This is part two of our look at adult toys and stores during the holiday season. If you're confused by our use of the word "toys," you may want to hit up another part of the site. Otherwise, enjoy as our writer Marisa seeks out some adult-themed workshops and ponders what classes she'll attend in the New Year. Part one of the stoy can be found here.

I know I’m not alone in this, but I’ve got a confession to make: Christmas shopping leaves me nauseated. From the jingle-bell rock music to the “20% off—One Day Only” ads flooding my Inbox to the woman at the pricy fashion boutique trying to lure me into snapping up yet another unnecessary stocking stuffer, the whole process drains my soul.

So I jumped at the chance to hit up LES sex shop Babeland and its “Sexy Santa’s Gift Giving” event on a recent mid-winter’s night. Amid rows of tester vibrators, try-me lubes, and five-minute spanking-and-photo-opp sessions à la busty Fuse TV starlet Mistress Juliya, Babeland’s dames du jour worked the one-room boutique donned in sexy Santa Gear just like any good sales team.

But what made me—a former Abercrombie and Fitch Christmastime graveyard-shift shirt folder turned shopping hater—linger? Two things. First, the Christmas marketing message was a bit different than the usual Fifth Avenue Have-Yourself-A-Merry-Little-Christmas pitch: “We all like to fuck, so buy something for yourself!” declared Jamye Waxman, the NYC sex-educator and co-hostess of the night's event. Second, Babeland strove to do something few other stores (other than bigshots like Starbucks or Williams-Sonoma) even try: to win me over for the long haul.

And judging by the response of shoppers who came, perused, and stayed, it looks like Babeland succeeded in winning more than my devotion. From 7:30 p.m. on, Babeland was packed with about 30 (mostly female) customers at any one time, attentively watching Jamye and staffer Rebecca’s five-minute workshops on “Cunnilingus,” “G-spots,” and “Fellatio,” while passing around sex toys of various sizes and textures. While some aspects of the night weren’t a hit (the eggnog and sugar cookies on a snack table lay virtually untouched), the event’s attendance echoed the growing interest in sex toys and sex education in New York. Check out our photo gallery if you want to see what the store is all about (note: the photos can't really be classified as not-safe-for-work, but we are dealing with adult themes here, so you open where you feel comfortable.)

If there were a time adult toy stores needed to lure in customers for life, it’s now: a slew of edgy companies like Fun Factory are putting years of academic research into effective, sleek, sophisticated toys and accompanying products (Did you hear about that candle wax that turns into massage oil? Wicked!). With dire real-world issues global warming, terrorism, and war on the national frontburner, the need to escape with a good vibrator has never been greater. Speaking of which, it’s worth noting who bought what treats and toys (and for whom):

1. An innocent-looking Teresa, 21, arrived solo to pick out a birthday vibe, but got treated to the night’s first paddling by the Mistress. Teresa’s mission was twofold, though: to enjoy herself, and to pick up a first vibrator for her little sister. After debating between the Rosebud and the Rabbit Habit, the self-described former BDSM scenester chose the former. “She thinks bunnies are cute and might be a little squeamish about it.”

2. Married couple James, 34, and Kara, 31, walked away with lots of loot, though they had no plans to wait until Dec. 25 to use any of it. A peek into their shopping bag revealed a no-frills, silver-sheath dildo (“[Mistress Juliya] recommended it because it has multiple speeds.” James told me), a cock ring, blue-raspberry-flavored lubricant and batteries. “We’ve been together a long time,” James said of the goodies. “It’s a fun way to explore options.”

3. Brooklynite Elsa, 22, celebrated Christmas early with a Pocket Rocket. “It’s for me, from me,” she said. “I wasn’t even expecting to come here.”

4. The happiest pair of all, a canoodling hetero couple that simply described their relationship as “friends with benefits,” hung around the store for all three workshops before settling on a Rabbit Habit. “I just came to see toys,” said Jane, 24, as she snuggled against 27-year-old musician-paramour Jon, “because I’m not a big toy user. The event was pretty cool.”

Interested in more Babeland workshops? Here's what coming up at the store over the next few months:

Becoming Orgasmic
Sun., Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m., $30
"Learn the joys of self-pleasure!" promises the sex educators this class, aimed at women and self-discovery. 

Celebrate Your Sexy Self
Tue., Jan. 15, 7:00 p.m., free
Babeland sex educator Jamye Waxman hosts a "mini-masturbation" workshop.

Love Letter Writing Workshop
Sun., Jan. 27, 8:00 p.m., $20
Express your feelings to your loved one, with the help of author (and editor of erotic anthologies) Rachel Kramer Bussel.

Blindfolds and Bling
Tue., Feb. 5, 7:00 p.m., $10 for materials
The name says it all...Babeland provides the blindfolds and bling, you provide the artistry. What you do with your creation afterwards is up to you.

How to Please Your Man
Sun., Feb. 17, 8:00 p.m., $30
Learn how to turn on your favorite guy! Babeland Sex Educators will give advice on how to discover "the male erogenous zone" and provide other tips on techniques and toys "for him."

Flirt Party
Thu., Feb. 21, 9:00 p.m., free
A singles night, full of hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and people still pissed about Valentine's Day.