinky game of scrabble, puppy play, and humorous film called “It’s Fucking Complicated” which highlighted the difficulty of outlining each individual’s kinks to a new partner. There was a hilarious “nature” video documenting the life and habits of the gimp. The gimp of course was a person wearing a full body leather or pleather suit, their arms and legs tied so that they had some difficulty maneuvering around. At one point a film came on which lasted around thirty seconds, long enough to showcase a “Cock-a-pult”. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a device placed on an erect penis in which something can be catapulted from the tip. It was highly effective and also offered a welcome break from a couple of back–to-back, intense films.

There were a series of awards given for different films including “Best Sex”, “Best Kink”, and “Best Humor”. But no matter what film came and went, the audience gave a rousing round of applause, whistles, and cheers. I would be curious to see what this festival is like in other parts of the country. I hope it’s as well received. There are still many stops left on the tour. At the time of this writing, HUMP! is heading to Chicago, Washington DC, and Dallas with a dozen or so thereafter. Tickets are still available and I highly recommend it for those wanting something very out of the ordinary!

Event Review: Pandora Play Party, Sydney

March 14, 2017 By anniebear 5 Comments

I’ve just returned from the land down under. It was actually a dual trip stopping in New Zealand and then heading on to Australia. It was my first time in Australia but a repeat for New Zealand. You can read my review of some kink events I’d previously attended in New Zealand here. I knew being my first time in Australia I had to make the kinky most out of it! Luckily there was a BDSM event that was right up my ally while I was in town.

The Pandora Play Party was advertised as “one of Sydney’s premier play parties which was formed to help provide a comfortable environment and fun atmosphere for Sydney kinksters who wish to meet like-minded people and be free and open about their fetish.” The party is for kinksters from all walks of life but caters to those 40 years old and younger. I know that the 40 and under parties are often riddled with controversy here in the states so I had imagined theirs might encounter the same type of scrutiny. I was still very curious how Aussies get kinky though and RSVPed for myself and my friend after a quick conversation via the messenger app kik with one of the party organizers. I was informed that this was a crossover party, a rare breed of kink and swinger merged into one party. I knew that many had tried and failed to create a space for both of these groups even here in Los Angeles however I had also heard in other communities, particularly smaller ones, these groups often came together for a good time. This was going to be an interesting night!

We flew into Sydney on a Saturday and the party was the same evening. We grabbed an Uber from our place in Surry Hills only to realize the party location was a bit further than we had anticipated (having no knowledge of the lay of the land). We were nervous about arriving late as the organizer told us to come no later than 9:30pm but we kept our fingers crossed and soldiered on! We pulled onto a residential street with medium to large-sized homes. The driver dropped us in front of what we believed to be the right house and sped off. We could hear the distinct sound of whipping and some music and we knew we were in the right place!

We walked through a gate at the side of the house and around to the back as instructed. I noticed a beautiful pool in the back yard and many people were milling about. We were directed to the inside and there we met one of the other cohosts of the party. She was very friendly and knew exactly who we were once we gave our names. She chatted with us and offered us complimentary champagne. Everyone was dressed in sexy lingerie for the women and jeans and shirts for the men, though later in the evening the men became increasingly more undressed. We sure didn’t mind that! The other host came up to greet us and gave us a quick lay of the land. The house was large with several ceiling and wall hard points on the lower level. The upper level held multiple bedrooms and bathrooms wherein a lot of sexy time was happening.

There was a heavy flogging scene in progress compliments of the home owner, the girl’s behind was heavily marked. There was rope in progress in the other half of the room. The rope tying would continue throughout the evening with several couples moving in and out of the space trying partial and full suspensions. We were also delighted to see a woman tying another girl in an egg shaped, hanging whicker chair. I so badly wanted to take a photo but didn’t want to invade anyone’s privacy but let me tell you she was pure genius and the rope bottom was loving it!

Everyone we met throughout the night was so incredibly nice, friendly and open to chatting. I found this to be opposite many of the regular parties in Los Angeles where though I love attending and have amassed a good group of friends, these can often have an air of superiority and snobbery. We learned more about the Sydney scene and that this particular party was new to the venue we were visiting. We never would have known because of how well it was set up and run. The Pandora party did receive some flak from those not appreciating the 40 and under restriction but I did notice there were a few in attendance who appeared over 40 which goes to show that compromises can be made for the right people!

As the night progressed I decided it would be fun to do a little Topping action. I cuffed my friend to the wall, grabbed my toy bag and proceeded to give her a sound spanking along with impact play and flogging. The scenes at this party were much more “front and center” with people typically stopping to watch for long amounts of time. This made me slightly nervous as I am newer to topping, however I was among good, non-judgmental company and quickly relaxed into it. I took my time teasing and squeezing her body but as space was slightly limited for this type of play, I eventually had to wrap up the scene.

We went and relaxed, having a drink. All of a sudden I thought someone must have had an accident as the fire department showed up….or rather one particular man form the fire department appeared. He was actually just some extra entertainment for the evening! We were treated to a show as he danced his way around the room playing with fire, and he was hot!

The night was getting late for us so we decided to head home. We said goodbye to everyone and thanked them for the great time. All in all, the Pandora Play party is great for people of all skill levels and interests. It was about 40/60 ratio in terms of kink to swingers but everyone was super respectful of one another. Being that they mostly kept the actual sex acts separate from the BDSM helped to minimize any discomfort for those who are not necessarily into both at the same time. I’d definitely recommend this party!

Movie Review: Fifty Shades Darker

February 20, 2017 By anniebear 4 Comments

We know many are tired of having this movie shoved down their throats, however we would not be doing our job as a weekly news and educational source without addressing the second installment in the franchise responsible for bringing (perhaps incorrectly) BDSM and kink into the forefront of society. I saw the movie with my partner Dexx on a rainy afternoon in LA. The theater was full of groups of women, couples, and perhaps not so surprisingly high school aged girls who provided plenty of titters and giggles during the film.

While I’ll avoid regurgitating the plot back to you; it was painful enough the first time, I will start at the top of this movie where Christian Grey immediately wins back Anastasia Steele. I was a bit miffed as to how he managed this. The previous movie had us believe that she was leaving him because he wanted a D/s relationship including punishment and play. In this next film, he shows up unannounced, they have dinner and they are back on. It is clear that Anastasia is not a submissive and is even judgmental towards Christian for his kinky inclinations. She is a very confused, emotionally immature woman, having no dating experience so the reassurance that Christian “has changed and doesn’t need BDSM” anymore is enough for her.

Christian on the other hand shows classic signs of potentially being an abusive or unstable Dom; possessiveness, extreme jealousy, moving the relationship along very quickly, saying one thing and doing another-just to name a few shortcomings. Having read the books prior, I can tell they dialed down his extreme jealousy and general lunacy in the movie. While he expresses signs of serious childhood trauma, he acts out in his life and attributes behavior to this trauma. For the record there are any number of practitioners of BDSM who have suffered trauma but are able to engage in BDSM in a safe and meaningful way. This movie, in my opinion, perpetuates the dangerous fantasy of meeting a “damaged” dominant, becoming his/her muse and somehow “fixing” them. This is a very dangerous path and a common tale within the BDSM community in terms of young or inexperienced submissive engaging with predator Dom/mes.

The movie comes to a crescendo when Christian finally admits that he’s not a dominant but rather a sadist. He acts out on these sadistic fantasies because of the childhood trauma. This is the main issue among the BDSM community, that people only engage in it who are emotionally damaged. This could not be further from the truth. There is also the argument that sadism and dominance are not one in the same-but to be honest that’s a topic for an entirely different article.

Interestingly enough, one of the “villains” in this film is actually one of the only people spouting truth! Nicknamed Mrs. Robinson, she’s an old friend of Christian’s. She is responsible for introducing Christian to BDSM at a young age as his dominant. Though they no longer engage in that type of relationship, she still tries to warn Anastasia that she’s not the right girl for Christian nor could she ever give him what he wants. She hits the nail on the head if I’ve ever heard it! Unfortunately she comes on a little too strong and also becomes a little spiteful and jealous to be much of an anchor for Christian and is cast out.

There is still one more painful installment left in this trilogy. Sadly, if you have read the books you know the ending. The movie was well shot and some of the sex scenes were slightly steamy-a spreader bar scene in particular comes to mind but still, it was VERY mild on the actual BDSM play. There was plenty of sex though. Dexx was also particularly fond of the soundtrack and musical selection. Those high school girls I mentioned at the top of this article were gushing in the bathroom afterward about how amazing the film was. Do we have some future kinksters? Or perhaps they are only after the rich billionaire who sweeps a young innocent girl off her feet?

Review

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