Learn from the author of “Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé

The human eye is drawn to the triangle, the thing that is out of place, the imbalance in life. Asymmetrical bondage is not just aesthetically pleasing, but a sexually and sensually pleasing practice that puts us out of balance, reminding us where balance really is important. We will address key ways to bring asymmetry into our scenes, from disproportionate bindings to being forced to balance on one leg, lop-sided ties and punishments to ties that pull in reversed directions. Body stresses, imbalanced desires, and how to pull it all together will be of major import, as well as asking how we can not make it look stupid.

Bring at least one 25+ ft piece of rope for hands on opportunities in class.

Lee Harrington is a passionate spiritual and erotic educator, gender explorer, eclectic artist and published author and editor on human sexuality and spiritual experience. Some folks think he’s an all-around interesting person. He thinks you deserve the life of your dreams… yes you.

Where: Purple Passion, 211 West 20th Street (bet 7th and 8th Ave.), 212-807-0486
Cost: $20 (and enjoy a 15% discount on shopping before or after the class)
Dress code: comfortable

Class size is limited so prepaying is advised. Many of our classes sell out. Don’t be turned away. Reserve your spot at the store or at the  Purple Passion website.

Where:  Pearl Studios, 500 8th Avenue (35th/36th), 12th Floor, NYC
Cost: $5/LSM members, $10/Non members

Come to this hands-on class to learn how to make the best fitting dildo harness ever! Great for all body types, secure and easy. No more fussing with straps, getting scratched with Velcro, poked by buckles or hassle of post-sex leather care. Also learn fast easy play tips with items in your closet. Midori will supply dildos, scarves and material to make your harness, but we strongly encourage you to bring your favorite dildo and long scarves.

About Midori

One of our favorite presenters at Lesbian Sex Mafia, frequent sightings of her from around the globe make us wonder if she ever sleeps or if she¹s cloned her self. A sex-positive activist, artist and educator, she¹s made an improbable career out of being the traveling sexpert. Don¹t miss the groundbreaking book “Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage” which first cracked open the mysteries to Westerners, the hot essays in “Wild Side Sex: The Book of Kink” and twisted dark science fiction in “Master Han¹s Daughter.” Learn the basics in “Midori¹s Expert Guide to Sensual Bondage” DVD. Don’t miss her other classes while she’s in NYC. You’ll find her adventures, twitters, calendar and more at PlanetMidori.com.

About Lesbian Sex Mafia

Lesbian Sex Mafia is a support and information group for all women 18 years of age or older, including transexual and intersexed women who live their daily lives as women and all female-born transgender people who feel they have a connection with and respect for the women’s community. And, who are interested in fantasy and role playing, bondage, discipline, S/M, fetishes, costumes, alternate gender identities and uninhibited sexual expression in a safe, sane, consensual and confidential way.

The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage by Midori
Photography by Craig Morey
Publisher Greenery Press (2001)
175 pages, Softcover.

A few years ago (2005) I was lucky enough to take a bondage workshop with Midori: “Intro to Japanese and other Creative Rope Bondage Essentials” in Halifax at Venus Envy, one of the local sex shops.  It was one of two workshops I took with her and was an amazing experience.  Midori-only a small woman in stature-has a powerful and dynamic charisma; cool and collected with an authoritative presence that demands people sit back and take notice.

A friend of mine Kate volunteered to be Midori’s guinea-pig.  Kate is quite a bit taller than Midori, very butch and buff.  Although quite submissive, Kate plays mostly as a dominant as she doesn’t find too many Dom/mes who can handle her.  I was interested in seeing what Midori would do with her.

First Midori stood before Kate and the audience dressed in a gorgeous sea foam and silver Asian-style dress, slowly unraveling a long piece of hemp rope and running it through her fingers as she stared Kate down.  The room was completely silent, except for a few uncomfortable giggles that were soon silenced by Midori’s schoolmarm stare, as Kate stood blushing profusely.  In “The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage“,  Midori explains this technique in detail in her “Analysis of a Scene”: “While effectively setting the tone and head space for the dominant, the visual effect of the top methodically stroking the ropes may be quite profound on the bottom…  Many different moods and attitudes might be presented… powerful and slightly intimidating… playful, humiliating…”  Of course, running the ropes through the hands at the beginning of the scene has many other practical uses as well such as untangling the rope, finding debris, and ridding the rope of its “bad habits.”

Next, Midori began to rub the rope over Kate’s body and head.  She held the rope up to Kate’s nose to allow her to smell it like an aromatic aphrodisiac.  Midori explains in her book the strong connection that many bottoms will make with the scent of the rope, associating it “with the sensual, sexual and magical experience of wonderful rope bondage scenes.”  This technique was obviously effective on Kate as she nearly swooned and leaned against Midori who took her weight.

Midori then made a rope blindfold to remove Kate’s sight and place her more into the scene, effectively blocking the audience from her view.  While Kate knew she was still on display, she quickly fell into the grove of Midori’s quick, clever hands working magic on her body.  Midori spun Kate around as she skillfully tied knots, moving the larger woman to her will, sometimes holding her a little off-balance, and then capturing her again within her strong embrace.  In her book, Midori says that the top should make the bottom move to their whim using “firm decisive moves, sometimes punctuated by a quick change in pace… to emphasize the emotional dominance and control the top has over the scene…”  She also calls this to tie with “gusto” where her rhythmic handiwork would suddenly change to a quick yank as she synched the knots which would rouse a sharp intake of breath and sigh from Kate.

Reading “The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage” was almost like being at Midori’s workshop once again, where rather than teaching the technical aspects of knot-work (Midori only showed us three knots), she demonstrates the dynamics of the scene itself.  In the book Midori talks about her personal history with rope bondage, the visual aesthetics of shibari including symmetry, tension, and balance, as well as introduces the reader to a brief history of Japanese bondage.  She covers safety elements and aftercare as well as explains the various types of rope and what they are best suited for.

The final section of the book shows seven classic positions with photographs by Craig Morey and simple diagrams, focusing on the techniques and knot-work.  Most of the techniques are fairly easy to follow, although some of them can get confusing, especially when a few illustrative steps are missed.  I would have preferred the images to be more step-by-step and photographed rather than line drawings.  As mentioned before, Midori doesn’t focus on difficult knots, but only shows a few basic ties, as she did in her workshop.  Her focus is not on technical skills but rather showing how bondage can be accomplished by a novice.  Any boy scout can learn to tie intricate knots and there are many books on that, but very few people can show effectively the dynamics of a scene like Midori can, that left my friend Kate a pile of wet, hot, quivering mush afterward.

If you haven’t had a chance to see one of Midori’s excellent bondage workshops I highly recommend this book.  It is a great introduction for beginners and I know many so-called “experts” in my BDSM community who would benefit from learning the dynamics of a scene as well.  For someone like me who has had the advantage of seeing Midori live, this book is a great reminder of all the techniques that are taught in her workshop (many that I had forgotten) and may inspire you to take up your rope again and begin practicing.

With the book that I received from Tabu Toys, I also got a length of Japanese Silk Love Rope (5 meters) to play with and practice my knots.  This rope comes in brilliant colors, is soft, yet strong and fairly easy to work with.  Together, “The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage” and the Japanese Silk Love Rope makes a great beginner’s rope kit to start playing with, and is also an excellent gift for your lover if you want to give them a subtle, yet effective hint.  You can purchase both items from Tabu Toys.

Nina Hartley’s Guide to Erotic Bondage (2005)
Studio: Adam & Eve
Director: Ernest Greene
Cast: Nina Hartley, Carmen Luvana, Randy Spears, Tommy Gunn

Sorry this is late!  It was supposed to go out Friday, but I took off to a sex show and forgot to post it!  Better late than never ?

Nina Hartley’s guides are either hit or miss.  There is usually always good advice in them, but sometimes the production quality is low and the editing can be awkward.  It also seems that the performers only get once chance to get their lines right, which takes away from the credibility.  Nina is usually always “on”, but her co-stars sometimes have a few problems with the speaking parts.  This is not the case with “Nina Hartley’s Guide to Erotic Bondage“, however. Carmen Luvana is a great co-host in this DVD, and her Puerto Rican accent is charming.  You can tell that she is reading the lines, but she doesn’t miss her cues.

Like all of Nina’s guides, this one starts out with an instructional intro chat between Nina and her co-host. Nina and Carmen discuss why you would want to experiment with bondage, fantasies and pop culture that make bondage intriguing, as well as consensuality and safety.  They never really get into the types of restraints you can play with during bondage, including rope! which was disappointing.  This DVD is very, very basic.  The only types of restraints they use are cuffs, a collar and Carmen has an arm bracer on during her sex scene with Tommy Gunn.  I really thought Nina would have spent more time on types of restraints, even as an introduction.  So, the DVD description of “Join your host Nina Hartley and her sexy guests as you ‘learn the ropes,’” is a bit misleading as they never actually use ropes at all.

After the chat, Nina demonstrates bondage on Randy Spears.  First they negotiate the scene, which is great as it demonstrates how couples or play partners might really approach this.  Randy is a big sweetheart of a man and thoroughly adorable.  It is pretty hot seeing him pull against the restraints like a Herculean hero.  Nina has a great dungeon and it would have been cool to get a bit of a tour and have her describe some of the nice bondage furniture she has.  She binds Randy to a bondage board and starts teasing and playing with him.  She rubs his cock with her nylon-encased feet and this seems to turn Randy on quite a bit.  The scene is very playful and they definitely have some hot chemistry together.  Later, they go through various positions on a bondage bed, but Randy isn’t really restrained, except for wearing cuffs, which seemed to be more of an impediment to the sex.  Still, the sex is hot as they perform oral (Randy is a pro at this and so is Nina), vaginal penetration and finish off with anal (Nina’s favorite).  I like that Nina shows the use of gloves for penetration with fingers and lubricant for anal to illustrate proper safety considerations, instead of fantasy ideals.

Next up is Carmen and Tommy Gunn.  I thought this scene would have great given how hot Carmen and Tommy are. They both have bodies to die for and are sexy as hell.  But, Tommy really never takes charge and seems a bit lost as to what to do with Carmen once he has her bound.  The sex isn’t bad, and Carmen is very vocal repeating something in her Spanish tongue over and over that is hot, but Tommy doesn’t seem to get into it as much.  And, again the bondage is so basic, it really didn’t add much to the sex.  It would have been cool to have a little bit of playful power play in here, but that never happens.

I would have enjoyed this DVD much better if there had of been more emphasis on the bondage showing different types, various scenarios and equipment.  For me, bondage also means a loss of freedom of movement, which wasn’t always the case here. This DVD is more for people who have never tried bondage and may be curious, and is much more about the sexual aspect.

I am looking forward to reviewing “Nina Hartley’s Guide to Bondage Sex” however, as it has Claire Adams (bondage queen!) and is mostly likely what I was hoping for in this one.  Also, I have wanted to watch some of Nina’s Private Sessions, which look more kinky and free than her guides.

Find other great sex toys and Adult DVDs at Sextoy.com!

Say I have somewhat ruthlessly tied my partner in a position for which she was unprepared. Unprepared? Some might say that’s bad form for a top, and I would beg their momentary indulgence. So, my partner is working hard with this position and is possibly breaking down a little before long… sooner than she’d like… and in recognition of this I add a bit more challenge to the picture, something subtle that shifts the focus of discomfort just enough to take her out of the mind that’s saying “I… can’t… do this…” and put her back into the body that’s feeling more and more with each passing moment.

While I can afford to appear aloof about all this shifty energy, she’s anything but: it’s really uncomfortable now and ere long she might want out, might even get a little irate, but she’s not using her safe signal. In a little while she might get vocally angry, which is easily frustrated with a gag, about which she’d be humiliated on top of her aching for release. But in the meantime we’ll all keep aware for a safe signal, or panic, or, hopefully, fuller and fuller consciousness and presence as her options fall by the wayside.

More. . . .

Part 3 is here.
Part 1 is here.

Van Darkholme, Peter Acworth, and Princess Donna in the Armory boiler room. Photo by Pat Mazzera

Peter Acworth’s fetish porn empire takes over the San Francisco Armory to create a new kind of dot-com

BY MOLLY FREEDENBERG

When it comes to BDSM porn peddlers Kink.com, apparently size does matter. At least, that’s how it seems now that the steamy studio has purchased the 200,000-square-foot San Francisco Armory. Suddenly, everyone wants to know: What’s the carnal concern going to do with all that space?

The answers are more diverse and ambitious than one might expect — ranging from creating a racy reality show to starting a perfectly PG-13 public community center. And thanks to the lascivious and lucrative imagination of Kink.com founder Peter Acworth, it might all be possible.

CONCEPTION AND CONTROVERSY

Though Kink.com has been producing independent niche fetish sites like Hogtied.com, WiredPussy.com, and FuckingMachines.com for the Folsom Street Fair crowd for more than 10 years — first from Acworth’s rented Marina District apartment and then from the Porn Palace on Fifth and Mission streets — it wasn’t until Acworth purchased the historical landmark in the Mission District, and was met with opposition, that the provocative porn empire really made it onto the public’s radar screen.

The armory, which was a training ground for the National Guard prior to its decommissioning 30 years ago, has been the center of controversy before. But that was mostly in-fighting between potential developers. Stringent zoning requirements and necessary but cost-prohibitive renovations discouraged buyers, leaving the Moorish behemoth on 14th and Mission streets vacant and outside public scrutiny.

But everything changed when Acworth got involved. His intended commercial use, for shooting scenes for all of Kink’s Web sites, complied with planning codes. And he didn’t need to do expensive renovations before he could start using, and profiting from, the building: what could be more perfect for bondage shoots or movies about women fucking machines than dungeons in disrepair? The only thing more ideal than the structure itself, according to Acworth, was its location in the heart of America’s most fetish-friendly city. “You couldn’t have dreamt up a more perfect place than a castle in the middle of San Francisco,” says Acworth, who purchased the armory for $14.5 million in 2007 and started operations in January of this year. “It’s like divine intervention.”

(More. . . )

It’s hot. I texted her to stand outside, five steps away from the front door. I can see her on my screen. V., standing still, stoic, as pedestrians move around her up and down the street. I can see her stillness, standing stoically, as the sun bears summer down onto her shoulders. Her stoic stand is a cooling temple, she’s waiting inside herself, as the minutes click forth and everything moves: the 1 train tunnels through concrete way below; planes skid over the bare sky, where buildings and lives were shredded from time, a war is warring; speed bags clock the rotation of padded fists, men strike one another in sportive battle; the sun, moon, and earth align and for a few minutes in China the yin engulfs the yang. From within the stillness of my dojo, I watch V stand and I slip my fingers under my skirt.

Twenty five minutes go by and I text her again to come in.

Miles’ Bitch’s Brew tweaks the air.

Chains. Locks. Cane. Rope. Needles. Fist.

She comes.

As do I.

mistressyin: V. Solar Eclipse.

Come to Kinky Carnage at the Black Phoenix Dungeon in Philadelphia on Saturday, August 2nd at 9pm.

Demonstrations by Lolita Wolf, Jocasta of Venus Ropes, Zelda, PyroSadist and others. Rope Suspension, Caning, Fire Play, Flogging, Spanking and Whippings. Games and prizes. Venus Ropes will be giving away 1000 feet of nylon rope throughout the night.

At midnight, you can participate in a game of Shibari Twister where you’ll get tied up! Other games include CBT Marble Toss, Human Pinata, Clothespin Contest and Latex Painting. Yes! We will be looking for volunteers to participate! Come and learn, experience and have fun!

Buy your tickets in advance here. Dungeon location will be emailed after ticket purchase. Please print out a copy of the receipt and bring it with you to show proof of payment. All attendees will be expected to sign a waiver and show proof of age. I hope to see you there!

Photo: Eve (gODDESS)

The best of this week’s blogs by the bloggers who blog them. Highlighting the top 3 posts as chosen by Sugasm participants. Want in Sugasm #141? Submit a link to your best post of the week using this form. Participants, repost the link list within a week and you’re all set.

This Week’s Picks
“Are you a sex blogger or a sexy blogger?”
“It builds a community that I am so proud to be part of.”

The J Word
“And while you’re with her, I’ll be with him.”

Transcending moment
”It’s that place between fear and arousal, and they are so very closely related.”

Mr. Sugasm Himself
Sugar Bank

Editor’s Choice
Chill Pleasure

BDSM & Fetish
Bathroom bang
Bros Not Hoes – F/m Spanking Video Clip
Cock training
Galerías de spanking: Spanking Server
Games Grown Ups Play
The Most Amazing Sex (and I didn’t come)
Mr. and Mrs. Kink Have Great Sex (Again)
My First Ever Fetish Photography Shoot & Other Wonderful Things
New spanking gallerie – Two girls spanked
Religion and BDSM
Rope
TES Fest 2008 was fabulous!
Your Slut

Sex Advice
Ask Miss Bliss-How Do I Know If A Girl Likes Me?
Fetish Safety – Branding
The Kivin Method: Guaranteed Orgasm for Women

Erotic Writing and Experiences
Advanced Exhibitionism
Autobiography of a Masturbator: Porn O’Graphicus, Part 2
Club Tantra: My Experience, Unabridged
Distraction
Fucking no foreplay
Getting to fuck the neighbor 9
Him
HNT – Peach
Insanity never felt so good
Interludes – part 1
Memoir Of A Married Woman
Popping His Cherry
Re: Dinner Last Night
“Red Bottoms” (Complete)
Sloppy Seconds, Then Thirds
That Time of the Month
Whiskey Kisses (unedited)

Sex Work
Sex Worker Solidarity: Catalina
Happy Thoughts on Being a Phonesex Op…
Stamp on my forehead saying “ask me about your fetish”

Sex & Politics
Natalia Antonova on Objectification and Desire
Teen Sex: The New After-School Special?
Women Enjoy Relative Sexual Freedom this 4th of July

NSFW Pics, Videos & Audio
Bedroom Radio #18: Artemis Hunter and the Silver Bullet
Calstar Spanking – Severe deep stripe marks
Cheerleader is tired in gangbang video
Free video audition of Amsterdam sex performer
Half-Nekkid and Getting Shaved
HNT – A bit cheeky
HNT – Purple Lace
Making Love to the Camera
Mz Berlin Took This Picture Of Herself In Her New Wasp Creation Corset

Sex Humor
Top 6 Reasons for Not Shaving Your Beaver

Sex News, Reviews & Interviews
Catalina loves Lochai
Comstock Films
Drink Semen for Better Health
Interview about spanking erotica with Spanked contributor Teresa Noelle Roberts
January Seraph Is A Hot Femdom Dominating Jade Indica In Lesbian Latex Role Play
The Monday Buzz: The Bandito
Penny Flame Fucks A Handyman With A Strap-On and Feeds Him His Own Cum
Product Research: Blow Job Dildo
Yes! Yes! Yes! Personal Lubricant

Thoughts on Sex and Relationships
Be nice… until it is time to not be nice…
Finding out your good friends are swingers
Naughty Text Messages and Perverted Friends Makes Life Fun
Sex Advice Review: “Tips to Better Sex and Sleep”
Silence.

See also: Fleshbot’s Sex Blog Roundup each Tuesday and Friday.

ROPE DOJO
~ Friday 7/11   Special pre-Dojo II event. For registered students only.
~ 7/12  - 7/13  Rope Bondage Dojo Stage II.  Registration now closed. Rope Dojos info.

LONDON, UK
~ Tuesday 7/22 Special class by invitation only at Coco De Mer, Covent Garden store.

DENVER
~ 7/25 – 7/27   Presenting at Thunder in the Mountains.
2 classes: “Sex Bondage – Wrapped for Pleasure” and “HOW TO TOP: For Bottoms, Nervous Switches & Uncertain Beginners”

SAN FRANCISCO
~ Tues 7/29     “Become The Fantasy: Erotic Role Play Games for Couples” at Good Vibrations, 620 Polk Street (at Sacramento Street) San Francisco, CA 94109

For more info about Midori, visit Planet Midori.

It’s almost summer time, and things are heating up all over! Picnics, cookouts, trips to the shore, and one of the largest Leather events in the U.S. are all on the horizon. The Eulenspiegel Society is a revered 36-year-old not-for-profit corporation dedicated to sexual liberation and freedom for those who embrace the dominant/submissive dynamic in their lives and lifestyles.

Their annual party, TES Fest, is happening this July 4th weekend, and it promises to be all that! Vendors, classes, and a full hotel takeover set the stage for a mind-blowing immersion into the fantasy and reality of the BDSM lifestyle. Registration is open now!

The full class list and bios for all of our fantastic presenters from all over the country is posted at the TES Fest website.

The line-up below is subject to change – we’re adding more excitement all the time! Stay tuned for more happenings from our partners at Penthouse Variations, Bondage.com, Alt.com, CollarMe & SMack.

Presenters

Ardenne
Boomer
Boymeat
Brother Leo
Daddy David
Danielle DV8
Felice Shays
Flagg
Glenda Rider
Graydancer
Janice
Julia
Lady Sabrina
Levi Halberstadt
Linda “BootPig” Hall
Little Terror Dog and Vetiver Lane
Lochai
Lolita Wolf
Master Larry and slave barb
Michael Horowitz
Mistress Amanda Wildefyre
Morgan Lewis, HMQ
Nayland Blake
Q
Rae Goldman
Rita Seagrave
Sarah Sloane
Sharrin Spector
Slave 705-468-560
Soulhuntre
Susan Wright
Sue
Tatsumi
tomo
Whipmaster Bob

Special Events (thus far)
*4th of July BBQ – in the Courtyard
*TESFest Dog and Pony Show
*Kinky Afternoon Tea Party – in the Restaurant
*FIREplay-ultravioletWORKS Celebration – in the Courtyard
*CSF Fund Raiser Buffet and Auction
*Cloud 9
*Isle of the Amazons Fem-Domme Party
*The Baroness’s Latex Pool Party
*TES Fest Fashion Show – in the Dungeon
*Bloody Brunch – in the Courtyard

Vendors (thus far)

* The Baroness
* Bizarre Bazaar
* Le Chateau Exotique & LCE
* For Your Nymphomation
* DeTails Toys
* The Kink Shop
* L.C.(Misfit Studios)
* My Lady’s Toys
* Needle Play Design
* PASSIONAL Boutique & PASSIONAL Toys
* Purple Passion
* Rainbow Rope & Kinky Medical
* Torvea-Achella
* VCC Jewelr
* and more!

TES Fest is still looking for volunteers – please email tf-volunteers@tes.org for more information.

The TES Fest 08 staff is at the ready to show you and all of your kinky compatriots a revolutionary good time!

The Purple Passion sale has been extended until May 11th:

All men’s clothing 30% OFF (not including Vansons or Wesco’s)
All books and magazines 30% off.
Dvd’s are still ½ price and all VHS tapes are $2.

No other discounts apply to sale items. This is in-store only.
They will then be closed Monday May 12th thru Friday May 16th for renovations.

211 West 20th Street (Between 7th & 8th Avenues)
New York, NY 10011

Store Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Noon – 7pm
Thursday, Friday: Noon – 9pm
Saturday: Noon – 8pm Sunday: Noon – 6pm
Phone 212.807-0486 .. Fax 212.807.6165

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7JuMqUfMy8

In this latest episode Monk shows you how to create a hard point with a piece of nylon webbing and how to use 2 30 ft. pieces of rope to set up hard points on a bed. He also recommends the bed post ties in Chanta Rose’s Bondage for Sex.

I really could’ve used this when I went to Atlanta last week. Take note, Sakura Sarashi and Ellie Lumpesse.

Dark Odyssey: Leather Retreat
June 25-30, 2008
Northern Maryland
www.DarkOdyssey.com

Odyssey Events is pleased to announce that Leather Retreat, which for thelast ten years has been produced by Community Ties is joining the OdysseyEvents family. The first Dark Odyssey: Leather Retreat will be June 25-30, 2008 in Northern Maryland. “The response to Dark Odyssey has been overwhelming and the community it has created is unlike any other in the country. It just makes sense to bring all three events – Leather Retreat,Summer Camp, and Winter Fire – under one roof,” says Greg, one of theco-producers. Co-producer Karri adds, “Each of these events has its own focus and flavor, so that between them, there is something for everyone.”

The biggest change will be the addition of Dark Odyssey’s unique programmingand special events to Dark Odyssey: Leather Retreat. “Many attendees have asked us for some of their favorite Dark Odyssey elements, like Sex-O-Rama,
to be a part of Leather Retreat. Not only are we happy to oblige, we plan to bring even more sex to Leather Retreat – if that’s possible!” says Tristan.

Dark Odyssey: Leather Retreat will continue Leather Retreat’s tradition as the best kink and sex camp event on the East Coast. “Whereas the focus of Summer Camp is definitely on education, the focus of Leather Retreat has always been on play, and that won’t change,” says Lori. “We want to create a sex-positive environment with top-notch play spaces, creative amenities, and inspiring events so that people can have a truly immersive experience.

Our goal is to build a magical place where people can live out their wildest fantasies and dreams,” remarked Colten.

Dark Odyssey: Leather Retreat released its list of confirmed presenters last month, which includes Lolita Wolf, Rita Seagrave, Sarah Sloane, Jim & Jerith, Suzanne SxySadist, Lochai & Janice, and Carrie and Luna, 2008 International Pony and Trainer; the producers plan to announce several additions to the line up shortly. In addition to favorite events like the
Pamporium, Kidnappings, and the State Fair, Dark Odyssey: Leather Retreat will unveil several new special events as well.

Online registration for Dark Odyssey: Leather Retreat is now open.

(While there is a community system for each event, I’ve set up a Dark Odyssey group on Google – Viviane).

May 23-26, 2008

Chicago, IL USA

ShibariCon is the world’s premier international pansexual annual exhibition and conference that focuses on education and information exchange for lovers of rope bondage, by lovers of rope bondage. ShibariCon offers an international team of instructors, including some of the best rope educators from around the world. Whether you are a seasoned Nawashi or have never tied a knot, with 4 days of classes ShibariCon will offer the perfect learning opportunities for you. The educational focus is practical, meaning that you will leave our “hands-on” or “minds-on” classes with skills you can use. ShibariCon will also provide the opportunity for you to practice your new-found skills in our playspace each evening as well as our always-open practice spaces.

For those of you unfamiliar with ShibariCon, the focus of the eventis education and community for rope-lovers. We have attendees registered from all across the US and 6 countries. There will be a variety of options for everyone from the novice to experienced rigger, top, bottom & everyone in between. This year ShibariCon will offer classes by many excellent presenters including, Dov, Lee Harrington, Graydancer, Jim Duvall, Sir C, Mike West, Jay Wiseman, Scott Smith, Lochai, David Lawrence, Mark of DV8 House, Mick & Dee Luvbight, Max and too many others to name here. We pride ourselves on having presenters who are approachable and accessible to the attendees throughout the event. ShibariCon has
become an annual reunion for educators and students alike. We hopeyou will join us for this amazing weekend.

Register before 4/30 to get the current regular registration rate of $185.00.
Day Passes are also available. Registration closes 5/18/08. No on-site registration will be allowed.

• Event schedule
• Vendors
• Event Venue