We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
About
Black Thorn is a welcoming, beautiful, clean, and private Victorian featuring dark, gothic decor. It is discreetly situated in the lovely Lake Merritt area of Oakland in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Private parking and cleaning services are available.
Well-appointed and well-equipped, Black Thorn is able to accommodate a diverse array of dramatic scene play and creative role-play themes as well as classic power exchange games.
Available to educators, artists, photographers, couples, and more, Black Thorn is well-suited for an exploration of skill sets, cosplay, performance art, and relationship dynamics. This evocative and lustrous space is the perfect setting for adventurous people looking to bring imagination to life.
Black Thorn is a safe space for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. We support shared values of Inclusivity, Consent, and Respect for all people from all walks of life, backgrounds, gender orientations, and sexual identities.
Reach out for a consultation on available equipment or for help with setting your scene.
Please note that no illegal activities are allowed on premises, and all play is safe, sane, and consensual between adults of legal age.
Contact
For questions, send an inquiry to mail@black-thorn.org.
Educational Program
Black Thorn offers an educational program with online classes. Sign up for a class to learn new techniques, scene setting, safety protocols, consent agreements, communication skills, and much more! There is also a scholarship offered to students who are financially challenged and in need of assistance. If you are an educator, please reach out!
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Media Offerings
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
The more things are forbidden, the more popular they become.
Dreams are necessary to life.
The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.