Bare in the bar

Wouldn't it be great if there was a place where people could get naked in public anytime they want? Sure, there are places like that in Europe. But in the uptight western hemisphere, such locations are harder to find.

But one state in the U.S. has a constitution that protects free expression, and with it a fair amount of public nudity. As long as you are only nude and not being "indecent," you're free to be naked pretty much anywhere. That state is Oregon.

In Portland, I have seen a woman ride a bicycle down the street completely nude. And every Thursday night for years, the Eagle bar has had Bear Naked Billiards, a time when anyone can play pool clothes free. For that matter, they don't mind if you're naked in the bar ever — as long as you behave yourself.

(Sadly, a man was convicted of indecency in Corvalis, OR, last year for riding his bike naked. The jury believed police who said the man admitted he enjoyed his nudity for sexual excitement, even though he denied the statement in court.)

Although I don't get to Portland as often as I like, I definitely drop trou anytime I'm in the Eagle. The first time I was there, I also met a couple of hot young guys who were likewise enjoying a little billiards in the buff. Sadly, that is a stark difference from other cities and their uptight attitudes.

This week I chronicle some of those differences from an erotic point of view in our True Stories department. For all the arousing details, head on over and check out the memoir, Bare Naked Bar Room.

Shadow dancing

Buster Sly (often just "Sly" to his friends) is beautiful and sexy man, besides being a talented and versatile performer both on and off the adult video screen. I was lucky to make his acquaintance a few years back, and luckier still to have him join me for a Nakedism video and photo shoot last autumn.

It was a hot session, and Nakedism chief photographer Andrew Adam Caldwell captured many eye-catching and mouth-watering images that day. I hope to post more of them in the future. But this first set focuses on Andy's artistry at working not only with models but also the shadows they cast.

Why care about shadows? Perhaps because less is more: Shadows always suggest more than they show. Body shadows can be beautiful yet cryptic, erotic but not explicit.

Shadows also provide a haunting symbol of sex itself: These ephemeral shapes not only mirror the naked bodies who cast them, but serve as a metaphor for the passionate acts they imply — simple, dark, and fleeting, but also compelling, entertaining, and fun.

Decide for yourself as you click through this month's photo set, Shadow play, now open for your viewing pleasure.