It seems like ages ago that I was sitting in the Olivia headquarters in San Francisco, exploring the bright idea of bringing Good Vibrations aboard an Olivia cruise.  For those of you who don’t know, Olivia is the oldest and coolest lesbian cruise company in the world.  (Excepting maybe the Greeks, but their marketing was dicey so I can’t comment for sure.)  What began as a music label evolved into a series of retreats, resorts, and cruises, all featuring diverse entertainment, education, and of course travel, exclusively for women.  We put our brains together and they welcomed us aboard their Halloween Caribbean cruise to introduce their fine women to the wonders of Good Vibrations and Dr. Carol Queen.  So months later, here I am, sitting in a stateroom perched off of Key West, contemplating what a brilliant union this is.

This morning Carol held her first workshop, “Sexual Communication for Couples” and to be honest, at 10 a.m. I wasn’t expecting a full house.  But sure enough, the big theatre filled up and couples and singles alike sat in rapt attention while Carol broke it down.  There was a lot of laughter and nodding of heads in agreement.  After introducing Good Vibrations, myself, and finally Carol, I took a seat in the back where I could witness the reactions.  Knowing squeezes and good-natured ribbing rippled through the crowd when she described what doesn’t work in communicating with a partner and gave suggestions for building the flame. At the end of the lecture I handed out coupons for online shopping and the sisters were eager to put the lesson into practice.  We have six more events and I was told that we may need a bigger venue.  Now that’s what I like to hear!

After the morning lesson, Carol and were given tickets for two different trolley rides through Key West, and I enjoyed an insightful and hilarious tour of Key West’s formidable gay history.  Across town on her own tour, Carol was delighted by the 6-toed cats at Hemingway’s old house, offspring from his original collection.  I also managed to scope out the only adult store on Key West, a large and chaotic series of rooms that is probably very entertaining after several margaritas, but difficult to navigate while sober.  However, I was intrigued by the “head orgasm machine” – 8 prongs of wire that slide over one’s head (atop your neck) and give a delightful massage/tickle.  This one had a vibrator attached to the top, so presumably it was even more awesome, but the display model was busted and I figured it was just as well.  I’ll make my own MacGyver-style one of these days when I get some free time.  Actually, that would be kind of a cool art show, wouldn’t it?  Repurposed vibrators.  Hmmm…kind of like tricked-out low rider bicycles, yeah.  Artists, get your vibrators ready!

Anyway, tonight I’ll be representing GV at the Curve deck party, providing three delightful dildos for their ring toss.  Those lesbians are so crafty!  It’s a lovely group of women who are in full vacation mode and it’s impossible not to be inspired.  Good Vibrations and Olivia are definitely bringing pleasure to the people, and the fun has just begun!

I love our mission—educating our customers about sex-positivity and working to have people feel comfortable talking to their own kids about sex in a comfortable way just like you were talking about romance and love and learning to ride a bike. It is comfortable and when you learn how to ride a bike, even if you have not ridden for awhile, you can get back and it will take you to new and exciting adventures.

I started out working as a SESA (Sex Educator Sales Associate) and now write a regular blog and give classes in menopause and how to choose the best vibrator. But my goal as a sex educator is to go out into the community and teach others how using a condom can be a sexy part of foreplay or how a toy can add a beautiful part of partner play or solo play. So recently I joined the team of the OSSEs, which stands for Off-Site Sex Educator. Now I can go out to colleges and organizations that want our knowledge on sex education and help build a strong foundation of sex-positivity in the Bay Area and beyond.

If you would like one of the OSSEs to teach a class for your organization, please email our education director, Dr. Charlie Glickman PhD. and let him know (info below). He can arrange for one of the team to come speak to your group. We cover a variety of topics—let us know what you’re interested in.

For example, we could conduct a class on Safe Sex. Recently, there’s been an outbreak of STDs and STIs that is not only creeping into age groups 15 to 25, but now, among adults in the over 50’s to 70’s. An article in Time magazine reported that many senior citizens are contracting STDS because there isn’t enough sex education targeted at them. Many are past the age where an unwanted pregnancy can occur but there are other things you still need to protect yourself against what ever your age. Doctors are starting to see that there needs to be more sex education given to our seniors. This is a new take on the “Active Senior Lifestyle”.

Incidents of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea have increased in every age group and now AIDS is on the rise in older adults as well:

According to the US Centers for Disease and Prevention:

…”people age 50 and older make up more than 10 percent of total AIDS cases in this country, and that HIV cases are increasing among people in their 60’s and 70’s. Also, it has been reported that during the last decade HIV cases has risen 500 percent among Senior Citizens, and AIDS cases among people over-50 have raised from 16,000 in 1975 to 90,000 in 2003. Now nearly 27 percent of people living with AIDS in America are 50 and older.”

Part of the reason for these increasing statistics is, many seniors still don’t practice safe sex and care providers don’t think your Grandma or Great-Grandma could still be enjoying sexual bliss–but sex is part of life, no matter how old you are — and thank God for that! Sex will keep you young and energized. We only ask that you keep safe.

So if there are any healthcare organizations, senior citizen communities or service organizations reading this, who would like us to come to you and give you a class from one of our qualified OSSEs, contact Dr. Charlie Glickman at charlieg@goodvibrations.com and he can tell you how we can come and teach a class. This is just one of the many subjects we can cover for your groups. Ask Charlie for other ideas!

Related at Good Vibrations:

Shopping Guide:  Celebrating Sex at an Older Age

I was a leader in the Lesbian And Gay Organization (now LGBT) at UC San Diego when I joined a discussion panel resource for local schools. I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1983 and soon thereafter started working with a group of sex-positive educators called the K’thar Sissies. A number of the leaders of these group experience creators were associated with the SARS program at the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco, and I was asked to help develop their participatory programs. I have since done safer sex and alternative sexuality education for groups like the SF AIDS Foundation, EROS, and the Leathermen’s Discussion Group

Where did you get your education?

The K’thar Sissies, Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, San Francisco Sex Information, A SM education program I can’t remember that was in Noe Valley some years ago, SF AIDS Foundation and the Stop AIDS Project, as well as various conventions and classes.

What do you love about giving sex advice?

I feel like I’m making a difference, helping people understand my coming to accept a broader set of sexual norms, helping people enhance their erotic lives and expressing my exhibitionism.

What is the most difficult or hard-to-answer question you’ve ever received?

I’ll get back to you on this one. I recall a very personal question from my early days on gay education panels, and I recall some question I had no answer for on a Master/slave D/s panel, but I can’t recall the specific question in either case.

What is your favorite sex toy and why?

Rope. Bondage is a clear form of control for me, and rope not only has symbolic meaning, but is flexible, feels good and can be used in so many different ways.

Where do you teach? If you travel, what is it like? Where was your favorite place to teach? Most unusual panel or experience?

These days I usually teach at the SF Citadel, The Ring and the Leathermen’s Discussion Group.

I only travel if I plan to go to the event for personal reasons. (However, I did recently take a trip to Europe with a suitcase full of equipment and toys which they made us open at the airport…)

My favorite place to teach might just be SFSI, although I’m more a panelist than a “teacher” there.

My most unusual panel or experience is hard to say. I guess it’s pretty “usual” to me, but the LDG and The 15 Association “samplers” where you have 10 areas in a dungeon, a different topic or skill in each area and a separate teacher and “demo bottom,” that’s pretty fun. The students get to wander around and learn what ever they want to learn, and participate with hands on experiences if they choose.

What was the most interesting thing you learned in your exploration of sex?

The breadth of how the mind enjoys erotic experiences is a constantly expanding and interesting area of my exploration. Besides that, when I saw how wide a butt could open up to take a fist, I was pretty amazed.

How has what you’ve done or found at Good Vibrations helped you?

The pro-sexual pro-feminist ideals of Good Vibrations give me support and encouragement by their very existence. The vibrator museum helps me remember how much history we have. I’ve enjoyed teaching at Good Vibes. Most of all, Good Vibrations is a great reference and referral for some of my classes.

What’s the best thing you’ve learned or best advice you’ve received?

Practice with a condom when you’re jacking off on your own so it’s natural to do when you’re having sex with others. (Close second: Use lots of lube.)

What do you think is the biggest misconception about sex?

If I think of misconceptions around the world, the biggest is likely that women exist to be used as sex objects.

Which is your favorite project that you’ve worked on?

Male sensuality training through TribalPlay, a group I started with two friends and facilitated for a year or so.

What projects are you working on now?

Leather Alley at Pride, an full block in the SF LGBT Pride Celebration dedicated to community and education for the BDSM/Leather/Kink/Fetish communities.

The Ring, a twice monthly BDSM/Leather/Kink/Fetish all male educational program.

What led you to become a Sex Educator?

Truthfully, I’m more of love and relationship educator or an Activist of the Heart. After the release of my book, Redefining Our Relationships: Guidelines for Responsible Open Relationships, I came in contact with more and more people who were struggling to find support around polyamory and open relationships. After much encouragement from others as well as my own desire to building community, awareness, and allies, I began facilitating “Radical Love & Relationship” workshops locally and globally beginning in 2002.

Where did you get your education?

I graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Political Science. But in terms of personal experience, I’ve been practicing open relationships for almost 25 years.

What do you love about giving sex advice?

As a Radical Love Activist, I love creating safe and non-judgmental space for sharing our stories and common struggles and challenges around alternative relationships. I enjoy offering a unique feminist/anarchist perspective and sex-positive approach to the frequently asked questions and concerns that are raised in my workshop.

What is your most common question?

One of the most common and frequently asked questions at my workshop is: “How do I manage my jealousy?”

Where do you teach? If you travel, what is it like? Where was your favorite place to teach? Most unusual panel or experience?

I’ve taught over a hundred workshops in the bay area and the Pacific Northwest, as well as Australia, New Zealand, UK, and Canada. Traveling abroad has validating for me that people from all over the world, in all walks of life, all ages, genders, and backgrounds, are struggling to redefine their relationships outside the dominant social paradigm. There are so many of us, globally, who are trying to love many people and who are seeking support and understanding for our alternative lifestyle choices.

The best workshop I have ever had the privilege of facilitating was in Wanganui, New Zealand, at an Anarchist Conference, where neighboring Maori tribal members attended my workshop. I had a very inspiring experience that came at the end of my presentation. I was approached by an older Maori man who asked me who my tribe was and if I knew that I was teaching his traditional tribal love philosophy from thousands of years ago. I told him that I did know about his tribal ways and that I deeply respected and admired the ancient wise ways for building community. He then told me that my people had lost their way, they had forgotten how to love themselves, people, species, and the planet. He told me that I was doing just what I was supposed to be doing, teaching tribal love to my people before they destroy themselves and the planet.

What is your favorite sex toy?

My favorite sex toy is a butt plug. But my new favorite hobby is non-sexual cuddle parties. I love snuggling, touching, holding, and being tender and loving with complete strangers in a dog pile of bodies. It’s so intoxicating and pleasurable, with all that juicy oxytocin being released.

What was the most interesting thing you learned in your exploration of sex?

The most interesting thing that I’ve learned in my years of practicing and facilitating polyamory workshops is that it is a revolutionary act to love outside the status quo. As radical lovers, we are changing the world by building community and deepening our loving connections to include anyone our heart desires.

How has what you’ve done or found at Good Vibrations helped you?

Facilitating discussions around responsible open relationships has helped to validate my choice to love many people and that I’m not alone in choosing this alternative lifestyle. Good Vibes has been a wonderful safe space for bringing people together and supporting one another.

What would be your number one piece of advice for someone interested in a career of sex education?

If you feel a calling to be a sex educator, let it come from a place of true passion and desire to connect in profound and personal ways with people.

If you weren’t a sex educator, what would you be doing?

Even if I wasn’t raising awareness around Radical Love and responsible open relationships, I would still be committed to loving many people in emotion, in action, in spirit, and in the hopes of making a positive difference in the world.

What’s the best thing you’ve learned or best advice you’ve received?

The best advice that I’ve received was from my Maori tribal friend who reaffirmed that teaching the ancient ways to love is an important calling for me. But I also learn so much from each and every workshop, where people can freely explore our common challenges and offer their own advice for navigating these complex and multiple relationships.

Which is your favorite project that you’ve worked on?

I don’t have a specific favorite project, with regard to being a sex educator, but I do truly believe that Radical Love—the freedom to love who you want, how you want, and as many as you want, so long as personal integrity, respect, honesty, and consent are at the core of any and all relationships—is an important part of our survival as a species on the planet. Love can transform the world and our future. The workshops have become my life work and deepest passion.

What projects are you working on now?

With respect to radical love activism, I am currently committed to a letter-writing campaign where I write passionate love letters to political activists, environmentalists, political prisoners, artists, journalists, and anyone who has been jailed or exiled for their beliefs or for speaking truth to power. I write love letters to people from all over the world.

Where can people find out more about you?

http://www.wendyomatik.com/

With directors like queer alt princess Courtney Trouble, kinky feminist pioneer Madison Young, creative photographer/filmmaker extraordinaire Carlos Batts (and his muse April Flores), GV’s very own sexologist Dr. Carol Queen Ph.D leading a sex ed series, and many more to come… well, let’s just say they’ll be a lot of good releases coming to a video store near you!

Here’s the official press release:

Press Release

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrea Burnett
(650) 207 – 0917
andreab@goodvibes.com
www.goodvibes.com

GOOD VIBRATIONS LAUNCHES NEW VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY

“Good Releasing” to Produce 20 Films by 2010

SAN FRANCISCO (SEPTEMBER 18, 2009): Good Releasing (www.goodreleasing.com), the new sister company to the legendary San Francisco-based retailer, Good Vibrations (www.goodvibes.com), is proud to announce their new video production lines, “Reel Queer Productions,” “HeartCore Productions” and the “PleasureEd Series.”

Headed up by Producer Coyote Days, who was recently named one of the “40 under 40” by AVN, Good Releasing will bring relevant, intelligent titles to inspire and enhance one’s sex life and sexual health. The company will provide authentic, edgy, adult movies as well as explicit educational films. They will support established and emerging independent artists, creating diverse content to fill niches in the industry while presenting under-represented erotic realities.

Good Releasing is currently comprised of three individual lines:

Reel Queer Productions documents authentic, edgy, queer sex and culture featuring established and emerging independent artists and under-represented erotic realities. Filling a niche in the industry, these titles are relevant, intelligent and inclusive of the many sexualities that identify as queer.

HeartCore Films offer artistic alternatives to formulaic features with films by independent artists with fresh, diverse content.

The PleasureEd Series is a collection of sexually explicit educational films. These titles are hosted by Good Vibrations’ staff sexologist and noted expert/author, Dr. Carol Queen. Ph.D.  Queen recently received an Outstanding Achievement Award from AVN, recognizing the person who has most positively contributed to the pleasure product industry.  The PleasureEd films include information from recognized sex experts, as well as personal experiences from real people. In addition to instruction, authentic pleasure is depicted to inspire and enhance viewer’s sexual exploration.

Says Good Vibrations’ COO, Jackie Strano, “Good Releasing’s titles showcase authentic and hot adult entertainment full of helpful information, lustful and unabashed sexualities, unapologetic desire, genuine pleasure, and screen burning chemistry.” 

The first titles to be released are:

Reel Queer Productions:

Roulette (June 2009)

Nostalgia (August 2009)

Speakeasy (September 2009)

Queer Manor (October 2009)

Seven Minutes in Heaven (October 2009)

Fluid (working title) (November 2009)

Roulette: Dirty South (November 2009)

Fluid 2 (working title) (December 2009)

Runaways (working title) (December 2009)

Roulette: Berlin (December 2009)

HeartCore Films:

Glamazons (September 2009)

Behind the Red Door (October 2009)

Frisk Me (October 2009)

Mandy Candy (November 2009)

Damn Spot (working title) (November 2009)

Thin Line Between Art & Sex (working title) (December 2009)

PleasureEd Series:

Going Down: The Official Guide to Fellatio (November 2009)

Going Down: The Official Guide to Cunnilingus (November 2009)

Back Door: The Official Guide to Anal Sex (December 2009)

Gush: The Official Guide to G-Spot Sex (December 2009)

Adds Strano, “We have launched Good Releasing with a very aggressive goal. Our plan is to release 20 films by the end of this year. Our films will offer viewers a unique selection of wide-ranging topics that provide open-minded information for a diverse audience, with special emphasis placed on mutual respect, enthusiastic participation and pleasure.”

Says Coyote Days, “We are working with the very best contemporary and cutting edge artists and filmmakers to direct our films. Courtney Trouble, Madison Young and Carlos Batts will be directing the first eight films and we are in conversation with Kimberly Kane and Morty Diamond for future productions. April Flores, Jiz Lee, Kimberly Kane, Syd Blakovich and Lorelei Lee are just a few of our featured performers. We are elated to be able to launch this new generation of films and provide something very unique to our customers.”

About Good Releasing

Established in 2008, Good Releasing offers various lines of adult titles and educational films and represents independent artists creating authentic and diverse content. Lines include PleasureEd, Reel Queer Productions and HeartCore Productions. Visit www.goodreleasing.com for more information.

About Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations is the San Francisco-based retailer trusted for more than three decades to provide a comfortable, safe environment for finding sex-positive products and educational materials to enhance one’s sex life. Good Vibrations offers products through its website (www.goodvibes.com) and retail stores. Good Vibrations is the recipient of the 2009 Outstanding Online Retailer Award from AVN.

Good Releasing Contact Information:

Media: Andrea Burnett

andreab@goodvibes.com

Retail Orders: Jamie Martin
jamie@goodreleasing.com

Production: Coyote Days
coyote@goodreleasing.com

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The concept was to take the April Flores Love Toy (aka a cyberskin mold of April’s lower torso) and make a plaster mold. That mold was then given to eight eclectic Los Angeles-based artists to use as their canvas. Participating artists were Coop, Kime Buzzelli, Small Paul, Misha, Jim Mahfood, Kozyndan, Axis and Carlos Batts himself.

Now the show has come to San Francisco! Tonight, September 16th, April and Carlos will be at the Polk St. Good Vibrations Store with world- renown Los Angeles and San Francisco artists who have designed one-of-a-kind creations using plaster molds of her torso as their canvas.

Participating artists include Axis, Carlos Batts, COOP, Jim Mahfood, Kime Buzzelli, Kozy & Dan, Misha, Small Paul, Brian Donnelly (Toronto), Stephan Kasner, Dr. Carol Queen, Ph.D. and Robert Lawrence.

The event is FREE, so if you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area please come on by and check it out! Here’s a peek at one of the works from the LA show. Can’t wait to see what our very own Carol and her love Robert will come up with!

Here’s the official announcement:

Grrl Toys presents April Flores’ Love Toy Art Show & “Glamazons DVD Release party

Wednesday, September 16th

Good Vibrations is proud to present limited edition artist renditions of leading Big Beautiful Women (BBW) star April Flores’ Voluptuous CyberSkin Love Toy. Twelve world-renown Los Angeles and four San Francisco-based artists designed one-of-a-kind creations using plaster molds of the April Flores toy as their canvas. Participating artists include Axis, Carlos Batts, COOP, Jim Mahfood, Kime Buzzelli, Kozy & Dan, Misha, Small Paul, Brian Donnelly (Toronto), Stephan Kasner, Dr. Carol Queen, Ph.D and Robert Lawrence.

When: Wednesday, September 16th
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Cost: FREE!
Where: Good Vibrations Polk Street Gallery
1620 Polk Street (at Sacramento Street) San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 345-0400

Some of you may recall Jackie from her work with the award-winning lesbian porn company SIR Productions with her partner Shar Rednour. (With titles such as Hard Love & How to Fuck in High Heels and Bend Over Boyfriend #2.)

Now Jackie has a larger and more direct role with GV, as you can see in our press announcement below. What a wonderful addition to our company!

GOOD VIBRATIONS ANNOUNCES NEW COO

Industry Veteran Jackie Strano Joins Good Vibrations Senior Management Team

SAN FRANCISCO (August 27, 2009): Good Vibrations (GoodVibes.com), the legendary San Francisco-based company that takes pride in providing accurate information on sexuality and toys for grown-ups, today announced the hire and appointment of Jackie Strano as Chief Operating Officer. In this new position, Ms. Strano will be responsible for several key initiatives such as managing personnel, profitability, forecasting, budgeting, strategic planning, streamlining efficiencies, and optimizing company wide operational systems. She will also be working on staff development, carrying out the core mission while maintaining Good Vibrations’ brand and identity as a market leader, managing short term and long range future expansion, tying in operations, IT, web, marketing, sales, and brand development. Strano brings to GV years of expertise in operational best practices, industry gold standard benchmarks, innovation, and proactive visionary leadership.

Jackie has a wealth of experience to draw from as she heads up the Good Vibrations’ Operations team going forward. With almost 20 years in the industry, including areas of web operations, distribution, fulfillment, product development, IT, retail operations, strategic business development, project management, quality assurance, and over 20 years of management experience, she has built a successful career at companies including Amazon, Ask Jeeves, her own company SIR Video Productions (with partner Shar Rednour) and most recently, Babeland.

Some of Jackie’s notable achievements include an AVN award in 2001, awarded to SIR Productions along with several nominations and critical acclaim. SIR was the very first independent, lesbian-owned production company to ever be recognized by the adult industry for Best “All Girl” Feature. SIR was also voted SF Bay Guardian Best of the Bay; featured in KRON-TV’s documentary, “History of Sex in San Francisco”; featured on HBO’s 6 part series, “Pornocopia” and featured in UK nationally televised documentary, “The Truth About Lesbian Sex”. SIR Productions created the perennial best seller “Bend Over Boyfriend” adult DVD starring Dr. Carol Queen that in the last decade has influenced pop culture around sexual politics.

Under Strano’s operational leadership, Customflix, an Amazon-owned DVD on demand production and fulfillment subsidiary secured official 24 hour turn around drop ship status during peak season after initial acquisition. During Strano’s leadership, Babeland’s web operations recovered and grew to its best season ever in the company’s 15 year history during a down-turning economy while she managed simultaneous critical software launches and operational teams. Strano was part of the initial worker owner cooperative group following Joani Blank’s sole proprietorship of Good Vibrations in the early 90’s. Jackie worked in all areas of the company but her primary duties included supervision, hiring, firing, retail operations, training staff throughout the company as it grew exponentially. She led personnel and management teams that strategically developed core competencies before her departure in 1998 including the opening of the East Bay store.

Visit www.goodvibes.com for more information about the Ecorotic™ collection. For Sex Ed articles on a wide array of topics and to learn more about cleaning toys and increasing the life of toys (e.g. removing batteries when not in use), and more. Customers can also click on the “Live Support” button at the left of the Good Vibrations’ site to chat with sex educators/customer service reps regarding the greenest products and their care.

“We are pleased to announce the addition of Jackie Strano to the Good Vibrations’ senior management team,” said Joel Kaminsky, Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Good Vibrations. “Having worked for Good Vibrations in its early years, Jackie understands our core values and has extensive operational experience in the adult industry. We look forward to working with her and believe her contributions in this new role will be instrumental as we work to ensure Good Vibrations’ successful business development and profitability. We continue to believe that building and investing in a solid management team is critical to executing our growth strategy in the years to come.”

About Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations is the San Francisco-based retailer trusted for more than three decades to provide a comfortable, safe environment for finding sex-positive products and educational materials to enhance one’s sex life. Good Vibrations offers products through its website (www.goodvibes.com) and its retail stores:

603 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA
1620 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA
2504 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA
308-A Harvard Street, Brookline, MA

Media Contact: Andrea Burnett, Good Vibrations (650) 207-0917 andrea@andreaburnett.com www.goodvibes.com

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Good Vibrations’ Staff Sexologist and Chief  Cultural Officer Dr. Carol Queen, Ph.D will be on board, hosting a sexy lecture series on hot topics about sex and relationships.

Workshop topics will include: Flirting 101; Spice Up Your Vacation; Get What You Want In and Out of Bed; Spicing it up with Toys: A guide to bringing toys into partner play; and You’re into What? When someone you love is kinky; and How to Have Better Orgasms.

With over 1500 lesbians, a halloween costume contest, and ports like Belize, Cozumel, Key West and Guatemala, what are you waiting for?

All Aboard!
Enter to win at GoodVibes.com

Joan Price, author of Better Than I Ever Expected just reviewed Jimmyjane’s Form 6 Vibrator on her blog.

Jimmyjane is part of our Luxury Sex Toys collection, and is known for creating beautifully designed, award-winning sex toys. The local SF company recently won Best in the Bay from the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Joan’s review was picked up by Pleasurists as Editor’s Pick and highlighted for just one of the same reasons we love Joan Price and the work that she’s done bringing sex-positive visibility to people over 60 years of age, something we think should be seen! Here’s an excerpt from her review:

“It’s lovely, one of the prettiest vibrators I’ve ever seen. It’s sleek, sensual to the eyes and to the touch, shaped for a variety of uses, and… drum roll… waterproof — you can take it into the bathtub with you!”

“A couple of caveats for our age group — although you can find the buttons by feel and don’t have to look to change vibrations (a good thing, because you’d need your reading glasses to see the controls anyway), they require a firm press. If you have arthritis, you’ll want to find your favorite setting and leave it there rather than making full use of the variety. It’s powerful, but not as strong as some others I’ve tried.”

Thank you Joan for the thoughtful review of the Form 6. You can find out more about Joan Price at JoanPrice.com. Check out GoodVibes.com for toys and more resources that educate and celebrate sex-positivity.

Good news: As of this writing, Good Vibrations has the Plum, Slate, and Blue color of this $185 vibrator on sale for $135. Buy the Form 6 Vibrator.

Related at Good Vibrations:
Still Doing It: Women And Men Over 60
Better Than I Ever Expected
Bill and Desiree: Love is Timeless

What’s wrong with loving a product for its design? That’s really why Apple fanatics love all things “i.” And that’s why we lust after sex toys from Jimmyjane, the Potrero Hill pleasure purveyors whose vibes, games, and accessories would look as natural in a museum gift shop as they would in your minimalist, modern bedroom. The Form 6 vibrator looks like a cross between a stylized pen and a high-end electric toothbrush, while the Little Chromas model has the sleek grace of a bullet, or a small cigar (we refuse to make that joke). And Jimmyjane’s Usual Suspects line is nothing short of inspired — celebrating both form and function by interpreting classic toys, in flawless white. Yes, the company does seem to cater to Audi drivers and iPhone users — collaborating on expensive special editions with well-known designers and bragging about appearances on cable TV shows. But we can’t argue with the nontoxic materials and the unprecedented one-year warranty. And the fact that they just look so cool.

BEST QUEER PORN

The problem with mainstream porn is that most of it is made in the San Fernando Valley by brainless douche bags and lazy ex-cheerleaders looking for a quick buck. But this is San Francisco. This is the art capital of the world, the home of the free thinker, the land of the awesome. Can’t we get some porn made for us? Yes, we can! Yes, we can! If you’re as sick of Barbie Doll smut as we are, then you should know about local filmmaker-producer-writer-artist Courtney Trouble. Trouble is the founder of a queer porn site called Nofauxxx.com (”queer” as in not just homo, but alternative as well). She’s the final word when it comes to smut with attitude, character, and soul. Not only is No Fauxxx the oldest running queer porn site on the Internet, it’s also the only spot that mixes alt, gay, lesbian, straight, trans, kink, and BBW content. It’s sexy, artsy, entertaining, all-inclusive, and totally DIY. In a word: ours.

(Courtney’s latest projects include Roulette, and the upcoming Nostalgia and Speakeasy, films coming up down the line with Reel Queer Productions and Good Releasing.)

BEST CONTEST FOR WANKERS

The Masturbate-a-thon is an annual pledge drive for the Center for Sex and Culture (who also one the Readers’ Poll for “Best Sex Education Resource”) during which people gang up in a hot and sweaty room to watch each other jerk off for an entire day. Sounds like fun, right? But what if you’re not an exhibitionist? No worries. The whole show (held in May, which is Masturbation Month) is broadcast live on the Internet so that shy people can join in too. Categories include “Most Money Raised,” “Most Orgasms,” and “Longest Squirt,” and the winners in each division receive sexy prizes from Good Vibrations (and perhaps a lifetime of wishing Google and YouTube were never invented). Score! Exhibitionists, porn addicts, and the rest of us are encouraged to ogle, vote, and even participate alongside certified wank-masters such as Dr. Carol Queen, Fellatio Brown, and Masanobu Sato, a Japanese toymaker who holds the world record for “Longest Time Spent Masturbating” (to be fair, it should be noted that his company, Tenga, makes masturbation cups for men). The time to beat next year is nine hours and 58 minutes, so fire up Fleshbot.com now and start practicing. You can be sure that’s what Masanobu is doing.

BEST XXX XX IN THE CASTRO

Remember when the Castro was just a big boys’ club? That’s changed somewhat, thanks in no small part to Femina Potens, the nonprofit art gallery dedicated to women, transgendered folk, kink, and the sex worker community that anchors the corner of Market and Sanchez. Cofounded by renaissance porn star and queer BDSM queen Madison Young, the cozy spot has been hosting exhibits, workshops, spoken word performances, film screenings, and readings by queer literary and artistic legends like Michelle Tea, Annie Sprinkle, and Inga Muscio since 2001 — and recently has added health and wellness programming into the mix. With showcases tackling topics from body image to safer sex, suicide prevention, and breast cancer awareness, there’s no question that what Femina Potens does is important. But we think art shows about bondage and performances about breasts are also just damn sexy. Plus, it’s about time the Castro got a little more double-X (chromosome) action.

(Check out Madison Young’s Videos at Good Vibrations)

We also noticed some friends, such as “Best Local Writer” Stephen Elliott, “Best Couples Counselor” Dossie Easton, and “Best Sex Writer” Violet Blue (tinynibbles.com). And the icing on the cake, Good Vibrations won Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll for Best Place to Buy Sex Toys. Thank you to all our customers, staff, and supporters who make the San Francisco Bay Area such a sex-positive place to live and play!