Conversio Virium

TES Meeting: The Ins and Outs of Fisting

Tonight, TES is hosting Danielle DV8′s presentation on one of the more intense sexual acts, fisting, and how it can be incorporated into a BDSM play scene, called The Ins and Outs of Fisting. From the presentation description:

Vaginal, anal, double fisting, fisting each other at the same time, lubes, enemas, relaxing your victim, scaring your victim, working a scene around fisting, restraint, safety, negotiation techniques and more!

Special thanks to Claire, who emailed me to let us know about this meeting.

(Do you know of an event that you don’t see on our calendar and want to share? Please send it in!)

BYTE Party: Tribute to the NYPD and FDNY

Tonight at 9:00 PM is the first BYTE Party of 2008. BYTE is a monthly fetish party where you can go see some of the hottest fetish fashions of the city, or dress up to be seen. From the party promotional material:

We will be Celebrating the birthday of Father Vincent! as well as hosting the CD release party for Recording Artists, Ambassador 21 (VENDETTA MUSIC)

[…]

$5 for fetish divas, creative goths, cyberpunks, material girls, fashionistas, alternative sexiness, and anyone who can leave their inhibitions at home! $10 for all black, $15 all else. 21 and over please…no exceptions! Make an effort, let yourself go!

Drink Specials: $5 vodka Red Bulls. $5 Bloodbaths. $6 Bud & kamikaze shot.

DSF Meeting: Panel Discussion on Building a Leather Family

There’s no doubt about it: BDSM is a social activity. It comes as no surprise, then, that for some people belonging to a visible community is one of the most important aspects of being “in the BDSM scene.” For some, the benefits and ideas of a community can be even further refined into the notion of a “leather family,” which can be loosely defined as a smaller, more nuclear group of individuals who share certain kinds of loyalties and affection, much like any other kind of family.

In this Friday’s presentation, DomSubFriends is hosting a panel all about building a leather family. From the presentation description:

We’ve heard many times the term folks in the SM community living in a “Leather Family.” But what does it mean, physically, emotionally and spiritually? What are the inner workings of a M/s leather family? What really goes on in a Leather household? How do they deal with jealousy, get their individual needs met, set rules, interact with the “real” world? These and many audience questions will be answered. Come early, grab and a seat and don’t miss this educational lifestyle presentation.

TES Bondage Group meeting: Medical Restraints

If I were to draw a Venn diagram showing bondage (a hugely diverse kink in itself) and medical play (another arena with incredible diversity), this meeting would show up smack dab in the middle of the space overlapping both circles. Medical restraints are, for many people, exactly what the intersection of medical play and bondage look like and—lucky folk!—there’s a ton of stuff to play with just in this niche. In fact, TES‘s Bondage Group is doing an entire meeting all about Medical Restraints:

Various types of restraints from straps to straitjackets have been used to calm and protect patients throughout history. Come and explore various real medical restraints and learn how to add a new meaning to “medical play”.

This is the kind of meeting, as a bondage enthusiast, would attend to learn more about how I might branch out into a kink like medical play I’m not personally excited about. I don’t doubt that there’s probably a medical play enthusiast thinking the same thing….

Polyamorous NYC: Polyamory and Safer Sex

Let’s talk about sex. Well, obviously, but so much of the talking we do about sex is so fundamentally elementary that it quickly becomes evident that more detail is needed. To that end, I’m really excited to see Polyamorous NYC devoting one of their monthly meetings to the topic of sex and how to have it safely, and making it relevant for those living a polyamorous lifestyle. From the email announcement:

[W]e are very excited to have Morpheus, a nationally recognized sex-educator and safe sex expert facilitating our meeting on the topic of “Polyamory and Safer Sex”. He will be speaking about the in’s and outs of safer-sex and polyamory. Please join us for this exciting, first ever meeting on this topic.

TES meeting: CBT in a Nutshell with Lolita Wolf

The TES Dominant Women and Submissive Men SIG is hosting Lolita Wolf, self-described activist, educator, and author, as well as nationally-recognized and honored BDSM‘er for many, many years, to share what she knows about cock and ball torture (CBT):

Grab him by the balls and he will follow you anywhere. We’ll cover the psychological and physical ins and outs of the family jewels. Learn to safely control your man through the torments of bondage, pain and other sensations. Lolita is the author of “CBT In A Nutshell” and will have books/DVDs with her to sell and sign.

TES meeting: Titillating Tit Torture with Goddess Roze

TES‘s general attendance meeting this Tuesday is all about Titillating Tit Torture, being presented by Goddess Roze:

From nipple clamps to clothespins to teeth, there are endless possibilities to tantalize tits and nipples. Goddess Roze, who has a particular fascination with this line of play, will help you get a handle on tit torture and nipple play, using a variety of devices, both purposeful an improvised. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

Hmm. A Tuesday TES meeting talking of titillating tit tortures? Why, all they’re missing is tea. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

Polyamorous NYC: Poly Cocktail Hour

A new poly-friendly gathering has started and could be lots of fun. Hosted on Monday nights at 7 PM on the border of SoHo, just be sure to get to CV on time if you do want to attend.

Come and bring your wife, husband, girlfriends, boyfriends and theirs and meet like-minded people. If you consider yourself polyamorous or to be in an open relationship, or are considering this loving and progressive way of life, you are invited to come and get advice and support, have some drinks and laughs, and build our community. To be added to the mailing list, or if you have any questions, please contact polyhour@gmail.com. Occurs on the second Monday of every month at Madame X at 94 West Houston Street (between LaGuardia Place and Thompson).

TES meeting: Talk with a Professional Dominatrix with Mistress Ardenne

This Wednesday Mistress Ardenne from RaptureNYC, a professional dominatrix, visits the TES Novice Group for a meeting simply titled Talk with a Professional Dominatrix:

The mysterious Pro Domme…. Many times we see her at a club or event and just wish we could have a few moments of her time, to ask her the many questions we have. Well…your wait if over. We are thrilled to bring you the lovely and talented Mistress Ardenne, from one of the top NYC Dungeons, “RaptureNYC” to do just that. We’ll be finding out the real inside story about professional domination. What kind of person goes to a Pro Domme? How does a Pro session differ from Lifestyle play? What are these Dommes really like? And…why you’ll wind up quickly being thrown the door if you don’t understand the etiquette of this world. Come armed with your questions—all will be revealed!

Though I’m wary of the obvious hype, I can personally vouch that Mistress Ardenne has done at least one spectacular presentation for TES before and I’m sure she’ll have a lot of interesting things to say. My only advice is the same for this meeting as it would be for a doctor’s appointment: don’t blindly believe everything you hear, and always get a second opinion.

GMSMA meeting: Harness Up Your Boy!

Everybody looks better in a harness. At this month’s GMSMA meeting, learn how to tie a great rope harness on your boy or go get yourself a pretty new accessory to your birthday suit.

Truss up your boy with a great looking rope body harness. A rope body harness is easy to learn and your boy will not want to get out of it! Our presenter will show you how easy it is and the fun in doing it.

Did we mention that harnesses are infinitely useful, too? Just think of all the perfect attachment points they have.

DSF Meeting: Lifestyle Intuition with Danielle DV8

So-called “gut” feelings and other kinds of “hunches” have long been thought to be silly, nonsensical things our bodies do when we’re nervous or unsure about something. Most of the time, we try to push them away and don’t listen but Danielle DV8, a practicing Zen Buddhist and self-described lifestyle submissive, Domina, and (consensually) owned slave for many years, thinks intuition plays an important part of good decision-making. She is presenting her take on Lifestyle Intuition at DomSubFriends this Friday. From the presentation description:

The exploration of what intuition is, the difference between feelings and thoughts (including paranoid thoughts and projection), how to practice identifying intuition, how to apply intuition to decisions and how to build faith in your ability to do all this.

This is a powerful, interactive clinic that has a goal of improving decision making by applying intuitive information. This is especially helpful for singles, newbies to the leather lifestyle, those with patterns of poor choices (partners, jobs, investments, etc.), those with insecurities (all of us), and those that wish to fine tune their intuitive abilities.

TES Meeting: My Life as a Bondage Enthusiast with Jack McGeorge

Over at TES this Wednesday, the Bondage Group is hosting Jack McGeorge as he presents “My Life as a Bondage Enthusiast”:

From the time he acquired his first set of handcuffs at age eight to the present when he keeps his slaves in some kind of locking bondage 24/7, Jack’s true love is bondage. Join us as Jack takes us on his journey exploring a wide array of techniques and materials starting as a self-bondage player to being the Master of the Order of Discipline & Service.

Jack is a fantastic speaker that is very well-known for his presentations on such topics as interrogation and Master/slave relationship dynamics. His are talks that are educational and enlightening as well as always being entertaining. Also, he has a superb collection of bondage equipment that I simply can’t stop drooling over.

DSF Meeting: The Joys of Flying Low (Suspension Bondage) with SxySadist

SxySadist is going to be at DomSubFriends on Friday to teach about low-to-the-ground suspension scenes:

Suspension is suspension whether you are 2 inches, 2 feet or 20 feet off the ground. Yes, sometimes added height can be an advantage for certain types of play or for “showy” or performance art scenes, but I have discovered some of my sexiest and most intimate suspension play can happen when my partner is barely off the floor.

These days I love to slide in underneath them and lounge on my back while they are hanging there just above me barely a breathy kiss distance away as I run my nails across their body. Ahhh yes, there is much that can be said and relished about low to the ground suspension work and this is also a great way to get a feel for and experience with suspension while minimizing risks associated with falls from higher altitudes.

In this class I will explore some ways that I love to play with partial and full suspensions that are close to the ground and then finish up with a bit of cheery holiday decorations.

BiRequest Meeting: Home for the Holidays

BiRequest is a local social and discussion group for bisexual and bisexual-friendly people that meets bimonthly on the first and third Thursdays of each month at the LGBT Center in the Village. Their next meeting is called Home for the Holidays:

In a blink of an eye the holidays will be here. When they arrive will you feel anxious, depressed and sad? Or will you be excited, upbeat and positive? The way you approach the holidays is what will determine your feelings. Remember, you can control the way you feel by the way you think.

[…]

The question you have to ask yourself is this: how do you want it to be? How do you want to feel about it? Then focus on what you want the outcome to be. Your feelings will flow from your thoughts. We can make the holidays a fun, happy event or focus on what’s missing and then feel despair.

But it’s a conscious choice.

As such for this holiday join us in a sharing of stories, of art, of bad jokes, let’s take time to acknowledge the most important person of all in this time, ourselves and how far we have come in our journey.

Very much like our own Conversio Virium tradition, after the meetings attendees of BiRequest go out for dinner and more socializing at a nearby restaurant. Don’t let loneliness overcome you this holiday season; come out and chat it up with us.

Polyamorous NYC: The Big Holiday Party

Our friends at Poly NYC are throwing one huge Holiday party replete with a DJ, a cash bar serving wine, spiked cider, and more. With over 200 people expected (!) tickets are required, but you can get them with a one-third discount by purchasing online (price list). Ticket sales benefit Polyamorous NYC and The Center. From the email invitation:

It will be a potluck evening. Please bring any food that you can that you think the group would enjoy, i.e. cookies, candy, cakes, snacks, appetizers, chips, dips, crudities, cheese and crackers, hummus and pita, etc.. We will be having our fabulous DJ Velour, aka Gilad, spinning tunes all night.

Room 101 at the Center (208 West 13^th Street) will be decorated with beautiful tables with flowers and a gorgeous and cozy cuddle space will be on the side for those of you who like to lounge and cuddle. We are having something new and exciting this year. An entire table off to the side of the room that will be a “Get Connected Area”. Please bring any flyers, business cards, or other info about what you are up to and events that you would like the poly community to come to and support you with. You will be able to place your info on the table. We believe this will be a great way to get more connected in the community and for us to see and hear what you all are up to.

We welcome all polyamorous, poly-curious, or poly-friendly people to this event.

Pleasure Salon: Secret Santa

Patricia Johnson, Selina Fire and Mark Michaels invite you for an evening of drink, talk, and gifts!

After the holiday dust has settled, mellow out with your fellow sexplorers. Bring a small gift to exchange with a new friend.

The Pleasure Salon has been created to build community, allowing sex-positive activists to cross-pollinate. Our gatherings bring together members of the BDSM, swinger, alternative gender, LGBT, sex-activist, nudist, sex-magic, polyamory, Pagan, radical faerie, tantra, dark odyssey, sex-blogger, porn, pervert and sex-worker communities, and others whose passion is sex. (Let us know if we missed any one of you!) Through building networks in the sex-positive community, The Pleasure Salon hopes to help create a sex-positive world. It is a place for the open exchange of ideas and sensual expression.

We have been thrilled by the turnout at previous gatherings. A community of New York area Pleasure Positive folks is developing rapidly, and we hope that you will join us or continue to be part of it. Please invite your like-minded friends. In keeping with the spirit of Dark Odyssey, we encourage everyone to embrace the basic principles of respect, tolerance, acceptance, openness, and non-judgmental support.

Our next event will be Thursday, December 27^th 6-10 PM, at Marion’s Marquee Lounge, 354 Bowery at 4^th Street.

TES and NCSF Benefit: Holiday Party

This Saturday night Mike S. will be hosting the TES Holiday party at Paddles benefiting NCSF.

The holidays come but once a year and what better way to celebrate than with your friends at TES? Please join your host Mike, for a fun filled, freaky Romp O’ Kink in the spirit of the season! Touch base with old friends, make some new ones, enjoy our quality buffet, amazing music, special events and of course, play, play, play!! It’s gonna be some party! All profits will be donated to NCSF – come on out and show your support! Michael from Paddles will also be donating all proceeds from the bar to NCSF!

TES Meeting: Medical Edge Play with Santos

Sometimes there are certain things that, while we love to do and learn about, we think are just a little bit too dangerous for whatever reason to do at Conversio Virium meetings. However, especially because these topics can be accompanied with considerable physical risk, it’s all the more important that information about them be available. Thankfully, the upcoming TES meeting this Tuesday promises to cover just such concerns over very edgy medical play:

Edgy…invasive…potentially dangerous…but very hot. Join our very own Santos, a medical professional and avid Scene enthusiast, for a thrilling discussion and demo of some really edgy medical play.

It’s unfortunately too rare a treat to learn about kink from someone who has professional-level knowledge in the field, and even rarer for that overlap to occur in the complicated arena of medical play. With Santos, a member of the BDSM scene for quite a few years, at the helm of this meeting, however, everyone’s sure to learn a thing or two (or three).

GMSMA meeting: Holiday Social

GMSMA‘s pre-Christmas holiday meeting is a chance for you to mingle with other men who are into consensual BDSM:

Have you been naughty? Have you been nice? Come to our Holiday Social to get your due reward for your behavior over the past year. Enjoy good food, fellowship, and good fun as Santa gives all the boys what they really deserve!

This good boy wants some very bad things from Santa this year….

BYTE party: Wishing you a Merry XXX-Mas

Like techno, trance, synthpop, darkwave, and industrial music? Like fetish, electrosex, and dancing? New York City’s “monthly synthetic sexy dance party” might be exactly what you’re looking for. DJ Lucien and friends are once again hosting BYTE at the Delancey Lounge at 168 Delancey Street. There are also a few special events planned for the party:

BYTE will be raffling away two custom BYTE iPod Nanos at the XXX-Mas part. BYTE will also be hosting the 1st ever BYTE shopping mini mall, for all your alternative XXX-Mas shopping needs.

Since alcohol is served, attendance is restricted to those 21 years of age or older. Additional details can be found on the promotional web site.