Murdoch Tremblay recently made the hour drive from Kansas to Florida for what he calls his annual family reunion. Not his actual family, but an extended family of thousands who gather each year at Fetish Con, united by their enjoyment of costumes, role-playing and tying each other up. The year-old, who goes by the alias "Tater Salad," has only missed Fetish Con once since attending his first in He's a rope guy β bringing a travel bag filled with dozens of handmade ropes of all colors, widths and lengths for bondage.
The city's days as "God's waiting room" are far behind it. Modern-day St. Petersburg is enjoying its moment as a trendy destination for a hipper crowd thanks to a revitalized downtown, its craft beer and culinary options and its eclectic arts and cultural scene.
Co-founder Sara Edwards, a city resident, said the convention has found a great match in its third year in the Sunshine City. About 8, are expected to attend the four-day convention, which bills itself as the largest fetish networking and trade show on the East Coast. Petersburg Bayfront in Petersburg is one of these "beautiful" melting pots where people are now more open to different ways of life.
The year-old sells bondage lessons and equipment for his business, the Lewbari Store. He previously hid his own bondage fetish, believing it to be taboo, but began to embrace it in his 40s. Attitudes toward fetishes have also shifted, Edwards said, thanks primarily to the success of the novel Fifty Shades of Grey , which spawned two more books and a film trilogy.
Fetish Con has something to offer to new and experienced practitioners alike. There's live shows, late-night pool parties, a fetish dungeon and a wide range of class offerings. There are more than 50 classes this weekend, the most ever for the convention. Some will run as long as eight hours. Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? She said every hotel that has taken on the convention showed initial hesitation. Then hotel management becomes more comfortable with Fetish Con, she said.
