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Northbound Leather has presented an annual gala party and fashion
show since 1997, traditionally hosted at The Docks Nightclub on the waterfront.
The next, titled "Switch", takes place on October 20th 2007 at The Docks. This
year will not feature a fashion show, a mainstay of the previous years, but
will have various performers througout the night, including Midori. Visit the
store in person at 586 Yonge Street or online at
www.northbound.com for more information and
tickets.
A smart business plan is for a company is to market multiple
products that complement each other in order to increase the sales of both.
Northbound has long held to this philosophy by selling traditional leather
goods, all varieties of fetish wear and presenting events to showcase the
lifestyle. As such, one should not be surprised that many of the people there
are wearing their fashions and playing with their toys. The Northbound brand
can even overcome the "strict dresscode": a plain black tshirt with the
Northbound logo has sometimes been considered acceptable attire for their
nights.
The dresscode at fetish nights is often a point of contention
for people. Is it too strict or maybe too lenient? Or perhaps the promo
material makes it appear very strict, yet when you get to the door, the "Door
Nazi" you were waiting for is simply not there. I am of the school of thought
that dress codes are necessary due to the existence of potential patrons who
have ill intentions. That being said, the easy availability of attire that
passes even the strictest dresscode will not keep out those who come to gawk,
or even those with worse intentions. In any case, for the annual party and also
the current monthly nights, "acceptable attire includes: leather, rubber,
corsets, high heels, X-dress, wet look, fetish glam".
The monthly
fetish nights presented by Northbound Leather have been taking place for many
years now at various locations throughout Toronto. The night had most recently,
before changing to its new home, been held at Club Alibi (529 Yonge St.). Other
past venues include 5IVE Nightclub (5 Joseph Street) and The Limelight (250
Richmond Street West).
In August 2007 the Northbound monthly event moved to
the present location at Goodhandys (120 Church St). Those of you who've been
around the concert scene for a while will better remember that location as the
Rockit Club. Goodhandys bills itself as "Toronto's Pansexual Playground" and
the website, www.goodhandys.com, bluntly defines pansexual as
"Relating to, having, or open to sexual activity of many kinds" and playground
as "a field or sphere of unrestricted pleasurable activity." If you explore the
website beyond the splash page, you find this excerpt from a blog post by
Goodhandy's co-owner Todd Klinck: "Apparently the previous incarnations of
Northbound parties all had "play areas", but they explicitly did not permit any
"penetrative sex". So even though they have been around for more than a decade,
being held at Goodhandy's, where we DO permit "penetrative sex" is kind of
revolutionary for the Northbound crew - which I think will make the night even
more fun."
The resident DJ at the monthly Northbound fetish nights is
Jimi Lamort. This man is a king of remixes and rarities. The DJ at a fetish
night should be setting a mood, and the one he creates is a sexy one but with a
sense of danger. Earlier this year, Jimi was spinning in the small room at
Savage Garden on Saturdays. His departure from there coinicided with the
Northbound move to Saturdays at Goodhandys from Fridays at Alibi. This was a
good change for Jimi and for the patrons. His style just seems to fit in with
the Northbound nights better.
Having attended past nights at Alibi,
5ive and The Limelight, I had a good idea of what to expect. What I did not
expect was to finally, at long last, feel very comfortable. There was just a
good vibe to the event, coming from the venue, the patrons and the staff. There
was no attitude present, people were just there to have fun.
The venue
itself is conducive to a friendly atmosphere. It's small but built upwards with
different levels. You have to walk up a long flight of stairs from the street
to gain entrance to Goodhandy's. The main floor consists of a bar, the
dancefloor and a stage. Equipment is integrated throughout: near the bar there
are some benches, on the dancefloor a St. Andrews cross, and another one on the
stage. Go up another flight of stairs, and you reach the next level. It's open
in the centre, as you overlook the bottom floor you can watch people dancing
and playing. Up a few stairs to the left and you have another bar and seating
area, and the washrooms. Turn right instead and go up just a few steps and you
have the private booths.
The Goodhandy's website refers to these booth
areas as the "Members-Only Diamond Room." There is a modest fee to become a
member and a long list of rules that must be abided by. Being intrigued by this
area but having no membership, I asked one of the staff members what the deal
was during the Northbound nights. She said they were available for use for
anything you want, and then added, almost as an afterthought, as long as it's
consenting. These booths are curtained off for privacy. The one I visited had
in it a bench, a wastebasket, a full papertowel dispenser, one container full
of single use lubricant packages and one filled with condoms. It was clean and
comfortable and of reasonable size for two or three people. The curtain size
was more than sufficient to make it private. These booths are perfect for those
who want to play at a fetish night but perhaps aren't comfortable or willing to
do it in full public view.
In summary, I give the monthly Northbound
Fetish night 4 out of 5 spanks, and encourage your attendance.
Just
the facts:
Who: 19+ kinky people who meet the dresscode
What:
Northbound Leather Fetish Night
Where: Goodhandy's, 120 Church St.
Toronto
When: first Saturday of each month
How: $5 before 10pm, $15
after, $10 with pass
More: www.northbound.com
Review by
Dem for the October 6th 2007 Northbound Fetish
Night.
Edited by SP. Posted October 20th 2007 by Dem.
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