New Toronto-based erotic mag Up & Coming is throwing a bash this Sunday, March 18th to celebrate the release of the premiere issue at Oasis Aqua Lounge (231 Mutual St, at Carlton). Over 100 tickets have already been pre-bought, so snap one up now or get yours at the door for $20 (which includes a copy of the mag). Up & Coming is a quarterly erotic arts and lifestyle magazine featuring mostly cerebral, entirely tasteful photo spreads, artist profiles, essays, fine art & smut.

I sat down with Up & Coming brainchild Mike Feswick recently and learned the idea was dreamt up on the beaches of Barbados, where Mike once lived & worked as a fashion photographer after dropping out of Ryerson’s Photography program. The premiere issue has been in the works since last fall, and Mike started his own publishing company to print the mag. The first issue is full of juicy content, with photography from Toronto’s Mark Peckmezian (who shot the cover), a profile on Lexi Tronic (trans-fabulous kink star, actress and escort) written by Noam Gonick and features some of Bruce Labruce’s recent exhibit Obscenity, currently on display and stirring up controversy in Spain, as well as an original series from Labruce shot in Toronto for Up & Coming.

Mike showed me a small preview and I saw among other things, snakes, pussies, dicks & wooden logs, all beautifully shot, in fresh & unique taste. The launch party is fitting for the style of the mag, and anything but your typical launch. Possibly more fitting for Rome in the middle ages, but we’re feeling adventurous this spring, aren’t we?

Oasis Aqua Lounge is a 3-floor upscale adult playground just east of Yonge, with an outdoor heated pool, a shaggin, waggin red room, sauna, hot tub, steam room, stripper poles, dungeon and more. And a bar. Thank God. There will be a live sex show from Jezebel and Malcolm XXX in a separate room for those who wish to watch, and the show will be livestreamed in other rooms. The sex show is consensually planned and will be performed in a BDSM theme. Level of participation at the party is completely to your level of comfort, and dress code will most likely range from kinky to casual. Bring your bathing suit or your birthday suit.

Lexi Tronic plays hostess, sexy songs from DJ Young Adult, Food Porn by Karen Frostitution, Savoury treats by Brockton General, Projections by The Matrix Projects, and a Dungeon Dominatrix, High Priestess Elliott Andre Valentino. Erotic giveaways from vibrators to bathing suits will be taking place throughout the party. Issues can be bought the following week at Come As You Are, Good For Her & Missbehavin for $9.99. A pdf will be available for purchase online. Mags will also be for sale at Fuck U Fridays on March 23 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street.

Event photos to come by me. Gulp.

~ Becca Lemire