It’s rare I just ’stumble’ upon an interesting shop when I’m visiting NYC– I stay pretty tapped in to my contributors (and family) living here. But, for whatever reason, until now, I’d never been inside the doors of the famed Babeland store in Soho. Today I lost my Babeland virginity and ventured inside. The shop was lined with what I expected: Sex toys of all shapes and sizes, rocket-power vibrators, how to guides and everything in between– this was nothing new. What surprised me was the decor: sleek, minimalist and clean– and the vibe( no pun intended) was unpretentious, helpful and fun. The founders Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah really have done a great job with this shop and the overall branding. There are two locations in NYC: Soho and the Lower East Side, as well as the original Seattle, WA Flagship, and a recently (2005) debuted fourth store in Los Angeles, CA. Not surprising, Zagat recently awarded Babeland Soho with “the best shopping experience in New York.”