Walking into the opening night party two weeks ago of Park Slope's new branch of Babeland, the esteemed and much-loved sex shop, was kinda like coming home again.. no pun intended. Co-owner Claire Cavanah and I both went to the same very small, very alternative, high-school together. Back in the day--and I hadn't seen her since then--I remember her to be friendly and smart yet a tad reserved. It's amazing to see how she has found her niche in becoming what can only be described as one of the gurus of the upscale sex toys business. Really, how many women can talk about "green" dildos, leather harnesses, and anal beads as seriously as a college professor would talk about Henry Miller?
I've never been to any of the other Babeland stores, so I can't make a comparison to the other branches. This spot, tucked quietly on Bergen street between Flatbush and 5th Aves, was bright and airy painted hot pink with Babeland's signature logo on the back wall. The store has a nice and very welcoming casual vibe (ok, sorta pun intended), and Cavanah expressed to me that securing the spaces for their other locations was often difficult, having to give landlords all sorts of business proposals. Here in the Slope, she says, they were welcomed enthusiastically.
The juicy details: while other sex stores often have cheap merchandise hidden behind counters or in back rooms, the higher end products Babeland is known for are out in full view. (Note: higher end doesn't necessarily come with a huge price tag, it just means that the products aren't the flimsy and cheesy stuff most of us are used to). Customers can see and touch products--it's encouraged--so they can make educated choices about what they want to buy. That, unquestionably, is Babeland's entire philosophy: to find products you love that will give give you better sex. Nothing wrong with that.
Babeland is the destination for a dizzying array of dildos, vibrators, condoms, enough different lubes to satisfy all your lubing needs, and so much more that I don't even have the space to write about. trust me (and cavanah), they will have the sex toys you want and need. Special things that caught my eye: glass dildos that look as though they've been made by artisans, rubber duckie vibrators, and that vibrating cone thing that's supposed to blow your mind. Plus, Babeland is famous for informal gatherings and workshops meant to teach you about your sexuality and help you take your sex life to the next level. Didn't know you had a next level? Get thee over to bergen street!
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