Resources
Where You Can Get the Toys
In collecting the best sources for toy products, I asked store owners several questions in order to verify their commitment to quality and an open, encouraging attitude: Did they have a positive sex attitude? Would a woman be comfortable going into the store by herself or ordering over the phone? How big was the store’s selection? Did they sell their mailing list? Was their Web site secure?
Catalogs are a great, safe way to introduce tools into the relationship. The very act of choosing a toy can be a bonding, intimate experience. It’s a gentle way of suggesting to your partner what you’d like to try sexually. By looking at the pictures together, you and your partner can feel each other out about what may seem like fun, what may seem too risky, and so on. Initially, making suggestions can make you feel vulnerable. Women, especially, fear being rejected. Remember, gentlemen, they don’t want to risk being perceived as “loose,” if they suggest using a sex toy.
Essentially, the catalogs I am recommending are tasteful. A couple of these outfits are more oriented toward women, all provide wonderful support staff to answer questions via an 800 number, and all have careful explanations in the catalogs themselves. Other catalogs are a bit more edgy and less pristine. (And be aware: Adam & Eve sells its mailing list.)
This Web site and phone/mail order service is one of the best nonretail sources for condoms. The Web site uses SSL encryption for placing orders.
SEATTLE
Toys in Babeland 707 East Pike St., Seattle WA 98122
206-328-2914 / Catalog: 800-658-9119
E-mail:
biglove@babeland.com / Web site:
www.babeland.com This is a female-run store, originally created as a place for women and their comfort. It now carries some male-oriented products. Workshops and seminars are also offered.
RENO
Romantic Sensations
1055 S Virginia Street, Reno NV 89502
775-322-1884
Ten thousand square feet of just about every product imaginable. Experienced sales staff.
SAN FRANCISCO
Good Vibrations
Retail stores:
1210 Valencia St., San Francisco CA 94110
2502 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley CA 94702
Mail order: 938 Howard St., Suite 101, San Francisco CA 94103
415-974-8990
Fax: 415-974-8989 / E-mail:
goodvibe@well.com Web site:
www.goodvibes.com Good Vibrations is one of the best all-around store/catalog combinations. All their products have passed customer satisfaction tests. The staff is known for its courteous, nonjudgmental, sex-positive attitude, and knowledgable service.
SACRAMENTO
Mystique Boutique
328 D Street, Marysville CA 95901 (40 miles north of Sacramento)
530-743-6449
Carries a wide range of toys as well as lubricants. Very friendly staff.
SANTA CRUZ
Hot Stuff
56 N Saratoga Ave., Santa Clara CA 95051
408-241-9971
Two separate stores, one offering toys and novelties, the other offering a wide range of videos and DVDs for every taste. Something for everyone!
LOS ANGELES
The Pleasure Chest 7733 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90046
323-650-1022 / Order line: 800-753-4536
Fax: 323-650-1176 / Web site:
www.thepleasurechest.com This Pleasure Chest targets a primarily gay male clientele, with a strong leather focus, though straight men and women will find many products for them, including videos and apparel.
The Love Boutique
18637 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana CA 91356
818-342-2400
2924 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica CA 90403
310-453-3459 / Toll-free ordering: 888-568-4663
The two stores are female-owned and operated and are open seven days a week. The staff seems uniquely focused on making women feel more at ease and comfortable with their sexuality.
REDWOOD CITY
They test the products themselves, and won’t carry items that don’t work.
SAN DIEGO
F Street Stores (five stores in the San Diego area)
751 Fourth Ave., San Diego CA 9210 / 19-236-0841
2004 University Ave, San Diego CA 92104 / 619-298-2644
7998 Miramar Rd., San Diego CA 92126 / 619-549-8014
1141 Third Ave., Chula Vista CA 9201 / 19-585-3314
237 East Grand, Escondido CA 92023 / 619-480-6031
The stores in this chain offer a wide range of male- and female-oriented products; it was also one of the first to create a women’s novelty section.
Condoms Plus
1220 University Ave., San Diego CA 92103
619-291-7400
This is a store “with a woman in mind.” It is a general license store for all sorts of gifts, as well as condoms. In other words, you can buy a stuffed animal for your child as well as an adult novelty item for your husband. The novelties, however, are in their own section of the store.
UTAH
Jack n’ Jills
4421 Harrison Depot, Ogden UT 84403
801-476-1680
Clean, friendly store with helpful staff.
CHICAGO
The Pleasure Chest (affiliated with the store in New York)
3155 North Broadway, Chicago IL 60657
773-525-7152 / Catalog sales: 800-316-9222
www,pleasurechesttoys.com The majority of customers are women and couples. This is the store that defined what an adult store should be like: clean, bright, tastefully presented, with nonjudgmental salespeople who are like you and me. This and the New York store show the impact of being run and operated by the owner, who focuses on taking good care of the customer.
Frenchy’s
872 North State St., Chicago IL 60610
312-337-9190
This store has undergone a major renovation in appearance and size. It is now three times larger and offers a range of products for men and women.
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL
Fantasy House Gifts 769 West Lake St., Minneapolis MN 55408
612-824-2459 / Web site:
www.fantasygifts.com There are eight Fantasy House stores in the area, including Bloomington, Bernsville, St. Louis Park, Crystal, Fridley, Coon Rapids, and St. Paul—and two stores in New Jersey: in Marlton and Turnersville. Adult material and novelties presented with a comfortable Midwestern environment and attitude.
OKLAHOMA
Christies Toy Box
1184 North MacArthur Blvd., Oklahoma City OK 73127
405-942-4622
Christies is part of a chain of adult stores, ranked number one in the state of Oklahoma; stores also exist in Texas.
WISCONSIN
A Woman’s Touch 600 Williamson St., Madison WI 53703
888-621-8880 or 608-250-1928 / Web site:
www.touchofawoman.com Newsletter posted on site with seminars and workshops. Books and videos prescreened to be sure they are female friendly. Site encrypted. Run by an M.D. and M.S.W. (social worker) and featuring very current information updates.
CONNECTICUT
Naughty Nancy’s 60 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk CT 06850
203-866-7175 / 88-44-NANCY (888-446-2629)
Web site:
www.naughtynancys.com Owner takes pride in having a woman-friendly store that’s not sleazy. Great sense of humor and knowledgable about the products being offered.
MAINE
Midnight Boutique
571 Main Street, Lewiston ME 04240
207-753-0443
Clean, well-run store with knowledgable sales staff ready to assist you.
NEW YORK
The Pleasure Chest 156 Seventh Ave. South (between Charles and Perry),
New York NY 10014
212-242-4185 / Catalog sales: 800-316-9222
New York store customer service: 800-643-1025
Web site:
www.pleasurechesttoys.com The New York store and its Chicago sister store are both popular, classy, and well-stocked, with a range of products for both men and women, straight and gay.
Eve’s Garden 119 West 57
th St., Suite 1201, New York NY 10019
212-757-8651 / Orders: 800-848-3837
Web site:
www.evesgarden.com This is a female-owned and operated store. What the Pleasure Chest did in 1972 for gay male consumers, Eve’s Garden did for women in 1974. Located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, Eve’s Garden is in the least likely of areas. It is known far and wide as the matriarch of feminine-focused, sex-positive merchandising.
Toys in Babeland 94 Rivington St., New York NY 10002
212-375-1701 / E-mail:
comments@babeland.com Web site:
www.babeland.com
New York branch of the Seattle-based operation.
FLORIDA
Giggles
4407 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231
941-927-7474
Just about the friendliest, most well-trained staff you’d ever want to meet.
NORTH CAROLINA
Adam & Eve
PO Box 8200, Hillsborough NC 27278
800-293-4654 / Customer Service: 919-644-8100
This is the biggest mail-order adult products company in the United States. It offers a full range of products. Sells its mailing list.
TEXAS
Three locations in Austin. Very female-friendly atmosphere. Seminars. The site is secure.
VANCOUVER
Womyns’ Ware Inc. 896 Commercial Drive, Vancouver BC V5L 3Y5
Order desk: 888-996-9273 / Store: 604-254-2543
Web site:
www.womynsware.com
Love Nest 119 East 1
st St., North Vancouver BC V7L 1B2
604-987-1175 / Web site:
www.lovenest.ca
Tony and Kira, the husband-wife owner-operators, just opened their second store in Whistler, BC.
CALGARY
The Love Boutique
9737 MacLeod Trail SW., Calgary AB T2J 0P6
403-252-1846
Just for Lovers
920 36th St. NE, #114, Calgary AB / 403-273-6242
4014 MacLeod Trail S., Calgary AB / 403-243-2554
4247 Bow Trail SW, Calgary AB / 403-282-7125
WINNIPEG
Discreet Boutique
317 Ellis (or 340 Donald, depending on which entrance you use),
Winnipeg Manitoba R3B 2H7
204-947-1307
HALIFAX
Venus Envy 1598 Barrington St., Halifax NS B3J 1Z6
902-422-0004 / Web site:
www.venusenvy.ca
OTTAWA
Venus Envy 110 Parent Ave., Ottawa ON K1N 7B4
613-789-4646 / Web site:
www.venusenvy.ca
TORONTO
Seduction
577 Yonge St., Toronto ON M4Y 1Z2
416-966-6969
Fifteen thousand square feet on three floors.
Come As You Are 701 Queen Street West, Toronto ON M6J 1E6
877-858-3160 / Web site:
www.comeasyouare.com “Good sex is a cooperative effort.” Only cooperative-run sex store in Canada.
Any of the listed products in the book can be purchased through the Sexuality Seminars/Frankly Speaking, Inc. All transactions are confidential and we do not sell our mailing list. To purchase products, inquire about Lou Paget’s seminar schedule, book a seminar, be placed on the Frankly Speaking mailing list, or to get more information, call 1-877-SexSeminars (1-877-739-7364).
Purchases can be made with Visa/MasterCard, cash, or check. Frankly Speaking Inc. shows on all bank statements and is the name under which all correspondence is sent. All products are discreetly packaged and shipped Priority Post unless otherwise requested. The Specialty Sophist-Kits gift boxes can arrive in presentation style (open) or closed—for a bigger surprise. They are delivered UPS or Federal Express and are shipped through Artful Baskets.
For more information, we can be reached at:
Frankly Speaking, Inc. 11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500
Los Angeles CA 90025
310-556-3623
E-mail:
office@loupaget.com / Web site:
www.loupaget.com 
