One of the first discoveries I made after moving to New York City was a unique little boutique on the East Side catering to the erotic needs of women.One of the first discoveries I made after moving to New York City was a unique little boutique on the East Side catering to the erotic needs of women. A Garden of Sexual delights, the shop was filled with literature on female sensuality, erotic art work, an unbelievable array of vibrators and sex toy "goodies" selected with the pleasure of the female body in mind. The atmosphere was warm and comfortable, not the self-consciousness felt at venturing into some porno bookstores. Here there was a calm acknowledgement that women do indeed want to explore their sexual drives and urging with all the accoutrements usually reserved for males. A showcase held several items with which I was happily familiar: phallic-shaped vibrators in different sizes, vibrating "eggs" and gold-plated ben-wa balls ornately offered on velvet cushions. What riveted my attention was a device I'd never seen before: a soft plastic cup slightly smaller than my palm, with a soft nub lined with shallow grooves on the concave side. A pair of elastic straps were attached to the edges, and an insulated wire led to a black plastic battery case, a little larger than a cigarette lighter. With the casualness of a salesgirl at Sacks Fifth Avenue, the young woman behind the counter showed me the intriguing device. |