Of all the reasons one could find to visit Enigma, downtown Salem’s sex-positive adult shop, the most deliciously seditious is its antique vibrator collection.
While the collection is comprised of only about 10 models, one was produced by the the A.C. Gilbert Co. Yes, that A.C. Gilbert. Say hello to Salem’s new walking tour.
“It’s sort of my favorite simply because of the connection to the city,” said Tina Grissom, Enigma owner. The store is located at 1326 State Street.
Enigma is meant to be a woman-focused adult shop, but Grissom tries to have something in stock for all genders and orientations. She also focuses on only phthalate-free, glycerin-free, and paraben-free items. The former has been linked to cancer and the latter two can cause skin irritations.
“As I looked around the city, I couldn’t find a shop where I thought a woman would be comfortable,” Grissom said “When we set up, we kept that in mind. We’ve tried to find products that aren’t offered anywhere else in the state and we strive to find items that avoid offensive, sexist, racist or homophobic packaging.”
The sex-positive messaging throughout the store is what prompted author, columnist and sex educator Tristan Taormino to contact the store and schedule a class.
“Larger urban areas have had sex shops like this for a while, so it’s great to see a new generation of the shops opening in the not-so-large cities,” Taormino said.
On March 18, Enigma hosts Taormino for a talk and extensive question-and-answer session billed as “the Human Sexuality class that most people never get to take.”
“We allow people to ask questions anonymously, which creates a space to ask questions that might otherwise seem intimidating or embarrassing,” Taormino said.
Taormino covers a variety of topics including: sexual anatomy, masturbation, orgasms, improving erotic communication skills, finding the g-spot, myths and truths about female ejaculation, sex toy tips and techniques. She makes no apologies for trying to spark frank discussions about sex.
“Most sex ed classes talk about sex in technical terms that end up being vague and then no one learns anything,” she said. “The most important thing is realizing that we are key to our own sexual pleasure. If we’re not in touch with our own bodies, particularly women, it’s a tall order to ask a partner to figure it out.”
Tickets to the 7 p.m. event are $25 for general admission and $20 for students. They can be reserved by phone by calling 503-569-7087 or ordered through Brown Paper Tickets, www.brownpapertickets.com. Enigma can be found online at www.ourenigma.com.
