colette Austin

[ This review is just for Shrine, which is a BDSM-themed event held one Sunday per month in the Collette building but completely unrelated to the primary Collette event. ] This is one of those rare times where I'm actually going to be a little coy as this is a very adult-oriented event and this review is public. Shrine offers a large space with dedicated areas for different kinds of play, including the overtly sexual type. There are usually performers or someone offering classes or some kind of event going on to stir the energy up.There are always vendors at their stations ready to resupply you with what accoutrement you forgot to bring or just happened to break... This is a sober event for reasons that will be immediately obvious once you get there. Therefore, the bar is operational, but it is entirely non-alcoholic and staffed by volunteers. Each zone of the building is devoted to a specific kind or kinds of play. You can tell which is which by examining the fine custom-made furniture that is available for your use in each area. If you find yourself wanting to do something, but aren't sure where or how to do it, look for someone wearing an orange vest. It's not just a sexy fashion statement, it also indicates that the wearer is a Dungeon Monitor (usually just called "DM"). This person is not a cop. I repeat, DMs are not cops. They are just fellow kinky weirdos who have been doing this long enough that they have decided to volunteer their time to making sure that you do all of the kinky stuff you want to do ...safely. That's really it. No more, no less. So say 'hi' and avail yourself of the many resources at your disposal. Some realistic caveats to be aware of: 1. This is not a hookup type of event. Virtually everyone you see playing together already knew each other before they arrived. So if you're single, unless you're super extroverted and ridiculously charming, it can be a little awkward at times. So it's a very good idea to bring at least one friend with you whether it's someone you play with or not. 2. You should expect that there will be nudity... everywhere. If you're the type that gets legitimately upset when you catch your husband checking out a ridiculously hot 25-year-old in a bikini, then this is not the event for you. In fact, you might use your newfound free time to see a therapist and get to the bottom of your insecurity issues. Everyone else, your husband most especially, would appreciate it. 3. People may be doing things you find to be disagreeable, disconcerting, or even gross. Word to the wise, just look the other way. It's super easy to not look at anything you don't want to look at and not utter a word about it. Tact. That's the name of the game. Literally no one cares about your opinion, Karen. The second-to-last important thing to know is that there exists a public Shrine Facebook page. You'll need to message the admin for an invite to the private page where Shrine events are announced so that you know which Sunday to show up. Additionally, this group also announces when the munches will be held which precede each Shrine event by a few days. The munches are organized at a nearby restaurant and offer a way to meet some of your fellow kinksters in a less charged environment. So if you're truly single because you decided to abandon all of your friends because they sucked, this is a great way to make some new ones that might not suck less, but almost surely ... better! Last but not least, if you go and enjoy the event, consider signing up to be a volunteer at the next one. Shrine only has a very small number of paid staff members and depends on volunteers for most of the operational components that make the event possible. It's also a great way to ingratiate yourself with the grisled crew who has been at this for far too long. Certainly, that will come in handy somehow... FYI: If you think you have what it takes to be a DM, you need to either have a known somebody vouch for you or take the DMing class that is held periodically AND you must get annual CPR certification. Parking: You won't get a spot in the lot. So expect to parallel park - legally - somewhere down the street and walk. Shrine attracts over 500 people to every event, more on holidays, so you may have to walk a distance. Be prepared for that.

My wife and I had our first visit for the Halloween Festivities Oct 2022. She had a really good time. It was her first time in this kind of environment. We hope to go back when we visit Austin again. Maybe have a little more “interaction “ with others.

Great time, will definitely return. Staff ensures everyone is respectful towards each other and encourages compliance with the set rules.

Don't waste your time or money here. Drove in from out of town not really familiar with the area but why do all these types of places seem to be in the creepiest industrial park areas? Didnt feel safe at all, for a Saturday night I thought there would be a decent crowd. Not the case parking lot was empty for what these places want to charge theres no way im paying to go into a place with barely 5 cars in the parking lot.

I was so disappointed in this. It was basically just a glorified strip club. It was advertised as being a poly night on the website, and the staff had no idea what this even was. There was no sense of lifestyle community, just a hip hop club where people could screw, and a bunch of trashy guys ogling waiting for a couple to come through that they could watch. Not at all the vibe that was advertised on the website.