Hump History: Origins

by Teeebone

Cue the music: Music video link, Everybody Dance Now - C & C Music Factory [Lyrics] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc8nkyUbZJU

When I first became a member of the SPCC (the Sex Positive Community Center, aka "The Wet Spot" as the CSPC was known back in those days) in the Summer of 2003, I usually attended a twice monthly event called Erotic City–a sex-focused party held on 2nd and 4th Friday nights. For my first 2+ years of membership, all I did was simply attend events. At some point in late 2005, I began to get involved in volunteering as a DJ for Erotic City. Folks liked my music and I felt encouraged enough to formally join the volunteer rolls in 2006.

In May of 2007, the SPCC officially opened the Annex space, and it was at this time that the organization changed its name to the CSPC. This new space allowed us to hold two events on the same night, which led to the creation of new parties. A decision was made to move the Wednesday Drop-in Social to the Annex and create a new party for the Main Space.

I was contacted by the office in November to become part of the "Wednesday Dance Party" team as a DJ. The plan was to form a new crew of volunteers braced with a few of the veteran members who would run the party and train new ECs, cashiers, and ambassadors. The set up and floor plan were directly influenced by Erotic City and The Grind. The music themes were influenced by another party called The Spin, a monthly event that switched music themes each month, although for this new party, it would change each week.

A really big challenge was what to name the event. Indeed, this could make or break the party. Luckily, we came up with "The Hump" (because Wednesday is Hump Day, lol) at the team meeting just a few weeks before go-time. I quickly made a stylized logo and printed up posters. The Hump was part of what could be called the "Second Wave" of parties like The Chill and Myself!.

The first Hump was held on January 30, 2008. Admission was $15. The free social ran from 6-8pm, with the party rocking from 8pm-12am. Total attendance, including staff was 46. (Such humble beginnings!) This was the first step of a very interesting journey for all of us. The Hump Crew was just one of the many teams assembled to create and run parties at the CSPC. 

Interested in becoming part of CSPC history as part of the volunteer team for the Next Big Party? Find out more about volunteering for the CSPC here!

Until next time- :^)

Consent Corner 2.9

by Emma Atkinson and Rachel Drake

Hello again, dear friends!  Welcome back to our world, brimming with ideas about consent.

We’ve been considering the intricacies of making and revising consent agreements. Please check out previous editions to review or learn more about what we’ve discussed so far.  

As promised, we’ve been pondering the nature of boundaries and we found a great article on that very topic.  Vanessa Stevens wrote about different types of boundaries here. 

She offers a clear definition of healthy boundaries (spoiler:  they’re called flexible boundaries and you’ll read more about them in future editions here).  And even better, she makes a compelling argument for how they can make our life even more wonderful. 

Homework:  please read what Vanessa Stevens has to say about boundaries and ponder what your boundaries have looked like.  Please share amusing stories or insights with us at:  info@thecspc.org.  And, please stay safe and sexy!  

“Be excellent to each other” - Bill and Ted

“Be sexcellent to each other” - Emma and Rachel

Celebrating Black History Month--Letter to a Friend

by Cass

Hey friend! Hope this email finds you well.

Well here it is another year, and it is already February. Wow! I guess that means it is also Black History month. 

You know we always ask black people how they’re doing, but how are you doing? I mean, the last few years have been a lot. I know it was exhausting for me, but I know you had to feel some type of way as well. It’s hard to be an ally when you don’t know what would help. 

As long as there have been people, there have been black people. We want the same things as you - to love, prosper, and live our best lives. We just don't want to keep being killed by the police. I know you want the same for us. We’re friends, after all. But maybe you don't know how to support us. Here are some tips to help you with that:

 Hey, I know you have a good heart. I see you and I appreciate you.

I try to remember what Maya Angelou said: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel." 

So when you go out, see us for who we are as individuals, not just the stereotype the media portrays. You might be surprised at how similar we are. 

I’m so glad you’re my friend. Hope to see you soon!

Community Matters: Spotlight on The Swirl

by Emma Atkinson

Have you heard about The Swirl Events - the Seattle area’s first Lifestyle group owned and operated by POC and allies?  Are you looking for a culturally diverse and inclusive place where your sexy self is most welcome?  Can you find your way to Kent? 

The Swirl is a small members-only club, and Deziree and Avon want to make sure you have a safe and sexy experience.  They have parties on Friday and Saturday nights every other weekend.  Friday night features fun themes that let members and non-members meet and mingle - for example, Karaoke Night, Erotic Poetry Open-Mic Night, and Kink Night.  After midnight on Friday the social activities give way to a members-only sexy afterparty.  Saturday night is usually a hot dance and sex party.

Don’t let the small size fool you - they’re equipped to support seriously fun times.  The club has nine play spaces, a swing, and a fuck box (!!).  What’s a fuck box?  I don’t know but I’m pretty sure I need to find out, and you probably do, too.  We’ve included a pic to pique your curiosity.  

When you check it out, you’ll want to find your fanciest clothes and plan to dress to impress.  Get more info at their website,  www.theswirlevents.com, and take a peek at the flyers below for some of their upcoming events.  

How great are these humans?  They’re offering us 10% off a new annual membership that’s already an amazing deal - just use the promo code: CSPC.  The CSPC is glad to let you know about places that we think you’d like and, in the process, help our many like-minded communities thrive and prosper.  

Hump History, Prologue: Long Ago and Far Away…

by Teeebone

First, let’s set the mood: All Star - Smash Mouth [Lyrics]

Greetings and hello, folks–Teeebone here! As the CSPC moves into its next chapter, come gather around and let the Bone Man give you the scoop on what things were like back in the day. Mind you, there are many chapters to this story, so let’s start with the basics: Once upon a time, in January 2008, a new party debuted at the CSPC and it was called the Hump.

The Hump was a laid back, sex-focused party held on Wednesday nights on the weekly at the CSPC (Hump Day, get it?). It had a free two-hour social that was open to the public followed by the four-hour party for members and their guests only till midnight. Originally conceived as a dance party, the Hump evolved into a couples and moresomes party geared towards consensual non-monogamy and open to all sexual orientations and genders.

It was the kind of event where you could just show up after work or dinner and hang out or hook up or whatever. You didn't have to have sex if you didn't want to. There was no pressure to "score." The staff did everything they could to make the Hump a safe space to play. For many new members, the Hump was the first CSPC event that they attended after orientation. And if you arrived before 8 p.m., you could take advantage of $5 off admission during “Ecstasy Hours”!

The Hump was the proverbial comfy chair for almost everybody. As an attendee, you could chat in the social area, dance on the main space dance floor, have fun in the cuddle/romp pile, watch porn in the solo space, or have sexytimes in the back room. Some BDSM activity was allowed, such as suspensions, rope bondage, sensation play, and birthday spankings, and on the 1st Wednesdays of the month, there was also the Whump at the Hump, held in the RAW Dungeon next door that allowed full-on BDSM play.

The Hump ran for more than eight and a half years and became a classic CSPC event, ultimately being among the last parties held during the final week of operations before the closing of the CSPC’s original site at Interbay.

What made the Hump so special? The fabulous humans who poured their hearts (and sweat!) into building an event that served up what the community wanted and needed. Want to be part of the team that helps create the Next Big Thing at the CSPC? Learn more about volunteering here!

Until next time- :^)

Consent Corner 2.8

by Emma Atkinson and Rachel Drake

Hello wonderful readers!  Welcome back to Consent Corner- we hope that we’re in at least your top three corners, even if we’re not at the tippy top. We’re so glad to have you with us as we ponder the many-faceted jewel of consent.

Shout out to a reader who sent us a lovely note asking us to write more about creating and maintaining boundaries.  We’ve been thinking long and hard (ooh, is it getting hot in here?) about your question and we’ll be talking more about boundaries in upcoming episodes.  It’s *such* an important topic for all of us and it affects *every* part of our lives.  Stay tuned.

A key part of creating boundaries is creating agreements, and our previous episode considered creating agreements with new partners.  Once you’ve made these agreements, you’ll want to revisit them from time to time, and that’s our topic today.

Revisiting your agreements means talking about them, so the first thing to do is create a space in which everyone feels comfortable to express their likes and dislikes.  It means openness and honesty.  It means making sure you’re understanding what’s said.  And, it means listening without judging.  

It’s a lot to ask, we know, and we know that you can do it!  When you see how well it can work for you, you can lavish praise upon us later.

If we’ve learned nothing else in the past two years, as COVID has been smacking us upside the head, it’s that things change.  We’re all getting older, our bodies change, our needs and wants change - who can keep up?  You can.

We suggest revisiting your agreements at least once a year, though a quarterly conversation might work better for you.  How about at the Solstice and Equinox times?  How about monthly, at the ides?  It didn’t work out so well for Caesar, but it just might work for you.  Just knowing that there’s a scheduled time to talk can help even the most reticent of us open up in conversation.  

There’s a great tool for a relationship check-in at multiamory.com called RADAR. That means: 1) Review, 2) Agree on the agenda, 3) Discuss, 4) Action points, and 5) Re-connect.  Please check them out for the details, and you’ll find lots of other potentially useful information there, too.  

Homework:  review the RADAR model at the multiamory site and revise it for your own purposes.  And, check-in with us at:  info@thecspc.org. 

“Be excellent to each other” - Bill and Ted

“Be sexcellent to each other” - Emma and Rachel

PPMT 2.0 March Madness Mardi Gras: Farewell to the Flesh!

Beginning on Epiphany (aka Three Kings Day or Twelfth Night) and ending on Fat Tuesday (aka Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras Day) is the season known as Carnival. Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday,” is the celebrated method of indulgence and debauchery before the fasting of Lent. A “farewell to the flesh,” it’s the only time of year in Louisiana that it’s acceptable to feast on King Cake, a traditionally circular-shaped cinnamon pastry covered in frosting and colored sugar. Mardi Gras is the time when the colors of purple (for justice), green (for faith), and gold (for power) reign supreme and adorn every decoration on every door and balcony of the French Quarter.

We hope to have a King Cake! A King we will mash cake on as the peasants revolt smearing cake on the King! Farewell to the flesh, indeed!

Power Play Mixed-Tape Rocks Sensuality and BDSM under the same roof!

Power Play Mixed-Tape makes having a fantastic fucking time easy. Dress to impress and surround yourself with sensual sex and bass-pounding BDSM. Best yet - The music will be HOT - throbbing Top 40 8-10 pm with DJ Oblique and sizzling Rock mash-ups by The Bone Man 10 pm-12 am! Surge and Doof with us! (The basement will ride a noticeably lower decibel level for your pleasure!)

The Experience Bay is brand new for your Tasting Pleasure! This month we feature the mystical Rowan with her sensual sensations and tantalizing claws. Make sure you sign up when you arrive so you don’t miss out! 

Pickup Play Are you available to play? Grab a name tag located on a table just past Registration, add your name and Top/bottom designation, and/or write a sticky note detailing your fantasy. Don’t miss out. Just ask, negotiate and give clear consent! 

Come Beat, Flirt, Needle, Bleed, Cut, Hang, Tie, Eat, Lick, Grab, Bite, Kiss, Fuck, Cum, and maybe much more with someone new, someone old, something cool, something bold! Spin on the dance floor or be suspended from one of our hardpoints. Make someone sizzle on the rack or bend them over a spanking bench. Any play sanctioned by the CSPC is allowed at PPMT so review CSPC's Essential House Rules. Expect sex anywhere and everywhere except the bathroom and Aftercare room! If it's going to be bloody, bring your own plastic/tarp and linens. No solo masturbation unless scene participants and Event Coordinators give permission, please.

PPMT ran from 2012 up until the closure of Interbay in 9/2016. PPMT was selected as 2012 Party of the Year as well as March 2014 Party of the Month. It is the first of the 2.0 parties to return to the CSPC to “Reignite Our Fires!”

Join our Fetlife group to plan a scene or just fantasize! Got something devious or seductive in mind? Email ahead to secure a fantasy needing special devising or to seek EC approval for riskier play.

A little party music to whet your whistle:

Beth Hart - Bad Woman Blues

Paddlepalooza Results

Paddlepalooza has come and gone, but the excited glow it created is still in our hearts (and on some of our bottoms). We had 15 wonderful artists create and donate a total of 23 paddles for auction, and the pieces were as diverse as they were perverse.

The auction ran for five days, and the tension was so thick you could smack it with a paddle. Our donated paddles brought in a total of $955 from our lucky high bidders. Between that, the artists’ donations, and some help from additional generous donors, we were able to exceed our goal, making $2,585 for the Center!

We hope you’ll bring your paddles out to some of our upcoming events. Seeing the proud new owners with their paddles will warm us to the bottom of our hearts, as much as the paddles will surely warm some heart-shaped bottoms.

Here are the paddles that brought in the most at auction, and the prizes they won for their makers:

Ten Tickles – This 3-D work inspired by cosmic love and consent rocketed to the stars with a total of $160 in bids, enveloping in its tentacles our first prize of a week’s stay in Hawaii!

Paddler’s Creed – Bringing in $65 in bids, this sharp-witted take on the Rifleman’s Creed swung true with laser-burned focus to tie for second place and win $100 for its maker!

Georgia O’Kink – This homage to Red Canna by Georgia O’Keeffe put on a colorful display to tie for second place (with no additional prize, as its creator had also landed first prize)!

Crosswise – This cunning creation of criss-crossing cuts collected $60 in bids and tied for third place, winning its creator a free year of CSPC membership!

Every Sting is Awesome!/Every Swing is Awesome! – Building up bids of $60 to tie for third place, this LEGO-covered customizable creation won its maker a free year of CSPC membership!

Overall this has been a tremendous amount of fun, and we’ve done some real good in the community as a result. From the artists to the bidders to the volunteers who worked so hard to make this promotion happen, we can’t thank you all enough. You all helped make Paddlepalooza successful, and helped to support the CSPC. We’re awash with devilishly delightful ideas and looking forward to next time.

You can still see the gorgeous paddles from this event at the Paddlepalooza auction site. And please consider visiting the sites of some of our artists:

Hugz & Cuddlez - cuddle community

Herring Designs - resin art

Alex Haworth - accepting commissions

TrueFalse - fine art

Eirikah Delaunay - sex+relationship coach at Desire Alchemy

Pause the Presses!

Over the Rainbow! Paddle by Frances Herring

Paddlepalooza, our promotional purveyance of paradisiacal paddles, is proceeding as planned!

Visit the Paddlepalooza auction site, where you can preview the pictures in our parade of procurable paddles. Your peepers will pop when you perceive the potpourri of primo paddles present; this plentitude of paddles is par excellence! Pick some paddles you’re partial to from the plethora we’re presenting, and plan your purchases precisely. 

The auction is in progress, so if you go presently you can proffer your preferred price points for the paddles you prize, be they parsimonious or profuse. With perfect planning, or perhaps just propitiously, you may purchase the perfect paddle for you to possess, or perchance to present to a paramour! The auction ends at precisely 8 p.m. PST on Saturday, February 5, so don’t postpone and let your privilege to participate pass you by!

Translation: The Paddlepalooza auction is going on right now! Bidding ends on Saturday February 5 at 8 p.m. Don’t miss out!