Are you a shoe junky? If you are, you might take a special interest in 2568’s men’s and women’s new footwear line.
These shoes are comfortable classics with a twist: moccasins, loafers and boots, ballet and pointy flats, in unexpected materials and pattern featuring distinctive fabrics and leathers. Unique details also include colorful laces and decorative tassel bows. 2568 Shoes http://2568shoes.com are inspired by Guatemalan creativity found in garments, handbags and small leather goods.
The Venus loafers and Vanessa flats come in five different patterns with colors ranging from dark blues and blacks to reds and oranges. The colorful fabrics can make any outfit and can easily transition throughout the seasons.
Sizes range from 8.5 to 12. Price points range from $79 [USD] and up, and for every shoe purchase, 2568 will send a free Guatemalan friendship bracelet. About the owners: Lorenzo Castellon is the Manufacturing/Business Manager and Jamie Lawenda is the Creative Director. The couple met on a job interview and thirty years later are married, have a child and own a sourcing and shoe Design Company.
At first they created shoes and boots for other brands, including Sendra, a Goodyear welted high-end line of leather boots made in Spain. The couple continues to design and sell Sendra in the US.
Cross-border shopper alert! The Venus loafers and Vanessa flats can be purchased at PiperLime, ThomShoes, ShoeInn and FreePeople. The Newman is available in four other colors: patent leather black and red, silver snakeskin embossed leather, and white leather.
Before you contemplate the pictures above lets flash-back to Friday 13th, 1984, when Chris Simons, a local biker, and a few of his buddies met in the “ZOO,” a local watering hole, to shoot the breeze and have a few cold ones. They agreed to meet every Fri. 13th and pass the idea on to friends. And so it began.
Many local people, including the Municipal Council, feared the 1% of potentially violent bikers invading Norfolk County (as opposed to the 99% of peaceful riders), but as it grew into the biggest money making event the Kinsmen had ever seen, the need for some organization became evident.
The word went out to “LEAVE YOUR COLOURS AND ATTITUDES AT HOME,” otherwise the Council threatened to shut it down. The Kinsmen knew the bikers would continue to come and numbers would soar. The Coffin Bike and even Santa Claus were soon regular attendees as well as the Motor Maids (6000 strong nation-wide) and the Christian Riders.
HOG (Harley Owners Group) and BRO (Bikers Rights Organization) were present. By 1999 the OPP reported 12 outlaw biker clubs present in Port Dover, including Satan’s Choice, Hells Angels, Outlaws, Nomads, Para-Dice Riders, Red Devils, Piston Pushers, and even Banditos. Still, no violence erupted and over 100 police were brought in to maintain order.
As word spread Port Dover became THE place to be on Friday The 13th. Bikes were showing up from Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and B.C., as well as Americans from as far away as Florida. Even several Brits put their bike on a ship and came over.
Tim Hortons Drive-Thru soon was a walk-through. Yard Sales were common; seniors sold food to pay for a wheelchair-van. Pop, water and Freezies were sold from many local yards and eateries. Bars and beer gardens struggled to meet the demand in the summer months.
Big name bands were soon playing, like Steppenwolf, Colin James, Blue Rodeo, Dry County, Tragically Hip and local favourites. As the 20th century came to a close over 100,000 people were attending in the summer months.
As crowds swelled to over 150,000 in a town of 4,500, businesses placed “WELCOME BIKERS” signs in their storefronts and traffic backed up to Simcoe in the West and Cayuga in the East. Lodgings were booked-up for a year in advance and campgrounds swelled to full capacity quickly. Some businesses closed for the day like law offices, pharmacies, hardware stores and banks, though they stocked their debit machines full and went to work with the service clubs.
In 2009 The Port Dover Board of Trade, Kinsmen and the Lions partnered to run this massive event. The Kinsmen now handle bookings for 100 vendors in Powell Park and the Harbor Front, and run a 1,200 capacity beer garden. They monitor about 1200 campers in Kinsmen Park and Doverwood School, as well as selling souvenirs, including over 1,000 t-shirts. Shuttles are provided to haul campers to the action downtown.
Over the years the Kinsmen Club recruited many others to help, like Minor Softball and Hockey, Hard ball, Jr. Hockey, Figure Skating, Soccer, Maureen Dodds Art Foundation, Alzheimers, Big Brothers, High School Council (the Port Dover High School was closed a few years ago) Scouts K. of C., and the Harbor Museum. Other Kin Clubs came on board as did “Support our School.” At one point 26 other groups assisted the Kinsmen with everybody getting a share of the pie. It’s well known that bikers come back to visit Port Dover even when it’s not Fri. 13, as can be witnessed on any good weekend throughout the summer. The welcome mat is out so come visit us on Friday, September 13th, 2013 and every Friday the 13th to follow. For the Silo……Yours in Kin: Life Member Dave C.
The Erotic Arts & Crafts Fair is Back!Toronto’s first – and most beloved – fair celebrating all things sexy is popping up once again this February at the Gladstone Hotel!
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be brought to you by Hallmark – for another way, full of charm, wit, and craftsmanship, visit Toronto’s beloved Erotic Arts & Crafts Fair this season! The Erotic Arts & Crafts Fair is a one day celebration showcasing local handmade wares celebrating love, sex, and community, hosted by ‘anti-capitalist worker-owned co-operative’ Come As You Are.
Visitors can expect lovingly made goods ranging from raunchy embroidery, whimsical gitch, natural contraceptives, zines, pasties, jewelry, erotic art, leather bowties, sex toys, BDSM gear, and so much more! Come As You Are will also be offering free prize draws throughout the day, plus free sweet treats.
Date: February 11, 2017
Time: 10-4
Cost: Free
Venue: The Gladstone Hotel, North Ballroom. 1214 Queen St. West. Wheelchair Accessible!
About Come As You Are: Come As You Are is the world’s only worker owned and operated sex toy store, and is currently celebrating it’s 20th year. Come As You Are’s mandate has always been guided by the co-operative’s love of sexual health, pleasure, and education plus a profound sense of dissatisfaction with the “sex industry” as a whole.
Click here for a sampling of this year’s vendors.
BlackLine Accessories
A vegan up-cycled jewelry and accessories line made from motorcycle inner tubes.
Crafty Chas Crochet
These dolls are made in the hopes that a wide range of people can finally feel represented, to act as a healing tool, and made to remove the shame from nudity. Lovecrafters
Geeky, playful, whimsical and fun adult fantasy toys. All hand sculpted and made out of safe platinum grade silicone.
Michelle Gauthier Art
Gauthier creates feminist and reproductive-themed works in order to promote self- love, to embrace individuality, and to show that there is no cause for shame when it comes to what is natural.
Milkweed Zine
Milkweed is a sex-positive erotic zine, featuring photography, visual art, poetry and short fiction from around the world. It explores playfully explores identity, sexuality and eroticism, reflecting a diversity of experiences. Sartoria
The finest cashmere undergarments for a superior winter experience. Vanessa Walsh
Watercolour artist specializing in hyper-realistic erotic and bdsm art. Definitely not your grandmother’s watercolours! vintagelove
A subversive peek into the 1950s modern lifestyle and aesthetic. Weal & Breech
Makers of bespoke implements for impact and restraint play. All of their toys are designed and made by hand out of the finest local and exotic woods, and full-grain leathers. For the Silo, Noah Kloeze.