Been There/Done That

Erotic Literary Salon

by Rachel Frankford

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Published: Sep 10, 2008

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Every third Tue., doors open at 7:30 p.m., readings begin at 8:30 p.m., $8-$10, L'Etage Cabaret, 624 S. Sixth St., 215-592-0656, theeroticsalon.com

"Tonight, my dear, why not a loving fuck? I shall dress up just for you, my bright red bustier, silk stockings up so high, heels to accentuate the ass you love, feather to awaken your soul." But then it turns out the "dear" in question is spoiling the mood with his big ... white socks.

That's the story arc of a short piece of erotica by Susana Mayer, sexologist and salonnière of Philadelphia's only (and possibly the Anglophone world's only) erotic literary salon, held once a month at L'Etage. Participants are encouraged to bring in passages to read, either their own work or personal favorites. When I went, about 10 of the 25 or so attendees — a group diverse in age and gender — read their own pieces or had Mayer read for them. The work ranged from the touching to the poetic (or reaching for the poetic) to the really, really raunchy. I thought some of it was pretty hot, but my companion was grossed out. Then again, he's more accustomed to the Jenna Jameson oeuvre.

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