The following is a list of upcoming classes, events, and other Tool Shed happenings.

We host some events in person, and some events online. Most in-person classes and events are held at our storefront at 2427 N Murray Avenue in Milwaukee, WI. When events are held at a different site, we will note that location clearly in the event description.

The Tool Shed's detailed guidelines around classes and events (including our policies around cancellation, refunds, waiting lists, etc.) can be read here.

For online events, we are using the Zoom platform. Online events are moderated. Check out our online events policies here. ALL TIMES LISTED ARE CENTRAL TIME.

Please bear in mind that The Tool Shed's physical location is a sexuality boutique. As such, we require that event and class attendees be at least 18 years of age.  Some outside event venues may require that attendees be at least 21 years of age; those will be noted in the event description.

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SEPTEMBER 2024

 

T Time: T4T Community Support

Sunday, September 22, 2024
5:00 pm in-store browsing, 5:30 pm discussion (central time)
In person event at The Tool Shed

T Time is Tool Shed’s monthly space for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people. Our discussion group is exclusively for trans* and gender-questioning folks (unless otherwise specified in the topic description). Cisgender friends and partners may join their loved ones when browsing the store. Browsing time happens from 5:00pm to 5:30pm, and discussion group happens from 5:30pm-6:30pm.

Discussion Topic
Come join us for resource sharing and a discussion on how we can build a safe and sustainable environment for trans folk! We will talk about the importance of mutual aid within community support and what that looks like. Connect with other trans/gender non-conforming folks and ask questions surrounding community building. Will be sharing a collection of free resources for trans people in the Milwaukee area. Our communities need an abundance of resources and effective support for systemic change and immediate care, so let’s imagine and work towards what that can look like together!

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Bella (he/they) is an educator part time at Tool Shed and a full time community member. They can often be found supporting their collective We Have Always Been Related or supporting fellow community members. He primarily uses plant medicine and holding space to care for local community and values healing through community action.

This is a FREE, in-person event, held at the Tool Shed's Milwaukee, WI location.

NOTE: Registering for this event will help us prepare, but is NOT required to attend.

Register for T Time: T4T Community Support here.

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OCTOBER 2024

 

KINK: First Contact
with Glenda Rider

RESCHEDULED: Thursday, October 3, 2024
7:00 pm central time
Virtual event on Zoom

This is both the class you want to take upon first arrival in leather/kinky spaces AND a fabulous refresher class for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the following topics:

Welcoming Space: What is it and how should I behave in it?
Consent Culture: What is it and how do I make it my regular practice?
Your Mom's Not Here, Clean Up After Yourself: How to avoid spreading disease in the dungeon (and daily life)!

This class highly encourages audience participation and modeling of encouraged behaviors.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Glenda Rider (she/her) has been Making Play Happen in various ways since finding the organized leather community in 1991! An activist, educator, producer, mentor, titleholder, board member, club sibling, family monster, and so much more, Glenda tries to make sure her briefcase is never heavier than her toy bag! You'll usually find her in Baltimore but as travel has always been her favorite sport, Glenda is blessed with chosen family and friends from coast to coast!

This is a virtual class, held on Zoom.

Pre-registration is required-- register for Kink: First Contact here!

$15 per person.

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Sexessible: Curating Sex for Our Bodies
with Sav

Wednesday, October 9, 2024
8:30 pm central time
In person event at The Tool Shed

Hot and heavy sex is not just for the able bodied!

Together let’s explore the essentials of fostering inclusive and respectful conversations around intimacy (without losing the heat). We'll focus on communicating our sexual needs and preferences, then how to act on them with the tools of the trade. Topics will include navigating consent, accommodating various abilities and experiences, and using clear, affirmative language to enhance mutual understanding. By the end of class, we will be ready to go out and have hot, accessible sex.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
You'll know Sav (she/her) from her greatest hits of working the weekends at Tool Shed and standing on her soapbox outside store hours chanting about how everyone deserves good sex. She's fat, disabled, and tired of hearing about her community having bad sex. In a pseudo-vigilante way Sav is determined to get everyone in the 414 having the sex they deserve.

This is an in-person class, held at the Tool Shed's Milwaukee, WI location.

Pre-registration is required-- register for Sexessible here!

$20 per person.

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Intimate Bliss: The Art of Massage
with Shiloh

Friday, October 18, 2024
8:30 pm central time
In person event at The Tool Shed

Learn about building intimacy through touch!

This is a seminar and discussion style class where we will explore the techniques, anatomy, and other aspects of confidently performing a massage with a partner.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Shiloh (they/he) is a Massage Therapist and body worker with an emphasis on pleasure, healing, and the queer and BIPOC communities.

This is an in-person class, held at the Tool Shed's Milwaukee, WI location.

Pre-registration is required-- register for Intimate Bliss here!

$20 per person.

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How to Curate the Perfect Scene
with Jessica Noir

Thursday, October 24, 2024
7:00 pm central time
Virtual event on Zoom

Learn how to turn your kinky fantasies into realities!

Let’s go beyond baseline scene negotiation and planning and discuss how to take your fantasies and make them realities. In this class we will explore the many aspects that go into planning a kink/BDSM scene. Open to all experience levels, each participant will leave with a masterfully built scene to enjoy!

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Jessica Noir (she/her) is collared and owned by Nicole Noir and is the Major Domo and Lieutenant General in House of NOIR. Since 2016, she has engaged in service projects, facilitated munches, held leadership positions in clubs, and provides formal mentorship her Leather community. Jessica is Wellness Director and Pledge Master of PARAGON, a cooperative and club for the BIPOC lifestyle community and she is an Advocate for the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. As a Black, queer woman, social justice work and serving and educating her community are paramount to Jessica and she looks forward to connecting with The Tool Shed community!

This is a virtual class, held on Zoom.

Pre-registration is required-- register for How to Create the Perfect Scene here!

$15 per person.

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T Time: A Decade+ in Transition

Sunday, October 27, 2024
5:00 pm in-store browsing, 5:30 pm discussion (central time)
In person event at The Tool Shed

T Time is Tool Shed’s monthly space for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people. Our discussion group is exclusively for trans* and gender-questioning folks (unless otherwise specified in the topic description). Cisgender friends and partners may join their loved ones when browsing the store. Browsing time happens from 5:00pm to 5:30pm, and discussion group happens from 5:30pm-6:30pm.

Discussion Topic
What's trans life like after "new transition energy" wears off?

Join us for T Time: A Decade in Transition, where trans folks who began their transition over 10+ years ago will share their transformative journeys and reflections. This panel will offer a profound look into the experiences, challenges, and growth they have encountered over the past decade. Gain valuable insights and connect with stories of resilience and change in the evolving landscape of trans and non-binary identities.

This is a FREE, in-person event, held at the Tool Shed's Milwaukee, WI location.

NOTE: Registering for this event will help us prepare, but is NOT required to attend.

Register for T Time: A Decade in Transition here.

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NOVEMBER 2024

 

Anniversary Party:
The Tool Shed Turns 20!

Sunday, November 3, 2024
6:00-9:00pm
at The Cooperage, 822 S Water St, Milwaukee
In person event, 21+

Mark your calendar-- it's the Tool Shed's 20th birthday celebration-- it is free to attend, and will be a wonderful time with our awesome community!

There will be music in the air, cake to be eaten, and libations (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) available at the cash bar.

Entertainment will include DeeJ Zae, burlesque performances by Reina Fire and Polly Amour, a vocal performance by Rai Hudson, a dynamic flogging demo by Lady Sophia, and more!

Plus, you'll get a chance to ask your anonymous questions about sex and sexuality for our "Ask the Sexpert" Q&A session with the Tool Shed's team of educators.

Last but not least, we're thrilled to be able to offer giveaways from some of our favorite toy and lube companies! Just sign up at the prize table when you arrive at the event for a chance to win.

We'll be giving away the items throughout the evening. Prizes include:

* Beautiful handmade glass items by Crystal Delights
* Fuze Perk and a Fuze Velvet dildos by Happy Valley Silicone
* Wedge & Fascinator Throw by Liberator
* Magic Wand Mini and Magic Wand Rechargeable by Vibratex
* Silicone-based lubricants by Uberlube
* Water-based lubricants by Sliquid
* Joque Harness by SpareParts 
* Akkoro Kamui Monster Tentacle (medium) and The Rattler by Uberrime
* Vixskin Mustang by Vixen Creations

This is a FREE, in-person event, held at The Cooperage at 822 S Water St, Milwaukee. You must be 21+ to attend this event.

NOTE: Registering for this event will help us prepare, but is NOT required to attend.

Register for The Tool Shed's 20th Birthday Party here.

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"Sex In Colour: Kinky & Loving It" Documentary Screening

Friday, November 8, 2024
7:00 pm central time
Virtual event on Zoom

An empowering documentary highlighting the transformative potential of reclamation.

Sex in Colour: Kinky & Loving It celebrates Black, Asian, and other people of color in the kink and Leather community. It is an empowering documentary highlighting the transformative potential of reclamation. Celebrating how people of color reclaim agency over their desires, bodies, and identities, Kinky & Loving It is a liberating journey into the transformative power of radical acceptance, reclamation, and love within the world of kink. Following the screening will be a talk with co-producer Mr. Scott!

This screening is free, but donations to support the film and future episodes are welcomed.

This is a virtual event, held on Zoom.

Pre-registration is required-- register for the screening of Sex in Colour here!

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Queer & POC Birth Workers Panel

Sunday, November 10, 2024
6:00 pm central time
Virtual event on Zoom

Don’t miss this opportunity to listen, learn, and connect with those shaping the future of birth work.

Join us for a vibrant panel discussion with queer and POC birth workers as they delve into what inspired them to enter the field, the core principles guiding their practice, and the unique experiences of working from and with marginalized identities. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the intersection of identity and birth work while celebrating diverse perspectives.

This is a virtual event, held on Zoom.

Pre-registration is required-- register for Queer & POC Birth Workers Panel here!

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T Time: Love’s T4T Sexytimes Class

Sunday, November 24, 2024
5:00 pm in-store browsing, 5:30 pm discussion (central time)
In person event at The Tool Shed

T Time is Tool Shed’s monthly space for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people. Our discussion group is exclusively for trans* and gender-questioning folks (unless otherwise specified in the topic description). Cisgender friends and partners may join their loved ones when browsing the store. Browsing time happens from 5:00pm to 5:30pm, and discussion group happens from 5:30pm-6:30pm.

Discussion Topic
Looking for tips of helping your trans-fem partner feel sexy?

This class focuses on how to make your trans-fem partner feel comfortable, affirmed, and sexy in the bedroom. This T Time event is open to cisgender partners of trans people, or cisgender people looking for resources on being more trans-inclusive in their play. Our knowledgeable staff will also be available to discuss gender-affirming products like binders, breast forms, packers, and toys. And, thanks to the Milwaukee Trans & Queer Depot (MTQD), we'll have hormone injection kits available for those who need them.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Love (they/he) is a dedicated educator with a passion for fostering inclusive sexual health education. They have 3 years of experience working at Tool Shed. In this time they have been learning how to create safe, affirming spaces for intimate topics including gender identity, sexual orientation, consent, and healthy relationships. Love aims to empower individuals by providing knowledge and resources that honor their identities and experiences. Love is a black, queer, non binary person. Their favorite color is pink, they enjoy reading enemies-to-lovers romance novels, and the beach is their favorite place on Earth.

This is a FREE, in-person event, held at the Tool Shed's Milwaukee, WI location.

NOTE: Registering for this event will help us prepare, but is NOT required to attend.

Register for T Time: Love's T4T Sexytimes Class here.

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DECEMBER 2024

 

Intro to Kitten Play
with Radiance ONYX

Thursday, December 5, 2024
7:00 pm central time
Virtual event on Zoom

Curious about the cat within? This course, created by Felines of Color Collective (FoCC), is an introduction to feline pet and animal play. We cover the history of cats, feline types and traits, how to get started as a kinky feline, navigating ownership, gear and negotiation, and typical feline headspace behaviors. Open to kittens, big cats, owners, and admirers. If you never really felt quite like a pup, this might be the space for you.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Kitten Radiance ONYX (any pronouns with respect + care) is a bratty switchy Princess, current Secretary for ONYX NY/NE, and your inaugural Mx. Leather Mxmmi Long Island. Radiance has been into kitten play + the leather community since 2021. In 2023, Radiance co-founded Felines of Color Collective (FoCC) with Goddexxx Rayne Pearl. FoCC provides a safe space for underrepresented kinksters into pet/animal play to show up as their full, authentic erotic selves, unapologetically.

This is a virtual event, held on Zoom.

Pre-registration is required-- register for Intro to Kitten Play here!

$15 per person.

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All About that Ass: Anal Play 101
with Nyx

Wednesday, December 11, 2024
7:00 pm central time
Virtual event on Zoom

Interested in exploring the butt stuff but not sure where to start?

Anal play can be a wonderful experience that can deepen your understanding of your own body and what turns you on. Unfortunately, we are fed messages that sex involving your butt is dirty, unnatural, and taboo. In this class, Nyx will bust these myths and share tips on how to make anal exploration fulfilling and worthwhile. We will look at toys specifically designed for the task, lubricants, further reading, and more.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Nyx (she/her) is a lesbian top and lover of impact play and bare butts--especially at the same time! She became active in her local kink scene in 2010 and has been reading, studying, playing, and/or ranting about it ever since. Nyx began teaching at the Tool Shed in Milwaukee, WI and shares their mission of providing non-judgmental, medically accurate, and socially current information on sex and gender. Other places Nyx has presented include the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Antioch College in Seattle, and the Fetish Finishing Academy with the Pan Eros Foundation. She currently regularly presents this class and others with Pan Eros.

This is a virtual class, held on Zoom.

Pre-registration is required-- register for All About That Ass here!

$15 per person.

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T Time: Local Community Resources

Sunday, December 22, 2024
5:00 pm in-store browsing, 5:30 pm discussion (central time)
In person event at The Tool Shed

T Time is Tool Shed’s monthly space for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people. Our discussion group is exclusively for trans* and gender-questioning folks (unless otherwise specified in the topic description). Cisgender friends and partners may join their loved ones when browsing the store. Browsing time happens from 5:00pm to 5:30pm, and discussion group happens from 5:30pm-6:30pm.

Discussion Topic
Drop by The Tool Shed to learn more about local resources for trans and nonbinary folks! Our knowledgeable staff will be available to discuss gender-affirming products like binders, breast forms, packers, and toys. Thanks to the Milwaukee Trans & Queer Depot (MTQD), we'll have hormone injection kits available, along with assistance resources. Plus, explore our resource table filled with flyers and information about city organizations and upcoming events. Stick around for our discussion group to delve deeper into available resources and share community knowledge!

This is a FREE, in-person event, held at the Tool Shed's Milwaukee, WI location.

NOTE: Registering for this event will help us prepare, but is NOT required to attend.

Register for T Time: Local Community Resources here.