With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAist ventures into Big Cat country
()
Friday was the first Los Angeles Cougar Convention - dedicated to younger men and the older women who appreciate them. The event was organized by the Society of Single Professionals, an educational group dedicated to spreading the word about younger men dating older women.
Lucia (no last name), host of The Art of Love radio show and author of Lucia's Lessons of Love, taught the first-ever 'Cougar School' which took place right before the event officially opened.
According to Lucia, the term 'cougar' was coined by a player on Vancouver's hockey team, who started calling the older single women who came to the games cougars.
Support for LAist comes from
Also according to Lucia, to qualify as a cougar a woman must be at least 40 years old and exclusively date men at least 10 years younger than herself. The rest of you ladies are out of luck and just getting your freak on.
The event, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Beverly Hills, started with a 'speed-dating' type mixer, followed by a keynote address and the cougar-themed "comedy" stylings of Unique Monique, and then a dancing and drinking at the cash bar.
For those of you who were afraid of who you thought was going to show up, the actual event was attended by mostly normal-looking women, many of whom said they weren't looking for a younger guy per se, but were just curious about the event.
Most of the guys there, when questioned, admitted that they were interested in meeting any lady, not just an older one.
All in all, the event was very fun, and the ratio was good for women (it ran about two men per women, although the organizers tell us that changes from city to city), and as the event room filled up and the line and the tiny corner cash bar became unmanageable, the party spilled out into the hotel's lobby bar (where at least one could run a tab), where phone numbers were exchanged furiously before attendees melted away into the night.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist