The SaSi, Babeland’s newest adventure in Sensual Technology, is almost here. If you’ve been waiting with baited breath to see this toy in action, Thursday night is the night. You’ll be able to see the SaSi demonstrated at an erotic wine tasting event being held at our Soho location. See it in person before it’s available in the store!
Does anything go better than wine and sex toys? Probably not. Both are sleek and sexy, look good in your hand, have great packaging and encourage connoisseurs. This Thursday, August 31st, at our Soho location, Perfect Palate will be co-hosting a wine tasting with Babeland.

We’ll have awesome wines paired with cheese and chocolate and you can enter to win a Babeland gift bag to take home. Other fun surprises include:

• 10% off all of your purchases during the event (if you missed the sale, this is your chance)
• Tutorial on the hot new We vibe
• Music from Brown Rane

Sounds like it’s going to be a great event. You have to get tickets at Perfect Palate so book them now if you want to come because we can’t do any last minute booking through our stores.

What inspires two women living in Seattle to start a sex toy store? Turns out, all you need for inspiration is crappy lube. Check out Fleshbot’s video interview with Claire and Rachel about how Babeland got started!

Fifteen years is quite a long time for a business that was not created for profit but for pleasure. As Claire points out, one of the best things that’s happened over the years is that sex toys have gotten so much better. I’ve seen this even in the over three and a half years that I’ve worked at Babeland. There are so many wonderful, high quality options that we just didn’t have when I started. Everything from the GiGi to the Little Paul to the Lucky 7 - all fantastic toys, all very different, but all created within the past year. We have more silicone toys, more stainless steel toys and more rechargeable toys than ever before and I feel certain that the trend is going to continue.

So here’s to 15 years! Thanks Claire and Rachel.

The Sexies awards have been announced! This is the first installment of these awards to celebrate sex positive journalism. If you ever read the news, you know that sex positive news pieces are few and far between. Those that meet the criteria should truly be celebrated. I’m really looking forward to reading all of these stories. I completely trust the judges panel so I know these stories will be awesome.
And now, here are the winners in each of the categories. Visit the Sexies website to see the runners up and get links to all of the stories.

Daily Newspapers: “Never Too Old For Sex” by Jill Bauer, Miami Herald

Judges said: “This journalist challenged conventional assumptions about geriatric asexuality and undesirability, and did some excellent reporting on a sensitive, sometimes-taboo subject. She also did a fine job of rendering her subjects’ humanity without making fun of them or lapsing into stereotype.” “Super matter-of-fact, with both a cultural slant and plenty of sex information. Terrific use of a ‘lifestyle’ piece to address real issues.”

News (other general publications): “Hysteria, Exploitation and Witch Hunting in the Age of Internet Sex” by Debbie Nathan, Counterpunch

Judges said: “Debbie Nathan’s been writing nervy critiques of sex panics, especially around children, for years now, and her dismantling of Kurt Eichenwald’s odious reporting in The New York Times is excellent. Besides taking care of Eichenwald, Nathan also helps us think intelligently about teen libidos.” “This piece is comprehensive, connecting the dots in a complicated and important case. It challenges conventional thinking about its subject matter, giving it relevance beyond the particularities of this article.”

Features: “Naughty Nursing Homes” by Daniel Engber, Slate

Judges said: “This piece meets the strictest definition of sex-positivity . . . a well-written and persuasive article that walks a difficult line brilliantly” and “Engber’s work has a nice, light touch.”

Columns: “Between the Briefs” by Alysha Brooks, Res Gestae

Judges said: “Sex and the law, by someone who clearly likes sex,” “Shows the creative and interesting side of legal decisions, and how legal decisions affect us in everyday life, motivating readers’ interest in these institutions and raising interesting philosophical questions in the process.”

Sex Themed Publications: “Sex in Iran” by Pari Esfandiari and Richard Buskin, Playboy

Judges said: “What an achievement this article is. Serious, attentive reporting and terrific scene-setting, with profound attention to the social and political context of sexual mores. A window onto a world of contradictions most Americans know nothing about. The best piece of sex reporting I have read in some time—and the best reporting on Iran as well.” “This is amazing journalism . . . the authors don’t just tackle teaching us about sex in another cultural context—they have to get us up to speed on that context at the same time.”

Opinion: “Abstinence 1, S-CHIP 0,” by Amanda Robb, New York Times

Judges said: “A quick but effective jab at the silliness of abstinence-only education policies.” “Her article is scathing, and her wrath is in proportion to the outrageous damage being done by a government in thrall to Christian fundamentalists.”