The upcoming general interest TES meeting next week is called S&M Through the Ages. This presentation, presented by Brother Leo, may be of particular interest to history buffs but sounds interesting for a number of reasons, least of which is the potential for additional fantasy material. (I know I’ve always wondered what it might have felt like to be a Roman slave….)

The description reads:

TES’s highly acclaimed series returns with a presentation about the Ancient World…the Greeks and Romans, early Christian martyrdom, practices among early monks, worship of the mother Goddess.

If you’ve not yet heard of Dark Odyssey, it’s description is mesmerizing.

Imagine a vacation where you can explore the many facets of sexuality in a private, intimate community of like-minded people. A wholly unique experience which brings together sexuality, spirituality, education, and play in a fun, supportive, non-judgmental, diverse environment where fantasy becomes reality.

[…]

Dark Odyssey is a 4-6 day, all-inclusive, clothing optional Alternative Sexuality retreat for open-minded adults from all walks of life. We gather to explore, learn and play on two hundred very private and secluded acres in Northern Maryland.

However, registration for Dark Odyssey’s Summer Camp is nearing a close so register now if you can make it this season. If not, there’s always next year. :)

TES‘s dominant men and submissive women’s special interest group invites Sir Guy to present on uniform fetishes:

You know she’s a grown woman, but that little catholic school girl uniform does something to you that you can’t explain… He’s coming to write you a ticket, but all you can think about are those polished leather boots, tight motorcycle breeches and leather gunbelt… she’s handing you a pillow but as long as she’s wearing that sexy flight attendant’s uniform, you’re anything but comfortable. the imagery of uniforms in the BDSM scene is almost as old as the scene itself. Why does it move us? Sir Guy will explore this, as well as the origins of uniforms in the leather community, the psychological aspects of uniform play, uniform scenarios, uniform resources and laws to be aware of in public play.

Patricia Johnson and her friends are once again hosting their monthly soirée called the Pleasure Salon celebrating the diversity of the New York City pleasure-positive communities. The event is free and held in Marion’s Marquee Lounge located at 354 Bowery between Great Jones and 4^th Streets. From the invitation:

The Pleasure Salon has been created to build community, allowing sex-positive activists to cross-polinate. Our gatherings bring together members of the BDSM, swinger, LGBT, sex-activist, nudist, sex-magic, polyamory, radical faerie, tantra, dark odyssey, sex-blogger, porn and sex-worker communities, and others whose passion is sex. Through building networks in the sex-positive community, The Pleasure Salon hopes to help create a sex-positive world. It is a place for the open exchange of ideas and sensual expression.

Note: This month’s Pleasure Salon will be taking place in the basement portion of Marion’s bar, down the stairs to the immediate right of the lounge’s entrance.

NYC Poly (also called Tri-State Poly and not to be confused with Poly NYC [don't ask]) hosts a munch on the fourth Thursday of each month. Well, that’s tonight. From the their announcement:

NYC-Poly regular monthly fourth Thursday munch at Empire Szechuan Village at 173 7^th Avenue South (between Perry and 11^th Streets).

[…]

NYC-Poly is a social and discussion group; we gather for conversation, company, and, generally, food. All poly, poly-curious, and poly-friendly folk are welcome—which especially includes newcomers!

The Switchables special interest group at TES is presenting a punching demo. Switches are often misunderstood, especially when they are playing with something very physical. From the TES calendar:

Please join us as we do a really hot demo on punching…from the Switchable’s point of view.

A New York City-based women’s Burning Man group called Camp Beaverton is hosting a Western-themed party tonight! From their event announcement:

Put on your cowboy boots and assless chaps on Tuesday, Aug 21^st for a Western ho-down New York style! Put on some cute Western wear, bring your naughty toys, and prepare to meet some of the foxiest ladies and trans folks in the city.

This is a fundraiser for Camp Beaverton: Camp for Wayward Girls, a new queer women’s camp at Burning Man 2007. We’re looking for support from NYC women to make the camp awesome, and are hoping for a dose of wayward fun to kickstart our trek to the desert! Please help by passing this invite on to women who have sex with women and transfolks.

• 18 years and up
• BYOB (they’ll keep it chilled for you)
• Fun safe sex supplies
• Snacks and munchies
• $15 at the door

Located in a beautiful loft space in the financial district not far from Bowling Green. Please RSVP to campb2007@hotmail.com for the exact address.

Doors open at 8 PM, Welcome Circle 8:30, Doors close 11.

The Welcome Circle is an opportunity for us to break the ice and get to know each other better, and we strongly recommend that you arrive before 8:30.

This is a supportive, safe, no-pressure environment. Come to play, watch, touch or be touched…

Our friends over at TES are throwing a party at Paddles

When the sun goes down in Wonderland, it gets curiouser and curiouser… where the impossible can (and will) happen. Come across the caterpillar in the mushroom patch, or converse with the flowers in the garden. But don’t get lost, for the Cheshire Cat may guide you to the right path, or leave you in the middle of the Red Queen’s rose garden. If you think SHE’S mad, well… we’re all mad here… Join us early (8pm) for a special tea party, then we’ll all fall down the rabbit hole together…

I don’t know about you, but my favorite thing about Wonderland has to be the “eat me” cookies.

Rita Seagrave is presenting at TES on Lapdancing 101:

First and foremost, this class will teach you how to give a great lapdance! The relationship between lapdancer and customer is overloaded with power exchange, so we’ll also explore how to incorporate this unique form of “tease and denial” into your erotic D/s play. There will be opportunities for volunteers to participate and interact, no partner necessary. Rita Seagrave has worked as a professional dominatrix, adult toy salesgirl, Lusty Lady stripper, sex advice columnist, and college instructor.

One of the reasons I suffer from clit-envy has to be that I can’t get in to see Midori present at women-only events, like this one called Beyond Twisted: Permutations of Kinkiness being hosted by the Lesbian Sex Mafia. From LSM’s events page:

A sadist must of course be a dominant. A submissive must of course be a masochist. Right? Wrong! Come along as Midori explodes the standard definitions of kink roles and expands the idea of what kink is all about. In Beyond Twisted, she maps out a fine-tuned and flexible framework that anyone can use to help describe their deviant desires. And as we all know, that’s the first step to fulfilling them! This is a class for those who don’t quite fit into the standard boxes…and for anyone who’s curious about their own possibly untapped potential!

This sounds like an absolutely fantastic meeting, one for which I’m already envious of the audience, because rigid stereotypes plague the BDSM community with much more oppression than many people realize. Midori, an excellent speaker, is sure to have some wonderful insights on this topic.

Oh and hey, don’t forget to tell the lesbian mafia that a boy from Conversio Virium sent ‘ya!

(As an aside, since I don’t check the lesbian sexuality events with any regularity for obvious reasons, I’d very much appreciate someone’s help posting such events to our calendar who does keep up-to-date with the lesbian scene. If you’re interested, please check out the CV announcement about our unaffiliated events calendar.)

Our friends at TES are throwing a party at Paddles:

Calling out all yardies, rude boys and dancehall queens! Swing those floggers and paddles to the riddims of the islands at TES’ Punky Reggae party! Let your dreads down and shake it mon to rockin grooves! Great music, righteous food and cool vibes will be runnin! Irie!

Remember to show your membership card, since CV members get a discounted admission price at the door!

Tonight’s DSF presentation is titled How to develop rules & protocols in a D/s or M/s relationship with Master Paul and Slave Monique. For those interested in exploring more about D/s or M/s relationships, hearing about what other people think of their relationship dynamics can help inform one’s own opinions and ideas. Of course, if the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t buy it.

From the Dom Sub Friends web site:

As couples come together in this lifestyle to first explore and or even ultimately choose to guide their relationship under a power transfer dynamic they have to figure out a way to “negotiate” what rules and protocols they will use. Such negotiations can only work for a long term successful relationship if both people have not only input but are given an opportunity to at some point discuss the successes and failures of the rules and protocols put into place.

This presentation will cover how to get started in developing and modifying your own set of rules and protocols for your own unique relationship. How and when relationships should take a step back and review what they have put into place, and just who’s responsibility it is to do so in either a D/s or Ms relationship. How to make sure each person is getting what they want out of the relationship without breaking or violating the power exchange.

Polyamorous-NYC is once again hosting Polyamory Pride Day in New York City. Poly Pride Day is a day-long celebration on the top of the Great Hill in Central Park. From the Polyamorous-NYC web site:

All Poly and Poly friendly people are invited to participate in this truly special, unique event. It will be an unparalleled opportunity for people from all over the country to gather and publicly celebrate polyamory. The main rally in Central Park will feature a full day of speakers and performers that will entertain, engage, and inform.

This event has already been in the works for months and promises to be a party of unparalelled proportions. The main attraction in Central Park features famous polyamory speakers such as Nan Wise and entertainers such as The Wet Spots (among others), but there are also two sideline events that are sure to be just as much fun. A giant cuddle party scheduled for the night before is being hosted by none other than the folks over at Cuddle Party, and an all-night long after party is being held at The LGBT Center!

For those of us who left our Kinky Japan meeting last year wanting a little more, or weren’t sure how much to believe, the Museum of Sex will be having a Slideshow/Lecture presentation on “Pink Japan: Contemporary Sex Culture”, presented by Midori. The blurb sounds quite promising, and you can be sure I’ll be there. I suggest, buying tickets in advance and make sure to get a student discount if you can.

Here is a selection of the blurb from the site:

From cuisine, music, fashion, technology to anime, Japan’s cultural influence on the West is immense. In many ways the Japanese erotic cultures are also influencing today’s Western tastes. Yet the daily realities of Japan’s gender relations, sexual habits, sexual consumer culture and gay/lesbian/transgendered world remain hidden to us, creating an aura of mystique. In this funny and insightful talk, join Midori for a double-expatriate’’s photo tour of Japan’s hidden sexual culture today.”

Tickets can be purchased at the museum’s front desk or by calling (212) 689-6337 ext. 115.