Whether the fetish du jour is scarification or rope bondage, this is one art gallery that never shies away from the controversial or sexy. Gallerista Steven Speliotis has several projects in the works, including an exhibit featuring the photos of Efraim Gonzalez, famed for his candids of old-school transvestites and prostitutes. 9 Ninth Ave between Little W 12th and 13th Sts (no phone)
DDevious Delights After a four-month hiatus, this swingers’ club is back in action and on the prowl for a new permanent location (it was pushed out of its last space, on 29th Street)
Conversio Virium Columbia isn’t all stuffy academia-just ask members of Conversio Virium, one of the nation’s oldest on-campus BDSM education groups. It meets every Monday during the academic year from 9 to 11pm at Hamilton Hall (1130 Amsterdam Ave at 116th St). Sessions typically welcome a notable member of the kink and BDSM community; president Elizabeth B. says that past talking points have included bondage, knife play, hypnotism and flogging. Membership is offered to Columbia undergrads after they’ve attended three meetings, though anyone can show up to an event, including townies.
On the agenda: the intimate party PlayGroup, designed to be smaller and more action-packed. “It’s very intense,” says DDD founder Saul. “You can have 15 to 20 people in a pile sometimes.” ddeviousdelights
LeRoi Manhattan LeRoi has gotten its fair share of pussy. And cock. And nipples. Store manager and piercer Pete says dozens of New Yorkers stop by the shop every week to get holes punched in their nether regions. Clients range from “girls turning 19 to 50-year-old soccer moms, trying to spice things up.” 174 Ludlow St between E Houston and Stanton Sts (212-253-6402, leroimanhattan )
Poleriders The city’s first wheel-drawn pole-dancing spectacular has cycled its way around Union Square and the Lower East Side. The mobile show enlists about a half dozen dancers, who generally grind to their own iPod tunes. “Manhattan oozes steamy sex,” says founder Andrew Katzander. “Where do you think all the humidity comes from?” For show schedule and pole-dancing class info, visit .
The Spanking Club of New York SCONY founder Ms. Margaret has been in the spanking biz for more than ten years, hosting monthly events at the LGBT Community Center (208 W 13th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves; 212-620-7310, ). Bottoms can choose to get spanked with or without clothes, though most of the ladies rock a thong. There are spaces for public play and cubicles equipped with Western saddles for a little private action. Scony
Mark your calendar for two big MoSex goings-on: the November unveiling of its brand-new store, and the October Edinburg chicas escort 1 opening of photographer Michael Grecco’s “Naked Ambition,” featuring roughly 70 slick portraits of Jenna Jameson, Tera Patrick, Ron Jeremy and other glory ho’s
The Standard Hotel Get thee to the High Line for an impromptu peep show. Reports of schlongs and sexcapades visible through the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows are rampant. “It’s all day every day,” says Stephanie of London Meats, which sits right across the street. She’s seen everything from movies being made to naked women prancing in front of the windows. The guests’ antics have even thrown a wrench in production-the loading dock’s male employees are captivated by the show. “Everybody stops working,” she says. “Two even have binoculars.” 848 Washington St at 13th St (212-645-4646, standardhotels)
The Museum of Sex There are 24,000 erotic artifacts at MoSex (233 Fifth Ave at 27th St; 212-689-6337, museumofsex), including 19th-century brothel guides and bare-booty coins used as peep-show currency in Times Square. Even the building is rumored to be a former whorehouse.