I spoke with Claire Cavanah, owner of Park Slope’s Babeland, the new high-end sex toys shop for women on Bergen Street (near Flatbush Avenue), a strip of adorable shops including Bump, a maternity shop, Melt, a restaurant and a vegan sandwich place.
We talked about how visually appealing the shop is. “It’s a really fun design. Pink colors. Very calming. If it has a kids-in-a-candy-store vibe then we hit the right note,” Claire told me.
Indeed small items like condoms are displayed in multiple bowls like a penny candy store.
Cavanah, a mother of a 2-year old son, expects moms to come in with strollers. The shop is designed for easy Bugaboo and McClaren stroller navigation. There’s even a changing table in the shop’s bathroom.
The shop, which caters to straight, bi, and gay women, isn’t just for moms. Men are welcome. In fact, men love to come in and help their mates pick out toys.
Indeed, Babeland is not just a store: it’s a way of looking at life and sexuality with an openness to pleasure and sensual exploration. Not only do they sell all variety of sex toys, they also run how-to workshops on a variety of topics, including oral sex, clitoral stimulation, nutrition and sexuality.
I asked Claire for advice on describing the shop to my 11-year-old daughter if we happen to stroll by.
“You could tell her that sex is when grown ups really play. The things in this shop help make that fun,” she told me. “When people are comfortable together and trust each other, they like to have sex together.”
Well said.
Cavanah is interested in the idea of a sex-positive family. It’s an interesting idea.
On Sunday June 15, Babeland is having its grand opening party. There will be local treats, gift bags, store tours and previews of their most popular workshops. The first 50 customers will receive a Babeland Silver Bullet (that must be what they call that egg shaped vibrator with the dimmer switch I got in my gift bag at the Edgy Moms event).
Starting in June, there will be a monthly Sexy Moms Series. The first one on June 24th, will discuss issues related to desire, body image, making time for se and what it means to be a sex-positive family.
This event features Esther Blum, a registered dietitian and holidstic nutritionist and author of Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous from Chronicle Books. She will be sharing info on which foods and nutrients can help boost your sex drive and balance your hormones.
I am going in asap! I know exactly what I want!