Kink.com

 

When we launched The Complete Bear and later The Twisted Bear, I knew this wasn’t going to be just any ole day job.  First and foremost, we get to go shopping for a living.  Something, I seem to have been practicing for my entire life.  Second, we get to meet and socialize with some very large furry men, who seem to have no qualms about showing us parts of their anatomy – hey, it’s a job!!  And don't forget the leather.  WOOF!

But never would I have expected to find myself in the bowels of the SF Armory, world headquarters of Kink.com.   OK, maybe I’ve been in a dungeon or two or four or (now, stop that, I’m not that bad), but Kink.com is primarily a “straight” studio – though they are home to Butt Machine Boys and the forth coming Bound Gods (yes, I’ll keep you posted). 

I met with Thomas Roche, their Public Relations Manager – “Please can I have a tour?  Is there really a river, and stables and manly showers for the troops?”  OK, clearly I had worked myself into a lather, as all my adolescent fantasies emerged from the deep recesses of my brain in sweaty excitement.  I’ve been in dungeons before - or usually a back room in someone’s basement painted black - but this, this was real. 

As noted on their site - This 200,000 square foot reproduction Moorish Castle was completed in 1914 and was used as a National Guard facility until 1976. It is full of period detail including cavernous dungeon-like basements, stone staircases, sweeping corridors, and a gigantic drill court spanning almost an acre. During rioting in San Francisco in 1934, it served as both a barricade and safety point for officers.

Yes, there is a river, the Mission Creek to be exact.  It runs through the basement.  The Armory was intentionally built over it to ensure that there would be a fresh water supply, should the surrounding areas be under siege.  You know like if Dore Alley were to go awry or something.  There were stables, and some interesting in the ground inverted bondage restraints – “My head goes where?  Oh no, I don’t think so . . .”

The facility is in use year round.  Kink.com has 11 premier sites including their new gay site and produces approximately 60 films a month.  In addition to live action feeds – yes, that’s a lot of lube!  There are approximately 100 or so folks on staff (not including performers) who hand everything from lighting to editing to the laundry – “Hey, it’s not gonna wash itself!”

I had a great time.  The staff was friendly, the facility was incredible, the prop room? - a wall of toys, cool!!  But honestly, the most amazing moment was seeing the Leather Pride flag flying proudly over the Armory.  And while many of our fantasies include deep, dark passages – our Pride is there for the world to see. 

Only in San Francisco, eh?