Womyn’s Ware (896 Commercial Drive, East Vancouver, 604-254-2543, www.womynsware.com) portrays itself as the health-food equivalent of the sleazy sex-shop business — and, unlike its “XXX shop” compatriots, boldly advertises its wares through picture windows on, appropriately, the corner of The Drive and Venables Street. “Vibes, lubes, dills, and latex” are its mainstay, says its playful advertising. Its Web site chortles, “We’re 50000 famous.”
Brandi’s (595 Hornby Street, Downtown, 604-648-2000) is an upscale peeler hall of such popularity that it’s spawned an offspring in the us. The likes of Marilyn Manson and Jason Priestley are said to hang out in this spacious room outfitted with poles, mirrors, steam (of various kinds), and scantily clad waitresses who serve hugely expensive drinks — watch your wallet, metaphorically speaking.
A couple of writer-editors do a Herculean job of assembling the West Ender every week, filling the giveaway (subtitled “Vancouver’s Urban Voice”) with local news, entertainment, and attitude that argu¬ably borders on “Sex Shops.” But throw in several pages of ads for “adult services” and the paper lands squarely in this sex category. You can also find many of the same providers in the local Telus Yellow Pages under “Escort Services.”
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