22 minute read
ARTS & EVENTS
The First 50
Author’s memoir helps to normalize sexuality
By Srianthi Perera A therapy cult encouraged Natascia Mallin to erase her personal history. But, to the advantage of those who would benefit from a scintillating and honest read into female sexuality, she did not. She came out of the cult, named The Intimacy Project, after four years. It also initiated just the opposite effect: rather than forgetting her history, she dug into it. The result is her memoir, “The First 50: A Saga of Backseats, Bedrooms, Lookout Points, and Dive Bars,” published by Rare Bird Books and available on Amazon. Mallin, a Jewish ItalianAmerican born and raised on the Westside of Los Angeles who is now a resident of Mexico City, pulls no punches in her debut. It outlines 50 erotic encounters that took place between the ages of 13 and 33. She’s 36. Her writing is daring, engaging and passionate, just like her adventures. The chapters delve into her lovers in chronological order, painting them in broad brushstrokes but containing just enough color to understand them. In chapter one, Mallin describes a foray into a steam shower with her first lover: “Engulfed in clandestine embrace, flexing in discovery, 14-year-old Natascia dissipated into expensive vapor and the newness of passion. There was no age. No time. No law. There was only Ricky and the beating rapture of zest. Hours went by. A lifetime. I don’t know. It could have been forever for all I cared, but eventually the water ran cold, and infinity ended. Ricky wrapped me up in a million-thread count, prerevolution Egyptian cotton towel and ushered me into David’s brother’s room and onto David’s brother’s bed. At the end of the quick sexual act, the teen had a recurring thought: “He didn’t ask.” The intimate happenings with equally fleeting other beaus include the surfer boys of Venice, camp friends, the young men she met in the extravagant parties held in
CREDIT: MATEO PIZARRO
Natascia Mallin’s literary debut “The First 50” is about 50 erotic encounters that took place between the ages of 13 and 33 in her native Los Angeles, from the surfer boys of Venice to mansions in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica mansions and fellow classmates at college. Mallin, who is a cis-gendered queer female, said she wrote “The First 50” to normalize female sexuality. “I am tired of the current conversation in which women are either hyper-sexualized through advertisements, pornography, and Kardashianesque sensationalism, or else they’re victimized in news stories of exploitation, exposés of sexual abuse, and progressive sociopolitical commentary that focuses on rape culture and survival,” she said. “More than half of the human population is perpetually subjected to this dualistic view of its core erotic nature, and yet, shockingly, we are capable of having myriad experiences as human beings despite our not being male.” The author wants to give voice to little girls growing up in this “false narrative” whose lives, experiences, feelings and thoughts are relegated to the scenery, discredited as secondary and ignored the moment they are gendered as “other.” The book is aimed toward men as well. “I wrote this book for all the men who categorize stories that don’t have a male protagonist as ‘Chick Lit,’ and thus subject themselves to blind ignorance by limiting their knowledge of the human experience to only those things relatable to their own phallic nature,” she said. Mallin’s frank memoir came into being because of an obsession with documenting life. She wrote down or filed away “every personal emotional epiphany scribbled on a napkin, every vivid dream I woke up with, every love letter I’ve ever stayed up all night to write.” She has journals worth of poems, angry rants and short stories. She has about six years’ worth of daily diaries and countless lists that range from groceries and Christmas presents to people she’s slept with. “I never threw anything away and was obsessed with the notion that one day I would make all of it matter,” Mallin said. Mallin joined The Intimacy Project in 2010. Cult members were encouraged to take a sincere look at how they formed all of their ideas ranging from family, to friendships, to physical health, to power and analyze them in minute detail in order to discover whether they were a reflection of our “authentic self” or were just an idea we had unwittingly adopted through social conditioning. “I was highly encouraged to abandon my constant documentation in order to “erase my personal history” and free myself from the prison of my mind,” she reflected. “Not only did I agree to stop one of the most authentic disciplines of my life, I even went so far as to label each journal, relic, piece of paper, etc. with a brief description of what it was and what symbolic value I’d “idiotically” assigned to it in preparation for a ceremony in which I would systematically burn all of it. Thank God the veil was lifted before I actually did that and I left the cult for good.” One day, Mallin wondered if she had forgotten everyone she had slept with as a result of trying to erase her personal history. “I busted out a piece of paper and wrote “Chapter One” and the rest flowed like honey,” she said. With the encouragement of her lawyer and her father, Mallin changed the names of her lovers. “At first I was stubbornly committed to using everyone’s real name. I have very strong feelings about holding people accountable to their predatory abusive behaviors,” she said. But the ironic injustice of being sued didn’t seem worth it. “I think it would take an inhuman lack of self-awareness for someone not to recognize themself in the stories,” she noted. Mallin moved to Florence, Italy when she was 17, but ran out of money “pretty quickly,” so she returned and enrolled at Santa Monica College. Later, she moved to Oakland and finished her undergraduate degree at Mills College, “just in time for the Great Recession.” She has some acting chops under her belt, but most of her bills are paid by working in restaurants, as a caterer, private chef and nanny. Her current — and greatest — passions are traveling, food and talking to people. Her dream is to be an Anthony Bourdain, the travel journalist who wandered in many lands meeting people and observing their ways. Mallin plans to follow “The First 50” with an illustrated children’s book for adults that deals with alcoholism and emotional abuse and a novel influenced by her time as a nanny. Just now, her first publication takes center stage. “I would have killed for a book like this growing up,” Mallin said. “A book that helped me make sense of everything that was happening to me sexually; that I participated in, agreed to and committed. When she was growing up, there were few female narratives that didn’t exalt monogamous “true love” as the ultimate achievement and objective of a fully realized woman. “My greatest hope is that someone who is completely lost in the maelstrom of conditioned romantic relating gets a hold of this book and it offers them a moment of rest and comfort from the abyss of amorous oblivion,” Mallin said. “That and HBO, Netflix, Hulu and FX launch themselves into a bidding war over the rights to it.” “The First 50” published by Rare Bird Books is available as a paperback ($20) and on Kindle ($14.99) on Amazon. com starting August 24.
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Celebrating the Arts
By Kamala Kirk The city of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs released its 2022-23 Cultural Grants Program Guidelines for nonprofit organizations and festival producers seeking grant support for free and/or low-cost cultural events to take place between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. All proposed cultural activities should be easily accessible for targeted communities or general audiences of city of Los Angeles residents, visitors and tourists. Eligibility and scoring are described for proposals in various art disciplines with a special emphasis this year on projects in culture/history, design/visual arts, literary arts, media arts, outdoor festivals/ parades, traditional/folk arts, and field advocacy and sector learning. With this request for proposals, the department seeks to invest in a variety of expertly produced, creatively disbursed and socially relevant projects that may take the form of participatory workshops and/or engaged demonstrations; include fulltime, part-time, seasonal or occasional jobs for artists and art-event coordinators; and have both broad marketing and measurable impacts. The proposed projects should be aligned with the applicant’s mission, history and a defined public purpose. Project budgets should be estimated as public/ private partnerships for which applicants should forecast matching funds of at least 1:1. Examples of eligible projects include: arts business/networking activities; culture/history presentations; dance concerts or classes; design/visual art exhibitions or museum projects; literature or publishing projects; media activities or presentations; music concerts or classes; outdoor festivals or parades in one public street or public area over one day or one weekend; theatrical workshops or productions; traditional/folk arts activities or presentations; and/ or multi-disciplinary arts activities. “Our cultural grants program supports creative projects that reflect the core values of the Department of Cultural Affairs: inclusion, diversity, equity, excellence and access,” said Danielle Brazell, the department’s general manager. “Through these vital partnerships with local organizations, we deliver world-class arts and cultural experiences throughout the year that activate and engage our residents and visitors in neighborhoods all across Los Angeles.” As a leading progressive arts and cultural agency, the department empowers LA’s vibrant communities by supporting and providing access to quality visual, literary, musical, performing and educational arts programming; managing vital cultural centers; preserving historic sites; creating public art;
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The Industry, Carmina Escobar performing “Sweet Land.” and funding services provided by arts organizations and individual artists. Formed in 1925, the department promotes arts and culture as a way to ignite a powerful dialogue, engage LA’s residents and visitors, and ensure LA’s varied cultures are recognized, acknowledged and experienced. The department’s mission is to strengthen the quality of life in LA by stimulating and supporting arts and cultural activities, ensuring public access to the arts for residents and visitors. A series of free online webinars and in-person workshops provide assistance to potential applicants. Webinar space is limited to 30 participants and RSVPs are required at least two business days in advance. The calendar of webinars and workshops, and instructions to register are at bit.ly/DCAgrants. Guidelines and instructions for DCA’s 2022-2023 Cultural Grants Program can be found at culturela.org. The deadline for online submission of application materials is 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 27. For more information, contact DCA’s Grants Administration Division at dca.grants@lacity. org.
7101 Playa Vista Dr #109, Playa Vista
3 bed | 2.5 bath | $1,240,000 Coming Soon
5949 Abernathy Dr, Westchester
4 bed | 4 bath | $11,500/month Stunning Panoramic Views
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3 bed | 3 bath | $1,289,000 Contemporary Living
8232 Tuscany Ave, Playa del Rey
4 bed | 2.5 bath | $1,949,000 Meticulously Maintained
6411 Nancy St, Westchester
4 bed | 2.5 bath | $1,899,000 Pristine Traditional Home
2315 Ocean Front Walk, Venice
4 bed | 3.5 bath | $18,975/month Architectural Masterpiece
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12601 Matteson Ave #4, Mar Vista
3 bed | 2.5 bath | $995,000 Delightfully Bright And Modern
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6623 W 88th St, Westchester
3 bed | 2 bath | $1,099,000 Traditional Meets Boho Chic In Escrow
1719 Easterly Terrace, Silver Lake
2 bed | 3 bath | $1,499,000 Serene Haven In Escrow
6321 W 79th St, Westchester
3 bed | 2 bath | $1,599,000 Modern Elegance In Escrow
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3 bed | 2 bath | $1,396,000 Unlimited Potential
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2821 Colby Ave, West Los Angeles
3 bed | 2 bath | $1,399,000 Charming Turnkey Home In Escrow
8340 McConnell Ave, Westchester
3 bed | 2 bath | $1,479,000 SoCal Bungalow In Escrow
7921 Kentwood Ave, Westchester
5 bed | 5 bath | $2,995,000 Traditional Home With Pool Just Sold
3307 S. Bentley Ave, Westdale
3 bed | 2 bath | $2,195,000 Mid-Century Pool Home
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Stephanie Younger Group 310.499.2020 | DRE 01365696 stephanieyounger.com | @stephanieyoungergroup
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.
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THE ARGONAUT REAL ESTATE BUSINESS NEWS
Here’s What to Know Before You Buy a House with a Pool
If you’re in the market for a new home, you might think a pool sounds like a great idea. Pools are in high demand right now—so much so that pool contractors have waiting lists and there’s a shortage of maintenance items like chlorine. Is pool ownership all it’s cracked up to be? It can be, but you need to be prepared.
What Are the Pros of Having a Pool?
We’ll cover some of the perks of a home with a pool before getting into the downsides.
It May Improve Your Quality of Life
A pool can be a lot of fun, and having one at home can improve your quality of life. You might use it for exercising, and it gives you a good excuse to get outside more and take in vitamin D and fresh air. Many families with pools find that they enjoy time together, and you might be able to build your social life around having it.
A Pool Can be Beautiful
When you buy a home with a pool, it might be something you enjoy aesthetically. It’s a lot of fun to look outside and see your pool or have a view of the water from your deck. For many people, the view of water in any form, including a pool, is relaxing.
Pools Can Increase Your Home’s Value
There are a lot of instances where having a pool can increase the value of your home. This is especially true if you live somewhere with a warm climate. In places like Arizona and Florida, having a pool is practically seen as a necessity. If you have a pool and your neighbors don’t and you ever want to sell, your property might be more in-demand or get more money than a nearby home without one.
What Are the Cons of Having a Pool?
Even if you’re excited about the potential of having a pool at home, there are some possible downsides you need to be well aware of.
Are You Ready for the Cleaning and Maintenance?
Some people actually like cleaning and maintaining their pool, but if you don’t think you’re going to be one of those people, rethink buying a home with one. It can take several hours a week if you’re going to maintain your pool yourself. If you hire a pool service company, plan to spend anywhere from $50 to $150 a week. Along with the work required to clean and maintain a pool, you also have to pay for the supplies.
Safety
If you buy a house with a pool, you have to make sure it meets existing codes and safety requirements. You might end up having to install a new fence or alarm. If you have children or pets, you also want to think about safety and how having a pool could affect your family in that regard.
Your Insurance Costs May Go Up
Your homeowner’s insurance will usually cover a pool as part of “other structures” in your policy. However, you could be held liable if someone is injured in a situation relating to your pool. Sometimes, because of that, a pool is referred to as an “attractive nuisance” in an insurance policy. That means you’ll need liability coverage, and this could increase your insurance rates.
It Might Not Always Be a Good Thing for Resale
Another consideration is the fact that a pool might not always be a plus in the eyes of prospective buyers. It could actually end up limiting you if you wanted to sell your home. Finally, what condition is the pool in if you’re buying an existing home? Is there a chance that when you move in, you might have to pay for major repairs or upgrades? Whether or not a pool is right for you is a personal decision, and it’s one you need to think about strategically rather than emotionally.
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COMING SOON
Dramatic architectural designed by Michael Lee Architects 127 Via Marina, Marina Del Rey 4 Bed + 6 Bath + 4,588 Sq.Ft. + 600 Sq.Ft. 3 car garage + 719 Sq.Ft. of deck/patio space $8,999,000 127ViaMarina.com
FOR SALE
2718 Forrester Dr., Cheviot Hills 6 Bed | 10 Bath | 4,874 Sq.Ft. Contemporary new construction $4,899,000
COMING SOON
2026 Walnut Ave., Venice 4 Bed | 4 Bath | 3,100 Sq. Ft. $3,399,000
FOR SALE OR LEASE
117 Ketch Mall, Marina Del Rey 4 Bed | 4.5 Bath | 4,010 Sq. Ft. 4 car garage & rooftop deck $3,249,000 or $12,950 /Month 117Ketch.com
FOR SALE
7612 Cowan Ave., Westchester 5 Bed | 6 Bath | 3,795 Sq. Ft. $2,799,000 7612Cowan.com
FOR SALE
7133 Ramsgate Ave., Westchester 10 units | 14,000 Sq. Ft. $1,999,000 7133Ramsgate.com
FOR SALE
7521 W. 89th St., Westchester 5 Bed | 4 Bath | 2,637 Sq.Ft. $1,899,000 752189th.com
FOR SALE
8515 Berger Ave., Playa Del Rey 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2,261 Sq. Ft. $1,699,000 8515Berger.com
FOR SALE
13700 Marina Pointe Dr. #1503, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,481 Sq.Ft. $1,699,000
FOR SALE
13700 Marina Pointe Dr. #1404, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,240 Sq. Ft. $1,649,000
FOR SALE
13600 Marina Pointe Dr. #1705, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,900 Sq. Ft. $1,495,000 Regatta1705.com
IN ESCROW
13078 Mindanao Way #301, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath + Loft | 2,134 Sq. Ft. $1,425,000 13078Mindanao301.com
IN ESCROW
6400 Pacific Ave. #311, Playa del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath + Den | 1,406 Sq.Ft. $1,350,000 6400Pacific311.com
COMING SOON
13218 Fiji Way #L, Marina Del Rey 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,582 Sq.Ft. $1,319,000
COMING SOON
4215 Glencoe Ave. #412, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,640 Sq. Ft. $1,169,000
COMING SOON
4338 Redwood Ave. #B107, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,929 Sq. Ft. $1,099,000
FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE IN ESCROW
4215 Glencoe Ave. #229, Marina Del Rey 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,740 Sq. Ft. $1,099,000 4215Glencoe229.com 13700 Marina Pointe Dr. #314, Marina Del Rey 1 Bed | 1 Bath | 946 Sq. Ft. $899,000 Azzurra314.com 6400 Crescent Park #416, Playa Vista 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,000 Sq. Ft. $835,000 Waterstone416.com 12963 Runway Rd. #214, Playa Vista 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 986 Sq. Ft. $829,000 Catalina214.com
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THE ARGONAUT PRESS RELEASES
NORTH KENTWOOD VIEWS
“Welcome to this 4BD/2.5BA home with an idyllic backyard,” says agent Stephanie Younger. “This pristine traditional home offers original 1950s charm with the updates of modern luxury including an open floor plan. The stunning expansive kitchen features a huge island, marble counters, walk-in pantry, and stainless-steel appliances. The upstairs great room sits at the top of the tree lines with open views of the city and mountains. The private master suite with direct access to the back yard boasts, large windows, and a luxurious spa-style bathroom with stacked stone accents and an oversized shower.”
Offered at $1,899,000 Stephanie Younger Compass 310-499-2020
PLAYA DEL REY ENTERTAINER'S DELIGHT
“This 3BD/3BA home is light and bright space,” says agent Jesse Weinberg. “The attention to detail and many upgrades including crown molding, recessed lighting, hardwood floors, and high ceilings shine throughout. The open concept living area is graced by a beautiful stone fireplace and separate dining room perfect for an entertainer. The chef’s kitchen offers granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and breakfast nook. Entertain on a grand scale from your private wrap-around yard. This property also boasts an attached 2-car garage, is fully gated, and offers a large laundry room.”
Offered at $1,699,000 Jesse Weinberg Jesse Weinberg & Associates 800-804-9132
Westside Farmers Market
DIRECTORY Where healthy food is always in season
TUESDAYS
Culver City Farmers Market 2 to 7 p.m.
Main Street, between Venice and Culver boulevards culvercity.org
WEDNESDAYS
Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Arizona Avenue, between 4th St. and Ocean Ave. smgov.net/portals/ farmersmarket
FRIDAYS
Venice Farmers Market 7 to 11 a.m.
500 Venice Blvd. (at Venice Way), Venice venicefarmersmarket.com
SATURDAYS
Marina del Rey 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Via Marina at Panay Way, Marina del Rey beaches.lacounty.gov/ mdrfarmersmarket
Playa Vista Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
12775 W. Millennium Drive, Runway at Playa Vista www.farmermark.com/ playavista
Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Arizona Avenue, between 2nd and 4th streets, Santa Monica smgov.net/portals/ farmersmarket
Santa Monica Pico Farmers Market 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave., Santa Monica smgov.net/portals/farmersmarket
SUNDAYS
Mar Vista Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Venice and Grand View boulevards marvistafarmersmarket.org
Santa Monica Main Street Farmers Market 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Heritage Square, 2640 Main St., Santa Monica smgov.net/portals/farmersmarket/
Westchester Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Triangle, 6200 W. 87th St.
westchesterfarmersmkt.com
Farmers markets, essential for the health of local communities, remain open but are making some changes in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Expect to see wider spaces between vendors, no samples, more gloves, possible waiting lines, and other precautions. As always wear a mask and practice social distancing.
