Tomorrow begins the 340th annual Erotica LA at the L.A. Convention Center. When Gaspar de Portola (and his men) stood atop the Santa Monica Mountains in 1769 and gazed at Porn Valley to the north, they were surely thinking about Tera Patrick’s annual pilgrimage from Van Nuys to what would become Figueroa Blvd.
Erotica LA is the most civilized and brightly lit of L.A.’s adult conventions, and this year features appearances by more than 50 porn personalities, including the rosters of Wicked and Adam & Eve (from Kirsten Price, Stormy Daniels, Mikayla Mendez, Alektra Blue, and jessica drake to Kayden Kross and Bree Olson), Monique Alexander, Nikki Jayne, Ron Jeremy, Belladona, Alexis Texas, Eva Angelina, Teagan Presley, Nina Hartley, and the reclusive Aria Giovanni.
Seminars will include a blowjob workshop by Nina Hartley (she knows what she’s talking about), a porn star panel with Joanna Angel, Kaylani Lei, Lexi Love, and Mr. Pete, and a Nevada prostitution primer from Mustang Ranch Madam Susan Austin (this one sounds fascinating).
In that vein, there will also be an adult industry career center sponsored by A.I. Studios. Curious fans might want to check out that booth, as it is an established fact that porn’s makeup artists are the hottest women working in the adult industry.
While Erotica L.A. continues through Sunday, with the final day free for active military, Saturday’s FAME Awards will likely be the highlight of the show. The FAME Awards contain all the categories you would expect from an adult awards show – Best Ass, Best Boobs, etc. – but the voting is (mostly) done by fans. And performers who are not represented at Erotica L.A. proper – like the women of Digital Playground – tend to show up for the FAME Awards.
A three-day pass to Erotica L.A. costs $75 and, since the Lakers are not in residence at the neighboring Staples Center, parking should be easier. Plus, the L.A. Convention Center is a short walk to the Pantry Cafe.
With the news this week that major sponsor AVN is consolidating its publications and the rumor that the company is moving into smaller quarters, Erotica LA will likely be a welcome relief from persistent bad news; the seminars sound fun, the FAME Awards is the best-run adult awards show, and the performers appearing aren’t thronged by Vegas crowds and can sleep in their own beds at night.
Previously on Porn Valley Observed: Erotica LA in review – 2006, 2007, 2008; AVN 2009 – The only numbers you can trust
See also: Erotica LA
Leave a Reply